CHAPTER 71 #2
"If you have already forgotten why you were appointed as the council, then perhaps you should remind yourselves of the responsibilities you were entrusted with. You were educated to serve the Empire, not to spend your time laughing at rumors from a distant city."
Nagkatinginan ang lahat. Ngunit ang mga miyembro ng Holy Cathedral ay malayo ang iniisip at tila walang pakielam sa tensyon.
"I suggest we stop wasting our time talking about her and start discussing the problems that are actually standing right in front of us."
Tuluyan na silang natahimik.
Samantala, tinaasan lamang ni Solomon ng isang kilay si Athena. His gaze lingered on her for a moment, clearly unimpressed by what she had said.
Para sa kaniya, walang sapat na dahilan upang seryosohin ang opinyon ni Athena. She may have been appointed as the acting Empress, but in his eyes, she was still nothing more than a concubine who happened to hold a temporary position of authority.
Tahimik lamang na ibinalik ni Athena ang kaniyang tingin sa mga dokumento sa harapan niya, as if she had already noticed his judgment but simply chose not to acknowledge it.
A moment later, the doors of the Imperial Office finally opened. Lurtheron and Megan had arrived.
Agad na tumayo ang lahat sa mga council members bago muling umupo nang tuluyang makapasok ang dalawa. Tahimik na nagtungo si Megan sa kaniyang upuan sa kaliwang bahagi ni Lurtheron sa mahabang mesa.
Samantala, halata sa mukha ni Lurtheron ang matinding pagod at stress. Dark circles were visible beneath his eyes, while his usually composed expression appeared much heavier than before.
He silently took his seat and rubbed his temple for a moment.
The growing protests, the reports of missing citizens, and the increasing pressure from the people had clearly begun to take a toll on him.
Si Megan naman ay nakakunot ang noo, halatang malalim din ang kaniyang iniisip. She looked just as stressed as her son, with the tension clearly visible on her face.
This is becoming more troublesome than I expected...
She had barely spoken since entering the room, but the troubled expression in her eyes made it clear that she was carrying the same weight as Lurtheron.
Lurtheron slowly leaned back in his chair, his tired eyes scanning the council members around the table.
"Does anyone have a suggestion?" he finally asked, his voice calm but clearly strained. "How do we calm the people down before this anger spreads any further? We cannot simply ignore them anymore. The protests are growing, and if we fail to respond properly, more citizens may join them."
He glanced at the reports scattered across the table.
"So tell me... what can we do to ease their anger? How do we convince them that the Imperial Palace is still capable of protecting them?"
Tahimik na nag-isip si Athena bago marahang inilapag ang mga dokumentong kaniyanv binabasa sa mesa.
"Perhaps we should stop trying to silence them."
Napatingin sa kaniya ang buong council.
"If we truly want to calm the people, then we need to listen to them first. Hindi sila magagalit nang ganito kung wala silang dahilan. They are angry because they feel ignored and burdened."
Bahagya niyang tiningnan ang mga dokumento.
"We should publicly acknowledge their concerns and investigate the complaints regarding the Holy Cathedral. We can also suspend some of the disputed taxes and debts while the investigation is ongoing. At the same time, the Imperial Palace should send officials to the towns and villages,
not to threaten the citizens, but to hear their concerns directly."
"If we show them that the Empire is willing to listen, some of their anger may naturally disappear. We don't need to force them into silence. We need to give them a reason to believe that their voices are actually being heard." Athena continued.
Napatango si Lurtheron sa mga sinabi ni Athena. Tahimik na pinag-isipan ang nga sinambit nito.
Tumikhim si Pope Roque bago magsalita.
"Your Majesty, the people are angry because they have forgotten the teachings of the Great Goddess. Hindi na nila nauunawaan kung ano ang tunay na ibig sabihin ng kaniyang mga aral. They are being influenced by fear and anger,
that is why they have begun questioning the authority of the Holy Cathedral."
"... I believe we should hear them out. If I may, Your Majesty, as the Pope, I will personally address the people and remind them of the teachings of the Great Goddess."
Sandaling napatingin ang Pope sa mga dokumento at muling tumingin sa emperor.
"I will tell them that their anger is understandable, but they must not allow it to lead them toward hatred and rebellion. I will remind them that the Great Goddess teaches compassion, unity, and obedience to those who have been entrusted with guiding the people."
Bahagya niyang tiningnan ang iba pa.
"If the people hear these words directly from me, perhaps they will calm down. They may realize that the Holy Cathedral only wishes to protect them and preserve the order of the Empire."
Tahimik na nakinig si Athena, ngunit habang patuloy na nagsasalita ang Pope, lalo lamang nandilim ang kaniyang ekspresyon.
