CHAPTER 65 #3
"However," dagdag ni Lurtheron, "the empire will still monitor the laws surrounding these debts. I will not allow families to be abused."
"Yes, Your Majesty," sagot ni Pope Roque.
Ngumiti si Lurtheron.
"I trust the Cathedral to act according to the will of the Great Goddess."
Nagkatinginan sina Pope Roque at Cardinal Asphodel.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Lurtheron believed he was protecting the will of the Great Goddess. He believed the Cathedral was guiding the empire toward righteousness.
Muling nagsalita si Megan mula sa kanyang kinauupuan, tila may isa pa siyang gustong idagdag sa mga batas na tinatalakay ng council.
"There is another matter I believe the empire should address."
Napatingin sa kanya si Lurtheron.
"What is it?"
Megan calmly picked up another document.
"Women who become pregnant through abuse or coercion should not simply be allowed to make decisions based on their own feelings. If the life of the unborn child is considered sacred under the will of the Great Goddess, then the law should protect that life regardless of how the pregnancy happened."
Naging tahimik ang buong council. Pope Roque immediately nodded.
"Exactly, Your Majesty. That is the position of the Holy Cathedral."
Megan continued.
"I understand that some situations are painful and complicated. But if we start making exceptions whenever circumstances are difficult, then eventually people will begin questioning the divine laws themselves."
Cardinal Asphodel nodded approvingly.
"The Empress Dowager understands the teachings of the Great Goddess well."
"Of course," sagot ni Megan. "The empire cannot allow personal circumstances to override divine law. If the Great Goddess has declared that life is sacred, then our laws must reflect that."
Lurtheron listened carefully.
"So you're proposing that a woman who becomes pregnant through abuse or coercion could still be denied the ability to end the pregnancy?"
"Yes," sagot ni Megan without hesitation. "Because the child should not be punished for the actions of another person."
Pope Roque placed his hands together.
"That is precisely what the Cathedral believes, Your Majesty. We must protect the innocent life above all else."
Megan nodded.
"Then the law should make that principle clear."
Lurtheron looked toward the documents again.
"If this truly reflects the will of the Great Goddess..."
"It does," Cardinal Asphodel assured.
Lurtheron slowly nodded. "Then I will support the proposal."
A faint smile appeared on Megan's lips. "Good."
She leaned back in her chair, satisfied.
The council continued discussing the wording of the law, unaware that the Empress Dowager had just helped strengthen the Cathedral's authority.
Ginagamit ni Megan ang Holy Cathedral bilang political weapon niya. Since she no longer sits on the throne, hindi na niya kayang kontrolin nang direkta ang buong imperyo.
Sa halip, ginagamit niya ang mga opisyal ng Cathedral para impluwensyahan ang mga maharlika, pari, at maging ang kasalukuyang emperor. She no longer needs to command the empire herself because the Cathedral can influence the people for her.
Ginagamit din niya ang salita ng dakilang diyosa para kontrolin ang sarili niyang anak. If Lurtheron ever tries to weaken the Cathedral, she can make him believe that he is disrespecting the Great Goddess.
She knows exactly which words to use to make her son doubt his own decisions.
Ang Holy Cathedral naman ang kumokontrol sa paniniwala ng mga tao habang si Megan ang tahimik na nakakaimpluwensya sa mga desisyon ng imperyo. The Holy Cathedral controls what the people believe, while the Dowager controls what the empire does.
Pareho nilang pinoprotektahan ang isa't isa at hindi inilalantad ang katiwalian ng kabilang panig. If someone discovers the Holy Cathedral's corruption, Megan can use her political influence to protect them.
At kapag may nagtangkang maglantad ng corruption ni Megan, maaaring gamitin ng Holy Cathedral ang kanilang impluwensya upang sirain ang reputasyon ng taong iyon. They can simply brand them as a heretic who is acting against the will of the gods.
Together, they make it extremely difficult for anyone to challenge either of them.
Nang matapos ang kanilang meeting, naiwan na lamang doon si Lurtheron at ang Empress Dowager. Tumayo si Lurtheron at humarap sa bintana, tahimik na pinagmamasdan ang ulan sa labas.
I don't really want this throne. I never wanted to rule an empire, pero nasa akin na ito ngayon.
And somehow, this empire is slowly becoming what I always wanted it to be.
Unti-unti na itong nagiging isang tunay na holy empire.
Naniniwala akong ang Dakilang Diyosa ang gumagabay sa akin at may dahilan kung bakit ako inilagay sa trono.
Maybe she wants me to build an empire founded on faith, order, and devotion.
