The Price of Smiles (2019)
On a planet far from Earth, there is a kingdom full of smiling faces. Princess Yuuki is 12 years old, and about to enter a sensitive age in a person's life. Everyday, she cries, laughs, and sometimes, her heart throbs with excitement. All the while, she lives merrily in the royal palace. Filling her days with color are her loyal vassals: her tutor Reira, Izana who assists in political affairs, the leader of the chivalry Harold and then, there is her childhood friend and aide Joshua. Stella is 17 years old and a capable, reserved soldier. However, she is always smiling for smiling is essential to living.
Country: JP
Language: Ja
Runtime: 25
Season 1:
Twelve-year-old Princess Yuki is starting to take on the responsibilities of leading her kingdom. But when the borderland knights Yuni and Lune are rude to her, her retainer Joshua challenges them to a battle in a simulator.
In order to hold back the advancing Imperial Army at the border, Grand Master Harold takes the royal flagship to the front lines. Joshua throws himself into his first combat sortie in order to protect Yuki's smile.
A soldier of the Imperial Army, Petty Officer Stella Shining always seems to keep her squad at arm's length. When she and her squad are deployed on a mission with their new commander, he wonders what lies behind her ever-present smile.
Two months have passed since the kingdom and the empire went to war, and the empire continues to advance. As Layla tries to support the despondent Yuki, she thinks back on the tragedy that started it all.
To break through a stalemate a stone's throw from the capital, the Buerger Squad embarks on a night mission. But when Lily runs into unexpected trouble, she ends up relaying her past to Commander Owens.
Nothing stops the advance of the Grandiga empire, despite the valor of the troops of the Sun kingdom. While most of the residents are evacuated to a safe place, Princess Yuki wonders if it would be wiser to capitulate.
After the Battle of Hariant, Gail Squadron soldiers try to find the food they need to hold a small party in honor of Pierce who was wounded in action.
While Yuki takes command of the Royal Army, Izana tries to smuggle crucial information about the ruined Empire of Verde from behind enemy lines.
With the Kingdom hanging on by a thread, Grand Master Harold ramps up production on the new chrars. But Yuki and Layla pursue a different path based on the data sent by Izana.
The Empire surges onward, but life is grim for soldiers on the front lines. As she survives through tough situations with her teammates and commander, Stella's smile begins to change.
Winter has arrived. Yuki has lost many of those important to her, but she continues to press onward. As the war reaches its final stages, Yuki defiantly claims she will retake Hariant...
As the final battle rages on, Yuki and Stella arrive on distant foreign soil. Yuki has made up her mind to end the war, but Stella stands in her way. What future will these girls bring to their world?