Ruling Zone Honorarium, Shalhoon, Intergal 31:1:62179

Kethe’s adrenaline had not slowed. He’d grown accustomed to the elation, although he didn’t readily attribute this new energy to the Chrid. He’d never felt as euphoric, so filled with energetic vigor that told him he could do anything. As king of Shalhoon, he very nearly could.

The public display for Shalhoon’s citizenry of humans, Qualmloids, and Noshinsis had been completed at the arena. Shalhoon’s people had the opportunity to see their king’s coronation, and were contented with that fact, even more than they were contented with the king himself. Across Shalhoon, the populace celebrated the first Koronashun Day in Shalhoon’s history that was not underscored by the death of the preceding monarch.

Kethe knew that he had come across well. That bolstered his pride, and provided an extra surge of excitement as he entered the Honorarium, Samantha Dresden at his side. The vast dining room was already full with hundreds of people of almost as many races, ambassadors from other worlds who had come to wish Kethe good will with his position. Kethe looked around the parlor as he stood at the top of the entrance platform and saw his father standing at the bar, a glass of copper-colored liqueur shaking in his hand as he talked too loudly with a Mulsek and Shelswun’s regent, David Hessler. Kethe flushed with angry embarrassment at his father’s behavior. He could hear Haarl’s bellows clear across the room, and was shamed by the stock that had produced him. He nodded pitifully and forced a smile that quickly beamed with authenticity. With upright chins and a slow, regal pace, he and Samantha descended the stairs.

Alien heads turned in recognition of the new liege. People clapped hands, flippers, tentacles, and whatever other appendages they had. Tails wagged and flapped. Antennae quivered. Tentacles splayed. Feline species purred while avians sang their joy. Kethe couldn’t begin to name all the hundreds of races represented by the people in this room; in part due to his excitement, but also to the fact that he’d never known what races some of the people were. He simply had not encountered many of them before. Despite his royal lineage, he hadn’t taken a great part in any of his father’s political activities.

Then again, he mused, my father hasn’t taken a great part in any of his political activities, even before mother’s death. I’ll have to make sure I don’t repeat that mistake. Shalhoon’s prime importance is in interworld circles. Our worldly income is entirely derived from foreign investment. Haarl’s lapse of standing has hurt Shalhoon financially. Something else I’ll have to repair.

The doorman’s announcement cut off his thoughts as he and Samantha reached the bottom of the plushly-carpeted stairs. "All hail Kethe the Seventh, new king of the majestic Shalhoon!" Kethe bowed proudly, beaming with self satisfaction and honor. Samantha smiled politely, looking into her consort’s eyes with adoration. Kethe pursed his lips softly, acknowledging her longing gaze. No one present could deny the love shared between the couple. Analysts and social matrons had expected an engagement announcement from the onset of their courtship; Kethe’s position as the king’s heir had always overshadowed Samantha’s social standing. If she had dated almost anyone else, she would cast the larger shadow, thrown for centuries by the Dresden family’s heritage, money, influence, and power. Marriage had been expected, all but preordained by the formalities of merging royal clans.

White-gloved ushers rushed to Kethe’s side, bowing before him and holding everyone else back. Kethe smiled and gave thanks, but took his seat only after tucking in Samantha. No sooner was he seated than a Dogoman stood and cleared his throat, puffing halitosis at his dinnermates. "Allow me the honor of the first toast in the name of the KrggkkKrRrr," the woman snarled eagerly. High society’s grumbling found restraint. The KrggkkKrRrr world and race were both known as Dogomon because few other races could actually pronounce the native growls that passed as names. In part due to Dogomon’s affiliation with the Blakkarrion Empire, and in part because of the Dogomon history (and rumored present) of cannibalizing other Sentient races, Dogomons generally found themselves despised. The orator ignored the wave of ill will around her with practiced ease. "To King Kajer, the man of a glorious destiny!"

The room sipped in unison. Some attendees muttered disfavorable under-the-breath critiques of the toast, its orator, her race, and her unpronounceable native name.

Haarl Kajer downed his wine, burped loudly and inexcusably, then shouted, "My son! My sperm!"

