Chapter 163:
– Haru –
Ranni's arrival caught me completely off guard.
One moment, the Fox Hole had been enjoying the sort of peaceful morning I had learned not to trust.
Then silver-blue starlight gathered in the middle of my restaurant.
For several seconds, I simply stared at her.
One of her hands hovered close to the large object floating behind her, as if she needed to reassure herself that it was still there.
The object was almost as tall as she was.
It had been carefully wrapped in several layers of midnight-blue silk and tied with a silver ribbon. Its shape suggested a sword, although it would have been an enormous one. Even concealed, it radiated enough magical power to make the enchanted lights throughout the Fox Hole flicker.
That power was cold without being cruel. It carried the stillness of a winter night, the pull of the moon upon an endless sea, and the faintest echo of something I had felt every time Ranni held me with all four arms.
It felt like her.
My surprise softened almost immediately into happiness.
I had not seen Ranni since she had abruptly fled the Occult Research Club room several days earlier. One minute, Rias had been asking when Ranni and I intended to marry. The next, Ranni had realized that she had apparently forgotten a critical part of the Carian marriage ritual and vanished in a burst of starlight.
My tails betrayed me before I could decide how dignified I wanted to appear. All ten rose behind me, wagging in slow, broad sweeps that stirred the warm air around the bar.
I let an easy smile spread across my face as I took her in. "Ranni, it's good to see you," I said.
Ranni's golden eye met mine for half a second before darting toward the floor.
That was strange.
Ranni could look directly at ancient gods, Demon Lords, and cosmic entities without the slightest hesitation. Yet standing in the middle of my restaurant, she seemed almost painfully aware of every person looking in her direction.
She was blushing.
The realization made my smile widen. "Would you like some breakfast?" I asked.
Before she could answer, the shadow clone behind the bar looked up from the omelet it had been preparing.
Its eyes met mine. The bastard smiled. Then it dispelled itself.
Several days of memories slammed into my brain at once!
Every sight, smell, sound, and sensation the clone had experienced arrived simultaneously.
I gripped the edge of the nearest chair. Pain drove itself through my skull hard enough to make my vision flash white. My ears flattened against my head, and all ten of my tails went rigid behind me.
Being a True Demon Lord apparently did not protect me from making stupid decisions. Leaving a shadow clone active for several days had seemed efficient at the time. Absorbing several days of uninterrupted sensory information in a single instant felt considerably less efficient.
I closed my eyes and pressed two fingers against the bridge of my nose. "Okay," I muttered through clenched teeth. "That was a mistake," I admitted.
Soft fabric whispered across the floor. Ranni crossed the distance between us before I could straighten. Two of her hands carefully gathered her skirt out of the way, while another settled on my shoulder.
Her fourth hand touched my temple.
The pain disappeared. One moment, my head felt as if someone were driving a heated spike through it. The next, cool moonlight seemed to flow through my thoughts, untangling the mass of overlapping memories and arranging them into something my mind could process.
My shoulders relaxed. My tails resumed wagging, slower now, and one of them curled instinctively around Ranni's waist.
Her touch lingered after the pain was gone.
I turned my face toward her palm. Her skin was smooth and pleasantly cool against my cheek. I caught her hand gently between both of mine and pressed a kiss against her knuckles.
"Thank you," I murmured.
Ranni went very still. Her blush spread from the tips of her ears toward her cheeks. For an instant, some of the regal composure she had gathered seemed ready to collapse completely.
Then she drew herself upright. Her shoulders settled. Her chin rose. Three of her hands folded neatly in front of her, while the fourth remained in mine for one additional heartbeat before she reluctantly withdrew it.
The change was subtle, but I recognized it. Ranni was reaching for the formal, old-fashioned dignity that came so naturally whenever she spoke as the Lunar Princess of Caria.
She took a slow breath. "My beloved, glad am I to stand within thy presence once more," Ranni said. Her voice remained soft, but it carried clearly throughout the restaurant.
Several conversations nearby stopped.
Ranni's eyes drifted toward me again. Affection softened her formal expression, and one corner of her mouth lifted into the faintest smile. "I have come this morn that I might speak with thee upon a matter most dear to mine heart," Ranni continued.
The enormous wrapped object behind her rotated slightly in the air.
I followed it with my eyes before looking back at her. The shape, the magic, and her behavior all pointed toward the same conclusion.
I knew what that meant.
My heartbeat quickened anyway.
Ranni's fingers tightened together. "And yet, before such words may pass between us, there is another whose leave I must formally seek," Ranni said. "Your mother…"
I tilted my head, causing one ear to dip to the side. "My mother?" I asked.
Ranni gave me one grave nod. "I have come to see thee, beloved," Ranni said. "And I have come also to speak with thy lady mother," she finished.
My tails stopped in the middle of another wag.
I slowly turned toward the bar.
Mother was still seated where I had left her. She had been enjoying breakfast beside Cersei, the two of them sitting close enough that their sleeves touched. Cersei held a cup of coffee in one hand, although she had paused before taking her next drink.
Yasaka's golden eyes moved from Ranni to the wrapped object floating behind her, then returned to me. Amusement glimmered in them, accompanied by a warmth that made my stomach twist with a new kind of nervousness.
Cersei glanced between the three of us. A knowing smile appeared on her lips, and she settled back in her seat as if preparing to watch a particularly promising piece of court theater.
(Picture here)
Mother placed her teacup carefully on its saucer.
The tiny click seemed unnaturally loud in the sudden quiet.
She rose from her chair with effortless grace. Her midnight-blue kimono fell smoothly around her. All twelve of her tails spread behind her in a magnificent fan, and several began swaying despite the dignified expression she was trying to maintain.
Mother stepped away from the bar and turned fully toward Ranni.
Her gaze briefly found mine. I saw the smirk she was suppressing.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
The smirk became fractionally more pronounced.
Mother folded her hands within the sleeves of her kimono and inclined her head toward Ranni. "You have my attention, Princess Ranni," Mother said. "What is it you wish to ask of me?" she asked.
Ranni swallowed. The sound was quiet enough that an ordinary human would never have heard it. My fox ears caught it easily.
For the first time since I had known her, Ranni looked genuinely terrified.
That realization struck me harder than the clone's memories had.
Ranni glanced at me.
I gave her the gentlest smile I could manage. One of my tails remained wrapped around her waist, and I let it squeeze her lightly before withdrawing. This was something she had chosen to do for herself. She deserved to stand through it on her own terms.
Her shoulders relaxed by the smallest degree. She stepped forward.
Every eye in the Fox Hole followed her.
I became painfully aware of how crowded the restaurant was. A group of Nords occupied two tables near the wall, their breakfast tankards forgotten in front of them. Several Asari travelers sat in a corner booth, all of them watching with wide eyes. A Palico had poked its head out from beneath a tablecloth.
