Chapter 15: Arthur Arrives in Person
"No way… Is it really that crazy?" Henris was half skeptical. Though he knew his friend wasn't prone to exaggeration, he still found it hard to believe.
"Oh, come on—do you still not trust me? I swear, when I arrived this morning, there were already hundreds of people here. I've never seen this building so packed before," Martin said, full of certainty.
Hearing that, Henris no longer doubted him and asked, "So how many candidates are running today, Martin? Are we even going to make it into the State Parliament?"
The huge turnout was starting to shake Henris' confidence. Sydney had the fiercest competition in all of Australia. Even someone with a good reputation like him was beginning to worry he wouldn't make it into the State Parliament at all.
"About a thousand or so, I'd say. Over the whole week, there'll probably be several thousand. But don't stress too much, Henris. You've helped what—hundreds, maybe even a thousand families over the years? If even half of them still remember your kindness, you've got a real shot at winning." Martin smiled, seeing the worried look on his friend's face.
For municipal officials like them, running for office came with some advantages.
After all, members of parliament participated directly in national development.
Even a low-ranking State MP could vote for governors and help shape state policies.
The role required political talent, which gave them an edge over the average Australian citizen.
Moreover, Henris had long been quietly helping many poor families in Sydney, earning him a solid reputation in the city's political circles.
With all that in mind, Henris was one of the most competitive candidates.
Even if he didn't make it into the Lower House, winning a seat in the State Parliament was well within reach.
"I hope so. Either way, the elections happen every two years. If I don't make it this time, there's always next time," Henris said, finally relaxing after Martin's encouragement.
Not long after, the packed State Parliament building suddenly had a corridor cleared through the crowd. Several guards holding a registry walked to the center.
After signaling for silence, one of them announced:
"Everyone, by order of His Grace the Duke, the first Lower House election of the Duchy of Australia is now officially underway!
We have here a registration list. Those who wish to run for office may come forward to register. Once registered, you are officially a candidate.
From today through the 17th, you may campaign and give speeches throughout the Sydney district.
However, bribery or coercion is strictly forbidden. Any vote obtained through such means will be invalidated.
All candidates' own ballots will be considered forfeited—only votes cast by others will be counted.
Voting will close at midnight on the 17th. Any votes submitted after that time will be void.
These are the rules. Those who wish to run, please line up to register."
Scenes like this were playing out in every designated election city.
Since this was Australia's first Lower House election, the guards were tasked not only with overseeing the voting but also with explaining the process and rules to all participants.
They specifically emphasized that bribery and coercion were strictly forbidden—something Arthur himself had demanded be enforced throughout the election.
"Martin, let's go! If we wait any longer, we'll never make it to the front of the line!" Henris said, urging his friend forward as the line of candidates grew rapidly.
For ordinary Australians, voting was simple: register your name and address, and select the candidate you supported.
But for the candidates themselves, winning was no easy feat.
In just one week, thousands of candidates would emerge in Sydney alone.
To stand out among them and claim one of the limited Lower House seats was nearly impossible.
But for those who succeeded, entry into the Lower House meant joining the core of Australia's political system—with the possibility of being elected into the cabinet.
And for the fortunate few who earned Arthur's trust, even the Upper House wasn't out of reach.
Whether driven by a dream of building their country, fulfilling their political ambitions, or just out of curiosity, the Lower House election had captured the enthusiasm of the Australian people.
May 10, 10 p.m.
Arthur was stunned when he saw the election figures from Sydney.
In a single day, the city had produced 1,342 candidates and 96,300 ballots.
The current frontrunner had already received nearly 500 votes, gaining an early advantage.
Arthur was so intrigued by the numbers that he decided to visit the election site himself.
May 17, Sydney, New South Wales State Parliament.
It was the final day of the Lower House election and the most intense day of all.
After six days of voting, Sydney alone had registered over 5,300 candidates and tallied more than 205,000 votes.
Though figures from other states hadn't yet arrived due to time constraints, the sheer scale in Sydney alone had far exceeded Arthur's expectations.
And so, Arthur decided to go to the polling site in person—both to observe and to win more public support.
Back at the familiar State Parliament, Martin and Henris were standing outside, discussing their vote counts.
It was the last day of the election, and no matter how many speeches they gave now, the chances of winning more votes were slim.
The two of them had resigned themselves to fate, waiting to see whether their past efforts would bear fruit and bring them into the Lower House of their dreams.
Just then, a commotion broke out in the crowd:
"His Grace is here! His Grace is here!"
"He's here? Let's go! If we're late, we'll never get a good spot!"
Martin exclaimed in excitement, pulling Henris toward the source of the noise.
On the road outside the State Parliament, Arthur was stepping down from his carriage.
While adjusting his clothes, he smiled and greeted the surrounding crowd, who were now filled with fervor and admiration.
(End of Chapter)
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