Chapter 68: Mathew Silva Part - 2

Chapter 68: Mathew Silva Part - 2

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.

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!?"

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//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.

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