Nearly a dozen officials and generals, alongside their respective aides and junior officers, met in a meeting room in the Helsdorf Court House. Earlier, the city itself became wide open for the entrance of loyalist Imperial troops, with all units of the revolutionary Continental Army standing down—though most of them were still yet to be disarmed.

  Even still, Alexa insisted that the proceedings for the surrender begin immediately. That was why she picked up most of the important figures on her side, including Wilhelm, Phoebe, and Alfred, to meet with the enemy’s most senior leaders. On the other side of the long table sat Henry Richard von Hecker, flanked left and right by the uniformed generals of the Continental Army.

  Their faces were grim and sullen, while the leadership of the loyalist forces were practically dying just to stop the massive, victorious grins on their faces. Alexa, however, made no such concessions to the rebels. She was smiling, clearly and directly, practically declaring that she was celebrating their humiliating defeat.

  Though, such an interpretation was probably only in the minds of the rebel side. In Alexa’s mind, she was actually simply very happy. She lightly handed the treaty papers straight to Henry on the other side of the table.

  “Sign it,” Alexa lightly said. “With this, peace shall come in our land. Quite frankly, I find it most pleasing that you people had the rationality to talk to us like this.”

  “We’ve simply recognized that…” Henry was practically straining himself to get the words out of his mouth. “That the military and political situation…has not developed necessarily to our advantage.”

  “That sounds like admitting defeat, no?”

  Wilhelm groaned at the side, cringing as he facepalmed. “Diplomacy lessons…”

  “Come on, as if there’s anything wrong with that!” Alexa said out loud. “Gentlemen, we were enemies yesterday; that meant someone had to be the losers and someone had to be the winners. But, now, the fighting is over.”

  Alexa stood up. “I say, let’s all be winners, please?”

  Everyone in the room was silent. While Alexa’s officers were smiling awkwardly in agreement with her, the officers on the other side were staring at her with bewildered eyes. One even asked in a hushed tone to someone sitting close to him, ‘How did this girl beat us?’

  Of course, Alexa dared not to point that out, as Henry simply, reluctantly, smiled with a nod.

  “That sounds like a very noble end to this conflict, yes,” Henry said, before handing the papers to his officials. Each of them took a few dozen minutes reviewing it, momentarily asking questions of each other or debating it between themselves. Some of them even approached Alexa, mostly with questions about how legitimate the general amnesty was, probably because most of those on the rebel side were still fearful about their peacetime lives.

  But in the end, they came to a unanimous agreement. Henry soon signed the papers, and then he shook hands with Alexa. The painter who had been invited on the scene practically pushed over the junior officers watching on the side just to get a better glimpse of the event. Why? Because with this treaty and handshake, Alexa, for the first time, truly became an official representative of the Imperium.

  “Now, onto the next matters at hand.” Alexa took her hand away from Henry’s. “The demon horde.”

  +++

  Straight after the so-called Treaty of Helsdorf was signed, where the Empire gave the rebels concessions about giving the citizenry voting rights and the right to vote about whether or not the monarchy should be retained or not, the citizenry of the city were overjoyed about both the new peace and the rights they gained.

  Included in the Treaty of Helsdorf too was the promise of abolition of serfdom and slavery, to which Alexa readily agreed because she herself didn’t like the idea of putting people in bondage, which was an issue that was apparently widespread in the Empire. As a result, when she came out of the balcony of the Helsdorf Court House, crowds had formed outside.

  They were made up of both civilian citizens and hundreds of troops and officers of the now dissolved revolutionary republic. She gave them an eloquent and bold speech promising a new dawn for the nation, a rejuvenation of Lotharingia’s society back into greatness, and the promise of security against the demon horde, alongside promises about giving the Empire’s lowly citizens more and more rights.

  As the next Empress, Alexa emphasized the need for widespread reforms to bring back society from the brink, and she also encouraged unity in the face of the demon horde. Surprisingly, in the end, even the common rebel soldiers were cheering for Alexa—though maybe it was because part of her speech confirmed that all of them would not be put in the gallows for their act of rebellion.

  When she turned around to face Wilhelm and Alfred, a smile was on her face. “Did I do well?”

  “A beautiful speech as always, Lady Alexa,” Alfred said, smiling pleasantly.

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  “You promised a bit too many things there.” Wilhelm, on the other hand, still seemed a bit bitter. “It was good though.”

  “I thought you, Wilhelm, trained me so that I’ll appeal to the most basic wants of the citizenry?” Alexa asked. “I’m pretty sure I’m just following what I said.”

  “Yes, but you sounded like you actually believed what you were saying to them. Quite frankly, I’m not fond of this whole ‘voting rights’ thing,” Wilhelm said, shaking his head. “Reduces control. I—I meant you, you, you need more control during a crisis. I guess we’ll just have to take measures to make it look like this whole voting thing doesn’t rattle our agenda too much.”

