{MIHO'S POV}
When I wake up after passing out from overexertion during the final battle, Asahi is the first to tell me how Aoi-kun beat up that creep Kenji in, quote unquote: "a one-sided display of pure awesomeness."

Asahi also fixes the ends of my hair so it's straight. My strawberry pink locks still fall halfway down my back despite being a quarter of their former length.

I'm thinking of growing my hair out a little longer, but filling it with love instead of hate. I don't think I can pull off the short-haired look Mom has. Besides, Aoi-kun likes my long hair.

The next few weeks are spent rounding up all of Kenji's supporters who fled after the final battle. I've been run ragged chasing released prisoners and sending them back to jail where they belong.

There's still a lot of corruption amongst the nobility that Aoi-kun has to clear up to. And sending thanks to Clarines, Azov, Nalu, and Evander for their help.

The entire kingdom is in a sorry state. Finances are trash. The list is endless. Poor Aoi-kun has resigned himself to sleeping even less than before.

During all of this, one very important thing needs to happen: Aoi-kun's coronation to officially be emperor. I have yet to keep my vow.

Aoi-kun wants the citizens to see the ceremony to boost public morale and support, so we're holding it outside in the square, instead of inside the castle like normal. Which means security needs to be tighter, amongst a dozen other things of course.

I'll be the one to place the crown on Aoi-kun's head, my first official act as the Commander of Zoral.

Naturally, on the day of the ceremony, Asahi is in charge of my hair and makeup.

"Sit still!" She complains for the millionth time. I continue to fidget in my seat. It's been a long time since I've worn a dress, let alone makeup.

"I don't... need this. I don't want... to be labeled as... pampered or... extravagant." I sigh, picking at the navy blue fabric. "Especially with... Zoral's financial situation... being what it is."

"Aoi-heika said to!" Asahi insists. "Everything for his coronation is being sourced from within Zoral. Therefore, the more you buy, the more money goes back to the citizens!"

Asahi raises her index finger and sticks up her nose in the air like a haughty private tutor. "Spending money to stimulate the economy is one of the duties of nobility. Just think of all the people who were hired to create that masterpiece!"

I look down at my dress. It's off the shoulder with sheer midnight blue long sleeves. The dropped waistline creates the illusion of a longer, leaner torso.

While the bodice and sleeves are skin tight, the multi-layered tulle skirt flows to the floor and trails behind me elegantly. The hem of the midnight blue dress flares out wider than the shoulders.

Tastefully sewn within the many layers of fabric are small diamond studs. They twinkle like stars; sparkling illusions that disappear and reappear with every swish and twirl of the wide skirt.

I love it, especially the colors. They remind me of a clear blue night sky.

Asahi pins all my hair up into a double waterfall braid low bun. Time passes too quickly. Soon I'm backstage, waiting for Aoi-kun so the ceremony can begin while Asahi touches up my makeup.

"Whatever you do, don't drop the crown." Somebody warns me for the gajillionth time, which I'm sure is raising a big red flag.

Aoi-kun and I are going to walk down the aisle together, me directly behind him with the crown resting on an ornate pillow in my hands.

He'll kneel before the officiant and make a bunch of vows about serving the empire, yada yada, then I'll place the crown on his head and Aoi-kun will be the youngest emperor of Zoral ever crowned.

Asahi finally looks satisfied, just in time.

"Miho? Woah." Aoi-kun's awed voice behind me.

I turn. Woah is right. Aoi-kun cleans up nicely. I'm used to seeing him in ratty, plain clothes or with armor on, not accepting more luxury than his fellow knights. Now he's in white pants and a fancy black tunic, with a red cape that brings out his eyes. His wild, shaggy black hair has been trimmed and tamed.

We stare at each other, entranced, until Asahi clears her throat lightly and giggles. "This ain't that kind of aisle, you two. Not yeeeeet."

We quickly jerk our heads away. My cheeks feel warm, I hope I'm not blushing. Aoi-kun definitely is.

My attention is drawn to the partition that separates the area we're waiting from the masses here to watch Aoi-kun be coronated. There are dignitaries from other kingdoms in the crowd.

"Have you heard? The missing princess of Clarines will be the one to hold the crown."

"There's talk of an alliance between the two kingdoms, Clarines and Zoral. Something about a foreign exchange program?"

