After Scylla's downfall, Tempestas faced no further threats to its existence and experienced a year of peace followed by prosperity. Tempestas flourished thanks to the many trade deals Maria had sent Andromeda to negotiate. The young nation had seen unprecedented growth, which was only bolstered by legislation passed in the senate parliament. Gil thought this to be a blessing from Aurora, but Maria thought otherwise. She knew Aurora had been in a state of steady but slow economic decline and that Tempestas had bailed them out of it. By merging their respective economies, Aurora linked themselves to Tempestas's riches. Under the Tempestas-Aurora pact, Tempestas was formally a province of Aurora. Most would never willingly allow themselves to be absorbed into another nation, but Maria did. After spending more time with Sun, Maria found him to be someone she could trust; moreover, he kept his word. Sun had promised her that Tempestas could retain independent government and that that they would have the power to resolve their own issues, and he told the truth. The senate parliament only addressed affairs of importance to both nations, and so far, Maria was pleased with it. It had proven itself to be effective, although there were still kinks she thought needed to be worked out.
One of the laws passed in that parliament called for a new national holiday: the Tempestas Founding Festival. It passed unanimously in both the upper and lower chambers. As the name suggests, it was a holiday meant to celebrate the birth of Tempestas and a way for Aurora to thank the young nation for getting it out of debt. The festival will last an entire day and occur when Tempestas became a named nation or today.
However, this particular festival would be delayed until the evening. Gil and Carrius agreed to send delegates to the other's nations. Gil expected the ones Carrius sent to arrive within two hours. After they had been welcomed, they would be invited to join the festivities.
Gil visited a small tailor shop owned by a leprechaun named Sigurd, who had a keen eye for fashion. Knowing this, Gil had asked what would be best to wear for the farewell speech he'd be giving the delegates on his end. "I'm afraid I don't have anything in my wardrobe that would be suited for this occasion. I'll pay you extra for the favor."
Sigurd laughed. "Nonsense. Then I'll only be owing you more, Lord Gil. You're in luck. A new shipment has arrived, and I've received some fabulous new clothing."
Gil was dressed in a buttoned red overcoat, a buttoned-up shirt of the same color, black trousers, and red boots. He looked in the mirror and smiled. "You've outdone yourself again, Sigurd."
"Thank you, Lord Gil. Why don't you head on outside? Lady Maria and Alyyiah have been waiting for you."
"Eh? What about your payment?"
"You can pay me another time. A gentleman doesn't make a lady wait, now does he?"
Gil exited the store, completely blown away by what he saw. Maria donned a velvet dress with a back slit that featured a lovely shade of red. Her white hair was braided to the side. On her ears were diamond earrings that gleamed bloodred in the sunlight. She had a choker around her neck and topped it all off with red cone-heeled ankle boots. Alyyiah was just as sumptuous. She wore a black dress the plunged, exposing her ample thighs. Her long hair swept down her shoulders. Like Maria, she wore a choker and earrings, with the only differences being the white stilettos on her feet.
Gil realized he was gawking and shook his head, blushing. He was blown away by how gorgeous the women in front of him were. Maria simpered, taking his arm. "What do you think, Gil?"
"T-think of what?"
"What do you think of my appearance?" Before he could answer, Alyyiah had clung to his other arm. "Lord Gil, who do you think is more beautiful: me or Maria?"
"Oh, Alyyiah," Maria smirked. "I think you know I'm a much fairer maiden than you are."
"I'm not sure about the fairer part, but I certainly agree you are a maiden, and unlike me, will remain that way."
"Is that so? Well, when I get picked by our Lord, don't start bawling." Maria placed her hand on Gil's chest and met his eyes. "Surely, you acknowledge your rightful Queen is as dazzling as the night sky, yes? You won't pick this upstart over me, will you?"
Alyyiah pressed her body against Gil's, who couldn't resist staring at her cleavage. "My Lord, will you really pick her over me? I am a true lady, and unlike that little girl over there, I am not lacking in the chest department." Maria crimsoned, glowering at Alyyiah, who grinned. "Well, my Lord? Don't keep us in suspense. Which one of us is more to your liking?"
Gil thought they were both astonishingly alluring, but if he had to pick between the two, Alyyiah barely squeaked by with the victory. But he had no clue how to declare that without upsetting Maria. "Well, if I had to pick..."
