"You look good~" said Kalia beside me, her voice soft but teasing, as we both gazed into the mirror.

I turned slightly, catching the reflection of myself draped in the golden and red robe.

It fit perfectly, the rich fabric hugging my shoulders and falling in sharp folds down to the floor.

The colors were vibrant and alive, and the embroidery glinted faintly in the light, giving me an air of royal majesty I hadn't felt before.

Kalia's eyes lingered on me with a spark of amusement.

"I will bet the other girls will lose their minds seeing you now~" she said, her voice lilting as she leaned closer.

Without warning, she reached up, tugged gently at the collar of the robe, and pressed her lips to mine in a quick, playful kiss.

I blinked, slightly stunned, but she wasn't done.

Her lips curled into a seductive smile, and she whispered, "Isn't that right, my king?"

I felt a warmth rush through me, both from her words and her closeness.

The robe, the moment, everything, it felt like I had stepped into a different world, one where the air itself buzzed with possibility.

But just as the intimacy of the moment began to settle between us, the curtains parted.

Sarah stepped into the room.

For a fraction of a second, her gaze froze.

Her eyes darted first to Kalia and me, and then they landed squarely on me and the robe I wore.

Her mouth opened slightly in surprise, as if the words couldn't catch up with what her eyes had just seen.

"Wow, Ragnar, this robe looks really good on you~" she finally said, her voice a mix of awe and admiration.

Then, without hesitation, she stepped closer, closing the gap, and leaned in until she was as close as Kalia.

Each girl claimed one side of me, arms wrapping around me in a playful, possessive hug, poking lightly at my chest.

The weight of their attention was dizzying, and I could feel my heart beating faster, caught in the whirlwind of affection from both of them at once.

But reality intruded.

Sarah's eyes suddenly snapped back into focus, and her voice cut through the charged atmosphere.

"That's right. I was looking for you. Lucy says it is time for the speech!"

Before I could respond, she grabbed my hands and pulled me forward.

The spell of the moment broke as we left the changing room, running lightly down the corridor.

My feet barely touched the floor in my eagerness, the robe swishing behind me with every step.

As I passed the doorway, I managed to flash a quick smile at Kalia.

"Thank you, Kalia, for the robe. I will make it up for you," I said, my words hurried but sincere.

She only chuckled in reply, her eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and promise.

"I will hold it for you then. It's a promise~," she said, her voice soft but teasing.

I felt a strange twinge of suspicion, a subtle curl of worry in my chest, but before I could think further, Sarah tugged me onward.

She was unwavering, guiding me like a beacon through the hallways until we reached the throne room.

The doors loomed tall, and the space inside radiated grandeur, yet we didn't stop.

We moved past it, heading toward the back where a massive balcony overlooked a wide square.

The moment we stepped into view, a roar of voices erupted from the crowd below.

Children, elders, merchants, nobles, all ages, all faces turned upward, cheering, shouting, waving banners in joyous frenzy.

I froze, stunned, my words caught somewhere between disbelief and awe.

"Why…?" I murmured, my voice barely audible over the cheers.

Sarah chuckled softly beside me, her presence steadying me.

"The previous king was corrupt," she explained simply, her tone almost conversational despite the grandeur of the moment.

"The moment they heard how you barged in and overthrew him, they liked you."

Lucy, who had been following us quietly from the back, nodded in agreement.

"Yes," she added, her voice calm and certain.

"People like to follow a king who takes action, not just words."

I stared out over the crowd, my mind racing to process it all.

The sea of faces, the waving banners, the uncontainable energy, it was overwhelming.

Yet there was something genuine in their cheers, something raw and human that went beyond protocol or ceremony.

It was as if every person in that square had found a spark of hope in the change that had come.

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the robe on my shoulders, the warmth of Kalia and Sarah behind me, and the immense responsibility settling like a stone in my chest.

My mouth opened, wanting to say something, anything, but the words faltered under the enormity of the moment.

Sarah leaned closer, her voice low and steady in my ear.

"Just breathe, Ragnar. You've earned this."

Her words were simple, yet they carried the reassurance I hadn't realized I needed.

I closed my eyes briefly, letting the warmth of their support and the energy of the crowd seep into me.

When I opened them again, the square below seemed even brighter, even more alive.

Lucy stepped forward slightly, her gaze scanning the crowd with an almost maternal precision.

"Remember," she said, "your words will matter more than your robe, more than your actions today. They follow courage and conviction."

I nodded, though I didn't speak.

My hands clenched lightly at my sides, the fabric of the robe rustling softly.

The sound seemed to anchor me, reminding me that even amidst the chaos, there was still structure, there was still formality.

The crowd's cheers swelled again, a tidal wave of noise that seemed to vibrate in my chest.

I looked at Sarah and then at Kalia, their expressions calm but expectant.

Each of them stood with a quiet strength, and in their presence, I felt my own resolve begin to crystallize.

The moment stretched, heavy with anticipation, and I felt the first flickers of courage spark within me.

I straightened, lifted my chin, and took a deep breath, letting the energy of the people below fill me.

The robe felt different now, no longer just a garment but a symbol, a mantle of responsibility and possibility.

Sarah squeezed my hand briefly before releasing it, a silent encouragement.

Kalia, still just behind me, gave me a wink, her playful confidence radiating warmth.

Lucy's gaze remained steady, unyielding in its guidance.

Each of them contributed something vital to this moment, and I realized that I wasn't alone.

Not in this, not ever.

I raised my hand slightly, signaling to the crowd, and their cheering only grew louder, more insistent.

The sound was like a living thing, swelling and ebbing, a tide of hope and expectation.

My voice, when it finally came, was firm but tinged with awe.

"People of this kingdom," I began, letting each word resonate, "today marks a new beginning…"

And as I spoke, I could feel the weight of the past lift slightly.

It was replaced by the energy of those who believed in something greater than themselves.

The robe, the cheers, the presence of Kalia, Sarah, and Lucy.

It all blended into a tapestry of sensation that carried me forward.

Giving shape to the words I spoke, to the king I was becoming.

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