True Peace came a few weeks later, on the Fifth of July, with the signing of the Treaty of Randgriz. Imperial Forces would leave Gallian territory and borders would revert to their pre-war statuses. The Empire would also pay significant financial reparations and would cede the port of Daane in the client-state of Halond, just to the immediate north of Gallia, to Gallian Administration for a duration of 25 years. A demilitarized zone of twenty miles distance from the Gallian border was established. Naturally, the Federation protested, quite loudly too, that the Empire would just break the DMZ by claiming that their forces were "in combat" with Federation forces. They were politely ignored.

What surprised many in the Gallian court was the rather generous terms the Empire had presented. They had been of the opinion that they would have to fight hard to get them to so much as leave the border unchanged. Many suspected that once the war started turning against them, Imperial Nobles hung the Prince out and abandoned him.

After the signing ceremony, Princess Cordelia called together her Cabinet, a group of Nobles from the Parliament who took care of the day to day running of Gallia. "With the completion of the war, people are tired. We need to institute rebuilding programs and we need to keep up the national spirit."

Rather surprised at the confident tone the Princess used, the Cabinet was caught on the back-foot for the most part. Whereas when they had last met, at the start of the war, she had let Borg do most of the talking. Finally, the Minister of the Interior, a Gaius von Emden, spoke up, "While I'm sure you have a few ideas, I believe the first order of business should be the election of a new Prime Minister. At the current moment, should something happen to you the nation would more than likely be torn apart by Civil War, the Prime Minister would at least allow us to keep the nation together."

Cordelia nodded, "Agreed. Make the announcement and make it soon, for I have my own I need to inform the people of."

Gaius raised an eyebrow, but it was Gilbert Gassenarl who voiced the question, "And that would be?"

The Princess glared at Gassenarl, "Nothing that you would be interested in Gassenarl. Considering communications between yourself and members of the Federation Council were intercepted and your deal with them made known."

Gassenarl tried to bluff his way out, but the Princess cut him off before he could even start, "In exchange for Federation Membership and a seat on the Federation Council, you would depose me and install yourself as King. It is over Gassenarl, you won't win."

Members of her personal guard escorted him out and the rest of the Cabinet looked tentatively at her. Finally, Minister von Emden couldn't take the silence any longer, "Whilst that traitor deserves our contempt, his question is valid, what is your announcement?"

Cordelia gave a genuine smile, "Simply put, I'm getting married."

She had believed that she wouldn't get universal approval from her cabinet, pretty much all of her advisers either disapproved of Captain von Essen or they were looking to put their own sons or grandsons onto the throne. So she was rather pleasantly surprised when a minor majority applauded.

That was soon interrupted by a member of her guard entering, "Pardon the interruption, but everyone is in position for the ceremony and everything has been procured."

The ministers all looked confused, causing satisfaction to rise through her. Finally one of them spoke, "Ceremony? I thought that had already happened?"

Princess Cordelia rolled her eyes mentally, instead maintaining her pleasant exterior, "The Peace ceremony perhaps, but this is the awards ceremony where we're going to recognize the heroes who gave their all to defend us."

Cordelia hoped they would just leave it there, but of course, one of them just had to speak up, "Who's being honoured and with what?"

Cordelia bit her lip. She knew that they would bombard her with objections and protests, but also that they wouldn't move until they knew. "Much of the Militia is getting the Meritorious Service Medal, Captain Eleanor Potter, and the officers of the seventh squad under her command are getting promotions. Lieutenant Krauss, if posthumously, will receive the Gallian Medal of Honour and a promotion," she replied before pausing. Of course, she knew the next two would cause the uproar, "Commander Hernandez and Leader Hernandez are getting promotions. They will also be awarded the Medal of Honour."

As predicted, the announcement that a Darcsen would be awarded the highest honour that Gallia could give anyone threw most of her cabinet into the predicted vitriol against Darcsens. Letting them vent for a while watching with a very bored face, she looked over at von Emden, who wasn't shouting and discreetly signalled him to come over to her. "How are Cleo and the kids?" she calmly asked.

Gaius raised an eyebrow before seeing what she was doing, "Anxiously expecting the first of the grandbabies actually. Alina's due date is tomorrow, but considering that both her and her brother were both early, Cleo took her in last night, just to be safe."

The Princess nodded, "That conversation has popped up occasionally between Wilhelm and I."

Gaius smiled, "Children are the greatest blessing ever to have been bestowed on me, hell of a lot of work, but they are worth it in my opinion." he replied before looking at her carefully, "Please forgive the question Highness…"

Cordelia smiled, "Don't worry, I'm not expecting quite yet, I believe the tabloids would be the first to insinuate it and surprisingly they haven't said a thing."

