--- 3rd POV ---
--- 15th of April 1906 ---
The sound of hurried boots and muffled shouts escalated just beyond the grand doors. The female courtiers outside were no longer able to contain their horror—their screams cracked the tension in the drawing room like lightning.
Kaʻiulani's eyes darted toward the doors as if her body already knew what was happening, even if her mind refused to accept it. The confusion that clouded her gaze quickly sharpened into terror, and then into something far colder—a grim resignation that settled heavily in her bones.
Her breath caught as her hand instinctively drifted to her abdomen, gently pressing against the subtle curve hidden beneath the layers of her royal garb. Not now. Not like this.
No one knew. Not her husband. Not her courtiers. Not even her father. She had planned to tell Rohan tonight, to bring joy into what had become a crumbling marriage. But the moment had passed. The safety of that revelation was now shattered.
Her family moved before she could.
Cleghorn, his cane resting firmly beneath his hand, showed no shock at the noise outside. Neither did Liliʻuokalani nor Bishop. They remained unnervingly calm, the weight of their silence more damning than words.
"You…" Kaʻiulani's voice trembled, her throat tightening. "You planned this?"
Bishop adjusted the blanket over his lap with slow, practiced movements, his face cold and indifferent now. "You were always too sentimental to see the board, child."
"You were never supposed to have choices," Liliʻuokalani added softly, her voice a silk thread laced with poison. "You were supposed to continue—to exist as a symbol, not as a spark."
Kaʻiulani's heart pounded violently against her ribs. She took a slow step back toward the balcony, her eyes flicking briefly to the far stone wall where a discreet passage led away from the royal apartments. An escape route. It was faint. But it was there.
"You would remove me tonight?" she asked, barely able to keep her voice steady.
Liliʻuokalani's gaze softened, not out of kindness, but as one softens toward a naive child. "Tonight, yes. Before you do something regrettable. You see, your fire will consume everything—including yourself."
Cleghorn's jaw tensed, but he didn't intervene. Somewhere in his heart, he still wished his daughter could have chosen the easier path.
"Where will you send me?" Kaʻiulani asked, her hand still protectively over her stomach, carefully veiling her terror beneath a calm veneer.
Bishop's smirk returned. "Exile, of course. Somewhere soft, somewhere far. But you'll be cared for. You'll have all the comforts you need—just… no crown. No influence. You'll become a quiet chapter in the empire's story."
Kaʻiulani's lips pressed into a thin line as she slowly backed toward the balcony's edge. She could feel the night air tugging at her robes, as if the island itself whispered for her to run.
"Is that your kindness, then?" she whispered, almost to herself. "To make me a ghost while I still breathe?"
Liliʻuokalani would want to speak and say something yet she was intervened by a domineering and powerful voice.
"Enough with the explanation and finish this already," the voice says nonchalantly, completely feeling the boredom of listening to the entire fiasco a while ago.
The powerful voice silenced the room like a blade slicing through taut fabric. It resonated with authority, unhurried yet suffocating in its weight.
The grand doors creaked open fully, revealing Yuvraj Siagu Alexie himself, standing casually with his hands behind his back, draped in the imperial blacks and golds of the Butuan Empire. His Bakunawa insignia gleamed under the dim light, his expression one of disinterest—almost irritation at the idea of needing his presence just to resolve what he clearly saw as trivial family squabbles.
Behind him is the proud and powerful figure of Maharajkumar Sharvil, cloaked with his formal Imperial clothing of the Butuan Empire while wearing a smug and disdainful look towards the shaking Kaʻiulani. Along with his is Prince Consort Rohan whom is looking like a defeated dog, unable to say anything nor defend his own wife from the troubles unfolding within his sight.
But what really made Prince Consort Rohan feel defeated is the presence of his father; Maha Samrat Samir Vikram of Palawan (65) and elder brother; Sarimbar of Palawan (41). Both are known to be strict and devoted to the Imperial family and the cause of the empire. Thus, the two have given Prince Consort Rohan a heavy scolding hours ago after being a 'failure' on their eyes and unable to control his own household.
Yuvraj Siagu's boots rang out as he crossed the marble floor, each measured step sucking the air from the room. His dark gaze swept over Liliʻuokalani, Cleghorn, Bishop, and the three generations assembled—then landed on Kaʻiulani, her hand still pressed to her belly.
"Truly," he began, voice calm yet carrying a blade's edge, "all this drama for a queen who dares to call herself a ghost."
