"You knew this whole time...." Kyōko would utter before Beatrice raised her finger to shush her. "Genuineness was mandated from the start, all the way from the top to the bottom. While I wish I could have said something to do so would have been to endanger everything, now is not the time to raise grudges but to embrace your niece," she continued, a few moments later Asuna finding herself in Kyōko's arms. "We can worry about the constitutional issues later, tonight is one of reunion, of family and," Beatrice paused as she looked to Serenity following a review of the papers, "I think you know that I have to see him. All this time we'd been there for each other, all the times he'd been there for me, do what you can so I can have some time with him?"
Kyōko sighed as Asuna took a seat beside her, "I'm so happy that you made it, I always had faith in you, but I was at the whim of the details available to me. While I am happy I must be practical; I'm sure all of us realize we are in a position where the entire security position of the First Empire is being reconfigured and I have been left to navigate the challenges presented by what is a most unpredictable neighbour. We see a military in which its supreme commander is not quite the supreme commander we expected; all it takes is for one trigger-happy general to scuttle the entire peace process and see us in a position where we must see that threat is eliminated. How can we thrust Asuna into such a position? It was Evanthe's job to ensure a seamless and easy transition for her reign, it was the whole reason she was Empress, and now that seamless and easy transition is not before us at present. The road ahead is...."
"The road ahead is what it must be," Asuna would reply, "and I won't be without proper guidance to navigate me through this period of our history. I will inherit my birthright, and the duties of the Vicegerency will be equally divided between yourself and McKenna and, if he is willing, Count Emerson in a transitional period. Our Constitution and traditions are clear upon what must be done, and whereas Charles sought to subvert the instruments and institutions of the Imperial Government to his whims, we shall restore proper order under my reign. Aunt Kyōko, you've stepped up in a situation thrust on you unexpectedly, I ask you to stand by my side now and let me live up to what is expected of me."
Kyōko sighed for a moment, "You'll make the announcement yourself," she said finally, "if anyone is to relay this to the Rokkenjiman People it should be their rightful Empress. I will never leave your side and I will never forsake the trust you've placed in me," she continued with a tight embrace. "Empress Serenity," Asuna said, "I'll require your assistance as well during this period, tensions remain between the First Empire and the Empire due to many conditions, tensions I do not wish to continue, and if there is anyone who can aid in the path back to peace and friendship between us, I can think of no one else better than you. Once I have ascended would you be willing to arrange a meeting between our Governments? The peace process before the Assembly is good and all, but it has been so impersonal that it is destined to fail one day, if not by the fault of Rokkenjiman rulers, than by the competitions and contests now unfortunately ingrained in our respective militaries. There will be those on both sides who will seek revenge and we must work to temper those enraged spirits before they unleash renewed conflict. The Emperor and I must speak."