"Isn't Miho-dono the Commander of Zoral's military? Her war exploits are legendary. I can't wait to see what she looks like!"

"I saw her once! It was almost six years ago, when I visited Wolkitra for business. She was incredibly beautiful, with floor-length pink hair and a flawless face. But she never made a peep and her eyes were blank. I heard she has a rare form of facial paralysis, leaving her expressionless since she was a child."

"I've heard the rumors. Some say that she's so pretty, she's actually a doll who came to life!"

"Hey! That's rude."

My face is cold and stiff again. I can't move. Aoi-kun has to pull me away from the partition.

"Aoi-kun, I... I can't do... this." I hyperventilate.

Aoi-kun cups my face in his hands. "You can and you will. You promised me, didn't you?"

"But they'll... judge me!"

"Why do you care what they think?" Aoi-kun looks me right in the eyes. "You're a thousand times better than all of them combined. Just look at me. Watch me. I believe in you enough for both of us."

My eyes focus on Aoi-kun easily. I've been watching him for so much longer than he realizes. I stare into his bright red eyes. My breathing calms. My panic dulls. My heart beats faster.

Aoi-kun makes sure I'm steady before he releases my face. He walks off, giving the staff directions. I press my fingers to my cheeks where his hands just were. Couldn't he have kept them there a bit longer?

I watch Aoi-kun move around purposefully, solving any problems that arise. All of the staff look to him for direction and help.

I watch Aoi-kun when a staff member hands me the pillow with the crown. I take it, but my grip is slack and the crown almost slides off.

"Don't drop the crown!" Everybody synchronizes. I readjust my hold.

I watch Aoi-kun as we line up behind the curtain that will be pulled aside to reveal the future emperor to his subjects. Hopefully, the knights are doing their jobs and there'll be enough room to walk.

As I watch Aoi-kun's back, I get sentimental. I reminisce about our first meeting, so long ago, in the woods on the outskirts of Clarines. I was twelve and he was only thirteen years old.

Our travels by foot to Zoral. Meeting the people of the town of Cinder.

Battling side by side during the siege of Fort Cypress. Meeting Takeshi, Torako, Hajime, and Kazuma. Gathering allies and land.

Standing up against Sorrel, then Marquis Haruka. The march to Citadel and meeting Asahi.

Telling Aoi-kun about my hair, and then the final battle where I chose to cut it.

And everything in between. So many unbelievable things have happened over the past five years, and we've faced all of them together.

Aoi-kun is my shield, my rock, my pillar of support. He's my partner, my anchor, my fateful red.

When did he become so important to me? Was it while fighting with our lives in each other's hands? While starving together during the food crisis, giving our portions to the war-orphaned kids?

Aoi-kun looks over his shoulder at me and grins. "You ready, Princess?"

"Hold your head up proudly and smile, Princess!"

"Just seeing you smile would be a present for me."

I see now. All this time. I've been deeply in love with Aoi-kun since the very beginning.

The porcelain shell of the doll which surrounds me, the one that cracked after fighting Kazuma so many years ago, finally shatters.

I stretch my face in a huge smile, big fat tears of joy welling up in my eyes. "Yes... Aoi!"

This is the first time I've called him without honorific. Aoi opens his mouth, but the curtain swings open. He quickly faces forward and walks out.

I follow Aoi, watching his back with tunnel vision and matching my steps to his. My face and eyes glow with emotion, the remnants of my smile still dusting my face. I hear a massive intake of breath.

People cheer. They reach out and try to touch us, though the knights do their job and keep the aisle clear. I pay no heed.

My eyes are only for Aoi.

He walks ahead of me, and kneels in front of the officiant when he reaches the alter that was set up in the square for this occasion.

I take my place at Aoi's side, handing the crown's pillow off to a staff member in the shadows as I was instructed. The officiant begins to drone about the duty of the kingship, but I don't listen.

I only watch Aoi.

Finally, Aoi turns to me. Our eyes meet, swimming with a million different emotions. I smile. Then he bows his head slowly.

"I'll... make Aoi-kun emperor... no matter what... with or without your... help!"

I set the crown on top of Aoi's head.
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This dress is the most similar I could find online to what I was imagining Miho wears. Obviously it doesn't have the sleeves. I'm bad at describing dresses (and yes, this is a wedding dress).