The end of Year 545 is very full and busy for the royal couples. Recovery from the progress and their time in Tarc is brief. Solidifying his power and right to the Regent's throne is paramount for Rei. He's more than ready to show Nijou who their liege is now that he understands the court and landed lords of the Region.
Ilena and Ore prepare themselves to be thrown into more work than they've ever had to do before. Sasou is on his way to create the new Grand Duchy of Tarc, and they're the top candidates for Grand Duke and Grand Duchess. Rei is only waiting for that court to turn their Department into a Ministry, further upgrading their titles and responsibilities. And then Ore learns that the nightwalkers of the region have already named him the Suiran Nightwalker King. Don't nightwalkers hate nobles? Cleaning up Nijoushi's nightwalkers gets added to their 'to do' list, making enjoying running the roofs hard, when it's all Ilena's been looking forward to this whole time.
Mizi is at loose ends until after the interim investiture when Ilena surprises them all with a kingdom security meeting before Sasou can get away. Her hints that war isn't over become reality as the younger royals confront the older ones and make them talk openly about things hidden until now. From that, Mizi gains her next goal: building a hospital outside Nijoushi in case war brings greater casualties than they want to see. Her common obliviousness gets her into some trouble though. Her household needs her attention, ...and perhaps some editing.
