A patrolling Unicorn knight first heard of Sora's return in the capital. Later appointed captain by Henrietta, the Chimera team leader learned too — then the three informed Queen Henrietta.
"What!!"
Henrietta, mid-council, lit up at Anyos's whisper.
"Gramont, Niels (new Chief Justice, pure Queen's man), ministers — return. Urgent matter."
"Anyos — fetch him quick."
Gramont and others exchanged baffled looks. Quasi-total war: council brimmed — materiel dispatch, troop movements, foreign intel swaps. What pulled Majesty from such?
Ministers eyed dissuasion — childish mid-crisis.
Henrietta gave no chance: throne-down, side-door out.
"Ministers — dismissed." Anyos saluted, main-exit.
"Gallia invades — Majesty, how...?"
Anti-Queen Foreign Minister grumbled.
"Extraordinary times demand caution. State over personal." Secretary of State scowled.
Gramont grumbled inwardly — pro-Queen, silent. With Niels, palace-left, frontline frets.
Hall: Secretary, Foreign, Finance lingered.
Toristine: queen-king plus seven ministers. Princess-Henrietta: anti-faction four delayed coronation, hemmed governance. Ex-Chief Justice queen-murder stepped down; Niels (Henrietta's maternal noble) filled. Anti-suppressed by Vallière, Osman, Gramont, Niels — quiet opposition.
Gallia invasion: Osman Kelmania-bound, Vallière frontlined — capital antis outnumbered pros. Secretary led duo-later-stay; hall-clear, huddled whispers.
Henrietta heart-leapt bird-free. Palace-change: formal queen garb. Purple-dressed, lake pavilion wait — back garden.
Tea twice-fresh; anxious glances.
"Captain Anyos, Lord Sora audience."
Anyos voiced garden-ward.
"Ah — Anyos wait out. Sora — in!"
Garden-out: Anyos rose, Sora-stared.
"No gaffes. Enter."
Sora scratched head, helpless-garden.
Green sward, pondlet, white gazebo: purple-midhair girl purple-gowned, eager-wait.
Queen? Sora pavilion-neared.
Henrietta joy-near-burst as neared.
Great — alive!
Dazed steps-forward, face-touch.
Sora froze — unmoving.
Third such capital-reaction — not again?
Henrietta touched; tear-corner fell.
"Great."
Sora wordless — let stare.
Henrietta self-aware, blushed, released.
"Ah — Sora, sit."
"Yeah."
Opposite stone-table sat.
Sora eyed purple-hair: heart-still.
Henrietta Sora-gazed, quiet-savor — mute.
Ten minutes: Sora broke.
"Well, Majesty — summons?"
Henrietta paled.
"You... 'Majesty'?"
"Isn't?"
"Alone — Henrietta."
"That? Sorry — amnesia, forgot."
Calm.
"Oh? How — you okay, Sora?"
Leaned concern-face.
"Uh, probably."
Easy queen.
"Royal doctor — memory fix."
"No need."
Silence anew.
Sora-death: Henrietta feelings-faced. Now faced: worry. Girls abound — Louise bestie; compete? Heart-impulse: fast-beat, confess, hug-kiss.
"Sora!!" Yelled.
"Yeah." Sora surprised-look.
"I-I..." Blushed head-down.
"Huh — nothing."
Courage-fled; queen-duty bound. Life-Toristine vowed — friend's lover chase?
"Oh. Nothing — leaving."
Sensed odd — unread mind.
"You... no linger?" Sad.
"Ah — not that."
Fluster-sight: Henrietta smiled.
Amnesia? Pre-you teased queen-me — said share with Louise. Queen — husband-share?
Amnesia — chance?
"Sora — remember?"
"No."
"Not said."
"Forgot all."
"...Fine — remind."
Bold-thought: queen-shackles shed, happiness grasp. Stunning smile.
"You — my blade, shield? Sword-steadfast, glory-win?"
"No." Flat refuse.
"..." Dissatisfied stare.
"You swore — forgot." Lied.
"Eh?!"
"Sworn-moment: my knight — lover."
"Lover" — double-blush.
No prince-need; no Louise-fight. Lover-love care enough.
"Really—?" Sora doubt — unremembered.
Eyebrow-raised.
"Queen — true."
"That — okay." Scratched head, troubled.
Intoxicating smile.
"Then knight — loyalty-merit reward—"
Words lip-stuck; table-cross, tiptoe-kiss.
Sora eyes-wide; hands-lost.
Clumsy Henrietta lip-lip — courage-spent.
Sora shock-past: counter — head-shake lips part-rejoin shallow; tongue-dragon probed mouth.
Henrietta ear-blush; resisted not — dazed catered.
Sora head-up: lips-part, saliva-thread.
Henrietta oxygen-starved panted; limp table-fallen.
"Done, Henrietta."
"Mm." Low.
Sora unsuspicious — Louise-Tabasa-Churuka-Éléonore normed one-more. Pre-amnesia girls? Cute beauties lucky. Ugly? Reject? Amnesia-hard = pre-reject — low-value no.
Pondered; Henrietta normalized, blush-faded — sly-glance.
"Go."
"Yeah."
Garden-shared; Sora Vallière-court returned; Henrietta bedchamber.
Capital-home ministers: Sora-alive news. Happy: Gramont, Niels pros. Worried: anti-trio.