Chapter 59
In the Capital
"Lower your gaze! His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Lurtheron of the Erenhal Sartorias Empire, has entered!"
Umalingawngaw ang boses ng herald sa buong bulwagan kasabay ng marahang pagkabukas ng dambuhalang pintuan. Agad na yumukod ang mga punong ministro at ang buong imperial cabinet habang naglalakad si Lurtheron patungo sa kaniyang upuan.
"You may rise." agad na sambit ni Lurtheron nang makaupo. Hindi niya maiwasang mapahilot sa sintido sa mga pangyayari. Ang pagtakas ni Rassia kasama ang mga dragon na nagdulot ng pinsala lalo na ang pagsunog at pag guho ng Palasyo.
"Your Imperial Majesty." nagsiupo naman ang mga imperial cabinet at ang ibang mga opisyal.
Nagtinginan ang lahat at napalunok dahil naramdaman nila ang bigat ng mana ni Lurtheron na ngayon ay seryosong nakatingin sakanila.
Ilang sandali ang lumipas bago tuluyang nabasag ang katahimikan.
Isa sa mga Prime Ministers ang tumayo.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Palace has suffered catastrophic damage. The eastern wing has completely collapsed. Six imperial towers were destroyed, and nearly half of the outer defensive walls were reduced to rubble."
Nagkaroon ng bulungan sa hanay ng Imperial Cabinet.
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"The Hall of Ancestors... the Hall of Imperial Records... and several administrative chambers were consumed by the flames caused by Lady Rassia's assault. Although some important documents were evacuated in time, a significant portion of our archives was lost."
Tahimik lamang na nakinig si Lurtheron habang napapahilot pa rin sa sintido.
Isa pang opisyal ang tumikhim.
"The Imperial Treasury estimates that restoring the palace to its former state may take several years, Your Majesty. It will require an extraordinary amount of manpower, resources, and funding."
Hindi agad nagsalita si Lurtheron. Sa halip, ang malamig niyang tingin ay nanatili sa malaking mapa ng Imperial Capital na nakalatag sa gitna ng bulwagan.
"How are the people?"
Nagkatinginan ang mga ministro.
"The civilians," muli niyang saad. "I am asking about the civilians."
Agad na yumuko ang Prime Minister.
"The evacuation order was successful before Lady Rassia's final attack. Most of the casualties were Imperial Knights stationed around the palace."
"And the injured?"
"They are currently being treated by the Imperial Healers. Temporary shelters have already been established, and food supplies are being distributed throughout the capital."
Tahimik na tumango si Lurtheron, nananatiling kalmado ang kaniyang mukha sa kabila ng mabibigat na ulat na kaniyang narinig. Matagal siyang hindi nagsalita, tila maingat na sinusukat ang bawat salitang bibitawan.
"The palace can be rebuilt," mahinahon niyang wika. "Collapsed walls can be raised again. Burned halls can be restored. Even the Imperial Treasury, no matter how great the expense, will recover in time."
Dahan-dahan niyang ibinaba ang tingin sa mapa ng Imperial Capital na nakalatag sa gitna ng bulwagan.
"But if we lose the trust of our people... If we fail those who placed their faith in this Empire... if innocent lives continue to be sacrificed because of our shortcomings... then we have already lost far more than a palace."
Muling tumingin ang Lurtheron sa kaniyang mga ministro.
"The Imperial Palace is merely a symbol of our authority. But an Empire is not built upon marble walls, towering gates, or golden halls. It is built upon the people who continue to believe that this throne exists to protect them."
Unti-unti niyang pinagdikit ang kaniyang mga kamay.
"If the citizens are forced to mourn their families while we concern ourselves only with rebuilding this palace... then we are no different from rulers who have forgotten the purpose of the crown."
Nagkaroon ng mabigat na katahimikan sa buong Imperial Court.
"Continue the relief efforts immediately. I want every injured civilian to receive treatment without delay. Provide food, medicine, and temporary shelter to every family affected by the battle. If additional funds are required, release them from the Imperial Treasury.
If rebuilding the palace must be delayed because our people need those resources first... then so be it."
His eyes swept across every Prime Minister and member of the Imperial Cabinet.
"I will not have the people of Erenhal Sartorias suffer while this court worries about restoring stone and gold. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Sabay-sabay na yumuko ang buong Imperial Court, walang sinuman ang nangahas tumutol sa utos ng emperador.
Tumaas ang kilay ni Solomon, ang kanang kamay ni Lurtheron at bahagyang umiling.
"Forgive my insolence, Your Majesty, but I must respectfully disagree. Totoong mas mahalaga ang kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan kaysa sa palasyo, ngunit ang Imperial Palace is not merely a building. It is the symbol of the Erenhal Sartorias Empire.
Kapag hinayaan nating manatili itong wasak nang matagal, our enemies will see weakness. Ang mga kaaway ng Imperyo ay maaaring samantalahin ang pagkakataong ito upang kuwestiyunin ang kapangyarihan ng Korona. I believe we must rebuild the palace while continuing to care for our people. By doing so,
we protect both the Empire's future and the people who live under its banner."
