“Kentro Palace is finally retaken by Orlish Marines after dozens of hours of heavy street-to-street fighting. The rest of Corinthia however remains in a state of chaos as MN forces mop up the resistance. Hundreds of coupist forces have also laid down their arms at last, but militants and remnants are continuing their resistance. With the Latian Government secured, and Orlish and Lorathian reinforcements funneling into the city, Corinthia is expected to be liberated in a few days.”

- Geopol Press

+++

West Orland

Duchy of Rimwurz

November Palace

August 30, 2025

The situation room was now filled by the Ministers of the Heiss Cabinet. The past few days have been extremely stressful for all members of the Orlish Government. Especially Amelie. But alas, it seemed that the bad situation was nipped in the bud at the very last second—courtesy of the Royal Investigations Unit. And so, the air today was more relaxed.

The worst scenario had been avoided, after all.

“It is quite impressive,” Jacqueline declared. “But also extremely worrying. I think we should consider how we will respond next time to non-state actors attempting to use WMDs. Somehow, a damned militant group managed to push us closer to nuclear annihilation than the CFN.”

“Well, the CFN are a bunch of spineless cowards it seems,” Walter laughed, as he looked at Amelie. “I suppose our fears are overblown in some ways. We can be more aggressive in the next phase of the war.”

“We’ll need to conduct offensives, yes,” Amelie said. “But I’m not authorizing anything too damning. And our offensives will remain focused on stabilizing our frontlines in Kusari and the Valken Region.”

“Operation Citadel is badly disrupted,” Pristina frowned. “But I suppose Operation Eastern Jade can proceed nicely. I’ve already sent a lot of the assigned KDUs to the region. And they’re preparing. Night and day.”

“Same with the Air Force and Marine Corps,” General Albrecht declared. “We are around forty percent ready to start this massive operation. Admiral Halberd and Chief Air Marshall Zimmerman are also both working on planning the tactical minutiae of the Hebeian Sea Operation. They want a decisive battle at least. Enough to defang the Hebeian Navy. The same way we defanged the Larissan Imperial Navy last year.”

“Ambitious,” Amelie commented. “But I hope you…consider the safety of…of…”

“There’s no shame in saying it, Amelie,” General Albrecht nodded. “I think everyone in the Navy and the OAF wouldn’t want your older brother to be killed in combat either. I’ve heard many already in the Admiralty secretly advised him to not be onboard the ONS Rebenslof. But your brother is adamant. Where the Rebenslof goes, is where he goes.”

“I don’t think it’s that necessary,” Amelie muttered. “I mean…”

“Correct. It isn’t. Your brother’s leadership had already fully yielded its results anyway. The officer staff, the personnel, and most importantly, the Rebenslof’s air wing are capable on their own. They’ll be able to execute the battle well even without him. And that is the master class of military leadership. But regardless, he’s going to be there. You have to understand that some flag officers really will want to live on or sink with their men. Your brother is that type of officer.”

Amelie crossed her arms and looked to her side, a bit annoyed.

“I get it, but I’ve been…endlessly telling him not to,” she breathed out. “I have only two people in my life that I call family. If that’s reduced to one…”

“We understand,” Jacqueline smiled softly. “Losing your own family in war is a…damning position to be in. But then again, I think that gives us all the more reason to end this war faster. Maybe if we fast-track the reforms of the Kingdom, we’ll mellow out the Federalists…”

“That’s a possibility,” Walter stated. “But, a possibility I will not bank on. You might mellow out President Rimpler, but there’s a growing cadre of hardliners in their government. And they’re straight up calling for the usage of WMDs on Orlish soil to ‘redeem Orland’. And it’s the same in the Larissan Confederation. The recent losses haven’t given the ‘moderates’ in control much credibility.”

“Of course it won’t,” Amelie mumbled. “Every time we inflict losses on them, they seem to just get worse and worse. Look at us. We’re calling the people we called ‘extremists’ as moderates now.”

“Well, to be fair,” Walter chuckled. “Radicalism and extremism are relative. Humans can be quite dreadful creatures. And the mind and its ideology can become worse over time. It’s only natural.”

“I wonder if that’ll be the same result that we’ll get if we win in the two planned operations,” Pristina shook her head. “It’s beyond concerning.”

“Concerning is underselling it,” Amelie frowned. “Just because we evaded that disaster does not mean we’ve stopped our journey of diving face first into the worst scenario.”

+++

“Hey!” Alice was now in front of Amelie’s desk. The Princess of Orland had her cheeks puffed, arms crossed, and she was pouting. “I knew it. You didn't sleep last night. And the last night before that. Why? That’s very bad for your health!”

Amelie just gently laughed in response to her little sister’s tirade.

“Alice, I’m going to sleep later, okay?” Amelie reassured. “Don’t you have studies to attend to?”

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

“But I was asking about you not sleeping, Amelie.”

“Yeah, but now I’m asking about your studies.”

The girl paused, as she started thinking about Amelie’s answer. She dropped her annoyed expression and was about to answer before she frowned again.

“Hey! You’re trying to trick me. I said why didn’t you sleep?!”

“Okay, okay,” Amelie shook her head, as she felt her eyes sag a little. “I had to deal with some heavy things in the last few days. Lots of coordination and organization with the folks on the ground. Very necessary for the Kingdom, okay? I had some naps here and there, so I’m fine.”

