Soon, Alexa finished awarding the medals and honors to the members of the Nordlicht Division. Naturally, many of them were quite elated at being recognized and given medals, which was largely something only given to nobles, but, considering the great sacrifices being made by everyone nowadays, the government of Lotharingia had already stopped being stingy at giving honors to anyone who deserved it, nobles or commoners.

  So many members of the Imperial Army on the side of the royalists who were commoners, like Lieutenant General Max Clausewitz for example, received medals of honor from Alexa herself, now that she was crowned. The days of rewarding service only for the blue-blooded were indeed rapidly fading away; now was the age of rewarding merit and competency, and the provisional divisions had that in spades.

  After the Nordlicht Division was honorably disbanded, Alexa had to do the same thing over and over again for five other divisions, which were rotated back to the rear for the ceremonies. Unlike the men of the defense forces, who were drafted and stationed specifically to fight the demon horde, the provisional divisions were only there to be attached units, officially at least. So while they had to fight tooth and nail back then, now that they were receiving their awards and honors, they were free to return to the Imperial Army.

  Many also went home. It was quite a tiring process on Alexa’s part, as she had to meet many rugged and colorful personalities from the hardened units of the provisional divisions. Many of them had quite the great records on paper, but a lot of them were crass and impolite, and some were particularly threatening. Suffice it to say, Alexa only felt somewhat safe with Henry.

  By the end of the week, Alexa took a carriage to drive back home. Wilhelm already sent multiple letters to her about reorganizations happening in the front with the provisional divisions now relieved of their duty, as there were talks of redeploying more regular units of the Imperial Army again in the north, many of whom were withdrawn after the frontlines were stabilized after the civil war.

  But there was an issue with that.

  “Two of our vassal kingdoms, Galen and Castella, are now under siege by revolutionaries inspired by Henry’s rebellion earlier. Our other vassals are also under threat, and we’re seeing greater unrest in the peripheries of the empire. The worst hit right now is Galen. Their government is now under hostage in the capital city, their people demanding significant reforms while threatening revolt.

  “Crown Prince Jean Pierre de Galen is currently headed to the Monile Palace to seek your audience.”

  Alexa sighed as she closed the letter. Their carriage was currently speeding through the road, the two high-level unicorns effortlessly pulling the vehicle forward so that every so often, Alexa saw slower, horse-drawn wagons that they zoomed past at the side of the road. Alfred, in front of her, seemed deep in thought, unbothered by the occasional jumps of their carriage.

  “Alfred,” Alexa called out. “Alfred, how long is it going to take for us to reach the palace?”

  “The palace? I told you, three more days.”

  “Can that be sped up?”

  “I can ask for a wyvern to get you there in half a day, if you wish.”

  Alfred was a capable knight, and unlike Wilhelm, who was only trained with horses, he could ride on many more illustrious and capable mounts, like griffons or wyverns. Even unicorns, which were powerful magical beasts difficult to capture and tame due to their aggression and high levels, requiring specialized magic crystals mounted on carriages to make them docile and controllable, were something Alfred was capable of using on his own.

  But Alexa squirmed. She didn’t like heights, and imagining riding on a scary wyvern that could fire spells comparable to artillery spells using its mouth was bone chilling. “I change my mind.”

  “A shame. It's been years since you rode on my back.”

  “Hmph. I just don’t like the heights.”

  “Why? Haven’t Sir Wilhelm already told you? That everything is already under control?”

  “Still…”

  Alexa grumbled. The Holy Lotharingian Empire was still an empire. Most of its core territories were in the central and western regions. Everything else, including even Olstadt, was conquered territory millennia ago, both human and demihuman lands. Now of course, the north and the west were largely ‘integrated’ already into the Imperial Core, but the rest, namely the south, wasn’t.

  Ever since Henry’s revolt, new ideas have been spreading like wildfire within and outside of Lotharingia. Like the idea that every people should have their own countries, or the ideas of democracy, and whatnot. Due to Alexa’s insistence on openness to reforms and free press, the Lotharingian core was largely silent now, the radicals within preferring to settle their disputes and grievances using their representatives in the Imperial Diet.

  But it’s not the same with those outside of the Imperial Core. Alexa sighed. Nearly half of the original lands of Galen and Castella have also been long annexed by my empire, so there’s a chance of rebellion flaring over there.

  The Imperial Army, tasked with maintaining the Holy Empire’s hegemony in the continent, was going to have its hands full trying to maintain order. All nations of the continent down south were already vassal states of the empire, and every one of them was going to soon face unrest and rebellion as their people demanded more and more.

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  Unlike in my country, I don’t have control over how the royalty and nobles of those lands will respond. I hope it won’t turn out bloody.

  “If the crown prince of Galen is headed here, it can only mean one thing." Alexa held her chin with a frown. In front of her, Alfred laughed.

  “Of course. He’s here to ask for military intervention.”

  “Against his own people?”

  “Obviously.”

  “I can’t do that. Hmm…I don’t like the idea.”

  “In a way, your heart really isn’t set for imperial rule, huh?”