"Ah, there you are." Andromeda waved to the three of them. "Lord Gil, the time is dawning. You should really head to the town square to address the assembling crowd, as well as our chosen representatives."
"Understood. We'll be there in a few minutes, so go on ahead." Gil was relieved and thanked Andromeda for granting him an excuse to avoid answering the two women before him. "Well, I'm set to give a speech soon, so let's hurry on ahead."
"Hey, you didn't give us your reply!" Alyyiah pouted. "Who do you think is prettier?"
"I'll answer that later," Gil said cooly.
"I think he just doesn't want to embarrass you, Alyyiah," Maria snickered. "You might break into tears when he inevitably chooses me!"
"Not quite," Gil muttered. "Anyways, we're wasting time. An audience is waiting for us."
Gil gulped. He'd been practicing lines in front of a mirror, but now he realized that was inadequate. It paled in comparison to speaking in front of three million people, all of whom had high expectations for their supposed Lord. Initially, he had planned to let Maria handle this. It was the optimal choice, as public speaking was more up her alley, but instead decided against it. As the ruler of Tempestas, he needed to live up to his own reputation and image. Gil began to doubt he could, seeing he had difficulty just handling a big crowd, then took a deep breath. "That's not the right mindset," he thought. "I can't have Maria and Alyyiah do everything for me all the time. As the King of this nation, everyone here, including the beautiful women behind me, are supposed to depend on me, not the other way around."
Gil felt something clasping his hand. "Why the nervous face, Gil? You've taken down a Goblin Lord, but you can't manage a little speech?" Maria squeezed his hand. "That's for good luck," she whispered in his ear. "You remember your lines, right?"
"If I didn't, I would have asked you to fill in for me."
"Then relax. I can telepathically communicate with you if you falter, and both Alyyiah and I will be at your side. You have nothing to worry about."
"Yeah, you're right," Gil smiled. "Thanks, Maria."
"You can give a proper welcome by flat out telling Alyyiah I'm clearly the prettier one."
"Here's where I tell you to relax," Gil chuckled. "Welp here goes nothing." Gil stepped in front of the podium and coughed. "Firstly, I would like to express my pride in all of you for what you've done. You've stood by me in front of a Goblin Lord and Scylla, and that was not easy. Despite the various races, you've continued to stress unity and peace over division and strife, and to the sentinels and demons who have actively advocated for that, thank you. It brings me great joy seeing that the two races can coexist and furthers my resolve that the war can be ended under a banner of lasting peace. When I first came here, the elves and kitsune were understandably not welcoming of me and my kind; not even the Onis and those who hold high ranks in my court. I cannot express my happiness in seeing their complete turnover and becoming as committed as I am to ending this barrier of hate and separation. Of course, Tempestas is still a young nation, and many difficult trials are in store for us. Those who wish for the war between sentinels and demons to continue will surely antagonize us and perhaps even destroy us. Despite that, you have shown commendable courage and formidable resolve. I know that we can push past what waits for us ahead. Before, this area was occupied by elves living in a humble village. But now, with all of us together, we have created a mighty nation! One that has been acknowledged by not one but two demon emperors! And that brings us to today. Lord Carrius's empire, Tiger, has agreed to exchange delegates with us. This is a monumental day. If all goes well, we can expect friendly relations with the Lycanthrope Kingdom, which will undoubtedly help us grow and improve as a nation. The delegates arriving here be treated with courtesy, and our side must demonstrate that Tempestas will prove a worthy ally. That is all!"
The crowd roared with approval and applause. Gil gazed at the ground, embarrassed to look his audience in the eye. He was happy they thought well of his speech, but his shyness was nearing its limit. Gil grew up as the son of a poor farmer in the countryside. He had never seen a ginormous congregation of people, much less addressed one. Gil spent his early youth helping his father on the fields or being tutored by his mother. The only friend he had made in Stella was Maria, who didn't even belong there. Gil had difficulty interacting with people and usually directed others to speak on his behalf. However, he wanted to change himself. If he couldn't even muster up the courage to address his own people, would he be able to change the world?
The cheers on the crowd intensified when both Alyyiah and Maria planted a kiss on Gil's cheeks. "You were splendid, Gil," Maria leaned close to him. "I'm proud to be your second-in-command and your future wife."
