Chapter 281 - 278 - Hail The Victorious (2)
Attending the Carthaginian royal banquet to welcome Julius who is the visiting monarch of their allied force, the ally the Carthaginian Queen Serena had secured and brought back to reclaim her nation from the invading Ramie kingdom.
Now Julius stood at the head table next to Queen Serena.
His wine goblet raised in front of himself as his toga flowed and shifted with his stance.
"Nobles, and warriors of the Carthaginian Kingdom, Allies of Romanus, friends and honored guests... Tonight, we do not dine as conquerors, and conquered, nor as separate nations bound by convenience, but as a single people, a single liberating force, united by fate, and the unyielding will of your Queen who refused to let this great nation fade away into history because of the actions of a few black hearted people."
A murmur of approval began to spread through the audience.
The surviving older nobles, wary of what this young lord who was a well accomplished warlord, while the younger generation looked on to Julius with flames flickering in their eyes, nodding along with pride.
"Carthaginia was stolen away from its people for far to long-not due to weakness, nor by folly, but simply treachery. And yet in this darkest hour your people did not bow, refusing to surrender. They fought, bled, and eventually reclaimed what is rightfully your with your own hands. And for that you have mine, and my men’s deepest respect."
Queen Serena seated next to him, took this opportunity to stand from her seat raising her own goblet to mirror Julius.
Her people had suffered greatly from the civil war, and the invasion that followed but now they once more feasted in their own halls and had reason to feast.
"**But! Let it be known-Carthage did not stand alone in our struggle. As many of you know Romanus assisted us in our struggle and even marched besides our warriors, helping us to not only reclaim our stolen lands, but also bringing about the end of the opportunistic kingdom that acted upon our own nobles treachery to bring our great nation almost to its knees. This great victory is not Carthage’s alone, Nor Romanus’-it is the victory of all free peoples who refuse to kneel and stand against tyranny"