CHAPTER 71 #3
This fucking council is a fool.
They are treating frightened and angry citizens like a problem that needs to be erased instead of people who are demanding answers.
And Lurtheron...
Why is he just sitting there in silence? why does it seem like he can no longer question anything his mother says?
Nakikita kong pagod na pagod na siya, and his mother knows it. Alam niya kung kailan ito mahina, kung kailan naguguluhan, at kung anong mga salita ang kailangan niyang sabihin para mapasunod siya.
Hindi na ito simpleng payo ng isang ina sa kaniyang anak...
She's taking control of his fucking decisions...
Tch. If Vincenzo were still here, I know he would handle this differently. He wouldn't simply sit there and let someone else make his decisions for him. He's not like Lurtheron... a puppet being controlled by his own mother...
"Your Majesty, we both know that if Sartores, the capital country of Vermeleyon, falls and the people begin turning against your crown, then your position will be at risk, and so will the Holy Cathedral. Ang Sartores ay hawak na mismo ng korona.
They expect this country to be the center of stability and prosperity, but if even the capital begins to turn against you, other countries will start questioning the authority of the Empire. And once they realize that the people can challenge those in power,
the unrest will not remain within Sartores. It will spread to the rest of Vermeleyon. We cannot allow that to happen." ani Cardinal Asphodel.
Tahimik na napapikit si Lurtheron bago tuluyang tumingin sa mga council members.
"Very well. We'll proceed with my mother's suggestion."
Bahagya siyang umayos sa kaniyang upuan.
"I hereby order the High Priests to go throughout Sartores and the surrounding towns and villages to deliver the Pope's message. The Holy Knights will accompany them and maintain order. If the citizens refuse to disperse after being given a warning, they are to be sent back to their homes."
Sandali siyang tumigil.
"Do not allow the gatherings to grow any larger. We cannot let this unrest spread throughout the Empire."
Napatingin siya sa mga dokumento tungkol sa mga nawawalang mamamayan.
"As for the missing women and men... continue the investigation. I want reports from every town and village where a disappearance has been reported. Find out when they vanished, where they were last seen, and whether there are any connections between the cases. Do not stop searching for them.
Bring them back if they are found, and inform their families immediately."
"Sa ibang bansa na rin, inform the Grand Dukes, the Archduke and the King in the North that men, and especially women, have begun disappearing without a trace. Tell them to increase the security in their territories and investigate every report of a missing citizen.
We cannot allow this problem to spread to the rest of Vermeleyon without knowing who or what is behind it."
Lurtheron dismissed the council members one by one until the doors of the Imperial Office finally closed behind them.
The only ones remaining at the luxurious table were Megan and Athena.
Tahimik na nakatingin si Athena kay Lurtheron, her gaze cold and filled with disappointment. Ramdam ni Lurtheron ang kaniyang tingin, ngunit hindi na lamang niya ito pinansin. Sumandal siya sa kaniyang marangyang upuan at marahang pumikit.
A lot of problems are coming... but I can't stop thinking about the unknown threat the figure warned me about in my dream.
It's always on my mind. Every time I try to focus on the Empire, that warning comes back to me. I can't even think properly anymore. The protests, the missing people, the Holy Cathedral... everything is piling up, and yet I still don't know what that figure was trying to warn me about.
If only I could use my holy power...
Brother... why did you have to curse me?
Why did you leave me with this useless body when I need that power the most?
Habang nananatiling nakapikit si Lurtheron, tahimik na nagpalitan ng matalim na tingin sina Megan at Athena.
Napataas ang kilay ni Athena nang mapansin niyang hindi inaalis ng Empress Dowager ang tingin sa kaniya. There was something colder behind her gaze, something Athena could not quite explain. Para bang sinusuri siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa.
Bahagyang ngumiti si Megan habang nakatingin kay Athena.
"Take good care of yourself, Athena. Your delivery is coming soon..."
Athena felt uneasy with the way Megan was looking at her. Napalunok siya bago marahang tumayo at hinaplos ang kaniyang tiyan. Mabilis namang lumapit sa kaniya ang kaniyang maidservant upang alalayan siya.
There was something about the way she had said those words that made Athena feel uneasy.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I must take my leave to rest."
Napakunot ang noo ni Athena at marahang hinawakan ang kaniyang tiyan habang naglalakad palabas ng Imperial Office.
While walking through the hallway, she couldn't explain what her instincts were trying to tell her. There was an unfamiliar uneasiness lingering in her chest, something she couldn't quite understand.
Is this a mother's instinct...?
Nang tuluyang makaalis si Athena, nanatili pa rin ang tingin ni Megan sa double doors kung saan ito lumabas.
