Chapter 98

--- 3rd Person POV ---

--- 04th of March 1898 ---

"Ate Kaahini won't be here until this Sunday to celebrate the birthday of Ainesh. You are too early to arrive here just to see her." Yuvraj Siagu teasingly said before continuing his walk on the hallways of the estate.

"Wh-who said that I am going to see her?!" Crown Prince Vajiravudh stutteringly replied before walking beside Yuvraj Siagu, "I am here to see my sister as I have made a promise with her."

A giggle exited Yuvraj Siagu after hearing his best friend's words as he can clearly see how Crown Prince Vajiravudh is trying to stop his face from turning red, which Yuvraj Siagu finds it funny to look at. Since introducing his older cousin to his best friend, Yuvraj Siagu have seen how much his best friend changes and becomes a completely different individual from how he was described in his past life.

Although in public, during ceremonies, Crown Prince Vajiravudh remains reserved and disciplined, Yuvraj Siagu knew how different his best friend is in private and it is all because of one person. And that person is none other than Lady Kaahini of Siagao, Yuvraj Siagu's older cousin. The influence that his older cousin has over his best friend is so severe that it completely changes his best friend's personality, which is for the betterment also of Siam.

What Yuvraj Siagu just hoped now is that Crown Prince Vajiravudh and Lady Kaahini would be able to produce a male heir to the throne of Siam, completely changing the course of the nation. And allowing him to have a blood connection to the future monarch of Siam the same as how he would be able to have a strong connection to the future monarch of Korea, and possible Japan.

"What are you giggling at?" Crown Prince Vajiravudh called.

Shaking his head, Yuvraj Siagu responded, "Nothing, I am just amused how fast it is that the discussion between your mother and Ate Kaahini's parents regarding your union were already under way. Are you that excited to have you both be united as one?"

With a deep breath and defeated laugh, Crown Prince Vajiravudh replied, "I would be able to wait for a couple of years, if it were up to me to decide the future of my marriage. But my mother could not wait any longer and would want to announce the engagement between me and Kaahini already. Even father could not even stop her on deciding this matter."

With an awkward laugh, Yuvraj Siagu responded, "I cannot say that my mama is different. Even her already planned everything for my future wedding."

Crown Prince Vajiravudh and Yuvraj Siagu laughs on their situation as the topic of marriage for future situation were already being decided and have needed not a single opinion from each of them.

As the two future monarch of Siam and Butuan continues their walk, their conversation further continues with mundane things. From the effect of war between Butuan and Japan in the region until to the continuous trade agreement made between Siam and Butuan, which currently heaving rumors of expanding the trade and include Japan and Korea in the process.

With the two having their conversation the topic of the situation with the Dutch at the Dutch East Indies suddenly were brought up by Crown Prince Vajiravudh, causing the two best friend to continue their conversation on the quarters of Yuvraj Siagu while being serve with tea by his courtiers.

"Ahhh!" Crown Prince Vajiravudh exclaimed in satisfaction, "Nothing really beats the taste of fresh tea leaves being used in brewing."

"Good thing you like it still." Yuvraj Siagu smilingly replied while signaling his court lady to pour them another cup of tea.

"It appears to be that your nation has some issue regarding your action towards the Dutch in the East Indies. I heard from one of the instructors in Tulang Parang Military Academy that tension has been increase on the border between Sabah and Residentie Zuider en Oosterafdeeling van Borneo." Crown Prince Vajiravudh stated.

"Yes, that is true." Yuvraj Siagu calmly replied while sipping his tea, not caring on the happenings in its border with the Dutch East Indies.

"Are you not worried? The Dutch and local population in the Island is not something to joke with." Crown Prince Vajiravudh inquired curiously, with a hint of worry on his voice, "Your country might have the earoplanes, the magnificent weaponry for war. Yet in terms of naval strength, the Dutch have the upper hand due to its connection with the British Empire."

The gush of the strong wind enters the ears of Crown Prince Vajiravudh and the people inside the room. With the curtains flutters in the air as its being dance by the wind and the sound made by the trees as they swing on the wind, brought an unexpected peace to the people inside the room.

But as the sound of the wind and the music it produces enters the ears of those inside the quarters of Yuvraj Siagu. A foreign tapping of fingers on the small table intersected the sound that is coming from the outside. With rhythmic sounds that almost disrupted the music of nature, Crown Prince Vajiravudh could not help it but stare at Yuvraj Siagu with intent look on his face.

