"No amount of denial will change anything. Women made their greatest blunder. Indeed, past generations of men were raised just as badly as the 'Dead Generation', but they were taught how to hold hammers and tools. In contrast, the 'Dead Generation' was taught only one thing – to hold a rifle. The consequences are only unraveling."

- Peter Harroway, Lorathian Brotherhood Front.

"Operation Temperate Fool commenced by the newly established Poznek Republic and the Confederation of Larissa against the Kingdom of Lombardia! The Confederation General Assembly declared it as a 'liberation campaign for Lombardian men'. Remaining Order Pact member states have now declared war on the Confederation as a response, but expectations are low after the massive mass mobilization of the Larissan Confederate Armed Forces (LCAF) last month, now swelling to an estimated five-million strong force. Confederate forces have now advanced fifty kilometers to the Lombardian Capital, and many expect that the Queen 'might flee'. Asturian Naval Forces were also spotted patrolling 'wide-open' Lombardian shores. The Mandate of Nations has now declared that the crisis in West Vaeyox has reached a 'critical point' and that a continental war between the 'monstrous revolutionary tide' of the Confederation and the Republic of Asturia, and the 'desperate hold to power' of the Kingdoms of Gaul, Lorathia, and remaining monarchies of West Vaeyox is inevitable."

- Geopol News

+++

Amelie's hands trembled on the binoculars. The view ahead was utterly monstrous. A nightmare that already etched itself in her eyes, as the distant fires lit up the night sky intensely, all while faint smoke rose. It astounded her. The Ludendorf Front, something which she had only witnessed from afar, was a true nightmare to behold.

"That…" William's voice said behind her. "Is the Front, Your Majesty."

"It's really this bad…" She turned her head to the left, and she could almost see the distant figures of men rising from a long line of trenches. Once more, artillery rained down on them, as they seemed to push forward. Moreover, all in the darkness, she could scarcely see any vegetation. It was brown, filled with craters, wrecks, ruined roads and towns, and dead trees.

It started raining. She placed down her binoculars and looked back at William. The Command and Observation Point they were in was well fortified. It was far in the rear of the main frontline, dug on one of the hills that overlooked the front, covered by cement. It almost resembled the bunkers that littered the front.

Amelie looked down at her mudded white gloves. Quite frankly, the Royal Guard's all-white officer battle dress didn't look quite in place in this setting. She noticed many RGO officers just up ahead, their once pristine white uniforms just as muddied as hers.

"Well, it would appear that their assault won't end," William said as the two walked through the complex. While it was dug, the post was well reinforced by wood and cement at many points. Still, Amelie couldn't help but notice the almost fragile planks of wood they walked on, underneath which she could see flowing muddy water.

And the stench…it was awful. She even passed through a dug-in section that appeared to be an underground mess hall of RGO grunts. Unlike their officers, they wore a uniform with an urban camo, and thus they looked more in place. Still, she could see many of the women pinching their noses in disgust as they ate.

"I just noticed, there doesn't seem to be a lot of Army soldiers around here," Amelie said as they passed through another RGO officer who bowed at her briefly. "Where are they?"

William chuckled.

"At the frontlines, obviously. Most men available are being called straight to the frontline dugouts, or straight to the support trenches. We're in the reserve and backline trenches. This is where most RGO units are posted."

"Wait…I thought–"

"You just thought." William laughed. "Many RGO officers are not having it. They're willing to take the post behind so they can have a presence here, but they argue to death about not being placed in forward trenches. It's a waste of energy to argue further when OAF officers have a goddamned battle to fight. So they left it at that."

"So that was why we're still seeing a mountain of dead men but barely anything from us women." It clicked with her. Of course! So what if the Queen said they should be at the frontlines to defend the Royal Capital? They could be at the frontline as reserves. Further, it almost seemed like they were here just to enforce no retreat for the men up ahead.

That…further horrified her. How could any OAF unit rout, when behind them, were women wielding wands and arcano-rifles? This was not supposed to be this way! She shouted internally. It was supposed to become a true common effort between us!

The two of them soon walked through the lengthy "communication trench" that connected each line. There was now a distinct lack of the covered dugouts she saw at the backline trench, which, as William said, was used to hide from the shelling and drones. There were constant zigzags, and Amelie noticed that the trench lines they were passing through became more and more constricted.

"Amelie, you know, I don't know about this really. Are you really sure?" William asked. "Even if the support trenches aren't the front itself, shelling is indiscriminate, and attacks could reach them."

"I already told you. I am here to speak with the men closest to the front. What would be the point if I still hid at the rear?"

William shook his head. "Well, if that's what you really want. Just keep your wand ready, as always."

"I know."

Suddenly, the two of them bumped through a group of men. By instinct, the two of them went to the side to make way. Her eyes however locked at the men. Their woodland uniform was almost unrecognizable, almost covered by mud. And the injured men on their stretchers…she almost felt something pull her heart as her vision went black.

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A-Albert. She saw him again, on that night. He almost…looked like them.

They already passed by the time she returned to her senses. One of them…didn't have a leg…

She gulped.

"Hey, you alright?" William asked as he gave her a pat on the back.

"Yes…it was…it was just…"

"Look, we can turn back if you need to. Just tell me so. I'm sure we can catch the next counter-charge."

"No, we're going. I can't miss it."

