CHAPTER 65 #2
"That's the frightening part. We know the name. We know the legend. We know that the gods sealed her somewhere in Arcadeya."
Dahan-dahang isinara ng priestess ang librong kanyang hawak, maingat na ipinahinga ang palad sa ibabaw ng lumang pabalat bago ito tuluyang inilapag sa mesa.
"But we don't know where."
Megan rolled her eyes. "Oh, please."
Everyone turned toward her. Megan calmly reached for another pastry.
"You're all frightening yourselves over some ancient name you've never even seen. Dakkodas, the Seven Princes, Erish... whatever her name is. We've been talking about demons for almost an hour."
She took a bite before continuing.
"If these demons are really as terrifying as you say, shouldn't the Holy Cathedral be the one worrying about them?"
The Empress Dowager looked completely bored as the conversation continued to revolve around demons, Erenhals, and other ancient creatures. She had already lost interest, lazily stirring her tea while occasionally glancing at the pastries on the table.
"So can we please talk about something important?"
reklamo ni Megan, halatang hindi na interesado.
"Why should I waste my afternoon worrying about some demon who hasn't even shown up? There are so many other things we could be discussing, duh. Like my dresses, gowns, jewelry, and even the decorations for the next banquet..."
One of the noblewomen blinked.
"Your Majesty, we're discussing a demon who was supposedly powerful enough to be sealed by the gods," paalala ng isa.
"And yet she's been sealed for who knows how many centuries," Megan replied casually. "If she's been asleep for that long, maybe she isn't coming back. Problem solved."
A few noblewomen exchanged uncomfortable glances.
"But Your Majesty, what if they suddenly appear?"
"Then someone can tell me when they do."
She casually picked up another pastry.
"Honestly, I don't understand why everyone is so obsessed with these old creatures. Demons, vampires, Erenhals, ancient prophecies... ang boring naman."
"But Your Majesty, the Holy Cathedral believes these matters could affect the entire empire."
Megan rolled her eyes again. "Then let the Holy Cathedral worry about them. Isn't that what priests and cardinals are for?"
The noblewomen exchanged awkward glances.
Alam ng lahat ng maharlika ang kumalat na balita kung paano raw nagwala ang Empress Dowager nang sinunog ni Rassia ang Imperial Palace. Nasunog ang ilan sa kanyang mga mamahaling gown, dresses, bags, sapatos, at kung anu-ano pang personal na gamit na matagal niyang inalagaan.
Ayon sa mga nakasaksi, halos hindi raw matanggap ni Megan ang nangyari. Nagalit daw ito nang husto nang malaman niyang nasunog ang kanyang mga mamahaling gamit.
Ngunit hindi iyon ang mas pinag-uusapan ng mga maharlika. Nagtataka sila kung paano, ilang buwan lamang matapos ang insidente, ay mayroon na naman agad bagong mga gown, dresses, bags, at alahas si Megan.
Megan continued without noticing their expressions.
"Besides, my banquet is coming up. I still haven't decided whether I want the silver decorations or the pearl ones. And I need a new gown. Something elegant, but not too simple. Maybe something with diamonds... or sapphires..."
She suddenly looked at one of the noblewomen.
"What do you think?"
"Your Majesty, I don't think anyone can properly think about gowns right now."
Megan frowned. "Why not?"
"Because we're talking about a possible demonic threat..."
Megan stared at her for a moment. "Exactly. Which is why we should talk about something happier..."
She took another sip of tea.
"Now, tell me, which jewelry would look better with a red gown? Rubies or diamonds?"
Wala sinuman agad ang sumagot.
Megan sighed. "Honestly, you people are terrible at tea parties."
Isang Marchioness ang pasimpleng umirap habang pinagmamasdan si Megan na abala sa pag-uusap tungkol sa mga gown, alahas, at mga dekorasyon para sa susunod na banquet.
This bitch. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala kung ano ang nakita ng late emperor Luthor sa babaeng ito... o sadyang bulag lang? ganoon ba talaga siya kaganda para makalimutan ng lahat kung gaano siya kawalang alam?
Narito lang naman ako para sa mga koneksyon. That's the only reason I'm even sitting at this table.
I need the connections, the influence, the people who can open doors for my family. Otherwise, I wouldn't waste my afternoon sitting here listening to this bitch talk endlessly about gowns, jewelry, and decorations while the empire has much bigger problems.
Napatingin ang Marchioness sa ibang mga noblewomen na tahimik na lamang nakikinig kay Megan.
Look at them. Lahat sila kailangang ngumiti at tumango dahil Empress Dowager siya. But if she weren't wearing that position, would anyone here actually listen to her?
However, nobody noticed the faint smirk that appeared on Megan's lips as she calmly sipped her tea.
Hmm... how amusing...
She lowered the teacup, her expression returning to its usual bored and spoiled look.