"Indeed," Alyyiah stuck to Gil's arm. "I expected no less from my wonderful Lord," she smiled. "That was amazing, Lord Gil."
"Thanks for the compliments, you two, but I would have never gotten anywhere without either of you. Alyyiah, Maria, the two of you frankly deserve more praise than me."
"Of course," Maria grinned. "Did you expect any less of me?"
"And me?" Alyyiah smiled. "I am Lady Maria's personal assistant for a reason, you know."
"Right. My apologies," Gil laughed. "I forgot you two consistently exceed the highest standards imposed on you. Anyway, our delegation is set to leave soon. We should see them off, Maria."
"Yes."
The delegates representing Tempestas consisted of Nova, Andromeda, Alyyiah, Sarah, Atticus, Conall, and Ryan. "It should really be me going out there," Gil looked up at Nova. "I feel it would be more appropriate if ruler met ruler."
Nova shook his head. "We must first confirm whether Lord Carrius is someone to be trusted. Only then can we allow you to take foot onto Tiger. Also, Lady Maria needs her King beside her, don't you think? If the delegates Lord Carrius sent intend to harm her, you are the one tasked with keeping her safe, correct?"
Gil blushed. "I might be her King and her superior, but Maria is more than capable of holding her own in a fight with strong opponents. Moreover, I believe that as her personal assistant, such a task is more suited to Alyyiah. Of course, I would never let anyone lay a finger on Maria and get away with it."
"Well, we can't have the face of our nation be absent, my Lord. The Founding Festival begins not long after Lord Carrius's delegates arrive, and your presence is required. You and Lord Sun will be giving an oration to the parliament of the value of this day, where Lady Kanetaine will be in attendance."
"Oh, I forgot I had to do that." Anxiety once again began bubbling up in Gil's conscience. He made a mental note that he would only seldom give speeches, for he found them too taxing for his poor mind. But, he had to give a lukewarm goodbye first. Gil faced all the delegates on his side. "Well, good luck. For our sakes, I hope you all succeed, right, Maria?"
"Yes," Maria nodded. She held Alyyiah and Andromeda in a tight embrace. "I wish I could come with you, but I'll also be giving a speech in front of parliament. Stay safe, and don't overexert yourselves, you two. Once you come back with Lord Carrius for the festivities, I plan on enjoying the night with both of you, Alyyiah and Andromeda."
"As do I," Alyyiah beamed. "Don't fret over us, Lady Maria. We will come back triumphant."
"Indeed," Andromeda bowed. "There is nothing to fear."
"Is that so? Off you go, then." Maria and Gil waved goodbye as the delegates boarded the caravan prepared for them, pulled by kitsune. Coraline bowed before Maria. "My Lords, the carriage carrying Tiger's delegates have been spotted nearby. Allow me to escort you to them."
Aside from Coraline, Gil and Maria were accompanied by Holly, Jaco, Tiffany, and Klain. As Coraline said, they did not have to wait long. Gil was impressed by Tiger's caravans, pulled by silver tigers whose fur sparkled. He wanted to imitate some of the designs he thought made their carriages look cool. The carriage lurched to the side as it came to a halt, and out came three individuals and their attendants.
Gil focused on the three. Two were men, and one was a woman, who appeared to be the one with the most authority. If he had learned anything, in Tenebris, raw strength alone is what determines one's position within an organization or group, and she possessed plenty of it. She had as much quantum in her body as Holly. Depending on her combat skills, she could potentially even be neck and neck with Alyyiah. The woman had silver hair just like Maria's, except her skin was a tint of brown, her eyes were black, and she was several inches taller. The woman, like the rest of her people, was a Lycanthrope. Her nation was so named Tiger because its inhabitants had shared characteristics with the beast and could convert into one. This woman had fur cover her shoulders and parts of her legs and possessed a silver tail. She was clothed in a long green chiton dress and wore pumps.
Out of the two men behind her, one sharply stood out more to Gil. He was covered in armor save his head, and his body was sturdy and robust. He had a sword sheathed to his left side with a bag slung on his right shoulder. He had lighter skin than did his assumed superior, and his dark eyes bore into Gil, assessing his power. The last man had the weakest appearance of the three. He owned a strong body, but he was slender and possessed a mediocre amount of quanta, causing Gil to dismiss him.
