This Was Not the End, but Another Beginning

"Please come in."

The guard stationed at the entrance spoke to Eitel.

Eitel did not reply. He merely transferred the field marshal's baton from his right hand to his left and straightened the Iron Cross at his collar.

He stepped toward the conference hall, walking very slowly along this stretch.

So slowly that he wanted to engrave all of it in his heart.

"Representative of Germany, please take your seat."

Seeing Eitel arrive at his seat, Prime Minister George extended his left hand, gesturing for him to sit.

At Prime Minister George's words, Eitel nodded to him, then looked around at the representatives attending the conference.

Apart from a few representatives of important nations, more of those attending were generals who had held extremely high positions during the war.

Eitel was not the only one watching them. They, too, were watching this emperor of the battlefield.

But many of their eyes held anger.

"Phew-"

After committing the faces of the generals around him to memory, Eitel slowly sat down in his seat.

Beside him, Hindenburg also wore an immaculate military uniform, covered in all manner of decorations.

Those decorations were the finest testament to his lifetime on horseback in war, and a gesture of contempt toward the generals attending the conference.

Seeing Eitel take his seat, Prime Minister George cleared his throat.

"Now, all the representatives attending the conference are present."

"I hereby declare the signing ceremony for the Treaty of Versailles officially open."

As Prime Minister George finished speaking, the reporters who had long been ready at the side raised their cameras and captured this historic moment.

The signing ceremony proceeded smoothly, with each nation's representative stepping forward to sign their country's name.

When it was Eitel's turn to step forward and sign, he held the pen in his hand but could not bring himself to put it to paper.

Looking at the terms of the treaty before him, Eitel's gaze darkened, and the pen in his hand seemed to weigh a thousand tons.

I clearly did everything I could, turning these impossible negotiations into the terms I wanted most.

But why?

Why can't I bring myself to put pen to paper?

As Eitel thought this, he clenched his teeth, his grip unconsciously tightening until his hand trembled slightly.

"Will the representative of Germany please sign?"

Seeing Eitel still hesitate to put pen to paper, Prime Minister George could not help reminding him.

Watching Eitel, Clemenceau wore an expression of utter satisfaction.

Although this conference had not completely crushed and destroyed Germany, seeing Eitel like this now suddenly made Clemenceau feel it had been worth it.

"If you can't make up your mind, go back and ask that father of yours, who was so frightened he hid in the countryside, to sign it for you, coward!"

At this thought, Clemenceau could not help voicing his mockery.

Unlike the representatives of the other nations, who were enjoying the spectacle, Rommel and Hindenburg both etched this scene deep into their memories.

So did Eitel, as he listened to Clemenceau's mockery ringing in his ears.

Eitel pressed the pen in his hand to the signing document and, above all the nations, signed that name.

The name that would strike fear into every nation in the future.

Putting down the pen, Eitel returned to his seat and once again swept his gaze over the representatives around him who were enjoying the spectacle.

He engraved their faces deep in his heart.

The moment the document was closed and handed to Prime Minister George marked the formal completion of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

Looking at the treaty, Eitel gently raised his right hand to the Iron Cross at his collar.

I swear in the name of the German Empire that I will do everything in my power to settle accounts with all the empire's enemies.

"Will all representatives please leave the hall?"

At the announcement from the conference attendee, the representatives rose from their seats and headed outside.

Eitel remained in his seat, sensing the people around him leaving one after another.

Suddenly, a hand patted his shoulder, and he felt its weight.

Eitel looked up.

President Wilson's face held not a trace of expression. He merely looked at him solemnly, nodded once, and left.

"Your Majesty, it's time to go."

Rommel stepped forward then and spoke softly beside Eitel.

"Mm."

Eitel answered and stood, the cloak behind him fluttering with his movement.

"It's over. Let's go back."

With that, Eitel left without looking back. Hindenburg and Rommel followed behind him without another word.

The silence along the way continued onto the train.

As the train began to move, Eitel looked out the window at the towering palace.

"It's over, but it's also another kind of beginning."

Listening to Eitel's words, Rommel beside him looked in the same direction.

"Your Majesty..."

Everyone was quiet throughout the journey.

Over the several days of travel, Eitel thought about a great many things.

From the moment he had transmigrated here to the conclusion of the Versailles Conference.

As though completing a mission, he had done everything he believed he could do.

Until the moment before signing, it had all felt like playing a game. He knew history well and knew how to make the most suitable choices, and the game had developed steadily at his pace.

But when he truly picked up that pen and wanted to sign his name-

He hesitated.

He did not understand why he had suddenly felt so unwilling to accept it.

Unwilling to accept this outcome, and unwilling to let the people of Germany bear it.

He was no longer an observer of history, but a participant. He was the emperor of the German Empire, and their leader.

"Honk-"

The car stopped on Berlin's main thoroughfare.

On the main thoroughfare, his warhorse stood waiting, with Manstein holding its reins.

Eitel's eyes shifted as he took in the scene.

"You..."

"Your Majesty, mount up. The people of Germany have been waiting for a long time."

Manstein looked at Eitel and gave him a smile.

Looking at Manstein's smile, a complicated look flashed through Eitel's eyes, and he took the reins.

Eitel swung himself into the saddle, though this time his movements were not quite so graceful.

Manstein led the horse forward just like that.

The people of Germany lined both sides of the road.

When they saw His Majesty Eitel approaching, they burst into cheers, every one of them excitedly welcoming their emperor.

Hearing the cheers of the people around him, Eitel was somewhat dazed. He had clearly signed a treaty like that.

Why did these people of Germany still support him so wholeheartedly?

"Your Majesty! Thank you for everything you have done for the German Empire! You are the finest emperor the German Empire has ever had!"

Just then, a shout from the roadside caught his attention.

Following the sound with his gaze, he saw a soldier missing an arm, dressed in the uniform of the German Empire, shouting with all his strength.

The warhorse kept walking, and Eitel pulled down the brim of his cap.

At the end of the road, Chancellor Max and General Rudolf stood at the entrance to White Hall.

"Your Majesty, thank you for everything you have done for the German Empire."

Seeing His Majesty Eitel arrive, Chancellor Max and General Rudolf bowed and spoke respectfully and sincerely.

Seeing the approval of those around him and the people of the German Empire, Eitel smiled for the first time since signing.

"Gentlemen, the war is over."

"But I swear, this is merely a twenty-year armistice. No, perhaps it won't take that long."

"When that day comes, Germany's iron-blooded eagle will once again soar through this vast sky."