Chapter: 15: The Crown Show

The Crown Show was designed to provide the viewers of Heliac with a detailed summary of the different events in the Crown Trials twice a week.

Live footage of our daily lives and important events would also be available on this channel when the Crown Show wasn’t airing.

The viewers would, thereby, gain access to all unedited footage captured by the cameras during the Crown Trials.

I didn’t know how much privacy we’d be entitled to, but I couldn’t imagine our private chambers being streamed on live air.

I would have to remember that question for when this Miss Pride came to visit us.

The Crown Show would then spend their episodes analyzing everything we did and didn’t do, and once a month, the suitors would be invited to an interview prepared by the host.

I dreaded that part the most.

That was all Mom could remember from the last season.

Her family also struggled financially when she was a child. She could only catch glimpses of the show near a public TV or at a friend’s house.

Although I didn’t have all the juicy details yet, I already felt confident that this episode would validate my prior assumptions.

The Crown Trials were nothing more than a royal reality show designed to entertain the public and distract them from the real problems in the world.

Most people had probably already forgotten why the Crown Trials were invented in the first place.

Mom brought the bland dinner to the living room, which happened more rarely than a black moon.

Bringing food into the living room was a certain death sentence under this roof. We couldn’t afford much new furniture, so we had to take good care of what we had, but tonight was an exception.

Dad was granted the honor of turning on the Aqua-Lux. The screen initially appeared blue until Dad pressed the button that redirected the signal to the only channel we could watch for free.

The first image to appear was a golden three-dimensional lotus swirling as if it had been caught in a sluggish vortex of air.

The show’s title was posed in a series of letters surrounding the beautiful flower, like a string of planets orbiting the sun.

The golden lotus had served as the official symbol of Heliac since Jonathan’s time. It was a symbol of peace and a representation of all—First-bloods and Iridis alike.

The timer in the upper left corner of the screen indicated that there were still a few minutes till the show began, but I was fine with that.

I was tirelessly admiring the quality and the brightness of the colorful display. The smoothness of transitions between frames was extraordinary and nearly seamless.

I narrowed my eyes to see if I could detect the water shifting as the picture updated, but it was impossible.

Then the rotating logo disappeared, leaving the screen pitch black.

The humming of active electricity was gradually replaced by cheering voices growing louder as the screen became brighter.

Light blinded me, and I had to cover my eyes as a loud voice broke through the cheer.

“Goooood evening, Heliac!”

A stadium the size of a phoenix ring arena had thousands of roaring people sitting and standing in tiers, all facing the scene fixed on top of a towering pillar.

It was an incredible sight.

The pillar stood on a base, but it looked like the platform on top was hovering freely in the air.

Advanced projection technology made the middle of the tall pillar appear transparent as the three-dimensional lotus of Heliac spun in the illusionary free space.

The massive, cylindrical scene had a screen attached to the sides, currently displaying a young man raising his hands far above his head.

His darkened curls slickly followed the broad shape of his head, the ends ultimately tickling the collar of his plum-colored suit.

Unruly, shaded waves hung in front of his round, earthly eyes, shining below two trimmed eyebrows.

Copper skin stretched into a wide, flattened nose and two round cheeks.

His plump lips were stretched into a far-reaching, welcoming smile, exposing slightly crooked teeth contrasting his smooth complexion.

His small ears were pierced by two golden hoops, dancing as he waved to the expectant audience.

He couldn’t be more than thirty—most likely a few years younger.

The camera finally zoomed in, displaying only the host and his scene.

Light illuminated the setting from every angle, making it impossible to find any shadows to hide in.

“Welcome to the~ Crown Show~—a production where we bring you the latest news on the much anticipated Crown Trials,” the man said, slowly revolving around to greet everyone in the stadium.

“My name is Arawn Yarrow, and tonight, like my father and his father before him, I’m here to formally commence the Crown Trials and announce the names of the twenty-four eligible suitors vying for the golden crown.”

The crowd erupted in raging cheers.

“All right, all right,” Arawn said, chuckling as he gestured for the crowd to settle down.

“I’m sure if you’ve been even a fraction as excited about this evening as I’ve been, your jumping hearts must be yearning for me to stop talking and getting—”

Laughter interrupted Arawn’s introductory speech. Even the corners of my lips tugged upward.

“However,” Arawn continued once the audience settled.

