Imperator: Resurrection of an Empire

Pulling her gaze from Julius, Queen Serena faced the crown once again.

"When the seas closed, and our enemies marched upon our lands, even as our own lords turned their blades upon one another, one King opened his gates to our people fleeing from the slaughter. He gave us iron, grain, and sanctuary. He provided us with soldiers to train us when all others we contacted offered nothing but silence. And even when I stood along, ready to die for my nation and this very city itself... He stood beside me."

She started to turn again, but the flowing fabric of his robes through her peripheral vision showed that Julius had stepped forwards and was now standing side by side with her.

"People of the Carthaginian Kingdom... It is my great honor to present to you our strongest allies monarch, and our greatest friend, a man who brings with him big news for us all. His Royal Majesty Julius Aquitania Ceasar of the Romanus Kingdom."

The soldiers drums rolled as trumpets sounded out in revelrie once again.

Julius at first simply soaked in all the cheers and adulation coming from the crowd before he too raised his hands into the air as a gesture to silence the people.

The crowd before him stared back in awe, here stood a man whom they had only heard of through rumors, a man of legend and mythical power was before them all now in the flesh.

"People of Carthage... You have endured."

His voice was commanding and resonated throughout the square touching the ears of every single person assembled as if he were speaking through a megaphone.

"Not just months of war, and exile. No, you have endured hardships far worse-rivals tearing down the borders that stood for generations, as your own lords were clawing at the nations own skin for a chance at the crown, all the while the nations of the world looked down on your as if you were mere dust beneath their boots... And yet you remained. You bled, and bent but did not break. You fought back, but did not vanish. You were fractured but never fell. And today, I am proud to stand before you, you a collection of warriors, survivors, and a people worthy of every ounce of glory your ancestors ever dreamed of."

Hearing the overwhelming praise being lain on a people not his own had the crowd stirring as slight cheers rumbled under the weight of his words.

"I am here before you today, not as a conqueror. Not even as a savior. But simply as a witness to your strength. I bore witness to Queen Serena standing admist the battlefield leading your people, standing amonst smoke and ruin, refusing to kneel when the gods themselves might have yielded, giving up the fight. I saw your sons and daughters fight not just for survival but for honor. For each other... And in that strength... i found something more than just an ally. I found adirmation, and respect for you all. And in your leader Serena..."

turning to her slightly, while extending a hand out which she took gladly.

The crowd watching began to stir once more, with breathless anticipation.

"I found a partner. A Queen worthy of any kingdom, any empire. And so, with heart and honor, I asked for her hand... And she has accepted."

The square was dead silent that a pin could be heard being dropped until the crowd exploded into cheers, louder than any roar of war. Flags were waved erratically as the people celebrated the news they had just been told.

As chants rang out from within 'Long Live the King, Long Live the Queen!'

"We aren now bound-Romanus and Carthaginia-not just by treaties or trade, but by something far deeper: unity, forged in fire and sealed with trust. But I will not pretend this decision is mine alone. I am no tyrant to force my will upon you. If I have learnt anything of the Carthaginian peoples it is that you are not spoils of war. So today I am here to offer you with a choice."

The square hearing his words went silent once more, reverent.

"One: You choose as a people to remain as the Kingdom of Carthaginia, a soverign kingdom, free to choose a new ruler from amonst the surviving noble lords and ladies when your Queen moves away to become Queen of Romanus. As an allied nation you will be honored, respected, and guarded as Romanus' closest friend. Trade between our nations will flow and flourish, and our legions shall ride to your aid if you need it, not to command and conquer but to protect..."

...

"Or... two: You may opt to follow in your queens footsteps. Joining her... and joining us. Let Carthaginia become a province of Romanus-not in chains, but in unity. You name shall not vanish. Your culture shall not die. it will be woven into the very fabric of a new and rising empire. A people reborn as one nation, one banner. Together."

He paused longer before finishing his speech.

"The choice is yours."

The silence of the square lingered as the choices sunk in, then as if a floodgate burst, the crises rippled out like a tidal wave.

"With the Queen!"

"With Romanus!"

"Long Live the Queen! Long Live The King!"

"Romanus!"

The mixed changing was like a drumbeat of unity.

Some even fell to their knees, not in submission but in overwhelming emotion.

History was being rewritten in this square, and before any in the crowd knew it the flags that had be scattered around and flying atop the stage had all be swapped out.

No longer was the white of Carhage and the red of Romanus flying in the breeze, instead now a purple flag was atop all the flagpoles with golden cresting revealing the Imperial Eagle that had not yet featured on any flag used by Julius, with the Golden Laurel and SPQR featured as well.

And by the time the people did notice they simply did not care, they had agreed and seeing their new flag helped make that choice and the satisfaction from what they had decided be all the better.