Sharvil's smug grin widened—but at Siagu's glance, it snapped shut. Sharvil knew that his nephew inherited his kuya's and late father's stern and strict attitude. Rohan shrank back, as if hoping to disappear altogether. Bishop's false comfort drained from his pallid features. Even Liliʻuokalani stilled, curiosity and caution flickering in her eyes.
"I will not tolerate petty family coups," Siagu continued, turning to Maha Samrat Samir and Sarimbar flanking Rohan. "Your scolding, Sarimbar and Maha Samrat Samir, is duly noted—but I will not have my household torn apart when there is empire to govern."
Sarimbar and Maha Samrat Samir Vikram decided to remain in silent, wisely held their tongue beneath Yuvraj Siagu's deadly glare. They have also subsequently bowed stiffly, unwilling to oppose the future maharaja of Butuan.
Yuvraj Siagu's piercing gaze settled on Prince Consort Rohan, who had been hanging his head like a chastised boy, his shoulders weighed down by shame.
"And you…" Siagu's tone sharpened like a drawn blade. "You let this unfold under your nose. You let your wife, your house, become the centre of a rebellion you neither saw nor stopped."
Rohan flinched but said nothing. His throat tightened with a thousand unspoken defences—none of which could survive under his cousin's crushing authority.
Maharajkumar Sharvil, despite his earlier smugness, remained silent, standing rigid like a soldier under inspection. Even he knew that when Yuvraj Siagu stepped into a room like this, there was no space for arrogance.
Siagu's boots clicked once more as he closed the distance to Kaʻiulani. His eyes flicked briefly to her trembling hand, still resting protectively over her abdomen.
He knew. He always knew.
"You think I am unaware of what you carry, Kaʻiulani?" he asked, his voice dropping low, dangerously calm. "Do you think the soldiers, courtiers, and doctors within these walls would fail to notice the quiet protection you offer your womb?"
Kaʻiulani's breath caught. Her throat burned. Her secret wasn't secret at all. Charles Bishop and the others where in complete shock, unable to process the fact that Kaʻiulani is currently pregnant with a child.
Cleghorn and Rohan on the other hand shows conflicting emotions as both still cares about Kaʻiulani. Cleghorn in particular plans to negotiate the situation of Kaʻiulani to Siagu the moment everything cooled down. Rohan also plans to rescue Kaʻiulani and have her sail to a safe land for their child.
Rohan might have lied and kept some secrets to Kaʻiulani but Rohan still cares for his wife and would do everything for her. It was not about the deal that Rohan marries Kaʻiulani, it was because he truly loves Kaʻiulani. The insertion of the deal between Butuan and Hawaii have nothing to do with him wanting to marry Kaʻiulani.
He even tried to protest about this to his father, the maharaja, and the council of elders back then, but he was instead scolded and reminded of his duty as the son of the empire and the member of the family. He was labelled as weak and selfish individual for not prioritizing the family and the nation.
Even now, Rohan can only blame himself for being weak and unable to protect his family. Guilt flooded Rohan's heart as he sweats greatly and clenches his fist in anger towards himself. Maharajkumar Sharvil snarls at Rohan's reaction, viewing him as a failure and a weak man to uphold the decree of the empire and the maharaja.
"I…" Her voice wavered for the first time, but she forced steel back into it. "This child has nothing to do with your politics. It is mine."
Siagu's cold expression cracked into something almost amused—almost—but the chill in his eyes never left.
"That child," Siagu said softly, taking another step closer, his shadow now fully eclipsing her, "is of Rohan's descent… which means that child is mine."
The weight of those words crushed the air from the room.
Kaʻiulani's breath hitched as she stumbled back, as if the very ground betrayed her. Her back hit the cold marble balustrade of the balcony, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. Disbelief was written all over her face as everything she cared and loved for are now collapsing like nothing.
Her country, status, power, influence, and husband, all were gone in a matter of hours. And now, even her unborn child, whom she has kept for weeks will be taken also away from her? Kaʻiulani finally resign and given up from ever struggling for her freedom. Her will to fight finally left her eyes that once burn with determination and pride.
Rohan's eyes widened in horror after hearing Siagu's words and seeing the life of determination fades away from his wife's eyes. It was as if a bucket of cold water were poured onto Rohan's head as he slowly gains courage to defy the monarchy.
