“The Federal Republic of Orland and the Confederation of Larissa signed the ‘Dual-Assistance Treaty’ in the Loviedo Conference, finally ensuring that the two rebel republics would be directly ‘supplying and supporting’ each other in their respective conflicts. Already, eight out of the twenty-two revolutionary republics present in the Loviedo Conference voted ‘yes’ for the creation of the ‘Coalition of Free Nations’. Observers noted that the alliance is practically in the motion of creation, with the Federal Republic, State of Lieplatz, and the Republic of Asturia merely waiting for the approval of the alliance by the Confederation of Larissa and the Republic of Hebei.”

- Geopol Press

+++

West Orland

County of Wittfield

City of Eutstadt

December 25, 2024

Amelie woke up early this morning.

Yesterday was an eventful day, and so was today. While the festivities during the day of Her Holiness, the Goddess herself, was celebrated by much of Orland, it was done in a somber manner. Many expected that the war would have ended by now, but instead, the people of Orland had to deal with a full two-day assault from the Federal Republic in the airwaves, the internet, and every electronic channel in a mass-propaganda attempt to disparage and discredit the Goddess.

Ever since yesterday, Arcanist broadcasts were taken down by the Federal Republic’s devastating electronic warfare attacks. Instead of Arcanist Church Priestesses speaking about the religious day, raging Republican officials declaring “war against the goddess” filled the screens and radios of Orland. Globally, the same happened, as men bombarded the entire internet alongside radio and television airwaves with anti-goddess and anti-arcanist propaganda.

Amelie sighed after washing her face, remembering that guy yesterday, his face in full blast in the Astral Square when the display of the Eutstadt Stock Exchange Building was hacked.

“The Goddess has no right to interfere against the business of humanity!” He shouted. “Anyone who follows this depraved entity is an enemy of humanity!”

The outrage was naturally massive from women, even from Amelie. To insult their creator, and the one who blessed them with magic, and promised heaven and salvation for those who were good, and the one who controlled the universe itself – it was unthinkable. But for these men, to fear the divine wasn’t even in their minds. For them, the Goddess was something they aimed to fight.

Many of them even denied her existence, calling women “foolish and backward” for believing such nonsense. Amelie disagreed with such a belief. How could anyone deny the existence of Her Holiness? No one could – the existence of women’s magic was but an absolute sign of divinity. Of course, she existed, how could she not?

Ah, whatever. Those men are obviously just bitter. Extremely bitter.

At the very least, the entire affair silenced the coverage of the arrival of Princess Xue Li – the current de-facto ruler of the Empire of Hebei, or, as international media named them, South Hebei. With much of the Orlish general public distracted in the outrage regarding the Federal Government’s slanderous action against their faith, the Princess managed to arrive in the Kingdom without much media fanfare, which would have been a pain for Amelie to manage.

As much as possible, she wanted any potential negotiations with the Imperial insurrectionists in Hebei on the down low. The high-profile coverage of the Loviedo Conference was, in Amelie’s perspective, a major hole in the general strategy of the revolutionaries. The fact that they were very loud at announcing to the world their plans and alliances meant that she and the counter-revolutionary side could act with more information in their hands. She and her fellow monarchs knew that these revolutionaries would band together, and potentially escalate the war into a global scale, against them while they were still largely divided.

“Your Majesty.” Her new court lady, Nia Von Wittelstein, the daughter and future Duchess of Oldrach (as House Von Wittelstein controlled the Duchy of Oldrach) said. She was also silently assigned, as Amelie finally acquiesced with Lady Lubaine’s recommendation “to at least have someone keep watch of her”. Marie was Amelie’s natural first pick, but she was already in charge of the RIU. Luckily, her old friend back in University, was also in the city.

Thus, when Nia learned that Amelie was in the November Palace, she decided to barge in to “meet her again”. Before Nia knew it, she was suddenly picked by the damned Queen for the role.

