The Weight of the Crown
The days following the stabilization of the Seal and the defeat of Narakka were a whirlwind of political and logistical recovery. The immediate flames of rebellion were extinguished, but the kingdom was left scorched and fragile.
King Hayate, now ruling with the full, unburdened power of his Angelic bloodline, handled the immense workload with a quiet, decisive authority the council had never witnessed before. The crushing weight of the Curse of Reflection was gone, replaced by a focused, clean energy.
But the emotional weight of leadership remained. Hayate had to face the difficult task of rebuilding a government shattered by treason.
Neshuda was his constant, undeniable shadow. He was no longer just the silent Guardian; he was the King's openly declared Life Anchor and companion. He sat in on every council meeting, his presence a stabilizing force.
"The coastal cities are in chaos, Your Majesty," Captain Torvin reported grimly in a war council held a week after their return. "The Crimson Captain's fleet was defeated by The Sea Witch's loyalists, but many small pirate crews have taken advantage of the disorder. They see the Aurekawa Citadel as weak."
Hayate sighed, rubbing his temples. He felt a soft, warm pressure on his shoulder—Neshuda's hand, resting there lightly, offering quiet support. He felt the corresponding, gentle ache of concentration in his own shoulder, a silent message from Neshuda: Don't worry. Focus.
"We cannot send the full Royal Guard to the coast, Torvin," Hayate decided. "The central provinces are still recovering from Narakka's influence. We must show strength here. Send a contingent of elite Guardsmen and two emissaries. One from the Council, and one from the Royal Guard. We offer amnesty to any pirate who surrenders and swears loyalty to the crown, and we offer fair trade. But for those who refuse, we show no mercy."
Neshuda leaned down, whispering into Hayate's ear, a sweet intimacy that made the council members shift awkwardly, but no one dared to comment. "Let me lead that contingent, Hayate. I can handle the negotiation and the necessary force. I am your best deterrent."
Hayate felt Neshuda's intense determination flow through their bond. He looked at his Guardian, his eyes softening. "No, my love. You stay with me. The stability of the throne is more important than the coast. I need you to stand as my shield and my witness."
He turned to Captain Torvin. "Send your best lieutenant, Captain. Neshuda's place is here. At my side."
The Sweet Burden of the Bond
The public display of their devotion continued to cause whispers in the court, but the bond between the King and his Guardian was so profound, so clearly the source of the King's new strength, that all opposition was muted.
One afternoon, Hayate was reviewing financial documents, an exhausting, mind-numbing task. He frowned, feeling a faint, annoying tingling in his left leg. He ignored it, trying to focus on the trade numbers.
The tingling intensified. He felt a sudden, sharp, reflected exasperation.
He looked up to see Neshuda, standing by the window, staring intently at the view.
"Neshuda," Hayate said gently, putting down the papers. "Stop tapping your foot."
Neshuda blinked, surprised. He was indeed tapping his foot impatiently against the floor, a nervous habit he had when Hayate was buried in paperwork.
"How did you know, King?" Neshuda asked, stepping away from the window.
Hayate smiled tiredly. "I felt the tingling, Anchor. The curse tells me what your body is doing. And I felt your deep exasperation with these trade manifests. Come here."
Neshuda crossed the room and stood beside the King's chair. Hayate reached out and pulled Neshuda's hand to his lips, kissing the back of his hand—a small, tender, secret reassurance.
"I know you hate the waiting, my love," Hayate murmured, his eyes locking with Neshuda's. "But I can't focus when I feel you vibrating with impatience. Sit down, close your eyes, and lend me your resolve. I need your calm to finish this."
Neshuda's stern, guarded expression melted. He sat in a chair beside Hayate, closed his eyes, and channeled his internal peace and focused determination into their bond.
Hayate felt the turbulent energy subside, replaced by a warm, steady flow of Neshuda's controlled will. He was able to finish the complex financial documents in record time, powered by his Life Anchor's perfect, comforting support.
When Hayate finally put down his quill, he leaned over and kissed Neshuda's forehead.
"You are my stability, Neshuda," Hayate whispered, feeling a wave of deep gratitude flow through the bond.
Neshuda opened his eyes, a soft, rare smile gracing his lips. "And you, my King, are my purpose. Let me always be your calm."
