The Crown's Entrapment

Chapter 793 From Now, until the End

Bella couldn't believe that the scene in front of her was already happening in her life. Well, she already got married to Amon through the Bond they now shared, but getting married to him again through the customs of Helion's ceremony just made her feel like it was happening for the first time all over again.

[Still can't believe that you're about to be my wife and queen now?] Amon asked her through their Bond as she walked down the aisle to meet him by the altar. [There's nothing stopping us from being together anymore.]

Bella blushed as she did her best to stay composed. Still, she found it in herself to tease her husband right back as she smirked at him. [What do you mean? I'm already your wife in the laws of Cordon,] she pointed out with a scoff. [Also, I'm not your Queen yet. I don't have the crown on my head yet.]

[We'll get to that later,] Amon chuckled. [For now, just focus on not tripping on your own steps.]

She inwardly shook her head as she saw Amon smirk at her from where he stood. Truly, weddings were supposed to be ceremonies full of formal seriousness. Where they would focus only on their love for one another as they basked in the fact that they were about to be truly one.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, in her opinion, they already did that during the Ritual of Marking. They gave their all during that ceremony, which allowed them to be more at ease on this second ceremony of theirs as they all but joked and chuckled at each other's jokes and teases all while the man officiating their wedding did their usual proceedings.

[This is pretty weird, isn't it?] Bella remarked in amusement just as the man officiating their wedding announced that she and Amon could finally kiss. [Why did we even go through this again?]

[It's for tradition. It's only proper,] Amon mentally shrugged. [Besides, at least I get to kiss you again.]

Just after he said those words, Amon promptly leaned in to give her a loving kiss. The few guests they had in attendance clapped for their union, and she couldn't help but feel excited for the next thing that was about to happen.

"And now, with Lady Bella officially being King Amon's wife, she may now be crowned as her Queen."

Bella couldn't help but beam as she and Amon made their way to the same balcony where she was first introduced to the kingdom of Helion. Memories of that day flooded her mind with each step that she took, but this time, another memory came to her. Memories of a different time. Of a time when Amon was simply Osman of Cordon.

"Say, do you remember what you said to me a few years ago?" Bella asked with a chuckle as she let Amon lead her up. "About how you can give me everything except for a crown and a kingdom?"

"I do, and it would seem that I ended up doing exactly that anyway," Amon chuckled back. "Also, we're here. Let's continue the discussion later."

Bella pouted, but she quickly composed herself as she was once again presented to the people at large below them. Now in her queenly regalia, she took a deep breath as she turned her gaze to the crown that was about to be put on top of her head. Still, despite the gravity of the situation she was now in, she couldn't help but turn her gaze back to Amon even as he stood in front of her, her thoughts going back to their prior conversation.

[Just because we can't speak doesn't mean we have to cut the conversation short, you know,] she slyly pointed out to him through their bond.

[It's best that you keep your thoughts to the coronation, my sweet vixen,] Amon promptly advised her. [Seriously, you can't afford to make mistakes here.]

Rolling her eyes, Bella jokingly groaned to him through their bond. [Fine. But as soon as we have the time, we'll get back to this conversation.]

Cutting off their connection, Bella found herself now staring face to face with the crown that would make her queen. With Amon in front of her, she couldn't help but smile as she curtly bowed her head to him.

"By my right as the king of this land, I hereby choose you, Bella, to be my rightful queen and wife," Amon bellowed as he raised the crown over her head, signaling the start of the coronation. "From this day forward, you shall represent the interests of Helion, as well as keep its subjects in your heart as you strive to improve the welfare of the kingdom."

"This, I solemnly swear," Bella promptly swore.

"In sickness and in health, you shall aid in our kingdom's growth, its citizens in your heart and mind as you strive to give your life for the benefit of Helion."

"This, I solemnly swear," she repeated.

"Finally, as the Queen of this land, your life will forever be linked to the King, your love and undying support forever helping the rightful sovereign to effectively govern his citizens," Amon finished. "For what is a Queen, other than the King's other half."

"This, I solemnly swear…"

With bated breath, Bella blinked as she heard the crowd below her start to swell with every word that they spoke. Then, a heavy weight placed itself on her head, the crown now hers as Amon placed it on her.

"Rise, my Queen," Amon announced.

With a nod, Bella did as such, raising her head to greet her husband as a radiant smile etched itself across her face. Likewise, Amon smiled warmly at her as he gripped her hand for support. As one, they turned to face the crowd, the two of them now King and Queen in the eyes of Helion as they all but announced their joint rule over their citizens.

"Now, from this day forth, Queen Bella!"

On cue, the announcer bellowed out the final words of the coronation, and as one, Helion's citizens all clapped and celebrated her new status.

"Long live the King!"

"Long live the Queen!"

"Long live Helion!"

As one, the crowd chanted, all of them giving them their full-hearted support as they cheered for their new monarchs. Above them, Bella couldn't help but tear up even as she smiled and waved at every single one of them. After all, she never expected to be queen, and yet there she was, now the sovereign of another kingdom that wasn't Cordon.

[You did say that you wanted to be queen someday though,] Poona teased her.

[Not now,] Bella chided even as her joy made her chuckle instead. [Don't ruin the moment.]

[As if anything can ever ruin this now,] her inner wolf pointed out with a satisfied smirk. [Anyway, our mate wants to talk to you.]

Blinking, Bella mentally felt her bond tugging at her, and she quickly heard Amon's voice eagerly congratulating her.

[Congratulations, Bella,] he lovingly stated. [You're officially the Queen of Helion.]

[More like King Amon's Queen,] she cheekily corrected him. [That's more important than being the queen of a place, I feel.]

[All the same, my vixen,] he chuckled. [Anyway, about your question…]

Bella took in a breath as she mentally prepared herself. With them still needing to be there for at least another minute or so, they had to look proper even as they talked with one another through their bond.

[Yes, I do remember that day,] he began. [That was during Queen Xenia's coronation, and I remember telling you that I'd gladly give you everything except for a crown and a kingdom since I wasn't a king at the time.]

[But now you are,] she finished for him.

[That indeed,] Amon chuckled. [Honestly, I never thought we'd make it this far. I was fully expecting us to just be running a merchant caravan somewhere selling whatever's profitable at the time.]

[To be fair, I thought that too,] Bella giggled. [Still, this is fine too.]

After a minute had passed, Bella and Amon finally allowed themselves to turn to one another. Giving each other a loving look, they came together and gave each other a loving kiss, signifying to the populace that their union was indeed real.

"I did promise to give you everything though," Amon cheekily chuckled. "I just didn't expect that I'd actually become king."

"Amon, I don't really care," Bella giggled. "Whether you be king or just some pirate, you're still my mate. My love. My other half."

"And you as well, my love," Amon lovingly answered back. "No matter what happens, I will always love you. It just so happens that we both get to be king and queen now while doing so."

"Which means doing more work than I would've expected," Bella jokingly sighed. "Still, so long as I'm with you, I'll never trade it for anything else."

Once more, the two shared another loving kiss, further cementing to everyone watching that they were now two halves of the same whole. As King and Queen, they will do their best to rule their kingdom, all while loving and supporting each other while doing so.

"I love you, Bella," Amon lovingly whispered as he cupped her cheek.

"I love you too, Amon," Bella lovingly whispered back. "From now, until the end."