The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 385

Chapter 385
Isabel I
December 25th.
It was Lixia’s birthday, and also David’s birthday.
However, neither of them seemed to have the leisure to celebrate.
Because just a few days after Queen Sophia fell into a coma, the phone call from the Silver and Tin Hall reached all the ministers.
“Seven fifteen in the evening, the dragon has arrived at the Lake Island.”
This was a code.
It was used to prevent people from deliberately spreading news of the death of a royal family member, thus spreading false information and causing chaos in an era where refuting rumors was inconvenient. The death of a royal family member would be replaced by the word “dragon.” The closer the “dragon” got to the center of Glass Island, the more it meant that a very important person had died.
And Lake Island was the island where the Silver and Tin Hall was located.
In fact, before many people received the news, they had already guessed it—
Because directly above the Silver and Tin Hall, which always glittered with a brilliant silver light, a magnificent and clear rainbow suddenly appeared in the evening sky. The light rain that fell with the night curtain, and the rainbow also dissipated.
Then, silvery white radiance shone from the palace, shooting straight into the sky and lingering for a long time.
Four knights, riding pegasi, holding sacred swords, and clad in silver armor, descended from the beam of light and entered the palace.
Many people witnessed this scene.
This was undoubtedly a spectacle.
It was not that all monarchs were personally welcomed by knights dispatched by the Silver Crown Dragon when they died.
Queen Sophia was the first in two hundred years.
Immediately after, a black obituary was posted on the fence at the entrance of the Silver and Tin Hall, and the national flag above the Silver and Tin Hall was lowered to half-mast. All the griffins on the Griffin Bridge were draped in black scarves.
The ministers who received the news called their respective departments one after another, issuing obituaries that, while having different details, were similar and brief in content:
“My dear colleagues, I am saddened to inform you that Her Majesty the Queen has passed away.”
Within half an hour, the news reached the newspaper office through various channels. The next day’s morning newspaper hastily revised its headline and began printing.
But before people saw the newspaper, the people of Glass Island already knew about it.
—The beam of light shooting into the sky did not need to be hidden.
The people of Glass Island spontaneously gathered, holding umbrellas, and headed to the front of the Griffin Bridge. Most people were not allowed to cross the bridge, so they merely stopped at the entrance, looking at the silvery white beam of light that shot into the sky.
It was bright enough, but not dazzling. Although it was night after sunset, it illuminated the surroundings as if it were early morning.
People subconsciously piled up flower baskets in front of the Griffin Bridge.
But then, gradually, some people dared to step onto the Griffin Bridge and carried the flower baskets deeper inside.
Perhaps only today, the snow-white griffins on the Griffin Bridge were silent.
They wore black scarves like scarves and quietly watched people pass by them, placing flower baskets closer to the Silver and Tin Hall.
Less than three hours after the news spread—before midnight, the Griffin Bridge was covered with flowers.
People did not cry or make noise. Without any rehearsal or call to action, people spontaneously placed flowers in the empty spaces on the bridge.
And in the Silver and Tin Hall, Isabel, whose face was somewhat pale, now wore the crown and held the scepter. The magic painting was personally drawn by Janis.
Her hands rested on the handle of the scepter as if supporting a sword, and the three-eyed snake’s head, like a triangular pyramid, coiled around Isabel’s wrist and rested on the back of her hand.
On her left and right were two portraits. The one on the left was her grandmother, Queen Sophia, and the one on the right was her father, Prince Albert.
But her father was not in the Silver and Tin Hall at this moment, nor even on Glass Island. Therefore, he could not even participate in the ceremony of his mother’s death and his daughter’s succession.
Eivass stood beside Janis, watching how Janis drew the magic painting.
Soon, he was pushed by Janis.
“Go over there,”
Janis said softly, “Stand behind Her Majesty.”
Eivass raised his eyebrows, “Am I… suitable?”
This painting would later be sent to the Glass Steps Herald as proof of the new king’s image.
The royal power of Avalon was continuous and unbroken. After the old king died, the new king had in fact already succeeded to the throne. It was just that the coronation ceremony had not yet been completed.
After all, the national mourning alone would last for a week, followed by the Queen’s funeral. Then, the royal mourning period would continue for another week, during which Isabel would tour all the important cities of Avalon, so that people could get to know the new Queen.
The coronation ceremony was the most solemn ceremony for the new Queen’s enthronement, and it was impossible to start preparing in advance while Queen Sophia was still alive. Nor could it be prepared hastily—for this reason, the coronation ceremony was usually not held immediately after the new king ascended the throne, but would be held months or even more than half a year later.
When Queen Sophia ascended the throne at the time, she was formally crowned more than half a year later.
“According to the rules, the Queen’s relatives, closest siblings, and trusted high officials should stand together. Sherlock should also have come, but it was inconvenient for him, so he didn’t.”
Janis explained.
Strictly speaking, it was not appropriate for Sherlock to have his image recorded by any form of photography or painting at this time. Because “Little Sherlock” would only last for a period of time, and he would soon return to his youth; and in a short time, he would become a middle-aged or even elderly person.
With three harvests a year, the speed of photo updates could not keep up with his growth.
“Should I say something?”
Eivass asked softly, “Or do something?”
“No need. But you can encourage Her Majesty.”
Master Janis said.
However, Master Janis’s voice was somewhat hoarse today.
She was also very sad that her good friend of sixty years had passed away. But this was the fate of the long-lived, and she had long adapted to it. Not to mention that Queen Sophia’s health had been gradually declining… She died of old age, not sudden misfortune. Others had already prepared themselves mentally.
But even so, they still felt sad.
Eivass obediently walked over and stood behind Isabel. Isabel was also somewhat silent due to sadness—no matter how mentally prepared she was, when she truly faced the result, her eyes had begun to redden.
He gently patted Isabel’s shoulder. The young Queen turned her head and met Eivass’s gaze.
She nodded slightly, then quickly regained her resolve and looked forward. Eivass then lowered his hand and looked at Janis with his hands behind his back.
Master Janis painted the magic painting very quickly, possibly even faster than printing in this era—in less than three minutes, a moving magic painting was completed.
This painting would then be sent to the Glass Steps Herald and preserved.
After the magic painting was completed, Isabel, whose eyes were still somewhat red, extended her right hand, adorned with rings, towards Eivass.
“You are the first, Eivass.”
She said softly.
“Yes, Your Majesty,”
Eivass said softly.
He knelt on one knee, took Isabel’s hand, and gently kissed the silver dragon’s head on the dragon head ring.
“I pledge my allegiance to you, my Queen.”
But then, Isabel did not retract her hand.
Eivass looked up at her in surprise.
He saw Isabel’s cheeks slightly redden, but she did not meet his gaze. Eivass then slightly curved his lips, silently pulled Isabel’s right hand, and kissed the back of her hand again.
Isabel still did not retract her hand. Instead, she turned her hand over and gently caressed Eivass’s cheek and earlobes, lowering her head to look at Eivass.
“I accept your allegiance, my knight.”
She murmured softly.
Update complete!
I went out this afternoon, so it’s a bit late! But I felt I could still write, so I didn’t take a leave!