Next day The fresh air, mixing with the restless murmur of hundreds of voices. The palace Balcony usually quiet and empty was now crowded with ministers and common folk alike. People whispered in anxious tones, the ministers huddled in tight knots, their eyes darting toward the throne.
And then, the moment came.
The great doors opened. Satyaa entered.
For the first time, fear walked with him. The king they had once mocked as a puppet now strode down the red carpet with a presence that made hearts falter. Ministers who had never even bowed to him before stepped aside, their heads lowered, their lips muttering forced respect. Even the bravest among them trembled.
Step by step, Satyaa climbed the marble stairs and come on balcony himself . The hall fell utterly silent. So still, in fact, that even the drop of a pin would have echoed like thunder.
His voice broke the silence. Calm, but sharp as a blade. "From this day forward, I renounce the principles of Buddhism as state policy. A kingdom without warriors is a kingdom doomed. If a king forgets how to fight, then his empire, his wealth, his people all will wither away."
The words struck like arrows. Shock rippled through the crowd. The puppet king had spoken with the steel of a conqueror.
But Satyaa wasn't done. He leaned forward, his eyes burning. "And hear this from this day, unnecessary taxes on my people are abolished. No marriage tax. No child tax. And the market taxes will be reduced."
The effect was immediate. A wave of joy burst through the assembly. People who had only yesterday cursed their king now shouted his praises. Mothers wept in relief. Merchants cheered. The crowd pulsed with hope because the king had remembered them.
The ministers, however, were split. Some clenched their fists in rage. Others, sensing danger, forced smiles. But in the far corner, the Prime Minister's face darkened with fury.
"This puppet is pulling his own strings now," he muttered under his breath. "Enough is enough. If this continues… we'll have to end him."