"The sun will set on the British Empire…" Yuvraj Siagu meaningfully stated as he grins to Crown Prince Vajiravudh whom have already know what his best friend is trying to say.

Yuvraj Siagu might just still be a kid in other's perspective but for Crown Prince Vajiravudh, his best friend is a kid with an intellect comparable to a grown adult. This is the reason why he never really underestimates his best friend. And out from the things that Yuvraj Siagu have told him reading the future, all of them have occurred, which provided the idea to him that his best friend can either see the future or have control over what is going to happen.

This is the reason why he never really plans on having his nation separate itself from Butuan as he completely believes that Butuan will lead them into greatness. Or to be more specific, it is Yuvraj Siagu Alexie of Butuan whom will be leading them into greatness.

"When?" Crown Prince Vajiravudh seriously inquired after a minute of silence.

"Not long from now," Yuvraj Siagu vaguely answered, "But one thing is for sure. The issue between Butuan and the Dutch over our request on allowing us to established a colony in Papua is something that our nation is not taking too seriously as of the moment. Taiwan alone has been quite a handful for the parliament and my papa to handle due to some snakes wanting to fight back."

"Oh? Hehehe. It appears that in your perspective, the once mighty dragon is now being reduced to a mere snake." Crown Prince Vajiravudh mockingly replied, "It looks like you are really hating with the Qing right now. Hahahaha."

"Do you want to have no place to sleep while in Sooraj, Crown Prince Vajiravudh of Siam?" Yuvraj Siagu irritatingly said while faking a smile on his face.

Raising his hands in surrender yet a mocking smile were still written on his face, Crown Prince Vajiravudh replied, "I give up. Pfff."

It has been months already since the incident in Xuwen and Leizhou occurred causing the end of diplomatic relation between Butuan and the Qing Dynasty to return to zero. With the fall out of the deal between Butuan and the Qing Dynasty, the Imperial court of the Qing Dynasty have consistently been persisting Butuan to surrender Taiwan and return it back to them. An act that was called by local newspapers as 'delusional' and 'out of touch of reality'.

Yuvraj Siagu had expected the Qing Dynasty to betray their agreements with Butuan, just as they had done repeatedly in his previous life. In fact, the betrayal didn't surprise him as much as the audacity with which the Qing Dynasty had gone further. What truly enraged him was the Qing's baseless accusation that Butuan and its navy were responsible for the violent riots that had erupted in Xuwen and Leizhou.

In reality, the riots were the culmination of years of frustration and anger felt by the people of Xuwen and Leizhou. A rumor had spread earlier, suggesting that these territories would be ruled by Butuan, sparking hope among the oppressed population. They had seen the privileges enjoyed by the people of Hainan, who lived under the protection of Butuan's influence, and yearned for the same. But when the Qing Dynasty published an edict denouncing the rumors and reaffirming its control over Xuwen and Leizhou, the hope turned into despair and rage. The Qing forces were swiftly dispatched to suppress the riots, and hundreds were killed as the Imperial Court of the Qing sought to reassert its authority.

Yet, instead of acknowledging the truth—that it was their own people who had risen up in rebellion after years of oppression and neglect—the Qing Dynasty had the audacity to turn the blame on Butuan. In their desperation to maintain a facade of power, they accused Butuan's navy of inciting the riots, framing the empire as the villain in the eyes of the world. It was a calculated move to deflect attention from their own failings and preserve the Qing's fragile hold on power.

The conversation between the two continues before it finally came to an end after Yuvraj Siagu forcibly evicted Crown Prince Vajiravudh from his quarters. Crown Prince Vajiravudh wouldn't want to leave initially but no antics and reasonings were accepted by Yuvraj Siagu as he will be receiving an important guest in a few minutes, of course, he didn't mention it to Crown Prince Vajiravudh.

With Crown Prince Vajiravudh now gone, Yuvraj Siagu returns to his seat and continues to savor the flavour of the tea while listening to the music produces by nature. Since arriving in this world, a lot have been made by him that causes things to change in the original timeline. Slowly, the once known world for Yuvraj Siagu is now slowly turning into a foreign one. And it was all because of him that things were not progressing at it should be.