Kung ang Holy Cathedral ang nagsisilbing gabay ng mga tao, then perhaps allowing their influence to grow isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Maybe this is what I have always wanted...
not simply to rule, but to create something that will remain long after I'm gone.
I want the people to believe in something greater than themselves, and I want this empire to become a place where the will of the Great Goddess is respected.
If she truly chose me, then who am I to question the path she has placed before me?
Bahagyang ngumisi si Lurtheron habang patuloy na nakatingin sa bintana.
I knew Vincenzo would hate me for this... for slowly turning the empire into a holy empire. He always questioned the Holy Cathedral. He never trusted their influence, and perhaps now he would look at me and wonder how I could allow it to grow this far.
Rest peacefully in Infernov, brother...
Inaayos ni Megan ang lavender na bulaklak sa isang eleganteng vase habang tila malalim ang iniisip.
Alright... alright... as long as these fanatics of the Great Goddess remain on my side, I'm protected. I can move freely, do whatever I want, and no one will dare question me...
As long as the Holy Cathedral believes I am acting in the name of the great goddess, they will protect me...
"Lurtheron... it's been a year since you became emperor. Kailangan mo nang magkaroon ng Empress. Your line is at stake."
Napabuntong-hininga si Lurtheron at bahagyang napailing.
"I told you, Mother. I only devote myself to the Great Goddess."
"Devotion is one thing, Lurtheron. But you're an emperor. You have responsibilities beyond yourself. You should also understand that the empire needs an heir."
Saglit na natahimik si Lurtheron. Muli siyang tumingin sa labas ng bintana.
"I don't want to choose someone simply because the throne demands it."
Megan slowly placed another lavender stem into the vase.
"Then choose someone who understands what the throne requires."
"I don't think marriage should be treated like another political obligation." agad na sagot ni Lurtheron.
Megan glanced at him. "And yet, Lurtheron, you are the emperor. Almost everything you do becomes a political obligation."
Tahimik siyang napatingin sa kanyang anak.
"You cannot spend your entire life hiding behind your devotion to the Great Goddess."
Bahagyang ngumiti si Lurtheron. "Perhaps I don't need to choose between my duty and my faith."
Megan's expression remained calm.
"Then perhaps you should start thinking about what the Great Goddess expects from an emperor."
Lurtheron fell silent. Muling inayos ni Megan ang lavender sa vase, tila wala lamang ang kanilang naging pag-uusap.
Ngunit sa likod ng kanyang mahinahong kilos, alam niyang unti-unti na niyang naitutulak ang kanyang anak sa direksyong gusto niya.
"I want Lady Athena to be your Empress, the daughter of the late Pope Theodoro. She's your perfect match."
Napatingin si Lurtheron sa kanyang ina. "I don't even know her that well."
"Then get to know her! she's from a respected family, she's connected to the Holy Cathedral, and she'd be a perfect choice for the throne!"
Umigting ang panga ni Lurtheron. Matagal siyang natahimik bago siya tuluyang nagsalita.
Alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko magagawang mahalin ang isang anak kung hindi ito galing sa taong mahal ko. And a child doesn't deserve to have a father like me.
Hindi ko kayang gumawa ng isang buhay dahil lamang kailangan ng imperyo ng tagapagmana. Hindi ko gustong dumating ang araw na titingin sa akin ang sarili kong anak at mararamdaman niyang isa lamang siyang obligasyon na kailangang gampanan ng kanyang ama.
The child would only grow up surrounded by loneliness. And I know what that kind of loneliness feels like. I don't want my child to grow up wondering why their father can rule an empire but cannot even make them feel loved...
I want my child to be born from love, not from duty, politics, or the demands of a throne. Because an heir is not just a name written on a succession document.
It's a person... and that person deserves a father who actually wants them.
It's a life entrusted to me by the Great Goddess.
And I refuse to treat that life as a duty.
Ngunit... kung talagang ako ang pinili ng Dakilang Diyosa upang mamuno sa imperyo, then I have a responsibility to make sure that the imperial bloodline continues after I'm gone.
Hindi ko man gusto ang ideya ng pagkakaroon ng anak dahil lamang sa tungkulin, I cannot allow my personal feelings to put the entire succession at risk.
Perhaps this is simply another sacrifice I have to make for the empire...
Maybe someday, the Great Goddess will make me understand why this path was placed before me...
Nagtungo si Lurtheron sa lamesa at muling umupo. Kumuha siya ng isang kopita at dahan-dahang nilagyan iyon ng wine bago muling sumandal sa kanyang upuan.
"Hera Hope Castellan... I know she's your friend, and I know you're eyeing her. You care about her... but she can't be your Empress, Lurtheron. She has the curse of your jerk of a brother. You can't touch each other, and you can't even use your holy power because of her."