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'For hundreds of years, the Unicorn has chosen the heroes, and the heroes have merely chosen their boons.'

'But why?'

'Why...?'

'Yes, why did I have to choose her?'

Why are you laughing, Vina?

Do you hear that sound outside?

They're cheering for victory, and for Victoria.

Many of them do not have grand ambitions. They don't think of protecting anyone. Some of them would not even share a piece of bread with a starving man.

Yet they are still willing to risk their lives for even the smallest sliver of hope. They are my 'Victoria'.

I like those fools, and I'm willing to look out for them.

And you, Clovisia, have no right to make me choose something I've been doing all along.

You'd best leave, unless you don't mind it getting awkward.

Siege!

You're a fool too, Alexandrina—just like your father.

Send them a message for me. Tell them the tailor's daughter is dead.

I have fulfilled their wishes.

Siege! I got the Crawler in here to back you up!

We've been waiting outside for you forever. We were afraid something happened to you.

It's been taken care of. Thank you, Feist.

Huh?

Come on then. Aren't they still all waiting for us? This battle must end now.

That's the end of the story, Diane.

Diane?

The condemned soldier has finished the last drop of alcohol and is sound asleep.

Diane wanted to drink herself into a stupor. Vina has finished telling her story, but Diane cannot bring herself to face her own ending.

She wanted to drink herself into a dream, a dream in which even death could not catch up to her. She gets her wish.

*sigh*

I'm sorry, Diane. I am not worthy of being a monarch. I'm not even sure I'm qualified to serve as speaker.

Besides, this war has changed many things. Old beliefs have been shattered, and we are striving to rebuild our lives amidst the imminent threat of destruction.

I believe that soon, a great transformation will begin in Londinium and sweep across all of Victoria...

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I am certain of one thing: now that we've found the courage to face adversity, why should we ever return to the past?

Victoria no longer needs a monarch, Diane.

Sweet dreams.

On the eve of her march to the gallows, the drunken soldier sleeps the most peaceful sleep of her life.

She dreams of the king's coronation. She dreams of the factory in her hometown, the whistle blowing to signal the end of the workday, as the workers shake off their hats and step out through the factory gates…

Then she soars into the sky and sees Londinium gliding across the mist-covered, verdant earth.

She dreams of Victoria. She is singing her song.

May the vast lands they keep owre kynge ♪

His people, and alle his well-wyllynge ♪

And give them grace wythoute endying ♪

Then may we call and savely syng ♪

Victoria, yeve thankes for owre hom! ♪

<p=1>Speaker's Office</><p=2>December 26th, 1098, 3:58 P.M.</>

Vina, I can't believe it—the graffiti on the gym walls is still there! Look at this one—Morgan painted it after dreaming of being a famous artist.

Oh, right! Look at this photo—the sign on the movie theater has been nailed back up. And look, there are two dumb-looking fowlbeasts perched on top of it, haha.

Norport is in much better shape than the last time we saw it.

I can't wait to go back and see it with my own eyes.

Uh-huh...

So, where did these photos come from?

The envelope only had the photos, no signature. But plenty of people have joined the engineering team to help rebuild our home. Some of them are old friends from Norport.

Oh, there are two videotapes in here too. They're just some old, worn-out movies, but hey, Delphine, you love watching bad movies, don't you?

Here you go.

Thank you.

Vina... are you okay? You seem a bit distracted.

Are you all going back?

Why the serious look? We're just heading home early to do some housekeeping.

Morgan, you were more excited than anyone when we said we were going home... or am I missing something?

How about you, Dagda?

I'll go lend them a hand. There's not much I can help with here, Vina.

The Knights of the Tower Museum is coming along smoothly. My wish has been fulfilled.

Alright.

Vina, actually, we could still—

The bell tolls.

It's 4:00. Vina...

I know... We can set out now.

Do you want to go see Diane?

No, I have a meeting with Parliament and the dukes.

Oh...

Vina, those protesters outside—

I'll handle them personally. I know their concerns go beyond just Diane—they've been waiting a long time for a king.

Ha, well, that's definitely something the Glasgow Gang can't meddle in.

Morgan...

Alright, alright. We'll head back and tidy up. You know, Norport is better than I expected—but not by much.

We'll be waiting for you, Vina.

Vina, you could ask them to stay.

Of course, I'd love for the Glasgow Gang to stay together, but Auchterigg isn't their home.

Besides, just take a listen—there are plenty of people outside waiting for my response. But before I address them, I intend to bring back more than just empty promises from the dukes.

Vina, Parliament has done more than just make empty promises. They've helped revive our industries, restore order, resettle those affected by the war—

Tell me, Delphine—does everyone now have an equal right to a decent life?

I need to show them that even without a king, we can prove this nation's potential to any doubters.

Let's go. I don't want to be late for the meeting with the dukes.

We should sing something.

Sing what?

Any song will do, as long as it's not that blasted <i>Auchterigg Carol.</i>

Like the song Hannah hums every time she steps out of the ring? 'Hannah's a star, knocking 'em down, one by one, round after round♪'?

Stuff it! I don't do that anymore!

Besides, didn't you all say the song I made up to cheer for Vina was better?

Oh, please. If I remember, you just replaced all the names in Dagda's favorite song with Vina, right?

I wonder if Vina even remembers something that silly.

Of course she does!

I know she mustn't have forgotten. It's just...

Forget it. She said it best herself: looking forward is what really matters.

And there's still a long road ahead, isn't there?

<i>That day, we didn't take a detour to watch Diane's end, and we didn't listen to any radio broadcasts.</i>

<i>I heard her Oripathy was so bad that they had to separate her to prevent any incidents… To think that her last shred of dignity came from Oripathy.</i>

<i>I've stopped trying to make sense of these things. As we left Central Londinium and caught sight of the factories of Norport…</i>

<i>I knew we were home.</i>

<p=1>The Sineselde, Parliamentary Chamber</><p=2>December 26th, 1098, 5:01 P.M.</>

Vina, are you not attending the execution? They are relying on you to calm the many protesters there should things take an unfortunate turn.

My good Earl of March, I'm not that indispensable. Besides, the Defense Forces are already maintaining order on-site, and several MPs are there to oversee the proceedings. They don't need me.