I'd like to bump this. I think I figured out when the messages get stuck on "very close" - when the alignment changes after precrowning.
Case 1, DE merchant: Precrowned as L, fell to N, got back to L, prayed on L+ on very close, got crowned.
Case 2, Troll wizard: Precrowned as N, got to L, prayed on L+ on very close, got crowned.
Of course, in both cases I sacrificed what should have been enough to go through the favours messages up to absolutely close.