CHAPTER 73
In the Capital City of Sartores
The time had finally come for Lurtheron to face the people of Vermeleyon.
The place where Lurtheron stood was a vast imperial terrace overlooking the heart of the capital.
Tall white pillars surrounded the open platform, their surfaces carved with ancient symbols of the empire, while enormous white banners hung between them and moved gently with the wind.
Katabi ni Lurtheron si Caspian. He stood calmly beside the Emperor while observing the enormous crowd below.
Ilang hakbang mula sa kanila ay tahimik namang nakabantay si Dazro.
His eyes constantly moved across the plaza, the surrounding buildings, and the rooftops, carefully searching for anything unusual.
Nasa likuran naman ni Lurtheron ang iba pang mga tauhan ng imperyo.
They remained in formation while waiting for the emperor's command.
Lurtheron slowly walked toward the edge of the terrace.
Mula roon ay malinaw niyang nakikita ang buong kabisera at ang napakaraming taong naghihintay sa kaniyang pagharap.
The ornate white railing decorated with gold stood between him and the vast crowd below.
Marahang hinipan ng hangin ang kaniyang puting kasuotan habang gumagalaw ang cross necklace sa kaniyang dibdib.
His blank white eyes remained fixed on the people below as the entire plaza gradually fell silent.
Saglit siyang nanatiling tahimik bago huminga nang malalim.
Nawa'y gabayan ako ng Dakilang Diyosa sa sandaling ito. Nawa'y liwanagan niya ang aking isipan at bigyan ako ng sapat na karunungan upang magampanan ko ang tungkuling ito...
Napatingin si Lurtheron sa di kalayuan.
Sa gitna ng napakaraming tao, isang babae ang tahimik na nakatayo, tila hindi naaapektuhan ng ingay at kaguluhan sa paligid.
It was Hera. She wore an elegant golden dress adorned with delicate white details, while her long hair was styled into a half bun that beautifully framed her face.
The sunlight seemed to fall upon her differently, making her appear almost otherworldly compared to everyone around her.
Napaawang ang labi ni Lurtheron habang patuloy lamang siyang nakatitig kay Hera. For a moment, everything around him seemed to disappear. Unti-unting nawala sa kaniyang pandinig ang sigawan ng mga tao, pati ang mga yabag ng mga kawal at ang ingay ng buong kabisera.
"Alam namin ang tungkol sa korapsyon sa loob ng imperyo!"
"Ilang taon na kaming nagtitiis sa mga batas na lalo lamang nagpapahirap sa aming buhay! Habang kayo ay namumuhay sa loob ng palasyo, kami naman ay halos wala nang maipakain sa aming mga pamilya!"
"Hindi na kami bulag sa ginagawa ng mga opisyal ninyo!"
"Hanggang kailan ninyo kami ituturing na parang wala kaming karapatan?!"
"Nasaan ang hustisya sa imperyong ito?! kapag mahirap ang gumawa ng pagkakamali, agad siyang pinaparusahan, pero kapag isang makapangyarihang tao ang gumawa nito, bigla na lamang nawawala ang batas! anong klaseng imperyo ang pinamumunuan ninyo?!"
Bumuntong-hininga muna si Lurtheron bago muling binalik ang kaniyang tingin sa mga mamamayang nag-uumapaw sa galit.
He slowly scanned the plaza, taking note of the black-cloaked figures scattered among the crowd.
Tahimik lamang silang nakatayo, ngunit kapansin-pansing alerto ang kanilang kilos, as though they were ready to act at any moment if the Holy Knights or Imperial Knights attempted to harm any of the citizens.
Muling tumingin si Lurtheron sa mga kawal na nakapuwesto sa paligid ng terrace.
He raised one hand and gave a subtle signal to one of the imperial knights standing nearby.
Agad namang tumango ang kawal bago lumapit sa malaking tambol na nakapuwesto sa gilid ng terrace.
Sa isang malakas na paghampas nito, umalingawngaw ang tunog ng tambol sa buong paligid.
Muling umalingawngaw ang tunog ng tambol, forcing the furious crowd to slowly fall silent. Isa pang malakas na dagundong ang sumunod, hanggang sa unti-unting humina ang mga sigawan at napalitan ito ng mabigat na katahimikan.
"Mga mamamayan... bago ninyo ako husgahan, tumingin muna kayo sa paligid ninyo. Those wearing black cloaks among the crowd are not ordinary citizens. They have repeatedly interfered with the Holy Knights, challenged their authority, and encouraged people to resist them.
They have blocked the Holy Knights from carrying out their duties, provoked confrontations, and used the anger of the people to create disorder throughout the capital. What they have done is not simply an act of protest or disagreement. Under the laws of this Empire,
deliberately obstructing imperial forces, inciting rebellion, and attempting to undermine the authority of the state are acts that may be charged as high treason."
