After some tense moments filled with internal struggle, the hands slowly came down one by one, first a few, then more, until they were dropping like falling leaves in autumn.
Princess Natalia opened her eyes after the minute passed and smirked knowingly, a triumphant gleam in her gaze, then spoke with victory ringing in her voice:
"NOT EVEN ONE HAND REMAINS UP! SEE? EVEN THE HIGHEST CROWN MEMBERS AND OTHER RICH PEOPLE HERE DON'T WANT TO GO THERE AND LIVE. OF COURSE, SOME WANTED TO GO BUT GOT PRESSURED BY THE CROWD'S JUDGMENT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER SINCE THE MAJORITY FOR SURE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THIS ISLAND."
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the masses with burning intensity that seemed to reach every single person.
"YOU SEE, MY DEAR EIRS PEOPLE, THIS PLACE IS BAD IN MANY WAYS. I WON'T LIE TO YOU ABOUT THAT. BUT IT'S STILL BETTER THAN THOSE MAINLANDERS AND THEIR CITIES. YOU MAY GET A BELLY FULL OF FOOD THERE, BUT LIFE STILL REMAINS FRAGILE WHEREVER YOU GO. AT LEAST HERE, OUR FAMILY BELONGS TO THIS PLACE. WE ARE NOT OUTSIDERS WHO SEE YOU AS NUMBERS OR RESOURCES. I WANT TO WORK FOR THIS CITY WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE, SO GIVE ME A CHANCE TO SERVE YOU! I PROMISE I WILL CONTINUE MY MOTHER'S LEGACY FORWARD AND BUILD UPON IT. I LOVE THIS PLACE! I LOVE THE PEOPLE HERE! I LOVE THE WIND HERE! I LOVE THE ROCKS HERE! I LOVE THIS ISLAND WITH ALL MY HEART! LET ME SERVE THIS PLACE, AND I PROMISE I WILL BRING THIS ISLAND MORE PROSPERITY THAN BEFORE, WITH THE HELP OF MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, AND YOU PEOPLE!"
Princess Natalia spoke everything with complete sincerity that rang in every word, her heart laid bare before them, and then bowed deeply to the crowd. She kept bowing for several long minutes, her body bent forward in a sign of humility and respect, showing that despite her power, she recognized them as her people. The silence stretched as she remained in that position, vulnerable and open.
Then suddenly, CLAP!
A single clap sounded from somewhere in the crowd. The sound was loud in the silence, cutting through the tension like a blade. Then, with a chain reaction spreading through the masses like wildfire catching dry grass:
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
"PRINCESS NATALIA! PRINCESS NATALIA! PRINCESS NATALIA! PRINCESS NATALIA! PRINCESS NATALIA!"
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
Now the whole area was filled with her name being chanted enthusiastically, the sound building like thunder rolling across the sky. The applause grew louder and louder, hands coming together in celebration and acceptance. Princess Natalia stood up straight and looked at the swarm of people present below her, her eyes scanning across the sea of faces now looking at her with admiration instead of hatred. Slight tears could be seen forming in her eyes, gathering at the corners and threatening to spill down her cheeks. She just stood there, floating in the air as the people accepted her as their princess, their voices washing over her in waves of approval. The more she heard, the straighter her shoulders became, her head raising proudly, her stature becoming more dominant as she smiled confidently.
Slowly, after several minutes of continuous cheering that seemed to shake the very air around them, the voices quieted down to a manageable level. Then Princess Natalia spoke again, her voice warm and genuine, filled with emotion:
"THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR ACCEPTING ME! I WILL WORK HARD AS A PRINCESS AND WILL NOT GIVE YOU ANY CHANCE TO THROW ME OFF THE ROCKS! HEHE!"
Princess Natalia smiled beautifully, showing her warmth and genuine beauty to the masses. Even though her clothes and body were all sticky and a complete mess, covered in juice and pulp from the earlier assault, it still couldn't hide her radiant presence. The light seemed to catch her just right, making her glow despite the stains. Some people even shouted their love for her openly, their voices cracking with emotion. She just smiled graciously and spoke again, her tone becoming more practical:
"THE FIRST THING I WILL DO AS PRINCESS IS VISIT EVERY ROCK AND MEET THE OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE THERE PERSONALLY. SO I HOPE WHATEVER PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS YOU HAVE, YOU WILL COME TO ME AND SHARE THEM. I WILL TRY TO HEAR EVERYONE'S OPINIONS AND CONCERNS, SO MAKE SURE YOU PREPARE YOUR CONCERNS IN ONE CLEAR STATEMENT SO WE CAN ADDRESS THEM EFFICIENTLY. TODAY WILL BE A LONG DAY FOR ME, SO PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH THE PROCESS."
