Author's Note:
Thanks again to all of you who are reading this. I hope you are enjoying it. There isn't a lot of Sora no Woto fiction out there, so I figure the audience isn't that large. Nonetheless, if you are reading, please drop me a review and let me know what you think. Your words really help keep me going, and I appreciate them. You also give me an essential gift for any author: seeing what their writing looks like through others eyes.

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Sora no Ato: Chapter 3

A Gift of Peace: Another Trip

Rio continued her ``tour'' along the Roman–Helvetian border. Thankfully nowhere else came as close to war as near Seize, but likewise few of the commanders were as understanding as those at Mistral. Interestingly, war-weariness had set in sufficiently at a couple spots that she actually had to summon the armies into the field, closer to each other so that they could hear her proclamation at the same time.

Finally, after traversing almost all of the border, Rio finished her tour. Tired, but relieved that there was now peace and nowhere had she found war resumed, she left the Royal Guard in Helvetia at the eastern end of the border and took transit into the Empire. At the border, the two Helvetian officers escorting her were joined by a similar pair of Romans. The group collectively escorted her to a villa in the northwest of the Empire. Franz Leopold was staying here while negotiating with the Frankish Kingdom. The Franks were becoming more restless and aggressive of late. Perhaps they were hoping to gain some advantage before the Romans could redeploy their forces freed up by the peace with Helvetia. Franz Leopold was trying for peace here as well, though he wished that he could have provided a more familiar spot to welcome Rio back.

On this journey north, Rio was able to make a brief detour and actually see the ocean with her own eyes. Here, as in most places, Nomansland reached right down to the water. Winds would move the lifeless sand around, so they needed tall stakes put up to show what might once have been a road. She also saw how the desert was encroaching on the north of the Empire. One of her Roman escorts told her that in her father's day, this spot of desert had been fertile fields, growing wheat, corn and the like. But the desert had grown, and now none could live here, though the ruins of a city showed that many once had. Yes, the world really is coming to an end, Rio thought as she gazed over the dead sands.

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The chamberlain showed her to Franz Leopold's office in the villa, opened the door and told her, ``Go right on in Your Highness, His Majesty is expecting you,'' her in accented but perfectly understandable Helvetian. Rio was grateful for this, as her ability with Roman was as yet too poor to be practical. She barely remembered what Iliya had taught her in childhood, and the tour had not offered much chance to learn either. Thankfully Franz Leopold spoke fluent Helvetian.

Rio hesitantly entered. The office was spacious, its floor covered by a fine patterned rug and its walls lined with portraits and bookcases. The afternoon sun streamed in through the windows, giving the room a warm receptive glow. Franz Leopold rose and made his way around the desk at which he had been sitting. ``Welcome back, Rio,'' he said, his voice warm with happiness at her arrival. ``I hope someday you will feel I can greet you with `Welcome home.' I trust you're doing well and that your mission was successful.''

``Thank you, Your M... Franz Leopold.'' Rio blushed a bit as she caught and corrected herself. Franz Leopold's eyes twinkled as he recognized her effort. She continued. ``The ...mission went well, though it was touch and go near Seize. I only just arrived in time, and even then I might not have without some ...special action by the local garrison there. Otherwise, while there were some officers who took some effort to convince, it was pretty much just traveling and talking.'' She took a breath and continued in a style closer to reporting than conversation. ``I think we can now say that our border is secure and peaceful, for both nations. ...that is, unless some insubordinate officer disobeys orders and tries to resume hostilities. But I don't think that will happen, as most everyone I met and talked with were glad not to have to fight anymore. Then again, I wouldn't have expected the actions at Seize to go the way they did either.''

``Thank you, Rio.'' Relief and gratitude worked across Franz Leopold's face. ``I understand your caveat. There are some firebrands in the Roman army, and I'm sure Helvetia has its own. We need to keep an eye on them, but our orders and their comrades' love of peace and sense of duty should keep them in line.'' He smiled sadly. ``And I'm sorry that after all that I made you travel even farther from Helvetia to meet me. I'm here to be closer to the Frankish border as we're also trying to keep war from flaring up here as well.''

Rio smiled back. ``It's no problem; I'm used to traveling anyway. And thank you for working toward more peace. I wish you success in your efforts here as well. I hope the Franks don't give you the roadblocks of corrupt nobles and an uncooperative princess.''

