novelSusiti Chapter 85 I propose that Constantine be brought to court!
Chapter 85 I propose that Constantine be brought to court!
three days later.
Parliament Building in Athens.
The entire city held its breath.
Every street leading from Constitution Square to the Parliament building was completely cleared. Under the sunlight, elite Evzoni guards, dressed in traditional white pleated skirts, their bayonets gleaming coldly, swept their stern gazes over the crowds trying to gather in the distance, bringing the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
Nine o'clock in the morning.
In the stillness, carriages bearing the flags of various embassies stopped one after another in front of the gate.
Sir Charles Harding, the British ambassador, was the first to step down from the carriage. He glanced up at the blue and white cross flag flying atop the Houses of Parliament, a cryptic smile playing on his lips, and whispered to the military attaché beside him, "A good show. Hopefully, the protagonist won't disappoint us."
Ambassadors and military attachés from France, Russia, and the German Empire also arrived, wearing professional smiles, as if they were there to watch a spectacular ancient Roman gladiatorial contest rather than to witness the possible fall of a kingdom's heir.
Closely following behind were journalists from various countries carrying bulky flashlights and cameras, excitedly searching for the best shooting positions like vultures smelling blood.
The parliament hall was already packed.
All the members of parliament were present. They sat in their respective seats, clearly divided into groups. The oligarchic members exchanged knowing glances and whispered among themselves, as if awaiting a pre-arranged victory celebration. A few pro-monarchy members looked grave and worried. The majority of centrists whispered amongst themselves, anxiously awaiting the start of this historic drama.
9:30.
Guided by parliamentary guards, Zaimis entered the hall.
He was dressed in a well-tailored black suit, without any medals on his chest. His face was solemn, and his eyes were filled with sorrow, as if he were attending the funeral of a deceased friend rather than a political hearing. With each step he took, members of his faction stood up to pay their respects, and the applause grew from sparse to enthusiastic.
He slowly walked up to the podium and bowed to the crowd. In that instant, all the noise disappeared.
The eyes of the whole world are on him.
9:45.
The side door of the parliament hall opened.
Constantine walked in.
Instead of wearing the black combat uniform that symbolized the Royal Tax Police, he chose a dark blue naval admiral's dress uniform that represented his status as crown prince. The gold sash on his shoulders and the gleaming medals on his chest made him look heroic and upright.
He was not accompanied by any guards.
He walked alone, amidst the hostile, sympathetic, and curious gazes of the audience, step by step, to his seat and sat down quietly.
He remained expressionless throughout.
That composure beyond his years caused a slight, inexplicable pang in Zaimis's heart. But he quickly suppressed this unease.
In his view, this was nothing more than the young man's last and most feeble act of bluff. Today, he had laid a trap, and even if Constantine had wings, he wouldn't be able to escape this hall!
10 o'clock sharp.
The speaker struck the gavel, the sound dull, announcing the official start of the hearing.
Zaimis stepped onto the podium.
Instead of immediately launching into charges, he first pulled a small, gold-edged copy of the Greek Constitution from his pocket and held it high as if it were a sacred relic.
"Gentlemen!"
He spoke, his voice loud and magnetic, carrying a compassion that could easily touch people's hearts.
"Before I begin, I would like to ask you all to join me in reaffirming the cornerstones upon which our nation was built—law, order, and respect for private property! This thin booklet is not just paper and ink! It is a promise our forefathers won with their blood!"
He delivered a speech that can be considered the pinnacle of his political career.
He tearfully recounted how a family that had "made enormous contributions to the Greek shipping industry" was destroyed by a "lawless private army" without any legal trial process.
He portrays Constantine as a dangerous dictator who, for his own selfish desires, does not hesitate to incite hatred among the lower classes and use the flames of populism to burn down the foundations of the nation's laws!
"When a prince of a country can bypass parliament and the courts, and confiscate a citizen's property based solely on his own likes and dislikes, then, are the assets of you all still safe? What is left of our country?"
His questions, each word carrying immense weight, struck the hearts of every propertied member of parliament.
After his speech, he called his first "witness".
A member of the Skopelos family collateral branch, dressed in mourning clothes and looking haggard, was brought up.
As soon as he stepped onto the witness stand, he knelt down in front of all the members of parliament with a "plop" and burst into tears.
He tearfully recounted how the Royal Tax Police, like a bunch of "savage Cossacks," stormed into their office, injured unarmed staff, and stole the "legitimate wealth" accumulated by his family over generations.
His performance garnered sympathy from many uninformed centrist lawmakers.
Immediately afterwards, Zaimis called a second witness.
The former police chief of Piraeus, whom he had bribed in advance.
The bureau chief insisted that it was Constantine's troops who first opened fire on the unarmed workers at the port, which "aroused public anger" and led to the "unfortunate riot."
One piece of "evidence" after another, one testimony after another.
Under Zaimis's manipulation, the scales of public opinion and morality tipped completely in his favor.
Constantine seemed to be completely nailed to the dock, unable to move.
But throughout, he remained seated, listening quietly. He neither refuted nor defended himself, nor even blinked. While the police chief was making his tearful accusations, he simply raised his white-gloved hand and slowly dusted off non-existent dust from his uniform.
The extreme tranquility contrasted eerily with the frenzied atmosphere in the hall.
Finally, Zaimis completed all his preparations.
He walked back to the center of the podium, opened his arms, like a judge about to deliver a verdict.
He raised his voice to its highest point, each word filled with thunderous power!
"Based on all the above evidence, I, Alexius Zaimis, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Greece, hereby submit a final motion to Parliament!"
"I propose that Parliament hold a vote immediately—"
"First! Strip His Highness Constantine Glücksburg of all military and political posts!"
"Second! Hand him over to the Kingdom's Supreme Court for trial on charges of 'inciting civil unrest' and 'endangering national security'!"
The words fell.
All members of the oligarchic faction, stand up!
Thunderous applause erupted!
They clapped wildly, their faces beaming with triumphant joy; some even whistled. In their eyes, Constantine's political life was over!
They won this war!