At the children's table, Kunou looked ready to explode. My little sister sat on her knees atop the booth, both hands buried in the fur around Sora's neck. Her mouth hung open in a delighted grin, and all nine of her tails whipped back and forth so quickly that Tanya had to lean away to avoid being repeatedly slapped by them.
Somehow, Kunou already knew what was happening.
Maybe she had inherited Mother's instincts for drama.
Or perhaps she had simply seen the giant wrapped sword, Ranni's formal dress, and my obvious happiness and reached the only conclusion a little girl obsessed with weddings possibly could.
Ranni reached the open space before Mother. She stopped. For one suspended moment, nobody moved. Then Ranni lowered herself gracefully onto one knee.
A quiet murmur moved through the restaurant.
Two of Ranni's hands arranged her skirts around her. Her lower pair rested over her heart and abdomen. The wrapped object behind her descended until its tip hovered just above the wooden floor.
Mother's eyebrows rose.
Even she had not expected Ranni to kneel.
Ranni bowed her head. When she spoke, her voice carried the measured formality of an ancient court, but I could hear the faint tremor beneath it.
"Lady Yasaka, sovereign ruler of Kyoto, Queen of the Yokai, and honored mother of the man whom I hold dearest above all others, I stand before thee not merely as Ranni the Witch, but as Lunar Princess of Caria and heir to the Full Moon," Ranni said.
The silver ribbon around the object fluttered despite the lack of wind.
Ranni raised her head and met Mother's eyes directly. "By the ancient customs of mine house, I would seek the blessing of my beloved's kin before I place within his hands the blade that shall proclaim him mine chosen consort before Caria, Raya Lucaria, and the eternal moon," Ranni continued.
My throat tightened. I had known she considered me her husband. She had explained that much in the clubroom. Knowing it and hearing her declare it before my family, my customers, and representatives from several different universes were entirely different experiences.
Ranni looked at me. I saw affection there. Hope. Vulnerability. A love so old and patient that I could barely comprehend how long she had carried it alone.
She turned back toward Mother. "Thus do I, Ranni of Caria, humbly beseech thee for the hand of thy son Haru in marriage," Ranni said.
Silence swallowed the Fox Hole.
Heat rushed into my face so violently that I briefly wondered whether I had developed a fever. My ears flattened. Was that even possible at this point? All ten of my tails puffed to nearly twice their normal size.
I opened my mouth, but only an undignified noise emerged. "R-Ranni," I sputtered.
That broke the silence.
The Nords erupted first. Several men burst into booming laughter, slamming their palms against the tables and raising their tankards in my direction. Their amusement lasted roughly three seconds before the women sitting beside them began smacking the backs of their heads.
One particularly muscular Nord woman seized her companion by the beard and yanked his face down toward the table. Another elbowed the man beside her hard enough to knock the air from his lungs.
Skyrim possessed many faults, but its warriors were refreshingly equal in how enthusiastically they punished stupidity.
The Asari in the corner reacted very differently. Two looked genuinely heartbroken. A third placed a consoling hand on one woman's shoulder while continuing to stare at me with an expression of profound personal disappointment. I was fairly certain I had never even spoken to any of them…
Kunou could no longer contain herself. My little sister released Sora, threw both arms into the air, and bounced so violently that the booth creaked beneath her. "Ranni-onee-sama is proposing to Haru!" Kunou squealed.
Tanya winced and covered one ear.
Myrcella smiled despite the more complicated emotion that briefly crossed her face.
Sora lifted his head, barked once in support of whatever had made Kunou happy, and immediately went back to sleep.
Ranni remained kneeling through all of it. Her cheeks had become an even deeper shade of blue, but she did not retreat or look away. Every one of her hands trembled slightly now. Her gaze remained fixed on Mother, patiently awaiting judgment.
Mother allowed the noise to continue for several seconds. Then one of her twelve tails flicked behind her.
The Nords fell quiet.
Kunou pressed both hands over her mouth, though the excited squeaking continued behind her fingers.
Mother looked down at Ranni. Pride and amusement warmed her expression, but beneath both was something more discerning. She was not merely Haru's embarrassing mother enjoying an opportunity to torment her son. She was Yasaka, Queen of the Yokai, weighing the woman who had come to ask for her child's hand.
Ranni held her gaze without wavering.
Mother's smile slowly widened. Behind her, all twelve golden tails began to wag once again...
The rest of the Fox Hole had gone so quiet that even the sizzling bacon behind the counter seemed intrusive.
My shadow clone had popped already, so I should really go check on that… But this wai
Every customer waited for the Yokai Queen's answer. The Nords leaned forward over their tables. The Asari in the corner watched with expressions ranging from fascination to poorly concealed disappointment. Kunou looked seconds away from vibrating through the booth.
Mother finally stepped right in-front of Ranni.
Ranni lifted her chin, apparently expecting some solemn pronouncement of approval, a formal question about her intentions, or perhaps the recitation of an ancient yokai marriage custom.
Mother gave her none of those things. She bent down, wrapped both arms around Ranni, and hauled the startled Lunar Princess into a crushing embrace!
Ranni's regal composure shattered instantly. Her four arms flew outward and an adorable sound escaped her before she could suppress it. "Ah—!" Ranni yelped.
Mother laughed warmly as she squeezed Ranni tighter.
For several seconds, Ranni looked as though she had no idea what to do with any of her arms. Her upper pair hovered behind Mother's shoulders. One lower hand remained pressed to her own chest, while the last seemed caught between returning the embrace and protecting what remained of her royal dignity.
Mother did not give her enough room to escape.
One of Mother's tails curled around Ranni's back, adding another layer to the hug. "I have been waiting for you to come and put a leash on my son," Mother said.
My warm, emotional appreciation of the moment died immediately.
I stared at her.
Mother continued rubbing Ranni's back as if she had not just insulted me in front of a restaurant full of people. "You will make an excellent main wife," Mother said. "Perhaps you can finally stop him from chasing every pretty face that bats her eyes at him."
The Nords began laughing again.
This time, their female companions did not stop them.
Even Cersei covered her mouth with one hand, although the satisfaction in her green eyes made it clear she was hiding a smile rather than a cough.
My tails bristled behind me. "I do not chase every pretty woman who bats her eyes at me," I protested.
Mother turned her head without releasing Ranni. Her raised eyebrow conveyed the accumulated skepticism of a woman who had watched my romantic life turn into an international—and increasingly interdimensional—diplomatic structure.
She did not need to say anything. Unfortunately, Mother had never been the sort of woman to leave evidence unstated when she could recite it aloud.
