The cheers had barely begun to settle when the head of the authority raised his hand.
The crowd slowly quieted.
Mia, who had been standing near the center of the stage, turned toward him.
The ceremony was supposed to be over.
The medals had been awarded.
The fallen had been remembered.
The heroes had been celebrated.
Everyone had expected the final announcement to be a closing statement.
But the expression on the authority's face suggested otherwise.
"There is one final matter."
The crowd grew quiet.
The official turned toward Mia.
"Lady Mia Frostine, as one of the principal representatives involved in the recent negotiations with the Devil Kingdom, would you step forward?"
Mia's expression changed slightly.
She had known this moment would come eventually.
But she hadn't expected it to happen here.
In front of everyone.
She walked forward.
The medal around her neck moved slightly as she stepped toward the front of the stage.