“As I’m sure there are many young minds who have never experienced this royal tradition among the audience tonight and many mature souls who might need a comprehensive reminder, the rules of the game must first be recited.

“For that important task, I will need help from a very special guest.

“So, before I reveal the identity of this memorable woman, let us begin this magnificent evening with a few memories from the past twenty-five years.”

Our screen darkened as the lights on the stage faded.

Trumpets eased into a melody that eventually became Heliac’s unmistakable anthem.

An image appeared on the screen. The woman’s kind smile and youthful features made the crowd applaud.

A few seconds later, the image shifted to display the profile of a beautiful red-headed woman.

It didn’t take long for me to realize the sequence of images represented the previous twenty-four suitors from the last Crown Trials.

“That’s her,” Mom said, pointing at the image of another beautiful young woman. “That’s Queen Pangea from when she was your age, Willow.”

I blinked a few times before I allowed myself to analyze her delicate features.

Her long, nearly white hair had been pulled back into a tight ponytail that reached farther than the image allowed us to see.

The upturned ocean eyes were framed by a pale-blue line, tracing the sensitive margins.

Only a tiny, black mole beside her dark eyebrow—as if a drop of the night sky had landed on the pale, polished skin—convinced me she wasn’t the goddess of snow and ice.

Instead, she ruled the wind.

The young woman’s face slightly aged as the image changed, revealing lines of maturity surrounding her eyes and warm smile.

The king’s hand rested lovingly on her crimson-colored shoulder as she held a small child in her arms.

The young Prince Atlas stood proudly beside her, looking into the camera with the determined gaze of Heliac’s future ruler. His younger brother sat on the floor, playing carelessly with their mother’s dress.

They looked…happy.

The image disappeared before a new portrait of Heliac’s golden pride emerged on the screen, gazing onto the horizon like a victorious warrior.

Prince Atlas was now old enough to demonstrate his worth as Heliac’s future ruler by choosing the most qualified queen among his suitors, thereby keeping Heliac safe for another generation.

It was a heavy burden to carry.

The sequence of images stopped, and we were brought back to the stage, where Arawn stood, ready to resume the show.

“What eventful years it has been since the previous Crown Trials, for the better and the worse—may the queen rest in everlasting peace.”

Arawn took a moment, pressed his palm against the chest, hiding his beating heart, and then closed his eyes in a silent gesture to honor the Lost Queen.

“Now,” he said, opening his eyes that gleamed playfully to the cameras. “To introduce this year’s Crown Trials, let me present the magnificent, elegant, and gorgeous…Miss Evelyn Pride.”

Smoke emerged from nowhere, covering the entire stage except one spot in the middle of the platform.

Then a hatch opened, and a woman rose from the floor, striking a pose of dominion and power.

Rosy hues tinged her ivory cheeks as if petals of cherry blossoms bloomed behind her delicate skin.

Faint freckles stretched past her pointy nose like scattered stars, making her green eyes stand out like the soul of nature.

Her flaming red hair was braided into countless sections and pulled back into a knot by the carved disk of a beautiful golden sun rising at dawn.

As she stepped forward, her crimson dress spilled over the floor, revealing a bold slit down the layered skirt.

“Miss Evelyn,” Arawn said, gently kissing the back of her hand. “Welcome to the ~Crown Show~.”

“Thank you, Dear Arawn,” Evelyn said, her voice cheery yet firm. “I have been looking forward to being here.”

Arawn smiled, then turned to raise Evelyn’s hand.

“For those who are unfamiliar with Miss Evelyn’s achievements, she is a renowned specialist in royal etiquette and author of the best-selling series ~Rules and Guidelines of Basic Etiquette~.

“A book that many royal academies use to teach their students.

“Miss Evelyn will be working with the suitors and preparing them for a potential life as the new golden queen. She will be their guide and mentor through their time at the castle and in this competition—”

Evelyn Pride… She must’ve been the woman the king referred to back at the mansion. I would have to remember her.

“Thank you for a very humble introduction, Arawn,” Evelyn said, smiling playfully as she waited for the audience’s laughter to settle.

“It is an honor to have been handpicked by the king to take good care of the twenty-five girls who will—”

Arawn arched an eyebrow as whispers spread among the spectators.

“I must apologize for interrupting you, Miss Evelyn, but did I hear correctly when you mentioned ~twenty-five~ suitors?” Arawn asked.