He grinned at her self-deprecation. ``Every negotiation and treaty offers its own complications.'' His eyes softened. ``But how are you doing yourself, Rio? You've had a long journey here. In fact you've done little but travel since we last saw each other.''

``I'm doing all right.'' Rio relaxed as she saw that he really did care, he wasn't just asking for form. ``The journey wasn't that bad.'' A wry grin crept onto her face. ``I guess there are some advantages to growing up in a small village and the army rather than in a palace as a pampered princess. Our march along the border wasn't anything I hadn't done before ...well, at least the traveling part. I'm still not quite used to ordering generals around and speaking with the voice of an Emperor and an Archduke. Thankfully the Royal Guard you and Archduke Arkadia arranged to loan me provided any back-up muscle I might need. I'm glad he was also willing to support my mission.

Franz Leopold was surprised by the way Rio referred to her own father but did not let his surprise show, rather he answered, ``I'm glad you're doing well and didn't suffer during your journey. And from all I hear, you did an excellent job speaking and ordering those generals around.'' His grin matched hers as he repeated her words, then grew more serious, but no less pleased. ``All the reports I've seen so far say that you did all I could have asked, did what I would have done myself. Thank you.''

Rio blushed at the compliment. ``But I...''

Franz Leopold stopped her with an upraised finger. ``I didn't intend to embarrass you. I just want you to know I heard that you did a good job and that I appreciate it.''

Rio nodded, acknowledging his point, and tried to smile in gratitude.

``And in addition to embarrassing you, I forgot to invite you to dinner. I was envisioning a small private one. I guessed that you might find that more relaxing that the large state dinner to which you'd be entitled. Does that sound all right to you?''

``Sure,'' Rio answered with a hint of a smile at his consideration. ``And thank you.''

``While I'd like to introduce you to my daughters, that will have to wait as they're still back in the capital.''

``I'm looking forward to meeting them.'' Rio actually meant that. Not only had Maria asked her to care for them, but she was also curious what they would be like.

``I'm glad.'' Franz Leopold's smile was genuine. ``But here, since I can't introduce them in person, let me at least show you what they look like.'' He picked up one of the pair of pictures on his desk. Rio noticed the other was the engagement picture of the two of them. It was a formal one, taken at the end of the peace talks. She and Franz Leopold stood next to each other, both dressed in their formal robes, and together they held the signed peace treaty. He showed her the other photo. It was a formal family portrait: Franz Leopold and Maria stood with their three daughters arrayed in front of them. He pointed to the girls in turn. ``These are Theresa, Elanor and Anna. They are now 12, 9 and 5 respectively. And this is their mother, Maria, my late wife. She's the one who wrote you that letter.'' Franz Leopold smiled down at the picture, not being an emperor for the moment, merely a proud father showing off his children, but his eyes also held a depth of loss and pain since Maria was now gone.

``Theresa, Elanor and Anna look like wonderful daughters. I hope we get along well.'' And I hope they like me, Rio thought to herself. She knew how important that would be in an ordinary remarriage, so she figured it also would in a diplomatic one like this. And the girls really did look nice, so she was telling the truth when she said she wanted to meet them. ``And Maria looks just as kind and caring as she sounded in that letter. ...or should I say Empress Maria.''

Franz Leopold shook his head, Maria was fine. ``Thank you,'' he added with an indulgent smile at the picture. ``I hope you and the girls end up liking each other too. I think they're nice, intelligent girls, but I will admit the bias of a proud father.'' Rio joined him in laughing at this. His expression turned more serious and touched by sadness. ``And yes, Maria was kind and caring like that. Thank you.'' He stopped himself from saying more, as Rio might not enjoy too much discussion of her predecessor as his wife.

Rio misinterpreted this hesitancy. ``It looks like you've got a lot to do, and I shouldn't keep you from your work for too long, and especially don't want to keep you from working on peace with the Frankish Kingdom.'' She gestured toward his full desk. Rio was also hesitant as she didn't want to start off on the wrong foot. After all, she would be stuck with him by the treaty, and it wouldn't do to prejudice him against her while they were still just getting to know each other.

This earned her a wry grin from Franz Leopold. ``You're right, I do have a lot on my desk, and it's not going to take care of itself. Would you like to take a break and relax before dinner? I'm keeping you talking here without even a chance to rest after your long trip. We'll have more chance to talk over dinner.''

``Sure. And thank you.'' Rio tried to look grateful but rather succeeded in looking tired, which reinforced Franz Leopold's opinion that letting her rest was the best choice. ``Your suggestion of relaxing and settling in after the trip sounds good. A bath to wash away the grime of travel also might not be bad.''

