Outside the city of Londinium, three banners snapped violently in the cold wind, proclaiming that the fate of this city, once known as the impregnable fortress, was now like a candle flickering in the wind.
To the east flew the red party flag of Leithanien.
Orderly rows of tents stretched for miles, while lines of "Tiger II" tanks lay prone on the ground, their muzzles pointed toward the city walls. The soldiers, strictly disciplined, were methodically constructing artillery positions.
To the south flew the war banner of Kazdel, woven from crimson and pitch black.
The Sarkaz camp was chaotic and barbaric; blood-red flames burned upon war altars, and beasts of war, twisted by witchcraft, let out dull roars. The blood-kin progeny warriors wiped their weapons, their eyes gleaming with a thirst for blood; their very existence was a form of mental pollution.
And to the north, a new great army had just arrived.
The double-headed eagle flag of the Ursus Empire appeared exceptionally glaring on the land of Victoria. Heavy armored phalanxes that stretched beyond the horizon, accompanied by the roar of treads crushing the earth, announced the arrival of the third predator.
Inside the central command tent of the Leithanien army, Lacey was examining a military map of Londinium.
With the war entering its final stage, even he, the Emperor of Leithanien, could no longer sit still and had come personally to the front lines to supervise the battle.
At this moment, the tent flap was lifted, and Theresis, the Chairman of the Kazdel Military Commission, walked in.
"Your Imperial Majesty, the Sarkaz warriors are growing impatient," Theresis said, his gaze sweeping over the map as if he could already see the rivers of blood that would flow once the city was breached. "When can we take this city?"
"Do not rush, my friend." Lacey looked up from the map, smiling as he gestured for him to sit.
"Londinium is not one of those small fortresses in Cornwall County. A forceful attack will only turn your braves and my tanks into target practice for Londinium's city defense cannons."
He paused, then added, "Besides, you wouldn't want to see your army swept up in a Catastrophe falling from the sky, would you?"
Theresis frowned. "You refer to... The Shard?"
"Precisely." Lacey tapped his finger on a unique architectural icon on the map. "Victoria's final madness. I do not wish to use soldiers' lives to test its power."
He picked up a cup of black tea and blew on the steam. "War is the continuation of politics. Sometimes, a single sentence is more useful than ten thousand artillery shells."
Just then, a messenger entered to report: "Your Majesty, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Fyodor of Ursus has arrived at the northern camp. He requests a meeting with you."
"Look, the other party to our extended politics has arrived." Lacey winked at Theresis.
The location for the tripartite meeting was set on a highland in front of the three armies. It was a negotiation, but also a silent display of power and deterrence.
The young Ursus Emperor, Fyodor, accompanied by his chief consultant Count Bogdanov, appeared full of high spirits. His army had occupied large swathes of land in northern Victoria with almost no bloodshed, which had inflated his confidence to the bursting point.
"Emperor Lacey, my friend!" Fyodor laughed loudly and spread his arms, giving Lacey an enthusiastic hug. "It seems the situation is developing even faster than anticipated. This city is ready for the taking at any moment."
His gaze glanced toward Theresis at the side, carrying unconcealed contempt. In his view, these devil-kin were nothing more than dirty hired thugs employed by Lacey.
"Indeed, Your Majesty Fyodor." Lacey responded with a smile, imperceptibly creating some distance. "Your army's advance is godlike in speed; the majesty of Ursus makes all of Terra look on sideways."
Theresis let out a cold snort but did not speak.
After simple pleasantries, Fyodor couldn't wait to cut to the chase. "So, how shall we divide this final spoil of war? My army is ready; we can launch an attack from the north gate at any time to open a breach for the coalition forces."
"No, your army is not needed," Theresis said coldly. "The Sarkaz Royal Court Legions are sufficient to flatten this city."
"Oh?" Fyodor was choked for a moment, then immediately sneered, "Relying on those monsters of yours that were gnawing on corpses at Silverstone Cliff?"
"Do not forget whose army caused the collapse of the Victorian main force."
"Enough, both of you." Lacey's voice instantly cooled the atmosphere that was on the verge of exploding.
He looked around at the two men and said, "We are allies, not wild dogs fighting over food. Londinium's walls are high, and the water inside runs deep. I suggest that before spilling blood, we give them a chance to choose."
He turned and nodded to Gertrude behind him.
Soon, the Originium-powered loudspeaker array was activated. The voice, amplified by Arts, rolled like thunder, spreading to every corner of Londinium.
"Proclamation to all soldiers and civilians of Londinium!"
"The corrupt rule of the Victorian Council of Dukes has ended. Their armies have been reduced to ashes, and their resistance is meaningless."
"I am Emperor Lacey of Leithanien. I hereby declare that the war can end."
"I grant you twenty-four hours to consider: open the city gates and surrender unconditionally."
"All soldiers who lay down their weapons will be guaranteed their safety. All civilians will receive food and shelter."
"Resistance will only mean destruction. At that time, Leithanien's steel torrent will completely drown this city."
"Do not let your homes become the final burial objects for the ambitions of the Dukes."
"The choice is in your hands."
...
