Chapter 37 Legitimacy of the Monarchy

--- 23rd of December 1896 ---

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

"The prisoners were successfully been transported to the police station, Sir," Radhesh replied respectfully.

It has been a few hours since the police arrived here in the estate, arrested the suspects and then left. I and my family were not there to witness the situation since we were quite busy with our little feast in regards to my little brother's small improvements. And Radhesh just finished his report on what happened outside the estate.

It has been three days since news regarding my little brother's situation was released to the public. Except for what happened here in the complex, people have been sending their sympathy towards our family.

Foreign ambassadors have expressed their support towards our family. Ambassadors like; Ambassador Wichai Suriyawongse from Siam, Ambassador Juan de la Torre y del Cerro from Spain, and Ambassador Reginald Henry Fortescue from Britain, have personally visited the Diliwata Estate for the past days to check on my younger brother's situation. Other Ambassadors from the previous Spanish colonies have sent their letter of support and best wishes for my brother. Gifts are even sent for my brother to enjoy.

But what has made me, my papa, and my Lola, quite happy today is what transpired yesterday at the dungeons of the mansion. It was my second time watching a torture scene unfold in my presence, the first one was back when I was still 8 years old. Hearing their screams last night made me shiver in happiness, but it got a little boring later on.

I was even able to make my papa and my Lola support the current venture of Lobestar Inc. regarding the television and radio device invention. It was a bit unexpected for me to see how they both reacted last night. Although I am aware that my papa knows about the venture that the Lobestar Inc. has conducted for the past months, his sudden interest in supporting the venture is unexpected.

But their support means a lot to the venture actually. Especially since the completion of prototypes is expected to be released by 3-4 years from now, which is acceptable given the technology that is available during this time. Their support will give more fuel to the project and will surely help the workers and engineers to be motivated.

"His Excellency, Archbishop Adam of the Temple of Sooraj hath at last arrived, Sir." Radhesh suddenly said, bringing me back to reality and taking me out of my deep thoughts.

I was so deep in my thoughts that I wasn't able to realize that Archbishop Adam had finally arrived in the estate garden. Today is my lesson with Archbishop Adam regarding the legitimacy of the monarchy in our nation. My chosen location is the garden of the estate, I am so tired of learning inside the mansion. A new learning environment will be helpful for today's topic.

A topic that I am interested to know of, especially since religion plays an important role in the society. I also wanted to understand the deep devotion of the people of Butuan to our family. Despite the dark past that we have had, even the people of Sabah, Lower Champa, Hainan, and Pacific Islands, have the same reverence towards our family as those who are living in the 3 main islands of Butuan.

"Good morning, Your Excellency," I said respectfully towards the newly arrived Archbishop in front of me after I had taken a stand to show some respect.

"Ah, Your Imperial Highness, good morrow. The Temple of Sooraj and the entire temple of Butuan are in profound sympathy towards what hath befallen thy younger brother," Archbishop Adam conveyed with warmth, gazing upon me with earnest concern.

"Thank you, Archbishop," I nodded in response. "The sympathy will be given to my papa and the entirety of my family. Shall we?" I continued while offering him a seat, which he accepted and took his seat.

"Shall we commence the class, Sir?" He inquired which I answered noddingly as he took out some books regarding the connection of our family and the Temple of Butuan.

"The Temple of Butuan and the Imperial Household of Shaja are two distinct entities, yet they are interconnected. Within the Empire, the Temple of Butuan, or Aylashanism, held a unique belief system that intertwined the Christian faith with the reverence of the Emperor and the Imperial Household..."

Archbishop Adam then started to discuss the connection between our family and the Temple of Butuan. 

According to him, within the Empire, the Aylashanism faith of the Temple of Butuan held a unique belief system that intertwined the Christian faith with the reverence of the Emperor and the Imperial Household. The doctrine was rooted in the belief that the emperor, along with the Imperial Household, were not only earthly rulers but divinely ordained stewards chosen by God to govern the nation. And there are five teaching of the temple that explains this reverence.

Firstly, Divine Selection. According to the Temple's teachings, the Emperor and the Imperial Household were seen as God's chosen leaders to guide the nation. This belief found its origins in the historical account of Rajah Shaja Killing, who, according to the interpretation, received a divine command from God to establish the Rajahnate of Butuan in AD 988. They considered this as evidence of God's direct involvement in the selection of rulers.

The belief of divine selection is also rooted in biblical principles where rulers are seen as instruments of God's will, as described in Romans 13:1: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."

