“The Hebeian Civil War re-escalates! The increased ceasefire violations since last week have now reached a boiling point, as approximately three hundred tactical ballistic missiles from North Hebei rained on South Hebei’s military installations, logistical lines, and even cities for the past twenty-four hours. Donated Orlish REGAL SAM systems intercepted a reported fifty percent of the three hundred missiles country-wide bombardment according to the Imperial Army of Hebei. However, the damage had been severe, with multiple cities now suffering from short-term power outages. Whether or not this attack is a softening blow for an upcoming offensive from the Republic of Hebei, this has still been a deadly one for the Hebeian people.”

- Geopol Press

+++

United Confederation of Pez

Brewich

There were no further escalations.

It seemed that early morning alerts were now resolved, with the Pezan High Command issuing an all-clear signal to the Mandate of Nations. Of course, the presence of occasional Pezan planes above Brewich had stirred severe distrust in that report, but it was the truth, as the Lorathian, Gallian and even the Orlish Air Force and Navy confirmed that the skies were all clear.

“They’re rescheduling the next session to tomorrow,” Nia said, as Amelie sipped her tea. Her office was now partially vacated, with her belongings already packed due to the sudden spike of tensions, but now that it simmered off, it felt kinda strange for Amelie how empty her office was.

Heh…I guess that’s what panic does.

Still, it was better that they reacted accordingly. Better that she could evacuate the embassy quickly if need be than be bogged down if those false alarms (which were actually not false alarms, the Poznekis did launch missiles—for “military exercises”) were true.

“I suppose that makes sense,” Amelie said. “I think everyone needs a damned cooldown.”

“Yeah. It’s such a mess. The CFN sure wants to bear their fangs for the world, especially with what the North Hebeians had been doing since yesterday. Now this…”

“Poznek…” Amelie muttered. “For a mere secondary power, they sure can rattle their sabers hard. Especially when they’re just a government propped up by the Confederates.”

“Dove or Hawk my arse,” Nia huffed as she took her seat, taking her own drink from her cup after she finished filing a few files away. “Pretty sure Mr. Koch is a pure damned hawk. I still can’t believe we allowed that disrespectful mutt to run his salivating mouth in front of the General Assembly. Who the hell thought that letting rabid dogs run around its prestigious halls was a bright idea—”

“Nia,” Amelie cut her off. “Look, I know you dislike the guy, but no need to speak of him that way. He did have some…some point, yes, in his speech. Not that I’d agree to it officially. Still…remember, we need to know our enemy. We need to make them talk, and that was one of the ways to do it. Plus…we have something good to spin on TV now. His inflammatory speech, coupled with Pozneki saber rattling…”

Nia smiled. “Indeed. That’s some of the good news…the bad news is, they managed to delay the conference further. Quite frankly, it sucks that we have the General Assembly here. This is essentially the point of contact between two hostile power blocks…”

“Well, that’s the point. Pez is a neutral nation with powerful defenses between the Order Pact and the Mandate of Nations. As Mother said, if I go here, I have nothing to worry about, because that means that the Empress of Larissa would also be here. Thus, almost no possibility of an attack.”

“The difference is, CFN leaders are never here. They barely even went to Loviedo.”

“Indeed…which means, they have nothing to worry about if they disrupt MN processes militarily,” Amelie shook her head. “If there’s one thing that I hate the most, is that we are still acting as if we’re living in the old world, where old rules apply. It’s stupid that all world leaders have to be here like cattle when there are rogue states that don’t even care about the Mandate of Nations, but we can’t do it otherwise. The world demands it. And our rule relies on satisfying their demand of confirming that all is manageable. Retreating from here…it’s not gonna signal anything good.”

“Orland would look weak.”

“Exactly,” Amelie took another sip of her tea. “And we can’t look weak. Not right now. Not when we want all nations to follow our lead. They have to see me here, facing this damned stupidity if I want them to trust me. I guess that’s what being the Queen of Orland is all about…”

Amelie looked at the painting of Queen Alexandria on the walls. The founder of modern Orland herself. A Kingdom supposed to recognize women’s magic as a human right…and a Kingdom founded for supposed equality in the ashes of the old Orland. A Kingdom that turned into a hegemonic powerhouse of the world…and a Kingdom that turned into a de facto Queendom as it did so.

Queen Alexandria Ludendorf’s Orland, her own grand design that Amelie now steers…it was what created this world order dominated by women. Where most nations bow to the singular power that was the most advanced in magic, technology, economy, and military power. Where they all used the Orlish Blanc as the reserve currency because they trusted Orland’s control in both the world and its economy.

“Image…it’s all about image.”

+++

The Empress of Hebei was once again back in the Orlish Embassy.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Amelie greeted Empress Xue Li warmly when she arrived at Amelie’s office. Due to the cancellation of the day’s session, Amelie’s schedule was conveniently freed for the rest of the day. Thus, the iron maiden of the East quickly snatched Amelie’s schedule once again for a private meeting.

And Amelie already expected it since the escalations in Hebei. Quite frankly, the fact that the ceasefire between North and South Hebei lasted for so long was quite a massive surprise for the world. Amelie even vaguely hoped that things would cool so much that the two sides would soon find the entire civil war pointless and reabsorbed each other (preferably under Xue Li’s control), but alas…

“I apologize for coming again, Queen Amelie,” Empress Xue bowed. “But thank you for accepting me again.”

