Chapter 25: War and peace, the beginning of the end.
Triestan had lost the battle of hell's gate, and had been pushed back losing most of northern Italy to France and his Emperor Napoleon. The Emperor had had enough of war, no one was truly winning, do to the French losing so many troops, and the Byzantines losing so much land, he finally conceded to the peoples demands and sued for peace.
Triestan stood there in a tent next to his emperor, stairing across a table with Francis and Napoleon on the other side. The Emperor of Byzantium sighed, "You are an evil person I hope you know this… But I can not let this battle go on any longer, Here our are terms, We will recognize Burgundy as you territory and we will cede sardinia, along with several of our islands in the carribian, as well we will not declare war upon you or your allies for a hundred years, not pressing our claims. I hope you see reason Napoleon." The emperor finished waiting for the French mans reply, in return he got a chuckle, "hahahaha So this is what the mighty successor to the Roman empire-" Napoleon was cut off with Triestan picking him up by the edge of his clothing, "I dare you to finish that sentence worm! Without my brother you and your perverted bastard of a country would have never exsisted!" Triestan threw Napoleon back into his chair and walked back to his side of the table. Napoleon eyed the country cautiously, "As I was saying, has come to then I humbly accept your terms, on two condition, you do not interfere as I campaign against the rest of europe, and you cede Northern Italy, including Rome and Austria." Triestan was shaking with anger at the French emperor, "How dare you make such demands! You are in no such rights to demand something you have no claim to you… You damn bastard. Europe was practically born of me and my brother, without us this contient would be damn near lost to the African's, the Hordes, and the Asian's! We've defended these lands with our lives, my brother lost his trying to do just that, and you want me to give up all I've gained in order to settle my peace with you! Have you no dignity, no morals, no honor!" Triestan yelled at him and Napoleon seemed un-amused with this displace of righteous fury, "Oh I see your to selfish and prideful to accept defeat. Well if you don't want peace than this meeting is over." Napoleon started to stand up when Francis spoke, "Sir, I've grown weary of this war, I've lost so many people, and gained so little, please just end it." Napoleon turned to his country and slapped him and yelled, "Learn your place!" Triestan had enough and walked over and pulled out his pistol putting it to Napoleons head, "You have tried my nerve for to long you son of a bitch! Now I would consider changing your mind, listen to your country! Listen to your people!" Francis was to shocked by this act and while he was contemplating what to do he heard Napoleon speak, "I see how it is, you threaten me! You say you want peace but you only want my land! No you shall never have peace as long as I am alive!" Triestan was sick of the man and pulled the trigger, putting a bullet in his head, "Then it's a good thing your now dead!" He sheathed his pistol the now dead Napoleon lieing on the ground next to a flabbergasted France.
Francis then turned and sat down, "I do not approve, but I have no choice, with no leader it is up to my people to decide, and all they want is peace. I accept your terms." The Emperor of Byzantium stood up and shook Francis' hand and nodded both signing the document and walking away with Triestan standing over the body of Napoleon, "How could such a small man cause so much pain and suffering." Triestan turned around and walked away out of the tent. The Napoleonic war was over the last great war of the century.
Triestan had decided to open a convene of the countries of Europe in his capital, now all of them at peace the war over thirty years in the past now was all but forgotten. "Welcome to the first convention of the European Empires, Kingdoms, and Republics! I have decided that do to the troubling times we all face now that our nations are feeling the effects of a decrease in power from the recovery of the last war that we all participated in, that we should convene and should figure a series of rules for war, so that our people should never be put through that hell again. Now who here would like to go first?" Triestan stated this to the several countries there were before him.
The people at the assmebally were, Ludwig and Gilbert, Ivan, the Scandinavian countries, Francis, Antonio, and Arthur representing the independent Empires, and Kingdoms of Europe. Also among them were several provincial kingdoms that Triestan controlled, such as Greece, several Balkan based countries, Elizabeta, Roderich, Veneziano, and Romano. Other provincial nations, or former nations were their but were at this point in time unimportant.
Nobody raised their hand, Triestan sighed and rolled his eyes, "Fine I will go. First of all civilians, women children, and men who are not part of the war, should not be harmed or taken prisioner, this also includes sexual interactions with any of them." He said the last part looking at Francis who was wistling at this point.
Arthur then spoke up, "Suppose if we are trying to prevent another war like the previous one, I say we dictate the leader of Europe, you know some one who would up hold the peace." Most of the nations nodded at this, Triestan then said, "Yes very much so, but I say for one, we can not vote for ourselves, if so we would be deadlocked, except for smaller countries. Also provincial's should not be allowed to vote either, it would be an unfair advantage." Several of the nations frowned at the not being able to vote for themselves, but the sighed in defeat, "Now I who would like the chance to lead the peace of the contient? I personally would." Triestan had thrown his hat into the ring waiting for a challenger. Arthur accepted his challenge with a wide grin, "Obviously as the largest empire here I should dicate the peace. So My hats in this ring." Ivan also did, "Well Arthur, all will become one with mother Russia eventually, but whether its through peace or not I do not care, but obviously you are very extended, while I am contiguous. I say I should lead the peace."
With the three strongest nations putting themselves into a ring leaving only the Scandinavians, the Germans, the French and the Spanish to choice their leader, so all together, four votes would decide who would lead Europe in this peaceful era, but who will win?