Chapter 454: 449 -
The weeks that followed did not slow.
They never did.
If anything, Julius found that the Empire ran faster whenever he allowed himself a moment of personal indulgence—as if Romanus itself disapproved of idleness.
Petitions stacked high across his desk.
Reports from provincial governors.
Reconstruction assessments from the former Francian territories.
Naval expansion proposals signed in a confident, elegant hand—Serena’s.
Internal security briefings stamped with Root insignia still headed by Mirine.
The machinery of empire did not pause simply because its Emperor had decided to marry.
So Julius did what he always did.
He worked.
Morning councils.
Midday military reviews.
Evening intelligence debriefs.
He was the very appearance of an emperor ruling in peacetime.
Yet—
Whenever Serena or Yuri entered the room—
Something shifted.
It began subtly.
A faint hesitation in Serena’s stride when she approached the council table.
A barely perceptible flush along Yuri’s cheeks when their eyes met.
At first, Julius assumed he imagined it.
Then he caught the whispers.
Not malicious.
Not mocking.
But warm.
Excited.
The girls were... shall we say giddy but in the same way they were ashamed and shy about having ’forced’ his hand into the matter, meanwhile as more was done to prepare the more palace servants or the people got involved and just made it more and more known to the three key actors in the play to come that would bind them together for eternity.
—
Serena entered the war council chamber one afternoon with a stack of naval deployment drafts.
She wore deep blue that day, Carthaginian silver accents at her wrists. Confident as ever.
Until Julius looked up.
Their eyes met.
Serena paused.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Then she cleared her throat.
"Your Majesty," she began formally.
Julius raised a brow.
"Serena," he corrected gently reminding her that they were on equal levels not one of master and subordinate like before.
A faint flush crept up her neck.
The generals at the table pretended not to notice.
She set the documents down with controlled precision.
"The western fleet is projected to finish the overhaul and return to active service entirely within the next three months."
Professional.
Measured.
Yet her fingers brushed his briefly as he accepted the parchment.
And she withdrew too quickly.
Utterly overwhelmed by the public setting and the thoughts running rampant within her mind.
Julius almost smiled.
Later that same day, Yuri visited his private study under the pretense of reviewing agricultural recovery in Roserun’s former lands which had been damaged first by the forces of Bridget, and then against under the poor management of her own younger brother and his officials.
She stood near the window as she spoke, sunlight framing her.
Calm.
Graceful.
Until Julius rose from behind his desk and walked toward her.
She faltered mid-sentence.
"And so the harvest yields should—"
She stopped.
Blinking.
"what are you doing," she accused softly.
"Me? Just getting comfortable for our chat."
Seated on a chair that he’d spun round so he could be closer to her, without breeching her own personal boundaries.
"Do you need to be so close?"
"Oh? Is there an issue with me being close for a personal discussion?"
"This isnt a personal discussion i’m reporting about the Rosaria provincial recovery!"
"Reporting? No pretty sure you were just telling me about your homeland, thats not nearly enough to be called a formal report, so its more than suitable to be here for that discussion."
Julius crossed his legs while steepling his fingers, enjoying teasing the young woman who acted like his approach even if completely innocent at least from his own perspective, was a romantic assault.
Yuri was quick to flush like a tomato, before trying to back away only to find she was already backed up against the window, even causing her metal belt to *tink* against the glass.
"Careful love, don’t want you falling out of that window before your special day now do we?"
Julius didnt get to properly finish as once the first words were heard and registered in her brain.
Yuri fled the room just about as fast she possibly could.
Even as she left his study, he could swear he’d heard the slightly deeper voice of Joan whispering he’d get what was coming to him soon.
Something that caused a little shiver to go down his spine but at the same time feeling like it was worth it.
Now that he was alone once more, he returned to his desk, quickly pulling out the reports on the province of Rosaria, or formerly known as the Kingdom of Roserun.
After giving the file a once over, he confirmed that the reconstruction was proceeding without issue and that beyond perhaps asking for special treatment there was honestly nothing the province needed at the moment that would warrant Yuri needing to report anything to him.
Thankfully the few competent officials who had betrayed the kingdom and came over to his side were ruling the province properly and within another few years could properly turn the region into a true core territory of the empire.
That being said all the origional provinces of the Grand Duchy before his national elevation were near equal thanks to his investment of build points.
The only regions a tier or two behind right now were the recently conquered regions of Francia, Parthia, Carthaginia and even the Principality.
Then worst of all was Greecia, however they were merely signed vassals but not really proper territories of the empire merely subordinate nations.
Confirming this, he closed the file before picking up the *secret* file he’d been working on prior to her entrance into the room.
The contents of which showed purchase orders for ale and wine in massive amounts, along with the purchase of hundreds of goats, and cattle.
The creation of decorations, both temporary and more long term.
Lastly was the commissioning of dresses, and formal robes.
This was the secret imperial wedding file, for weeks since his official proposal, Julius had been secretly working on arranging and setting up.
The two women in his life were aware of the proposal, however they would be shocked to know that the date for their wedding days were fast approaching and if anything would be a surprise he’d be giving them, adding to the sheer shock factor of the event.