Muling nagsigawan ang mga tao, tila lalong nag-init ang kanilang galit matapos marinig ang sinabi ng Emperor. Some shouted in disagreement, while others began questioning Lurtheron's accusations, refusing to believe that the people wearing black cloaks were the true cause of the chaos.
Sa di kalayuan, tahimik na nakikinig si Desmond sa bawat salitang binibitawan ng Emperor. Napailing na lamang siya habang bahagyang nakakunot ang noo.
Kayo ang gumagawa ng dahilan upang magkagulo ang mga tao...
Napatingin si Desmond sa paligid.
I hope the Queen arrives here at the right time. If she doesn't... we'll have no choice but to return to Mysarea using the Erenhal's portal key. We can't afford to get caught here.
Kapag nangyari iyon, it could also ruin the queen's entire plan...
Inabot na ng gabi ang pakikipag-usap ni Lurtheron sa mga mamamayan.
For hours, he had listened to their complaints, answered their accusations, and carefully chosen every word he spoke.
Unti-unting humina ang galit ng mga tao habang ipinapakita ng Emperor na handa siyang pakinggan ang kanilang mga hinaing.
Mas lalo pang tumahimik ang paligid nang lumapit ang isa sa mga konseho at inilapag ang isang imperial decree sa harapan ni Lurtheron.
Nakasaad dito na ilan sa mga batas at kautusan ng Holy Cathedral ay aalisin at susuriing muli ng imperyo.
The announcement immediately caught the attention of the people, and the anger that had filled the plaza for hours slowly began to fade.
Some remained doubtful, but many could no longer hide their surprise.
Lurtheron slowly looked at the people before him.
"I have heard you, people. As the Emperor of this Empire, it is my duty to listen when my people speak, even when their words are filled with anger. I will not pretend that everything has been perfect, nor will I ignore the suffering that many of you have experienced."
"Starting today, several laws enforced by the Holy Cathedral will be removed and reviewed by the Imperial Council. Hindi ko ipinapangako na maaayos natin ang lahat sa isang araw, ngunit sisimulan natin ngayon. You have spoken, and your voices have reached the Imperial Palace."
Saglit siyang tumigil at pinagmasdan ang mga mamamayan.
"So I ask you to give this Empire a chance. Give me the chance to prove that your Emperor is still willing to stand with his people."
Nagkatinginan ang mga mamamayan matapos marinig ang sinabi ni Lurtheron.
Some of them slowly decided to leave, believing that the Emperor had finally heard their concerns, while others remained, still uncertain whether they could truly trust his promises.
May ilan ding patuloy na nag-usap-usap tungkol sa bagong kautusan at sa mga batas ng Holy Cathedral na aalisin.
Samantala, ang ilan sa mga maharlika ay nanatili sa kanilang mga kinatatayuan.
They had no intention of leaving yet, especially after hearing that several laws of the Holy Cathedral would be removed.
Tahimik nilang hinintay ang pagtatapos ng pagsasalita ni Lurtheron, carefully watching the Emperor and waiting to see what he would do next.
Half of the nobles of the Erenhal Sartorias Empire had already begun questioning the growing influence of the Holy Cathedral. Many of them were no longer willing to blindly support the Cathedral, especially after seeing how strongly the people had spoken against its laws and authority.
Unti-unti nang nawawala ang impluwensya ng Holy Cathedral sa imperyo dahil sa lumalakas na pagtutol ng mga mamamayan. The people were beginning to question the laws they had once simply accepted, while the nobles were becoming more willing to challenge the Cathedral's authority.
The nobles began to realize that continuing to openly support the Holy Cathedral could eventually weaken their relationships with the other nobles who had already begun distancing themselves from its influence.
They feared that being seen as loyal supporters of the Cathedral would isolate them politically and make it harder to maintain alliances within the Empire.
Unti-unti nilang napagtanto na nagbabago na ang takbo ng kapangyarihan sa Erenhal Sartorias.
If they continued standing beside the Holy Cathedral while the people and other nobles were beginning to turn against it, they might eventually find themselves on the wrong side of the changing political landscape.
Because of this, more nobles began reconsidering their loyalty. Hindi man nila tuluyang tinalikuran ang Holy Cathedral, nagsimula na silang maging maingat sa kanilang mga kilos at salita, knowing that their position within the Empire could depend on which side they chose to stand on.
Meanwhile, the other half of the nobles still remained in support of the Holy Cathedral, especially those who had greatly benefited from its influence.
Some of them had gained wealth, political connections, privileges, and greater authority because of their close relationship with the Cathedral.
For them, abandoning the Holy Cathedral would mean risking everything they had gained through that alliance.
"Ikinagagalak kong makita na ang ilan sa inyo ay naging kalmado na."
Muling tumingin si Lurtheron sa mga mamamayang nasa kaniyang harapan. His expression remained calm as he looked across the crowd.