As the midday sun shone upon the palace courtyard, the people of the Angel Kingdom filled the square—
the crowd was so vast it spilled beyond the palace gates.
The citizens waited with great excitement for the Oath Ceremony, eager to witness Mikail's blessing.
At the front of the gathering, Aurora's radiance rose from the spear, wrapping the sky like a fiery veil.
The entire royal family stood upon the marble steps—
princes, princesses, nobles…
each dressed in heavy silks and gold embroidery.
All eyes turned toward the throne at the top.
The king rose.
A calm, dignified smile rested on his lips as he lifted his hand to address the people.
> "Today is a sacred day!
Today, we reaffirm our devotion to Mikail's light.
For thousands of years, the holy spear has protected us, granted us abundance,
and kept demons from our gates.
And today… my daughter, Koharu, will stand before Mikail to swear her oath.
Once more, Mikail will bless these lands."
The courtyard trembled with applause and prayer.
The king continued proudly:
> "My people!
These paradise lands are a gift—proof of Mikail's favor.
The oath spoken today will rise to his presence,
and he shall not withhold his light from us!"
The crowd roared in unison:
> "May Mikail bless us!
May Mikail protect us!"
Koharu stood beneath the shadow of the steps,
waiting to be summoned before the thousands of watching eyes.
But her heart was screaming silently beneath the praise and prayers.
Trumpets sang.
Then, suddenly, the courtyard fell into a deep silence.
The grand chamberlain unrolled a silver-embroidered scroll and announced in a resonant voice:
> "Princess Koharu!
Before Mikail's Spear!"
The crowd shifted—
a wave of excitement and curiosity.
Koharu stepped onto the stairs with slow, heavy steps.
The edges of her silk dress trailed across the marble,
its golden embroidery catching the sunlight like glittering flames.
But her shoulders were tense.
Her gaze was fixed upon the ground.
Her siblings stood lined at the side.
Her sister's lips curled with a sly sneer.
She whispered:
> "Now everyone will see what a disgrace you are…"
The other princes and princesses beside her could barely suppress their laughter.