The situation took a turn for the worse when Mathew's wife, already traumatized by her ordeal, was subjected to invasive searches by Portuguese soldiers under Mendes' command.
The humiliation of being treated like a criminal, and publicly groped in such a ruthless manner, weighed heavily on her, and Mathew could do nothing but watch helplessly as she endured the indignity.
To make matters worse, they were summoned before the bishop for a ritual of cleansing known as baptism, a public display of their allegiance to the Church and the colony.
Though they complied with the ceremony, Mathew couldn't shake the feeling of shame and embarrassment that accompanied it, the sense that they were being judged and condemned for the sins they haven't committed.
But perhaps the greatest blow came when Mathew learned that the smithy he had painstakingly designed and built was now under the control of another rich man with good connections of Rodrigue.
He approached Governador(governor) Rodrigue, "Senhor, I must inquire as to why the ownership of the smithy does not bear my name?"
Rodrigue feigned pity, "Ah, we were under the impression of your demise during the savage ambush. Your return is indeed miraculous, but we couldn't leave the smithy ownerless, right?"
"In your absence, it has been bestowed to the highest bidder." he shrugged," and I have no more jurisdiction over it now."
His hard work and dedication were cast aside in favour of someone deemed more loyal and trustworthy by the authorities. It was a bitter pill but he had to swallow, understanding the fickle nature of power and privilege in the colony.
Seeing an expert rendered useless, Rodrigue suggested, "Don't lose heart, irmao (brother). You are a skilled person with a beautiful wife, and with time and patience, I am confident that opportunities will present themselves." He continued with a wink, "I can speak with the current proprietor. At the very least, a position may be secured under his patronage."
Despite the injustices he faced, Mathew had no choice but to accept the offer to continue his work as an assistant, relegated to a position beneath someone he once considered his equal.
But deep down, he harboured a burning resentment toward those who had betrayed him.
In the following days, Mathew took the chance to try to make up for his mistakes. He carefully collected proof of the corrupt official's wrongdoing and Captain Raul's misuse of power.
Through his investigation, he uncovered involvement of other higher authorities, mostly Rodrigue. Mathew made it his goal to reveal their crimes and make them face consequences. He was motivated by a strong desire to correct the injustices he had seen and experienced.
Day by day, he meticulously tracked their movements and actions, collecting evidences of their illicit dealings and immoral behaviour. He kept detailed records of their misdeeds, documenting every bribe, every act of coercion, every violation of the law.
Finally, armed with a mountain of evidence, Mathew submitted his report to Viceroy Noronha, the most powerful figure in the colony after the king. He awaited eagerly for justice to be served, believing that his actions would be rewarded and the corrupt officials would be held accountable for their crimes. Soon he was summoned to Viceroy's manor.
Before meeting Viceroy António de Noronha, Mathew decided to inform Ratna that justice would be served. He wanted to reassure her that despite corrupt officials, not all within his kingdom were in the wrong. With the highest authorities being informed of the matter, justice would prevail, as it was supposed to be the apparent model of their society.
With the letter dispatched, Mathew felt a sense of relief. He hoped that his actions would bring an end to the conflict with the commoners and allow the glory of his kingdom to flourish peacefully in the region, as he had been raised to believe. He hoped that his efforts would not only bring down the corrupt regime but also provide closure and justice for those who had suffered at their hands. He envisioned ushering in a new era of peace without any meaningless bloodshed.
Armed with this resolve, Mathew proceeded with his meeting with Viceroy Noronha. Little did he know that his actions would set off a chain of events that would test his courage and resilience in ways he could never have imagined.
The scene turned out to be a nightmare come to life for Mathew. As he entered the viceroy's office.
In the wavering torchlight, Julia lay bound and helpless at the feet of Governador Rodrigue, her eyes wide with fear, her lips trembling with silent pleas for mercy.
Mathew's breath caught in his throat as he struggled to understand the situation.
"Wh..Why is my wife here, Excellency? What's going on?" Mathew's voice quivered with disbelief and fury.
Captain Raul Mendis and his men emerged from behind and held him back. A smirk playing on their lips as they restrained him.
Mathew's attempts to intervene were futile, and he watched in horror as the viceroy casually burnt his report.
"Ah, Mathew Silva, the talented blacksmith. What a waste of talent. You should focus on your work, not meddling in affairs beyond your understanding."
Governador Rodrigue's lips curled into a twisted smirk. "Oh, Mathew, how naive you are. Did you really think your wife would be safe from us if you dare turn against us? I think I had given you a slight hint before."
Mathew's fists clenched in futile defiance as he struggled to free him. He flared in anger. "You promised me PROSPERITY! This is how you repay me? YOU DEMON SCUMS!"
Governador Rodrigue groped Julia's bosom as a silent tear fell upon her tied cheek. "You're forgetting who is under who, Mathew. Tone it down!"
Desperation clawed at Mathew's soul as he dared to threaten them in the name of God. "You are all monstrous fiends! Divine retribution shall surely befall you! You will burn in hellfire for eternity!"
But Viceroy Noronha scoffed at Mathew's protestations, gesturing toward another figure who turned out to be the current bishop. "God? Ha! I have a godly man here who will wash away all our sins. And I am going to enjoy heaven both in this life and the next."
The bishop stepped forward, eyes glinting with passion. "Yes!, Yes!, as long as I can increase my followers, God will forgive anything."
Desperation echoed in Mathew's voice as he pleaded for mercy understanding his helplessness. "Please, spare us! I won't escalate this matter. Let us go!"