With the Japanese now under their grasp as allies, the retention of Korea and Hawai'i as an independent nation, and the continual strengthening of Siam. These factors alone contribute to the changes of events in Southeast and East Asia. Still, it wasn't the Qing that concerned him most. His mind had been occupied for weeks with the issue of Russia and its imperial family, the Romanovs. He could see the future unfolding in his mind's eye—revolution, the downfall of the Tsars, and the rise of a new power that would shake the world. But the question was, should he intervene?

If he decided to help the Romanovs, it could fundamentally alter the course of history. Russia's vast territory was a double-edged sword: on one hand, a stable Russian Empire could serve as a powerful ally, but on the other, its size and ambition could easily make it a threat to Butuan's growing influence in Asia. And there was the matter of his allies—Japan, Korea, Hawai'i, and Siam—all of whom would have mixed reactions to a stronger, more centralized Russia. Which culminated to the creation of the Pan-Oriental League.

Yuvraj Siagu sighed and shakes his head gently. What's the best move? he wondered, considering both short-term advantages and long-term consequences. Saving the Romanovs could create an indebted ally, but at what cost? He cannot risk losing his country's influence over Korea and Japan.

His thoughts were interrupted by the soft knock on the door. Yuvraj Siagu sat up, knowing exactly who it was.

"Enter," he called out before his courtiers opened the door for the knocking person to enter.

The door opened, and a figure stepped into the room. The man was older, with a humble appearance wearing a religious clothing, with calculating eyes that immediately surveyed the space before resting on Yuvraj Siagu.

"I greet the future of the empire, Your Imperial Highness, Yuvraj Siagu Alexie Shaja of Butuan," the man respectfully greeted as he bowed deeply. "It is an honor to finally be graced with your presence."

"Archbishop Adam," Yuvraj Siagu greeted back with respect, "the honor is mine to be grace with the archbishop's presence. Please have a seat." He offered, which Archbishop Adam accepted.

"Ah. It is always good to see you in good shape, Your Imperial Highness." Archbishop Adam smilingly stated.

"You are too humble to say that, Archbishop. Hehehe" Yuvraj Siagu replied with a giggle.

It has been weeks since Yuvraj Siagu attended his classes with Archbishop Adam, this is due to security reasons and the threat of assassins sent by the Japanese at that time. Thus, all classes were postponed until the end of war, yet Archbishop Adam were few months after the end of war due to preparation for the upcoming pilgrimage festival few weeks after the birthday of Maharajkumar Ainesh.

And now, after months of no class in religion subject, the first ever class is about to happen.

"So, how was the journey coming here in Diliwata, Archbishop? I presume that it was quite unsavory due to the road repairs and security measures that the Imperial Household Guards have put just to ensure privacy and security surrounding the estate." Yuvraj Siagu started the conversation with calm and strategic words, wanting first to discuss mundane things before discussing other things with Archbishop Adam.

Archbishop Adam smiled warmly, folding his hands neatly on his lap as he regarded Yuvraj Siagu with a thoughtful gaze. "Ah, yes, the journey was a bit delayed due to the repairs and all the security measures, but I understand the necessity of it. After all, the Maharaja's family's safety is paramount. And truth be told," Archbishop Adam chuckled softly, "I enjoyed the scenic beauty along the way. Diliwata always holds a certain charm, doesn't it?"

Yuvraj Siagu nodded in agreement, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It does indeed. A complete different from the bustling noise of the city center few meters away."

"Very different, yes. Sooraj has its grandeur, but Diliwata has an elegance that is more... serene," Archbishop Adam replied. "Though I must admit, the increased security around the estate gave it a more formidable air. The Maharajah certainly taken precautions, Your Imperial Highness."

The conversation between Yuvraj Siagu and Archbishop Adam was full of laughter, as they reminisced about their activities over the past months. It felt more like a casual exchange between a grandfather and his grandson rather than a formal tutoring session, with jokes and lighthearted moments dominating the atmosphere.

However, after some time, Archbishop Adam took a deep breath, signaling that it was time to shift focus. "We've had quite the catch-up, haven't we, Siagu?" he smiled, his tone gentle but serious now. "But we should turn our attention to something more important for today's session—the important individuals in shaping the faith of Butuan."

Yuvraj Siagu nodded, his curiosity piqued. He always found these lessons fascinating. He had heard of many of these figures before, but each time Archbishop Adam spoke of them, there was something new to learn. Despite reading the text of the temple, Yuvraj Siagu still wanted to hear everything from the mouth of those whom have been studying it for years.

