Azur Lane: Kaiserin (Book 2)

Ch19: What Happens In Rome...

A/N: Your eyes might be blessed more so than you've come to expect. Readers' discretion is strongly advised. Rated M for Mature but not quite X...unfortunately.

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Roon: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

She's been going on like this for what feels like hours. We've already left Berlin to go and visit Rome and since then she's been apologising non-stop for killing the Pope despite my instructions not to. 

I've already told her it's fine since I always had a backup plan and have already installed a puppet as his replacement so it worked out for my benefit but seems she doesn't believe me.

Me: Roon, for the last time, you did well.

Roon: But-

Me: No buts. I'm bringing everyone to Rome to have fun and relax. Keywords, FUN and RELAX, so chill.

This time she remains silent and as such I allow myself to lean back in the seat, utterly exhausted. It's been a few days since they returned from the Vatican and after a day or two of self-loathing, she's been pestering me with apologies non-stop. I've hardly gotten any rest.

Rossiya: Being an Empress seems like a tough gig.

I roll my eyes as Rossiya comes to sit beside me. We're on one of the newly developed passenger jets, being escorted by two F1's and though they're still working on fully incorporating the missiles into their designs, I must say I am well pleased.

Rossiya: So, what are you planning on doing once we get to Rome?

Me: Hmm? Oh...I suppose I'll visit the historical sights before ending the day at the beach.

Turning to the rest of the girls, I make it clear that I expect each and every one of them to enjoy themselves. 

The minute we land, we're greeted by a massive gathering of media and state personnel. Even the prior King of Sardegna is here to greet us along with various members of the current regional governments of Italy. 

????: Your Majesty, allow me to welcome you to Rome. I, Minister Marco Lorenzo, and the rest of your loyal subjects welcome you and hope you enjoy your time here.

Me: I look forward to what your region has to offer. I've heard great things about the local cuisine, especially, and can't wait to try it.

They beam with pride upon hearing this. Some go off about how their food is better than that of the French but for the most part, I ignore their words in favour of preparing to head out. 

After a few photos for the press and a small speech, we get underway. Unlike the motorcade they had prepared, I decide to go for a much smaller convoy with limited police escorts. There's no need to interrupt civilian life for what amounts to little more than me taking a vacation. 

Despite the downplaying of the situation, however, the streets still line with people looking to see their Empress and so against the better judgement of my companions, I wind down the windows and wave at them as we pass. This earns raucous cheers from the people, who use the opportunity to snap repeated pictures of me as we pass. One guy, in particular, tries to recreate an event from my past life by pulling out a gun but before even Jean can react the local police have him tackled to the ground and the civilians themselves swarm him like ants, beating the living crap out of him.

Jena seemed surprised to see the people already standing up for their Empress but I a quick to remind her that under my rule, we'd already eliminated unemployment and by extension homelessness in the rest of Iron Blood and had already begun doing the same here. Furthermore, crime has all but ceased to be an issue as the hard labour criminals would be signing up for usually tends to outweigh the benefits of committing the crime. The fact that most people no longer need to depend on crime to survive was just an added plus.