51. The Sun Rebels!
**Melissa**
There had to be around fifty people in here. Some of them stared at me with curious expressions while others paid me no mind. To my relief, I wasn’t the only one in the room wearing a robe, so I wouldn’t stand out.
Their attention soon returned to a man on a podium.
He too wore a cloak. I kept my gaze on him as if he were the only one I was interested in. There was another man at the end of the podium. Every time the first one paused, the second one beated his drum using his palms.
“With each new day that comes by, we grow more and more uncertain of the future!” The speaker stated. His blonde and gray hair shot to the sky like lightning bolts. “I personally have written several letters to the king regarding the state of our country. And how many have he answered? Not one of them!”
Drumming noises echoed off the walls. Some of the attendants shook their heads in disgust.
“And to think, I was his longest serving minister! I have spent over thirty years of my life making sure that the affairs of the state were in order. I had the education of the new generation in my mind at all times. Yet, what do you think happened?”
The drum sounded again.
“I kept my mouth shut all this time. Yet, as soon as I started to speak up against his policies, started to oppose him, he kicked me out!”
“He’s unloyal!” An old man yelled.
“Ungrateful!” A woman called out.
The other participants and the drum seemed to agree with them. In the meantime, I was trying to figure out if I recognized him. I know all of the ministers, diplomats and advisors that were close enough to King Chester to be able to speak to him directly, but I didn’t remember this dude.
“He spread all these lies about me to the other ministers, calling me extreme and unrealistic. He dragged my name through the mud until he convinced everyone that I should be removed from my position. He thought that this way all of his flaws would be covered up! But not anymore!”
The crowd clapped vigorously. I joined in, a fake smile plastered onto my face.
“After that I was unable to get a job. My wife left me and took the kids, and I had no one to turn to. I was then able to get a job at one of the biggest accounting firms in the country but that’s not the point. I learnt a lot between then and now. He made my life hell! But I’m feeling much better, because hey, I’m not the only one who he screwed over!”
Their laughter matched the rhythm of the drum.
“Come now my friends, and express yourself! No one can hurt you here. None of his little minions can find this place either. You’re safe with people just like you!”
He invited up someone from the crowd who raised their hand after they came up to the stage, giving them the floor. The drumming continued, igniting my annoyance.
As each person came up to the stage, I noticed a pattern. They all felt like King Chester had screwed them over one way or another, that’s obvious, but I also noticed how they phrased their sentences.
“That man took away my mother’s livelihood. She didn’t know how to do anything else so she remained in poverty, unable to care for her sons.”
Okay, but what was her job before then? Why did he target her specifically? Was he just having a bad day and decided to go bully a random woman?
“While protesters were outside my store, scaring away all the customers, he just smiled at them and told the knights not to disturb them, which only riled them up more!”
Fair enough, but why were protestors outside your store? What were they protesting against?
“When our house burned down, that man told the insurance company not to give us our payouts! We’d been good citizens for years, never getting arrested for a single crime. Yet in the end, we were only left with the socks on our feet!”
I can understand how someone could be angry enough about that to join a rebellion, but again, why would he go out of his way to personally tell the exact insurance company that these people use to tell them not to give them a payout? Even if this was true and King Chester is truly bored and cruel, they could have gone to the Minister of civil rights who would then have a meeting with the upper minister’s about the king’s behavior. He’s one of the few that doesn’t need to be formal with royalty. His position grants him that and the king wouldn’t be able to take him out of his role easily like he can with the rest.
That’s because Ministers like the Minister of Civil Rights don’t work for the royal family, they work for the country. Same goes with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Relationships. Sure, The big guy can propose a new law, but those three have to agree with the logic, and see how it affects the area that they’re in charge of before they grant him the go-ahead.
After listening to the stories of over ten people, I’ve come to my conclusion.
They feel like the world owes them something.
Not only are their stories short and told through a singular lens, but they were also missing a lot of information that removed context from the scene. They all talked about their issues as if they were a victim of a senseless tragedy.
I have my bones to pick with Chester too. A lot of them. Like him being the reason I didn’t grow up without a mother. I still miss her touch, day after day. There were so many things that she could have teached me. So many fun stuff we could have done together as a family.
However, despite my feelings, I’m not blind to the fact that my knowledge about the situation at that time is bleak. My father never told me, and I never asked anyone else. I also didn’t look up the information out of fear that I might hurt my father. He had always supported me and my ambitions, and took all the blame I threw at him without complaint. I will never forgive him for letting them hurt her, but I still loved my dad.
When that guy got back on stay, I figured I had been there long enough. There were plenty of people here Sirius could use. If I play my cards right, then Dean will be left out of Sirius’ plans for the dam.
“As you can see!” He said. “This is why there is a need for change! For a new dawn where the little people like us can thrive! The common people deserve to be a part of history! Soon, everyone will know!”
As I was inching closer to the door to avoid suspicion, my eyes picked up on something. Chaos coming from the other side of the door.
I glanced around. No one seemed to notice. They were too caught up in the excitement, alcohol bouncing in their bellies.
But the noise was getting louder. I heard glass break. Yelling. Commands being yelled out.
Those closest to the door could hear it too.
“As soon as we have enough people, we will charge the palace and force that man on his knees!” Their leader went on. “Just like he had done to us. Let the sun rise!”
Just then, someone broke down the door. I hid my face to avoid any splinters getting in my eyes. When I opened them, there were three knights standing where the door used to be.