She took a breath, her expression becoming more serious and businesslike as she shifted into her role.
"AND MAKE SURE EVERY OFFICIAL IS PRESENT WHEN I VISIT THEIR ROCK. IF SOMEONE IS MISSING WITHOUT A VALID REASON, THEN THEY SHOULD FORGET ABOUT KEEPING THEIR POSITION. SO NOW, GO GET READY! IN AN HOUR OR SO, I WILL VISIT ROCK FIFTH FIRST, THEN SLOWLY MOVE TO THE OTHER ROCKS IN ORDER, SO I HOPE LEADER GRANKELL PARMESARSON WILL BE PRESENT WITH ALL THE OTHERS UNDER HIS COMMAND. AND PEOPLE WHO ARE FREE, JUST ENJOY THE SHOPS HERE. I'M SURE YOU CAN FIND SOME INTERESTING THINGS TO BUY OR SEE. NOW THEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT, AND SEE YOU SOON!"
Princess Natalia bowed again gracefully, the movement fluid and elegant despite her position on the floating board, then turned around and floated slowly back toward the platform. She descended with controlled grace, the board lowering smoothly until her feet touched solid ground again. The guards also landed around her in perfect formation and surrounded her protectively, creating a wall of bodies between her and the crowd.
She slowly moved inside the palace with straight, proper posture, her spine rigid and her head high, finally getting away from the eyes of the many high-ranking people and crowd members who still watched her every move. She walked through the corridors, maintaining her composure perfectly, her footsteps echoing on the stone floor. Every servant and guard she passed bowed respectfully as she went by, their heads lowering in acknowledgment of what she'd just accomplished.
Finally, she reached her family's private area deep in the palace. There, she saw her family and friends waiting for her, all of them smiling and showing their appreciation for her performance. Their faces were filled with pride and relief, their eyes shining with emotion.
Nat's careful composure finally broke like a dam bursting. She relaxed completely, her shoulders sagging, and ran fast toward them with abandon, all pretense of regality disappearing.
THUMP!
She crashed into Zack and hugged him tightly, desperately, her arms wrapping around him like she was trying to merge into him. She started complaining in a loud, childish voice that contrasted sharply with her earlier regal bearing.
"Waahhh! Zack! They were so mean at first! They threw things at me and shouted horrible things! They dirtied my dress! I liked it so much, and now I can't even show it off properly. It got all dirty and sticky as soon as I went out there! Waahhh!"
Nat complained extensively, her words tumbling out in a rush, making Zack's outfit also dirty from her tight, desperate hug. The juice and pulp from her dress transferred to his clothes, but he didn't seem to care at all. He just held her, letting her release everything she'd been holding in.
"Hehe, you did great out there. And don't worry. You're still beautiful as always. Nothing could stop your shining beauty. You even made some men swoon over you, which I don't particularly like, but I'll forgive you because you were so awesome back there. Now you're a true Princess, not just in title, but in their hearts." Zack spoke soothingly, his voice low and comforting, patting her back in slow rhythm to calm her down. He took a towel from Maid Emmy who had appeared beside them and gently covered Nat with it, creating some space from the hug so he could clean her face carefully, wiping away the juice and tears with tender movements.
"Hehe... it's true, isn't it? Did you see their reactions?"
She clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with delight despite the mess she was in, the earlier distress completely forgotten.
"Aren't I amazing? They loved me so much at the end! I just know I can win everyone's hearts and follow my dream of serving this city properly!"
She straightened proudly despite her dishevelled state, her chin lifted with confidence, the joy radiating from her.
"From today on, I am a princess, a real one! I'll make this city a better place, and one day the whole city will chant my name with love just like they did today. Hehe!"
Princess Natalia declared, her confidence overflowing like a fountain, her eyes shining with unshakable belief and determination. The fear and nervousness from before had completely vanished, replaced by pure excitement and conviction.
"Now that I've come into the public eye, I have to maintain my composure," Natalia said firmly, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "So, make sure you look presentable if you ever decide to approach me in public. I don't want people laughing at me, saying my closest friend isn't up to the mark. You understand, right, Zack? I can't make our relationship known just yet, so please bear with it."
Natalia's tone was composed but earnest as she instructed him, her eyes searching his face for understanding. Zack only smiled and nodded in quiet understanding, his expression accepting and patient.
