Reasons why Zavala might have refused to be king: 1. Crowns tend to chafe on bald heads. 2. He's secretly transgender, and thinks of himself as "Queen". 3. He was holding out for "Emperor". 4. New Monarchy refused to make Cayde-6 his official Court Jester. 5. Look what the Guardians did to the last "king" who visited the system. 6. He's a little hard of hearing, and thought they wanted him to be their "thing". 7. He's allergic to velvet. 8. Too busy making armchair doilies and tea cozies. 9. He's afraid that without at least the vague pretense of co-equality, Ikora might poison him. 10. He's afraid that to cement the Guardians' alliance with the Reef, he might be forced into a marriage of state with Uldren Sov.