"Since the establishment of the temple in 1700 under the rule of Rajah Siagu X also known as Rajah Siagu 'the Ambitious' or even prior to the establishment of the temple, few numbers of individuals have contributed greatly for the greater good of the temple." Archbishop Adam stated proudly and reverently, "You are already familiar with the few of them as they were mostly the most popular individuals in this list. But before that, let me remind you that the status of the saints in our religion is vastly different on how other Christian faith views their saints. As in Aylashanism, saints were just people whom are still asleep and have just demonstrated characteristics that warrant their status as a saint.

Firstly, we have St. Felipe of Butuan also known in the temple as St. Felipe the evangelizer of Butuan. Originally a Spanish Catholic priest, Felipe was instrumental in the early evangelization of Butuan. His work laid the foundations of Christianity in the region, though it was later transformed by Rajah Siagu X into Aylashanism. Known for his humility and dedication, St. Felipe's missionary work is credited with converting your ancestors to Catholicism.

He is also remembered for his establishment of the first Christian church in Butuan, now considered a holy site for Aylashanism. The Temple of Sooraj is what the church St. Felipe establishes. Considered as the heart of the Temple of Butuan, most of the important relics that cannot be housed at the Temple of Palawan were stored in Sooraj."

Archbishop Adam paused first to allow Yuvraj Siagu to ask some questions, yet without a response from the Yuvraj, Archbishop Adam decided to continue his discussion. Yuvraj Siagu on the other were just faithfully listening on the discussion, interest and excitement is what he is feeling while putting all his attention to the voice of Archbishop Adam. Senior Eunuch Radhesh and the other courtiers of Yuvraj Siagu were silently seating 2 meters away from Yuvraj Siagu and Archbishop Adam, not wanting to disrupt the discussion between teacher and student.

With a steady and satisfied voice, Archbishop Adam continues, "Secondly, we have Rajah Siagu X of Butuan, the founder of the Temple of Butuan, the one whom have created the very fabric of the faith and establishes its grounds under the Holy Bible's teaching. He led the transition from Roman Catholicism, keeping core Christian beliefs while adapting its practice to align with Butuan's political and cultural contexts.

Rajah Siagu X created the Codex of Aylashanism, the central religious text of Aylashanism, which outlines both the spiritual doctrines and the political guidance for leading the faithful."

"Archbishop," Yuvraj Siagu interjected with curiosity, "If I am not mistaken, the Codex of Aylashanism is currently at the hands of the Pope of the Catholic Church, am I correct?"

"You can say it that way. But the one that is currently at the hands of the pope of the Catholic Church is a copy of the original codex. The real copy is in the safe keeping of the temple at the Temple of Palawan, the second holiest site of the temple within the realm of the empire." Archbishop Adam replied with a smile before continuing, "In 1800 to celebrate the 100th year of our temple's separation from the Catholic Church and to mend the relationship between Butuan and the Vatican. Maharaja Agusan V commissioned the only copy of the codex and sent it as a gift to Pope Pius VII.

The copy of the codex was originally a sign of peace and good tidings to the pope. Yet, due to some miscommunication and the prevailing discrimination on both sides, the book was seen by scholars as a sign of mockery towards the pope for failure on preventing Butuan, the bastion of Christianity in Asia, to depart completely from the Catholic faith."

"But Rajah Siagu X meant the copy of the codex as a gift of goodwill to the pope, right?" Yuvraj Siagu awkwardly inquired after hearing the backstory on the codex of aylashanism.

With a giggle and a gentle shake of his head, Archbishop Adam replied, "That is something still in question as no one really knew the true motives of Rajah Siagu X in sending a copy of the codex to Pope Pius VII. But one thing is certain after Pope Pius VII receives the codex, and that is the halt of missionaries being send in Butuan causing the faster conversion of Butuan into Aylashan."

"Anyways, we shall need to continue with our discussion," Archbishop Adam stated which were answered with a nod by Yuvraj Siagu whom is still interested in listening, "St. Felipe the Evangelizer and Rajah Siagu X were the two of the most known prominent individuals who contributed a lot in shaping the known Aylshanism to us all. Some might say that without the two, the faith that we are practicing today would not be the same faith if those two never existed, which understandable. But aside from these two individuals, there are people also whom have contributed greatly for the prosperity of the faith."