“Lorathian advances stunted! After fifteen days of an attempted winter offensive by the Lorathian Royal Army against the ARDF, their forces have been repulsed right after a measly twenty kilometers of advance through fortified trench lines. Current military conditions for the Lorathians are extreme, with the possibility of a potential Asturian counter-attack being described as ‘likely’ to force the Lorathians off from their hard-fought gains.”

- Geopol Press

+++

West Lieplatz

Nordia

February 26, 2025

“We’re not going to get hit by anything, right?” Amelie asked as William stopped the armored SUV on the side of a major building that was repurposed into the temporary capital of the reformed Kingdom of Lieplatz. Even now, two days since Princess Celeste was crowned Queen of Lieplatz, and four days since the Lieplatzan Interim Cabinet was formed, Nordia remained the same badly damaged battlefield that it was since its capture.

Rubble, destroyed roads, buildings, establishments, artillery craters, and roaming Orlish troops filled the city. The most harrowing sight for Amelie however was the civilians, families, women, and children, huddled in humanitarian tents that distributed emergency goods, medical assistance, or the bread lines everywhere. Nordia, as far as Amelie could say, had a long road back into recovery.

Thank god only a quarter of the city was badly damaged. The Lieplatzans luckily surrendered before any more damage could be done, and the main business districts themselves, for example, remained undamaged. Still, the outskirts, alongside the airport, and other important areas were hit hard. Especially the airport, which reports said caused trouble for Orland’s efforts to bring in humanitarian supplies.

The anxiety however was palpable in Amelie’s expression. First of all, she was still the “invader” of this land, of course. Second, there was a bioweapon issue in one of the districts (she bought an entire set of gas masks which she deliriously insisted on bringing due to it). Third, there were still reports of Lieplatzan loyalist holdouts that the OAF hadn’t fully flushed due to how large Nordia was.

“Don’t worry about it,” William reassured. “It’s highly unlikely that any attacks would target us. I mean, the security convoy will ensure that things like that won’t happen. Anyway.”

“Do they still have a presence though?”

“In uncleared districts, yes,” William answered, just as he opened the door and left the vehicle. Amelie followed, and soon, they were outside, as their security contingent and the groups of Lieplatzan Royal Guard soldiers formed a perimeter around them.

The amount of security certainly calmed Amelie’s nerves, but she still wasn’t sure about that whole bioweapon thing! General Albrecht may have reassured her that the spread was completely stopped and the entire district was decontaminated, but she wasn’t sure. After all, the district was still under strict quarantine. She wasn’t taking any chances.

Not with a disease like that. Oh, she’d absolutely take all damned precautions from now on from chemical and biological attacks. Both for herself and for Orland. If even the first tinge of a threat appeared, Amelie would contain, isolate, and crush it immediately. No damned disease, bioweapon or not, would spread and destabilize her Orland.

“The Lieplatzans are already preparing,” William said, as the doors behind them closed. Groups of civilian security in suits followed behind them. Inside, staff, bureaucrats, and multitudes of white-collar workers and officials were all working like busy bees that they barely even noticed Amelie’s presence.

They must be working 24/7 to restore the Lieplatzan government. It must be a tiring job for them all. Most of Lieplatz’s high noble leadership was wiped out. Alongside the bureaucratic managerial class of Lieplatz. These women were badly hit, even if they were just a part of the Arcana Class. And so, for the survivors, it would be a massive job for them to undertake without their original superiors and seniors.

In fact, most of the officials and workers in the building seemed to be young women. The older ones, who held high offices, must have been definitely been wiped out by the Lieplatzan Junta. Amelie shook her head internally as she entered the elevator. The sheer scale of nightmares that the Junta inflicted on its people had been astounding.

She feared how such monsters were created in the first place. They truly had created an abomination that was now actively exploding in rage, consuming all of Pollos without a tinge of restraint.

The fact that Nordia surrendered had been a massive surprise to Amelie. It was such a massive luck that many Lieplatzan Army units inside that were left after the heavier phases of the battle early on laid down their arms rather than insisting on a full-on house-to-house siege. Early on, it certainly appeared that it would be the case. It was expected that the OAF would have to take a month or more to systematically assault and flush out resistance, leveling entire districts with heavy ordnance.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

But, now, she was here. The Lieplatzan government partly restored their new capital. Even if Amelie still felt cold feet about her relative safety in this environment, she’d take the victory that the OAF achieved. It certainly was a massive success for now.

Here’s hoping that they finally give me results in the campaign up north. That was what really worried Amelie. They’re being bogged down.

The elevator door opened, and Amelie, William, and their escort staff all walked straight out of it. They would be meeting the Lieplatzan Interim Cabinet formally for the first time. All to decide the fate of West Lieplatz, and its future under Amelie’s Orland.

