Chapter 102

--- 3rd Person POV ---

--- 5th of August 1904 ---

"Anyways, Mr. Faher…" Yuvraj Siagu suddenly stated in the midst of silence catching the attention of the other people in the room, "How was the progress with the invention of those television that I have made you do?"

With smile suddenly appearing on his face, Mr. Faher replied confidently, "Your Imperial Highness, the progress has been in our favor. With the support coming from you along with that information that you have provided. We are confident that by the end September, this television will finally be at use for the entire nation."

"That fast?" a curious unfamiliar voice suddenly enters the ears of the attendants, coming from the main entrance of the chamber. Upon checking, it was Maharajkumar Ainesh whom is standing on the door frame while tilting its head to his left side, curios and intrigue on the words of Mr. Faher.

"Your Imperial Highness." Mr. Faher and Head Eunuch Saanvi greeted Maharajkumar Ainesh with respect, which the young Rajkumar replied with a nod and a smile.

"Ainesh, have I not told you to watch over Anaya and Kiran after we left the private audience room of papa? What are you doing here?" Maharajkumari Mahati inquired while raising her eye brows towards her younger brother whom only answered her with a wide smile as he takes his seat on the opposing side of Maharajkumari Mahati herself.

"You are bad, ate. You left me with taking care of Anaya and Kiran, only to be in here and discuss such enjoying topic?" Maharajkumar Ainesh jokingly replied, "I left them both with their courtiers. They are currently at the garden playing with the dogs of Kuya Siagu. Hehehe."

"You should have stayed with them than be in here, Ainesh." Maharajkumari Mahati stated with a tone of seriousness, letting her younger brother to leave the room.

But as hardheaded and stubborn as he is, Maharajkumar Ainesh remains and instead throws a funny face to his older sister before answering, "Their courtiers and Kuya Siagu's dogs can entertain the both of them. Besides, this is more fun than staying with Anaya and Karin."

The two, Maharajkumar Ainesh and Maharajkumari Mahati, continues to argue and bicker with one another. Not minding the presence of Mr. Faher; whom is quite shock on the vitality that the two royal children is showing, and Head Eunuch Saanvi; whom have gotten used to this attitude of the two royal children. but despite Maharajkumar Ainesh and Maharajkumari Mahati's dog fright, both stops arguing the moment their elder brother started talking.

"Enough with those unnecessary childish bickering, Ainesh, Mahati." Yuvraj Siagu stated while taking a glance at his arguing siblings.

And just like that, Maharajkumari Mahati and Maharajkumar Ainesh stops their childish bickering and decided to remain in silence, afraid of being scolded by their older brother. Whom Maharajkumari Mahati and Maharajkumar Ainesh both respected and feared. Mr. Faher on the other hand were quite shock on how it was easy for Yuvraj Siagu to put in hold the bickering of the two royal children.

Head Eunuch Saanvi on the other hand nodded in satisfaction after witnessing how Yuvraj Siagu manages to control his younger siblings. This made Head Eunuch Saanvi felt assured that the future of the Imperial Household will be at the hand of Yuvraj Siagu in the near future.

"Let Ainesh stay on this as sooner or later, he will also be representing the family. Besides, I also wanted to discuss to him about something else later." Yuvraj Siagu stated as he completely turns his attention to the other people in the room.

"Hehe. You are the best, Kuya Siagu." Maharajkumar Ainesh smilingly replied before diverting his attention to Maharajkumari Mahati and jokingly glare at her, "Unlike someone whom wanted to throw me out on this room."

With smile on his face, Yuvraj Siagu then faces Mr. Faher, "Shall we continue?" making the people in the room nod.

"As per command of you, Your Imperial Highness. Our company have managed to secure areas on the heart of every big city of the empire to established giant screens to allow the televisions to be broadcasted on these areas. This will also give a chance for the product to be advertised to the people." Mr. Faher satisfyingly stated while distributing printed information on the things that the Lobestar Tribune have made towards the television.

"How many cities?" Yuvraj Siagu inquired while still looking at the paper that Mr. Faher has provided.

"As of the moment, due to fear of having this be a failure and the possibility of security of each area. We have secured a total of 5 cities in total, two of which were here in Mindanao; two in Luzon; and one in Visayas. We have considered the population and the economic progress of these location, as per your order, Your Imperial Highness." Mr. Faher replied calmly.

"In regards to the transmitter and the other necessary infrastructure needed to make this possible, we have already finished 80% of the needed infrastructure and by the next two weeks, this will be completed." Mr. Faher continued with a proud smile appearing on his face as he placed his company's achievements over this advancement for the past years. The room fell into a respectful silence, all eyes on the man who had revolutionized communication within the Butuan Empire.