“Empress Xue, look, we’re already friends. I know the situation in your homeland. I understand. No need to do that, please. You’re an Empress…so you should not do that.”

She shook her head. “No. I am not doing it out of subservience. I am doing it to thank you, dear friend. Your military donations…while limited…it has been a great shield for my people. I know your country produces so many SAM systems at this point that you’re giving it out like water to your allies, but still…I’m very thankful.”

Amelie smiled awkwardly. Oh…that…

Well, quite frankly, ever since her experience in the Grand Duchy, she had ordered the massive expansion of REGAL SAM system production since the first week (she had an obsession with air defense since she saw bombs falling) that as a side effect…Orland now had an overabundance of SAM defense systems in their homeland a year into the war. So much so that strikes to West and Southeastern Orland had been completely nullified, with the Federalists only focusing their strategic airpower against the Archduchy because…well, they really hated that Principality for some reason.

But indeed, yes, she remembered. Because of that, she had been donating some to her allies. Imperial Hebei was her favorite, and so she devoted herself to shipping as much crap as she could to them whenever possible. While she struggled to send tanks and aircraft to Hebei due to the attrition rates at the front, Amelie would always gleefully stamp with approval any request from Hebei that she could meet if it reached her table.

I guess my mindless stampings do help then…?

Quite frankly, sometimes, Amelie would be too deep in coffee and tea that she would be mindlessly stamping “approved” on safe documents, especially with Nia already filtering many of them.

“Well…you’re very welcome then. Orland is happy that our military aid has shielded your people well. And, well, that’s what those SAM systems are for. I loved them since I saw them in action back then when I was besieged in the capital. They’re like guardians of the people. Like they’re casting an invisible shield to stop missiles and bombs from striking those below…”

The Empress laughed a bit. “You seem quite in love with them, huh?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Amelie replied. “By its nature, it’s a defensive weapon. I love defensive weaponry. I don’t know, it just strikes me as…ideal?”

“That’s because you’re a pacifist at heart—” William suddenly barged into the room, carrying what appeared to be a box of pizza. He looked around awkwardly at the two. “Wait…she’s here? Oh crap…I apologize.”

He immediately placed the box of pizza to the side and bowed to Xue.

“I apologize, Your Majesty…I didn’t notice…”

Which earned a chuckle from both Amelie and Xue.

“Ufufu…is he perhaps that guy…?”

Amelie turned to Xue. “That guy?”

“Your personal knight,” Xue whispered. “Always rumored around international circles, you know?”

“Oh…well, perhaps? But not really. He’s serving a lot of roles. Mainly the second leader of my security detail. But also serving as director of a newly established agency dedicated to countering emerging unknown threats. Also, he’s my main liaison to the Orlish Armed Forces. Oh, and my driver too. Hmm…he also brings me food at times…like right now…”

“Oh dear…so he’s a servant…?”

“Please don’t call it that way!” Amelie suddenly blurted out in defense. “It’s…look, he’s my right-hand man. That’s the closest, okay? He just has a lot of skills which is why I give him…varying things to have fun with…”

“Dump workload on…” William traitorously hissed.

“And…erm…uhm…” Amelie froze, remembering the fact that she even made William carry her and Nia’s bags at times. “But still! Servant sounds too bad of a term!”

Finally, William however stepped forward to defend Amelie as she panicked.

“Anyhow, let me introduce myself then. I either go by Major William Porter, based on my previous position, or Director William Porter of the Office of Preventative Measures. Her Majesty’s side project because she’s way too paranoid of everything.”

“William!”

Empress Xue laughed as Amelie gave him a weak side punch to his shoulder, which he of course ignored.

“Quite the interesting man…” Xue said. “It’s good to hear that my friend has good allies like you on her side.”

“Thank you…Your Majesty.”

“On that note,” William said. “You’re here because of the strikes from the North, right?”

Empress Xue nodded. “Indeed. I came here to plan our response with your Queen. I need to have an idea of the support Orland can provide us after all.”

“Then right in time,” William went back to the pizza box and pulled a file that was apparently on top of it. “This thing—is the latest report from Eutstadt.”

He placed the file on Amelie’s table, and the trio looked at it as he opened it, and began flipping through it.

“This is the latest intel report from the Naval Intelligence Division. They deployed high altitude recon planes from the ONS Cuirassier yesterday…”

“To where?” Amelie asked.

“To Hebei, of course,” William looked to Empress Xue, who didn’t seem to be surprised. “Got your approval, after all.”

“Well, intelligence exchange is a part of our deal after all…how can there be intel exchanged if Orland isn’t infiltrating my homeland.”

“Exactly,” William then stopped at a page that showed photographs of what appeared to be tank concentrations. “This might not look that special to you, but that’s because this part of the document is just to visualize and simplify it for…erm, Amelie…”

“I’m not that peanut-brained!” Amelie suddenly hissed.

“But again, the pretty pictures do not matter. It’s down here. Analysis of the NID. Ladies…it seems clear. The buildup is at the coastlines again. And they’re building up fast. And with the strikes from the North yesterday…nothing but preliminary softening operations might I add, and the situation is clear…”

He paused.

“The Second Battle for Ginzhu is soon to begin.”