+++

The room bowed upon the arrival of Amelie. Except for the new Queen of Lieplatz, Celeste von Reintz. Still, the woman was visibly nervous, even with her new rank that “technically” made her of equal standing to Amelie. Of course, Amelie didn’t give a rat’s ass about the formality. To her, the fact that these people were bowing was pointless anyway.

“Everyone, I am flattered by the respect you all give to me,” Amelie said. “But the independent politicians of Lieplatz have no need to bow down to a foreign monarch. Please, raise your heads.”

“But aren’t we going to be your vassal, Queen Amelie of Orland?” Celeste asked. “I feared I would have to bow to you.”

“You certainly do not,” Amelie laughed a bit. “Come on, please, raise your heads people. This feels awkward.”

The Prime Minister and her cabinet finally agreed. The Prime Minister seemed a bit embarrassed. “We apologize for making you feel uncomfortable, Queen Amelie.”

“No, no. It’s fine,” Amelie replied. “Anyhow, since Adelaide and the Foreign Ministry are busy with the negotiations in the Mandate of Nations, and yes, with the Empire of Asanai, I came here to formally represent Orland in their stead.”

“We hope for a productive day then,” Celeste said. “Welcome to my country…I hope it’s alright around here.”

Amelie wouldn’t lie. “Yeah, about that. It’s clear your country is in need of repair.”

Amelie motioned for William to come forward. “This guy right here is…think of him as my right-hand man. Director William Porter of the Office of Preventative Measures. His agency, for the past few days, had been active in Lieplatz to aid in combating the Junta. But he will serve a greater role soon.”

“And what would that role be?” Celeste raised her eyes. “And…I’ve never heard of that agency in Orland. Is it new?”

“You’d be correct on that,” Willaim answered. “As of now, the OPM has massive interests in Lieplaz. We are monitoring unknown hostile elements that may be connected with the ‘gas leak’ nearby. I’d need a lot of liaisons and support from your government to continue investigations in your nation.”

“But not just that, Director Porter will also be responsible soon for representing the OAF military in Lieplatz, authorized by the OHC themselves. Due to the fact that Orland is the one defending your nation, and actively liberating it, you should of course see the need for coordination between the OAF, its subordinate agencies, and the Lieplatzan government.”

The group of Lieplatzan politicians fell silent after Amelie’s little speech. For a bit, Amelie felt quite awful, she definitely felt like a tyrant for speaking those things. Not my vassals…what a joke. For all intents and purposes, Amelie lied there. Royalist Lieplatz would be a vassal of Royalist Orland. Just like how the illegitimate state formed in occupied Lieplatz by those Federalists was nothing but a puppet of the Federal Army.

Well, they’re a bit more straightforward. Amelie admitted. They called it the “Military Government of East Lieplatz”, which absolutely screamed that they were under the Federal Army’s administration. Meanwhile, Amelie was out here calling the newly formed Kingdom here with their original claim, while mobilizing her propaganda efforts in legitimizing the claim of legitimate government for her Lieplatz.

But at some point, I’d have to embrace being two-faced anyway. Amelie silently laughed at herself for promising not to do that back during her coronation. I guess reality would crash at some point to crush idealism.

This Lieplatz had no capacity to govern itself. Much less defend itself. Thus, the position of Queen Celeste’s government. A puppet regime.

“That’s…” Celeste tried. “Well, I suppose it’s inevitable.”

The Prime Minister also tried to console her. “Your Majesty, please do not lose hope.”

Now, Amelie really felt bad.

“L-look, people, I swear, this is all just a temporary measure,” Amelie said. “In fact, my government plans to arm your people so you can fight with the OAF side by side. We’d be sending in massive amounts of aid, humanitarian and economic, all to help West Lieplatz recover. We’d do everything to ensure that Lieplatz would be restored to its former glory. It’s just, for now, your government would be under our guidance.”

Celeste nodded. “We already talked about it. I just…still can’t accept it. How far my country fell into the drain, and everything that happened. Can we even truly recover from this? What if Lieplatz would forever be dependent on Orland.”

“Your Majesty!” One of the Lieplatzan politicians shouted. “Do not think that way. Lieplatz will find its way back to greatness. Come hell or high water, we’re all here to ensure that!”

“Thank you, Miss Defense Minister,” Celeste said. “It’s just difficult to imagine the state of even our temporary capital city.”

“As you’ve said,'' William started. “Nordia is just your temporary capital city. For now, West Lieplatz and whatever we liberate further would be ruled from here, yes. But that’s why we are here.”

William dropped a file on the table. “Ladies, for your own Kingdom, this is the road plan on how we would rebuild your nation from ruins. And to begin the long march from here—back to Monpleitz.”