8 CHAPTER 8 (Empress Victoria)

~ August 20, 1896 (Thursday)

A garden full of giggling children chasing each other accompanied by their courtiers can be seen on the grounds of the Imperial Garden. 3 children wearing their usual morning attire can be seen enjoying their rest day, playing tag with each other while having their mother watching them from the pavilion.

"Run! Run! Hahaha" I said menacingly as I chase my younger brother and sister on the grounds of the imperial garden.

"Ah! No! Hahahaha" Mai-mai shouted while running much faster away from me, she got almost caught by me.

"Ah! Kuya got me! Mama, Help!" Ain said while giggling and shouting for some help as I lifted him up from the ground.

"Got! You now. Hahahaha I'm going to eat you! Rawr!" I said while laughing as I take a small soft bite to his stomach making him laugh more as felt ticklish.

"Ahh! Kuya is eating Ain!" Mai-mai said before she comes closer to me while screaming and started punching my shoulder, but instead of feeling hurt from her punches, I find it cute.

"Bad, Kuya! Bad!" My sister said while continuing her small punches and about to cry. Feeling a bit of panic, I stopped playing with my younger brother and started to comfort my little sister.

"Such a crybaby you are, Mai-mai. Hahaha" I said while scuffling her hair

"I am just playing. See? Ain is fine." I said showing Ain to Mai-mai.

Mai-Mai was about to say something more when she was interrupted by the call from our mother to go back inside the pavilion to have some lunch. So much time have passed that we already forgot that it was already lunchtime. My siblings and I look at each other and started to race back to the pavilion.

"Mama! Kuya Siagu eats Ain's stomach! He is a monster!" My sister said panting while holding her dress.

"Kuya is not a monster! We're just playing, Mai-mai. Don't believe her, Mama." My younger brother follows while also panting heavily.

"Now now… there is no need for accusing each other here. We are here to enjoy the day while we can, understood?" Mother said while wearing a gentle smile as she takes a look at us 3. She then caresses each of our cheeks intimately.

"You look old, Mom." My sister said out of the blue. A dark expression appeared on our mother's face while I and all the eunuchs and court ladies inside the pavilion shows a shocked look. My mother's face abruptly turns 180 degrees. Mother instantly suppresses her anger while a bulging vein pops out from her head.

*Pffft* I unknowingly burst out. My mother instantly looks at me while glaring and I instantly diverted my attention to the other side of the pavilion while humming 'Busted'

"I will forget what I heard coming from you, Mai-mai, and how you reacted, Siagu. Now then go to your seat and let us take our lunch."

"Yey! Food!" Ain said excitedly. What a foodie indeed.

We then take our seats while the food is being served at our table by the food artisans. After the food artisans were done serving our food, delicacies hailing from the different parts of the empire appeared on the dining table. The head chef then started to introduce the dishes in front of us. All look appetizing and delicious, surely, we will be full on this one.

"Shall we?" My mother said and we started to take our lunch "Slow down, Ain. The food will not run away from you." Mother said while giggling seeing my cute little brother enjoying his food.

The luncheon ended until we are full. Such quality time brought smiles to the food artisans' faces seeing their masters enjoying their food.

"What is it Siagu? You are awfully quiet the whole luncheon. Is something wrong?" Mother inquired worriedly.

"Kuya must be excited to meet his fiancé, Mama. Hehehe" Mai-mai said teasingly.

"No, I am not. I was just wondering about something, Mama." I replied while rubbing my sister's head making her look at me in annoyance as it took her court ladies a lot of time to braid her hair into a big bun accessorized with silver petals and a pink-white orchid flower.

"Okay. So, what is it that makes you wonder?" His mother inquires

"I was just thinking last night about the future of the empire. And it got me wondering if I will be a good ruler like Father. Father surpasses the expectation of his people by making peace and improving the leaving standards of the populace, making him the beloved ruler of the empire." I said as I look down at the table before continuing "And I am scared that I might disappoint you and Father on what I might become."

I was indeed struggling to sleep last night contemplating as to what kind of a ruler I might be when I grow up. As the ruler of an empire, I am expected to be caring and loving, but I know deep down, that I am not like that. I am scared as to what I might become in the near future.

Silence rules the entire pavilion after I have expressed what I am thinking last night.

"All of you, get out. Bring the Imperial Prince and the Imperial Princess with you all. Play with them, no one except me and the Imperial Crown Prince shall remain in the pavilion." Mother said sternly, I instantly raised my head after hearing what she said and I was met with her face full of seriousness. Confusion appeared on my siblings' faces after hearing our mother's order, but despite their confusion, they still follow her order and left the pavilion in haste.

I then instantly understand what she means.

'Pathetic. Despite being 30 years old, combing my previous world's age and today, I am still thinking like a child and needed my mother's help.' I said in my mind while laughing mockingly to myself, finding pity because of my patheticness.

Although it is okay for me to cry in private, but in a space like the imperial garden accompanied by a handful of imperial courtiers, crying isn't permitted.

Now finally being alone together, Mother said sternly.

"The monarch should indeed be compassionate, My Son. But that doesn't mean that we cannot be weak or ruthless. There has been no monarch in human history that was recorded to be perfect. What was written are tyrants, lustful, greedy, crazy, ugly, and many more… non was called a perfect monarch. Emperor, Empress, Kings, Queens, and the nobility, none of these titles are pure and holy, even the pope of the old isn't holy."

