It took Victor's army three weeks to arrive at Cornae.
During the march, Victor received news from Count Valentine. He had conquered Lodi and was awaiting further instructions. This time around, the siege was a short one for Count Valentine.
There was no protracted siege; the governor in charge had to surrender. Valentine's army vastly outnumbered the weak garrison of Lodi. Given that the Lodi had no true lord, there was no command structure, which is why the governor easily surrendered.
Count Valentine was ready to move on to Roma but needed Victor's order to do so. But that would not come until Cornae was taken.
Victor's army would make short work of Cornae. The lord of the city, Count Fabrizo, was an elderly man who had grown weary of the back-to-back civil wars. He had no intention of letting his men or the city be harmed. He hobbled out of the city's gates with a white flag in his hand.
Victor did not want this man to hobble across the field. Instead, he swiftly rode out to meet him. "Count Fabrizo, please rest a moment. There is no need for you to march across this field to surrender."
"King Luxenberg, I am tired of this senseless fighting. If I must cross a field in my current state to keep my people out of the fighting, I will do so with no complaint. For once in a long time, I wish to spend my final years in peace," Count Fabrizo stated.
Victor smiled and dismounted his horse. "Very well then, I accept your surrender. My soldiers will not even enter your city. Your people will remain unharmed. You will not have to swear me any oath of fealty. Return to your city, my army shall march straight to Roma."
The old Count smiled. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not forget this kindness."
Victor smiled back at the count and nodded before returning to his army. The Luxenberg Army would avoid Cornae and march towards Roma. This action caused the people of Cornae to breathe a sigh of relief. They were spared from the war, getting caught up in their city.
News of Victor's movements reached the capital and caused even more panic. Alphonse tried to quell his courtier's fears. Luca Sozzini tried to assist, but it was to no avail. Their panic was well warranted; the Luxenberg forces were closing around them.
Victor's main army marched from the south, and Count Valentine was moving to support Victor from the north. Both forces would arrive around the same time, so their combined strength would be too much to handle. Plus, if Victor did not want to rush a siege, Tristayne Polo's army could march to support them.
For three weeks, Alphonse could only try his best to prepare for a siege. He was vastly outnumbered, and the entire continent was against him. To his supporters, it seemed like a pointless endeavour. Why prepare for a siege when there was zero chance for him to win?
Resentment for Alphonse grew each day as the Luxenberg forces inched closer to Roma. Citizens were fleeing the city to avoid the incoming army. Soldiers were contemplating whether to throw down their arms and flee as well.
As each week passed, more unrest stirred in Roma. Cardinal Bellori, the lone remaining supporter of the Pope's faction, used the power of the church to stir the citizens into revolt. It did not work as well as he hoped, but tensions were high as neighbour bickered with neighbour.
Soldiers were sent to quell the unrest, and for the most part, they were effective. No revolts happened during the weeks leading up to the siege. Cardinal Bellori was swiftly arrested by Alphonse and imprisoned in the dungeons. Given that the Pope was captured, there was no true authority that could stop Alphonse.
When Victor finally arrived at Roma, he was greeted by Count Valentine and his army. They were over 100,000 strong and had arrived two days before them. A perimeter was already established, and gun placements were already being established.
Victor's soldiers bolstered the current positions established. The arrival of the golden eagles caused the hearts of the defenders to sink. There was no way they could overcome such a deficit.
Atop the battlements, Alphonse looked out toward the Luxenberg Army camp. "How did it come to this?" Alphonse sighed. "Victor, my friend, I believe the war will be concluded within days."
Alphonse could not see a way that the siege would end in a way that would benefit him. If Victor wished for it, he could level the city with his artillery. Thankfully, Victor was not like that and would not do that.
Luca, who was standing next to Alphonse, could only see rage when he saw Victor. "Cousin, let us sally out and attack them. We might as well go out in a blaze of glory."
Alphonse shook his head. "There is no point, cousin. It would only be more needless death."
Luca tried to protest, but his cousin was firm in his stance. There would be no final resistance, no going out in a blaze of glory. This would be the end of the Visconte rule. It would soon be replaced by a foreigner. For the first time in the continent's history, a foreigner would rule it.
Within a few days of Victor's arrival, white flags began to pop up all around the walls of Roma. The message was clear: Alphonse would not put up a meaningless fight. He accepted that it was pointless to stand against Victor.
The gates of Roma were opened, and soldiers of 4th Corps marched into the city behind their commander, Marshal Lefebvre. Luxenberg banners were soon displayed upon the walls, and the garrison was surrendering their arms.
All that was needed to be done was accept the surrender of Alphonse and their courtiers. They remained in the palace while Victor and the soldiers secured the city. There was no resistance as the soldiers made their way to the Visconte Palace.
Inside the palace awaited the conclusion of the war.