Chapter 15: Three Pillars Assembly

Palaion was a bustling urban city now, but it had once been just a small town founded by Former member of a unit part of the Maerillian Army. After the Eldirith were driven out, the members of this Legion unit, known as the Palanians, decided to break away from Maerillian’s banner. They also did not want to get involved in the first war between humans after only a few years of freedom from the chains of slavery.

For decades they wandered, moving from place to place, until they finally chose to settle on fertile land near a river. The soil was perfect for farming, and there they began building their own new civilization.

Because of this long history, Palaion was made the capital of the great nation. But that same prestige also drew crowds of people who came hoping for a better life, thinking maybe this was the turning point they’d been waiting for. Unfortunately, those dreams brought trouble. The more people came with the same hope, the more crowded the city became.

According to the latest records, Palaion’s population at least had reached 630,000. That was an enormous number, enough to leave the royal family completely baffled over how to deal with it. In the end, they came up with an idea. Not to solve the problem for their people, of course, but to save their own skins by getting themselves far away from their subjects.

With the kingdom’s economy on the verge of collapse, the father of the current king eventually launched an ambitious project, that is to build his own palace about twenty-two kilometers northwest of Palaion. Naturally, with no surplus left, the project stalled, even though about sixty percent of it was already completed.

Such a complete waste of money, Alexion thought to himself. He could still smell the scent of the construction materials that filled the meeting hall of the Three Pillars Assembly, which was about to take place. It was true that the Royal Court guaranteed this building was fully finished compared to other sections, but some people still worried about their safety.

Inside this supposedly "safe" building, many well-dressed people were busy looking for their seats. As had been announced across the kingdom, today was the day the Three Pillars Assembly would finally be held. But since the king himself hadn’t entered the room yet, of course no one was expected to arrive at the event with him or, worse, be late. Alexion was quite grateful he arrived just after midnight before the event started, considering he was a bit worried about being late since the summons to come had been pretty sudden.

"I figured this chair would be uncomfortable. Even just by looking, the nobles’ and clergies’ chairs seem better..." The person complaining next to Alexion was someone he knew well enough—Pytus. Though calling them close wasn’t quite right, since Pytus spent most of his life in the capital rather than in his family’s lands.

"It’s only a chair. Just accept it," Alexion said, growing more annoyed or bored by Pytus’s repeated complaints.

Actually, the complaints didn’t come from Pytus alone. Alexion could hear murmurs from people nearby grumbling about the same things. Some said the cloth covering their chairs smelled bad, others complained their chairs felt wobbly and they were afraid a hinge would break, causing an accident. There were even complaints about seat placement.

Of course, no one paid attention to these concerns. As many already knew, this Assembly would be divided into three representative bodies. The nobles sat at the front, closest to the stage and the throne where the king would sit later, their chairs looked higher quality and more luxurious. Behind them were the religious leaders of Lumen Mae that operates in Palanthein, whose their chairs were just as good as the nobles’. Finally, the deputies of the Third Pillar were at the very back, outnumbering the other two groups, just from their seating position, it was clear they were being marginalized.

But yeah, from the start Alexion already felt there was some unfairness after reading about how this assembly worked. What made it worse was that the assembly didn’t have any real power to make or change policies. This government body was only made to voice opinions, and the king could still change the country’s taxes without needing permission from the assembly.

As for Alexion himself, he has now chosen to make himself Deputy for the Third Pillar. There is no specific reason for his choice; from the beginning, there was no prohibition against a noble becoming Deputy for the Third Pillar. Beside, from the beginning, his family was still considered commoners by the blue-blooded nobles, so according to Alexion, it was better this way.

"By the way," Pytus, who was by Alexion's side, wanted to say something. "I happened to receive a letter from Eudoria last night. Is it true that Seraphelle has woken up from her coma?"

"Yes, something like that," Alexion replied briefly.

"I see, thank goodness!" Pytus responded with a happy face. "Hmm, but you don't seem very happy. I mean, your only daughter just woke up is'nt?"

Alexion furrowed his brow and said, "What do you want from me? Jumping happily on the king's chair now? "

"No...that's too much...." Pytus, who didn't know how to respond to Alexion's words, could only sigh and mutter something like, still with that sarcastic nature, I see. "Well, I'm quite curious because in Eudoria's letter, she seemed very happy that she could play with her daughter. I mean, the first time I saw her daughter, she was just like a breathing doll, completely expressionless, making me wonder if she was even human. So I'm curious, what makes my beloved sister so happy? "

"For that, I myself-"

"Ah, forgive me."

Before he could finish speaking, a man suddenly passed in front of where Alexion was sitting and bumped his left leg. Actually, since they started talking, several people had passed in front of him, but this man was the only one who bumped into him, whether intentionally or not, Alexion thought.

Alexion's eyes stared at the man coldly. Her skin was pale, with a few strands of dark blonde hair neatly coiled into a characteristic wig, and her attire was formal yet simple, consisting of the Deputy's uniform: a black robe with a white cravat. His face was thin with a strong jawline, his lips thin as if holding something back.

"It's okay, I'm also sorry that my foot almost accidentally hurt you," Alexion said to the pale-skinned man.

The man didn't say a word, he just bowed his head slightly to Alexion and then continued walking, carrying his small suitcase in his arms and looking for a seat. Despite this, Alexion's eyes couldn't look away from the man, even tho he had walked to the seat at the far right end of the row. For some reason, Alexion felt there was something about the man.

"Why? Did something about him catch your attention?" Pyhtus asked, having only been observing until now.

