I never asked for this.
The weight of the crown. The burden of expectation.
My step was firm as I made my way down the aisle. Not to a wedding. No. That would have been a blessing, instead of this curse.
My posture was perfect as I had been taught. No hunching, no fidgeting. My eyes stared straight at the stained glass decorating the window behind the holy altar.
The church was where most things sacred were held and my coronation was considered the epitome of divine. The screams of joy from the people along the streets as we made our way here. The genuine tears of joy that fell from a mother's eye, the square shoulders of a grateful father. The ringing laughter of the children in awe.
So much joy, so much hope. So much pressure.
I had ended my father's rain of blood and terror with the swing of my own blade. His blood still drying on the armor I refused to wash.
Patricide. Even now as my gait radiates authority and confidence, the bitter taste of bile kissed my throat. To them, he was a madman and evil. To me, he was the loving father who read me to sleep and trained me in the sword with laughter and pride.
I know. They are right about him, but are they right about me?
The shadow in my heart from another life and the darkness of foul deeds conceived in this one, stain my soul with bitterness and anger.
I sympathize with the people, that is why they love me. I had lived the life of a common man before, so I understood better than any royal or noble the true burden of the builder, the farmer, and the smith.
Reaching the podium, my concentration was re-focused as the priest on the alter smiled at me. A man who is as filthy as my father was in deed, but acting the part for the people.
The widows and girls who disappeared after confessions. The orphanages that never had enough money despite my generous donations. The people found with a knife in the heart, left to rot in alleys when asking questions.
This world was evil. Then again every world with humanity is evil, my old life was no different.
The practiced smile easily rose on my face as I accepted the rod of rule from him. Next I took three steps to the throne, a fancy chair placed temporarily and turned to face the pews.
The nobles had seats lining the aisles and the commoners had to stand along the walls. Well, these commoners who had connections and influence enough.
Finished with my sweep of the room, I lowered myself upon the 'throne' carefully. The priest then steeped forward once more, blocking my view as he placed the crown upon my head.
The physical weight was probably about eight pounds, considering the pure gold, giant gems, and velvet lining. The spiritual weight was suffocating me.
Even as I looked upon these faces of greed, the roar of the people reverberated from outside. Their hopes, prayers, and longings hammering into my ears in a symphony cry of the soul of this great nation.
And it was great. We were the strongest in the world, the center of trade and church. We fought in the frontlines against the demon continent and spilled the most blood for the security of everyone.
The military had been placed under my purview early on and I had immediately sought to reform it. To make it better, I removed the useless bureaucracy that strained logistics, stripped ranks from useless nobles that had bought their way, and empowered the truly capable minds within.
That success had earned me the ability to push social reforms and economic policies that would bear fruit generations onwards.
The priest finished his sermon and moved off to the side with a flourishing bow. I rose, gravity doing its best to keep me down.
I was meant to give a speech now. To declare the "doctrine" of my rain as king, which was important for everyone to know what to work towards. Or what to sabotage.
Instead I remained silent. My gaze moving across the church quietly, taking in its bueatty and splendor before my eyes finally rested on a statue of a female figure.
Luminara, the Goddess.
The divine being in charge of this planet and someone I had met when being reincarnated. My set jaw loosened slightly as I recalled those conversations with fondness.
She was a truly good person, not by her duties or divinity, but through the experiences of her long life watching her creations suffer and prosper.
My eyes rose to the ceiling hoping to pierce the stone lattice and dense clouds so I could see her again. I hope my gaze reaches her. I hope it conveys my gratitude, my trepidation, my grief, and my love. I loved her.
Silly, I know, for a mortal to love a divine. Foolish even.
I wanted to talk again to her my experiences, to get her advice, and… ask her forgiveness.
For what I was about to do in her most holy place.
Lowering my eyes, I locked onto a man standing against the wall even though he was wearing a military uniform with the highest rank. A nod from my head was the signal he needed as he reciprocated.
Pushing off the wall he made his way to the double door guarding the only way in, manned by two more military personnel.
After such a long stretch of silence, unease had begun to ripple through the gathered people. Every single person here I had invited.
"My name is Gaius Regulus Toront II, named so after my grandfather, the 16th King of the Toront Kingdom. I come before you all today to take on the burden of ruling as the 18th King and to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the great people that call this land home. I do so under the hope that Goddess may bless my reign and the continent may trust our continued protection."
This caused a stir among the pews as I said "hoped" for the Goddess' blessing instead of just being "blessed" already. Divine Right, I believe it was called.
I paused here so the murmuring can quiet down. My eyes glancing towards the doors that had now been secured shut and the side doors that were allowing soldiers in one by one.
"I have prayed for 3 days and 3 nights, seeking the wisdom of Luminara as is tradition for coronation and, though she did not speak directly to me (rules of the universe do not allow that), I have felt her fear."
Dead silence. Now everyone was paying attention with the only noise coming from the faint shuffle of the military personnel spreading out.
"Fear for the plans I have laid bare before her. The future I wish to achieve. The Goddess is benevolent and seeks to preserve the safety of her children, us, no matter her reservations. Good, Evil. Right and Wrong. Each of those are within us and all of them are a part of us."
Now people were starting to notice the abnormal number of soldiers, whispering frantically to their neighbors. The noise level of the hall had begun to rise.
I stopped speaking as I watched the fear creep into them. One could not hold out any longer and rose with a snap of his fan.
"What is the meaning of this, Gaius?!?"
Archibold, Duke of Carrack. The western side of the kingdom.
"King."
My short retort confused him as bafflement overtook his expression.
"Its King Gaius."
I further provided.
Spittle flew from his mouth as he pointed an accusing finger at me. Normally, that would be enough for him to have the offending finger removed under law, but I wasn't too bothered. A much worse fate awaited him.
"Why are the doors shut and so many soldiers here?!?"
Now even the most stupid people realized that they were sitting in a box, no escape route open, and surrounded by a deadly force. The stench of fear started to thicken into a suffocating pressure.
I just smiled. "What do you think?"
With that signal, the slaughter began. The soldiers ignited their magic blades (much like lightsabers) and began the systematic killing of everyone present.
Screams rang out and curses followed as the most powerful realized their magic was sealed.
My eyes once again found Luminara's statute. Her eyes gazing back at me with sorrow. I would like to think they did.
I could only close my eyes and apologize. I was desecrating her most sacred place and forcing her eyes upon such bloodshed. I had agonized over this for a long time.
The issue is that the ceremony was the only time all the nobles could be gathered in one place and I had the ability to filter specifically who I wanted to be here.
As I asked for forgiveness, the priest approached with shaking hands and a fragile smile.
"My-My lord, I-I am not-not sure Lady Lu-Luminara would approve.."
Tsking at my prayer being interrupted, I opened my eyes with anger flashing through them. Did these people think I wanted this? That I wanted to rule? That I wanted to kill? THAT I WANTED TO CLEAN UP THE MESSES OF HUMANITY?!?
My blade was swift and true as the priest did not even register his own head being hacked off before he died. The stench of blood hung heavy in the air as the soldiers finished off the last of the guests, their begging and pleading ignored.
The filth had been cleaned from the system. The military was under my control and now remaining noble, less than 1/3, who were good people according to my investigations would help me build the greatest nation this world would ever see.
Hopefully by the time I die, the continent would know peace and prosperity, while the threat of demons would be eradicated. This is my duty as King. As a human.
I never asked for this.
But now that I am here, I would make sure I did it right.