One of Mother's tails flicked toward the restaurant's entrance. "Aela walked through that door, took you hunting, and claimed you before you understood that you were courting," Mother continued. Another tail rose. "Rias was arranged politically, yet you fell in love with her anyway," Mother said. A third tail joined the first two. "Shepard dragged you into her quarters after one successful rescue," Mother continued. Two more tails lifted. "You went on one date with Alice, fought a dragon man, bit an Endbringer's arm off, and returned with another girlfriend," Mother said.
My ears flattened lower with each example.
Mother's tails continued rising behind her like someone tallying points on an enormous golden abacus. "You rescued Irene, invited her to a school dance, and slept with her," Mother continued. "You rescued Hela from Helheim and returned two days later having slept with both her and Frigga. Daenerys invaded Westeros, proposed to you during your first proper meeting, and somehow became pregnant shortly afterward. Kushina appeared in Naruko's apartment, and you slept with her before she had been in this timeline for a full day."
I pointed an accusing finger at her. "That last one involved an irresponsible amount of alcohol," I said.
Cersei lowered her hand from her mouth, revealing her smile. "Alcohol does not generally create attraction that was never present," Cersei observed.
I turned my accusing finger toward her. "You are supposed to be on my side now that you are sleeping with my mother," I said.
Cersei's expression became wonderfully blank.
Mother's head snapped in my direction.
My survival instincts informed me that I had made a tactical error.
At the children's booth, Tanya abruptly covered Myrcella's ears. Myrcella's cheeks turned bright red despite Tanya's intervention, suggesting she had already heard more than enough.
Kunou merely nodded sagely, having apparently known about their relationship before I did.
Mother tightened her embrace around Ranni while narrowing her golden eyes at me. "We agreed that you would not announce my private affairs to the entire restaurant," Mother said.
I swept one hand toward the room around us. "You were announcing mine first," I said.
Mother considered that for half a second. Her smile returned. "That is different," Mother declared.
There was no point arguing with her. Because she was my mother, sovereign ruler of Kyoto, and entirely capable of inventing new definitions of fairness whenever they suited her.
I folded my arms over my chest and attempted to reclaim a little dignity. Besides, despite my objection, her accusation was not entirely baseless.
My relationships already required schedules, interdimensional travel, political agreements, and at least one group chat that I had deliberately muted for the sake of my sanity. Several of the women I loved were immortal. Several others commanded nations, armies, guilds, or starships. Three were carrying my children. Milim could shatter continents when excited, Ranni could erase civilizations from history if they threatened me, and Hela was assembling an undead army with which she intended to conquer Asgard.
My harem was not merely large enough. It was considerably larger than I had ever imagined it becoming.
I had never intended to have a harem in the first place. I had wanted a restaurant. Maybe a loving wife one day, if I found someone willing to share her life with a chef who occasionally turned into a fifty-foot fox.
Instead, I had somehow become the romantic center of a multiversal alliance network.
I knew I needed to stop behaving as though every meaningful connection could simply be allowed to develop without thought or responsibility. That was part of why I had proposed to Naruko and Kushina. It was why I intended to speak properly with every woman in my life about what she wanted from me and whether marriage was part of that future…
I relaxed my arms with a sigh.
My tails settled behind me, though one still twitched with residual embarrassment. "I have been much better about flirting with strangers lately," I said.
Her lips pursed. "Lately he says…" Mother repeated.
I felt my eye twitch.
Before I could defend myself again, Ranni finally recovered from the surprise embrace. Her four arms moved around Mother.
What began as an uncertain response gradually became a genuine hug. Ranni rested her cheek against Mother's shoulder and closed her eyes. Her posture softened in a way I rarely saw outside our most private moments.
For all her impossible power, Ranni had spent an unfathomably long time alone. She had loved her mother enough to steal an entire kingdom from the Lands Between and hide it beyond the reach of the Greater Will. She had watched me through dreams and across dimensions before finding the courage to enter my life directly. She had orchestrated the Fox Hole's connections while keeping herself at a distance because approaching me had frightened her more than confronting cosmic entities ever could.
Now my mother was embracing her as if she had already joined our family. Mother gradually eased her hold. She kept both hands on Ranni's shoulders as they separated, studying the Lunar Princess's face with open approval.
Ranni looked happier than she had when she entered. She still blushed, but her nervousness no longer threatened to overwhelm her. Her hands rested more naturally at her sides, and the corner of her mouth curled into the small, knowing smile I had come to adore.
Ranni glanced at me.
A spark of mischief entered her gaze. "Fear not, Lady Yasaka," Ranni said. "I intend to keep thy son most carefully leashed."
Mother's laughter filled the restaurant.
I stared at both of them in betrayal.
Ranni's smile grew. One of her lower hands rose to conceal it with the back of her fingers, but the amusement in her eye made the gesture useless.
I pointed between her and Mother. "I do not need a leash," I muttered.
Ranni's gaze lowered toward my tails.
All ten of them had begun wagging again simply because she was smiling at me.
Her eyebrow rose.
I slowly lowered my pointing hand.
That was not evidence of anything.
A sudden rush of small footsteps crossed the floor.
Kunou launched herself from the booth before Tanya could stop her. My little sister raced toward Ranni with nine tails streaming behind her, nearly tripping over Sora when the golden retriever decided this looked like a game and followed.
Tanya came after her at a much more controlled pace, though "controlled" was relative. She moved quickly enough that the hem of her military coat fluttered behind her.
Myrcella followed at a dignified walk, apparently unwilling to sprint across a crowded restaurant even when everyone else had abandoned decorum.
Kunou skidded to a stop directly in front of Ranni. She raised one hand beside her face and formed a triumphant peace sign. Her grin was so wide it threatened to split her cheeks. "It is going to be amazing when you are finally my real big sister, Ranni-onee-sama," Kunou said.
(Picture here)
Ranni's expression changed instantly. The confident amusement vanished, replaced by something infinitely softer.
She lowered herself until she was level with Kunou. "Little moonbeam, I have considered thee mine own sister from the moment thou first welcomed me into thy heart," Ranni said.
Kunou made a high-pitched sound of pure happiness. She threw herself at Ranni.
Ranni had enough warning to catch her this time. Two arms wrapped around Kunou's back, one supported her beneath the legs, and the fourth stroked the fur of the tails that immediately surrounded them both.
Sora circled their feet, tail wagging frantically as he tried to determine whether this was a group activity he should join.
My own throat tightened.
Ranni had never treated Kunou as an inconvenience or as merely the younger sister of the man she loved. She indulged her adventures, protected her from threats I had never even known existed, and answered her endless questions about stars and moons with more patience than I possessed.
She was already Kunou's big sister.
A sword ceremony would only make the relationship official.
Tanya stopped beside them. Her usual composure remained mostly intact. The faint red spreading across her cheeks betrayed her.
