Chapter 46 The Dance of Imperial Elegance

--- Imperial Crown Prince Siagu's POV ---

--- 31 December 1896 ---

--- Diliwata Ballroom Hall ---

Lively music played as the musical courtiers filled the entire hall with their melodies, while the sounds of chatter and laughter chimed in harmony. People dressed in their finest attire and dresses were scattered throughout the hall, illuminated by hanging chandeliers, candlelight, and the moon's rays, creating an atmosphere of magic and elegance.

Yesterday, my siblings, Mama, her abagaanays,, and the courtiers accompanied us to the butterfly enclosure. It was a delightful break from our busy schedules, especially with our studies and my own plans. This visit became a memorable and exciting experience for us, as well as for Mama.

I had the opportunity to peruse a book dedicated to Mama by Henry Frederick Conrad Sander. Titled "Reichenbachia: Orchids Illustrated and Described," it was a magnificent book filled with illustrations and detailed information about orchids native to the empire.

I also came across a book that Papa published, dedicated to Mama, in response to a bit of jealousy toward Mister Sander's dedication. Papa's book, "Feathers and Whispers: Illustrated Chronicles of the Megalaimidae," was equally remarkable, featuring illustrations and descriptions of the Megalaimidea birds found in the empire.

I was quite surprised to learn that Papa had published a book out of jealousy. Mama and I shared a good laugh about that incident, even though I was just a baby at the time.

During our stay at the Diliwata Estate, my younger brother, Ainesh Phillip, has been steadily recovering. While he has become somewhat reserved around strangers, he's faring much better than he was a few weeks ago. He often enjoys the company of our cousins and relatives, which Doctor Rizal and his colleagues have encouraged.

My younger sister, Mahati Alice, is thoroughly enjoying her vacation. She spends her time with cousins and relatives, playing and honing her embroidery skills. Occasionally, Prince Yeong visits her with King Gojong, and her smile never wanes in their presence.

Ate Kaahini has been bothering me about Vajiravudh for the past few days. My cousin has fallen in love with my friend, especially after he sent her Thai Royal dresses made with fine fabric from Siam. She can't contain her joy, particularly when she discovered orchid seeds wrapped in a delicate handkerchief. She has a strong passion for plants.

What thrilled her even more was the handkerchief itself, embroidered with orchid flowers and her name. According to Ambassador Wichai Suriyawongse, the handkerchief was personally embroidered by Crown Prince Vajiravudh, making it extra special.

My friend's thoughtful gesture of sending a gift to Ate Kaahini has put me under pressure. Khao also sent me a gift, mesmerizing Thai Royal attires, and a yellow handkerchief embroidered with an orchid and my name. According to Ambassador Wichai, she personally embroidered it. A heartfelt letter accompanied the gifts, which I cherished.

This prompted me to craft a gift for Khao over the past few days. Since I'm not skilled in embroidery or sweet words, I found myself frustrated. Luckily, Papa noticed my struggle and suggested I send a painting to Khao instead.

Which is a nice idea since I am good at painting. So, I decided to create a landscape painting of the Diliwata Estates Garden since Khao loves nature. I also had a conversation with King Gojong at that time because he found my painting interesting. He even provided me with some pointers on painting techniques and color combinations, which were very helpful.

Yesterday, I completed the painting and added my own initials to it, with hers right beside mine. I felt satisfied looking at the finished painting that I created. I then sent the painting along with a letter to Khao, promising to visit Siam in the near future.

Yesterday, three courtiers were executed in front of a massive crowd. According to the Lobestar Tribune, the area was so crowded that the police had to deploy a significant number of officers to control the crowd from getting too close to the platform where the courtiers were hanged.

The crowd was angry, not at the government or our family, but at the crimes committed by the three courtiers against my little brother. Mr. Faher even told me that he enjoyed watching the people express their anger toward the courtiers, which I found intriguing.