“Why so formal, Nia?” Amelie asked. “Still bitter?”

Nia rolled her eyes. “You were just picking up on me. I have no idea what to do in this job even.”

Amelie looked back. “Oh come on. You’re unemployed, so why not do something productive for once? I mean, yesterday, the first thing that came from your mouth was your, and I quote, ‘struggle to find a worthy job’.”

“That’s because all those jobs are beneath me, you jerk.” Nia seethed before she crossed her arms and looked away. “But whatever. I suppose serving the Queen counts as a worthy job.”

“Haha, you still have that spiteful tongue.” Amelie resumed fixing herself. “I really missed you.”

“...Me too.”

“Just like the old days again?”

“Mhm…”

“Well, I’m really glad to have you aboard again,” Amelie said. “So! How about fixing my schedule first?”

“Fine…as long as I get paid,” Nia said. “Mother still wouldn’t expand my allowance.”

“Still as strict as always?”

“‘A proper lady must be able to earn her keep and use it wisely’, so she says. Or else I’m not worthy to inherit the Duchy. Well, it’s not like I want that place anyway.”

“Hmm, I suppose you wouldn’t. Oldrach is so close to the frontlines.”

“Yeah…I’m still surprised you managed to lead the defense of the Royal Capital.” While Amelie could only see her through her mirror, she could see how her eyes almost beamed. “Actually, how did you even do it?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Well, it’s not exactly a pretty story…”

+++

“Oh, so it’s this guy?” Nia pointed at William. “He’s your bodyguard?”

“Yeah. It’s William. Major William Porter. I believe his promotion is soon in order.”

“...Please. Just let me rest. I don’t want to deal with more people.” William said, before looking at Nia. “And who’s this…thing?”

“Apologies, Nia. This guy doesn’t have the most refined vocabulary out there.”

“Uck, just looking at him makes me depressed,” Nia said, slightly moving behind Amelie. “He doesn’t bite, does he?”

“I’m not a damned dog,” William said, already obviously annoyed at the encounter.

“I assure you, he’s completely harmless,” Amelie said. “Just a bit foul-mouthed, as I’ve said.”

“I’m not harmless.”

“In my view you are.”

“Oh, sure you do.” William crossed his arms. “So, again, who’s this woman? I heard she’s your new court lady?”

“My old friend from University!” Amelie beamed, pulling Nia in front of William. “Meet Nia Von Wittelstein! The eldest daughter of the Duchess of Oldrach! She’s clumsy, and a brat, but she can do things! I think.”

“Amelie!” Nia herself didn’t exactly feel praised. “What do you mean I think?”

“I see, so another brat to deal with then. Great.” William said, giving her another scan. “So, you’re not a security threat, are you?”

“Of course not!” She seemed indignant again. “Plus, I bet I can break you in a hundred ways with my magic.”

“Yeah, and one bullet, and you’re down.” Nia, not backing down, closed the distance, and the two almost seemed to be two dogs growling at each other.

“Hey, hey! No need for a silly rivalry.” Amelie said, placing herself between the two, and pulling them together with her. “So! Being my personal guard, and my new court lady, you two will definitely be closely working with each other from now on. So, I expect you two to be very cooperative, okay?”

“Yeah…sure,” William said, his frown disappearing. “As long as she’s not too much of an annoying pipsqueak.”

“So long as this guy is not such a downer and a jerk, I’m fine too.” Nia looked away. “And…well, if you trust him, I guess I can be cordial with him too.”

“Nice!” Amelie clapped to herself. “So! Today, the first thing on our agenda…the Princess of Hebei. Nia. Suggestions?”

Nia beamed up. “Of course! You and me should dress up! Oh, and did you know that the Princess loves sweets? I think we should go order someone to grab some, and, and-”

“You two do whatever girly things you do,” William said, cutting the energetic suggestions from Nia. “I’ll round up a few of my men for security work. Lady Lubaine’s already dealing with the rest, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”

He looked down at Nia. While she definitely did seem completely harmless, she seemed way too naive and…impulsive. Thus, in William’s eyes, the new addition was a security liability.