Tanya glanced toward me and then toward the other customers. Her lips compressed, as if she were seriously considering whether expressing an emotion in public constituted a tactical vulnerability.
Eventually, she looked directly at Ranni. Her fingers tightened behind her back. "Lady Ranni, I would also like to offer my congratulations," Tanya said.
Ranni shifted Kunou securely into two of her arms and gave Tanya her full attention.
Tanya swallowed. She had faced armies, artillery barrages, aerial mages, and Being X without visibly hesitating. Thanking someone sincerely in front of her new family appeared far more difficult.
Her blue eyes lowered for a moment. "I understand that the restaurant's connection to my former world and the circumstances that eventually freed me would not have happened without you," Tanya said. "I have not expressed my gratitude adequately."
Tanya looked toward Kunou.
My little sister was still clinging happily to Ranni, her cheek pressed against the Lunar Princess's shoulder.
Something in Tanya's stern expression softened. "I love this family," Tanya said. "I love Kunou, Haru, Lady Yasaka, Viktoriya, and even the collection of lunatics who wander through this restaurant. I am safe. I have a home. I am no longer trapped in an endless war, and I will never have to fear Being X controlling my life again." Tanya's voice tightened on the final words. She straightened further, fighting to retain her composure. "You made much of that possible," Tanya continued. "Thank you, Lady Ranni."
Ranni carefully lowered Kunou to the floor.
Then she turned toward Tanya.
Tanya seemed prepared for a polite acknowledgment.
Ranni instead drew her into a four-armed embrace.
Tanya went rigid. Her face became red enough to match the interior lining of her uniform.
Ranni rested one hand gently against the back of Tanya's head. "Thou owest me no debt, brave little warrior," Ranni said. "All that I wrought, I did because I wished for Haru to find souls worth loving beyond the borders of his first world. Thou didst earn thy place within this family through thine own courage, and no false god shall ever again lay claim upon thee."
Tanya's eyes widened. For a second, she looked very young. She looked like a girl who had finally been told she was safe.
Tanya's arms rose slowly. She returned the embrace. "Understood," Tanya whispered. Her reply was quiet, but I heard it.
Mother heard it too. The playful smirk disappeared from her face, replaced by maternal tenderness. One of her tails moved forward and curled around Tanya and Ranni both, enclosing them in a loose ring of golden fur.
Kunou immediately joined the hug again.
Myrcella hesitated at the edge until Cersei gave her a gentle push between the shoulders. She stepped forward, and Ranni opened one arm to welcome her without needing to be asked.
I watched the four of them together and felt my eyes begin to sting.
I blinked rapidly. Crying in front of a restaurant full of Nords was not the impression I wanted to make immediately after being accused of needing a leash.
Yasaka noticed anyway.
Her eyes met mine across the small group, and the knowing warmth in her smile told me she would save that particular humiliation for later. She let the embrace continue for another few moments before clapping her hands once. The sharp sound drew every eye back toward her. Mother's tails rose dramatically behind her.
Her expression shifted from affectionate mother to sovereign host with frightening ease. "We will need a celebration!" Mother announced.
I knew that tone.
A dangerous amount of enthusiasm entered her eyes. "No modest dinner will do for an occasion of this importance," Mother continued. "Tonight, at my palace, we will hold a celebration unlike anything Kyoto has ever witnessed!"
I stared at her. Considering what Kyoto had witnessed since the Fox Hole opened, that was an alarmingly ambitious promise.
Mother turned toward the customers. She lifted her chin and projected her voice throughout the restaurant with enough authority to make the windows tremble. "Everyone here is to invite everyone they know," Mother declared. "Friends, companions, guildmates, crews, clans, courts, and families are all welcome. Tonight, Kyoto celebrates the union of Caria and the Yokai!"
The Fox Hole erupted!
Nords hammered tankards against tables. The Asari applauded. Someone near the back immediately called for more mead, despite the party not beginning until that evening. Several female Nords seized the men who had laughed at me and began dragging them toward the door, presumably to spread the invitation—or find enough alcohol to survive the coming celebration.
Chairs scraped. Voices rose. Within seconds, customers from half a dozen dimensions were discussing whom they intended to bring.
My restaurant had transformed from a peaceful breakfast service into the organizational center of an interdimensional royal engagement party.
So, a fairly normal morning…
Kunou pulled away from the group and produced a smartphone from somewhere inside her kimono. Her fingers immediately began racing across the screen. "I am texting Haru's entire multiversal harem!" Kunou announced.
I blanched. I slowly turned toward Kunou. My little sister continued typing with a frightening focus.
I pointed at the phone in her hands. "How did you get all their numbers?" I asked.
Kunou looked up at me with a wide shameless grin and stuck her tongue out at me. She looked back down and resumed typing. The screen reflected against her bright golden eyes.
My own phone began vibrating repeatedly in my pocket.
I did not need to check it to know what was happening…
Mother appeared delighted by the escalating chaos. She let the restaurant's celebration continue while turning back toward Ranni. Some of her playfulness faded as she regarded the wrapped object floating behind the Lunar Princess.
Her next question was gentler. "You have my blessing, Ranni," Mother said. "But what else must be done to complete the ceremony according to Carian tradition?" she asked.
The words quieted something in Ranni. Her expression softened with unmistakable relief.
Ranni's shoulders lowered, and a tension I had not fully noticed finally left her body. She bowed her head. "I thank thee, Lady Yasaka," Ranni said. "Thy blessing shall be treasured by me for all the ages yet to come."
Mother inclined her head in return.
Ranni looked toward me. The enormous wrapped sword drifted from behind her until it hovered beside her shoulder. Its presence sent a cool current of magic through the restaurant. Silver-blue light traced the edges of the silk, and several nearby customers fell silent again.
Ranni placed one hand against the wrapping. "Among the royal house of Caria, we hold no wedding ceremony as many mortal cultures understand the custom," Ranni explained.
I tilted my head. That was not what I had expected. "No wedding?" I asked.
Ranni's smile turned faintly apologetic. "Not in the manner thou hast witnessed elsewhere," Ranni said. "There are no exchanged rings, no priest standing before an altar, and no single feast at which vows must be spoken beneath the eyes of assembled guests."
Kunou lowered her phone. The prospect of a marriage without a giant wedding had clearly offended her on a spiritual level.
Ranni noticed and gave her a reassuring smile. "The Carian rite is older and simpler, little moonbeam," Ranni continued. "Yet it is no less binding."