"No…" he choked out, his voice raw. "Siagu, please… leave her out of this. The child… let the child be free of this—"
An expression of horror appears on the faces of Maha Samrat Vikram and Lord Sarimbar. The act of defying the words of Yuvraj Siagu can be considered an act of rebellion and treason that can warrant to death until the 3rd generation. Not to mention that Rohan is part of the cadet houses of the imperial family, which tightly follows the rules of hierarchy.
And any members of the cadet houses that defies the words made by the Yuvraj or any members of the main household is punishable by death until the 6th generation and reducing their status to mere commoners, leaving nothing for them to spare. But before Maha Samrat Vikram could even do a thing, Yuvraj Siagu already cut Rohan's words.
Siagu's gaze flicked to him, sharp and final. "You forfeited your say the moment you failed to protect your household. You chose the empire the day you bowed to the council. Now you live with the consequences."
Rohan's knees almost buckled under the weight of his cousin's words, his fists trembling in silent rage—not toward Siagu, but toward himself.
Maharajkumar Sharvil sneered, but one glare from Siagu wiped the smirk clean from his face.
"You speak of freedom, Kaʻiulani," Siagu continued, his voice smooth as silk but colder than the monsoon sea. "But there is no freedom for the bloodline of Butuan. That child is the empires. That child is mine."
Kaʻiulani, who doesn't have any ounce of energy to defend nor retaliate against Yuvraj Siagu's words. This causes her to finally collapse to the ground as her knees feels the weight of her situation.
Siagu continued, his voice deceptively calm. "Liliʻuokalani, Cleghorn, and Bishop… arrange the necessary things for Kaʻiulani. She will be sent at the Palace of Kailani (Istana Kailani). She will remain under palace sanction until she accepts her—and her child's—place within the Empire."
Liliʻuokalani, Cleghorn, and Bishop, all bowed obediently towards Yuvraj Siagu fully signalling their allegiance towards the crown of Butuan. Liliʻuokalani in particular throws meaningful look at Cleghorn before whispering to Cleghorn. "Even your blood cannot escape the Bakunawa's embrace."
Cleghorn's cane tapped the marble once. "It seems we have no choice," he said quietly, though regret laced his tone. "The child's future—our family's future—rests in their hands, now."
Rohan wanted to retaliate after seeing his wife being escorted by the guards bought by Yuvraj Siagu. Yet, before he can even say a thing, Maha Samrat Vikram throws a hard and disappointing punch to Rohan's face causing him to lay on the floor feeling the pain of his father's punch.
Rohan didn't fight back.
He lay there on the marble floor, one side of his face already swelling from his father's blow, but the sting of the strike was nothing compared to the hollow pit clawing through his chest. As Kaʻiulani was gently lifted by the palace guards—her eyes vacant, her hands limp—Rohan reached out weakly, fingers brushing only air.
"Kaʻiulani…" he whispered.
She didn't look back.
The halls echoed with the fading steps of the entourage escorting her to the Istana Kailani—Butuan's most secluded royal palace, veiled in beauty, but also in silence. A prison woven in silk.
Yuvraj Siagu watched without pity. There was no cruelty in his eyes—only a future sovereign's calculation, honed by years of seeing the cruelty of the world and its inhabitants. Yuvraj Siagu knew that even in this timeline, power is absolute if you have the means to enforce it, and in his case, he does.
Maharajkumar Sharvil stepped forward as if to speak something, but his nephew, Yuvraj Siagu Siagu lifted one hand, stopping him from ever speaking.
Without looking at Rohan, Siagu issued his final verdict, his voice like the striking of a temple gong.
"Strip Rohan of all commands and power within the government of Hawai'i. He will retain his status as a member of the House Sharada. He will remain in Honolulu under the observation of the Balangay sang Kabus nga Banay (Council of Lesser Houses). If he dares to defy the will of the crown again… he will be removed from everything and an appropriate punishment shall be handed unto him in accordance to family law."
The chamber went silence after Yuvraj Siagu gave his final words towards Rohan, completely disregarding his status as the Prince Consort of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. Lord Sarimbar, Prince Consort Rohan's older brother remains in silence while throwing a deathly glare at his younger brother for almost causing trouble to their family. Maha Samrat Samir on the other hand bowed deeply and accepted the current status of his youngest son.
But deep inside of his heart, he was already planning on imposing further heavy sanctions towards his youngest. The son that he thought would make their family climb the ladder of power within the aristocratic society of the empire is now a failed product in his eyes. However, this does not concern Yuvraj Siagu anymore as for him, it is the quelling of the situation in Hawai'i is of most importance.