Isang taon na ang nakalipas mula nang mapuksa nila ang mga itinuturing nilang mga traydor sa Vermeleyon. Isang taon na rin ang lumipas mula nang maupo si Lurtheron bilang emperor at unti-unting lumawak ang impluwensya ng Holy Cathedral sa buong imperyo.
Ang Imperial Palace ay muli nang naitayo matapos ang pagkawasak nito isang taon na ang nakalipas. Bagama't bagong-bago pa ang ilang bahagi ng palasyo, sinikap ng mga arkitekto na ibalik ang dating karangyaan nito.
Sa ibabaw ng matataas na tore ay nakaladlad ang mga puting banner na may puting dragon, sumasabay ang mga ito sa malakas na hangin habang patuloy na bumubuhos ang ulan sa buong Sartores.
Madilim ang kalangitan nang hapong iyon.
Ngunit sa kabila ng masamang panahon, nagpatuloy pa rin ang pagpupulong ni Emperor Lurtheron kasama ang kanyang mga pinagkakatiwalaang konseho.
Nasa loob ng Imperial Council Chamber sina Right Hand Solomon, Empress Dowager, Pope Roque, Cardinal Asphodel, High Priest John, at tatlo pang imperial advisors.
Tahimik ang silid habang isa-isang inilalatag sa mahabang mesa ang mga dokumento tungkol sa bagong mga batas, kalakalan, buwis, at mga patakarang ipatutupad sa buong imperyo.
Nasa unahan ng mesa si Lurtheron, tahimik na binabasa ang isang dokumento.
"We have already spent the past year rebuilding the capital," panimula niya. "But rebuilding the buildings is only the beginning. We also need to restore order within the empire. Every law we pass from this point forward will affect not only the nobles, but ordinary citizens as well."
Tumango ang isa sa mga advisors.
"Your Majesty, several provinces have already submitted their proposed revisions to the imperial laws. Most of them concern taxation, inheritance, marriage, and religious regulations."
"Marriage and religious regulations?" tanong ni Lurtheron.
Tumayo si Pope Roque at inilapag ang isang dokumento sa mesa.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The Holy Cathedral has reviewed several existing laws and believes that some of them must be strengthened to reflect divine doctrine."
Kinuha ni Lurtheron ang dokumento at binasa ang ilang bahagi nito.
"Which laws?"
Saglit na nagkatinginan sina Pope Roque at Cardinal Asphodel bago nagsalita ang una.
"There is one matter the Holy Cathedral considers particularly important."
Huminto siya sandali.
"What matters?" tanong ni Lurtheron.
"First, same-sex relationships are considered a violation of divine law. Isa itong kalapastangan sa kalooban ng Great Goddess. The Holy Cathedral believes that such unions should not be recognized under imperial law."
Tahimik na nakinig si Lurtheron.
"Why does the Holy Cathedral consider it a divine law?"
"The teachings were passed down to us through the servants of the Great Goddess," sagot ni Cardinal Asphodel.
"We believe that the structure of marriage and family was established according to her will. To recognize something that goes against that order would be to disregard the will of the goddess herself."
Tumango si High Priest John.
"It is not merely a matter of tradition, Your Majesty. We believe the laws of the empire should reflect the will of the Great Goddess. If the Holy Cathedral allows such relationships to be treated as equal to sacred marriage, then we would be permitting an act that contradicts divine doctrine."
Tahimik na nag-isip si Lurtheron bago tumango.
"If that is truly the will of the Great Goddess, then I understand why the Cathedral considers it important."
Bahagyang ngumiti si Pope Roque.
"We are grateful for your understanding, Your Majesty."
Muling kumuha si Cardinal Asphodel ng isa pang dokumento.
"There is also the matter of financial assistance provided by Cathedral institutions."
"Go on."
"Many commoners borrow money from Holy Cathedral institutions when they have nowhere else to turn. But when they fail to repay their loans, their debts accumulate."
"So they become trapped?" tanong ni Solomon.
"Yes. Some families spend years attempting to repay what they originally borrowed."
Isa sa mga advisors ang tumingin sa dokumento.
"And the Cathedral wishes to continue these lending practices?"
"We believe financial assistance is an act of charity," sagot ni Pope Roque. "The Cathedral provides help when the imperial government cannot reach everyone. The debts are simply the means by which these institutions maintain their resources and continue helping others."
Cardinal Asphodel nodded.
"If the Great Goddess commands us to provide aid to those in need, then surely the system that allows the Cathedral to continue providing that aid must also be preserved."
Muling tumingin si Lurtheron sa mga dokumento.
For a moment, he remained silent. Then he nodded.
"If the Cathedral believes these practices are necessary to fulfill the will of the Great Goddess, then I will not interfere with the religious institutions..."
Napatingin si Solomon kay Lurtheron, ngunit hindi na ito nagsalita.