Secondly, Divine Responsibility. The Temple emphasized that divine selection came with divine responsibility. The emperor was seen as a shepherd entrusted with the care and guidance of God's people. They taught that the emperor's role was not just political but also spiritual, as they were responsible for ensuring the moral and ethical well-being of the Empire.

This is in connection to the emperor being the head of the Aylashanism faith of the nation.

Thirdly, God's Will in Governance. The Temple of Butuan held that the emperor's authority was an extension of God's will on Earth. They believed that the emperor's decisions and policies were guided by divine wisdom and that their rule brought stability, prosperity, and protection to the nation.

Fourthly, Obedience and Loyalty. The Temple's teachings stressed the importance of obedience and loyalty to the emperor as an act of obedience to God Himself. They believed that rebelling against the emperor's authority was akin to rebelling against God's divine plan for the nation.

This is the reason why few uprisings happened in the past. The recent uprisings are just the result of foreign interventions, twisting the mindset of the people in adhering to radical ideas that are not acceptable in Butuanon culture and tradition.

And lastly, Unity and Harmony. The Temple emphasized that the unity and harmony of the nation were a reflection of God's blessings. They taught that the Imperial Household played a crucial role in maintaining this unity by serving as an example of humility, piety, and virtue to the people.

These temple teachings along with the Butuanon culture view the monarchy as an integral part of our culture and society. Coupled with these ideologies being promoted in every school in the empire regardless of being secular and government, teaching the importance of monarchy became an important subject, which was even strengthened when my papa tightened this a few months ago.

Archbishop Adam then further explains that despite the Temple of Butuan being a young protestant institution, being founded in the 1700s. The people of the empire still reverently adhere to the said faith after being promoted by our family, the Imperial Household of Butuan. And as of the recent assessment of the Council of Palawan, 96% or a total of 40,937,208 individuals currently adhere to the teaching of the Temple. This already includes the newly recent 14 million individual scandal of the Ministry of Social Welfare.

A huge increase in the faith adherers compared to the adhere a year ago which only makes 93% of the total population of the Empire. According to Archbishop Adam, the recent increase is the result of the effort that every priest in the nation has poured in to bring people inside the Temple.

This also took into account the restriction that the Parliament of Sanoor implemented regarding religious freedom in the Empire. Recognizing only the religion of Aylashanism, Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and the folk religion in the empire. Other religions outside of the five religions being approved and endorsed by the parliament and the Imperial family are considered illegal and unwelcome in the nation.

"But how come the restriction was put in place by the Parliament of Sanoor, Archbishop? Aren't this a violation of the human rights code of our constitution?" I curiously inquired.

"My apologies, Sir, but this does not constitute a breach of Human Rights," he responded with a trembling voice before continuing,

"Freedom is a cherished aspect of life that we all appreciate, but it does not imply unbridled entitlement. There exist inherent limitations, one of which pertains to religious choices deemed by the parliament and the temple with the approval of the emperor as a potential threat to the nation's stability. Religions perceived as posing a risk to the social and religious fabric of the empire are categorized as unlawful and adversaries of the state. This measure is intended to safeguard the populace and avert potential crises in the future," he explained solemnly, to which I nodded in understanding.

Just like Islam, the Temple of Butuan is very strict in following the laws of the Bible. This is one of the reasons why the death penalty is still allowed in the nation. Having three ways to kill someone in a death penalty verdict. The first one is public execution by hanging, the second is by stoning to death, and the third one is by public execution of firearms.

One recent incident is a man died after being stoned to death by a mob of angry people in the streets of the capital. According to the investigation, the man was a gay man and an out individual. The worst part is that man doesn't believe in a God, further angering the people who stoned him.

According to the reports, a total of 180 stones were thrown at the man, killing him in the process. The reports also said that no family members ever claimed the man's dead body. No one was arrested for this incident.

"In addition, the citizens of the empire have shown their support for the prohibition of these religions. They have observed how the Western World has been rent asunder by various religious institutions that have emerged, leading to the downfall of significant nations in the past. The Council of Palawan, in conjunction with the Parliament of Sanoor, is unwilling to take the chance of our nation suffering a similar fate." Archbishop Adam solemnly replied.

"The restriction may also be ascribed to the preservation of the Temple's and the monarchy's interests. A declining allegiance to the faith of Aylashanism may result in the temple's collapse and the end of the monarchy." He continues while smiling towards me, which I noddingly agree on.

The discussion regarding the legitimacy of the monarchy and its connection to the Temple of Butuan continued for a few more minutes before my papa arrived at our location and have made Archbishop Adam to excused himself. Telling me that our class would resume after the New Year's celebration, still about the monarchy and temple. 

