The morning light stread through the high stained glass windows, casting colorful splashes on the marble floor of the council hall.
Last night's disturbances seed like a dream; even upon waking, it was hard to shake off.
Moliat stepped into the Constitution Hall, the heels of her boots echoing crisply on the smooth floor.
Yet, as she walked, her brows furrowed under the iron mask more than ever before.
From the people passing by and the thoughts of the Attendant Officers, she could hear that a disturbance occurred last night.
Only upon waking, she had to attend the eting imdiately and was unaware of the specific situation.
But since the Advisory Council could be held as scheduled, it indicated it wasn't a major issue, sothing to inquire about after the eting.
The temporary eting place for the Advisory Council was within the Baihua Cathedral, and the cathedral's unique circular sermon hall conveniently served these republicans with divine authority cards.
They even converted the Holy Music Hall into Constitution Hall.
Redwood benches surrounded the central altar, and the old Holy Images were dismantled, replaced by golden bronze statues of Horn and Moliat.
On either side were portraits of significant figures from the Thousand River Valley's past, such as Juanuo, Vine, Kosse, Ludvik, and so on.
In fact, in the Thousand River Valley, especially within the Holy Alliance's territory, adherents of the Holy Path, due to inheriting the idol worship tradition of the Thousand River Valley, began worshipping portraits of Horn.
Walking from the door to stand at the central circular altar, Moliat felt a sense of discordance.
Previously, she always stood alongside Horn, but this ti they were separated on either side of the altar, with guards and military police stationed at the altar and the entrance.
Thinking carefully, along the way, the Imperial Guard and military police were unusually nurous.
"Has Horn arrived?" Moliat asked the Secret Monk beside her.
The Secret Monk bowed respectfully: "His Eminence was awakened by the rioters last night and has just risen. He will arrive before we start."
"What exactly happened yesterday?" Moliat pressed on.
The Secret Monk scratched his head: "I heard it was a brawl between representatives of the noble and commoner factions? His Eminence sealed the news, leaving it for the morning to discuss the classification. We who sleep in the Uffizi Palace haven't yet figured out what happened."
Moliat squinted, confirming that the monk was speaking the truth, and waved him away.
Standing on the altar and looking around, the sparsely occupied seats made her heart sink.
Especially in the noble seats, the absence was particularly noticeable, with at least half empty, and nearly a third of the commoner faction seats unoccupied.
Those arrogant figures from the past had vanished without a trace.
Moliat's brows furrowed slightly as her gaze swept across the entire eting room.
Most delegates had arrived, city faction, mountain faction, and plain faction mbers wore diverse clothing, from intricately embroidered robes to soiled woolen coats.
However, their expressions were unusually silent, with dark circles under their eyes, heads bowed.
They were no longer the group that faced her with awe or hostility; now, their eyes evaded, avoiding her gaze.
A sense of foreboding arose in Moliat's heart: "Where is Horn? I need to talk to him."
Before the monk could respond, the heavy bronze bell tolled loudly.
The doors opened, and Horn walked steadily to the altar, his silhouette sharply outlined by the morning light.
Since the bell tolled, signaling Horn's arrival, it wasn't appropriate for Moliat to discuss private matters, though she occasionally glanced at Horn's calm deanor.
Standing on the altar, Horn swept his gaze across the hall, speaking slowly: "Gentlen, the Thousand River Valley is undergoing a crisis both internal and external. Today, we were supposed to report military intelligence and conduct inquiries, providing an account to everyone."
His voice was unhurried, yet each word seed to strike the heart.
"But due to last night's events, nurous delegates have been arrested, disrupting our order." He paused, then continued, "Therefore, before anything else, we must resolve yesterday's chaos."
The hall fell silent.
Horn's gaze sliced through the present delegates like a blade, then René stepped forward for the first ti in an Advisory Council eting to report on last night's events.
"Around nine o'clock last night at the Albu Tavern, due to intoxication and discussions of the situation, citizens Liborole and Rangbang hoped to support the Great Shepherd to express the delegates' devotion, thereby proposing a petition..."
"...The military unit called 'A River' was stripped of its law enforcent duties within the city at the beginning of the year, awaiting reorganization and retraining. Nevertheless, individuals like Clovin and Nathaniel acted recklessly..."
"Last night, as many as 343 were injured, and the damage to others' property and public assets is hard to quantify. Fortunately, the military police controlled the situation without fatalities..."
The more René spoke, the wider Moliat's eyes widened, as if she had realized sothing. Her face turned pale as she looked at Horn.
"The citizens' behavior last night constitutes a severe violation of the nightti security ordinance.
To maintain order, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (the organization to which Cheka and the military police belong) proposed that representatives who led the riot be dismissed, while ordinary participants be detained for three to seven days."