``Of course, Rio.'' Franz Leopold smiled at her, not quite understanding why she moved to end their conversation. But it was easy to acquiesce to her wish.

His chamberlain appeared directly on being signaled. ``Otto, please show Rio to her rooms, help her settle in and take care of anything else she might want.'' Franz Leopold turned to Rio. ``And if there's anything you might need or want, please let Otto know. He will take as good care of you as he does of me.''

``Thank you, Franz Leopold,'' said Rio. ``And thank you Otto.''

Otto bowed to Franz Leopold and Rio, his face too well schooled to show his appreciation of her specifically thanking him. ``With Your Majesty's permission.'' He gestured toward the door. ``If Your Highness would be so kind,'' he said to Rio.

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Dinner that evening was a simple affair—that is, simple for an emperor. While a footman served them on fine china, the two sat alone at a smaller table—in fact, the dining table was little larger than the one Rio was used to back in Seize—and Franz Leopold even passed the salt and refilled Rio's wineglass himself.

Their conversation was similarly informal, ranging from their experiences since they last met to their interests and friends. They discussed what Rio had seen on her travels, including how Nomansland is expanding, eating up Rome, and how that may well be a sign that the world is actually coming to an end. Naturally they also spent some time talking of Rio's comrades and her time back in Seize and also of Franz Leopold's daughters. In short, it was the simple conversation of two people getting to know each other. Franz Leopold turned out to be quite an easy person to talk to, and Rio thought that even if circumstances were different, she would still wish him to be her friend.

Dinner wound down as they both ate their fill, and conversation turned back to the last days of the war. ``Let me thank you again for your sacrifice to make this peace,'' he said.

Rio tried to deny it. ``It was just my duty.''

``No,'' Franz Leopold countered, his smile gentle, ``not just duty. I have some idea of the sacrifices you're making so our countries can have peace. I know this can't be easy for you.''

``But...'' Rio stammered. She didn't know how to respond. Franz Leopold was turning out to be a nice man, in many ways nicer than her father. But, still...

``But I am still exceedingly grateful to you, both as Emperor for my people, and also on a personal level. I would do something for you in thanks. Please, name your desire, Rio. Anything.''

Rio blushed, embarrassed by the gratitude. ``You don't need to...'' But Franz Leopold pushed her for an answer. Finally, she smiled sadly. ``What I would like is beyond your power... or anyone's. For no-one can bring back my sister Iliya, nor my mother.''

Franz Leopold nodded. ``I understand. I know how it hurts to lose a loved one, how desperately we want them back though we know it is impossible.'' After a silent pause where they both honored the memory of their dear departed, he again urged, ``But what can I do for you?''

Rio pondered for a bit, and Franz Leopold was sharp enough to notice and give her time to think. An idea slowly percolated to the top of her mind, as mentioning her mother had revived the memory of something she had told her as a child. ``Well, back in Seize I'd managed to gather most of the pieces of a large balloon together. I've always wanted to fly. `Not only angels and daemons can fly, but with the right machines man can do so again.' Or at least that was my dream.''

``And there's no reason why it shouldn't continue to be your dream.'' He smiled back kindly. ``How long have you had it?''

``Ever since I was a little girl.'' Rio's eyes grew distant as she remembered. ``mother told me then that somewhere, at the ends of the world, is a pure land with new life emerging from reborn oceans. I want to revive the airplane so we can go find that land. I know.'' She shook her head. ``That is probably only a story for children and not real, but for a little girl it was a good story of hope, and I would like to see what it's like to fly above the earth. And if we could explore beyond...''

``Yes. If we could explore...'' His eyes grew distant as he thought. ``There's so much we don't know. The best maps we have are limited by where man can walk and see. If we could fly beyond that, who knows what we might find, maybe even this land your mother spoke of.'' When her eyes lit up with interest at the mention of maps, he added, ``After dinner, let me show you what maps we have of the world, at least as far as we know it.''

``Please. I would love to see them. I've only seen smaller maps of our part of Helvetia.''

``Of course. But getting back to my question, could I help with your dream?''

``You mean more than showing me those maps?'' Rio wondered.

``Of course; that's nothing. I'd like to do something significant for you.''

``Well...'' Rio equivocated. ``Do you think we might eventually find something like the balloon system I found around Seize?''