Maria lifted part of her skirt as she held out her hand. "Welcome to Tempestas. We've been expecting you." To her shock, the woman in a chiton swatted it away. "Pfft. I serve Lord Carrius. I will not dishonor him or myself by engaging with a sentinel sympathizer, who willingly obeys a disgusting yellow turd."
Gil clenched his fist. Who the hell did they think they were, insulting Maria like that? Did Carrius agree to this just to mock them?
"Calm down." Gil heard Maria's voice in his head. "It's not what it seems. Her comment was only a ruse."
"A ruse? For what?"
"While her comment was targeted to provoke us, her reason for saying what she did was not what she said. In reality, she wishes to test our strength and see if we're capable enough to be deemed equal to them."
"So they wish to fight, then?"
"Correct."
"Then should I engage them?"
"No. You are far too powerful. There's someone who would be a perfect match. As for who, look behind you." Gil glanced nervously at a scowling Holly, who was clearly more offended by the comments than he was. "Holly, are you mad by what she said?"
"My Lords, she's uttered a tremendous insult on your names! Please, let me defend them!"
"Very well," Maria nodded. "You may teach this lady here a lesson." The lady in question cracked her knuckles. "Oh? You wanna play, Oni? I hope you're not all talk."
"I hope the same for you as well, Lycanthrope. Otherwise, you're in for a world of pain."
"What's your name?"
"Holly. I am Lady Maria's secretary. What about you?"
"The name's Nia, and I'm Lord Carrius's closest adviser as well as the one in charge of the Beastketeers, his elite fighting force." Nia turned to the large man behind him. "Phobos, you will serve as the judge to this battle."
"Understood, Lady Nia." Maria jumped back to Gil as Holly and Nia sized each other up. Nia charged first, hopping into the air and bringing her foot down. Holly blocked, grabbed her leg, and threw her aside, lunging in her direction. She dodged Nia's fist but never managed to land a hit on Nia, who swiftly dodged all attacks. Holly feinted and took Nia's legs out from under her before reinforcing her body with quanta and delivering a powerful punch, one which caused a sizable crater in the ground. However, Nia had clutched to Holly's hand, avoiding yet another blow. She let go and jumped in the air, her fingers tingling with electricity. Nia aimed multiple lightning bolts at Holly, who cut through them with her sword as Holly sprinted towards Nia, who blocked her with her hand. Holly propped her body with even more quanta, and she smashed her fist into Nia's chest, who recoiled backward. Holly swung her blade short of Nia's head, and the force behind it was powerful enough to cause fissures in the ground.
"Well, I'll be dammed," Nia smiled. "You're a formidable opponent. Were you always this strong?"
Holly shook her head. "Lady Maria, whose name you abused, gave me my name, and I evolved to an Oni as a result. Apologize to her at once."
"It's alright, Holly," Maria smiled. "Nia meant no harm."
"But she said offensive things, my Lady!"
"She didn't mean them. In short, she wanted to see whether we were worthy of being her allies, is that right?"
"Yes," Nia bowed. "Still, Holly has a point. Forgive me."
"Apology accepted. Now, we don't have much time, so I'll have you wait in the guest room until preparations are finished."
"Preparations? Is there an event going on?"
"Yes," Maria explained the creation of the Tempestas Founding Festival and all those who would be in attendance. "The event was planned for the morning, but we decided to delay it until your arrival. Any questions? All of you seemed so shocked."
"Of course we are?" Nia exclaimed. "Demon emperor Sun made Tempestas a province of Aurora, and a parliament consisting of senators from both nations was formed? That's unheard of!"
"Indeed," Phobos nodded. "And is Lord Carrius truly among those in attendance? He never mentioned anything of the sort to us."
"He'll come," Maria said firmly. "You'll see for yourself during the address to parliament. Anyways, let's get going. As honored guests, it's improper to keep you waiting here."
Nia, Phobos, and their companions enjoyed the food and wine they received. In fact, Phobos drank liquor by the barrel, eventually drinking all that was available. He then turned to his dish - steamed salmon on a stick stuffed with vegetables and spices - delighted by the taste. Gil had sent Holly to watch over them, but instead, she joined in their feast. Gil rolled his eyes, smiling as he watched Holly and Nia wrap their arms around each other as if they were old friends.