"In regards with the governing of Hawai'i…" Yuvraj Siagu muttered before turning his gaze to his uncle, Maharajkumar Sharvil whom nodded and fully understood what his nephew is trying to say.
"My uncle, Maharajkumar Sharvil of Cebu, following the instruction and arrangement made by the Parliament and my father, shall be assuming the role of Ikaduhang Maharaja (Viceroy) in place of Kaʻiulani. He shall also be serving as the Datu-Labaw (Governor-General) of this distant island while Liliʻuokalani, Cleghorn, and Bishop shall be part of the Legislative Council of Hawai'i along with the deputy ministers that manages other function of this island."
Sharvil stepped forward with stately grace, the golden embroidery on his robes glinting in the candlelight. The room had not breathed since Yuvraj Siagu's pronouncement, and now the very air shifted with the weight of his new appointment.
But Queen Emerita Liliʻuokalani protested after gathering her confidence, "Your Imperial Highness, I believe this is a breach from the agreement made by me and your father few years ago regarding the status of Hawai'i under the Butuan Empire's rule."
The room paused after Liliʻuokalani shared her thoughts, even Maharajkumar Sharvil whom is in full smile instantly changes his reaction to discontent towards Liliʻuokalani. But Yuvraj Siagu remains indifference towards Liliʻuokalani as he spares her not a single glance and decided to remain in silence.
Gaining the confidence through Yuvraj Siagu's silence, Liliʻuokalani continues her words, "If I may, under the agreement made by the Maharaja and me. Hawai'i shall continually be ruled by its queen for the next years to come until such time it is ready to be admitted as a province of the empire.
In exchange to this, military and naval bases shall be constructed in the island and a military general shall be the representative of the Butuan crown and be leading the order of the kingdom. What you are saying tonight is obviously a-"
"Shut up," Yuvraj Siagu blurted tirelessly while not giving the chance for Liliʻuokalani to see his face.
Shocks were written on the faces of Liliʻuokalani, Cleghorn, and Bishop, after Yuvraj Siagu suddenly blurted such words. Even Sharvil and the rest were in complete silence as it is not common for Yuvraj Siagu to tell someone to be quiet.
Yuvraj Siagu finally turned toward Liliʻuokalani with the slowness of a tightening noose. The air grew leaden, heavy with the burn of suppressed fear and crumbling pride. His eyes, darker than obsidian and sharper than any blade forged in Butuan's heartland, locked with hers.
"I said," he repeated—softly this time, but with the crushing finality of falling stone—"shut. up."
Liliʻuokalani's lips parted, but no sound escaped. The full weight of imperial power bore down on her like a tidal wave, and for the first time in decades, she truly felt what it meant to be powerless. Not overthrown, not exiled—powerless. Her hands trembled slightly as she folded them in front of her, forced into stillness.
"I will be lenient since you are much older than me. But you speak of an agreement made by my father," Siagu continued, "as if it binds me. Let me make something clear, Liliʻuokalani. That agreement was a courtesy extended by a patient empire to a proud crumbling island. And patience…" He took another step closer, towering now, voice low and terrifying, "…has limits."
His words were not a declaration. They were a warning.
"You may speak of agreements, traditions, sovereignties. But you forget the very foundation on which your throne now stands—we gave it to you. The moment Butuan soldiers landed on these shores and kept your enemies from breaking your bones, this kingdom ceased to be yours alone."
He took another step, and Liliʻuokalani found herself taking a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"The island is ours. The bases are ours. The throne… ours. You were allowed to wear a crown so long as it served stability. That condition is now broken. The child of your house has been turned into a liability. You will not lecture me about treaties when your household has turned itself into a rebellion factory."
Liliʻuokalani said nothing, her eyes dropping to the floor. A flicker of shame—or perhaps horror—crossed her face. Cleghorn closed his eyes. Bishop remained motionless, his political instincts bristling at the realization: the queen's era had just ended.
Yuvraj Siagu pivoted smoothly and gestured toward Maharajkumar Sharvil. "As of this night, Hawai'i is no longer considered an autonomous kingdom under imperial protection. It shall be recognized as an Imperial Dominion under the supervision of the Datu-Labaw and Ikaduhang Maharaja—Sharvil Shaja. This shall be the last time any of you question imperial authority."
His declaration landed like a hammer. A transformation written into law without signatures. The end of a monarchy veiled under guardianship.