The end of our lesson and the exit of Archbishop Adam left me to be left with my papa, his entourage, Radhesh, and my senior courtiers. 

My papa then started to inquire me about my studies for the past few days and how has it been. I then started to tell him everything I had learned regarding the legitimacy of the monarchy and its connection to the temple. Which my papa further emphasizes.

"His Excellency speaks with truth in that matter. The monarchy and the temple of Butuan are two institutions intertwined as tightly as ivy upon a trellis. The esteemed position of the emperor, which shall soon grace your noble brow, carries the solemn duty of upholding and overseeing the faith within our empire. The emperor must ever be vigilant, ensuring that the Aylashanism faith maintains its preeminence as the guiding light of our realm." My papa reiterated while drinking his green tea being served by Senior Eunuch Isagani.

"Is this the reason why other religions were banned in the empire?" I inquired, still a bit confused regarding this one.

My question made my papa look at me a bit in seriousness before smiling and nodding slowly.

"Yes. As Archbishop Adam hath informed thee a brief while past, this course of action serveth to safeguard the interests of the monarchy and the temple itself. The fewer the religions present within the empire, the more facile it becomes for the monarchy to observe and maintain control over them," My papa said and paused a bit before continuing. 

"My dear son, it's important to understand our history and the foundation of our Empire. We are not divine beings or descendants of gods, but rather the descendants of a person who received a divine command from God to establish the Rajahnate now Empire. The religions recognized by our parliament are the ones that have stood by these claims from the beginning, offering little doubt about the legitimacy of our institution.

However, it's worth noting that some Western religions do not accept these claims and have gone as far as to call them a hoax. Allowing followers of these Western faiths to enter our nation could potentially bring about discord and instability. It's a complex matter and one that we must approach with care and wisdom as we continue to navigate the diverse tapestry of beliefs in our land."

Hearing my papa's reply, I finally understood the restriction and the great devotion that people have shown towards the monarchy and our family. Religion really plays a crucial role in people's lives, especially in this nation.

But how come the courtiers in the palace remain loyal to our family despite the fact that they are hearing this one? Except for my people since I have personally picked them, but how about senior eunuch Isagani?

My question was then answered after I had diverted my attention towards senior eunuch Isagani and the others.

"Fear not, Your Highness. Neither I nor the other palace courtiers require reassurance. Our loyalty to the Emperor and your illustrious family transcends the mere precepts of the temple. It is a fervent choice we willingly make, a profound desire that drives us to unceasingly serve the Imperial Family and our venerable Emperor. Regrettably, the teachings of the temple have had scant influence on augmenting our already unwavering devotion to your noble lineage." Senior Eunuch Isagani smilingly said towards me.

His response made me smile and my papa laughed at me for being too paranoid after what happened to my little brother.

"Ah, hahahaha! No need to be overly watchful, my boy. What occurred with your younger brother was an isolated incident and does not represent the loyalty of all the Imperial courtiers. While I appreciate your concern, rest assured, those three are the exception rather than the rule." My papa replied, dismissing my concern regarding the courtiers' loyalty. 

"I agree with His Imperial Majesty's assurance, sir." Radhesh seconded while standing on my side. 

"Your Highness, I can speak on behalf of all the other courtiers, as well as the dedicated Imperial Household Guards who serve your esteemed family. Loyalty is a virtue deeply ingrained in our hearts, sir. Since our early years, when we were chosen to serve the Imperial Household, our unwavering devotion has been to ensure the safety and well-being of the illustrious House Shaja. Our own lives pale in comparison to the lives of every member of your esteemed house. Therefore, it is crucial to understand that the regrettable actions of those three courtiers are to be regarded as an isolated incident." Radhesh continues calmly.

Radhesh's response made the other courtiers nod in agreement. This has further made me realize how narrow my perception of loyalty is of the palace courtiers towards our family. It was like a slap on my face making me realize how little my understanding is regarding the courtiers who are working for our family.

"Anyways, any update from your people in Hawaii?" my papa inquired bringing an end to the topic of courtiers and monarchy.

"As of now, senior eunuch Akash Sundar has not yet sent any reply to your message, Papa," I replied before sipping my cup of tea.

"Well, that is to be expected." My papa replied. "But they must do it in haste, for the offer will not be available forever. With or without their cooperation, we can still contain or slow down the United States if they ever have a plan to expand towards our eastern side."