"What are you thinking about, Saigu?" a man with a gentle voice asked, and as I looked, I saw a man in his early twenties with dark hair, sharp eyes, and intimidating eyebrows. He was tall, standing at 5'7, the average height for men in the Hainan Province. He exuded a calming and comforting aura, making him an ideal role model. This man was Kuya Xueyu Jiānwén.

Kuya Xueyu Jiānwén was the oldest of Aunt Advika and Uncle Xingyu Jiānwén's four children, holding the titles of Duke of Haikou and Viscount of Xiuying. Kuya Xueyu Jiānwén was 21 years old and recently joined the Butuanon Imperial Army under the command of his uncle, General Guolao Jiānwén of Haikou County. He graduated from the Riverbanks Imperial Institute with a degree in Law a year ago. He was engaged to Lady Mei Liang, a member of House Liang, a cadet noble house of the Imperial House Shaja. Their marriage was planned after Kuya Xueyu completed his four-year service in the Butuanon Imperial Army.

I was seated on a couch in the ballroom hall with some of my cousins and relatives, all formally dressed in their sonmin, yet they sat comfortably on the couches. Despite our informal seating, we exuded elegance and power, inherent traits, I suppose.

Tonight was the New Year celebration for our family at the Diliwata Estate mansion. All direct members of House Shaja were present to celebrate, along with members of the cadet houses, making it a rare and grand occasion.

King Gojong and his family were also with us to celebrate the New Year for the empire and the imperial family.

To match the celebration, I wore a bright gold and white sonmin, embroidered with intricate designs on the chest and cinched with a golden belt.

"Nothing, Kuya. I was just wondering if Khao would like the gift that I made for her," I said, smiling at him.

"Hahahaha! She would love it, Saigu, trust me," he replied confidently.

"You were able to create an artwork that most people your age can't produce. Besides, it's a beautiful painting. Only an idiot or a fool would not appreciate it," he continued, patting my back.

"I agree with Xueyu on this one, Saigu... Your age doesn't matter because of how beautiful your work is. It's elegant and I'm sure Khao will love it. Trust me. If I were you, I would use your talent to..." a man in blue and silver sonmin said with a smile, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

The man was one of my older first cousins, Kuya Arjun Harish Aarav of House Pangasinan, the heir to the title of Duke of Pangasinan. Kuya Arjun Harish Aarav had fair skin, dark hair, and brown eyes, and he stood at 5'8 with a well-built physique. He had a playful and easy-going personality, in contrast to his twin sister.

Kuya Arjun Harish Aarav was the son of my maternal uncle, Duke Harish Chandra of Pangasinan, and his wife Duchess Meera Kapoor. He was the second oldest of their four children, with his twin sister Ate Tara Mishra, both aged 20, and his other sisters Ate Priya Meera Sharma, 17, and Kuya Aryan Chandra Mehta, 14.

Kuya Arjun Harish Aarav graduated from the Riverbanks Imperial Institute with a degree in Government and Civics a year ago. After his graduation, he joined the Butuanon Imperial Army and was currently under the command of Major General Antonio Luna on the Island of Hainan.

Kuya Arjun Harish Aarav was engaged to Lady Kavya Singh of House Varishaja, a branch of our house, with their wedding planned after he completed his four-year service in the Butuanon Imperial Army.

"Don't even think about sharing that information, Arjun," a woman said firmly, standing up from the couch and giving Kuya Arjun a cold stare.

The woman was Kuya Arjun's older twin sister, Ate Tara Mishra. She wore a purple and yellow sonmin and held a nipa fan to her face, a common accessory in Butuanon culture.

Ate Tara Mishra was a graduate of the Imperial Academy for Women in Manila, one of the few schools in the empire that provided education for women. Despite the empire's industrialization, women's education was still not widely accepted, and most women received their education at home.

Ate Tara Mishra was single and showed no interest in anyone at the moment. She had a strict and serious personality, quite different from her twin. Her commanding presence demanded respect in society, and she took charge of her siblings, enforcing her uncle Harish Chandra's rules.

