Transcript of King Park Byeong-Ho's Speech at the opening of the 250th Royal Luminary Festival

"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed citizens of our fine kingdom,

"It is my great honour to open the 250th Royal Luminary Festival. I stand before you as the current King of the Great Kingdom of Korea. But I am also Park Byeong-Ho—a man who has attended this celebration my whole life. Some of the fondest memories I hold are from attending this festival.

"My parents—the late King Ji-Ho and Queen Ha-Rin—brought me here as a young boy. I've done the same with my two children and now, grandchildren. In the five decades I've been attending, I have seen many changes. One thing has always remained constant, though—the meaning behind the festival.

"The inaugural Royal Luminary Festival in 2029 was a groundbreaking event that aimed to highlight the rich tapestry of our cultural heritage. My ancestors, King Park Jimin and Queen Park Elenor, established this celebration as a way to build unity and belonging. The festival laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and harmonious society where diversity was celebrated as a source of strength rather than division.

"Today, the Royal Luminary Festival carries on as a beacon of our legacy. To see this celebration continue after 10 generations is an incredible feat. The twinkling lights, bright lanterns, and colourful displays remind us that we are phoenixes. We've risen from the dark, oppressive times of our past to become a persistent and tenacious nation.

"As we gather here today on a monumental anniversary, let us embark on a journey through the corridors of time. Ask anyone who they think are some of the most influential people in our kingdom's long, rich history. You would be at a loss to find someone who did not utter the names of Park Jimin and Park Elenor. This remarkable couple shaped our past and even though it's been over 180 years since they passed, they continue to inspire us today.

"As a nation, we look back at our history with honour and not regret. Before the new royal era began in 2028, those who weren't Seed Bearers or assigned females faced a hard life full of hardship and struggle. However, after their coronation, King Jimin and Queen Elenor became beacons of hope. They guided our nation towards a brighter future, and I am proud to continue their legacy.

"As with any new beginning, some people weren't happy with the change to our nation's rulers. King Jimin faced scrutiny over his choice of wife, particularly due to Queen Elenor's foreign origin. The scepticism didn't last long, though. Throughout the Great Kingdom of Korea, people were captivated by the Queen's exceptional ability to bring forth not one, but two Seed Bearers born at the same time. Her extraordinary feat of dual childbirth symbolized hope, unity, and resilience amid uncertain times.

"Rumours swirled that Queen Elenor and her sister, Esther, were witches, a notion that only intensified when Esther gave birth to red-haired daughters. Over time, those rumours began to fade until they became myths and stories told to children.

"Whether deemed an outcome of sorcery or destiny, the Great Kingdom of Korea would have been markedly different without the reign of King Jimin and Queen Elenor. They welcomed foreign migration, a stark contrast to previous sovereigns' policies. This led to a rise in reproduction between male immigrants and local women. Foreign women were assigned as females to Seed Bearers. The introduction of a new lineage resulted in a generation of fertile, black-haired males. Consequently, the Allocation Rotation for Seed Bearers was discontinued in 2076.

"The influx of immigrants brought new technologies to our country and became the catalyst for the Technological Revolution of 2045. I vividly remember, as a young boy, hearing the tales my family told of our ancestors' lives before the advent of technology. It was a difficult concept for me to understand.

"Without King Jimin and Queen Elenor, our lives wouldn't be filled with brightness. They were the spark that ignited our kingdom's rebirth. You only have to walk through the museum attached to the Old Park Palace to see how hard life would have been without our useful tech. The first radio from 2046 was so large it would take over half of a desk. Without that antique relic, though, we wouldn't have had the new inventions that have made life easier. There would have been no refrigerators, electric appliances in kitchens, televisions or our newest invention—holograms. Motor vehicles and steam power wouldn't have paved the way for solar power and magnetic propulsion.

"As I open the 250th Royal Luminary Festival, I'll leave you with what I am wishing for this year. I hope for all who live in the Great Kingdom of Korea a life of hope, love and happiness. May each person find someone who looks at them with the same genuine care and admiration that King Jimin had for Queen Elenor. Ultimately, my deepest wish is for you all to feel valued, cherished, and supported. Let's continue creating a harmonious society where mutual respect and love prevail.

"Thank you for your time and enjoy the festival!"

* This marks the official end to Steps To Home. Thank you for reading and I hope you loved this story as much as I did.

For anyone who didn't pick up on it through this epilogue, both Nell and Esther were meant to be in this universe to be the catalysts for change. They brought the Great Kingdom of Korea out of the dark, antiquated times and into bright modernity. This was always Fate's plan, which it showed to the Oracle in his vision and Esther in her dream.