The lords of the Republic were stunned when news hit of Albion's vanguard annihilation. Though one floating warship and under two thousand troops barely dented Albion's might, it dashed hopes of bullying Tolistine into submission with such a paltry force.
Kolomway's capture went unanswered—no Albion bailout. Lords clawed viciously for his vacated CEO seat, ignoring a loser's fate. Nearly 1,800 captured soldiers and officers fetched redemption at 50 gold coins apiece from Albion, nobles scaled higher.
Imprisoned in Tolistine, Kolomway faced musketeer captain Aniyas's grilling.
This rare win, heavily touted, sparked Tolistine cheers nationwide.
Griffin and Unicorn squads, battle standouts, drew floods of noble mage enlistments. Sora, Rove, and Louise shone as folk heroes, lauded everywhere.
Princess Anrietta surged in favor too—calls swelled for her swift crowning. Peace-faction Secretary of State, Foreign Minister, and Court President yielded post-loss, greenlighting her queenship in a week's auspicious date.
Coronation announcement ignited public joy. Nearly a year kingless? Over. Under Queen Anrietta, Tolistine would thrive.
Sora, Rove, and Louise's honors queued post-ceremony.
"Lively for a skirmish of thousands," Sora eyed streets buzzing festive.
"What? Tolistine's first win in twenty years—and I shone. Helping Her Highness? Thrilling." Louise buzzed, daydreaming academy return: old mockers now fawning.
"No more Louise Zero. Sora—what nickname? Explosion Louise? Void Louise? Or..."
"Nicknames? You're my Louise." Sora dropped curtains, scooped her to bed, shed clothes.
"Ah—daylight, no! Well... there, no."
They tangled.
"Ahem." Awkward cough door-ward.
Sora quickened, spent inside her.
Louise long-moaned, bed-collapsed.
"Ah—Her Highness!" Louise door-glanced, flustered.
Princess cloaked purple, hat-off post-entry revealed her face.
"Anrietta—coronation rehearsals not swamping? Time for us?" Sora quilted their leaked beauty, eyed her.
"You two—days here, just... this?!"
"Streets? Riot risk. Palace? Dull." Sora griped.
"Sorry—endure."
"Highness—purpose?" Louise asked.
"Actually..." Anrietta twisted fingers uneasy, awkward-asked.
"Sora, Louise—can I, really queen well? Shield Tolistine folk, lead to joy? I... fear failing."
"Nonsense—You'll excel," Louise instant.
"No worry—Louise, I back you. Others too." Sora light-smiled. "Chest out—queenly poise."
"Really—thanks, Sora, Louise. Got it." Anrietta brightened. Door-grabbed exit-bound: "Queen-me... still friends-like?"
"Highness—always friend." Louise emoted.
"Louise."
"Highness." Louise bed-leaped, hugged Anrietta.
Anrietta Sora-glanced.
Sora smiled: "Princess or queen—you're Anrietta."
"Sora..." Anrietta dazed-moved.
"Live with us forever? Weigh my proposal."
"Ah!" [Marry him with Louise? Absurd.] Anrietta cheeks blazed.
"Ah? Proposal? What?" Louise wide-eyed ping-ponged them.
"I—going!" Anrietta fled-room.
"Sora—spill, hiding?" Louise door-shut, hips-akimbo imposing—cuter to Sora.
"Curious? Won't tell." Sora yanked her bed-ward, pinned anew. "Five times—you can't... Ah—"
Long day lingered.
Days on: coronation dawn.
Crowds lined main street. Princess palace-emerged, carriage-high waved smiling to masses' blessings.
Sora led Griffins air-hovering guard. Ground: Unicorns, Chimeras patrolled. City defense handled outer capital.
Princess carriage trailed: Secretary of State, ministers.
Main street through, city-circle: nationwide Tolistines glimpsed future queen, fervor peaked.
City-lapped, main road palace-return.
Palace walls: coronation stage set.
Princess rampart-ascended; queen awaited, crown-held.
Tedious rites done, Anrietta queen-fronted.
"I ask: Anrietta, take crown—queen Tolistine?"
"Yes."
"Again: Anrietta, courage, resolve shield Tolistine?"
"Yes."
"Last: Anrietta, confidence lead Tolistine to folk joy?"
"Yes."
City cheers skyed.
Queen smiled faint: "For late husband King Gollit, I bequeath Tolistine throne to you, Anrietta." Crown lifted.
Anrietta head-bowed slight.
Queen crowned her.
Crowned, Anrietta crowd-faced, waist-wand drew high-raised.
"Long live! Long live!" "Tolistine eternal!" "Queen Anrietta long live!" "Queen!"
Cheers endless.
Festivities half-hour; Anrietta wall-descended, hall-bound.
Ministers trailed.
Main hall passage, high platform: throne-side stood, turned—sat.
Ministers filed, lined, half-kneeled oath.
Secretary to Commerce, Gramon to Osman—all seven vowed Queen Anrietta fealty.
Anrietta slow: "Summon Griffin captain Sora, Unicorn captain Rove, Vallière third daughter Louise."
Guards boomed.
Long-waited outer palace trio entered, queen-front half-kneeled.
"Ten days crusade: bravery, loyalty, merit yours. Queen-name rewards. Louise—forward."
"Yes, Majesty."
Louise small-stepped platform-under; Anrietta rose, approached, wand-tapped left-right shoulders, forehead. "Queen-name: cousin Louise, royal blood. Heirless-me? Louise first throne-successor."
What?!
Hall gasped; Louise head-snapped disbelieving.
Duke Vallière beard-stroked thoughtful. Vallière now royal-tied full.
Anrietta maid-took purple royal cloak, draped Louise gentle.
"Louise—now sister. Call me sis."
"Majesty—this?"
Anrietta mock-frowned.
Louise blushed coy: "Sis Anrietta."
"Good girl." Anrietta pleased, waved Louise back.
"Captain Rove—forward."
"Yes." Rove queen-front knelt head-low.
Wand three-taps: "Queen-name: royal earl promotion, hereditary baron. Fief: royal northwest Yelu village."
Rove thrilled loud: "Majesty—gratitude boundless."
Royal titles lifetime-name; hereditary baron, village real. Knight non-heir Rove? Strong launch.
"Rove—down. Sora—forward." Rove retreated; Sora advanced.
Sora half-kneeled, half-smiled up at Anrietta.
Anrietta flustered, wand three-tapped loud: "Sora—Queen-name: royal earl, hereditary baron. Fief: royal Lille Forest."
"Queen-gratitude." Sora replied.
Awards done, queen dismissed ministers.
Alone cold-throned, Anrietta's face shifted.