But his pleas fell on deaf ears as Viceroy Noronha heartlessly declared their fate, "It's too late, my fellow citizen. The bishop has taken a liking to your wife's beauty," he licked his lips," and even I am in the mood. It's rare to enjoy such a fine quality," he sneered, pulling Julia's hair to expose her frightened face.
He gestured towards Captain Mendes. "Captain Mendes, would you have your share first for bringing this to our notice?"
Captain Mendes' eyes gleamed with predatory hunger, but his words betrayed his intent. "No, thank you, senhor. I shall patiently await my opportunity until all the superiors are done," he replied with a twisted grin, eliciting chuckle from the other culprits.
Mathew's heart pounded with horror as he watched helplessly while his beloved Julia was subjected to unspeakable cruelty. All the supposed protectors of the colony took turns violating her body and dignity.
Despite all his efforts, he couldn't move an inch and was forced to witness their brutality. "No! Stop! Please, someone help!"
But his cries were met with laughter as the culprits entertained in his torment.
Unable to bear the torment any longer, Julia, overwhelmed by shame and despair, chose to end her suffering, plunging to her death from the window. The sound of her final scream echoed in Mathew's ears, haunting him with grief.
"No! Julia! Julia!" Mathew's anguished cry echoed through the chamber as he collapsed, consumed by despair.
Amidst the laughter of the culprits, there was only silence, that spoke volumes of the darkness within the heart of Mathew.
** Mid night **
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Mathew was left broken and alone, imprisoned for daring to speak out against the corruption that had claimed everything he held dear.
As he languished in his cell, consumed by grief and rage, he wanted to seek justice for his wife and all those who had suffered at the hands of the tyrants who ruled over them but there was nothing he can do now.
But fate had a different plan for Mathew. In the dead of night, the viceroy's house, the barracks, and the church were engulfed in flames. Disguised as servants and slaves, the rebels stormed the main town, breaching the dungeons where the prisoners were held captive. Thanks to carefully placed spies, they knew exactly where Mathew was and when to strike.
When Hemu came to rescue him with a torch in hand, he offered Mathew something that would change his allegiance. "I knew this might happen, but I didn't expect you to leap into the lion's den. The blame for your wife's murder falls on you now. What will you do, Mathew?"
Mathew met Hemu's gaze and replied, "Set me free. I am willing to sacrifice my soul if necessary, but I demand justice. I want their heads."
Hemu felt sympathetic towards Mathew and guided him to the port. He expressed regret for not being able to save Mathew's wife but reminded him of the stroke of luck because of his earlier letter that allowed them this chance.
Listening to Hemu's heartfelt concern, Mathew realized the grave mistake he had made in choosing sides. If he had accepted Hemu's offer earlier, perhaps his wife wouldn't have endured such torture, and maybe she would still be alive.
As Mathew and the rebels made their daring escape, they knew they needed to disable the ships quickly to prevent pursuit. With their lives on the line, they devised a plan to cripple the vessels without being detected.
Under the cloak of darkness, Ratna led her fellow rebels silently towards the anchored ships, identifying key components that, if damaged, would render the vessels immobile.
With sharp blades and makeshift tools, they carefully cut the vital ropes holding the sails in place, disabling the steering and propulsion systems, ensuring the ships couldn't catch the wind and sail away.
After few hours, Mathew joined forces with his liberators at the port. As they hurried aboard the makeshift boat, the sound of approaching footsteps alarmed the navy officials. The Portuguese military rushed to intercept their escape.
Despite the enemy closing in, some rebels stayed behind to hold them off, while others pushed off from the docks and set sail towards the Zuari River in the last seaworthy vessel.
However, tragedy struck as a Portuguese bullet pierced Ratna's heart while she attempted to climb aboard as the last ally.
Mathew witnessed the composed yet pained expression on Hemu's face as Ratna's body fell into the water. Instead of succumbing to helplessness, Hemu wasted no time, immediately commanding his team to escape the Portuguese coastal barrage on their vessel.
As Mathew observed Hemu's determined demeanor, he made an internal vow to serve this man faithfully. Perhaps under Hemu's leadership, he would have the opportunity to exact justice upon Noronha and his allies, even if they hid in the depths of hell.
** Current timeline, Rewari kingdom, Canon factory **
As Mathew concluded his untold story in his own words to the visitors, both the father and son felt grief, and Rishabh had tears in his eyes as he replied, "Senhor, you never talked about it. We didn't know it was so painful."
Prince Randip added, "I can never imagine that our emperor also had such a past."
Meanwhile, King Todar Mal showed little pity, as if he knew something beforehand.
'THUMP!'
Contrary to their sympathy, Mathew burst into anger, clenched his fists, and hit the table, surprising all his listeners.
He exclaimed, "That's why it hurts the MOST! Why I never got to know about Ratna's KIN!?, and why the hell did he made a deal with the DEMONS!?"
***********************
//Author notes:
I would like to show my gratitude to wolfhunter5292 for donating 4 GT tickets. And I apologise that I couldn't bring this to light before. Seriously this makes my heart with pride that shows how much affection you all are giving to my work. Deep down I know there's more to improve so I assure you that I will not let you guys down.
Also thanks again for the power tickets as they help me in the exposure, Initially, I was so busy in my workload that I had plans to release it leisurely, but thanks to the support, I am stretching myself to the limit.
And as promised earlier, my discord server is ready. In case any one is having query, request or suggestion, feel free to join my newly created discord. Who knows if your taste can add a new flavour to my novel which I believe is fated to rise at top one day.
Discord : https://discord.gg/83drpFfN