CHAPTER 71 #4
"Lurtheron... how is Athena?"
Bahagyang iminulat ni Lurtheron ang kaniyang mga mata at muling pumikit.
Hearing her voice... somehow makes my heart feel at peace.
Is this what heaven looks like? Is this what Gadesea is supposed to feel like?
If the Great Goddess truly welcomes the souls of the dead there... then perhaps it is not so different from this.
For a moment, I can forget the Empire. I can forget the council, the Holy Cathedral, my mother... even the strange dream that has been haunting me...
I can simply stand here beside her.
Just like we used to....
"She's doing well. She's resting more these days."
Hera smiled faintly.
"And the baby?"
"The baby is doing well too. Her delivery is getting closer."
Napangiti si Hera nang marinig iyon.
"I'm glad to hear that. I'm really happy for both of you."
Muli niyang tiningnan ang estatwa ng Dakilang Diyosa, trying to hide the sadness behind her gentle smile.
"Hera, do you think I am a terrible man?"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Hera nang marinig iyon. For a moment, she simply stared at him, as if she could feel the weight behind those words.
"Everyone is a terrible person, Lurtheron."
Tahimik na napatingin si Lurtheron sa kaniya.
"Don't ask me that question as though I am supposed to decide whether you are good or evil. I can't do that for you. You're the Emperor. You make decisions every day that affect thousands of people, and you have to live with whatever comes after."
Bahagya siyang huminga nang malalim.
"Sometimes you will make the right choice. Sometimes you'll make the wrong one. And sometimes, you won't even know which one it was until it's too late."
Her expression remained calm, but there was firmness in her voice.
"Being an Emperor doesn't make you a good person, Lurtheron. And making a mistake doesn't automatically make you a terrible one either."
Hera turned back toward the statue of the Great Goddess.
"You asked me if you're a terrible man."
Napakurap si Lurtheron sa kaniyang mga sinabi. For a moment, he simply stared at Hera, unable to find the right words to answer.
"Perhaps you are. Perhaps you're not. Only you can answer that..."
Lurtheron smiled faintly.
"I don't know who I am anymore, Hera. I just see myself as the servant of the Great Goddess."
He paused for a moment.
"Do you know why my devotion to the Great Goddess is absolute, Hera?"
Kumunot ang noo ni Hera habang nanatiling nakatingin sa estatwa.
"Because... I see myself in the Great Goddess."
Bahagya siyang napangiti, ngunit may lungkot sa kaniyang mga mata.
"She is lonely. People pray to her when they have nothing left on the table. They pray for their wants, for her blessings, for miracles when their lives become difficult. They call her name whenever they need something."
Marahan siyang napahinga.
"But when everything is finally going well... they forget her."
"Kapag puno na ang kanilang hapag, kapag wala na silang problema, kapag nakuha na nila ang mga bagay na ipinagdasal nila... they stop looking up at her."
Bahagya niyang itinaas ang kaniyang tingin sa estatwa.
"That's why I can't... abandon her."
"You think you are lonely, Lurtheron? then what am I to you?"
Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Lurtheron dahil doon.
"I've been standing beside you all this time. I've listened to you, stayed when everyone else left, and watched you carry burdens you never wanted to talk about!"
Lalong nagulat si Lurtheron nang tuluyan nang pumatak ang mga luha ni Hera. Hindi niya inaasahang makikita itong umiiyak.
"You're always looking for love. I knew that!" nanginginig ang kaniyang boses habang pinupunasan ang kaniyang mga luha. "I understand why you became the way you are. I know what your environment was like when you were growing up. I know what kind of mother you had, and I know how she treated you!"
Napatingin siya nang diretso kay Lurtheron.
"And I still accepted you just the way you are! I am the one person who has seen you, Lurtheron. Not the Emperor. Not the son of the Empress Dowager. Not the servant of the Great Goddess!"
Huminga siya nang malalim, pilit pinipigilan ang panginginig ng kaniyang boses.
"I saw you!"
"H-Hera..."
"God, you think you're alone?"
Lumapit siya nang isang hakbang.
"Then look at me!"
Napalunok si Lurtheron sakanyang paglapit.
"I'm here! I'm standing right in front of you!"
Bahagyang nanginginig ang kaniyang mga kamay habang patuloy ang pag-agos ng kaniyang mga luha.
"Do you even know why I'm here?!"
Hindi agad nakasagot si Lurtheron.
"Because I knew you were stressed!"
Bahagya siyang napatawa nang mapait.
"I knew you wouldn't come looking for me! I knew you'd lock yourself inside that office! and pretend that you're fine while carrying everything by yourself!"
Humakbang palayo si Lurtheron ng isang hakbang upang maiwasang magdikit ang kanilang mga balat.
"Hera... do you... have feelings for me?"
Tuluyan siyang tinitigan ni Hera. Namumula ang kaniyang mga mata dahil sa mga luhang kanina pa niya pinipigilan.
"I hated you, Lurtheron. I always hated you."
