Azur Lane: Kaiserin (Book 2)

Ch5: Victory Celebrations

We arrive back in Berlin to much celebration. The streets are lined with millions of people as our victorious army marches through as part of the military parade. Before the palace, I am joined by all the KANSEN and government officials of Iron Blood as I welcome our soldiers back home.

There are gun salutes, artillery barrages, flyovers, and every other conceivable method of military show of force known to man. There are screams of joy as men and women fighting or providing support to the troops on the front lines return to their families. Awards are given out, the highest of which I administer personally to the soldiers who proved themselves exceptional.

They seem overjoyed to be able to greet their Empress in person and as I give warm words of praise and encouragement to each and everyone, the energy within the crowd swells. Throughout it all, Jean and Clarissa remain adamant about my security, the latter going as far as to have my special forces stationed all around the area and maintaining a solid defensive perimeter around the elevated platform.

Roselyn: Your Majesty, it is time for your national address.

The world falls silent as Mother delivers the most incredible introductory speech ever uttered and as she leaves the podium, clearing the way, I'm left utterly dumbfounded as to how to top it.

Me: Many will declare this a victory won by me, Empress of Iron Blood or by our Generals but this couldn't be further from the truth. This victory belongs to all of us. It belongs to each man and woman who dedicated themselves to fighting for our nation. It belongs to the families that had to sacrifice for the war effort. It belongs to the brave men who stood in the face of danger and refused to back down. It belongs to the KANSEN that, against all odds, managed to secure consecutive victories in the naval theatre to ensure our forces could not be outflanked. 

The crowd is utterly silent as I speak, every soul absorbing my words like sponges. I can tell that anything I say in this very moment will shape our nation for generations to come. This speech will be marked in history as the turning point, our shift away from persecuting minorities, and the beginning of a new national identity. 

Me: We have lost many along the way. We have suffered countless atrocities brought upon us. Lies and deceit, corruption and greed, they have infected us but no more. Today we right not just this war but also the injustices brought upon our nation, our people. Make no mistake, we are all one people. We have all had to sacrifice for this victory, some more than others but I believe this gives us the opportunity to start a new.

There are nods of agreement across the crowd and some murmuring but for the most part, the people continue listening silently. What's more surprising is the fact that no one speaks out or attempts to walk away. They really are taking in every last word that comes from my lips...

Me: Today, we celebrate not just the end of the war but also the birth of a new nation. Today marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new golden age for ALL CITIZENS OF THE EMPIRE.

I stress the fact that our future isn't just for one "race" but all races within our nation and all across the square, they're are looks of surprise and even recognition as if people are only just realising that all these "others" were also citizens of our nation and should have always been treated as such.

Me: As Empress, I swear to forge a nation where everyone can live freely without fear. I cannot promise that everyone will be happy as that is a personal decision each and everyone will need to make for themselves. I cannot promise that the road to get there won't be bloody as we may have ended the war with Northern Parliament but we're still at war. However, I can promise that we will never allow this dream to fade. Some will see this as nothing more than a childish dream but I believe it is important to hold on to such dreams, to cherish them with every fibre of our being. Only in doing so can we set a goal for ourselves to strive toward.