Londinium, the heart of Victoria, having just caught its breath from the embers of war, welcomed the wedding of its new master.
The streets had been forcibly cleaned until they were spotless, and brand-new Leithanien red flags hung from the buildings lining the roads.
Thousands of Londinium citizens were "invited" to line the Royal Avenue to observe the ceremony.
Leithanien soldiers stood silently behind the crowds in formations of three. Their "Tiger I" tanks were parked at every key intersection, their muzzles covered with canvas hoods.
Bells rang out from Saint Finia Cathedral. The sound was distant and ancient, yet it could not disperse the haze that shrouded the city.
Lacey wore a specially made ceremonial suit. On the black base fabric, the insignia of the Workers' Party was embroidered in gold thread, and a crimson velvet cape draped over his shoulders.
He rode a pure white warhorse, wearing no crown, his black hair simply tied behind his head.
Lacey's expression was calm as his gaze swept over the faces of the Victorian people on both sides of the road. He saw fear, he saw hatred, he saw curiosity, and he also saw a trace of a longing for peace bred from despair.
When the wedding procession reached the cathedral entrance, another party was already waiting there.
Alexandrina Vina Victoria stood dressed in a vintage Aslan royal gown.
The dress was not brand new; the fabric was even somewhat worn, but the silver thread embroidered upon it depicted the national flower of Victoria. She wore no luxurious jewelry, only a coronet symbolizing her status as a princess atop her pinned-up golden hair.
Those golden eyes reflected no emotion whatsoever.
Standing behind her was Duke Anfeilice Windermere.
The Feline swordswoman had changed into a black formal dress. The wounds on her arms were concealed beneath long sleeves, but her straight back remained like an unsheathed sword.
She looked at Lacey, her eyes containing a scrutiny of the man before her, as well as worry for Vina's future.
Lacey dismounted and handed the reins to the Imperial Guard behind him. He walked toward Vina step by step.
He did not look directly at Vina first, but instead gave a slight nod to Duke Windermere. This subtle action caused the tension in the female Duke's body to loosen slightly.
Only then did his gaze fall upon Vina.
"Vina, you are braver than I imagined," he said softly.
Vina's eyelashes trembled slightly as she curtsied in return. "And you are more like an Emperor than the rumors suggest."
Lacey smiled, saying no more, and extended his white-gloved hand to her.
Vina silently placed her hand into his palm.
As their hands clasped together, the cathedral bells rang out once more. The Leithanien soldiers lining the road raised their rifles in unison to salute, creating a sharp, uniform clatter.
In the crowd, someone started clapping, though it was unknown who. Then, sparse applause began to ripple through.
Lacey led Vina up the long steps of the cathedral. He could feel the faint trembling coming from her palm.
The wedding ceremony was conducted over a broadcast signal transmitting to all of Terra. After a simple vow, presided over by the officiant, they exchanged rings.
Once the ceremony concluded, Lacey led his new Empress onto the cathedral's balcony. Below was a mass of dark heads—the entirety of Londinium.
Lacey did not speak immediately. He watched the scene below quietly until everyone's gaze converged upon him. He did not activate the Originium amplification device on the terrace, yet his voice still spread clearly throughout the entire city, and via broadcast to every corner of the Terra continent.
"Citizens of Victoria! Citizens of Leithanien! And all people of Terra listening to this voice at this moment!"
"I am Lacey, Emperor of the Third Holy Leithanien Empire."
"Today, I stand here not as a conqueror."
"Conquest brings destruction and hatred. What I bring is order and rebirth."
His voice was steady and powerful, seemingly capable of soothing the human heart.
"I know that many of you have lost loved ones, lost your homes. War is cruel; it devours lives and crushes glory."
"I offer my deepest condolences for the wounds my army has inflicted upon this land."
He bowed deeply toward the crowd below.
This action stunned everyone. Even Vina, standing beside him, looked sideways in surprise.
The victor apologizing to the defeated? This was unheard of in the history of Terra.
A commotion began to stir in the crowd. Those numb faces showed intense emotional fluctuations for the first time.
Lacey straightened up and continued, "But we must ask, why did this war happen?"
"It was because of the greed and arrogance of the Dukes!"
He did not say it was because of the nobles.
"Because they carved up the glory of Victoria like spoils of war and treated the welfare of the people as chips on their gambling tables!"
"They would rather drag the country into the quagmire of civil war than give up the power in their hands."
"It was them who dragged a great empire into the abyss of decline!"
"I, Lacey! Am merely the one responsible for pushing down this crumbling wall!"