My mother said nonchalantly as she enumerates those titles, she then started to fan herself using her customize fan made out of dried nipa leaves decorated with designs worthy of her status.

"No one is perfect in this world, Son. Only God is. Accept your flaws as a person. You have been studying etiquette under my supervision, and I saw you grow from a tiny little crying child to a 10-year-old teen. I know who you are, I am your mother and I know you are tired. You need to calm down and relax. You have been working and helping the family in everything you can do, but sometimes you also need to rest."

Mother said softly towards me, unknowingly, tears started to rush out from my eyes. Remembering those previous years of my struggles in establishing my ground in this world.

Thinking of ways to survive and plans for the improvements of the empire have been on my head for the past years, coupled with my lessons and understanding of the heavy responsibility of a monarch in the years of World War 1, the pressure I felt doubled in no time.

That is why, after hearing my mother's comforting words and reminders. I give in and started to let go of some of my worries.

"You are still young and have a lot of time to develop. Flaws aren't permanent, My Child, they are temporary." Mother said worriedly as she draws closer to me and started to wipe the tears off my face.

"Mom! Huhuhuhu" I said cryingly as I cling to her waist tightly and started to burst into tears.

*Sob sob*

"I for once experienced what you are facing right now, especially your father. But you know what we did?" She said affectionately as she continues to comfort me.

Instead of replying, I just keep silent and continue to cry.

"We just keep on telling ourselves that we can overcome this. I know we all have different ways of overcoming our problems and difficulties, but always remember that we, your family, are right here ready to support you."

"Cry that out while you can… as crying is a luxury for us royals." I nodded my head while crying, I know what my mother means.

I continue to cry for another minute before composing myself making me look like I didn't spend my time crying. My younger siblings then returned happily accompanied by the imperial eunuchs and court ladies that Mother commanded to leave with my siblings.

'They must have enjoyed their time playing after they had their lunch' I thought as I saw my siblings smiling widely as they draw closer to Mother.

Later that time, each and everyone's life continue as it was, busy with each plan for the whole day, but not for me, obviously. I attended my class about politics with Doctor Rizal. Teaching me how our government run and what is the role of the emperor in a semi-constitutional monarchy political system.

As much as I wanted to explore the town outside the Imperial complex after my class, because of some security reasons and it was about to go dark, I was denied by my mother. Bummer. Hmp.

Our day ended with a hearty dinner in the dining room with the family of my uncle, Duke Sharvil Shaja, Duke of Cebu. It was quite fun talking to my cousins and aunt that night.

After 4 weeks (September 24, 1896)

4 weeks have passed since the melancholy lunch at the imperial garden with my family. A lot of things happened in the past few weeks. One of which is my usual class with my tutors, Archbishop Adam and Doctor Rizal, the others are…

The proposal regarding the manufacturing of the aeroplanes was submitted to the House of Commons, courtesy of the minister of defence, getting approval from me, the regent. The bill not just sought for funding but also the establishment of an independent military body, much like the Imperial Navy.

Despite the opposition from the Liberal Party, the bill was passed at a sweeping speed. Garnering a total vote of 500-150, the bill was accepted and was then passed to the House of Lords by the following day. Without much deliberation and arguments from the members of the House, and with strong support from the members of the Council of Palawan and the Imperial Family, the bill was then put into a vote. A total of 700-50, in favour of the passing of the bill, which upsets the opposition, the bill was then prepared and accepted by me at the imperial palace.

The following week, construction of the first base of the Imperial Air Force was then made along with the construction of its auxiliary facilities. Research and construction of the three aircraft prototypes were put into motion, giving birth to the Imperial Air Force. The very first Air-based facility was constructed on the plain of the town of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur. A secluded area of the province that can provide a natural camouflage for the base.

Following the completion of the base in the town of San Miguel, 6 more bases were then constructed in different key areas of the empire. Now, the empire is once again on its road to dominance. With it experiencing the effects of the policies the previous emperor enacted to save the nation from total collapse, it can now support and expand its military while also having an extra budget to support healthcare, education, and other key areas of the government.

Also on that same week, news regarding the squashed armed uprising in the province of Sabah hit the streets of the entire empire, courtesy of the Lobestar Tribune, making a huge uproar as it came to light that it was supported by the British and French Oligarchs who wanted to exploit the province resources to which both countries denied their involvement on the uprising.

Protests erupted against the British and the French nationals in the province of Sabah calling for their eviction in the province. The protest lasted for days, businesses started banning any British and French nationals from entering their establishments. This prompted the two nations' diplomats in the country to ask for the protection of their citizens, to which the government responded and the unrest then subsided.

But the locals are now hating the British and French to the point that they won't even want to interact with them.

While these two major events unfolding for the past 4 weeks, making all people involve scramble for some answers. I am in my library sitting on my chair while grinning as I read the news headline from the Loberstar Tribune.

"2,500 individuals have been killed in an uprising supported both by the British and the French. Despite its obvious involvement, both countries sternly denied their involvement in any uprising in the empire…" I heartily as I read the news.

The stage is now almost set… Victoria… what will you do? Hahahaha

Buckingham Palace, London, England (September 24, 1896)

~~~ Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury POV

"The Prime Minister, Your Majesty" The servant said sternly, a fine servant indeed, not long after we heard a reply coming from the room "Come in."

The door then opened and I enter, seeing an old woman sitting on the couch while wearing a mourning dress. The Queen of England and Empress of India, Empress Victoria of House Hanover.