The throne room was hot, too hot. Partially due to the incense that cured up from the golden braziers, partially due to the candles that flared from the walls, and partially due to the hundred nobles packed in the room.
It didn't help that they were all dressed in heavy silk clothes. Renji himself was dressed in his coronation robe, a heavy fabric that was embroidered with dragons, a symbol of his father the king.
To the onlooker, he was a majestic sight, but to him it felt like he was wrapped under a carpet that wouldn't let him breathe.
"At least they could have given me a lighter robe," he murmured to himself, pulling at the neck of the clothes so little air could enter.
One of the attendants behind him hissed, "Your Highness, stillness, please."
Renji rolled his eyes, but obeyed.
King Haruto looked old and tired, but regal as he sat tall in his throne. He had a small satisfied smile on his face as he looked around the hall.
Beside the king sat the queen, Queen Yukino. She was dressed in an immaculate black robe and decorated with pearls so big and shiny they could well be lightbulbs.
She was Renji's stepmother, and while she had never been nice to him, she had never been wicked to him either.
Renji's stepbrother, Kaito, was seated beside him with a tight posture and a tighter smile.
The high priestess stood up and went to the front of the room. "We're gathered here for joy," she said. "Today our prince Renji, the rightful heir to the throne of Takayama, shall be crowned the Crown Prince."
Loud applause rang through the chamber, with some cheers.
The priestess picked up the crown and headed to Renji. He sat up straighter, ready to receive it.
But then King Haruto coughed loud and shrill. Then another cough followed, and another, as the king began to claw at his own throat.
For a moment they were all stunned and didn't know what to do, but then the king slumped forward, tumbling from his throne.
The spell broke and Renji jumped to his feet. "Father!" He caught the king before his body touched the floor. "Somebody call the healers!" he shouted.
The chaos increased as women screamed and children ran around, the guards rushed to Renji and the unresponsive king.
"No, no, no…" Renji said, his voice cracking with grief and fear. "He is not gone, he just needs help, bring help!"
But then behind him a voice suddenly said, "You did this, Renji!"
There were gasps and Renji froze, turning around slowly.
Behind him stood his stepbrother, Kaito. "You did this!" he repeated. "He killed our father!"
Murmurs rippled through the crowds as they considered the gravity of his statement.
"What?" Renji asked incredulously. "How could I have done it?"
Then Queen Yukino stood up, her veil shifted to the side. "You all saw it. Renji gave the king his wine earlier, and now our king is dead."
"That's ridiculous!" Renji yelled. "I've always served father his wine, everyone knows that, and there has never been any issue!"
The crowd murmured among themselves, attesting to his statement.
"The king trusts me," Renji said.
"Trusted," Yukino corrected in a tone that was both soft and harsh. "And now he is dead, thanks to you."
Renji looked around desperately, wondering if he had an ally. But the lords and ladies, and even the high priestess, all kept their heads low and refused to meet his gaze.
Cold swept over his body, and his hands started to tremble as he realized what was happening. "I'm being framed," he muttered, and then yelled, "You're framing me! This is a setup!"
Unfortunately his displays only made him look like an unraveling man to the crowd, and they now sided against him, believing he must be guilty.
Kaito then stepped closer to him. "You always wanted the throne, brother. It was going to be yours eventually, but you couldn't wait a while longer."
Renji laughed sharply. "Was this your idea? Do you plan to be king after you frame me?"
"Enough!" Queen Yukino snapped, and the hall went silent. "Guards, seize that treasoner."
The guards paused a bit, unsure whether to follow the queen or respect who had been their crown prince for years now. Eventually they decided it was better to work for the queen, and they seized Renji by the arms.
Renji struggled against the grip. "Listen to me! I'm innocent! I didn't do it! Father wouldn't want this!"
However Queen Yukino remained composed. "By my word, and with the witness of this court, Prince Renji is hereby found guilty of treason. He is therefore stripped of all his titles and banished to the dark forest."
"No!" Renji said and struggled harder. "You can't just decide that! There hasn't even been a trial yet!"
But the crowd of nobles didn't care anymore, they had made up their mind and now saw him as a murderer.
The guards started dragging him down the steps and out of the throne room.
As he was dragged he passed by his father's body, sprawled on the tiles.
Renji felt his throat close and tears welled in his eyes, but he didn't cry. Instead he smiled humorlessly. "There it is, my coronation ends with my exile. Wonderful."
And so Prince Renji's future was over before it even started