Kethe Kajer cringed, but to his benefit, his head never sunk into his hands. His first night of honor began poorly, between the unpopularity of all Blakkarrion Empire member-races and his own father’s drunkenness. Haarl remained a problem throughout the entire evening, increasing the level and tone of his presence to Kethe’s increased embarrassment. A Simmellian asked if Kethe would like his father escorted out politely, but Kethe refused, for the sole reason that Haarl was his father. An Angroolian inquired about releasing a few spores that might interact with Haarl’s consumption to tranquilize him safely, but Kethe feared that the spores might gas someone else accidentally. Both suggestions, individually made by the two races who had been first to establish interworld contact, haunted him throughout the evening. As Haarl’s loudness and obnoxiousness continued, Kethe questioned the wisdom in his declinations.

"I never really did like you blokes!" Haarl laughed to Blakkarrion Emperor Tsaan, patting the muscular ripples of massive alien’s back.

The emperor’s table hushed. Silence spread to the surrounding tables, and, in short time, to the entire room.

As all eyes fell to Haarl Kajer and the imposing imperial, the human burped. Tsaan’s bone beak chomped at the alcoholic vapor of air.

Haarl continued unabated, without apology. "Hell, Tsaan, for a while, I almost thought your blokes killed my Alisia!"

The room anticipated a crack of the courtman’s whip-tendril. Tsaan, surprisingly, remained patient and laughed politely. But the motions of his shoulderwhips brought his bodyguards forward to remove the former king from Tsaan’s immediate presence.

Haarl stumbled on, stopping at the Pixian table and moving the young saam Tibia’s antennae into different positions. He provided grooming tips entirely inappropriate to her insectoid biology. Tibia remained cordial, but highly uncomfortable. Triot Ada stood, his pinions shivering nervously as he took Haarl aside from the newly-spawned Tibia. The Norin’s renewed offer for a round at the bar easily enticed Haarl away.

Tibia leaned over to Wasdaf leader Dion. "I think could use my telepathy to shut him off for a few hours," she suggested.

The temptation spread visibly across Dion’s face. The natural smiling shape of his wide reptilian snout spread in a tight motion as the Sentral Sistem’s elder statesman gathered all his inherent diplomacy. One eye rolled Kethe’s way. The young king mischievously whispered to Samantha, seemingly heedless of his father and everyone else.

"No, Tibia," he sighed, "you’d better not."

Kethe was aware that all present would remember Haarl for years to come with that particular night and his overwhelming careless drunkenness in mind. He hoped to distract the feeling, and stood as Samantha’s sister, Sabrina, and her husband of three years, David Kabern, moved to relieve Ada of Haarl.

Kethe looked to his father nervously one last time, then gently tapped his goblet with his dessert fork. "If I may have your attention...!"

The room quieted of its individual conversations. All eyes and orbs and sensors turned to the new king. Haarl burped again, which prompted Sabrina and David to bring him outside, despite the importance of Kethe’s announcement.

"Tonight is a night like no other for me," Kethe addressed with a warm smile. "Tonight I have taken the scepter and crown of Shalhoon, and it gives me pride that I’ll be able to serve this great Sivil Galaxi while getting to know you all much better. But I take greater joy to inform you all that I will marry Samantha Mare Dresden come this Fifteen Doorein."

The room filled with mixed applause of both genuine and insincere happiness for the young liege.

Kethe smiled. Sharing his happiness with others warmed his heart like little else could. He wanted to be important to these people, to be the most famous and best loved of Shalhoon’s kings in all history.

"Samantha, the daughter of Kile Salem Dresden and Sibil Wionna Haser, Shalhoon’s ambassadorial team to the Poco Kluster, and the sister of Shalhoon’s Paalan ambassador Sabrina Kabern, descends from a long line of some of Shalhoon’s most dedicated servants. I love her, and, although I may be justly biased, I think that she will act honorably as the woman who is to bear Shalhoon’s future heirs."

Another round of applause thundered across the room. Samantha stood gracefully and took her lover’s arm. "Let me say that I’m proud of Kethe, and honored that he chose me to be his queen." She whispered politely, barely loud enough for the entire room to hear. "I believe he will go down in history, outstanding even among the greatest leaders of the galaxy. And I want it known that he had a woman who loves him by his side the whole way, supporting and encouraging and helping."

The room again erupted in applause as the promises of the future elated King Kethe Kajer....