He grinned back impishly. ``I do know where most of the parts of an old balloon are along with someone skilled enough in technology to make them flyable.'' When Rio looked at him in confused hope, he added, ``In Seize. You told me of them and of your friend Noël. Do you think that might be what you're looking for?''

``Oh!'' Rio wasn't even thinking along those lines.

``And it also sounds like you might have been pulled out of there before your tour was up ...and maybe even before you had a real chance to say goodbye.'' His voice was gentle and understanding. He had heard the longing for her friends in her voice when she talked of them earlier.

Rio's eyes began to fill with tears as she looked at him. How could he be this understanding, this kind. ``I... Thank you. I... I do miss my friends there.'' She dropped her gaze and stared at her hands in her lap, embarrassed by her own admission.

``I understand.'' His voice was filled with quiet sympathy. ``It seems you left there with little notice or time to prepare. Would you like to go back to Seize to finish out your tour and try to fly that balloon? How long would the rest of your tour have been?''

Rio looked up, an unexpected hope starting in her eyes. ``Would that cause any problems for you ...or with the treaty ...or the peace? Umm...'' She did some quick figuring in her head. ``There would have been a bit under a year left in my tour there.''

``No.'' Franz Leopold's expression showed how grateful he was that she thought of these things, and how it added to the respect he had for her. ``There isn't anything in the treaty that says anything about something like this. I figure your... Archduke Arkadia will have no objection, and I can easily explain this to the rest of my government as our waiting until you come of age. So, if this is what you'd like, I'll be happy to give it to you. And if I recall correctly, the platoon you'll be rejoining was the same one who was able to keep the war from restarting near Seize. So I too have reason to thank them.''

``Thank you. Thank you!'' said Rio. She tightly gripped the napkin she had been twisting in her fingers as she thought on his request. The corners of her mouth twitched as she realized Franz Leopold was following her lead in distancing herself from her father. ``And, yes, they were the platoon who stopped Colonel Hopkins from restarting the war, at least until I could get there and declare the war over. I also don't want it to seem that I'm running away, though.'' Her voice grew decisive ``I don't want to run away.''

``I understand. And I certainly won't think so.'' He smiled at her. ``Let's keep in touch by letter while we're apart. I would like to hear how you're faring and how your work on the balloon goes. I will write you regularly, and I would appreciate hearing from you as well.''

``Thank you. And, yes, I will write. This should also give you more time to work on peaceful relations with the Frankish Kingdom. I wouldn't want to interfere with your work on that.''

``You wouldn't interfere, but thank you for your sentiment. I will look forward to your letters.''

Her face grew thoughtful. ``Also those letters should help us continue getting to know each other.'' She realized she never really had gotten to know her father, and it would be unfortunate to fall into the same trap with Franz Leopold.

``Yes. I hope that as well. And their very existence will counter any who try to claim we are avoiding the terms of the peace treaty.'' His smile softened and his caring nature showed through. ``It also looks like you could use some more time to get used to the idea of this marriage. I would guess you have not had much diplomatic or political experience which might have prepared you for this possibility.''

``That's true. I haven't had any at all,'' Rio admitted. ``The peace talks were my first real exposure to such.''

``And I thought you did very well there. You did better than some with much more experience. And for someone of your intelligence and perceptiveness, inexperience at court may not be a handicap at all, in fact it may be an asset.''

Once more Rio blushed at the complement. ``Umm...'' she asked, hesitantly changing the subject. ``Could I ask a one more little thing?''

``Of course.''

``Umm... well, could I maybe have a copy of your family portrait that you showed me this afternoon? I enjoyed talking about your daughters, and...'' She trailed off into embarrassed mumbles.

``Gladly. I don't have another copy here, but I can—''

Rio raised her finger, cutting him off. Then, before she could realize that she had just shushed an emperor, she explained. ``I don't want to take the only one you have here. You can include a copy in one of your letters after you return home.''

``All right,'' he acquiesced with a grin, pleased that Rio had the courage to stop him like that, the intelligence to think of that solution, and the generosity of spirit to not want to deprive him of his copy here. He continued, ``Though while we're talking about the pictures on my desk, I did bring a copy of the other one for you, the one of the two of us.''

``Thank you. That will be nice, both for the memories and also to show my friends... or any who may ask.''

.