They are using the name of the Great Goddess again...
This isn't what I wanted...
Uminom si Megan mula sa kaniyang kopita bago marahang pinahid ang kaniyang mga labi gamit ang table napkin.
"Kung gayon, it's settled. Lurtheron, declare an order. Each High Priest will go to the streets, towns, and villages and deliver the Pope's speech. Bring the Holy Knights with them. Kung ayaw makinig ng mga tao, then make them listen. If they refuse to move or continue protesting,
the Holy Knights should disperse them immediately. We cannot allow these gatherings to grow any larger. Kailangan nilang makita na may kapangyarihan pa rin ang Holy Cathedral at ang korona. The more we allow them to speak, the more courage they will gain, so don't give them too much freedom.
If they resist, use force if necessary. Once the people see that we will not tolerate their defiance, they will eventually back down."
Mabilis na napatayo si Athena dahil sa sinabi ni Megan. Agad namang napatingin sa kaniya si Lurtheron, habang bahagyang napahawak si Athena sa kaniyang tiyan at napalunok.
"No, that's not the right way to handle this!"
Bahagya siyang huminga nang malalim bago tumingin ng patalim kay Megan.
"If the Holy Knights start using force against the people, you will only prove everything they are already accusing the Cathedral of doing! They're angry because they feel powerless! and you're planning to make them feel even more powerless?!"
"... the people need to be heard, not threatened. Kapag pinilit natin silang patahimikin, they will only gather more people, and their anger will become even harder to control!"
Tahimik na napatingin si Lurtheron kay Athena, habang si Megan naman ay bahagyang kumunot ang noo at tahimik na umirap.
"Then perhaps you are too soft for this position, Lady Athena." ani Megan.
Napatingin sa kaniya ang buong council.
"Sila ay nagtitipon hindi dahil gusto nilang makinig. They are gathering because they have discovered that they can challenge the people above them. Kapag hinayaan natin silang magsalita nang magsalita, lalo lamang silang magkakaroon ng lakas ng loob."
Bahagya siyang sumandal sa kaniyang upuan.
"You call it listening. I call it weakness."
Tumingin siya kay Athena mula ulo hanggang paa.
"Ang Imperyo ay hindi pinamumunuan sa pamamagitan ng paghingi ng pahintulot sa mga mamamayan. We rule because someone has to maintain order. At kung kailangan nating gumamit ng puwersa para maibalik ang katahimikan, then so be it."
Ngumiti si Megan dahilan upang lumaki ang inis ni Athena.
"Kung may mga taong ayaw sumunod, then perhaps they should learn what happens when ordinary citizens forget their place."
Tahimik na inalalayan ng isang maidservant si Athena sa kaniyang muling pag-upo. Nakakunot ang noo ni Athena at bahagya siyang umiling kay Lurtheron, as if silently begging him not to listen to his mother.
Nanatiling tahimik si Lurtheron. Sumandal lamang siya sa kaniyang upuan at napahawak ang kaniyang hintuturo sa kaniyang kanang sintido.
Megan, however, remained completely composed.
"Back to what I have said. The goal is to bring back the normal people and silence them."
Bahagya niyang tiningnan ang mga dokumentong nasa mesa.
"Kapag magkakasama sila, mas lumalakas ang loob nila. They encourage one another, they share their anger, and eventually they begin believing that they have enough power to challenge the authorities. Kaya hindi natin sila dapat hayaang manatiling magkakasama."
"... if they are separated, their courage will naturally weaken. Hindi na nila maririnig ang sigawan ng isa't isa, hindi na nila mapapalakas ang loob ng bawat isa, at mas madali silang mapapakalma."
Napatingin si Athena sa kaniya, tila hindi makapaniwala sa kaniyang naririnig.
Megan continued, completely unaware of the disgust in Athena's expression.
"Once the gatherings disappear, the Empire will appear peaceful again. The people will return to their homes, the streets will become quiet, and the Holy Cathedral's authority will no longer be openly challenged."
Marahang tumango si Solomon, tila lubos na sang-ayon sa sinabi ni Megan.
"I agree with the Empress Dowager. Kapag patuloy na magkakasama ang mga tao, mas lalo lamang silang magkakaroon ng lakas ng loob na kuwestiyunin ang awtoridad ng imperyo. They are already influencing one another, so allowing them to remain in large groups will only make the situation worse.
If the Holy Knights disperse them and send them back to their homes, the situation will eventually calm down. Hindi naman kailangang labis na puwersahin ang lahat. We simply need to remind them that the Empire still has authority over its people."
Napatingin siya kay Lurtheron.
"Your Majesty, I believe this is the quickest way to restore order before their anger spreads any further."
Athena rolled her eyes.