For a moment, a faint smirk appeared on her lips.
Ngunit agad din niya itong nawala at muling ibinalik ang kaniyang kalmadong ekspresyon bago dahan-dahang tumingin kay Lurtheron.
"You made the right decision, Lurtheron. I am proud of you. The Great Goddess would surely be pleased that you chose to protect the Empire and preserve order. This is what a true Emperor should do. Hindi mo hinayaang manaig ang kaguluhan,
and you chose the stability of the Empire above everything else."
Tahimik na nakinig si Lurtheron, ngunit makalipas ang ilang sandali ay bahagya siyang napakunot-noo.
"Mother... are you sure this is what the Great Goddess wants? Athena has a point. Kung gamitin natin ang Holy Knights para patahimikin ang mga tao, won't that make things worse? Baka lalo lamang silang magalit sa Holy Cathedral at sa imperyo."
Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti ni Megan.
"Lurtheron."
"Perhaps we should reconsider-"
Isang malakas na sampal ang tumama sa kaniyang pisngi. Tuluyang natahimik si Lurtheron. Nanatiling nakatagilid ang kaniyang mukha habang dahan-dahang pumapatak ang dugo mula sa kaniyang labi.
Megan stared at him coldly.
"You are a terrible man, Lurtheron."
Bahagyang nanigas si Lurtheron sa narinig.
"You have always been like this ever since you were a child. Always questioning. Always doubting. Kahit noong bata ka pa, you never knew when to simply obey the people who were trying to guide you."
Napatingin si Lurtheron sa kaniyang ina, tila hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.
"Mother..."
"Don't use that tone with me."
Bahagya siyang yumuko palapit sa kaniya.
"I gave you everything. I raised you, and yet you still question my decisions whenever things become difficult."
"Stop being weak, Lurtheron. You are the Emperor. Act like one."
Tahimik na napayuko si Lurtheron.
Ever since I was a child, I always did what she told me to do... but she couldn't see it?
Megan's expression softened slightly.
"The Great Goddess would never forgive an Emperor who allows his people to destroy the order of the Empire."
Lurtheron remained silent.
But what was... that?
Her slap... it was much stronger than before. Is it because she's angry? no... something is different.
She's too composed.
Before, whenever Mother became angry, she would lose her temper. She would raise her voice, throw things, and make sure everyone in the room knew exactly how furious she was...
Bumuntong-hininga na lamang si Lurtheron at pinili na lamang na balewalain ang kaniyang nararamdaman.
He decided to visit the statue of the Great Goddess inside the Imperial Palace, the same statue he had placed there when he became Emperor.
Ngunit natigilan siya nang makita niyang naroon ang kaniyang kaibigan.
It was Hera Hope Castellan.
She stood quietly before the statue of the Great Goddess, wearing a simple yet elegant white dress. Her long hair danced gently with the wind as she remained with her back turned toward Lurtheron, her eyes closed as though she was deep in prayer.
For Lurtheron, it felt as if time had suddenly stopped the moment he saw her.
Everything around him seemed to fade into the background. The sound of the wind, the distant footsteps of the palace servants, even the thoughts that had been tormenting his mind only moments ago seemed to disappear.
His eyes remained fixed on her. It had been so long since he had seen her like this.
For the first time that day, Lurtheron felt the weight on his shoulders become a little lighter.
He didn't know why. Perhaps it was simply because, for a brief moment, seeing her made him remember the person he used to be before he became Emperor.
Nagpasyang lumapit si Lurtheron kay Hera at tahimik na tumabi sa kaniya. Marahan siyang pumikit, allowing himself to enjoy the brief silence beside his old friend.
He made sure to leave enough distance between them. Hindi man lamang niya hinayaang magdikit ang kanilang mga balikat o kamay. He knew better than to risk it. The curse placed upon him by his brother was something he could never afford to forget.
Napatigil si Hera sa kaniyang ginagawa at napatingin sa kaniyang katabi. Bahagya siyang ngumiti, ngunit may lungkot sa kaniyang mga mata habang pinagmamasdan si Lurtheron.
He looked... tired.
I used to massage his back whenever he was stressed. I would stay beside him until he finally relaxed... but that was before everything changed.
Bahagya niyang ibinaba ang kaniyang tingin.
I can't even hold his hand anymore...
Saglit siyang natahimik bago muling napatingin kay Lurtheron.
But... he still looks so handsome, even when he's exhausted...
Mabilis niyang inalis ang tingin at muling humarap sa estatwa ng Dakilang Diyosa.. Tahimik na nanatili si Hera sa tabi ni Lurtheron bago siya marahang nagsalita.