[Army in Revolt] Isabella addresses the army

Isabella’s gaze swept over the assembly, yet something was missing—or rather, someone. General Serrano, the now rogue leader of the military, who had loomed over her with threats of insubordination and defiance, was not there. His absence was deafening, a deliberate act of rebellion. He had organised the funeral parade and allowed soldiers to accompany the procession out of respect and loyalty to her father, but it seemed he would not extend the same to her.

She let the silence linger, but when she spoke, her voice was clear, firm, and edged with steel. “To the soldiers of Montesoro, I address you not as a ruler speaking to subordinates, but as a daughter of this land, speaking to its defenders. You swore an oath—to this nation, to its people, to the flag you wear upon your chest. That oath is sacred, unbroken by fear, temptation, or the will of any single man.”

Her voice dropped lower, taking on a cold intensity that made the officers still in attendance shift uncomfortably. “Yet I see before me men who forget their duty. Men who place loyalty to an individual above loyalty to Montesoro. Men who follow orders not from this government, but from a rogue general who would see this nation torn apart for his own ambition. General Serrano’s absence tonight defies my father's will, but let me assure you, his betrayal will not go unanswered.”

Isabella stepped closer to the edge of the balcony, her eyes narrowing. “This is not Serrano’s army. It is Montesoro’s army. And let me remind you all—defiance is not courage. It is treason. Soldiers who forget their oath of allegiance to my office forget their place, and soldiers who forget their place soon find themselves without one.”

Her voice grew louder, carrying the weight of her authority. “But I will offer this: redemption is still within reach. Those of you who would remain loyal to this nation, who would reject the path of rebellion and chaos, have a choice. Stand with me, and you will continue to wear that uniform with pride, serving as the shield of Montesoro. Follow Serrano, and you will find that the sword of this nation is swift, sharp, and merciless. Choose wisely, for the decisions you make in the coming days will define not only your future, but the future of Montesoro itself. History will remember the soldiers who stood firm, who upheld their honor and their duty. It will also remember those who turned their backs on their country. And it will judge them harshly.”

The silence was palpable, the tension in the air thick enough to **** on. The soldiers outside, lined up along the procession route or tuning in from their bases across the country, fell silent, their minds turning. Isabella stepped back from the edge, allowing a small feeling of satisfaction to creep in. She had planted the seeds of doubt, and now she would wait to see which way the tide would turn.