These words stirred up a massive uproar inside Londinium. Citizens poured from their hiding spots onto the streets, discussing animatedly.
Surrender? Surrender to the invaders?
But if they didn't surrender, were they really going to burn jade and stone together—destroy everything? The horrors of Silverstone Cliff were still vivid in their minds; no one wanted to be the next ghost crushed by a tank or devoured by a Sarkaz.
The temporary center of power was established in the former residence of the Aslan Royal Family.
Vina stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the crowd gathering in the square like headless flies, her heart incredibly heavy.
Beside her, the Duke of Windermere stood in full military dress, her saber at her side, her face ashen.
"Unconditional surrender? This is humiliating us!" Windermere's voice trembled with rage. "What does he take us for? Lambs waiting to be slaughtered?"
"We still have The Shard! We still have Londinium's complete city defenses! Your Highness, give the order! Let us teach these arrogant invaders a lesson they will never forget!"
Several surviving nobles and generals echoed her sentiments.
"Right! We cannot surrender!"
"Victoria's glory cannot be defiled!"
"Fight them to the end! At worst, we die!"
Vina did not speak. She turned and left the oppressive conference room.
Windermere was stunned and immediately followed. "Your Highness, where are you going?"
"To see whose lives we are using to exchange for this so-called glory," Vina said softly.
...
Vina did not go to inspect the city defenses, nor did she go to observe the device capable of launching Catastrophes. She went to the temporary hospital in the city, and to the refugee camp.
In the hospital, wounded soldiers filled every corridor. Lacking medicine and doctors, many of the critically wounded could only wait slowly for death amidst painful howls.
A young soldier, who had lost both legs at Silverstone Cliff, saw Vina. A light suddenly appeared in his hollow eyes; he struggled to salute, but his mouth muttered, "Mama... I want to go home..."
The refugee camp was even more of a hell on earth.
People who had fled from all over Victoria were crammed into filthy, damp tents. Food rationing had begun; a mother fought with others until her head bled for half a piece of black bread, while the child in her arms cried from hunger.
Vina personally gave her own food to the child. The child's mother was stunned, then hugged her and wept loudly.
For the entire day, Vina walked amidst this suffering.
What she saw was not any "glory that cannot be defiled," but faces full of despair, pain, and a plea to survive.
When night fell again, she returned to the palace.
In that conference room, the Duke of Windermere and her supporters had waited anxiously all night.
"Your Highness, time is running out!" Windermere stepped forward. "Please make up your mind!"
Vina looked at her and asked calmly, "Duke, did you see them? Those soldiers, those civilians—they want to live."
Windermere was at a loss for words. "I... War always has sacrifices."
"Then why are the sacrifices always them? Why can't it be us?" Vina's question struck directly at the soul. "For the power struggles of the Dukes, they were sacrificed once. Now, for the final face of the nobility, are we to let them be sacrificed again?"
"Duke of Windermere, tell me, if we activate The Shard, even if we truly kill all the enemies outside the city, what then?"
"Will Leithanien not send more armies? Will Kazdel and Ursus not launch the maddest retaliation?"
"At that time, inside this city, apart from us few so-called 'heroes,' what will remain? A burning ruin, and millions of skeletons?"
"What meaning does such a victory have? A throne built upon a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood—I cannot sit on it."
Every word Vina spoke hammered on Windermere's heart. She wanted to refute, but found she could say nothing.
She remembered the soldiers easily slaughtered at Silverstone Cliff. She remembered the endless despair when the Steam Knights fell.
Yes, she knew Vina was right. Resistance was just another massacre on a larger scale.
Windermere slowly closed her eyes, as if all strength had been drained from her body. She leaned against the wall, the saber in her hand falling to the ground with a *clang*.
"Then... what should we do?" she asked with difficulty. "Must we really... surrender unconditionally and let them butcher us?"
Vina was silent for a long time.
She walked to the window, gazing at the lights of the tri-army coalition camp outside the city, which looked like the eyes of three giant beasts greedily watching their prey.
"No."
She spoke softly, but her tone was incomparably firm. "We cannot surrender unconditionally. Victoria can be defeated, but it cannot lose its final dignity."
In her mind flashed a rumor she had heard in the slums about that Emperor of Leithanien. It was said he came from a commoner background, said he overthrew the old nobility, and said he... was still unmarried.
A crazy and bold idea formed in her heart. This might be the only way to preserve the continuity of the Victorian nation and save the millions of lives in the city.
She turned, looking at the bewildered Windermere, and said word by word:
"Go tell the Emperor of Leithanien that Londinium can surrender."
"But not a surrender to an invader. Rather, as a dowry, offered to the future master of Victoria."
Windermere's pupils contracted violently.
"I, Alexandrina Vina Victoria, the final heir of the Aslan Royal Family, am willing to enter into marriage with Emperor Lacey of Leithanien."
"With my crown, I shall exchange for Victoria's peace."
________________________________________
Get rewarded for helping with our community goals!
🎯 Reward for all: +1 bonus chapter at 50 Powerstones.
🚀 Tier Reward: Help us reach 20 members for +5 chapters on all stories!
👻 Join the crew by searching Ms. Medusa on (P). You know the spot! 😉