Ranni turned fully toward me. One of her hands remained on the wrapped sword. Another rose and rested over her heart. "Though thou hast already met Queen Rennala and brought healing unto her wounded spirit, thou hast not yet been presented before her as my chosen consort," Ranni said. "I must bring thee before my royal mother beneath the gaze of the Full Moon." Ranni's fingers stroked the silk covering the sword. "Once my mother hath formally recognized thee, we shall stand before the Carian royal throne," Ranni continued. "There, before the court and the restored people of our kingdom, I shall place the Dark Moon Greatsword within thy hands."
The wrapped blade pulsed. The magic moved through the Fox Hole like moonlight crossing still water. My tails lifted in response, their fur stirring as the sword's power touched mine.
Ranni extended one of her free hands toward me. "When thou dost accept the blade, the matrimonial runes shall recognize thee as my chosen lord," Ranni said. "Before Caria, Raya Lucaria, my mother, and the eternal moon, thou shalt be acknowledged as my consort and husband."
The noise of the restaurant seemed to recede. I looked at Ranni's outstretched hand. I stepped forward and placed my hand in hers.
Her cool fingers closed around mine. All ten of my tails resumed wagging.
Mother saw my expression and smiled with quiet satisfaction.
Kunou took approximately forty photographs in the space of three seconds.
…It was fortunate that I had already showered that morning.
After waking up tangled between Hela and Frigga in Monte Carlo, a shower had been less of a luxury and more of an absolute necessity. I had even taken enough time to wash and condition all ten of my tails, which was not a small undertaking when each one contained enough fur to bury an ordinary person.
At the time, I had assumed I was merely making myself presentable before returning to work.
I had not known that a few hours later I would be standing before the restored royal court of Caria while a Moon Goddess publicly declared me her husband.
In retrospect, perhaps I should have started every morning by preparing for an unexpected marriage ceremony…?
Mother looked me over once Ranni had finished explaining the Carian rite.
Her expression changed slowly.
At first, she merely examined my face. Then her gaze moved down to the shirt and trousers I had thrown on after returning from Monaco. They were clean and reasonably presentable by ordinary standards.
Apparently, ordinary standards no longer applied.
Mother's gaze returned to mine. Her smile disappeared. One of her twelve tails pointed toward the private door behind the bar that led to my apartment. "You are not meeting Queen Rennala and appearing before the Carian throne dressed like that," Mother said.
I looked down at myself. I raised both arms slightly. "What is wrong with this?" I asked.
Mother's expression suggested I had asked what was wrong with attending a royal ceremony naked.
Cersei remained seated at the bar, one hand curled around her coffee cup. Her eyes traveled over my clothes with the critical attention of a woman who had spent most of her life in royal courts.
She took another measured sip before lowering the cup. "It says wealthy tavern owner," Cersei said. "It does not say prince, Demon Lord, or future royal consort."
I considered the assessment. That was fair.
Mother flicked her tail more insistently toward my apartment. "Go and change into something appropriate," Mother ordered.
I stepped backward toward the private door. "I will only be a few minutes," I promised.
Mother folded her arms inside her sleeves. "You will take enough time to dress properly," Mother corrected.
I gave her a look.
She returned it without flinching.
I had fought dragons, gods, armies, and several entities whose existence violated the natural order. None of them possessed the sheer immovable authority of a mother deciding that her son was underdressed.
I surrendered and headed towards the back where my small apartment was located.
The contents of my wardrobe had expanded dramatically over the past few months. Rias had filled one entire section with elaborate cosplay. Aela had left behind spare leather armor and several fur-lined cloaks. Irene had contributed formal clothing enchanted against fire, blood, and "unexpected dragon-related emergencies." Shuna had begun sending me custom garments whenever inspiration struck her, each one tailored around the logistical nightmare presented by ten large tails.
I moved aside a coat with enough buckles to restrain a minor god and found the suit I wanted.
Shuna had made it shortly before Walpurgis. The jacket was primarily black, cut close enough to emphasize my shoulders without restricting movement. Deep crimson panels ran along the lapels and cuffs, and fine golden thread traced abstract foxfire patterns through the fabric. The design was formal without abandoning the colors I preferred, and the back had been constructed specifically to allow all ten tails to emerge naturally rather than crushing them together through a single opening. The accompanying trousers were black, as was the shirt. A narrow crimson tie completed the set.
Once everything was in place, I faced the mirror.
A fox-eared man with golden eyes stared back at me. The suit sharpened my appearance considerably. It made me look less like a chef reluctantly dragged into politics and more like the prince everyone insisted I was. Against the black fabric, the gold of my ears and tails seemed brighter, while the crimson accents echoed the foxfire sleeping beneath my skin.
For once, I looked prepared to walk into a throne room.
My stomach tightened. I had met Rennala several times already. I had cooked for her. I had watched her emerge from centuries of grief and mental fog after tasting the meal I prepared. She had teased Ranni about grandchildren before I had fully processed that she was speaking about my potential children. There was no reason to be nervous about seeing her again.
Except this time I would not be visiting as her daughter's friend, healer, or lover.
I was going to be presented as Ranni's chosen consort. Her husband. The thought felt enormous.
I gave my reflection one final inspection, straightened my shoulders, and returned to the restaurant.
The atmosphere had changed completely during the few minutes I was gone.
Most of the customers had cleared out. The Nords were gone, presumably on their way to inform every warrior in Skyrim that Kyoto was hosting a party. The Asari had departed as well, although one had left a napkin on the table with a contact number and a small heart written beneath it.
I picked it up, stared at it for a moment, and quietly burned it with a flicker of foxfire.
Mother would never let me hear the end of that one.
Only my immediate family remained in the dining room.
Mother stood beside Cersei near the bar. Kunou, Tanya, and Myrcella had returned to their booth. Kunou still held her phone, which continued chiming every few seconds as responses arrived from across the multiverse. Tanya appeared to be reading over her shoulder, likely evaluating travel times and security requirements for the evening's celebration. Myrcella was attempting to keep Sora from stealing food off Kunou's abandoned plate.
Ranni stood in the center of the restaurant. She turned when she heard the apartment door close. Then she froze. She started at my face before her attention traveled downward. Her gaze lingered on my shoulders, followed the crimson line of the jacket toward my waist, and then descended along the fitted trousers.
Her lips parted slightly. The fingers of two hands flexed at her sides, while another hand rose as if she intended to touch me before she remembered that my mother, little sister, and several other people were watching.
I stopped a few paces away from her.
My confidence returned all at once. I adjusted one cuff and allowed a small smirk to tug at my lips.
(Picture here)
"Do you approve?" I asked.
Ranni's gaze snapped back to my face. She knew she had been caught staring. Color deepened across her blue cheeks, but she did not retreat behind embarrassment. Instead, she drew herself upright and looked me over once more with deliberate appreciation. "Most assuredly," Ranni said. "Thou art most handsome, my beloved."
The sincerity in her voice struck harder than any flirtatious answer could have.
