Chapter 14

4 Months Later

"Your Majesty, I would like to remind you that it is not proper for your partner to sit front row at your coronation when those spaces are reserved for foreign monarchs, the royal family and members of the government," the archbishop says with a sour expression on his face.

The bishops have taken to referring to Kurt as Blaine's partner, apparently a less offensive term for them than boyfriend for some reason.

Blaine's being fitted for his ceremonial robes when the archbishop arrives at the Palace, who has come to finalize Blaine's coronation ceremony. It meant fighting an uphill battle from the start, since the Church was reluctant to crown an openly gay King who dared to make a spectacle of himself and the Crown when he publicly reunited with his partner in a way unacceptable for a King of any Kingdom, but especially the King of America. Blaine had smiled through all the lectures - the one from Sue, the one from his mother, the one from the Prime Minister and the one from the archbishop, because Kurt was his boyfriend again and nothing else mattered then.

"I'm sorry,Your Eminence, but this is non negotiable. Especially since I know that you wouldn't object if I was in a longterm, committed relationship with a woman. Unless I mess up badly, he will be my husband one day and raising the future heirs to the throne with me, so he will be given the proper respect his relationship with me awards him and he will be seated with my family. It's already been arranged with the coronation planner. Queen Ruth, Queen Cathryn and the Crown Princess will be on my mother's left side and Cooper, his children, his wife and Kurt will be sitting on her right side. He will be treated like a member of the royal family throughout the ceremony and that's non negotiable."

Blaine looks up at a knock on the door but when Kurt sees who he's with he bows curtly in the archbishop's direction and backs away quickly, but the archbishop stops him.

"Come in, Mr. Hummel. Since His Majesty insists that you attend the coronation I may as well give you the proper instructions."

"Of course, Your Eminence," Kurt says stiffly, because it's a recurring theme in the blogs and the newspaper opinion columns that Kurt doesn't show the Church the proper respect it deserves by refusing to attend Church with the King.

"Are you prepared to kneel in front of your King and swear your fealty to him?"

Blaine bites his lip so he doesn't accidentally blurt out that Kurt has plenty of experience kneeling for his King.

"Of course I am."

"You will not be allowed into the chamber when I anoint His Majesty with holy oil since you don't carry the title of King consort and neither will you be anointed yourself since your are not of royal blood. You will return to your seat after your oath and will remain there until the end of the ceremony. However, you will be permitted to wear a sash in the colors of the royal family, because we do not want to draw more attention to you than absolutely necessary and everyone else in the front rows will wear one. Only His Majesty will receive a crown during the ceremony since the Church does not view your relationship with His Majesty as a God sanctioned union that deserves the Church's blessing. The Duke of Virginia won't be allowed to wear a crown either," the archbishop turns back to Blaine who nods because he and Cooper had both expected it.

"Is there anything else Your Eminence would like me to know?" Kurt asks politely, because he knows what's expected of him by now. "I only wanted to let His Majesty know that we need to leave soon if we don't want to be late for a charity engagement."

"Tell me, Mr. Hummel. Do you live at the Palace? You seem very much at home here."

It's clear that the idea of Blaine living at the Palace with his partner is disturbing to him.

"I live in Brooklyn, Your Eminence," Kurt replies, his mask in place and not even Blaine can tell if he'd like to strangle or punch the archbishop first. "But Miss Sylvester thought it best if His Majesty and I arrived together for publicity reasons. I can assure you that left to my own devices, I would not know my way around the Palace, since I've only been here a few times."

"I see," the archbishop says icily before he bows to Blaine and shuffles out of the room with not another glance at Kurt.

Blaine dismisses the tailor too, who frees him from his ceremonial robes, and walks backwards out of the room, the robes clutched to his chest.

"Uh, Kurt, we don't have to leave for another hour," Blaine says once they are blessedly alone and Kurt smirks.

"I know, but I can't stand that guy. I know I'll never be more than the man the King's with - he doesn't have to rub it in that he thinks I'm beneath you."

"You'll never be beneath me - unless we're having sex then I don't mind you beneath me," he adds with a cheeky grin that predictably turns Kurt's cheeks bright red especially when Sam clears his throat outside the door, reminding him that they are in fact not completely alone.