Tahimik na pinagmasdan ni Lurtheron si Solomon.
Pagkaraan ng ilang sandali, bahagya siyang sumandal sa kaniyang upuan habang ang matalim niyang mga mata ay isa-isang pinagmasdan ang mga Prime Ministers at miyembro ng Imperial Cabinet.
"Tell me, Right hand Solomon..."
Mahinahon ang kaniyang tinig, ngunit sapat upang balutin ng tensyon ang buong bulwagan.
"If I prioritize rebuilding the palace over the people... who truly benefits? will it be the Empire... or the officials who have long treated the Imperial Treasury as their own?"
Nagkatinginan ang lahat at hindi makatingin sa emperor.
"I may be newly crowned," mahinahon niyang wika, "and before this, I was merely the Cardinal Prince. But do not mistake that for ignorance. I grew up in this palace. I studied the affairs of this Empire under my father. I attended this court long before I inherited the throne."
Unti-unti niyang pinagmasdan ang bawat opisyal.
"I know how politics work. I know who serves the Crown... and I know who serves themselves."
Napababa ng tingin ang ilang opisyal.
Bahagyang tumikhim si Solomon bago muling yumuko.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty... but what exactly are you implying? Are you suggesting that this court has failed the Empire... or that we have misplaced our priorities?"
Hindi agad sumagot si Lurtheron at nanatili ang kaniyang walang ekpresyon na emosyon. "The Imperial Palace is important," kalmado niyang wika. "But I refuse to believe that restoring stone walls should be our greatest concern."
Tahimik na tumayo si Lurtheron mula sa kaniyang kinauupuan. Walang sinabi ang sinuman habang mabagal siyang naglakad patungo sa malawak na bintanang yari sa salamin na nakatanaw sa Imperial Capital.
Sa labas ng palasyo, unti-unti nang nagsisimulang bumangon ang lungsod mula sa pinsalang iniwan ng digmaan.
Ngunit hindi iyon ang unang tumambad sa kaniyang paningin.
May mga inang yakap ang kanilang mga anak habang lumuluha. May mga batang naghahanap sa kanilang mga ama na hindi na kailanman makababalik.
Sa bawat sulok ng kabisera, maririnig ang hikbi ng mga pamilyang nawalan ng tahanan, asawa, anak, at mga mahal sa buhay.
Tahimik lamang na pinagmasdan iyon ni Lurtheron. Bahagya niyang ipinikit ang kaniyang mga mata.
Every throne... is built upon the sacrifices of countless lives. The palace may have been damaged... but those people have lost something that can never be rebuilt.
Naging mabigat ang katahimikan sa buong Imperial Court.
"May problema tayong mas dapat pagtuunan ng pansin. Rassia Saint Quentin... the Orythea. The Demon Princess who never died in the fire. She survived what should have been impossible, and she is even immune to flames. Until her death is confirmed, I refuse to believe she is gone.
Thanks to the Great Goddess, her beloved husband and her father have both turned to ashes. They will no longer stand beside her." Lurtheron sighed.
Bahagya siyang tumingin sa mga opisyal.
"But our problem remains. Her... and those beasts that rule the skies."
Isa sa mga matatandang opisyal ang yumuko.
"Then let us place our faith in the Great Goddess, Your Majesty. May the Orythea have perished beneath the sea. May the Great Goddess ensure that the Demon Princess never rises again."
Marahan lamang na tumango ang ilan sa mga maharlika, bagaman wala ni isa sa kanila ang makapagsabing tiyak na patay na nga ang babaeng kanilang kinatatakutan.
Napalunok ang isa sa mga opisyal, bakas ang pag-aalinlangan sa kaniyang mukha.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," mahina niyang saad. "But... I find it difficult to believe that Lady Rassia would simply perish."
Napatingin sa kaniya ang buong Imperial Court. Huminga siya nang malalim bago nagpatuloy.
"We all felt... that overwhelming mana. It was unlike anything I have ever encountered. She possesses anti-magic. And a demon resides w-within h-her."
Tahimik na pinagmasdan ni Emperor Lurtheron ang nagsalitang opisyal bago siya marahang umiling.
"Do not underestimate Marquis Dominique," kalmado niyang saad. "Nor his Sovereign Spirit, Fenrath."
Bahagya niyang ibinaling ang tingin sa malawak na bintana ng bulwagan.
"If anyone can bring this battle to its conclusion... it is them. For now... we wait. Until six o'clock this evening. If they have not returned by then... then we must assume that Marquis Dominique, and the nobles who pursued Lady Rassia are in grave danger."
Unti-unting ibinaling ni Lurtheron ang kaniyang tingin sa orasan. Bawat segundo ay tila lalong nagpapabigat sa hangin.
Nang tuluyang tumapat ang karayom sa alas-sais ng gabi...
Hindi bumukas ang pintuan ng bulwagan.
Wala pa ring bumabalik.