Low murmurs filled the council seats as so delegates exchanged glances.
"As for the behavior of the noble faction," René's tone suddenly turned cold, "dereliction of duty, unauthorized mobilization of troops, harboring private soldiers... even attempting to abduct the Autocratic Duke and incite rebellion."
The hall fell into dead silence.
"Severe offenders will have their noble status revoked and be sent to reclaim land at Black Snake Bay. Lesser offenders will have their annuities stopped. Currently detained individuals will no longer hold military or representative posts but will be assigned to teach in village schools for three years."
This decision caused the few remaining representatives among the nobility to turn pale, all eyes shifting to the envoy sent by André.
However, André's envoy remained silent, even lightly applauding appreciatively.
Moliat even took the initiative to ask, "Doesn't André have anything to say?"
The envoy stood up, bowed first, then elegantly said, "André says that we agree with whatever the Saint's Grandson says."
Moliat gripped the edge of the pulpit, her peripheral vision swept towards Horn. When exactly did this start?
"Then for this verdict, what suggestions does His Highness the Despot have?"
"...None." Moliat said coldly, suddenly realizing that today was an ambush against her.
Horn's gaze swept over the crowd, his tone calm yet firm: "The dire situation is truly unbearable to witness. To prevent such occurrences in the future, I am submitting a proposal to the Advisory Council to study the abolition of the three-seat system of nobility, citizens, and clergy, in favor of a new system based on qualified elections."
A stir erupted in the hall.
Qualified elections ant no longer allocating seats based on bloodline and status, but on ability and public support.
Horn's gaze remained steady: "We can no longer let the past system beco an obstacle; we should learn from our mistakes to prevent yesterday's chaos from happening again."
The representatives whispered among themselves, as the proposal was not yet finalized, it was rely being put forward.
Then, Horn slowly turned towards Moliat.
"Moreover, based on last night's petition, I have a new proposal to submit."
The air in the hall seed to freeze as if everyone realized sothing.
"Regarding the impeachnt of the Autocratic Duke Moliat Falls."
Instantly, the entire conference room fell into a dead silence.
Moliat abruptly turned around, staring at Horn in shock.
"What did you say?" Her voice carried a hint of disbelief.
She looked around, hoping soone would stand up to refute.
But no one did.
Her gaze swept over familiar faces, the representatives from Pingyuan County stared at her with heads held high.
This was what Moliat could have anticipated, but she hadn't expected that even the representatives from Mountain County would remain silent.
But if she stood from Horn or the Holy Alliance's perspective, it was completely understandable.
The industrial and comrcial nobility of Pingyuan County were being suppressed by the igedi Comrce Association and the Saintess Bank.
South Mangde County's spinning industry relied on the weaving industry of the ry Court Barracks, North County's cured at and timber industry depended on the Holy Alliance's Black Snake Bay.
Shangruifo County was controlled by André, and Horn had just helped them manage the flood, the influence had yet to dissipate.
Mande County remained neutral, unmoved by either the Duke's favor or the Shepherd's grief.
Even North Mangde County, due to the new city plan and Harbin's activities, remained silent.
The only supporters of Moliat, the landed nobility, had mostly been taken away last night, and the few nobles who didn't partake were now too afraid to get involved.
Moliat's mind was in turmoil, she couldn't even hear Horn reciting the words of the petition, nor could she hear Horn inviting her to defend herself.
The proceedings mimicked the streamlined process of a courtroom as Horn's steady voice echoed in the hall: "Let's proceed to vote."
After a mont of silence, slowly, the legislators began to raise their hands.
One.
Two.
Three...
Uniformly aligned, with no opposition.
Except for a few abstentions, it passed unanimously.
Moliat understood that, legally speaking, a unanimous vote held no substantial significance.
Because the Advisory Council only had the power to make recomndations.
Yet at this mont, it beca a fact.
For there was another Tribune and the military standing as their backers, but as one of the Tribunes, she had lost the support of the military and her base.
Everyone was siding with Horn.
Whether out of fear, profit, or dissatisfaction and despair with the current situation.
Her fingers trembled slightly as Moliat looked at Horn and smiled: "Horn, people say I'm the ambitious one, but it's you, you're the one hiding it deeper than anyone!"
Then, she forcefully flung open the doors of the assembly hall and staggered out.
Catherine quickly followed her out.
Horn closed his eyes, took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of emotions within him.
He slowly returned to his senses and looked towards the assembly.
"Then, let's proceed to the second vote."
"Based on the proposal from the believers of Thousand River Valley, in favor of Saint Son Horn Gallar overseeing the secular affairs of Thousand River Valley."
Once again, the conference room fell into silence.
As hands slowly rose one by one, on January 27, 1449, the Holy Alliance officially took over all affairs of Thousand River Valley.
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