  Alexa tilted her head as she looked at Alfred. Then, she was sent deep in thought again. What did ‘empire’ truly mean? It was to rule lands beyond one nation. She had tamed the Lotharingian people, given them many reforms to make them less susceptible to revolt and unrest, and shot up her reputation for them.

  But what about the rest of the empire, which was what made Lotharingia an ‘empire’? From her studies, it had been explained well to Alexa by her teachers and tutors that the peripheries served only one purpose: so that they would pay taxes and tribute and give up their resources to feed the treasuries of the Imperium and the industries of the Lotharingian people.

  That idea had been drilled in her head. So what should she do now about that arrangement?

  This is exceedingly difficult. Alexa sighed. If I meet the demands of the potential rebels, wouldn’t that be the end of our empire?

  The idea about that didn’t sit right with Alexa. There was no way she would give up her empire that she fought and worked so hard for. No, she had to make things work somehow. She looked back at Alfred, who returned to simply looking out at the passing countryside.

  His earlier words echoed in her mind again.

  +++

  “Sir Wilhelm von Eisen—the Laughing Fox of the North.”

  Wilhelm cringed a bit as he looked at the massive portrait painting in front of him, which was currently displayed in the Monile Palace’s Grand Gallery. “And this is why I didn’t want a painting of me.”

  “You do know that’s rude for the painter and the one who commissioned it, no?” General Max Clausewitz, who had accompanied Wilhelm today in a visit to the Monile Palace, shoved Wilhelm’s side with a chuckle. He brought him here because Max was currently one of the chiefs of staff of the newly established Imperial Security Council, which Wilhelm, representing the Royal Guard, was the chairman of.

  The Imperial Security Council’s task was to advise the war minister, the prime minister, and, of course, the empress about matters relating to national security. Unofficially, the Imperial Security Council had the most power in the realm, to the point that Wilhelm was the one giving commands to Jonathan, the prime minister, who should be nominally in charge of the empire.

  Of course, Alexa still had the final word in everything, but the portfolio that Wilhelm and his colleagues held was so expansive that they controlled nearly every little thing within the empire, from securing law and order to managing the armies and even foreign policy. In a way, the painting in front of him somewhat embodied that.

  He narrowed his eyes, trying to judge what the artist of the painting must be subtly telling to its viewers. The Wilhelm he saw in the painting stood straight, his poise exuding absolute control and levelheadedness. With his royal guard uniform, one hand tucked in his waistcoat, and another holding a feathered tricorne, he was imposingly standing in front of the new Lotharingian flag inside what an office, the background slightly dim but the sunlight illuminating him.

  Someone else could look at it and conclude that he was some type of leader of a nation. Perhaps, a king or an emperor even, and Wilhelm cringed further about that.

  I mean, I admit that I have consolidated a lot of power behind the scenes. He shook his head. But that’s only in service of Alexa. This painting makes me look more like an absolutist monarch than a knight simply trying to do his job.

  He sighed, turning around.

  That was when Alexa appeared, with Adele closely behind her. A wide smile was on the young woman’s face. “Wilhelm! I’m back. You seem like you like that new painting I commissioned for you.”

  Wilhelm nearly recoiled a bit, surprised at how she managed to sneak up behind him. He cleared his throat so as to appear formal in front of Max, who already bowed in respect to the empress.

  “Ahem, Lady Alexa…it’s good to see you here. I hope your time up north was pleasant?”

  “It was cold there." Alexa shook her head before walking beside Wilhelm and gawking at the painting. “Seeing it again really brings my spirits up. It looks just the way I wanted it to be.”

  “I really don’t understand why this is necessary…” Wilhelm grumbled at the side as Alexa admired the painting.

  “Why, of course, because you’re the one holding this country together. It’s only proper that you receive the honor of being drawn by one of the top painters in the country.”

  “Isn’t she the one who drew your state portrait?”

  “Yeah?”

  “...You must have wasted a bunch of taxpayer money on this then.”

  “Absolutely not. This was all my personal money, I assure you. Anyway, why are you two here?”

  Max, beside Wilhelm, approached Alexa. “Your Majesty, actually, we bear multiple reports today for you. That’s why we came here.”

  Alexa’s mood visibly soured, the empress looking down a bit. Naturally, that immediately affected Wilhelm. He truly didn’t like seeing Alexa, who in his mind was the definition of a most benevolent and graceful noble lady, having another headache. Truly, this world was simply too awful to deserve her, and thus, it was his job to fix it at all costs.

  “Crown Prince Jean is headed here, no?” Alexa asked.

  “He should arrive tomorrow,” Wilhelm confirmed.

  “I see.”

  “You’ve just arrived. You should go retire for rest. We can do the report this evening, it’s not like we’ll ride back to Perlenstadt when it’s already afternoon.”

  “No, please, carry on. Let’s go to my office. Adele, check my schedule tonight and shift things around. I don’t want other guests bothering me until I’m done with Sir Wilhelm here.”

  “Of course, Lady Alexa." Adele gracefully bowed briefly. Then, Alexa looked up at Wilhelm with a smile. “Let’s go.”