Time seemed to stand still. I rose slowly and stepped forward deliberately. I wasn’t in a hurry—I was too busy concentrating. Praying, really.Please work. Please work.
I stood right next to the box. I wanted to reach for the amulet, but it was no longer there. I felt a pang at that.
I closed my eyes. The amulet might be gone, but my mother was in this room, and it wasn’t only her; I saw my father, too.Standing next to her. And beyond them, my grandparents Paolo and Erlinda, and more and more, all the encantos who had ruled Biringan. They were always with me, I knew then. My strength came from my blood, from the people who came before me. The powerful encantos with their magic, and my human ancestors, who were healers and made the world better with their kindness.
I reached my hands out toward the box, still with my eyes closed.
People in the room began to whisper.
I wasn’t sure if anything was happening, but I kept my eyes closed, and I felt the strength of my bloodline rise to meet the challenge.
A surge pulled through me, and I heard more whispers around the room, and for a split second, I disconnected from my body, then abruptly returned. My eyes snapped open, and in front of me, the box was dissolving.
It didn’t even open. It just... vanished. The crowd made some astonished noises. There, on a white silk cloth, was the Scepter of Aurora. Gold, with inlaid vines and florals, and on the end, an orb made of polished purple amethyst, veins and flecks of gold running through it.
I took it off the stand with both hands, feeling the weight of all those who had held it before me—all my ancestors. Most recently, my father. For the first time since I’d traveled over to this other world, I felt a true connection to him, not just my mom.
I looked up at the peaked ceiling and hoped he could hear my thanks.
“She has passed the Test of Viability,” Luzviminda announced.
The room erupted in cheers.
***
Most of therest of the ceremony was a blur to me. I was so focused on getting my parts right and not dropping the scepter or tripping over my voluminous skirts. The priestess sang in the ancient diwata language I had yet to learn, but I somehow felt like I could understand the meaning. I thought about all those who had sat there before me, those who would after me, and how I’d already ensured I’d be remembered for many generations to come—quite a lot for a girl who until so recently felt invisible and forgotten.
After a lot of reciting, Luzviminda turned to me and asked me to stand. I did, and one of her attendants stepped forward holding the Talon Crown, the royal crown of Biringan. She took it and carried it to me. It was large and looked quite heavy. There were four enormous jewels circling it, each representing one of the courts: Sigbin blue, Tikbalang maroon, Lambana green, and Sirena yellow. In the center: purple. The other color of the Court of Sirena and the color of royalty.
“Princess Mahalina Jazreel of the Court of Sirena, only daughter of King Vivencio Basilio Rodriguez II, once this crown is placed upon your head, you are hereby proclaimed the rightful sovereign of Biringan, with all the rights and responsibilities thereof. Do you accept?”
“I do,” I said solemnly.
She lowered the crown onto my head. It was as heavy as Iexpected, but it fit perfectly. The room—and even the crowd outside—was completely silent.
“Then I now officially decree youQueenMahalina Jazreel, the first of the Court of Sirena, the one true ruler of Biringan, protector of the Magical Realm.”
Raucous cheering and clapping exploded all around me.
***
After the ceremony,an endless line of aristocrats waited to congratulate me and genuflect to the new ruler. Including at least one of my former rivals.
Amador gave me her best half curtsy and polite, if somewhat reluctant, congratulations.
“Thank you, Amador,” I said, responding with my widest smile.
Hers faded some. “I know this is your day, Your Majesty, but I wanted to be sure to be the one to tell you so you don’t hear from anyone else first.”
“What’s that, Duchess?”
She acted like she was hesitant, or too shy to tell me. “Well, you’ll see. I don’t want to ruin it. Let’s put it this way: Keep your eye on your mail.” With that, she moved along, and the next well-wisher stepped up, and then another, and another, until I forgot about Amador and her pathetic attempt to ruin my day—with what? Her birthday party invite? She really was competitive about everything.
Once the line finally ended, I stepped outside to the roaring cheers of the crowd gathered in front of the Council of the Courts. I stopped to wave. They were all waving purple flags now, not justthe children, many of whom were perched on their parents’ shoulders. I couldn’t believe they were there for me. An older woman at the front of the crowd reached out her hand. She held a huge white flower. “Your Majesty!” she called out.
I took a few steps toward her and accepted the flower. The woman looked surprised and happy; she bowed and then said, “You will be the best queen that Biringan has seen in centuries!”
“Thank you,” I told her. At that moment, I felt a hand at my elbow.
