Wall Sina, Royal Capital.
The Survey Corps returned in triumph. People along the route came out of their own accord to celebrate, filling the streets with streamers and floating balloons. The Royal Capital brimmed with life, its people hanging festive decorations and beaming with joy.
Chen Si rode slowly into the street in the Drus-made vintage car powered by iceburst stone that Winston had given him. Erwin, Hange, and the other officers entered in ordinary cars, while the Survey Corps soldiers flanking them rode into the city on horseback.
Levi did not share a car with Erwin. He was still more comfortable riding a horse.
Remembering what Erwin had said, Chen Si pulled a lever from his seat to open the roof, then stood up and waved to the residents with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
"My fellow citizens, we have won!! The war is over!!" Chen Si waved his arms exuberantly, his impassioned cry stirring everyone who heard it.
Some retired soldiers and elderly men on either side wept, while the young people cheered wildly and children ran about without restraint.
"We have won!!"
"Long live the Marshal!!"
"Long live the Survey Corps!!"
"Long live the Eldia Empire!!"
"Dedicate Your Hearts!!"
Seeing the crowd swept up in excitement, Chen Si kept smiling as he quietly sat back down. The fervent smile vanished from his face in an instant, and he drew a deep breath.
Looking at the happy faces outside the window, he felt little joy himself. As the leader of a nation, carrying the hopes of an entire people, he felt immense pressure and profound unease.
Perhaps it was just as Eren had said: he was not free.
Beyond that, he kept feeling that something was missing, something that made him happy. He began looking