The memory of those early days when Lobestar Tribune first unveiled the groundbreaking technology of the radio was still vivid in Mr. Faher's mind. It had only been five years since his company became the pioneer of this new era, propelling the prestige of Lobestar Tribune to unprecedented heights. As the leading company in news distribution, Lobestar Tribune had fundamentally changed the way information was disseminated throughout the empire.

Mr. Faher could still remember the relentless attention from foreign delegates, each eager to unlock the secrets behind the radio's success. Yet, without explicit approval from his liege, Yuvraj Siagu, Mr. Faher had steadfastly refused to share any details. His loyalty and discretion had paid off, earning him the favor and trust of the imperial family and the future monarch of the nation.

Within two short years, Lobestar Tribune had established total control over radio communications across the vast Butuan Empire. News now flowed seamlessly from the remote island of Guam to Hainan and even Taiwan, knitting the empire closer together. The once-fragmented regions were now unified under the constant stream of information, fostering a sense of shared identity and purpose among the populace. For this monumental achievement, Mr. Faher had been awarded the 3rd order of the Order of the Royal Palm, a prestigious honor that recognized his invaluable contributions to the empire.

"80%? Isn't that a bit too fast to be done, Mr. Faher?" Maharajkumari Mahati inquired curiously while gently tapping her fingers on her lap.

"It is indeed fast, Your Imperial Highness. But with the continuous funding from the investors and interest from each city, the construction of those things was hastened." Mr. Faher replied calmly.

"And their quality?" Maharajkumar Ainesh further scrutinizes, making Yuvraj Siagu smiles discreetly, "Our nation has been strict in terms of quality over quantity. It is indeed nice to have a lot of these televisions to promote the technology to the public but we must also ensure that its quality will not be hampered nor degrade. It would be a shame for the company and towards the international community if this will fail because of its low quality."

Nods of agreement from Maharajkumari Mahati and Head Eunuch Saanvi seconded the words of Maharajkumar Ainesh. As the Butuan Empire progress into advancement, quality became the most important factors that each citizen of the empire has considered. Especially after an earthquake that struct the entire nation 2 years ago that causes the death of 5 thousand individuals. Industrial and commercial buildings, palaces, houses, government buildings, and many more structures collapses; causing most of the deaths.

The Lobestart Tribune, the newspaper agency under Mr. Faher, even called the event as the darkest day of the empire since its founding. The Ministry of Social Welfare, under Minister Morita Kenji provided relief to the affected individuals. It was also discovered that the structures that mostly collapsed during the earthquake were badly damage already and in way for demolition already.

To avoid the same situation to unfold, Maharaja Saigu XV decided to instruct Prime Minister Aguinaldo to established a commission that will oversee the quality of the buildings and any structures in the entire nation, having it attached to the Ministry of Public Works. This move ensures the safety and quality of the structures in the entire nation, putting a craze on quality for all products over its quantity.

"The quality remains the same, Your Imperial Highness," Mr. Faher confidently replied, "All have gone through the approval and inspection by the Commission of Quality Assurance. Currently, aside from this plan of the company, our engineers have also started to explore the idea of hologram communication as per suggested by Yuvraj Siagu himself."

"Hologram communication?" Maharajkumar Ainesh curiously asked as he focuses his attention to his older brother, "Is this something better compared to the television, Kuya Siagu?"

"By theory it should be better compared to the television or the radio itself," Yuvraj Siagu stated as he glances at the entire individuals present in the room.

Excitement and intrigue creeps on all veins of the people present in the room after hearing Yuvraj Siagu's words. Not just they will be witnessing the milestone in communication advancement through television but they will also be able to have witnessed another leap that will further advance the technological prowess of the Butuan Empire.

Maharajkumar Ainesh's eyes widened with curiosity, his mind racing with possibilities. The idea of hologram communication was something out of their wildest imaginations, a concept that seemed almost magical.

"How does it work?" Maharajkumar Ainesh asked, leaning forward in his seat.

Yuvraj Siagu smiled, pleased with his brother's eagerness. "It projects a three-dimensional image that allows the person on the other end to appear as if they are right there on the place where the projected image is being aired. It's more immersive and interactive than anything we've seen before. But this is still in theory and hasn't been tested and proven to be the case."

The room buzz with murmur and astonishment. Maharajkumari Mahati in particular expressed excitement as this technology will make her much closer to her family despite being already in Korea. The same with Maharajkumari Mahati, Mr. Faher is in heavens as excitement further deepens on his body regarding the hologram technology. Despite knowing that it might still take a while, due to limited technology of the nation. Mr. Faher is confident that the hologram communication will came into reality before he enters his eternal slumber.

While the conversation continues inside the room at the left wing of the Sella Palace, Maharani Alice, now left with her mother; Dowager Duchess Jayanti Devi, and her abagaanays can be seen seating on the couches present on the room, while court ladies were attending them with their needs for relaxation.