William breathed out. "Alright."

She followed him on the long trek. Indeed, the trench line was quite long for her. She could admit that she wasn't exactly in the best physique to run through kilometers-long trench lines, but she held the complaints bubbling in her mouth as she kept up with him.

Suddenly, William stopped. He pulled his radio and talked to it for a while before his face turned grim.

"William, what happened? Are we late?" Amelie asked, and William nodded.

"Very. The enemy broke through two trench lines. The one up ahead is preparing for a counter-charge. But it seems more dangerous than we thought. We might be rushing headfirst into their actual spearhead."

"Then that makes it final then. I must speak to them now before they go up there. Now or never. It's just once, but it has to be done."

Amelie continued, forcing William to follow her. Already, above them, she could notice the rumbling sounds of tank threads and their guns firing. They were getting close.

"Quite frankly, I have reservations about the necessity of this."

"I just need to speak once. Show them all that the Queen can and will be at the hottest area of the frontlines if she must. I have magic. I'll do my best to protect myself anyway."

Already, they were now passing through grim-faced soldiers, all huddled on the sides of the trench lines. Many looked at the two of them strangely, but Amelie could see that their eyes were too dead to even care.

They passed a last turn, and there, was a massive commotion. She could see officers shouting at their men to prepare near the ladders, all while many conversed through their radios. Many of the troops were already clinging to the side of the ladders, their night vision goggles down. There must have been at least a hundred or more in this section.

"Oh, well, seems like they're preparing for the charge…" William said as the two of them stopped in front of the commotion. He already radioed the officers around the trenchline of the Queen's presence, thus, delaying their charge.

Amelie on the other hand was focused on an old-looking officer berating a soldier who almost seemed to be crying.

"Look at me, son!" He shouted. "You, and all of you have one job." He grabbed his rifle forcefully. "If any of them turns back, if any of them runs back at you, you take this rifle, and you shoot them dead!" He turned to other men lined on the side. "Do you all understand?!"

"Enough!" She said out loud, drawing everyone's attention to her. The officer seemed angry at her until her halo illuminated her face. Suddenly, his demeanor changed.

"Men! Her Majesty is here! Stand in attention!" The officer shouted, and everyone turned to her. Amelie walked forward, clearing her throat. She approached the young soldier he berated, who was shaking in fear. Pity, nothing but pity filled her heart.

He doesn't belong here.

"Are you alright, Mister?" He gave her a nervous nod, as he tried to hide his fear, but Amelie could see it in his eyes. Both fear, hopelessness, and a budding hope. He was looking up at her. She turned to the rest of the soldiers, all preparing for the charge.

"Officer, there is no need to shoot our own men in any capacity. There will be no compromises on this one. None of the men under my rule will be shot like dogs for retreating. Is that understood?" She glared down at him, and he nodded. She took a deep breath. "Everyone."

One of the officers, a younger one, raised his hand.

"Your Majesty, why are you here? This place isn't safe."

"Same for you all." She said. "But you're all here. Ready to die for our cause. Ready to…give your all so that those behind you may live." She scanned the faces of each man. Most of them were concealed by masks or their night vision goggles. But she looked at all of them regardless. "I am no different. I am prepared to die for the Royalist cause just as all of you are. I am here to inspect the conditions of the front. And I saw nothing but the most hellish, and abysmal conditions I have seen in my lifetime.

"Now…this, to me, is the ultimate proof that all of you good young men, are all good people. Deserving of the best that this Kingdom has to offer, yet you receive nothing. Your mere forced presence here is an injustice, yet you are here, prepared to take arms even for those who wronged you. I see great honor and courage from all of you.

"I have no promises to add to those that I have said time and time again over my speeches. I am merely here to see your work and sacrifices. And here to tell you all that you are all good men. The best."

An artillery strike fell nearby, but she stood still even when dust rained on top of her.

"May you all find peace soon. Whatever your fates may be. I wish that you will all see the fruits of your sacrifices, but…I'm not the Goddess. But, thank you, to all of you. Carry on." She continued.

One of the soldiers removed his helmet and nodded at her. His face was as neutral as any man in front of her, but his eyes had light for once.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. For once…something we men do is appreciated."

One of the officers gave her a gesture to respectfully leave. William whispered to her that the counter-charge would soon commence, and it would be an all-out coordinated attack from the entire line. She stepped out of the way and watched as the men and officer returned to their duties, lining up the soldiers to the ladders.

She watched as they gave final radio checks, looked at the tiny pictures they held in their hands, or lowered their night vision goggles. The rain further intensified as they awaited, until one of the officers blew his whistle.

Everything, just for my victory. I have to repay these men, or I would never forgive myself.

"Glory to Her Majesty!" They all shouted as they rose as one. All as she watched for the first time. Of how bullets flew and men dropped like ragdolls as they climbed up. Yet they shouted the same four words. "Glory to Her Majesty!" Again and again.

It was dark and bloody, and the smell of death permeated. But she saw their determination to win resurge. Just a moment ago, all of them were dead men, who believed in nothing. Husks.

For but a brief moment, they were alive, fueled by the hope she gave. Perhaps, that would be her key to winning this battle. Restoring hope and trust in her troops.

"Glory to Her Majesty!" They roared. "Glory to Her Majesty!" All as they pushed them back, into the fire.