"Siagu is still a child and should be treated as one. Your malicious thoughts and jokes shouldn't influence his innocent mind," she said sternly to Kuya Arjun, who teasingly smiled back at his twin.

Listening to Ate Tara's words made me feel queasy.

Yes, parts of my life are innocent and naive, but I'm not so naive that I can't comprehend that Kuya Arjun has a bit of a playboy reputation. Family rumors have reached my ears, suggesting that Kuya Arjun has been involved with many women long before the discussions about his engagement to Lady Kavya Singh of House Varishaja began.

He was even once seen with a random woman on the eastern side of the capital by some Imperial courtiers. I can vaguely recall that day. Aunt Advika and my own mother were fuming with anger at Kuya Arjun's actions. They sternly scolded him, reminding him of his impending role as the future head of House Pangasinan. They insisted he must maintain an impeccable reputation and avoid associations with women of questionable character, which could tarnish his esteemed standing. They even reprimanded Uncle Harish for permitting Kuya Arjun's behavior.

"You should steer clear of this topic with him, Arjun," Ate Tara advised.

"Hahahaha! Relax a bit, Ate. I'm just teasing little Siagu," Kuya Arjun chuckled, raising both hands in surrender while still under Ate Tara's stern glare.

"Enough, you two," Kuya Xueyu stated firmly, ending their stare-down.

"Both of you should watch your manners and attitudes at gatherings like this. Tonight, we're here to celebrate another year given to us by the Lord. All members of the main Imperial House, along with the heads of the cadet houses, their spouses, and children, are here to celebrate. Don't even think of spoiling the event with your silly argument. You've really dampened the mood here," Kuya Xueyu continued, addressing the two of them.

"Kuya Xueyu is right, Kuya Arjun and Ate Tara. Tonight's event is about celebrating the new year and the continuity of our nation since the age of clans. You both need to calm down. I understand your concerns, Ate Tara, regarding Little Siagu's development under Kuya Arjun's influence. But I can assure you, Little Siagu will not become like Kuya Arjun. Besides, he's still a child, and I'm confident that whatever Kuya Arjun has said will be forgotten before Little Siagu even turns 15," Kuya Xuanzhong Jiānwén said calmly while sitting next to me and pinching my cheeks.

Kuya Xuanzhong was dressed in elegant silver sonmin adorned with intricate embroidery and elegant designs.

Kuya Xuanzhong Jiānwén, 17 years old, is the second oldest son of Aunt Advika and Uncle Xingyu Jiānwén. He's currently studying International Relations at the Imperial Academy of Haikou. He has shown a strong interest in other countries, particularly their diverse species of animals.

Last year, Kuya Xuanzhong persuaded Uncle Xingyu and Aunt Advika to build a zoo in the county of Haikou. The zoo is open to the public and houses various species of animals from around the globe, although not all are present in the zoo itself. The zoo is called "The Imperial Fauna Haven of Haikou."

Seeing that the situation wasn't improving, I finally decided to speak up.

"Enough, all of you. Ate Tara, Kuya Arjun, you should both enjoy the night with our family. You know it's rare for the entire family to gather like this," I said calmly, addressing everyone.

Silence fell in our area after my words, but the music continued to echo through the room. Ate Tara sighed heavily and leaned closer to me.

"Forgive me, Little Siagu. I've spoiled the mood of this party because of what Kuya Arjun and I did. Will you forgive Ate Tara and Kuya Arjun, Little Siagu?" Ate Tara asked sweetly, looking at me with Kuya Arjun beside her, wearing a pleading expression.

I couldn't help but smile upon seeing their faces.

"Mh-mmm," I nodded, making both of them smile in relief.

The party continued as if nothing had happened between the two siblings. Music filled the room, and it briefly stopped to allow Papa to deliver a speech regarding tonight's celebration. A few minutes later, a eunuch in a formal brown sonmin approached our area, bowed to the five of us, and then addressed Kuya Xuanzhong.