"I have ended the Dukes' war, and I have ended Victoria's endless internal strife and suffering!"
"From today on, there will be no Victoria, and there will be no Leithanien!"
"There is only one united, powerful, and prosperous Empire!"
"In this Empire, every citizen—whether you come from Trullinczentyr or from Londinium, whether you are Feline, Aslan, or Caprinae—will enjoy equal rights and dignity!"
"I will abolish all unequal aristocratic privileges, and I will return the land to the people who till it!"
"I will rebuild homes for all who lost them in the war!"
"I will provide free education for all children, giving them the chance to create their own future!"
"The one beside me, Empress Alexandrina, possesses the noble Aslan bloodline, but even more so, she possesses a heart of gold willing to sacrifice everything for the people."
"She will stand with me to witness and supervise the realization of all this! She shall be the eternal guardian of the Victorian people!"
Vina's body shook violently as she looked at Lacey in disbelief.
He... he actually granted her such lofty status and power in front of everyone?
Lacey's speech continued, his voice becoming increasingly impassioned. He used the most magnificent language to depict a grand blueprint never before seen.
An ideal nation without oppression, without hunger, with advanced technology and a prosperous culture. This was the ultimate display of his ability, [The Art of Language].
He did not evade the blame for the war; instead, he transformed it into a critique of the old system. The emotions of the crowd were thoroughly ignited. Those hateful gazes were gradually replaced by a fanatical hope.
They might not believe in this Emperor, but they were willing to believe in the future he described.
Cheers erupted like a landslide or a tsunami. This time, they came from the heart.
Among the distant diplomatic delegations, the envoy from Ursus had a dark expression. He muttered to himself, "A terrifying agitator..."
The Sarkaz officer from Kazdel stood with his arms crossed, watching it all coldly, yet his eyes betrayed a trace of envy he hadn't even realized himself. Their King could bring them a home, but he could never speak words like these.
The speech ended. Lacey took Vina's hand and raised it high.
Amidst deafening cheers, the national flag symbolizing Victoria was slowly lowered, and the red flag rose.
An era, in this moment, officially lowered its curtain.
That night, inside the Londinium Royal Palace, in the bridal chamber of the new Empire.
A warm fire burned in the fireplace. Vina had changed out of her gown and was wearing a simple white nightgown, sitting quietly by the window, watching the brightly lit city outside.
Lacey pushed the door open and entered. He had also taken off the heavy ceremonial suit, wearing only a silk shirt. He did not walk toward the bed, but instead sat on a sofa on the other side of the room and poured himself a glass of red wine.
"What are you thinking about?" he broke the silence.
"Thinking about my city, my people," Vina replied without turning back, her voice very soft. "Will they really see the future you promised?"
"They will," Lacey said, taking a sip of wine. "But that requires time, and it requires your help."
"My help?" Vina finally turned her head, her golden eyes appearing exceptionally bright in the firelight. "I thought I was just a vase placed in a display window, a symbol to soothe the people's hearts."
"If you only want to be a vase, I won't stop you. The Empire will provide for you, letting you enjoy supreme honor until the end of your life." Lacey put down his glass and looked at her seriously.
"But I hope you are not. Vina, you exchanged yourself for the peace of this city. You are greater than those Dukes who died in battle. Your value should not be limited to this."
He stood up and walked before her. "Starting tomorrow, I will establish the 'Victoria Reconstruction Committee.' I want you to serve as the Honorary Chairwoman of this committee."
Vina's breath hitched.
"This is not an empty title," Lacey said, as if seeing through her thoughts. "You will possess supervisory power over all reconstruction funds and the right to suggest the appointment and removal of all officials."
"Your task is to ensure that every word of my promise is implemented on the soil of Victoria."
"You can assemble your own team. Duke Windermere is a good candidate; her loyalty to Victoria is unquestionable."
"You... aren't you afraid I will use this power to oppose you?" Vina asked, her voice trembling.
"Will you?" Lacey asked in return. "To destroy the hope your people have just glimpsed, all for the sake of an old era that has already perished?"
Vina fell silent.
She looked at the man before her. His eyes were as deep as the sea; she couldn't see through him at all. He was like the most brilliant gambler, pushing the biggest chip in his hand right in front of her.
"I understand," she said softly after a long while.
"Very good." Lacey nodded, a smile appearing on his face. "Then, Your Imperial Highness the Empress, the night is deep."
He walked toward the wedding bed, a silent invitation.
Vina's small face flushed slightly. She hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and followed him, though she cleverly blew out the lamp.
The night passed peacefully.
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