One of my tails slipped around her waist and drew her a little closer. "You look beautiful too," I said.
Ranni leaned subtly into my tail.
Mother cleared her throat. The sound carried a suspicious amount of amusement.
I reluctantly looked away from Ranni.
Mother examined me from head to toe. Her gaze paused at the tie, shifted toward my tails, and finally returned to my face.
Her expression softened with unmistakable pride. "Much better," Mother said.
Cersei tilted her head as she considered me. The former Queen of Westeros looked almost reluctant to offer praise, which only made the slight nod she gave me more meaningful. "You now look like someone a princess could present before a royal court without apologizing first," Cersei said.
I placed a hand over my heart. "Your approval means everything to me," I said.
Cersei narrowed her eyes. She was still learning when I was being sincere and when I was being a smartass. Mother, unfortunately, had decades of experience.
Before either woman could respond, an acrid smell reached my nose.
I stopped. Something was burning.
I turned toward the counter. A thin ribbon of gray smoke drifted out from behind it.
The bacon… I knew I forgot about something…
I stepped around the bar.
Thankfully, Enri stood over the stove with a pair of metal tongs in one hand and an expression of intense concentration on her face. Enri must have remained in the kitchen after everyone else left. She had probably been cleaning, reorganizing ingredients, or doing one of the dozens of small tasks she handled before I noticed they needed doing. Her brown hair had been tied back, and she wore the Fox Hole's dark uniform with a white apron over it. A faint smudge of soot marked one cheek.
I leaned against the end of the counter. "Enri?" I called.
Enri jumped. The tongs nearly flew out of her hand. She caught them against her apron, turned toward me, and froze for the second time in as many heartbeats. Her eyes widened as she took in the suit. The blush began at her cheeks and spread rapidly toward her ears. "L-Lord Haru," Enri stammered.
I glanced around the kitchen.
The rest of the breakfast service had been cleaned away. Ingredients were covered and returned to storage. Knives had been washed, dried, and placed correctly on the magnetic rack. The counters were spotless except for the area around the unfortunate bacon.
Enri had handled all of that while the rest of us turned the dining room into an impromptu engagement court.
She did far more for the Fox Hole than she seemed to realize. She even kept coming in when all I wanted was for her to attend school and live her life to the fullest…
I rested one hand gently on her shoulder. "I look forward to seeing you at the party tonight," I said. "You are coming, and that is not a request."
She had improved greatly since arriving from Carne Village, but part of her still seemed to expect that royal celebrations belonged to nobles, adventurers, and powerful beings rather than waitresses from small frontier villages.
I squeezed her shoulder. "And as always, I am grateful for everything you do here," I continued. "The Fox Hole would be much harder to manage without you."
Her mouth opened, but no sound emerged at first. She glanced toward Ranni, Mother, and everyone watching from the dining room, which only made her more flustered.
She bowed so quickly that I nearly had to catch her. "O-Of course, Lord Haru," Enri squeaked. Before I could say anything else, she straightened, dropped the tongs into the sink, and bolted. She raced out of the kitchen, nearly collided with the corner of the bar, corrected herself, and hurried toward the front door.
Sora lifted his head as she passed.
Enri pushed through the door and disappeared into Kyoto without stopping to collect her coat.
I stared after her. "She knows the party is not happening for several hours, right?" I asked.
Mother's smile became knowingly maternal.
"She knows," Mother said. "The poor girl needed somewhere private to recover from you complimenting her."
I looked back toward the kitchen. All I had done was thank her…?
Cersei gave me a flat look. Her expression suggested that this was precisely the sort of oblivious behavior Mother had been criticizing earlier.
I chose not to engage.
Ranni moved closer. The wrapped sword followed silently behind her, still hovering in the air.
The space between the dining tables rippled as though the restaurant had become a reflection upon disturbed water. Points of starlight emerged one by one, arranging themselves into a tall oval. Thin lines of pale Carian script traced the edge, each rune rotating into place with soft musical chimes.
The air inside the oval darkened.
For a moment, it resembled a window opened onto the night sky.
Beyond the portal waited a vast chamber of pale stone illuminated by floating crystals. Moonlight poured through enormous arched windows, silvering banners bearing the Carian crest. In the distance, I could see the first steps of a sweeping staircase leading toward the upper halls of Raya Lucaria.
Home, at least for Ranni.
She turned toward me. "Let us depart as well, my beloved," Ranni said.
I glanced back at my family. Mother stood beside Cersei, twelve tails swaying as she watched us. Pride shone openly in her expression now.
I smiled at her.
Mother lifted one hand toward me. "Take your time and honor the ceremony properly," Mother said. "We will handle the preparations here."
Cersei glanced toward Kunou, who had already returned to sending messages at terrifying speed. "And attempt to return before your sister invites every sentient creature in the multiverse," Cersei added.
Kunou looked up from her phone with an innocent expression that fooled nobody.
Tanya calmly reached over and lowered Kunou's phone. "We should establish a maximum attendance capacity before sending further invitations," Tanya said.
Kunou immediately began arguing with her.
Their voices followed me as I turned back toward the portal.
On the other side of that portal waited Rennala, the Carian court, and a throne before which Ranni intended to name me her husband.
I leaned toward her. "Lead the way, my princess," I said.
Ranni's lips curved into a radiant smile.
…I stood beside Ranni at the entrance to Caria's throne room.
The throne room was vast without possessing the gaudy excess I had seen in Asgard. Pale stone columns rose toward a vaulted ceiling that had been enchanted to resemble an open night sky. Thousands of stars shimmered overhead, arranged in constellations I did not recognize. Wisps of luminous mist drifted between them, and a magnificent full moon hung directly above the distant throne.
Moonlight poured through enormous arched windows along both walls.
Beyond them, I glimpsed the kingdom Ranni had rescued from the Lands Between.
Caria was alive.
Silver rooftops descended toward a broad lake reflecting the artificial stars. Newly constructed roads wound between towers, workshops, and clusters of homes. Lanterns glowed throughout the early-morning darkness, while distant figures moved along bridges and palace terraces. The kingdom was still rebuilding, but it was no longer the broken ruin that Ranni remembered.
Her people had come home.
Along the walls stood suits of enchanted armor and silent ranks of spectral knights, their translucent forms kneeling as Ranni entered.
I felt their attention shift toward me.
The wrapped Dark Moon Greatsword drifted through the portal after us.
Her fingers tightened around mine. The pressure was small, but I felt the nervousness behind it.
Ranni looked up at me.
I gave her a reassuring smile.
The tension in her shoulders eased.
Together, we began walking toward the throne.
Our footsteps echoed across the polished floor. The room was not crowded. I had expected an assembled court, ranks of nobles, perhaps several dozen mages waiting to witness the ceremony. Instead, the throne room contained only a handful of Carian knights stationed respectfully along the walls.
