The Second Hussite Wars, also known as the "Holy Grail War," finally ended with the complete victory of Laszlo, the Holy Roman Emperor.
Laszlo rode his steed through the city gates of Vienna, and citizens on both sides of the road cheered in unison, throwing flower petals to celebrate the Emperor's victory. Church bells chimed repeatedly, welcoming the Emperor's triumph.
He once again became a staunch defender of the Catholic faith, sweeping away the Hussite rebels in Bohemia, ensuring that the Austrians would no longer have to worry about threats from the northern heretics.
"Look! That is the Destroyer of Heretics and Pagans!" Franciscan friars, standing on the roadside pulpits, shouted themselves hoarse, vigorously proclaiming the Emperor's achievements to the people.
Royal-hired poets compiled the Emperor's numerous victories into catchy poems, which were widely circulated among the populace.
People were amazed by the hundreds of Hussite captives wearing their marks at the end of the procession; the crosses branded on their foreheads were a mark of shame. Some emotional and devout believers even threw rotten vegetables at these heretics.
Laszlo frowned slightly and raised a hand to signal. Immediately, a portion of the Imperial Army soldiers from the triumphal parade separated to cordon off the agitated crowd, quickly restoring order to the procession.
The Archbishop of Vienna personally welcomed the triumphant Emperor at St. Stephen's Cathedral.
"Your Majesty, please look." Appearing with the Archbishop was Eyczing, the Chairman of the Privy Council, whom Laszlo had not seen for a long time. He extended his arm and pointed in a certain direction.
In the square in front of the city center, a triumphal column stood, with bronze reliefs inscribed with "The Light of God Shines Upon All People."
"The artisans melted all the Hussite cannons you sent back to Vienna and cast them into this triumphal column, symbolizing your great achievements."
Laszlo nodded with satisfaction. Although it did not directly depict his victory, he had already obtained something more practical—the entire Kingdom of Bohemia. He would leave the glory on this triumphal column to God.
"Render unto God what is God's, and unto Caesar what is Caesar's. It is indeed quite good."
As for why all the captured Hussite cannons were discarded, it was mainly because these cannons had odd-shaped calibers.
Moreover, most of the cannon parameters were inferior to the two types of cannons, one light and one heavy, widely equipped by the Imperial Army. There was no need to increase logistical pressure by manufacturing various shells of complex calibers.
After the ceremony, Laszlo Hunyadi led the Hungarian cavalry further south, preparing to return to their station in Croatia.
Karl led the Austro-Hungarian Army and also set off for their station in Graz. Gunter led the Independent Army back to their station outside Vienna to settle down.
After several months of continuous combat, the soldiers could finally get some rest, though their salaries would be appropriately reduced during peacetime.
Many free-spending soldiers, after exhausting all their gains from the Hussite Wars in prosperous Vienna, immediately began to look forward to a new war.
Inside the treasury of Hofburg Palace, Laszlo stood before the crown display. Here were arrayed in order the simple Archduke of Austria's coronet, the Holy Roman Empire's Imperial Crown (Note: This is a replica; the real one is locked away in Nuremberg after the coronation), the Eastern Roman Empire's Imperial Crown, the Bulgarian Crown, and the Bohemian Crown.
Less than three feet from the Bohemian Crown, which had just been placed in the treasury, there was an empty display stand—that was reserved for the saint stephen's crown.
However, according to ancient Hungarian law, the saint stephen's crown must be kept in the Hungarian Royal Treasury in Budapest and only taken out for coronation ceremonies in Székesfehérvár. Therefore, this crown was not in Laszlo's Vienna treasury.
It is likely that until Hungary is fully under his control, Laszlo will not be able to display the saint stephen's crown in this room.
After satisfying his small collecting habit, Laszlo eagerly returned to his bedchamber, where his mother, wife, and two sons were waiting for his return.
"Oh, my dear Laszlo, welcome home." Leonor tightly embraced her husband. During these months of separation, she had thought of and worried about Laszlo constantly, and now she finally saw him return safely.
Laszlo looked increasingly masculine, and his body had become taller and stronger, which filled Leonor with joy.
Laszlo chuckled, pressing a kiss on his Empress's forehead, and said expectantly, "Yes, I'm back. Come, let's go see our second child."
Leonor readily agreed. Still in the same room, a small bed now stood beside Christopher's crib, and their second son was lying on this new bed.
The little one always observed everything around him with wide eyes, neither crying nor fussing, which greatly surprised the maids responsible for caring for the Imperial Prince.
Laszlo looked at this healthy little one, and as expected, his innate panel appeared in his eyes.
The super strong 555 attributes made Laszlo unable to resist bursting into laughter, and the little one also started to laugh along.
Leonor looked at Laszlo curiously and couldn't help but ask, "Laszlo, do you like this little one very much?"
"Of course, he is our child." Laszlo reached out and pinched the little one's chubby cheek. "I remember, he was born on September twenty-sixth, right?"
"Yes, Laszlo, you remember very clearly."
"That night, Saint Maximilian appeared in my dream. He told me that as long as I launched an attack, I would soon be able to completely eliminate the Hussite rebels. The next day, I ordered the troops to launch a general assault, breaking through Prague in one fell swoop and completely annihilating those damned heretics. I think this might be divine will. How about naming him Maximilian? I have a premonition he will become a great knight."
"Maximilian? The greatest... A good name."
Leonor looked at the infant lying in the crib with some surprise. She hadn't expected that this child would gain his father's favor so soon after birth.
Laszlo did not neglect his eldest son, Christopher, despite his partiality towards this exceptionally talented second son.
He took his still-sleeping eldest son from the nanny's arms and playfully tickled the little one's nose, which earned him a light slap from Leonor, who chided, "Why are you naughtier than a child? It took me so much effort to get him to sleep."
"Alright, alright, let this sleepy little one continue to sleep. Let's go see Mother."
Laszlo handed Christopher back to the nanny, then took Leonor's hand and strolled through the palace, heading towards the Empress Dowager's residence.
"Your Majesty, Eyczing requests an audience." Matthias, who had been formally promoted to the Emperor's personal attendant, urgently found Laszlo.
Leonor glanced at Laszlo, who was frowning, and understandingly released his hand, signaling that state affairs were more important.
"It's just that old Naples business," Laszlo sighed lightly. "If your cousin could be a bit more capable, I wouldn't have to worry about him. Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
"Hmm, I'll wait for you." Leonor lightly kissed Laszlo's cheek and watched her husband leave, following Matthias.