Kurt hits him playfully and Blaine leans in to whisper 'sorry' into his ear because Kurt's never gotten over his aversion to having sex when the guards are around - who are always around. Luckily Cooper's vacated Richmond House at the beginning of the summer which is where they meet now. It's too risky for Blaine to go to Brooklyn since his motorcade would give Kurt's address away in seconds and Kurt's not supposed to spend nights at the Palace since he's 'only' the boyfriend.

Kurt still hasn't met his mother, since she refused to come to the party the Palace threw in honor of Cooper's thirties birthday at the beginning of the summer, saying she had no interest in meeting that woman or that man and then muttering under her breath that she'd like to know what she'd done to deserve sons like that. Neither he nor Cooper had minded, instead inviting Sarah's parents and Kurt's family because Cooper wanted to meet his 'future in laws' too. After the 'old folks' and the kids went to bed around midnight, they celebrated with Cooper's friends till the early hours and Kurt got to stay at the Palace since his whole family was there and it would have come across as impolite if only he had been asked to sleep elsewhere.

Blaine gave Kurt free reign over redecorating the King's quarters and told him, 'make it ours'. Only recently, the renovations were finished and when Blaine moved in a few weeks ago, all traces of his parents and Cooper were gone, thanks to new furniture, new wallpaper and modern paintings they picked out together.

He kisses Kurt briefly, mindful of the open door and the guards right outside before they head up to his rooms together so Blaine can change into his suit as well. They're going to an event sponsored by the Trevor Project so at least the crowd will be friendly tonight, not like some of the events they've attended together in the past, like a gala for the Met, where an Earl of Texas had the audacity to ask Blaine if he didn't feel ashamed for bringing him.

They are never out in public together unless they attend a charity event or a gala because it requires a massive amount of security to even get them into venues because usually there's a large crowd of supporter facing off against protesters who strongly believe Blaine should abdicate the throne for someone more qualified aka not openly gay. As promised months ago, Blaine has hired a private security firm to drive Kurt to and from the theater and accompany him whenever he goes out in public since government refused to allocate funds to the King's boyfriend.

"He can have royal guards when His Majesty marries him," Prime Minister Grey told Blaine point blank and there's nothing Blaine can do, because he needs the permission of the government for anything that costs not only the Crown but also the tax payers money. And extra royal security would require public financing.

When they step out of the car, flanked by royal guards in official uniforms on both sides, the flashes of the cameras are blinding and the noise deafening, but they are both used to it by now since this happens whenever they step out together - the King and his boyfriend still a big story on all the news outlets in the Kingdom and around the world.

His and Kurt's job tonight is to hand over a check to a group home that has specialized in LGBT youths in the foster system and has been trying to open more such group homes in the New York area, a fantastic cause in Blaine's opinion after reading a report that LGBT youths in the foster system are not only more liked not to find foster families, but often have to deal with abuse from their foster brothers and sisters too if they are in regular foster homes. A second check will go to a homeless shelter working hard to get underage gay teens off the streets especially with fall around the corner. Kurt's show has vowed to donate the proceeds of their last performance next week to the Trevor Project as well and Blaine's auctioned off a home video of him and Cooper doing a Duran Duran routine when Blaine was six and Cooper eleven for the cause.

"What's going to happen next for Kurt Hummel?" Chandler Kiel asks, taking advantage of Sue and Emma engaged in conversation with Isabelle Wright from Vogue dot com and ignoring the glares Blaine's guards send in his directions. "My readers at Royal News are dying to know."

So yeah, Blaine didn't get him fired after all.

"I'm sorry, Chandler, but I can't say yet," Kurt smiles at the reporter, one of those saccharine sweet smiles reserved for the press.

"But will we be seeing you at the coronation? The world needs more pictures of your fabulous outfits."

Blaine may have been Chandler's favorite royal once upon a time, but since Kurt entered the lime light, he seemed to have switched allegiances because he barely spares Blaine a glance.

"Again, I'm not at liberty to discuss. You will have to wait and see like everyone else," Kurt winks at the reporter and then Sue strides over and Chandler's gone in a flash, afraid of Sue Sylvester like he should be.

"Don't worry, Sue," Kurt rolls his eyes. "I politely not answered any questions."

Kurt's waiting to hear back from an audition for a Broadway production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the moment. He's had a callback for the role of Puck a few days ago and though Kurt hates the uncertainty, Blaine knows that he's glad he still has to audition and isn't just handed roles because he's sleeping with the King.

