Two months had passed since diplomatic relations were established with Hizuru.
During those two months, Hizuru's first round of technical assistance had arrived on Paradis Island.
Hizuru's technicians brought advanced technology with them.
Arthur also arranged for people from Paradis Island to learn from Hizuru. What belonged to others was ultimately still theirs; the best approach was to reverse-engineer the technology and make it their own.
That way, if Hizuru suddenly changed its mind later, Paradis Island's technological foundations would not abruptly suffer a gap.
At the same time, Arthur tried to entice Hizuru's technicians with high-ranking positions, generous salaries, and favorable terms, hoping they would stay on Paradis Island.
Over those two months, Historia's belly had begun to swell slightly, though it was still impossible to notice without looking closely.
So, before Historia's belly grew large enough for the public to notice, Arthur decided to hold his wedding with Mikasa and Historia in the coming days.
Historia also informed the public of her upcoming marriage during a recent address.
News that the queen was getting married sent the public into an uproar. None of them had expected their young, beautiful queen to marry.
And they certainly had not expected her to share a husband with another woman.
The news was simply too sensational.
People also began wondering who the prince consort was. That title meant holding a position equal to the queen's.
Everyone wanted to know who this lucky man was and what made him worthy of the queen's favor.
After all, the queen had never spared a glance for the sons of wealthy, prominent families.
But when the prince consort's identity-Arthur's name-was made public, the people within the Walls were stunned.
They had never expected the prince consort to be Arthur, the current commander of the Survey Corps.