Rio stayed at the villa for several more days while the details of finishing out her tour in Seize were worked out between the governments. Rio spent much of this time studying the world maps that Franz Leopold had showed her that first night. She was so interested that he also promised to send her a copy of the best one along with his family picture. The negotiations of these details were some of the first normal peacetime communications between Helvetia and the Roman Empire. Rio asked the Helvetian Army to keep her identity as the replacement soldier for Seize secret. She wanted to surprise her friends there. This was easy, as headquarters typically didn't bother to send this information ahead anyway.

Soon it was time for Rio to depart again. The same Roman and Helvetian soldiers were there to escort her back. Franz Leopold came to personally see her off. ``Take care, and have a safe trip, Rio,'' he told her. ``I will look forward to your letters. And please give my greetings and thanks to your comrades in Seize.'' They both smiled knowingly as they had talked about the platoon being her surrogate family and what they had each heard of their help keeping the war from starting anew.

``I will, and I'll be sure to write,'' Rio replied. ``And you take care as well,'' she concluded with a mild blush.

ooo OOO ooo

The trip back itself was unremarkable, as Rio was used to traveling by now. But that is not to say she was not nervous. Even though Franz Leopold had given her this time as a gift, worry still nibbled at the edges of her mind. Would her actions here decrease the chance this peace would last? Would this turn the Romans against her? She hoped not; he had reassured her not, but the worry was still there. Then, also, she wondered how her friends in her former platoon would receive her. Would any of them resent that she had pretty much left them without even saying goodbye? They should at least understand her urgent need to depart, but would any—especially Filicia—hold it against her that she took so long to respond to her father, enabling this peace treaty.

Rio knew these were just her own insecurities worrying her, so she tried to distract herself from them. Thankfully, her escorts didn't shy away from conversation once she began it. She tried to convince them to treat her more as her rank of Lieutenant than as the Royal Princess she was. She enjoyed hearing each of them tell of the areas they grew up in. She had never been to the region her Helvetian escorts were from, and the same was obviously true for her Roman escorts. And it turned out that these regions weren't all that different after all, and that the four shared rather similar childhoods. Thinking about it, farming shouldn't be all that different no matter where it was done, but it was good to hear, and it also broke the ice among her escorts. The Romans and Helvetians even began chatting with each other after one slipped and did so, and her smile told them all that she was happy to hear this as well.

They may not have realized that she was also smiling at their getting along because it showed her that she was right to hope this peace would last. That eased half her worries more than any distracting conversation ever could. Rio also realized that she might have picked up Kanata's cheerful outlook on life and the world, or at least if she had, she hoped she could maintain it. Realizing this, she thought that, even if the world was coming to an end, they should enjoy the life they have left.

By the time they met Klaus, who was still the regular courier to Seize, all five had become friends and were loathe to part. ``Juliette, Hikaru, Catherine, Eva, thank you for your assistance and company on the trip here,'' Rio told them. ``Your company and conversation made the time go by much faster. I really enjoyed it and am glad to have gotten to know you and your homes.''

``It was our privilege,'' they replied, saluting, ``and our pleasure, Princess Rio.'' All four obviously agreed in this sentiment. And this address was as informal as Rio had been able to convince them to be. At least ``Princess Rio'' sounded better to her than ``Lieutenant Kazumiya Arkadia.'' The later still awoke unpleasant memories of her father.

``I hope we can all meet again sometime,'' Rio concluded. ``And thank you for showing me I can find friends wherever I go, in Helvetia or the Empire.''

``You showed us the same,'' Eva replied. The four agreed, and added that they were going to try to keep in touch. ``Thank you for bringing us peace and beginning our friendship,'' she concluded.

Rio smiled back. She too appreciated the peace, but wasn't sure she deserved credit for their friendship. She had just started them talking as a way to take her mind off her own worries. But she was still glad for their friendship. Little did she realize that she and her conversation really were what started their friendship. If she had not started it, they would likely have spent the entire trip in stiff, correct silence.

To change the subject, and also include Klaus in their discussion, Rio introduced him to her four escorts. ``Klaus here brought me to Nomansland outside Seize just in time''—the story of the events there was already spreading through both armies—``and he was my standard bearer there.''

Juliette took the lead, speaking for all four in thanking Klaus for that. They then saluted him. ``We leave the Princess in your care, Colonel.''

Klaus returned their salute. ``I will take care of her,'' he promised.

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So they parted, Rio and Klaus heading toward Seize. The others headed back bearing Rio's thanks, Juliette and Hikaru to Helvetian Army Headquarters, and Catherine and Eva all the way to the Roman Empire.