“I’m just worried…” Alice mumbled. “A-and what about Albert? Isn’t he supposed to be here soon?”

“Yes. The Rebenslof docked yesterday to rearm and repair,” Amelie smiled. “He should be here soon. But, look, understand that he’ll leave again within a week.”

“Back to fighting?”

Amelie smiled a hint of melancholy on her face.

“Unfortunately. Your older brother is way too stubborn.”

“Hmph, I’ll give him a piece of mind when he arrives—”

“What was that, Alice?” a man’s voice interrupted the two. The door to her office had opened, and the man who entered was none other than Albert. Still clad in his white naval officer’s uniform, he removed his cap and smiled at both Amelie and Alice. “I’m back, everyone!”

“...You’re back,” Alice stopped, as her eyes started to water. Suddenly, she ran straight into Albert’s hands, half crying as she started punching him lightly. “Albert! Albert! I was so worried. You always keep getting into stupid, stupid fights. What if that ugly ship you’re in is sunk? I heard so much bad news!”

Alice continued crying, as Amelie just watched from her desk. Albert’s face darkened a bit, and he patted the girl’s back. She naturally soon melted into her older brother’s embrace. Amelie and Albert soon looked at each other. And for a second, Amelie could see a brief trace of guilt from him.

But it disappeared quickly, as Albert turned back to the tearful girl.

He held her shoulders, as he smiled.

“Well, but I’m back, in one piece,” Albert said. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Just like back then.”

“But you could have been hurt.”

“But I am not hurt.”

“Lies! You have one eye left,” Alice pouted further as tears streaked down her cheeks. “I know you do not need to be fighting anymore. Why don’t you just listen to big sis? She’s the Queen, right? You don’t have to fight. I don’t want you to fight. She doesn’t want you to fight…”

“Alice, I still have a duty,” Albert explained. “Trust me, once this war is over, I’ll be fine. I’ll be back here longer, and I’ll get to tour you around in nice places more. But for now, adults have to sort out this mess. And just as Amelie is doing her best to sort it out, I’m the same. Okay?”

He wiped her tears a bit.

“It’s not okay—”

“That’s why we’re trying to make sure everything will be okay,” Albert finished, as he patted her head. “So that when you’re of age, everything will be okay. You’ll have a bright future. You, and all children like you. That’s my duty.”

“But it’s unfair…”

“It’s not unfair. If I don’t go, that will be unfair. Every adult in Orland has to fight. In their own ways. That’s what I’m doing.”

“Then what if you get hurt again?”

“I won’t,” Albert reassured. “I survived so far. We will survive going forward. I promise you.”

Alice and Albert hugged each other again, as Amelie sighed on her seat. Naturally, Amelie made no comments so far. And from what she could tell from Albert’s eyes, he appreciated it.

+++

Alice was soon deep asleep in the sofas of Amelie’s office. Amelie and Albert were still discussing some family matters when they noticed that their youngest sister had fallen asleep. Albert smiled a bit.

“Been a long time since I got back here,” he shook his head. “You took good care of her, it seems.”

“Of course,” Amelie replied, as she took a bite of the biscuits they were sharing. “...Alright, let’s get to the point. Albert, you know things will only get more and more dangerous.”

“I suppose. You guys nicked a nuke,” he shook his head. “Close call. Really close call. But very impressive. You know, you should give all of those RIU agents some nice medals. They saved the damned world. That’s honestly some great achievement.”

“I will give them all of that and some more. But that’s not what we’re discussing, Albert. Stop. I want you to stop. You can stay in the navy but in a more domestic post.”

“And I have explained to you, no. My men, they’re important to me. They’re going to a massive battle of life and death. They’re my brothers. I lived my life with them. I cannot leave them on the high seas without me watching over them. They’re my responsibility.”

“...And I respect that,” Amelie weakly mumbled. “I…respect that. I always respect that. And I will always let you go…there. But, don’t you see? She’s…she doesn’t want to lose you.”

“Of course, she doesn’t. But I can’t let that block me from doing my job. I’m sorry.”

Amelie’s reply was bitter.

“...That’s cold but…alright.”

“What about you?” Albert frowned. “You look like you’ve aged five years already.”

Amelie groaned.

“Shut it. I’m going to fix myself tomorrow. Just took a few days with overtime because…because of problems, obviously.”

“Sucks to be the Queen, huh?”

“But it has to be done,” Amelie replied adamantly. “Because it’s my duty. A massive crisis happened. And I cannot fall from my post when anything can happen at any moment. That’s just all I did. Just because things worked out now, doesn’t mean I should be complacent.”

Albert smiled, as he took his mug. There was coffee in it, and he drank it as he relaxed on his seat in front of Amelie’s desk.

“We’re not too far off, really,” Albert said. “Sure, you’re not yet risking your neck on the line. But don’t you think you’re already doing the same by leading this Kingdom no matter the toll it takes on you?”

Amelie looked down at the snacks she prepared for herself and Albert.

“I suppose,” she then looked at the flag of Orland beside her desk. “We survived, yes. But I have to make sure we all survive going forward. Yeah…I guess…you’re right. You have to make sure your men in that ship survive. Just as I have to make sure that Orland will survive. For our future.”

This war is still a long journey.

Amelie sighed.

That’s why I need to break the stalemate soon.

Before survival becomes impossible.