(Thanks to "", "Perseverance, Continue", "Liu Shuo2015", "tanggaolong", "Yoyoyo Yuanyue" and "A Little Rookie!" for the 100 reward! Finally someone joined the group, the first one, cried with joy...)
In the King's Hall, an exquisite sarcophagus, inscribed with runes of Holy Light, sat in the very center. High Priest Isillien, accompanied by a dozen Priest, stood around the sarcophagus in prayer. The remains of His Majesty King Terenas lay within.
The king's funeral had to be solemn. Princess Calia stood before the throne, with Uther the Lightbringer beside her and Earl Lawrence on the other side. As Her Highness's special advisors, Jiang Jie and Fenna stood below her.
One by one, the leaders arrived, their demeanor solemn and respectful. No one dared to be noisy or unruly in such a setting, for doing so would be a provocation against the entire Lordaeron.
"His Majesty's will: Princess Calia shall succeed as King of Lordaeron; Uther the Lightbringer shall be appointed Grand Duke of Lordaeron and Regent of Regent of Lordaeron Earl Lawrence of Marquis of the Kingdom." Isillien announced the will and called forth several witnesses:
They were all guards, mages, Priest, and handmaids present before Terenas breathed his last, testifying that the appointment read by Isillien was valid.
In fact, it's not necessary at all.
The House Menethil has only this last bloodline left; unless there is treason, everyone must support her.
As for Uther the Lightbringer, he is undoubtedly the only candidate for regent. No one in the entire Kingdom of Lordaeron is more qualified to assume this responsibility, and no one objects to it.
As for bestowing upon him the title of Grand Duke of Lordaeron...
This title is equivalent to Bolvar Fordragon's " Grand Duke of Stormwind City," making him the second most powerful person after Queen Calia. At other times, no matter how high Uther's prestige is, he could never be granted the title of Grand Duke, especially the title of Grand Duke of Lordaeron, as the nobles would certainly oppose it with all their might.
But things are different now.
Not to mention that most of the great nobles had already fled, even if they hadn't, who would dare to oppose King Terenas's dying wish?
Earl Lawrence was already one of the most powerful Earl. With the great nobles fleeing with their families, there were few nobles in all of Lordaeron with a higher status than him. In addition, he was one of the earliest and most steadfast supporters of Princess Calia. It was only right that he was now granted a title.
The funeral proceeded amidst mourning, with Archmage Antonidas and Admiral Daelin delivering eulogies.
Unlike the other leaders, they were genuinely grieving, for they were old friends of King Terenas, and seeing a former comrade-in-arms pass away naturally saddened them.
Antonidas, older than Terenas, lamented the untimely death of his old friend. Few of his contemporaries remained. As Legendary mage, he possessed methods to extend his lifespan, and barring unforeseen circumstances, he could live for several more decades or even centuries. The feeling of his old friends leaving one by one was unbearable.
Admiral Daelin, known as a "tough guy," had never shed a tear in the more than ten years since his eldest son's death; today was the first time.
Then it was King Varian's turn to deliver the eulogy.
His identity is rather unique.
During World War I, Stormwind City was destroyed by the Orcs. Sir Lothar, along with Varian, who was still a prince, came to Lordaeron and lived there for several years.
During that time, he got along very well with Princess Calia, who was a few years younger than him, and Prince Arthas. King Terenas also took great care of him, almost treating him like another son.
It was Terenas who rallied the rest of humanity to help Stormwind City drive out the invaders and reclaim its territory. Terenas provided immense support and assistance during Stormwind City's reconstruction and watched over Varian as he ascended the throne like a loving father.
Lordaeron was Varian's second home.
Terenas raised him, providing him with shelter and warmth during his childhood, and teaching him how to become a wise ruler. Having lost his father at a young age, he regarded Marshal Lothar, a friend of his father, as his adoptive father, but after Lothar's death, he regarded Terenas as his adoptive father.
His current achievements are inseparable from Terenas's fatherly guidance.
It is said that during the more than one month that Terenas was bedridden, besides Arthas, the name he murmured most often in his delirium was not Calia, but Varian.
It is said that Terenas once said in private that although he loved his son very much, compared with the ill-fated Varian, Arthas was too naive, not mature enough, prone to extremes, and easily deceived.
This exceptionally skilled Warrior was not yet the incredibly strong and powerful Ghost Wolf he would become. Upon facing the stone coffin, his eyes welled with tears, and he wept uncontrollably several times.
Finally, as the elder brother, he stood beside Queen Calia, and although he did not utter a word, he had already made his stance clear:
He will fully support Queen Calia; Stormwind City is Lordaeron's strongest backing!
In the afternoon, His Majesty the King's body was laid to rest in the Royal Cemetery as the sun set. Queen Calia personally commissioned King Magni to dispatch the best craftsmen from Ironforge to create a twenty-meter-high stone statue for King Terenas. This statue will stand in the center of Lordaeron Square a few months later, for his people to admire and remember.
On the morning of the third day, in the King's Hall, the meeting that had not yet ended continued, except that the attendees were no longer ambassadors from various countries, but the heads of state of each country.
Because Calia's status had changed, and more importantly, because it was the king's funeral, everyone had to show sufficient respect for the deceased.
"On behalf of Lordaeron, I thank you all for coming. My father was a great king, and in his glory, I was but an insignificant daughter. Now that he is gone, I do not know how to support this nation on the verge of collapse. Fortunately, there is Uther the Lightbringer, Marquis Lawrence, Fenna, Jaina, Nicholas, the Grand Knight of the Silver Hand, and all the nobles and people who are still willing to share the fate of this nation! They are my strongest support!"
Queen Calia, who had previously worn a black dress, had now changed into a hastily made court attire, a queen's outfit tailor-made for her. Her demeanor was elegant, dignified, and possessed all the qualities of a queen.
She wore a crown and held a scepter radiating blue light in her right hand, which looked very similar to the "Valius, the Hammer of the Holy Light " that Uther had used before. It was the scepter left to her by King Terenas, the Scepter of Lordaeron Royal Authority.
In the presence of numerous leaders of the Eastern Kingdoms, Regent Uther the Lightbringer personally crowned her as Queen.
The House Menethil, regardless of gender or whether they are righteous or evil, possess an unyielding and indomitable spirit, a regal aura that shines brightest among the crowd. They are natural leaders, and Calia is no exception.