The Royal Isle

Chapter 3 - Ruse

Isang malaking anunsyo ang magaganap ngayon sa Isle. Lahat ay nagtipon-tipon sa ballroom ng palasyo upang pakinggan kung ano ang sasabihin ng mga namumuno sa bansa. Hindi rin makapaghintay ang lahat na makita ang kanilang Reyna Mariel na nagbabalik sa kanyang pamumuno.

Isa-isang bumaba ng hagdan ang mga reyna at hari. Tumayo sila sa gitna ng hagdanan upang makita pa rin sila ng mga tao. Naghiyawan naman ang lahat nang lumabas na si Reyna Mariel at bumaba na rin ng hagdanan. Itinaas ng hari ang kanyang kanang kamay, isang senyas ng pagpapatahimik, at sumunod naman ang lahat.

"My people, Isle has been through war. And it is now time to end it. We are all gathered here today in order to end such happening. We shall bring back the peace that our ancestors have once brought here. We stand in front of you, the rulers of Armistice, Amity and Accord, as a representation of peace and unity" panimula ni Haring Rome.

"I have understood why the followers of the Armistice family have begun this feud. Your effort to defend us is appreciated. But, it definitely did not have to reach this point" malakas na sinabi ni Reyna Mariel "The Amity family have nothing to do with the death of King Angeli, Prince Leonel and Princess Sarah. I am sure no other ship could have defied the outrageous storm that we all experienced. The members of the Amity and Armistice family are in a peaceful and close relationship with each other. I command the followers of the Armistice family to live in harmony with the other citizens of Isle. Let's stop this war once and for all"

~~~~~~~~~~TRI~~~~~~~~~~

Isang pagpupulong ang nagaganap ngayon sa silid. Humihingi ang mga tao ng hustisya para sa mga namatay nilang mahal sa buhay na nakipagsapalaran sa digmaan. Ayaw itigil ng mga tagasuporta ng pamilya ng Amity ang digmaan sapagkat nais nilang ipaglaban ang hustisya para sa mga nawalan ng buhay ng kanilang mga minamahal. Tunay ngang hindi na matitigil ang digmaang ito.

"Armistice and Amity followers are in war with each other. We need to make sure that those who shall not be involved and the followers of the Accord family are safe. No more deaths are needed to be made" sinabi ni Reyna Acu.

"The war is on-hold for now, Acu. We need to think of a solution before our people lose their patience" sabi ni Camil.

"I cannot believe that we have to experience this. Why do there have to be separate followers? There may be three families, but we still rule as one. That's what our ancestors Bien, Cyle and Pors have constituted" nababahalang sinabi ni Mariel.

"That is one of the consequences of having three rulers, Mariel. Not everyone treats us as one. There are those that favour one family and despise another. Every person has their own preference" pagpapaalala ni Rome

"I get that. But they should at least understand that, no matter their preferences, we are one. That is how things should be"

"I'm afraid we cannot control how they think, Mariel" sinabi ni Acu

"Let's stop worrying about things we have no control on" utos ni Camil "Now, I may have a solution in mind, all of you. We separate the land of Isle into three. Amity and its followers go to the East. Accord and those who do not wish to be involved in war goes to central land. And Armistice and their followers go to the West. That way, barriers shall be set. And with the Accord at the centre, considering that they are the ones who are neutral, further fights will be prevented"

"Sinasabi mo bang we shall rule separately, Camil?" tanong ni Acu "If that's the case, no. I disagree. Isle remains to be one country, ruled by three families united"

"Other than committing a violation towards our ancestors, it will even cost us much money and time to transfer our citizens from one place to another. And with that, they may even lose their livelihood" dagdag pa ni Mariel

"The people already perceive the three families separately, Camil. They need not triumph in separating us completely. As I may say, it will only add fuel to the fire. Kailangan natin ipakita sa kanila na nagkakaisa tayo, hindi yung magkahiwa-hiwalay pa. We must maintain the union of three families" paalala ni Rome

"Well then, if you wish union, why not marriage?" mungkahi pa ni Camil

"What? Nonsense, Camil" komento ni Acu sa sinabi ni Camil "What do you mean marriage? Francis is only thirteen years old for goodness sake! And your daughter Hope is only eight. How could you possibly think of that? That would be nothing but child abuse"

"Listen to me first before you accuse me of such things, Acu!" naiinis na sinabi ni Camil

"Kumalma tayo. Camil and Acu, would you please take your seats" pagpipigil ni Mariel sa dalawa. Hinawakan naman ng hari ang kanyang noo na para bang sumasakit ang kanyang ulo.

"We'll keep the war on-hold until Hope reaches her legal age. But, we'll notify our people of this plan so as to prevent losing their patience and start to engage in bloody war again. Ten years from now, Hope will marry Francis. However, she will not be representing the name of an Accord. She will represent that of the Armistice. With Hope as an exemplification of the Armistice and Francis to Amity, the war between the two shall be over. We'll finally show the people union between us families"

"How could that be? Hope does not have Armistice blood" komento ni Rome

"Oh, Rome, did you not remember that the late Angeli was once my third cousin?" pagpapaalala ni Camil "of course, I completely understand if you do not. Third cousins are already far from the family tree so don't bother, friend"

"with that, technically, the blood of the Armistice shall remain at rule" sambit ni Mariel

"Yes, Mariel. You are absolutely correct" puri ni Camil nang may pagkalaki-laking ngiti