novelSusiti Chapter 291 The Rally for Appeasement in the Square
Chapter 291 The Rally for Appeasement in the Square
Chapter 291 The Rally for Appeasement in the Square
The news that the Crown Princess was personally distributing relief food spread like wildfire to every corner of Ioannina.
In the following days, Sofia's "army" launched a full-scale operation.
The Petalas family's cargo ships delivered a steady stream of supplies, setting up over a dozen distribution points throughout the city. Doctors and nurses from the Queen's medical team set up tents in the dirtiest neighborhoods, providing free medical care and distributing medicine to patients. The young Orthodox priests did not preach; they simply helped distribute food, clean the streets, and teach children everyday Greek greetings.
These actions demonstrate tangible goodwill.
The tense atmosphere in the city of Ioannina gradually eased.
On the streets, the hostile gazes gradually gave way to curiosity and observation. Children began to approach the Greek soldiers distributing candy. Some bolder Muslim residents even nodded to the patrolling soldiers.
A few days later, a large-scale public rally to appease the people was held in the square in the center of Ioannina.
In the center of the square, a temporary platform was erected using wooden planks.
On the high platform, there were no layers of guards, not even a royal banner symbolizing power was flying. Sophia stood in the center of the platform, with only a few maids and a few young priests in black robes behind her.
The audience was packed with people.
Thousands of people gathered here, crowding the entire square. Greeks, Muslims, and a small number of Jewish residents mingled together. Their faces displayed a variety of expressions, some expectant, some suspicious, but the tense hostility had largely dissipated.
In a corner of the crowd, the elderly Grand Imam Sheikh Ibrahim, accompanied by several elders, appeared on the scene. He stood at the back of the crowd, silently watching the blonde, blue-eyed foreign woman on the stage.
Sophia walked to the very front of the wooden platform.
She spoke to the sea of people below the stage through the translator beside her.
"Residents of Ioannina!"
"I know your fears, I know your anxieties. War has left scars on this land and shadows in your hearts."
Her voice, carried clearly to every corner of the square by several soldiers who had temporarily acted as megaphones.
"But the war is over."
"From this day forward, we will all live under the same blue and white flag. We may pray in different directions and call upon the name of the Lord in different languages, but we will all drink from the same lake, and we will all be children of this land."
"We should be neighbors, brothers, not enemies!"
Her voice was sincere, and every word came from the bottom of her heart.
A commotion began to stir in the audience, with some people starting to whisper among themselves. Many Muslim residents showed expressions of approval and began to nod quietly.
Sofia noticed the change in the crowd below the stage and prepared to continue speaking.
Just then!
Accident happened!
"Down with the devil of the heretics!"
A hoarse, fanatical roar suddenly erupted from the crowd!
A young Muslim, his eyes burning with a mad flame, like an enraged bull, suddenly pushed through the crowd in front of him.
In his hand, a gleaming dagger flashed blindingly in the sunlight!
His target was the unarmed Crown Princess who was giving a speech on the stage!
It happened suddenly!
The maids on the stage screamed in terror! The governor Pavlos and his guards below the stage were too far away and blocked by the dense crowd to react in time!
Everyone froze on the spot!
Time seemed to stretch out.
The poisoned dagger, under the watchful eyes of countless terrified people, sliced through the air and pierced straight towards Sophia's chest!
A close call!
An unexpected figure suddenly burst out from the crowd below the stage!
With an agility completely out of character for his age, he rushed onto the wooden platform!
It's Sheikh Ibrahim!
In the instant the assassin charged, Sheikh Ibrahim's mind went blank. But the next second, a thought struck him like lightning: It's over! If this woman were to perish here, all Muslims, all of Joanina, would face a bloodbath of retribution! The bread, medicine, and respect this woman brought—everything would vanish! He saw the assassin's young, fanatical face; that wasn't a saint, that was Satan, the destroyer of his entire community! No! He couldn't let this fool ruin their only chance of survival! This thought transcended fear, transcended the barriers of faith, transforming into a survival instinct that propelled his aged body forward!
This elderly imam!
He spread his arms wide, using his thin, aged body as a shield to firmly block Sophia's path!
"Pfft!"
A dull thud as a sharp weapon pierced flesh.
The dagger failed to pierce Sophia.
It slashed deeply at Elder Ibrahim's outstretched arm as he tried to block.
Blood gushed out instantly, staining his pristine white silk robe crimson.
The young assassin was stunned by this sudden turn of events, frozen in place. He stared in disbelief at his revered religious leader, at the deep, bone-revealing wound on his arm.
"Grab him!"
The Greek guards, realizing what was happening, rushed forward and pounced on the assassin like hungry tigers, pinning him to the ground.
The entire square was completely silent.
Thousands of people, thousands of eyes, were focused on that small wooden platform.
Everyone was completely stunned by what they saw.
A highly respected Muslim imam was wounded while protecting a non-Muslim crown princess.
The impact of this scene transcends any language and any speech.
It was like a heavy hammer, smashing the wall in everyone's heart.
"Elder!"
Sofia was the first to react. Her face showed no fear or panic, only concern for the old man before her.
She quickly stepped forward and supported Ibrahim, who was swaying precariously due to blood loss.
She glanced at the deep wound and didn't hesitate for a moment.
She reached out and grabbed the hem of her expensive dark blue travel dress.
"Sizzle—"
""
A crisp sound of tearing fabric rang out.
Sophia actually tore off a large piece of her long dress with her own hands, ignoring the astonished looks of those around her, and skillfully and quickly bandaged the wound on Elder Yi Xia La Xin's arm.
She knelt on the wooden platform, head bowed, focused intently, carefully tending to the wound of the elderly Muslim man, her movements as gentle as if she were treating her own family.
Golden strands of hair slipped from the brim of her wide-brimmed hat and draped over the old man's white robe, which was stained with blood.