It took time for the cries of 'forever may they reign' to die down, and by the time they did, Ashlynn's face had turned a delicate shade of pink as she felt the outpouring of genuine support from so many people in the Great Hall.
"This is your victory," Nyrielle said softly. "They would not do this for me…"
"They would," Ashlynn said, stretching up on her tiptoes to bestow a light kiss on Nyrielle's lips. "The people of the Vale would. The people of Airgead would. Even people of the Verdant Hills would once they came to understand how their lords truly treated them…"
"Perhaps," Nyrielle said, bestowing a kiss of her own on Ashlynn's forehead. "They would celebrate the Lothian's fall to be sure. But an empire… Without you, I'd never have dreamed of it."
"Well then, my Midnight Empress," Ashlynn said with a twinkle in her emerald eyes. "I think it's time to watch our dream come to life," she said, turning back to face the crowd and raising a hand to call for quiet.