"It's another non-singing role, but it's Shakespeare and no one says no if they are invited to audition for a Shakespeare play," Kurt had gushed when he'd gotten the call that the production would like him to audition a few weeks ago and with his show ending it seemed like perfect timing.

They spend another hour at the event after handing over the checks, switching to water after two glasses of champagne because neither of them can be drunk at an event with this much press. Then they go their separate ways, Blaine being driven back to the Palace while Kurt's driver takes him home to Brooklyn. He'd love to have Kurt just move in with him, but it's another compromise to keep the fragile peace with the Church that Kurt won't live in the Palace before they are married which may not be for a few more years since the only timeline they have is that Blaine should be married by thirty, but that won't be for another five years. But he's put his foot down and Kurt will be coming to the Palace after Blaine's coronation next week, where he'll introduce him as his boyfriend to anyone who asks and then Kurt will stay the night since all other guests are invited to stay as well. It's with a smile on his face that he heads upstairs to his new bedroom, because if he gets his way, Kurt will be in his 'royal' bed in less than a week.

Blaine can't really remember his father's coronation and he didn't pay all that much attention during Cooper's because he knew Kurt was somewhere in the back and they would be going public in a few hours. But even if he had, nothing could have prepared him for his own. Coronations follow old fashioned protocols like the King and royal family being driven to St. Patrick's Cathedral in horse drawn carriages and the King only entering with his family after everyone else has taken their seats. He's wearing cobalt blue robes with a faux ermine collar and the royal crest emblazoned across his chest over a simple black suit, his hair gelled to his head and some make up on his face so it won't look shiny or blotchy on live TV. He's in a carriage with his mother, grandmother and great grandmother all in beautiful gowns under a cobalt blue sash, their silver-golden crowns shimmering in the sunlight filtering into the carriage. Kurt's with Cooper and Cooper's family because this is where the bishops had put their foot down and had told him that Kurt couldn't ride in the same carriage as the King and the King Mother, not when he was simply the 'current partner'.

Fifth Avenue is closed for the occasion and the streets are full with people cheering and clapping when the carriage drives past, many yelling 'long live King Blaine'. Once they arrive in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Blaine has to wait in the carriage until the coronation planner gives him the go ahead and then Blaine steps out of the carriage, the robes feeling heavy around his shoulders as he walks into the church followed by the women of his family and a little further behind, Cooper, Sarah, Lucy, Billy and Kurt.

He kneels down in front of the archbishop and accepts the sign of the cross on his forehead before he takes his seat on the main throne, the smaller one next to it empty and will remain empty until his oldest son or daughter and their spouse will take the throne since Kurt will never be allowed on it, the bishops had made that abundantly clear. But he's here, in the front row with the royal family, looking regal in a light grey suit that looks beautiful against the cobalt blue sash that brings out the blue in his usually blue-green-grey eyes.

And then he has to stop staring because the archbishop begins the ceremony.

"Sirs, I here present unto you, your undoubted King. Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?"

The call is answered by the Prime Minister, the opposition leader, a representative of the people and the mayor of New York, Arthur Abrams.

Then the archbishop addressed Blaine.

"Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the United States of America and of the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands and American Samoa according to their respective laws and customs?"

"I solemnly promise so to do," Blaine vows.

"Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?"

"I will."

"Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United States the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? Will you maintain and preserve inviolable the settlement of the Church of America and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in America? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of America, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?"

It's the most difficult part of the ceremony for him, but he knows what his answer has to be.

"All this I promise to do. The things which I have here before promised, I will perform, and keep. So help me God."

He's next presented with a King James Bible and the bishop of New Jersey announces, "Here is Wisdom; This is the royal Law; These are the lively Oracles of God."

And then he is whisked away to a small side chamber where the archbishop dips his finger into holy oil and draws a cross on Blaine's hands, head and chest before Blaine's allowed to leave the chamber again and has to kneel in front of the throne, also known as the Coronation Chair, while the archbishop recites a prayer. After the prayer, he's allowed to sit back down and his eyes find Kurt's again who seems fascinated by the process. He tunes out for a moment as more prayers are spoken and then the crown which belonged to the Kings in his family for centuries is placed on his head and all the guests cry out in unison three times, "God Save the King". Outside, trumpeters sound a fanfare and church bells ring out across the Kingdom, while a gun salute echoes from the most southern point of Central Park.

The archbishop approaches him and with a frown on his face that only Blaine can see, he speaks the crowning formula.

