Imperator: Resurrection of an Empire

After hours of conversing and even a light nap within the carriage wherein Serena sneakily received a lap pillow from Julius who was the first to fall unconious.

The praetorians riding as escorts knocked on the carriage walls, awakening the royal pair.

After rubbing the sleep from his eyes Julius opened a side view window.

Seeing a horse riding almost dangerously close to the carriage as it raced down the road.

"What is it?"

"Sorry to disturb you your highness, but the capital is only a few minutes away."

"Ah I see, thank you we shall prepare in due course."

Seeing the royal guard nod his head before returning to his regular position Julius resealed the window before turning to look at the still groggy Serena.

"Seems you're almost home once again."

"he he, well maybe back to my former home, but Romanus will always be my true home moving forwards."

"I'm pleased to here that, but we should get ready as they said we're close to the city and I'm assuming there will be a royal welcome waiting for us when we get there?"

"But of course, we were once an ancient kingdom even if our national identity has only re-existed for a couple of weeks now after having vanished from the map for almost an entire year at least to those who were willing to acknowledge the unlawful occupation."

"So, anything I should be prepared for?"

"Hmmm well for starters, most likely a crowd will gather to welcome us into the city, and a procession will take us all the way to the royal palace."

"So quite a bit different from our last visit to the capital then?"

"*titter* well one should hope so... last time we went to the capital together we were leaders of a Rebel force overthrowing the illegitimate ruler. This time we'll just be coming in as conquering heroes."

...

"Oh and I guess I should warn you this carriage is special, once we reach the city it will be converted into an open top Carriage with both of us on full display for all the city to see so, it's best to be prepared to look the part."

"Hah, says the Queen who was drooling on my pants but a moment ago!"

"Pah! You... a real gentleman wouldn't bring up such things!"

"Hahahaha"

The dark aura that had enveloped the carriage for the last portion of the journey before the two fell asleep had disappated.

And now together as a couple the two looked like the furthest thing from a political marriage built on convienice.

And just a moment later the carriage stopped and the two got off, while the carriage was converted from it's standard form, the benches removed, and the overall form collapsed to look more like a mobile raised stage.

The bench was fitted to the former roof and the two once more alighted before the convoy proceeded on but at a much slower pace since the pair of royals were no exposed to everything and the guards needed to be careful not to cause their looks to be altered by the wind speeds generated by the pull of the carriage.

As the great walls of the Ancient city of Carthage got closer and closer Julius who was still as of yet not used to such things became just a little bit nervous, but when he heard the cheers coming from atop the wall being shouted in their direction, and the tolling of bells happening from all over the city his worries were lain to rest and he relaxed.

Serena by his side, locked her arm into his, and gently rested her head a little on his shoulder.

As they entered the city it became known that all the city had turned out for the occasion, as flower petals rained down from the walls, rooftops, and just generally being tossed up by members of the crowd.

Julius responded to the applause with deft waves of his hand.

Serena by his side did the same giving her own dainty waves with her free hand.

Looking at the crowd the children and men, heck even the women were at first watching the Legionaires leading the procession who marched almost to the point of goose-stepping with prescision, while the praetorians fully armed and armored made the carriage look like a Middle Ages equivalent of a tank.

The Carthaginians who had fought for their country marvelled at the sight of their professional allies remarking at how grand they were, how fighting shoulder to shoulder on the front lines they are a militia had a long ways to go before they could call themselves a true army like their ally.

And then All eyes were torn away from the parading Romanus forces and turned to the approaching carriage as it crawled forwards revealing to the nation their queen, and a man who to them was something of a myth and legend.

Seeing the myth become reality, quite a few found themselves disappointed having idealized the 'perfect' form for the man himself in their minds, but looking at the real him.

They found themselves shocked to find that the rumors circulating about the rising nations successes were all thanks to this boy...? No not a boy but such a young man!?

Could someone who was not even in their twenties yet really be responsible for so many jaw dropping achievements while other noble lords and ladies could go generation after generation without having a single rememberable thing attributed to their Family name.

And yet...

Julius.

He had made a name for himself as an Aquitanian.

Then as a Ceasar ruling over his people.

And seeing how close their queen was to this young king the peoples own hearts swelled to think that a union of the ancient dynasty of Carthage and the Resurgent Romanus Kingdom could be forth coming and with it the building of an empire the people would hope could withstand the test of time.