The night wind soared, the darkness stretching on without end, just as that young man was immersed in the joy of the day ending and everyone going home together.
On that same night, in the wider world outside...
The boundless black surface of the Mediterranean Sea heaved and surged. Beneath the vast night sky and moonlight, Sky City hovered in majestic silence, and inside that enormous, mythic palace...
A perfect figure appeared from the teleportation array at the center of the hall.
"Welcome back, Vita. Is everything over?"
She had long been waiting here, and the dignified woman stepped forward to greet her. At the same time, hearing Le Guien's question, the Second Zero Knight known as Arcane—
Clotilde let out a long breath of relief and smiled.
"Yes, it's over. The follow-up handling of North America is finally over now."
At the answer, Le Guien's expression softened slightly, and she came to her side.
"Let's go. Her Highness is waiting for you."
Then the two of them walked out of the hall, passed through the outer corridor, and went all the way along the night sea and sky to the top of the palace before pushing open that great door.
The instant the door opened, a radiance so brilliant it seemed tangible poured out at an angle.
At the top of Nevernight Palace, the ancient golden hall was vast and magnificent. On both sides of the long carpet of deep crimson inlaid with gold, figures in white-gold formal attire, each dressed differently, were already standing there. With the King Knight at their head, every Zero Knight except the Gatekeeper and the Mentor was present.
And atop the dais, before the throne that was the only object in the enormous hall...
The Queen, crowned with the glory of countless great