The Foreign Emissaries
The biggest challenge came a week later with the arrival of the foreign emissaries. News of the coup, the ghouls, and the King's strange reliance on a stray had spread across the continent. Two major kingdoms—the powerful, traditionalist Galthor Empire and the progressive, merchant-driven Free States—sent envoys to the Citadel.
The Galthor Emissary, a stiff, old Duke, was the first to speak during the formal reception.
"Your Majesty, the Galthor Empire is pleased by the defeat of the usurper, Narakka," the Duke stated formally. "But we must address a matter of stability. The entire continent knows that the ancient curse has been lifted. However, the King continues to give immense, unprecedented power to a person of no noble blood, a former stray. This is... unusual. The stability of your kingdom, and by extension, our trade agreements, depends on tradition."
Hayate felt a flash of hot anger radiate from Neshuda, who stood just behind the throne. Neshuda's hands clenched into fists, and Hayate felt the immediate, sharp reflected tension and fury.
Hayate put his hand out, palm-up, toward Neshuda, a silent, commanding request for calm. Neshuda instantly understood. He slowly unclenched his fists, channeling the intense emotion into cold, focused resolve, which flowed gently into Hayate.
Hayate rose from the throne, his charisma burning with regal intensity. He ignored the Duke and looked directly at the crowd.
"The stability of this kingdom rests on truth, not tradition," Hayate declared. "The curse was real, and it almost killed me because I hid the truth of my bond with Neshuda. Now, the curse is gone, because Neshuda, my Life Anchor, took the full burden of the kingdom's sorrow upon himself and survived."
Hayate walked down the steps of the throne and stood beside Neshuda.
"Neshuda is my equal in the governance of this realm," Hayate stated, his voice absolute. "He is a man of unparalleled loyalty, skill, and pure-hearted will. If you wish to conduct business with the Aurekawa Citadel, you will treat my Guardian with the respect due to a member of the Royal Family. If you cannot accept the man who saved this world, then your treaties are null."
The Duke of Galthor was speechless, stunned by the King's uncompromising, loving defense.
The second emissary, a young, progressive woman from the Free States, immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply—not to the throne, but to Neshuda.
"The Free States recognize courage and love above all else, Your Majesty," she said, smiling warmly. "We honor your choice and offer a lifetime trade partnership. A King who chooses his own heart is a King who knows the true value of his people."
The council, swayed by the political victory and the undeniable power of the King's defense, erupted in applause.
The Promise of Eternity
That night, Hayate and Neshuda shared a quiet dinner in the Royal Chambers, the immense political tension finally gone.
Hayate was exhausted but happy. He reached across the table, taking Neshuda's hand.
"We won, my love," Hayate murmured, his thumb stroking the back of Neshuda's hand. "We defeated the empire's pride and won a massive trade deal, all in one sitting."
Neshuda squeezed his hand, the comfortable physical reflected tenderness flowing between them. "We won, Hayate. But the fight for respect will be long. We will have to show them, every day, that our bond is their stability."
Hayate stood, walking around the table to stand beside Neshuda. He knelt down, looking up at his Guardian with pure, radiant love.
"Then let us show them," Hayate said softly. "Let us rule together. No more secrets, no more fear. I swore to you at the Final Shrine that I would choose you until the end. And now that we are safe, I want to make that choice permanent."
Hayate stood, pulling Neshuda into a tight embrace. It wasn't just a hug; it was a physical vow.
"I want you to be more than my Anchor, Neshuda. I want you to be the foundation of my life. I want to rule this kingdom with you, forever. Marry me, my love. Marry your King."
Neshuda froze, the unexpected, enormous proposal shaking his warrior's resolve completely. He felt a tidal wave of Hayate's hopeful, overwhelming love surge through the bond.
Tears sprang to Neshuda's dark eyes—tears that Hayate felt instantly as a sweet, warm joy in his own soul. Neshuda didn't need to speak.
He pulled Hayate even closer, crushing him in a fierce, absolute embrace, his entire being shouting the answer.
"Yes, my King," Neshuda whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Yes. Always. Forever."
The gentle, shared ache of their bond was the sweetest pain in the world, the final, permanent link between their two souls. The kingdom was safe, and the King had found his true partner, ready to face an eternal destiny, together.