Chapter 989 — Aldernan in the Mist
Blade of Dawn · Page 1 of 4
No sooner had Matilda's voice faded than a great hum of discussion erupted through the entire council hall.
Whether noble-faction councilors, representatives of wealthy burghers, or delegates from mage and scholar associations of every level, all fell into the same astonishment in that moment, and after astonishment came irrepressible doubt and heated debate.
In that moment, they even forgot the decorum and rules they ordinarily observed so carefully.
Amid the roaring discussion, at last a councilor rose and demanded a more detailed explanation; another shouted that this was a mad notion, stressing that it would plunge the Empire into unprecedented and terrifying chaos. And as the center of this storm, Matilda merely watched it all quietly, not in the least surprised by what was happening before her.
The Parliament... this new political creation had existed and operated in the Typhon Empire for more than ten years, while its earlier prototype, the "Noble Assembly," had existed on this land for even longer. No one could deny its historical role and practical value in Typhon's development; even at this very moment, Matilda understood clearly how immense the significance of "Parliament" was, and likewise understood the councilors' present astonishment and helplessness. Therefore, for the first ten-odd minutes, she said nothing at all, only leaving time for those in the hall to confirm and digest the news—and to slowly calm down.
At last, under Matilda's calm gaze, the agitated councilors closed their mouths one after another, and the buzzing, rumbling hall slowly quieted.
Count Dulle did not join the discussion. He sat quietly in his seat, watching the men and women he knew so well from daily life flush red in the face over the past ten-odd minutes. A thoughtful expression on his face, he gathered in his mind the recent changes in Aldernan's situation and the news arriving through every channel. For half a minute, he even recalled his earlier journey abroad with the diplomatic mission to Cecil—finally, he raised his head and happened to see that pearl of the Empire rise from her chair.
Matilda stood up, and that movement brought complete silence.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I can name every one of you. I know each of you, and I understand—and sympathize with—you," she said slowly in a steady voice after sweeping her gaze around the hall. "So I understand your doubts and anxiety at this moment. But please be patient and hear me out—the royal family has no intention of destroying the stable order we have maintained for so long, still less of attacking the Parliament we built together out of malice or some other unspeakable purpose."
Seeing that everyone's eyes were fixed on her, Matilda paused, then continued:
"The Empire is facing a crisis, one unlike any challenge we have ever confronted—I do not mean only the 'war' with Cecil, a war full of suspicious points, nor only the recent anomalies of the Church of the War God. It is the cause behind those anomalies that is truly chilling.
"There are fatal holes in our army. Traitors have appeared within our noble system. Our church and our common folk are being eroded by some evil force—these things come with ferocious momentum, attempting to overturn the Empire's order, and their most terrifying aspect lies in their swift destruction, unpredictable actions, and powerful ability to infiltrate and lie dormant. I believe everyone present is well aware of the recent shifts in the situation and the rumors circulating in the imperial capital, so you should understand what I mean.
"Faced with such a challenge, Parliament is clearly powerless—I do not deny the meaning of Parliament's existence or its role in the Empire, but under the present special circumstances, we must replace it with a body that is more efficient, more controlled, and more secure and closed.