"Sigh. My daughter was so brave out there! Clearly, she learned a lot from watching me all these years," Queen Mother spoke proudly as she drank some tea while sitting comfortably in her chair, her posture relaxed and satisfied.
"Is that so? But I remember you crying due to nervousness when you were going for your speech during your time," Mother Isafold smirked while speaking teasingly, her eyes dancing with mischief.
"Huh? What nonsense are you saying? I was so magnificent that everyone cheered for me as soon as I went out there!" Queen Mother's eye twitched slightly as she spoke with forced confidence, her cup rattling against the saucer.
"Mother, I can somehow imagine you as a scared little girl hiding behind the curtains," Little Princess smiled as she sat beside her, teasing gently while poking her arm playfully.
"No! Queen Mother is the best! I'm sure she must have done magnificently out there!" Big Guy spoke earnestly while crossing his arms over his broad chest and nodding with his eyes closed in complete seriousness. His loyalty was absolute and unwavering, his faith in Queen Mother unshakable.
"I don't care about that, but I know if I become a princess, then I will make those people kneel in front of me and beg for my attention! Hahahaha!" Maren laughed hysterically, throwing her head back and clutching her stomach with wild amusement.
"Big Sister Maren, you'll be thrown out if you act like that as a princess. It's good that you're a useless woman," Alfie spoke while walking happily past her, his steps light and teasing, sitting on the sofa and relaxing with a smug expression on his face.
"Hmm, that's true, Maren. You're not suitable for politics at all," Fia nodded approvingly, standing beside her brother in agreement, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Grr! You guys are just jealous of my natural talent! I can swoon thousands of people with a single wink! Humph!" Maren scoffed indignantly while flicking her hair dramatically over her shoulder, her nose in the air.
"Hmm, Zack, where are Sio and that maid? Did they already leave?" Nat calmed down somewhat from her excitement and looked around the room, her eyes searching for the missing members, as Zack took care of her hair with gentle hands, carefully removing bits of vegetable matter stuck in the strands.
"Yes, Princess, they went away as soon as your speech came halfway through," Maid Emmy spoke as she arrived with other maids carrying some more fresh towels and clean clothes, their arms laden with supplies. "They didn't want to waste the opportunity while everyone was distracted."
"I hope everything goes well for them. That place is dangerous," Nat sighed, feeling some tension return to her shoulders, worry creeping back into her chest like cold fingers.
"Don't worry. They'll be fine. You worry about yourself out there during your visits. I'm also going now to start investigating. Wish me luck, Princess Natalia," Zack smiled warmly and gently guided the strands of hair behind her ears, his fingers brushing against her cheeks lovingly, lingering for just a moment longer than necessary.
"Hmmm, why should I wish you luck? You're going to play hero with those women! Go away! I don't care! I'm officially a princess now so make sure to not play around otherwise I'll throw you down from the rocks myself!" Nat pouted in anger, her lower lip jutting out adorably, then casually turned around, not bothering to look at him anymore, her arms crossed over her chest in mock indignation.
Maid Emmy came forward and cleaned Zack's attire with quick, efficient movements, fixing his outfit that got dirty due to Natalia's actions. Zack thanked her politely and looked at Nat's back with an amused smile.
"Hehe, sure, sure. You freshen up and change into something clean. I'll try to find some clues about those names." Zack said, patting Nat's head affectionately one more time before starting to walk away toward the exit.
"Be fast! I want to have upper hand in the meeting!" Princess Natalia spoke while pouting, still refusing to turn around and look at him.
"BEST OF LUCK! AND TAKE CARE!" Everyone wished him good fortune as the others got busy taking care of the remaining guests and beginning preparations for the rock visits that would consume the rest of the day.
Zack looked back over his shoulder at Nat again, hoping to see her face one more time, to catch her eye and share a final moment before he left. But she was already telling others about her experience proudly, gesturing wildly and reenacting moments from her speech with animated movements, completely absorbed in reliving her triumph. Her voice carried across the room as she described the crowd's reaction, her hands moving through the air to show how she'd stood, how she'd moved.
Zack just smiled softly at the sight, his heart warming at her excitement. Shaking his head with gentle amusement, he turned away and left the room, his footsteps fading down the corridor as he headed toward his own mission.
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END OF CHAPTER
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AUTHOR BLABBERING
Speaking in front of a crowd is truly a skill, isn't it? How many of you can stand tall and talk comfortably while hundreds of eyes are locked on you? Perhaps there's even a famous person among you readers, who has spoken before a thousand people!!! And NO! speaking in school assembly don't count, hohoho!
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