My papa's response speaks of reality. Although the independence of Hawaii is crucial to contain or slow down the United States' expansion to the Pacific. They only can give minimal help. Especially when we can finally start mass producing those weaponries. Those dreadnought ships, submarines, aeroplanes, tanks, and guns, are enough to challenge the United States in the near future. Even the British Empire will not be enough to challenge our dominance in the region.

"But it would be better if we could have their support, Papa," I replied blandly towards my father's response.

"I know." He noddingly responded before continuing.

"It is imperative for you to grasp the significance of the Island of Hawaii in our strategic thinking. It serves as a vital bastion for us in our efforts to control the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. We must be vigilant in considering the future expansion of the United States in these waters.

However, it is essential to understand that whether we possess dominion over the entirety of the Hawaiian Islands or not, the United States holds the potential to extend its influence and power in this region. Our control over Hawaii, while strategically valuable, may not alone deter their ambitions.

Thus, we must not rely solely on geography but also on diplomacy, alliances, and a well-prepared defence. Our role in this era is one of careful calculation and foresight. We must be ever watchful of the shifting tides of power and act accordingly to safeguard our interests. Remember, my son, that in matters of statecraft, it is not the mere possession of land that secures our future, but the wisdom and resolve with which we navigate the intricate currents of international politics."

"But we can trample them with our weaponries that are currently under construction, papa. They will just like a fly flying on the table, easy to swat and kill." I blandly and stubbornly answered.

"My dear boy, it is essential that you do not entertain the notion that merely because we may be advancing ahead of others in terms of military weaponry, we can simply overcome any challenge. Remember, the United States will not surpass the British Empire economically solely on the basis of technological advancements. Her success is attributed to the leadership and competence of those who govern her, not solely reliant on the efficacy of military tools. It's the people and their capabilities that have elevated her to her current position, not just the novelty of weaponry." My papa said seriously while looking at me in the eye and pausing a bit before continuing.

"Indeed, my boy, those weapons may be powerful and destructive, but in the end, remember this: they do not govern our nation. They are merely pieces of metal fashioned by the hands of men. Men, my son, are the ones who truly govern the land. The individuals who guide the United States are not foolish or lacking in foresight. If Wilcox has agreed to our terms and conditions, rest assured, they (USA) will seek alternative methods to expand their influence far beyond the shores of the Americas. Their ambitions know no bounds. Do you grasp the gravity of this, Siagu?"

My papa's eyes full of seriousness and belittlement are staring at me like a speck of dust in his finger. It is rare for me to see my papa reacting and questioning me like this, and by this time, he is making me a bit nervous.

His response made me remember how brilliant the leaders of the United States were in the late 19th and early 20th century in expanding her influence towards the Pacific and Asia. They were also able to reach her influence in Africa and the Middle East, and even the mighty European continent bowed to her bidding during those times.

My pride and arrogance in thinking that I could make our nation rise to the top with my knowledge from the future made me underestimate the capability of the United States. She might have been slowly losing her influence back in my previous world because of bad governance and corruption, but in this year and time, she is a rising eagle from the ashes of civil war.

Good thing my papa reminded me about her capability. If I continue to be arrogant in thinking that because of my technologies, I can trample the West, our nation will be fragmented in no time.

"Yes, father," I replied feeling a bit down after being reprimanded and realizing my arrogance.

"Good!" He said with a voice filled with satisfaction. "My son, I must impress upon you the grave importance of humility and flexibility in a ruler. Arrogance and stubbornness are the very vices that can spell the downfall of a monarch. As my designated successor, it is imperative that you do not harbour these qualities within you." My papa continues.

I and my papa's interaction in the estate garden continued for a few more minutes before we both made our way towards the dining room of the estate to have some lunch with the entire people in the estate. 

My aunts, uncles, and cousins on my mother's side are now all here, the same with my father's side. King Gojong and Yeong are also with us to have some lunch. This is also the time I was informed that King Gojong and Prince Yeong will be returning to Baltso Palace before Christmas but have stated that he and his entire family will be joining us in celebrating New Year here at the Diliwata Estate.

The lunch went well. It was a pretty lively luncheon, with my little brother being a bit reserved, which is understandable.

Later that afternoon, I returned to my place a while ago in the garden to relax. And by 2:30 pm, Senior Court Lady Puteri informed me of the arrival of Dr Rizal. This is great since it is now time for our class, topic... History.

-----

Author's note:

I have tried writing the conversation of the older generation, with the help of an AI to translate it, using the 1896 English language speaking style. Kindly comment on what you think about this writing style.

A minor spoiler... I am now writing Chapter 47. Let's Go!!!