The Monarch Crown System

14. The Hot Coal Test

Elias did not move.

He stood calmly, hands at his sides, eyes steady, as though the word had never reached him. The silence stretched long enough for discomfort to creep in. Murmurs rippled through the crowd, confused, uneasy.

Jackson frowned.

“What’s wrong?” he demanded. “Did you not hear me?”

Celeste scoffed loudly, her arms folded tightly across her chest. “He heard you. He just doesn’t know how to accept reality. Elias has always lived in denial.”

Elias said nothing. He glanced at the custodian, his eyes as if he just gave him a coded message.

He nodded.

His gaze swept across Jackson slowly, assessing, measuring, and then dismissing him entirely.

Without a word, the custodian reached into his sleeve and removed a small, unmarked device.

He pressed it once.

Then he waited.

Jackson noticed.

“What is that?” Jackson snapped. “Who are you calling?”

Celeste sneered. “Trying to call backup now? Is this your plan, Elias? To bring in fake officials to save face?”

The custodian ignored her completely.

Within seconds, a low, thunderous sound rolled through the hall.

The massive ceremonial doors at the far end creaked open.

Conversation died instantly.

Footsteps echoed. Slow, Heavy and Commanding.

A man entered.

He was tall, broad shouldered, and dressed in full ceremonial regalia reserved only for the highest-ranking custodians. The ancient sigil embroidered on his robe gleamed faintly under the hall’s lights. His presence alone bent the air, forcing attention, demanding silence.

Gasps filled the room.

People whispered urgently.

“That’s… that’s Custodian Ardent.”

“He never appears publicly.”

“He’s one of the top men in power.”

“What is he doing here?”

Celeste’s confidence wavered for the first time.

Jackson straightened his posture, a smug smile tugging at his lips. “Ah,” he said loudly. “Looks like you finally realized who I am.”

The whispers grew louder.

“He must be here to pay his respects.”

“Of course. Why else would someone like that appear?”

“Jackson is the sigil bearer and since this is the first time he is showing himself to the public, the Custodian has come to pay his respect.”

Celeste leaned toward Jackson, her voice low and excited. “You see? They even came. You are the real one.”

Jackson smirked, basking in the attention.

Custodian Ardent stopped at the center of the hall.

He did not bow or acknowledge Jackson.

Instead, he turned—slowly—and faced Elias.

Without hesitation, without delay, he dropped to one knee.

Every custodian in the hall followed suit instantly.

The sound of dozens of knees hitting marble echoed like thunder.

The hall exploded into chaos.

“What?”

“Why are they kneeling?”

“Is that… allowed?”

Celeste froze.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Jackson’s smile cracked. “Hey,” he laughed nervously. “What is this supposed to be? Some kind of ceremony?”

Custodian Ardent spoke, his voice calm yet resonant, carrying effortlessly through the hall.

“We have received confirmation.”

Confirmation of what? the crowd wondered.

He rose slowly and turned to face Jackson at last.

His gaze was cold.

“The one you call successor,” Ardent said, “is not our master.”

The words landed like a blade.

The hall erupted.

“What?”

“That’s impossible!”

“He has the emblem!”

“He declared it himself!”

Jackson’s face twisted. “That’s a lie,” he snapped. “You’re lying. You’re trying to embarrass me in front of everyone.”

Celeste rushed forward. “This is absurd! You can’t just show up and make claims like this. Jackson was chosen. Everyone knows it.”

Custodian Ardent did not even look at her.

“The Monarch Crown can’t choose a loser like this man.” Ardent hissed.

Jackson laughed loudly, too loudly. “Truth? Fine. Then prove it. You’re all acting on Elias’ orders anyway.”

He turned sharply and pointed at Elias.

“He brought you here to humiliate me! He’s jealous and bitter because the woman he wants is now mine.” He smirked and winked at Celeste.

Celeste nodded aggressively. “Exactly! Elias has always been resentful. He probably hired you to play along.”

Some in the crowd hesitated.

Others began whispering again.

“Maybe this is staged.”

“Could be a setup.”

Custodian Ardent lifted a single finger.

Silence fell instantly.

“There is a reason,” he said, “that the Crown remains hidden until coronation day.”

He paced slowly in front of Jackson.

“Many pretenders will show. Many liars will try to carve symbols into their flesh. But they would witness immeasurable pain at the end.”

Jackson stiffened. “I am not a pretender.”

“You are,” Ardent replied simply.

Jackson’s jaw clenched. “You don’t get to decide that.”

“No,” Ardent agreed. “The Crown does.”

Celeste stepped forward again, her voice sharp with panic. “This is madness. You cannot accuse someone without proof.”

Custodian Ardent finally turned to her, his eyes cold.

“There is proof,” he said.

Jackson laughed nervously. “What proof? My tattoo?”

Ardent nodded slowly. “Exactly.”

A ripple of confusion spread.

“What does that mean?”

Ardent raised his voice.

“The true Monarch who carries the sigil will not be scared by fire. So I suggest we have a test right now and here by putting coal on your sigil.”

A sharp intake of breath rippled through the hall.

Celeste’s face drained of color. “You’re not serious.”

Jackson took a step back. “This is insane.”

Ardent continued calmly. “If the Crown is real, fire will not harm it. If it is false…”

He let the words hang.

Jackson shook his head. “No. No. I don’t agree to this.”

Celeste grabbed Jackson’s arm. “Just refuse. They can’t force you.”

Jackson turned and snapped at her. “Stop talking!”

She recoiled, stunned.

“You said you’d support me,” he hissed. “Now shut up.”

The crowd murmured louder.

Jackson turned back to Elias, rage flashing in his eyes. “This is your doing. You brought them here to destroy me.”

Elias finally spoke.

“You destroyed yourself the moment you lied.”

Celeste spun toward him. “You shut your mouth. You are the reason this is happening. You’ve always been a curse.”

Jackson nodded wildly. “Yes! He’s the one behind this. Throw him out!”

Custodian Ardent raised his hand again.

Instead of Elias, the two guards moved instantly, gripping Jackson’s arms.

“Wait!” Jackson shouted. “I didn’t agree to this. I don’t consent.”

Celeste screamed, “You can’t do this! He’s the successor!”

Ardent’s voice cut through the chaos like steel.

“If he is the true master,” he declared, “the test will not harm him.”

Jackson struggled violently. “I don’t need to prove anything to you!”

The guards tightened their grip.

Celeste reached for him. “Jackson, don’t panic. Just go along with it. If you’re real, nothing will happen.”

Jackson snapped his head toward her. “Are you insane? You want them to burn me?”

She hesitated.

That hesitation said everything.

Jackson’s eyes widened with fury and fear. “You people are sick. All of you.”

Custodian Ardent turned sharply to the guards.

“Take him down,” he commanded.

Jackson screamed as they forced him to his knees.

His robe was ripped away, fabric tearing loudly as gasps filled the hall.

“No!” Jackson shouted. “Stop this! This is barbaric!”

Celeste backed away slowly, shaking.

Custodian Ardent lifted his hand one final time.

“Bring the hot coal!”

The order echoed through the hall like a death sentence.