Martia summoned the ministers for a meeting, the next day. She initiated a resolution, which shocked everyone. “I never wish to have kids. So, the royal lineage will stop with the Prince, but if something happens to me, Absyleous will again descend into chaos. I can’t let that happen. So, I am amending the law—the one where only royals can be rulers of this kingdom. Anyone with great achievements in any sector of this kingdom can be nominated by the ruler to take the throne, be it in case of any emergency or permanently. Or,”
she smiled and continued, “do you all want a power struggle? To pass any resolution, we need the signature of the ruler and at least seven of the eleven ministers. I hereby nominate Lovshayie to take care of my responsibilities in case of any emergency. He defended the borders of Absyleous intelligently and efficiently. I am sure many generals are capable of it, but to capture the complete city of another kingdom along with defeating them is an achievement worth praising. This is all in case of an emergency, so don’t worry. Lovshayie is a person who worships his kingdom. As a reward for his contribution, he deserves to be nominated for this responsibility.”
She then waited for all the ministers to think this through.
Since the minister of law and order was appointed by Martia and he was grateful for that, without thinking, he said, “Your Highness, you have my support.”
Lovshayie was under the ministry of administration, so Nagtulip
responded, “I am proud that someone from my administrative department is considered as worthy of being an emergency ruler. I proudly give Your Highness my support.”
The defense minister, Rogmanium, said, “I agree. Lovshayie handled defense like an efficient general and an intelligent strategist. I am proud of him, too. He has my support.”
Shaegaim then said, “The peace and harmony returned to Absyleous by Lovshayie is indeed appreciated. I support this resolution.”
Novtretta said, “His social welfare measures in Loktrowen are known to me. I hope he takes care of the whole kingdom like that. I am giving my support and hoping he becomes as good a ruler, as efficient a general, and an excellent administrator as he was there.”
The food and agriculture minister, Rogvastri, agree with everyone and followed up, saying, “I support this, too.”
Mintroma, the minister of economic affairs, said, “I don’t support this resolution.”
Finance minister, Engunai, followed and said, “It will not have my
support either.”
Chemical minister Milinovase said bluntly, “I don’t support this
resolution either. I only want my current ruler to rule.”
Gunrepta said, “I need time to think.”
Martia was not worried because six of the eleven ministers already supported the resolution, and Augtromas was still left.
Augtromas declared, “I reject this resolution, and I request our ruler, Martia, to take back this resolution.”
Hearing this, Martia was shocked and furious. But she didn’t say
anything to him at that time.
Turning to Gunrepta, she said, “Gunrepta, you know me very well.
Nothing I ever do will harm the business. By business, you know what I am talking about, right? I expect your support right now. Being on my side is beneficial, and you know this.”
Gunrepta was a little intimidated but smiled and replied calmly, “I trust you, Your Highness. I give you, my support.”
With the seven votes, Martia was able to pass the resolution. Martia had tricks to make them all choose her side, but she chose not to use them then. She said, “The meeting is adjourned now. You all can leave, except for Augtromas.”
After they left, Martia looked at Augtromas and said, “Didn’t you,
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some time ago, want me to give your son a huge responsibility to save Absyleous, and now, when I trust him and am going to give him a chance to rule, you rejected my proposal. You could have said you will not give your support, but you chose the word ‘rejection’. You do know, the more powerful people become, the more self-pride they seem to acquire.”
Augtromas replied, “I thought the same—that being powerful will
corrupt you or change you or make you not treasure your lover. But you, Martia, remained the same throughout, and to my surprise, sometimes you are even humbler after becoming powerful. If you had been raised in a better atmosphere, then you might have been as good a person as the Prince. Even right now, with all your brutality, I still think you have more potential to become a good human being than most people. You deserve
to be with the Prince.”
Hearing this, Martia forgot her anger and remembered all the changes she had seen in people in different situations. She said, “I didn’t ask you to praise me.”
“Have you seen the night sky, Martia?” Augtromas continued. “It is
full of stars, and all of them have light, but when you really pay attention to the sky, you will see a few stars that, at first, seem like the rest, but later, seem different, and because of this, they become my favorites, because who does not like rare things, right? But sometimes I can find them, sometimes I can’t.”
“There is no logic to what you are saying.” Martia laughed and
continued, “And since you are intelligence minister, I am now worried for this kingdom. Should I appoint someone else?”
Paying no attention to this, Augtromas continued, “You and the Prince are like those rare stars I always craved to see but rarely got an opportunity to. And from my analysis, only rare people like you and the Prince should be made rulers as greed will never corrupt you. My son is very bright but still an ordinary star.”
Martia was astounded for a moment. But after a pause, she replied in a low voice, “Now where should I find a rare person? Augtromas, whether you want it or not, I will leave this palace. I rarely get to live my life here. I want to live with freedom for once in my life. I want to be happy, without worrying about a village or a whole kingdom. I will take the Prince and get married and live my life peacefully. I’ll find some simple work. I want to live
life, and with each passing day I live here, this is becoming a distant goal. I was raised to take responsibility. I have done my part—for Promapple, for Absyleous. I don’t want anything else in my life now except for the Prince. So, I will leave.”
Understanding Martia, Augtromas said, “Because you work, that’s why you are busy. If you only pay attention to living life luxuriously like our previous rulers, then you can live your life without leaving this palace. But I know you will always take your responsibilities sincerely, and that’s why it becomes a burden to you, because you never desired to be a ruler or a leader. So take this decision, but before that, grant me a final request.
Appoint a new intelligence minister from the recommendations of the other ministers. I think my job here is done.”
Martia looked surprised. “I am talking about retiring and you are
stopping me, and now you’ve taken my idea and decided to retire. Is itbecause I am not listening to you or because you don’t want to be under your son’s rule?”
“It is because I don’t want to see my son’s demise,” he said. “And I don’t want to see the time when I will still forgive you. I am running from the realization that I will choose you over my own son. That will make me a worse father. I just don’t want to live here and see that.”
“What are you scared of, Augtromas?” she asked. “Is it that he will
become corrupt?”
“Please, Martia, grant me a final leave. I hope you get at least a few chances to live your life.”
“Where will you go?” asked Martia.
“Somewhere peaceful.”
Martia said, “That place only exists in the company of the people we love, not far away from them.”
Augtromas bowed his neck humbly and left the courtroom, bidding her a final farewell.
Seeing him leave, Martia asked herself sadly, “Why is it when I finally get to care about someone, they just leave?”
The next day, Martia summoned a meeting to order the ministers to recommend her a new intelligence minister.