This was apparently the presentation before Ranni's mother. The public announcement would come afterward.
That realization helped a little. Then I looked toward the woman waiting at the far end of the chamber, and whatever confidence I had gathered immediately became more complicated.
Rennala sat upon the Carian throne.
She was even more striking than I remembered. The difference between the woman before me and the broken queen I had first met was remarkable. Her back was straight. Her beautiful eyes were focused. No lingering haze clouded them, and no distant sorrow pulled her attention toward memories only she could see. She looked alert, she looked regal.
The instant she saw Ranni and me holding hands, a delighted smile appeared on her face.
Rennala rose from the throne.
(Picture here)
The knights along the walls bowed their heads. Even the floating crystals seemed to dim in deference to their queen.
Ranni and I stopped at the foot of the broad staircase leading to the throne.
Ranni released my hand. For a moment, I missed the contact more than I expected. She gathered her skirts with two hands and lowered herself into a graceful curtsy. Her other pair folded formally over her heart.
"Royal Mother, thy daughter hath returned," Ranni said.
Rennala descended one step from the throne. Her gaze moved over Ranni's ceremonial gown, the hovering sword, and finally me. Pride softened her already warm expression. "My daughter, never have I been happier to welcome you home," Rennala said.
I bowed deeply. It felt strange bowing to someone I had previously fed fried chicken and mashed potatoes while she teased Ranni about grandchildren, but the circumstances had changed.
"Your Majesty," I greeted.
Rennala descended another step. Her smile turned playful. "You restored my sanity, healed wounds that had festered for centuries, and helped return my daughter to me," Rennala said. "Surely we have moved beyond such distant titles, Haru."
I straightened.
Ranni looked between us. The faintest tension entered her expression.
I was not sure whether she was nervous about the ceremony or had sensed the same mischievous note in her mother's voice that I had.
Rennala reached the bottom of the stairs. Even wearing boots, I had to tilt my head slightly to meet her eyes. Ranni was taller than most women, but Rennala stood at a height that made her daughter seem almost ordinary by comparison.
The Queen of the Full Moon stopped before us.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Her gaze softened further.
She looked toward the wrapped sword. "It has been far too long since Caria possessed a true royal consort and defender," Rennala said. "Longer still since one stood before our throne who was genuinely worthy of bearing the Dark Moon Greatsword."
The words settled heavily over the chamber.
Ranni's nervousness became anticipation.
I glanced toward the floating object. The sword knew why it had been brought here.
Rennala reached out and placed one elegant hand against the wrapping. Her fingers moved slowly over the moonlit fabric.
Her beautiful lips curled into a smile. "After all you have done for me, I would be delighted to present the blade to you personally," Rennala said. "You returned my mind, restored my kingdom, repaired the bond between my daughter and me, and gave me hope for a future I believed lost forever." Her gaze drifted over me. The appreciation in her eyes became suspiciously personal. "And I must confess, my daughter has chosen a remarkably handsome consort," Rennala added.
Beside me, Ranni bristled. The change was immediate. Her elegant composure remained intact, but all four hands tightened. A faint current of cold lunar magic moved across the floor around her shoes.
I swallowed.
Rennala had always been affectionate and teasing after recovering. She had also spent centuries trapped in a broken mental state following Radagon's betrayal, so perhaps harmless flirting was simply part of rediscovering herself.
At least, I hoped it was harmless.
Ranni shifted half a step closer to me. The movement placed her directly between her mother and one side of my body.
Her upper arms folded beneath her chest. "Mother…" Ranni warned.
Rennala blinked with exaggerated innocence. "My daughter," Rennala replied.
I coughed into my fist.
One of the knights stationed along the wall abruptly became fascinated by the floor.
Another turned his spectral face away, although his shoulders trembled with what looked suspiciously like suppressed laughter.
Rennala lifted her hand from the wrapped sword and placed it over her heart. "I offered a sincere compliment to the man who restored me," Rennala said. "Would you have me greet my future son with coldness?"
Ranni's lower pair of arms crossed as well. "Thou mayest greet him without devouring him with thine eyes," Ranni said.
I looked between them. The safest strategy would have been silence. Unfortunately, silence had never been one of my natural talents.
I adjusted my tie and attempted a diplomatic smile. "I am deeply flattered, but perhaps we should finish the ceremony before this becomes the sort of family dispute people write operas about," I suggested.
Both women turned toward me.
Ranni stared.
Rennala stared.
I reconsidered whether speaking had been wise.
Then Rennala giggled. The regal Queen of the Full Moon covered her lips with her fingertips, but the sound continued to escape. It was lighter and younger than I expected, filling the ancient throne room with warmth.
Ranni's indignation slowly faded.
She gave her mother a look of long-suffering affection.
Rennala lowered her hand. Her amusement settled into a ceremonial smile. She raised her fingers toward the sword.
The delicate snap echoed through the chamber. Silver light erupted. The ribbon untied itself and spiraled upward. Layers of blue silk unwound from the floating object, each one dissolving into motes of moonlight as it peeled away.
The magic surrounding the weapon intensified.
I felt the hairs along my arms rise. My tails spread instinctively behind me.
The final layer vanished.
The Dark Moon Greatsword hung suspended in the air.
I had seen a lot of weapons. Agnar collected enchanted swords as if they were kitchen knives. Ainz possessed an armory filled with artifacts capable of destroying nations. Gilgamesh had once thrown enough legendary weapons at Irene to turn the sky gold. Sif, Erza, Tanya, Shepard, Thor, and half my regular customers carried some form of absurdly powerful armament.
The Dark Moon Greatsword was different. It felt like a vow given physical form.
The blade was immense, broad enough that an ordinary human would have needed both hands merely to keep it upright. Translucent blue crystal formed its central edge, within which tiny stars drifted through an endless night. Silver metal framed the crystal and flowed into an elaborate crossguard shaped like overlapping crescents.
Ancient Carian runes covered the fuller. They glowed one by one as the sword was revealed. Each symbol carried a fragment of meaning that I understood without knowing the language: devotion, protection, night, sovereignty, partnership, eternity.
Moonlight gathered along the edge. The sword's magic reminded me of Ranni.
I exhaled slowly. "That is beautiful," I said.
Ranni's remaining irritation disappeared. Pride illuminated her face. She unfolded her arms and stepped toward the blade.
Rennala moved aside, giving her daughter the space before the throne.
Ranni placed two hands around the hilt. The Dark Moon Greatsword descended into her grasp. Despite its size, she held it effortlessly. Her upper pair of hands steadied the hilt, while her lower pair formed a careful ritual sign over the glowing runes.
The throne room responded.
Every floating crystal turned toward her.