With worry on her look, Maharani Alice stares blankly at the doors where her husband; Maharaja Siagu XV is currently being observed intensely by Doctor Rizal and other medical workers under the imperial family.

"Your worries will not bring any changes to your husband's current situation," Dowager Duchess Jayanti commented, "what you needed to do is to calm yourself and be composed."

The abagaanays behind Maharani Alice remained in silence, afraid of offending Dowager Duchess Jayanti herself, mother of Maharani Alice. The abagaanays had long known how strict the dowager duchess was regarding maintaining composure in both public and private settings. Truly living on the image of a noble, not to mention that Dowager Duchess Jayanti came from the lineage of the Imperial family herself.

Duchess Advika of Haikou, daughter of Dowager Duchess Jayanti, replied calmly, defending her younger sister, "Let her be worried about her husband, mother. It is normal to show this emotion. Besides, the Maharaja indeed needs our worry because of his declining health."

With a scoff, Dowager Duchess Jayanti replied, "And? What did the doctor say?"

"It is still unsure what it is," Maharani Alice stated in full worry, "but according to Doctor Rizal, this might be due to his indulgence in alcohol and cigarettes."

Dowager Duchess Jayanti's frown deepened as she processed the information. Her concern for her son-in-law was palpable, despite her stern exterior. "Has the Maharaja been advised to cease these habits immediately?" she demanded, her voice brooking no argument.

"Yes, Mother. Doctor Rizal has advised him to quit both, but Siagu is finding it difficult," Maharani Alice replied, her voice trembling slightly.

"You must enforce it," Dowager Duchess Jayanti said firmly. "Have you not learned anything from your lesson on being a good wife to your husband?"

"We have tried!" Maharani Alice blurted in frustration, "but every time we tried, we always fail to do so. Since the death of our child two years ago, it has been difficult for him. Sniff… and instead of supporting him, I have isolated myself, too focused and selfish on healing myself, forgetting to realize that I have a husband by my side."

Dowager Duchess Jayanti's expression softened as she listened to her daughter. She moved closer, placing a comforting hand on Maharani Alice's shoulder. "Alice, grief is a heavy burden, and it affects us all in different ways. It's understandable that you sought solace in your own healing. But now, you must find the strength to reach out to your husband. He needs you more now than ever, especially with his current situation."

Maharani Alice nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I know, Mother. I will try harder. For him, for us."

Dowager Duchess Jayanti gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Good. The last thing this nation needed is a broken imperial family."

"Anyways," Dowager Duchess Jayanti changes her tone as she takes a cup of tea and started drinking it, "Did the kids knew this already?"

With shaking of her head, one of Maharani Alice's abagaanays answered causing Dowager Duchess Jayanti raise an eyebrow, "What do you mean no? The kids have already reached the age of maturity. They are not a mere child anymore, Alice. Sooner or later, they must be informed of their father's current medical situation."

"I understand that mother but I just don't have the strength yet," Maharani Alice stated as she takes her stand and move closer to the windows, "not in the time that my daughter Mahati will be heading back to Korea to continue her stay at the imperial court of Korea for her training as the wife of the future monarch. My eldest will also be getting married by October this year. Letting them know about their father's situation will only bring them into astray of their course to be taken."

"Siagu will not like this action of yours, Alice." Dowager Duchess Jayanti commented.

"I know, mother. But I have no choice, even Head Court Lady Putri Chaya have even supported my action." Maharani Alice stated calmly, "I just don't want him to be full of worry heading towards his wedding."

With a sigh, Maharani Alice turned back towards the room, her face a mask of calm despite the storm of emotions raging within her. She looked at her mother, Dowager Duchess Jayanti, who remained stern and resolute.

"Mother, I know you mean well," Maharani Alice began, her voice soft yet firm. "But I believe this is the best course of action for now. Our children have their paths to follow, and their father's condition... it is something they should not bear while they have so much ahead of them."

Dowager Duchess Jayanti's expression softened slightly, a flicker of understanding crossing her features. "I see your point, Alice. But they will have to face this truth eventually. Better it come from you, with love and support, rather than as a shock."

Maharani Alice nodded, appreciating the wisdom in Jayanti's words but still holding firm to her decision. "In time, mother. When the moment is right, they will know."

The Dowager Duchess sighed but did not press further. She knew her daughter, Maharani Alice, had always been a strong and loving mother, making decisions with her children's best interests at heart.

"Your Majesty, Your Imperial Highnesses, My Ladies," Doctor Rizal suddenly stated after having unnoticedly exited the room that currently held the unconscious Maharaja Siagu.

All eyes turned to the esteemed physician, who bore a grave expression. The room, already heavy with concern, grew even more tense. Maharani Alice, her composure steely, braced herself for the news.

