The kingdom had never seen a day like this.
When the official announcement echoed across the capital—"By royal decree, same-gender relationships shall henceforth be recognized, protected, and celebrated under the crown"—the city didn't just hear it. It roared with it.
Young lovers who had hidden in alleyways now strolled hand-in-hand down the market roads, heads held high. Men laced fingers with men, women leaned softly on women's shoulders, and those who had long suffered in silence laughed openly. Rainbow fabrics and bright garlands fluttered in the breeze as people ran through streets crying tears of disbelief, of relief, of joy.
It wasn't just an announcement.
It was liberation.
And at the center of it, everyone knew who had lit the fire: Shinomi and Ren.
So, the youth organized something never done before—a Grand Celebration of Love, open to all and dedicated especially to the ones who gave them the courage to stand tall. Within days, the castle's lower grounds were transformed. Fairy lights hung from every tree. A soft stage was built at the heart of a flower-filled courtyard. Lanterns in soft pink and golden hues floated into the skies as people danced and cheered in every direction.
Ren stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the soft white-gold outfit they'd made for him. His cheeks were a permanent blush.
Shinomi barged in without knocking, as usual.
"You look like someone carved out of moonlight," Shinomi said, eyeing him like he was already planning to ruin that neat outfit later.
"Shinomi!" Ren squeaked, flustered. "I'm not ready yet—stop looking at me like that!"
"You're never ready for me." Shinomi winked and reached for his hand. "Come on. They're all waiting."
When the two arrived at the celebration, the crowd parted for them like waves for royalty. Cheers erupted. Flower petals rained down. Somewhere in the chaos, someone shouted, "Make way for the faces of freedom!"
They were ushered to a specially decorated velvet seat labeled "VIPs of the Heart." Beside it, a large banner read:
> "To the ones who taught us: love has no gender, no shame, and no chains."
Ren nearly cried right there.
Shinomi threw an arm around his shoulder and whispered, "This is just the beginning."
As music began and couples started dancing—no longer hiding in corners but proudly twirling in the open—Ren and Shinomi joined them. No roles. No shame. Just hands in each other's, smiling under the golden sky.
And for the first time, it truly felt like a world where love was allowed to be loud.