"God crown you with a crown of glory and righteousness, that having a right faith and manifold fruit of good works, you may obtain the crown of an everlasting kingdom by the gift of him whose kingdom endureth forever."

After, the archbishop and the other bishops are the first to swear their fealty to Blaine and he makes sure his mask is firmly in place when the archbishop kneels down in front of him.

"I, Archbishop Robert Cameron of the United States, will be faithful and true, and faith and truth will bear unto you, our Sovereign Lord King of this Realm and Defender of the Faith, and unto your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God."

Cooper's the first after the clergy and it's so strange because less than a year ago, it was Blaine who swore fealty to King Cooper.

For the next half hour, the Counts and Countesses, Marquesses and Marchionesses, and Barons and Baronesses of the Kingdom kneel before Blaine and swear their fealty and then the rest of Blaine's family follows and Blaine tries not to smile too brightly when Kurt kneels down in front of him.

"I, Kurt Elijah Hummel, do become your liege man of life and limb, and of earthly worship; and faith and truth will I bear unto you, to live and die, against all manner of folks. So help me God."

Kurt hadn't been happy about the last part of the oath, but it was traditional and if he wanted to be included in this part of the ceremony, he would have to swear the same oath as everyone else and Blaine inclines his head at him when he does. Kurt's a fantastic actor, letting no one in the cathedral see that he's not comfortable with the phrase.

And then Blaine's led out of the cathedral, wearing the Imperial State Crown and holding the scepter with the cross and the orb, his family and foreign monarchs following behind and once outside the crowd begins to sing the national anthem while Blaine climbs back into the carriage and lets out a sigh of relief when he's hidden by the curtain for a moment, before they are pulled open and he waves at his subjects with a large smile on his face.

"Well, look at that, we were not struck by lightning," Kurt snarks as he follows Cooper and family back into their carriage so they can be driven to the Palace for Blaine's coronation ball. "With the way the archbishop was acting, I thought I would be struck down the moment I crossed the threshold, since I'm the devil's spawn who's corrupted the King according to the Church. Because hey, as far as they knew he was interested in women until he met me."

"Why does that church man not like you? I thought you and uncle Blaine are in love?" Children, bless their innocence, Kurt thinks as he smiles at Lucy, who's wearing a pink dress fit for a princess and a wreath of lilies in her blond hair.

"He's just jealous because he doesn't have someone who loves him. Bishops aren't allowed to have a wife," Cooper explains with a wink in Kurt's direction.

"Poor man," Lucy concludes before she demands to be put on Kurt's lap so she can look out of the carriage window while they slowly move up 5th avenue toward the main entrance to the Palace on 85th street.

Cooper's step kids are lovely, but the thought of having to start a family with Blaine in the next couple of years scares him nonetheless because marriage and kids before he is even thirty has never been his plan. He's been dreaming about Tonys, a nice apartment in Manhattan, walks through Central park on Sunday mornings with his handsome boyfriend who would love scouring the flea markets with him for baubles and trinkets for their shared apartment. Maybe they would adopt a cat at some point and once achieved all his career dreams, they would get married and either adopt or have two kids through surrogacy - one with Kurt's sperm and one with his husband's. But Blaine is expected to be married and start a family by thirty, so he'll have an heir old enough to ascend the throne in case Blaine doesn't make it past sixty either. And that would make Kurt no older than twenty eight, if they don't get married even sooner.

He does not feel ready for any of it at the moment and the fact that they are pretty much forbidden from living together before they are married doesn't help either. Well, at least the Palace is big so they shouldn't get on each other's nerves because they have to share cramped living spaces. He even has his own bedroom in the King's quarters since it was customary for the King and Queen to have separate bedrooms when the Palace was build in 1789. Not that he plans to ever use it, unless maybe one of them has the flu and the other can't get sick as well. Blaine has promised him access to the kitchen even though the Palace employs a permanent chef and kitchen staff who will prepare all meals for the royal family unless Kurt insists on cooking for them instead - but since Kurt's more of a baker than a cook, he's sure he and Chef Tim will come to an arrangement when Kurt moves in a few years down the line. For now, he's still happy in Brooklyn with Dani, with his beefed up security ensuring that he gets home safe and undetected by paparazzi every night - not that he's out much at the moment since Peter Pan has ended and rehearsals for A Midsummer night's dream haven't started yet.