Gaius shrugged, "I think the correspondent from Squad Seven might have had something to do about that, she's been going after the so-called 'journalists' that have been lurking around the Palace."

Cordelia nodded, remembering her from her coverage of the ball. She then cocked her head towards the whinging nobles, "None of them have anything to lose and everything to gain by standing behind me when I present the Medals of Honour. If they aren't there, then they have no excuse, if they are, then all of their anti-Darcsen friends can simply be told that the big mean Princess forced them to be there." she remarked before turning on her heel, "The Ceremony has probably been delayed at this point, shall we Minister?"

Drawing up with her escort, they walked to the ceremony. Cordelia walked to the stand and began her speech: "Today we re-emerge into the light from a great dark struggle. Three months ago, I asked my cabinet if it was possible to survive. Today I instructed them to begin the reconstruction efforts to heal this battered land." she said before looking down slightly, "Many brave people have sacrificed so much to bring this day to us, even more have made the ultimate sacrifice in the hopes to, one day, let us see peace. Friends, Grandfathers and Grandmothers, Aunts and Uncles, Mothers and Fathers, Brothers and Sisters, Sons and Daughters, Grandsons and Granddaughters. All have fought in their own way in this war. Today, we honour them, living and dead, to ensure that they will not have died in vain, and that future generations do not endure what we have. Today a chosen few will be recognized here for their service, but there are many more stories of bravery, of compassion and of devotion that deserve to be heard, far too many to count."

Here she paused and looked at the list, "Lieutenant Ekkehard Krauss gave his life in the recapture of Ghirlandaio and took with him the perpetrator of this war, Prince Maximilian. It is for that reason that we present the Gallian Medal of Honour to his widow, Private Catherine O'Hara of the Seventh Squad of the Third Regiment of the Gallian Militia and posthumously promote him to the rank of Captain for this and many more feats he accomplished during his service to Gallia."

Catherine was in quite the state by the time she reached the stage. While it was considered a breach of protocol, Cordelia's heart went out to the poor women who would have to go on and raise a child without the help of the father and she embraced her.

Catherine quietly accepted the hug from the Princess before making her way back to her seat. Her squad formed a shield from any cameras and she was thankful for them. The Princess observed for a moment before collecting herself, determined that Catherine would be able to have a comfortable life. "For our final two, they earned their Medals of Honour after taking on impossible odds time and time again. Pilots of our new Royal Air Force, I welcome Joseph and Isara Hernandez to the stands."

Joseph and Isara stood and walked up, they had both been pleased that people were referring to her with her married name. Once they accepted their medals, they had been about to head back when the Princess signalled that they should stay a moment, "Commander Crìsdean McAllen retired earlier today, citing poor health." she began, though she and squad seven were the only ones to know what exactly she meant by poor health, "If you are willing, he recommended you, Commander Hernandez, to take the new role as Air Marshal and Commander-in-Chief of the RGAF and for your wife to take the position of Second-in-Command. Do you both accept?"

There was no discussion required for either of them, they knew that the role would allow them to have a flexible schedule and that they would be able to still have their family. "We do your Highness." Isara replied.

Cordelia smiled, "Thank you, perhaps today will be the start of a new chapter, not only for Gallia, but for the Darcsen people as well." she remarked before being struck with an idea, "And I think I may be able to further that as well."

Everyone raised an eyebrow except for Captain von Essen who just inclined his head slightly. A signal to her that he would follow her lead. Raising her hands, she gently removed her elaborate headdress to reveal her luscious locks of blue hair, only Darcsens had blue hair and so the shock in the chamber was palpable.

Handing her headdress to an attendant, she turned back to the crowd of people, waiting for their reaction. When the first person did it, she wasn't that surprised, but when the entire chamber knelt before her, she was touched beyond belief.

With the final speech and award given, the festivities kicked off in full swing. While the Princess knew that today her people had taken the first steps in peace, the next years would prove to be decisive in the future of the nation, and as the British officers sang the last strains of a song called The Parting Glass, Cordelia wondered what that future would be but knew that with such capable people by her side, Gallia would endure.

TO BE CONTINUED

At last, a journey that began over a year ago comes to a halt. It's been a pleasure to write this story. So much so that I will eventually come back to this and write some more stories in this universe, but I have a very long list of stories and story ideas that I need to work through, not to mention other commitments as well, so it may be many years before I come back. I will be taking the next week to work on something I call my "Vault of Firsts" on Archive of our own and then I will have my Discord Server vote on my next project.

Until Next Time, Stay Safe