“Hey, Amelie…does he really act all that serious every time?” Nia asked.

“Well, it’s William.” Amelie smiled. “You should get used to it. But I assure you, he’s reliable.”

“Pfft, whatever. I’ll go do my thing.” William said, tired of hearing this nonsense. He walked off to do his “more important” business.

“He’s really cold too,” Nia commented, and Amelie just sighed.

+++

William leaned his back on the wall, sighing to himself.

Damn it. It’s like those days again.

He wiped off the sweat on his forehead with his handkerchief, before taking his gloves off and observing his shaking hands. Quite frankly, William almost hated this…peace.

This…detachment from war and combat. There was too much time for his mind to be free with his thoughts. Thoughts that gnawed into his being. And…too much time to sleep and see those things.

At least, when he was in the Grand Duchy, all of his time was work and warfare, nothing in between. He felt the same thing he experienced during the first days when he stepped out of those ships back into Orland after the Great War. But he shook his head, trying to dust off the discomfort of his current situation.

I just need a bit more time to readjust myself. William said, once again looking at his hands. The same hands that signed countless orders during the Battle of Halia. Orders that came with great costs. Costs measured in lives. Damn it, brain. Why do you need to rub into my face?

“Hey!” A childish voice distracted him. He looked down. Alice’s green eyes stared at him with some concern. “Are you alright?”

William smiled before he knelt down to her level. “Of course, I am, Your Highness. Are you searching for your sister?”

Alice nodded. “Yeah. She said that we were going to meet a foreign princess today. From Hebei, I think.”

“Oh, so you’re ready for it?” William asked as Alice checked her dress.

“Yes. Marta helped me out.” Alice said. “Amelie said I should wait near the entrance, but it’s so boring sitting and doing nothing.”

William laughed to himself. Children. Such innocent and unruly beings.

“Well, she’s over there, if you’re wondering,” William said, pointing in the direction of Amelie’s chambers, where she and Nia were doing Goddess knows what. “They’re still preparing themselves.”

Just at that point, the Princess’ Maid, Marta Devon appeared behind Alice.

“Your Highness! Sneaking away randomly is dangerous, you should know that.” Marta said, checking her.

“But I’m alright. I was just searching for Amelie.” Alice said.

“At least tell me.”

“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind,” Alice said before she peeled off and went into the direction of Amelie’s chambers. Marta herself sighed as she stood up.

“She’s quite a handful, isn’t she?” William asked.

“Royals. They’re a pain to handle.”

“Hah, I would know,” William said, leaning to the wall as well. “But, I don’t regret serving these two.”

“You don’t?” Marta looked at him strangely. “I guess some of you men aren’t so hopeless at least.”

William shook his head, laughing a bit. “Heh, if you had any idea of the truth. But…I still hope you are correct.”

“What happened yesterday was shocking,” Marta said. “It’s just…where did respect and politeness even go?”

“...Well, I do wonder where it went too.” William looked at one of the paintings in the hallway. It was a painting of Queen Alexandria Ludendorf, alongside Princess Aliene Ludendorf, both on horseback, passing together like valiant angels, mother and daughter, over a victorious field. Below the painting, inscribed on its frame was “1718 - The Battle of Thein”.

William’s eyes fell on the corpses in the background of the painting, on the green fields. The corpses of the men from King Richmond’s loyalist 4th Corps and Queen Alexandria’s rebel Army of Löt. 1718, when men on both sides died for both sides, only to be almost forgotten, with Orlish History focusing only on women’s and Queen Alexandria’s efforts to defeat the tyrannical rule of King Richmond.

But not the men who joined her, who made up eighty percent of her army during the First Orlish Civil War, and until the end of the wide Arcane Wars.

“...I really do wonder.”