The morning after the successful raid on the Galicia kingdom's capital, the capital of Romanium was full of a celebratory atmosphere, with the people lining the streets and celebrating the news of victory. Romus was full of royal red ribbons draped from the tops of buildings on the main pathway toward the Palatine Palace. The streets were lined by food vendors and citizens in their best clothes, all waiting for the King to pass by and to see the spoils he had conquered right up until the Palatine Palace, where the royal family was waiting for the return of their King.
Just one mile away from the circular city of Romus, His Majesty Junius Kraser, with his Laurel Leaf crown on, calmly walked on a newly built stone road toward the city with a smile on the visible half of his face. Beside the King, Marshal-General Helvius, in his finest armor, was looking toward the changing city, looking forward to returning home after fighting a hard-fought campaign against the barbarians. Behind the King were a couple of thousand happily singing royal legionaries also in pristinely polished armor, with some pulling covered carts carrying the spoils of war, including gold, silver, bronze, weapons, and armor. The main cart held a cage just big enough for a human. Within it was crammed Vercencalt with wrapped bandages around his stumps for hands, making him look a miserable sight.
While the royal legionaries were singing behind him, Junius looked over toward Helvius before he started speaking in a serious voice. " My friend, let us hope now that this war is over and this celebration is a meaningful one. Unfortunately, the work is just beginning. We first have to decide what to do with the rest of Galicia, who haven't formerly surrendered yet, and then we have to try and figure out who this wannabe Commander is."
"My King, the road ahead is long, but I believe that we will come out on top, for the entire Kingdom is behind us. Your Majesty, I would suggest that we increase our legion immediately, first replenishing our losses and then adding more legions to patrol the newly conquered territory. Secondly, we could also consider recruiting Romanium-indoctrinated loyal barbarians as a sort of auxiliary force that can be used as cannon fodder in the defence of our Kingdom.
The funds we have captured should be more than enough to allow this while also investing more into this Kingdom. Our main concern, other than the Commander, is the empires. We have no idea what either of them is up to; they just want complete control." Replied Marshal-General Helvius, attempting to persuade the King that they needed a bigger military here, knowing it would be easier than in the political battleground royal court.
After contemplating for a few seconds, Junius said, "We will talk about that in the royal court all in good time, my friend. For now, let's enjoy the people welcoming us home. Also, I would like an answer for that weird structure prominently standing high in the air."
As soon as Junius finished speaking, a Cornu was blown from above the gatehouse, indicating to the citizens that the triumph had nearly begun. Royal legionaries quickly uncovered the spoils of war to show off to their citizens what they had gained for all the losses they had taken fighting the barbarian scum.
One minute later, Junius and his entourage walked under the majestic curved northern gatehouse of Romus's outer city wall, immediately taking in the spectacle before them. On either side, crowds were cheering. "Roma Invicta and Long Live the King," treating them all as war heroes after getting over their initial shock of half the King's face being covered by bandages and looking nasty.
Turning around for a brief moment, the King said to his royal legionaries in a joking tone, "Just smile and wave, guys." The royal legionaries, not pulling the carts, took this as an order, immediately putting smiles on their faces and waving to the adoring crowd. As they walked deeper toward the center of Romus, the citizens began noticing Vercencalt in his cage and started hurling all matter of insults at him, wounding his pride as a man even further.
Contrary to this, the King and his entourage were being treated as conquering heroes, as the citizens began to throw roses and laurels in their path and on top of them as they walked by toward the Palatine Palace. Making their way slowly toward the center of the city, the incredible Palatine Palace eventually came into view after passing the inner walls only gatehouse to see the royal family waiting for them dressed in all their splendor.
Immediately upon seeing his family, Junius, no longer in the view of his citizens, ran toward his family before diving straight in and displaying some PDA with his wife before turning his attention toward his child. Flicking his hands through his hair, he asked a sheepish-looking Julius what he had been up to these last couple of months.
"Don't even bother, darling. This little rascal tried getting into the Kingdom's treasury soon after you left; this thief attempted to steal whatever he could get his greedy little hands on." Replied Aurora as Julius attempted to shrink himself so he wouldn't be visible, to no avail.
Grabbing Julius' ear, Junius started to say with rage in his voice, "You little rascal, how can you hope to be King one day if you steal from your own Kingdom? I swear upon our ancestor's graves, if you end up like the previous dynasty, I will crawl out of my grave and beat you to death with a stick."
"Father, I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I was just curious to see what was held within that tightly secured room. Can you please let go of my ear? It's beginning to hurt," Julius said, rather embarrassed that this was happening in front of thousands of royal legionaries.
Letting go of his son's ear, Junius replied, "It better not, son. Anyway, were our the well-behaved little twin bundles of joy?"
"They are sleeping, dear; they are still too young to be awake for long periods of time. Regardless, you have pressing matters to attend to. Your royal court is currently waiting on the balcony for your return speech to the people and the execution of the barbarian leader, and then we will have to chair an extremely important royal court on Galicia's end and the conspiracy that seems to be brewing."