"Lord Xuanzhong, Lady Yulan and Lord Xingyu are waiting for you on the stage," the eunuch respectfully informed Kuya Xuanzhong.

Kuya Xuanzhong excused himself and left to join Ate Yulan and the others to perform a song they had practiced in the music room yesterday. The rest of us took our seats on the couches in the room.

Kuya Xuanzhong and my other cousins began playing a song. A few minutes after they started, they ended with a message of gratitude to the entire family and a congratulatory message for their role in building the empire.

The party continued with music and laughter while some chose to dance in the center of the room. The dance was called 'Dinuyog sa Hara'ng Kalinawngan' in the Butuanon language, or 'The Dance of Imperial Elegance' in English.

This dance was characterized by its slow yet lively, melodious, and hauntingly beautiful music, produced by traditional Butuanon musical instruments like kulintang and kudyapi. It was a dance rich in symbols and meaning, telling the history of our nation.

Our family had danced this traditional dance every New Year to celebrate another year of our nation, a tradition that began during the reign of the first emperor.

Men wore large headdresses adorned with feathers and multi-colored beads, while women held fans and mirrors in each hand as accessories.

As the musical courtiers started playing, a slow and elegant music filled the air. The music had an ethereal quality, sounding ancient rather than modern, reminiscent of ancient melodies that had survived through the ages.

The dance began with a slow, regal procession, symbolizing the empire's foundation and growth. Men and women, each wearing their respective headdresses, lined up in formation, creating the image of a lotus flower and moving their hands to mimic its opening and closing.

As the drums from the musical courtiers' section began to beat, women unfurled their golden fans, and men held their kampilan swords, forming a protective circle around the women who had now arranged themselves in the shape of a flower. The fans were manipulated to give the impression of the flower opening and closing.

As the dance progressed, the movements became livelier and more energetic, reflecting the empire's vitality and prosperity. The performance culminated in a grand finale, with the dancers forming a circle around my parents, symbolizing their central role in the unity and strength of the empire.

It was enjoyable to watch everyone as they danced. As the performance concluded, applause filled the entire room, and even the courtiers who were present joined in, applauding in delight at the dance.

After the dance, a portrait pictorial were made to all heads of the houses of the family. All heads of each cadet houses have made their way to the stage to find their seat, while my father, as head of the entire family and cadet houses made his way to the centre of the crowd. All are wearing their respective sonmin in full of elegance and dominance. A gathering of bakunawas in their prime if you want me to describe them.

All are showing their expression of dominance and belittlement to those who are bellow them. A sad truth but this is what power can give you. After their pictorial, we, the main branch of the Imperial Household, made our way to the centre to have our picture taken.

Having my mother and father seated, while me and the siblings were standing beside them. Uncle Sharvil, his wife, and Aunt Haimi are standing behind my parents in all seriousness. While my cousins on Uncle Sharvil's side were standing beside them. All of us were staring at the camera in full seriousness, smiles were not that common in taking picture.

A fierce and heavy atmosphere engulfs the entire stage as we all take our poses for the pictorial. I can feel it, it was like as if we are emitting some kind of elegance and power by just fiercely looking at the camera. But above all of this, we never forgot to maintain our elegance. We are the head family of this empire, elegance must be embodied in us or else it would mean nothing in the eyes of the society.

The celebration continued until midnight, when fireworks displays illuminated the skies in major cities across the country, marking the arrival of the new year.

As the fireworks painted the sky, heartfelt greetings and kisses were exchanged by all those present in the room.

A new year... I can only hope that the upcoming year will be as wonderful as this past one has been for me and my family. I also hope that the people will have the opportunity to choose their preferred leaders in the upcoming general election.

May the year 1897 be a year of significance for our nation, a year in which Asia emerges from the shadow of Western countries.