I wanted to climb farther into the couch. No one in the audience or behind other screens could see me, but I felt uncomfortably exposed.

Evelyn smiled broadly, revealing dimples marking both her cheeks.

“There is nothing wrong with your hearing yet, Arawn,” she said, squeezing his hand before she let go to step closer to the edge of the stage.

“Every new generation of the Crown Trials is met with a surprise from the crown committee to keep the process fresh and unpredictable.

“For example, the previous generation made the suitors engage in an early duel until only fifteen remained. This year, a wildcard will be selected.”

“A wildcard,” Arawn said, joining Evelyn’s side. “Would you care to explain how this ~wildcard~ is selected?”

“The first twenty-four suitors have been named as usual—a champion from each academy.

“However, by the end of this evening, a final suitor will be randomly selected among the Iridis who didn’t qualify—regardless of her exam result.

“This will give the lucky girl a second chance to prove herself worthy of her good fortune,” Evelyn explained.

“So, we have twenty-five suitors this season. That is certainly a surprise,” he said, laughing deeply.

I scoffed.

A randomly selected suitor among the Iridis elite. I wasn’t going to be chosen at random. I didn’t even want to be there, but they’d been forced to change their plans because of me.

“Have you noticed something odd about the host?” Dad whispered into my ear.

“Which one?” I asked and leaned closer.

“Arawn,” he whispered and pointed at Arawn’s face.

I narrowed my eyes and looked closely. I didn’t spot it right away, but then it hit me.

“Why is Arawn not wearing a microphone when Miss Evelyn is?” I whispered.

My eyes continuously searched Arawn’s purple suit for any small, black thing resembling the article attached to the neck of Miss Evelyn’s dress.

There was no bump, no black spot. Nothing.

Dad smiled, proud of my observation. “Exactly. I doubt the color of his suit is not merely to complement his good looks.”

Realization suddenly dawned upon me. “You think he’s a sound manipulator?” I said, turning my head to look at him and spot the touch of purple tinting his skin.

Sound Iridis could manipulate sound waves. They could amplify, direct, and dampen them—a powerful ability when neglecting the pure elements.

“So, now that we’ve established how many suitors will be joining Miss Evelyn in the Golden Castle in a few weeks, let’s summon up the rules and timeline for the upcoming Crown Trials.”

The lights dimmed, and a spotlight focused its golden light on the two hosts.

“As we all know,” Arawn started. “The suitors will compete in various disciplines to prove they are worthy of the golden crown instead of their peers.

“In two weeks, the suitors will be escorted to the castle where they will spend the first week getting used to their new surroundings before they meet the crown prince and the Trials will officially have begun.

“During the first phase, it will be prohibited for the suitors to spend time alone with Crown Prince Atlas until the number of girls remaining in the competition has been reduced to fifteen.

“Here, the suitors are tested on their ability to perform outside the comfort of their individual academies.

“The duration of each phase is yet unknown and will solely depend on the result of each trial and whether the crown prince decides to send a girl home.

“The next phase will allow the prince a chance to get to know the suitors on a more personal level in order to assess their potential as leaders and rulers.

“Additionally, we, here at the Crown Show, will each month have the privilege of interviewing these suitors individually.”

I shivered.

The majority of Heliac would be watching as Arawn questioned us about the personal details of our lives and our…meetings with the prince.

Everything I did would be analyzed and evaluated by every viewer behind their screens.

Would I even be able to maintain the charade, or would Arawn see through me right away?

“And last, but absolutely not least, the three trials,” Arawn said, smiling.

“The Crown Trials did not receive its name at random but was inspired by the three trials established to test the suitors in areas the queen of Heliac is expected to master.

“These trials will not have been defined in advance and will be prepared as the Crown Trials proceed. Thereby, all suitors will be given the same conditions without any chance to adapt beforehand.”

Applause sounded through the speakers.

“Now,” Arawn said, turning toward Evelyn. “I must confess that I cannot contain my curiosity much longer. Will you do us the honor, Miss Evelyn?”

“It’ll be my pleasure,” Evelyn said, smiling broadly. “Let the reveal of the suitors begin, starting with the six academies from the Terra Realm.”

The cameras zoomed out just as the three-dimensional projection of a young girl’s face materialized inside the pillar.