He's startled out of his revelry, when loud cheering erupts all around them and a look through the window tells him they have reached the main gates of the Palace where thousands of people are waiting to catch a glimpse of the now crowned King, and apparently Kurt as well judging by the signs some of them are holding into the air. Kurt's never entered the Palace through the main doors before, because they are usually only open for special occasions like a coronation and Kurt wishes it wouldn't be tacky if he took out his cellphone to take a picture of Blaine striding up the wide staircase, his ceremonial robes flowing out behind him and the crown on his head shimmering in the light falling through the open doorway. He looks like he was born to be a King - like this was inevitable and sooner or later it would always have been Blaine on the throne.

Kurt has to stay behind with Sara, Lucy and Billy as the immediate royal family steps out onto the balcony so Blaine can greet his subjects, now His Majesty the King by the Grace of God. The phrase makes him roll his eyes, but he knew when he said yes to Blaine that being with the King would mean having to accept organized religion as part of his life since Blaine is the head of the Church of America whether the clergy likes it or not.

He hears Blaine's speech through the open doors separating the hallway from the balcony, in which he reiterates what he said during his press conference a few months ago. His boyfriend wants to be King for everyone in the Kingdom and hopes that he will be judged on merit instead of his love life. He will also reintroduce public audiences, where once a week, one afternoon will be reserved for the people.

"Because I want to hear from you; I want to hear from my people what they think needs to be changed in this Kingdom so we can work together to achieve it," Blaine says out on the balcony.

While Blaine speaks, a long line of black limousines drives through the Palace gates, delivering the Kings and Queens from around the world. And then the crowd cheers and more cries of 'long live the King' fill the air.

"Please follow me to the library," a guard Kurt doesn't know approaches him and Kurt acquiesces.

He only has to wait a few minutes before the large oak double doors open and the royal family walks in. Blaine approaches him and links their fingers to Kurt's surprise before he turns to his family.

"Mother, grandma, great grandma, aunt Sophia, I would like to officially introduce you all to my boyfriend Kurt Hummel because these introductions are long overdue and when we go back out there to meet with the foreign monarchs I want us to appear united as a family. I don't want there to be any talk that my mother does not get along with her daughter-in-law or with my boyfriend and I don't want anyone to know that you've refused to meet him until now," Blaine says in a tone that says 'my decision is final and there won't be any discussion about it'.

"I heard you picked your dress yourself, Your Highness," Kurt addresses Queen Pamela after bowing to her. "I must commend you on your choice. It's a wonderful design."

She wouldn't be the first woman he's won over by complementing her fashion choices.

"Which is not to say that you don't look absolutely lovely as well, your Highnesses," he bows to Queens Ruth and Cathryn and the Crown Princess.

"Well, at least he has manners," Queen Ruth turns to Blaine's mother as if Kurt's not right in front of them, and Blaine's grip on his hand tightens briefly.

"Who's he?" Crown Princess Sophia frowns and points her walking stick at Kurt, but everyone knows about her Alzheimers diagnosis.

"He's Blaine's betrothed," ninety-three year old Queen Cathryn explains loudly.

"But he's a boy," the Crown Princess frowns. "What did I miss?"

"The maid said that's normal now - women marrying women and men marrying men,' the King's great grandmother says with a frown and the Crown Princess shakes her head.

"But who is he?"

"How about I escort you two lovely ladies to the ball room," Cooper intervenes and next to Kurt, Blaine gives his brother a grateful smile.

"Escorted by the King, oh my," Princess Sophia says and Cooper links arms with the two old ladies, leaving Kurt and Blaine with Queens Ruth and Pamela.

"I stand by what I said, Blaine, I don't want him moving in here. It's not right. I did not move in with your father before we married and neither did your grandmother with King Edward. It's bad enough that you have relations with him, but I won't have that at the Palace."

"He has a name, mother," Blaine hisses, losing his composure for a moment.

"Fine," Queen Pamela says through gritted teeth. "Mr. Hummel, we are a family that believes in upholding traditional values and those apply to my son as well, especially since he's been crowned King today. The royal family has to lead by example and it won't if the King lives in sin with his partner at the royal Palace and treats him like he is already part of the family without the sacrament of marriage. Since the law has decided to allow such marriages, I will have to accept it if my son weds you in a civil ceremony, but until you are actually engaged I do not want you at functions reserved for the immediate royal family. And I hope you and my son will respect that."