The moon depicted across the enchanted ceiling brightened until silver radiance filled the chamber. Carian banners stirred in a wind that touched nothing else. The spectral knights lining the walls lowered themselves onto one knee.
Rennala stood behind her daughter, hands folded regally at her waist.
Ranni turned toward me. The sword rested horizontally across all four of her palms.
I stepped closer. The runes along the blade flared in recognition.
Ranni took a slow breath. Her expression softened with all the love she usually struggled to put into direct words. "With this sword, we are truly bound together for eternity," Ranni said. The simplicity of the declaration made it more powerful.
She offered me the sword. She offered me herself.
There was nothing to consider.
I reached out. Both of my hands closed around the hilt.
Ranni released the blade.
Power flowed into me. The Dark Moon Greatsword blazed! Silver-blue light surged up my arms and spread through my body faster than thought. It collided with the ocean of magicules inside me, but there was no violent struggle for dominance. My demonic power rose to meet it, warm and immense, while the sword's lunar energy flowed through the spaces between.
Blue foxfire erupted from all ten tails.
Frost swept across the floor.
For an instant, the two forces existed separately—warm demonic flame and the cold radiance of the eternal moon.
Then they intertwined.
My foxfire changed. Silver appeared within the blue flames, tracing delicate lines along their edges. The fire did not lose its heat, but it gained something new—the stillness of moonlight, the weight of a night sky, and a connection that stretched beyond physical distance.
Through that connection, I felt Ranni. I felt her presence. Ancient. Brilliant. Lonely no longer.
Her power answered mine, and mine answered hers.
Somewhere deep beneath the palace, an ancient bell began to ring. The sound spread through Caria.
The Dark Moon Greatsword became still in my hands. It was heavy, but not unpleasantly so. The balance shifted automatically to match my grip, as if the weapon had learned me the moment I accepted it. Its magic settled into a quiet current beneath my skin.
Rennala began clapping. "At last," Rennala said. "Caria has a worthy royal consort once more."
Ranni continued staring at me. Her lips parted in a breath that trembled slightly. The solemn Lunar Princess disappeared, leaving behind the woman who had worried whether I would understand the meaning of her gift.
I shifted the sword into one hand. With the other, I reached for her.
Ranni came willingly. All four arms wrapped around me. Two circled my shoulders, one pressed against my back, and the last settled over my heart as though feeling the place where the matrimonial rune had entered.
My tails surrounded her.
I lowered my forehead against hers.
The ceremony had been almost anticlimactic. After everything Ranni had overcome, I had expected becoming her husband to involve some elaborate ritual spanning several hours, multiple trials, perhaps a duel beneath the moon.
Instead, she had placed a sword in my hands, and I had accepted.
Maybe that was exactly what made it right.
My mouth curved into a smile. "So this means I am officially your husband now?" I asked.
Her arms tightened around me. "Before Caria, the Full Moon, and all who yet remember our ancient covenants, thou art my husband," Ranni said.
The word sent a strange warmth through me. Husband.
I leaned closer and brushed my nose against hers.
"Then you are officially my wife," I said.
Ranni's breath caught. She had already considered herself my wife under Carian custom, but hearing me say it aloud struck her with visible force.
A radiant smile spread across her face.
I kissed her.
Ranni melted against me. Her hands pressed more firmly into my back. The Dark Moon Greatsword glowed between us, and my silver-edged foxfire rose higher around my tails without burning anything.
When we separated, Rennala was wiping moisture from the corner of one eye. She noticed me looking and immediately straightened. The Queen of the Full Moon reclaimed her dignity with impressive speed.
Rennala ascended the dais. Her gown flowed behind her as she returned to the throne. She did not sit. Instead, she turned to face the enormous windows overlooking the restored kingdom.
One hand lifted. A circular spell formation appeared behind her. It expanded rapidly, filling the air above the throne with overlapping rings of silver script. Each ring rotated in a different direction, drawing power from the palace, the enchanted sky, and the full moon hanging overhead.
The air vibrated.
Rennala's voice carried the first hint of magic before she even began speaking. She glanced back at Ranni and me. Her expression held the unmistakable happiness of a mother announcing that her daughter had finally found the future she wanted.
Then she faced the kingdom. Rennala spread both arms. Her amplified voice rolled through the palace and out across the land beyond. "People of Caria, scholars of Raya Lucaria, knights of the Full Moon, and all souls who have found sanctuary beneath our stars, hear now the proclamation of your queen," Rennala announced.
The words echoed across the city.
I saw figures gathering on distant balconies. Workers emerged from workshops. Mage-lights rose into the air above the streets as the people turned toward the palace.
Ranni took my free hand. I laced my fingers through hers.
Rennala's voice strengthened. "On this day, Princess Ranni of the Carian royal line has chosen and accepted her eternal consort," Rennala proclaimed. "Haru of Kyoto, Prince of the Yokai, Lord of the Kitchen, True Demon Lord, and defender of those beneath his protection, has received the Dark Moon Greatsword before the royal throne."
The ancient bell continued ringing beneath her words.
Far below, the first cheers began. They spread from one terrace to another, gathering strength as more people understood what had happened. Silver lights erupted above the city like fireworks, forming crescent moons and stars against the enchanted sky.
Rennala smiled down at us. "Let every road be opened, every lantern kindled, and every table filled," Rennala declared. "Princess Ranni has taken her royal consort. From this hour onward, Haru shall stand beside her as husband, protector, and prince of Caria. Today shall be a day of celebration."
The response rolled through the kingdom like thunder.
Ranni's fingers trembled in mine.
I looked at her.
Tears glimmered in her eyes. She watched the lights rising above her kingdom, listening as her people celebrated the future she had once believed she would never possess.
She leaned into my side.
Then something changed.
The Dark Moon Greatsword pulsed suddenly in my grip!
Every strand of fur along my tails stood upright.
The cheers continued outside, but the air inside the throne room became heavier. A pressure descended over the palace. It was distant at first, then rapidly intensifying.
Ranni felt it at the same moment. Her tears vanished beneath sudden focus. All four arms tightened, and her head snapped upward toward the enchanted sky.
Rennala's proclamation spell faltered. The silver rings behind her froze in place.
Her smile disappeared.
The full moon above us flickered.
My gaze fixed on the sky above the throne room. "That is not part of the ceremony, is it?" I asked.
Ranni stepped against my side. Cold lunar power gathered around all four of her hands. "Nay," Ranni answered. "It most assuredly is not."
Rennala descended from the dais. She summoned her staff into one hand. "I feel something pressing against the boundaries of our kingdom," Rennala said. "Something has found us."
A thin line appeared among the stars. At first, I thought it was a shooting star. Then it widened.
The night sky cracked.
Brilliant golden light poured through the fracture…
XXX