Chapter 340: Coronation of a King Part I (2/2)

The entire Great Hall was silent as they heard this news; straight from the Pirate Queen's mouth, she had admitted to the fact that she was the runaway Byzantine Princess. Vetranis struggled to cope with this news as he grasped ahold of his errant daughter. It took him a few moments to come to his senses before he asked the flurry of questions on his mind.

”Are you alright? Why are you here in Kufstein? Did anything happen to you?”

After hearing this, Honoria broke away from her father's grasp, where she put on a friendly smile before assuring him that she was ok.

”I'm alright father, without King Berengar's kindness, I would be dead, or worse by now...”

Hearing this news snapped Vetranis back to reality, and he instantly made his way over to the Austrian King with a look of fury on his face.

”You bastard! You kept my daughter here this entire time, and you did not once notify me that she was alive! Just what are you planning!?!”

However, before Vetranis could take a swing at Berengar, his arm was dragged away by a pleading Honoria. She could instantly tell by the shocked facade that Berengar and the others were putting on that they planned to deny knowing her true identity. As such, she quickly played the part.

”You're wrong, father; King Berengar was ignorant of my true identity. I told him I was a noblewoman from Antioch! All he has done is show me kindness!”

While Honoria played the part well, only one man in the crowd was unconvinced of her charade, and that was a particularly powerful nobleman from the Byzantine Empire. Though Berengar had no way of knowing it, this man was one of the backers of Andronikos. He had journeyed with the Emperor to Kufstein to assure that the scheme to place Berengar and Honoria's son on the Byzantine Throne went smoothly. As such, he quickly came to Honoria's defense as he approached the enraged Emperor.

”Your Majesty, I know you are currently conflicted, but think about this rationally. I mean, just look at King Berengar; he seems just as baffled as you are about this whole situation. I suggest we discuss these matters in private after the Coronation has ended; after all, you are making a scene...”

After hearing the advice from his counsel, Vetranis looked around. Where he saw that the entire attention of the Great Hall had been shifted to him, and his outburst, as such, the Emperor coughed before speaking to Honoria in a more friendly tone.

”I expect a proper response from you about what has happened since you foolishly decided to run away and what exactly the nature of the relationship is between you and this man!”

With that said, the Emperor withdrew from Berengar's presence and left the Great Hall; for now, he needed some time to think things through, and the advice of his counsel would play a role in how he treated this new information.  The mysterious noblemen who calmed the Emperor's wrath approached Berengar before bowing respectfully.

”I apologize for the Emperor's behavior; since Arethas' untimely death, he has been a bit on edge. I hope you can forgive him for his violent outburst on this special day of yours.”

With that said, Berengar nodded his head in silence while observing the man closely. After seeing the King of Austria's reaction, the mysterious nobleman raised his head before departing.

”If you will excuse me, I believe it is my job to counsel the Emperor when he is distressed. I assure you, whatever is the nature of your relationship with our princess, I will ensure that the Emperor accepts it.”

After saying this, the man followed after the enraged Emperor of Byzantium, leaving Berengar and Honoria in a confused state. Honoria gazed at Berengar with tears forming in her eyes, that began to stream down her perfect ivory cheeks. It was at this moment Berengar realized that he had not informed her of Arethas' demise.  With this in mind, the girl choked on her words as she attempted to find out for certain.

”Ar... Arethas is dead?”

In response to this Berengar grabbed ahold of Honoria and tucked her head into his chest while stroking her silky white hair. As he did so he apologized to her profusely.

”I am so sorry, I thought you knew...”

As such Honoria spent the next thirty minutes staining Berengar's luxurious attire with her tears. Throughout this entire time, Berengar comforted the princess on the loss of her Godfather. The beginning of the day of his coronation had not gone as planned.

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