Tuluyan nang natigilan si Lurtheron sa kaniyang narinig.
"I hate the way you devote yourself to the Great Goddess! I hate the way you keep putting everyone else's needs before your own! I hate the way you smile while your eyes look completely empty!"
Bahagya siyang napailing habang muling tumulo ang kaniyang mga luha.
"I hate how you keep telling yourself that you have no one when I've been right here... all this time!"
Huminga siya nang malalim.
"But..."
Saglit siyang natahimik.
"I just can't hate you!"
Nanatiling kalmado si Lurtheron, ngunit umigting ang kaniyang panga habang muling sumagi sa kaniyang isipan ang sumpang ipinataw sa kaniya ng kaniyang kapatid. He hated it. He hated that curse more than anything because it had taken away even the simplest thing he wanted to do.
He wanted to reach for Hera. He wanted to hold her.
But he couldn't.
"Tell me, Hera." his voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable authority behind it.
"I asked you a question. And I am not asking you as your friend."
His eyes remained fixed on hers.
"I am commanding you as the Emperor of the Erenhal Sartorias Empire. Now answer me."
Sandaling huminga si Hera nang malalim dahil doon. Because of Lurtheron's tone, she was reminded that he was no longer the same person she once knew.
"Devotion is a strange thing, Your Majesty. You don't always choose where your heart kneels." she said.
Her gaze softened.
"Perhaps mine simply chose you..."
Kinabukasan, all of the High Priests were sent throughout Sartores.
Bawat isa ay nagtungo sa iba't ibang bahagi ng kabisera, mula sa mga mataong pamilihan hanggang sa maliliit na baryo at mga lansangang malapit sa mga tahanan ng mga ordinaryong mamamayan.
Bitbit nila ang mga kautusan ng Holy Cathedral at ang mensaheng ipinahayag ni Pope Roque.
Sa bawat lugar, nagtitipon ang mga tao at nakikinig sa mga High Priests.
The High Priests stood before them and began speaking in the name of the Great Goddess, reminding the people of their faith, their duties, and the importance of maintaining peace within the Empire.
Paulit-ulit nilang binabanggit ang pangalan ng Dakilang Diyosa, as though every word they spoke carried her authority.
Marami ring Holy Knights ang nakapalibot sa mga High Priests.
Nakakalat ang mga ito sa paligid ng lugar, forming a wide perimeter to prevent anyone from getting too close to the High Priests.
Their presence was meant to keep the gathering under control, making it clear that no one was allowed to interrupt the speech or approach the priests without permission.
Tahimik lamang na nakatingin ang mga mamamayan sa kanila, habang ang ilan ay marahang nagbubulungan sa isa't isa.
"Hindi namin kayo kinakawawa sa mga batas na aming ipinapatupad, at lalong hindi namin kayo ninakawan. Ang bawat batas na aming ginawa ay para sa kaayusan at kapayapaan ng ating mga bayan, at ang bawat buwis na inyong ibinibigay ay ginagamit para sa kapakanan ng Imperyo at ng mga mamamayan nito.
Kung may mga taong nagsasabing inaapi namin kayo, huwag agad kayong maniwala sa kanilang mga salita. They only seek to fill your hearts with anger and doubt against the Holy Cathedral. Tandaan ninyo, the Cathedral was entrusted by the Great Goddess to guide Her people,
and it is our sacred duty to carry out Her teachings. Kaya ang pagtanggi ninyong makinig sa amin ay hindi lamang pagsuway sa Cathedral, kundi isang pagtalikod sa tungkuling ipinagkaloob sa amin ng Dakilang Diyosa. We ask you to return to your homes, remain faithful,
and trust those whom the Goddess has chosen to lead you. Do not let anger become the reason you lose Her blessing."
Nang matapos ang High Priest sa kaniyang mga sinabi, lalong umingay ang paligid.
Marami sa mga tao ang agad nagsigawan, halatang hindi sang-ayon sa mga narinig nila. Some shook their heads in disbelief, while others began openly questioning the words of the Cathedral.
"Kasalanan pa namin?!"
"Ang lakas ng loob nilang sabihin iyon!"
"Kung para sa amin ang mga batas nila, bakit lalo lamang tayong naghihirap?!"
"Hanggang ngayon, ginagamit pa rin nila ang pangalan ng Dakilang Diyosa!"
Lalong kumalat ang mga bulungan sa buong lugar. Ang ilan ay nagtataas ng boses habang ang iba naman ay pilit pinapakinggan ang kanilang mga kasama.
Sa paligid, nanatiling nakapuwesto ang mga Holy Knights, mahigpit na nagmamasid sa bawat kilos ng mga mamamayan.
"Kasalanan pa namin ang hindi makinig sa inyo?! Ilang taon na kaming nakikinig sa Holy Cathedral, pero kailan ninyo kami tunay na pinakinggan?! Every time we ask for help, you tell us to pray! Every time we ask why our families are suffering, you tell us to have faith!"