The parliament gathered in their chambers. Kanetaine and Carrius were in attendance, as expected. Maria had offered to speak on Gil's behalf, and this time he accepted. "I'm not ready to confront a crowd of that magnitude yet," he thought. "It'd be better to let Maria do it instead; otherwise, I'll lose face."
Gil realized he'd never seen Sun in his human form. The demon emperor was a tall, middle-aged man with fiery orange hair and eyes. He was shirtless, and his ripped muscles lay bare. The only thing he wore aside from his shoes was shorts, which Gil thought was not the best way to dress for a public event.
Maria nudged my arm. "Well, I'm up first."
"I'll be rooting for you, Maria, and then we can spend the whole night fooling around with Andromeda and Alyyiah."
"Yeah." Maria stared at Gil, her mouth agape. He was wearing a black tuxedo fitted with a red tie, and Maria made a mental note to locate who gives Gil his clothes and tips on how to dress. Her desires filled her body, but she calmed herself down. Then, a thought came to the forefront of her mind, and her curiosity overtook her. She contrived to reveal her love for him and ask if he's willing to reciprocate. Day after day, she slept with him, and she couldn't remain "his best friend" any longer... it was time for their relationship to advance to the next stage...
"Um, Maria, is something wrong? You're glaring at me." Maria shook her head. "Sorry, it's nothing. Gil, could I request something?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"Could we - could we talk in private?"
"Is there something bothering you?"
"No, I wouldn't say it's troubling me...not really. But it's urgent, and I need to discuss it with you alone."
"If it's that important, guess I have to. Alright, after you own this speech and the festival is over, we'll talk in our bedroom." Gil hugged Maria. "Here's a hug for good luck!"
"Thanks, Gil."
The speeches Maria and Sun presented were very similar to the one Gil made in the morning. All three emphasized unity and harmony between the races and that prosperity will follow afterward. After a standing ovation had been given for both speakers, everyone left the parliament to participate in the Founding Festival. Once Gil found himself with Alyyiah, Maria, and Andromeda, the four walked out together.
Lanterns had been adorned around Tempestas's residences, and they glowed a brilliant shade of blue. Food stands lined the streets, and all received plenty of customers. All the men wore yukatas, while the women changed into kimonos. Maria, Alyyiah, and Andromeda wore purple, while Gil cloaked himself in black. The three tried out all sorts of foods, from Takoyaki to kebabs. Harpies and rocs whipped up a melodic tune with their tongues and drums, and the dancing started. Gil enjoyed himself with the three women accompanying him, spending the most time with Maria. Back at the royal court, Alyyiah and Andromeda said their goodbyes on the balcony when comets streaked a red mark across the sky as fireworks were lit. The result was the most beautiful scenery Gil had witnessed so far in his lifetime. He gazed in awe at the colorful night sky and Maria in awe of his glowing expression and radiating eyes. The man she loved at this moment was a shining star that had fallen to the Earth, or so she imagined. It strengthened her resolve to inform him of her feelings.
As promised, Gil locked the doors to their room and sat on his bed. "So, what did you want to speak about?" He was taken aback when Maria jumped on top of him and brought her lips to his. "Woah!"
Maria kissed him once more, a bit longer this time. "Gil, I've been wanting to say this for a long time. I...I...I love you."
"Maria...you..."
"I mean, we've always been friends, but at some point, I began thinking of you as something else. When I realized what, I knew I had fallen in love."
Gil looked at her, unable to speak. Her kiss had bewildered him, and he blushed furiously. Suddenly, tears began to drop from Gil's eyes. Gil didn't know why he was crying or why he was happy crying, but then he apprehended why.
"Did I do something wrong?" Maria whirled her fingers, wiping the tears off his face. "I'm sorry...I just-" Now Maria was the one who was shocked. Gil cupped her face in his hands as she felt drawn to the warmth of his breath. "Gil..."
"Maria, you're not the only one. I love you too. I always have. When I think about it, it's silly I haven't told the person who symbolizes the whole world to me how I felt about them. Thank you, Maria."
Maria's face glowed as bright as the full moon. "Gil..." Maria caressed Gil's cheek as he embraced her, and they let their mouths and tongues express the love they held for the other in a long, long passionate kiss.