"His Majesty is now awake and is waiting for your visit," Doctor Rizal began, his voice steady but a smile slowly appears on his face.

After hearing the doctor's words, Maharani Alice dashes inside the room and witnessed her husband, seating on the couch comfortably while drinking some water. A smile from Maharaja Siagu is what Maharani Alice saw the moment she landed her eyes towards her husband. With tears about to fall from her eyes, Maharani Alice emotionally embraces Maharaja Siagu tightly.

This made Maharaja Siagu caught off-guard for a bit before Maharaja Siagu smiles affectionately and hugged back his wife. A hug that was never been the couple felt for the past years since the death of their son. Longing and support, this is what Maharani Alice and Maharaja Siagu felt while hugging each other.

Sensing the situation, the remaining medical practitioners and Maharani Alice's abagaanays exited the room, allowing the couple to savor the moment in each other's embrace.

As Maharaja Siagu separated them both from the hug, a smile full of love exited Maharaja Siagu's face as he wipes the tears coming from his beautiful wife.

"Forgive me for making you worry, my dear," Maharaja Siagu affectionately stated, his voice gentle and soothing. He continued to wipe away the tears from Alice's cheeks. "Stop crying now; you will lose your beauty because of that," he joked, despite the tears glistening in his own eyes.

Maharani Alice managed a small, tearful laugh, her heart swelling with relief and love. "I can't help it," she replied softly, her voice trembling. "I was so scared. But now that you're awake, everything will be alright."

Maharaja Siagu took her hands in his, holding them firmly yet tenderly. "I am here, and I will always be here for you and our children. We have much to do, and I promise we will face it together."

Alice nodded, feeling the warmth and strength in his grip. She looked deeply into his eyes, finding solace in their familiar depths. "Yes, we will face it together," she echoed, her resolve strengthening with each word.

Outside the room, the palace was abuzz with activity as news of the Maharaja's recovery spread. Head Eunuch Saanvi and Prime Minister Aguinaldo both immediately made their way toward the area, wanting to confirm the situation. Mr. Faher, on the other hand, left the palace compound a few minutes after hearing Maharaja Siagu had awoken.

As per the command of Yuvraj Siagu, the palace would not release any statement regarding the situation, and all information would be kept secret. Palace personnel were forbidden from sharing the news outside the palace workers.

Yuvraj Siagu, Maharajkumari Mahati, and Maharajkumar Ainesh all dashed toward the room where their father was being checked by Doctor Rizal. With worried expressions and delight written all over their faces, the older children of Maharaja Siagu and Maharani Alice hugged their father with joy and relief.

Maharaja Siagu XV, though still weak, smiled warmly at his children. "My dear ones, your presence gives me strength," he whispered, his voice a bit hoarse but filled with affection.

Before any of the people in the room could reply to Maharaja Siagu XV's words of assurance, two high pitch giggles could be heard entering the room. Maharajkumari Anaya and Maharajkumar Kiran enters the room with smiles on their faces as both children dashes towards their father, fully unaware of their father's situation.

"Papa! Look!" Maharajkumar Kiran proudly stated as he arrogantly presents a pink flower lily towards his father, "I got this from the pond near the Suryavarman Palace while playing with Anaya and Kuya Siagu's dogs."

"Hehehe. We both actually got it from the pond, papa." Maharajkumari Anaya interjected with full smile while glaring at her older twin brother, whom have answered her with a silly face.

Maharaja Siagu XV chuckled softly at the playful exchange between his younger twins, his eyes twinkling with affection despite his frail condition. He reached out with a trembling hand to accept the flower from Kiran.

"This is beautiful, my little eagles," he said warmly, admiring the delicate pink lily. "Thank you for bringing this joy to your old father."

Doctor Rizal, observing the tender moment, gave a reassuring nod to Maharani Alice, who is seated on the couch, her eyes filled with a mix of relief and concern. The doctor stepped back slightly to give the family some space, noting the positive effect the children's presence had on the Maharaja.

"Hehehe. Of course it is beautiful," Maharajkumari Anaya proudly replied before turning her attention to her mother; Maharani Alice and acted to be carry which the Maharani smilingly accepted, "Mama, I have also picked a pretty lily for you."

A white lily then appeared on the hands of Maharajkumari Anaya as she handed it to her mother with a smile, "I got this near the pond also, mama. It is so beautiful and pretty reminds me of your smile."

"Such a sweet talker. Hehehe." Maharani Alice replied while tickling her youngest daughter and revibrated by the giggles of the others.

"Looks like Ainesh is now not your favourite child, mama." Yuvraj Siagu teasingly stated.

"Mama should have," Maharajkumari Mahati chimed in. "Ainesh is already an adult and is unsightly for him to act like a baby in front of mother."