Richmond led soldiers to queen-besiege—treason crime—captured by Musketeers and Griffins. News wind-gusted capital-wide; citizens cheered seeing High Court President Richmond Musketeer-crushed.
Capital ministers news-faced varied. Cardinal Massare, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister uglied, subordinates ordered: Richmond ties severed.
Duke Vallière, Marshal Gramon, Osman Academy Dean slight-joyed—storm brewed anew.
Anrietta capital-returned, queen-orders issued: Richmond-attached nobles-officials guarded, power gathered, replacements Richmond-vacancies slotted. Sora, Anrietta-trusted, recommended renamed Fukai, subordinates several served.
Palace, main hall.
Anrietta throne-sat pretty-face chill-slight; below six ministers Cardinal-included.
Richmond ousted—no new High Court President yet—minister factions shifted. Prior clashing diplomatic-financial-military policies Anrietta re-tabled discussed. Cardinals burn-fear retreated few times; Anrietta-Vallière line satisfactory won.
War-prep Albion, princess-era Anrietta-Kelmania emperor marriage rescind, taxes temp-raised, nobles treasury-donated war-funds, military supplies produced—such.
Direction-set carriage, Tolistine wild-ran.
Sora Magic Academy returned: Louise, Kirche, Tabasa surrounded—Richmond capture details quizzed, injuries checked. Sora this useful felt, repeated fine-assured.
Life normalized gradual. Sora academy-student trained: Tabasa-four Griffin candidates spotted. Semi-military students grew—at least stamina upped.
Interim: Kelmania marriage-dissolve accepted from successor Queen Anrietta—demanded royal-status Louise emperor-marry instead. Else alliance dissolve.
Sora news-furious, palace-direct Anrietta-met.
"Anrietta—know Louise my woman. No allow."
Anrietta embarrassed-faced: "Know—Louise best friend, no want barbarian emperor-marry. But Tolistine-Albion war soon—Kelmania alliance-end, Albion-join attack? Bad."
"Anrietta—ideas?" Sora asked.
"Vallière eldest queen-status bestow, Louise-replace marry," Anrietta.
"What—Eleanor? No." Sora raged.
"Why?" Anrietta Sora-rage startled.
Sora silent—Eleanor, Cattleya affairs Anrietta no-tell convenient.
"Princess marriage cowardly—Kelmania Tolistine weakness sees clear. Covenant maintain yes—marriage no rely."
"So Sora—good ideas?" Anrietta expectant-eyed.
"Surface alliance-relative agree—Kelmania welcoming team send. Team our trials fail? Marriage cancel. Fail? Tolistine strength shown—Kelmania alliance keeps natural."
Anrietta minutes-thought slow-nodded: "Okay—Sora method."
Mind-set: Anrietta ministers convened Sora-method told, Vallière three Dukes support passed. Kelmania soon-reply: marriage three checkpoints—1000-man army war, ten-mage team contest, strong-mage battle. Kelmania powerful welcoming send-request.
Kelmania emperor laughed, conditions agreed. Southwest-guard Duke Yanlong team-led Tolistine bride-welcomed.
Tolistine-Kelmania absurd-battle Albion, Gallia, Romania eyed. Tolistine-Albion war-preps slowed—wedding result direction-alter maybe. World eyes wedding-focused.
Louise, Eleanor, Cattleya palace-brought. Sora Griffin team palace-circled three guarded.
"Absurd method yours—Sora bold," Cattleya laughed.
"Right—what if lose?" Louise sad-faced. "No marry emperor. Sora—take away."
"Easy Louise—no let taken. Promise." Sora serious Louise-eyes held.
Louise sob-slowed: "Yes—trust Sora. Yours mine—no let taken, right?"
"Yes—lovely Louise mine-only." Sora smiled.
"Big talk—little Louise ours too." Eleanor Louise-cheeks kneaded. "Cheer—no like you, Louise."
"Louise—Eleanor sis, me with. Worry not." Cattleya soft-smiled.
"Yes—Sis Cattleya, Sis Eleanor." Louise tear-smiled.
Sora three-sisters bickered gentle-smiled.
"Training—go." Sora room-left, Griffin team practiced. Days-later Sora Griffins ten-mages fight-lead. Louise-Eleanor no-take—hard work.