"Not really," Alexion replied. Still, on the other hand, he was curious, so he asked, "Do you know him?"

"Well, I wouldn’t say I really know him. He used to be my junior back in college," Pyhtus explained. He shifted around, trying to adjust his uncomfortable seat, then continued, "He was pretty well-known. His name is Maximilius Timaeus, the man who once sent a private letter to the king that as far as I remember, it said: ‘Do you know why misery festers at the heart of your realm? Because in a single feast, your palace devours what could sustain a thousand souls for a thousand days.’"

"That pale guy? He actually did something that bold?" Alexion asked.

Pyhtus’s once relaxed expression turned serious. "Don’t underestimate him, Alexion. Back in university, he was a gifted orator famous for criticizing the government," Pyhtus said in a warning tone. "But after graduation, he ended up going back to his small hometown and working as a lawyer there. I don’t know why, but I’ve heard he’s also quite popular over there."

"Alright, alright, I get it," Alexion said, waving his hand dismissively.

Pyhtus just responded with a smile and a shrug.

As he noticed the members of the assembly already seated in their places, Alexion realized the event was about to start. He decided it was time to stop thinking about someone he had only spoken to for a few seconds earlier. It was better to focus on what was about to happen in front of him.

The soft tapping of the servants’ shoes moving back and forth echoed between the murmurs of the crowd. Some nobles were busy adjusting their coat collars, while the clergymen pulled their robes close, bowing as if lost in prayer. A soldier walked briskly along the side of the room, scanning every corner as if making sure not a single gap escaped his watch.

Silence began to creep in. The whispers that had filled the hall faded one by one, leaving only the heavy footsteps of guards forming a line near the stage. The air in the room tightened, like a bowstring pulled to its limit.

Then, from the direction of the main door, a loud voice cut through the stillness.

"Attention!" shouted one of the soldiers near the entrance. "His Majesty the King will now enter the hall!"

Alexion could feel the quiet atmosphere turn tense. Every gaze shifted toward the massive doors carved with the royal crest. Soon, the hinges groaned softly and the doors opened slowly, spilling light from the outer hallway onto the polished marble floor.

The King stepped in first, wearing a deep-blue ceremonial coat with golden epaulets gleaming on his shoulders. A flamboyant feathered hat with a tall white plume gave him a stately silhouette, while a short royal scepter rested lightly in his right hand. But Alexion could see that no matter how ornate a person’s clothing was, it could not hide the King’s awkward face and rather stocky, unathletic build, even though calling him an overweight pig like the libelles did was an exaggeration.

To his right, the Queen walked gracefully in a dark purple silk gown trimmed with delicate lace at the collar and sleeves. A pearl necklace draped around her neck shimmered gently with each step she took. Between them, a little boy or the Crown Prince was walked with measured, careful steps. he wore almost the same clothes as his father's, but more simplified, made him look like a miniature version of his father.

Following behind them were two high-ranking clergymen of the Lumen Mae faith. Both wore long black robes with white stoles draped across their chests and tall hats distinctive to the priesthood. Each carried a leather-bound holy book in hand.

The royal guard brought up the rear, dressed in dark blue uniforms with red stripes on their trousers, tall shako hats, and white gloves. The tips of their bayonets caught the candlelight, sending sharp glints through the air.

Their steady steps echoed in the hall, each stomp of polished leather boots bouncing off the walls, until the procession reached the stage. The King stood still for a moment, letting the silence linger, before giving a small gesture to his subjects, who were now bowing before him, Alexion among them.

Then the King turned and finally took his place upon the throne. Even so, the atmosphere did not change; it remained silent, but now the air was laced with an awkward tension. The people in the hall seemed unsure of what to do, only glancing at one another with puzzled expressions.

“Ahem!” The sound broke the silence, coming from a middle-aged man in a black coat. He was Augustine Kessler, someone who had apparently arrived with the King’s entourage, though Alexion and the others only seemed to notice him now.

Augustine Kessler hailed from the Middleland Region, more precisely from Velstphalia. He was the current financial adviser to the Kingdom. Though he had no Palanthein blood at all, he was far more popular among the people than the King himself. His popularity came from his well-known statement that an official was a servant to the people, as well as from his reputation for effort trying to save the Kingdom’s economy from complete collapse, while the King busied himself with lavish feasts and a collection of porcelain vases.

King Filipus XV, as he was formally known, heard Kessler’s cue and rose from the throne awkwardly, like a child suddenly reminded of a duty he had forgotten. He took a few small steps forward, stopping at the edge of the stage, and looked out at the sea of faces awaiting him.

“Ladies and gentlemen, nobles, clergy, and beloved representatives of the people,” his voice echoed through the hall, hesitant at first before flowing more steadily. “Today is a great day for all of us. This Three Pillars Assembly is a place where different voices can unite for the same purpose: the prosperity and glory of the Kingdom of Palanthein.” He raised his hand slightly, palm open toward the audience, like an officer calling his troops closer. “I stand here not only as your King, but as a friend. A friend who will listen, a friend who will protect, a friend you can trust.”

Some nobles in the front row clapped politely, while from the Third Pillar’s side came only murmurs and scrutinizing stares. King Filipus smiled broadly, as if oblivious to the half-hearted response.

“Believe me,” he went on, now in a louder voice, “no one among you is too small to be heard, or too far to be noticed. And as a king appointed by divine will, I will use my divine right wisely-for my people, for this country, and for a future greater than ourselves."

He gave a brief bow as a sign of respect or at least that was his intention—before stepping back and returning to his seat with movements meant to look graceful.