Kurt gives her a curt nod since he's already agreed to living apart until he and Blaine marry and to be quite honest, Christmas at the Palace doesn't sound like much fun anyway. Maybe he can convince his family to come to New York this year so he can still see Blaine as well, but if he's spared 'family Christmases' at the Palace for another few years he will be the last one to complain.

There's a knock on the door, saving him from further scrutiny from the Queens when Puck announces that His Majesty is expected in the ballroom. To his surprise, Blaine doesn't let go of his hand as they walk down the hallway flanked by guards and followed by Queen Ruth and Queen Pamela, the sound of their heels on marble floor drowning out all other noises.

"Blaine," Blaine's mother stops them in front of the ballroom and Blaine lets go of Kurt's hand so he can be announced.

If they were married already, Kurt would be allowed to go in with him, but they are not so he steps aside so he won't be seen when the doors are opened from the inside.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, His Majesty King Blaine of America," a guard in royal uniform announces and Kurt watches as Blaine strides into the room while the guests applaud.

"Her Royal Highness, Queen Pamela of America."

"Her Royal Highness, Queen Ruth of America."

Sue Sylvester is suddenly by his side, and Kurt waits for her nod before they walk into the ballroom together and to a table by one of the large windows where Sarah and the kids are seated.

"Join the rejects table," Sarah jokes and swipes two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter, because tonight they are allowed to drink since no press is allowed at the ball.

Blaine is talking to Wes who he hired as a junior lawyer a few weeks ago and when he feels Kurt's eyes on him, the two man come over to the table and Kurt shakes Wes' hand in greeting. They met briefly when Kurt returned Wes' Audi last fall and have seen each other a few times since.

"Come on, I'll introduce you to people," Blaine says and Kurt hopes his hands aren't shaking or sweaty when Blaine leads him over to where the Queen of Canada is standing with her husband.

"Votre Majesté, puis-je présenter mon petit copain, Kurt Hummel," Blaine introduces him and Kurt curtsies before he kisses the back of the offered hand.

"Enchanté de faire Votre connaissance," Kurt says politely, only stumbling over the words a bit and the Queen gives him a polite smile before talking to Blaine in rapid French.

It doesn't sound like the French he's learning, but his tutor is from France and apparently there's some difference between European French and Canadian French, just like with Spanish.

And speaking of Spanish, with a hand on the small of his back, Blaine guides him through the room until they reach the King of Mexico, a kind looking older man. Kurt knows that his wife, Queen Maribel, has passed away recently because Blaine flew down to Mexico City for the funeral at the beginning of the summer.

"Su Majestad, le presento mi novio Kurt Hummel."

Kurt bows and repeats what he told Queen Amelie in halting Spanish.

Blaine introduces him to the Queen of France, the King of Italy, Prince Carlos of Spain - who if Kurt understand it correctly thanks Blaine for introducing him to Lady Charlotte - and many more monarchs from Europe, all in their native tongues, before the meet the Chinese ambassador and Blaine keeps impressing him with his mad language skill.

"Wǒ kěyǐ jièshào wǒ de nán péngyǒu Kurt Hummel" (我可以介紹我的男朋友Kurt Hummel)

To Kurt he may as well - pun very much intended - be speaking Chinese because he doesn't understand a word.

The ambassador smiles politely but Kurt can tell he's only courteous because Blaine's the King and it could cause an international incident were he not.

"Will you dance with me?" Blaine asks when a string quartet starts to play and Kurt looks around the room at all the Kings and Queens and Princes and Princesses.

"Here, in front of everyone?"

"Where else? You are exactly where you are supposed to be - by my side and no matter what anyone thinks, I'm not going to hide you away any longer. They crowned me King and there's little we can do now that would cost me the throne. So Mr. Hummel of Ohio, will you do me the honor?"

It's in all the papers the next morning, the King, wearing his royal robes, twirling his boyfriend around the dance floor, a bright and happy smile spread across his face.

When asked why he released such a private photo, the Duke of Virginia stated. "I just wanted everyone else in the Kingdom to see what I see when I look at my brother and Kurt - I wanted everyone to see how in love they are and how nothing else mattered."

Coronation text is pretty much word for word from Queen Elisabeth II's coronation.
The Chinese comes from google translate, so I hope it says what I wanted it to say ;)
I will take this week to write the epilogue and reply to all your nice comments, and then you should get the final chapter for Christmas :)