  “Gosh, you sound like a stuffy old politician now.” Alexa crossed her arms. “That is not a good look on you, Wilhelm. You should really learn how to be an actual dreamer once in your life. Like believing what comes out of your mouth.”

  Alfred smirked on the side. “Wilhelm here doesn’t have any beliefs except having the power to steer things in his desired direction. I propose that you do not expect any kind of honor or goodwill from this man.”

  “You, on the other hand,” Alexa turned to Alfred. “Is still too much of a lapdog. I really need you to become more autonomous in your service to me. I need the Royal Guard to be more proactive, not reactive, and not too reliant on me giving the final orders.”

  “I, err…” Alfred was taken aback and was now speechless. Wilhelm seemed to find that amusing.

  “Don’t take that as a sign that you’re going to pull off the crazy things you did behind my back again, though,” Alexa warned as she turned to Wilhelm.

  “Of course not. I would never. I learned my lessons.”

  “Good,” Alexa nodded. “Now, I need to figure out how we’ll deal with the demon horde. From what I’ve heard, the Defense Forces are practically disintegrating, are they not?”

  “I wouldn’t say that.” Wilhelm shook his head. “That would be a very extreme interpretation of their current strategic situation.”

  “Be that as it may, the last report given to me showed that things were clearly dire.”

  Not discounting the fact that had the civil war continued, the frontlines would have disintegrated to the point that Wilhelm and Henry would have had to both personally intervene.

  She looked at Wilhelm’s eyes, worry clear in her face.

  And he died.

  She clenched her fist.

  “I cannot stand still until that situation is resolved or stabilized,” Alexa said. “I’m going to need plans drafted and actions taken. Immediately.”

  “Yes, I was already on it, Alexa.” Wilhelm bowed. “If you will excuse me, I need to conduct a meeting with the leadership of the Imperial Army and see how I’ll move our units to support the Defense Forces.”

  “I see.”

  “You, on the other hand,” Wilhelm turned to Alfred. “I entrust Alexa, Phoebe, and Adele to you. Return them safely to the Imperial Capital. I’ve already given the Regency Council instructions on how the official victory celebrations will proceed. The people need a clear end to this conflict. Morale is too low. It needs a boost.”

  “Of course, you wouldn’t have to worry. She’ll be in my capable hands.”

  “Wait, wait, wait!” Alexa turned to Wilhelm, walking close to him. “I am not letting you go.”

  “What?”

  “You’re going to the victory celebrations with me and everyone else,” Alexa demanded. “You’re still the architect of how the war was conducted.”

  She took his hand. “Please, you only need to give them commands. You don’t need to go there. I want you to receive the honors you deserve.”

  “Alexa,” Wilhelm gently pried her hand off. “I appreciate the thought, but the matter of the defense of the Imperium is now my job, first and foremost. Besides, I’m not the leader of the Empire in any official capacity. I’m just a lowly knight serving Her Highness.”

  “That’s how you want to look in public. It’s not reality, though. In reality, you’re the most powerful man in the Empire right now.”

  “What a grave exaggeration.”

  “You might as well even be the grand regent, considering that you yourself are the one who gives instructions to the Regency Council.”

  Wilhelm sighed. “Okay, what’s your deal here?”

  “I don’t want you anywhere close to the demon horde.”

  Alexa took his hand again, insistent. “The Defense Forces can do their job for now, as long as they receive assistance. We already did our part by ending this conflict quickly so the Imperial Army can reinforce them. Surely, that will be enough?”

  “Of course not,” Wilhelm laughed to himself. “And that sounds extremely naive of you. You do know that—”

  “Besides, you’ve worked yourself to the bone already. I think all of us need to rest for a little bit.”

  I just need to buy time, damn it.

  Alexa wanted to wait until her copy of the Iron Saintess novel was updated. That way, she could make decisions about the future while limiting the possibility of her closest friends dying. Considering Wilhelm would die in a confrontation with the demon horde during the civil war, Alexa didn’t want to risk that.

  Even if now that the situation changed, since they already won the war quickly, and Wilhelm’s forces wouldn’t have to face the demon horde with badly depleted and demoralized formations, Alexa still wanted confirmation first that it would be fine to send him back to the frontlines. Going to the Imperial Capital to take care of the official business of ending the war seemed like a good excuse.

  Wilhelm, on the other hand, sighed to himself. “Alright. But only after we formulate a plan and get our forces moving. And only after I get confirmation that we have enough forces to ensure that the front is manageable.”

  “Of course, that sounds reasonable!” Alexa smiled, nodding quickly.

  “Hah…you’re just being a worrywart though, aren’t you?”