(CHAPTER III: OVUM AURORA continued...)
The College of Bishops
May 15, 2020 / 9:55 AM
Firoux sighed in his seat. He was eight votes short. He felt angry that Silas had complicated things for him, but at least victory was within reach. Silas clearly didn’t have the support to move forward, and so whipping the votes of the Reformist bishops who supported Silas didn’t seem too daunting or challenging. Firoux got up from his seat and signalled for Anja to join him. Together, the two quickly put a plan to peel Silas’s votes, and began to dart around the room and make deals with their prospective voters.
While most of the bishops remained within the College chamber, some bishops spilled through the doors into the antechamber, the hallway and some made their ways to the bathroom. Mikaela stood waiting in the antechamber, waiting for Silas. As she waited, Michael Cunard suddenly approached her.
“Ah, Bishop Kligenberg. That has a familiar ring to it, doesn’t it? Your father would be proud,” Michael smiled.
“I think so,” Mikaela answered uneasily, feeling slightly unsure of Michael’s sudden appearance. She couldn’t figure out what this conversation could be about.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking this. How is Aleksandra, Craticus’s daughter? I know she was very special to him, and it has been very brave of you to care of her,” Michael asked.
Mikaela was taken very aback by Michael’s question. “Oh! Umm, she’s doing ok. She’s adjusting as good… as good as one can, all things considered. It’s just a very confusing time for her. I’m trying to be there for her as much as I can. I’m going to file the paperwork to adopt her,” Mikaela answered earnestly.
Michael placed his hand on Mikaela’s shoulder. “I’m really sorry about everything, especially everything with Craticus. Despite everything that Craticus put you through, it’s very forgiving and empathetic of you to take care of his daughter. I mean it when I say your father would be proud of you.”
Mikaela simply nodded. Michael removed his hand from her shoulder and gently smiled. “It looks like Silas will not have the votes.”
“I’m hoping to talk to him. We’re going to fall in line with Firoux and support him. He has this,” Mikaela announced.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes, why?
“I would rather have literally anybody else than Firoux as Archbishop. My bloc of bishops firmly agrees with me: anybody but Firoux. We would support Silas, but we don’t think he has what it takes. That’s why we will be voting for you.”
“Me?” Mikaela gasped in shock. “Why me?”
“You’re not Firoux. You’ve also shown great kindness.”
“I don’t have any other votes. This won’t work out. Besides, Firoux is about to have this wrapped up.”
“Well, then you better try and get those votes, then. We have 13 minutes until voting begins again, so you better start working,” Michael chuckled before abruptly turning around and walking away.
Mikaela was overcome with confusion. She quickly scanned around the antechamber trying to find Silas, who was still nowhere to be seen. Mikaela then noticed Karinn and JennaMarelle talking together in the doorway. Mikaela hurriedly approached them.
“Auntie JJ!” Mikaela squealed.
“Hi, sweetie. Sorry about my vote. Silas just doesn’t have the support, so I couldn’t do it,” JennaMarelle smiled as she furrowed her brows in a disappointed look.
“Silas doesn’t have the votes, but I might just. You won’t believe this! Bishop Cunard just told me that he and his bloc will be supporting me!”
“Wait, what?” Karinn asked in confusion.
“Bishop Cunard?” JennaMarelle asked, joining Karinn in confusion.
“Yes, seriously. Bishop Cunard is supporting me and-”
“You will also have the support of the Progressivists,” Karinn interjected. “If it’s between you or Firoux, then you don’t have to ask me twice.”
Mikaela grabbed JennaMarelle by her arm and yanked her. “Please, Auntie JJ, could you vote for me? I think I could do it. With your support, and the support of your conference, I could have the numbers.”
“Maybe just enough numbers, but I’m not so sure, sugar. I will need to talk to a lot of people, and I don’t think I have the time,” JennaMarelle pouted.
Silas appeared in the doorway and sighed in defeat. “Well, I just conceded to Firoux. We have it a good shot,” Silas huffed. “Hi JennaMarelle. Hi Karinn.”
“Si! No, we haven’t lost yet. We have the votes!” Mikaela beamed.
“From who?”
“Bishop Lallana and Auntie JJ here. Also, you won’t believe this, but Bishop Cunard and his bloc too!”
Silas silently gasped in astonishment. “This is a miracle. I can’t believe this. Okay, I need to start telling people to vote for me again.”
“Oh, we’re not voting for you,” Karinn laughed. “We’re voting for Mikaela.”
“I really can’t lie or make promises. I don’t have time. I need to talk to some people,” JennaMarelle exhaled. JennaMarelle and Karinn then suddenly took off from the group.
“Wait, for you? They’re voting for you?” Silas questioned.
“Yes! Can you believe it? We might have a shot. A slim shot, but a shot.”
“How did you do this? Why did you do this? Was this your plan all along? You’ve made me look like a proper fool now,” Silas grumbled with deep annoyance.
“I didn’t plan this, I promise. It just happened. Bishop Cunard approached me. Neither the Traditionalists nor the Progressivists want Firoux.”
“Well, they clearly don’t want me either. Mikaela, I already conceded to Firoux. I’ve also told several of our voters to vote for Firoux. I was just speaking to them. I promised I would vote for Firoux. This is nonsense now.”
“I thought you told me to never give up? Why are you giving up, Si? We have a chance now! Let me talk to Juan-Bernardo and Copala, and I think we should have a few more votes wrapped up.”
“You get everything handed to you. Everything. I put in all the work, and you simply just take the rewards. I’ve had enough of it. Enough. I already told everyone to vote for Firoux. You’re making me look like an idiot, too, by the way, by switching the votes to yourself. You’ve embarrassed and betrayed me. At every turn, you’ve undermined me. You first took Eamony from me, and now you’re trying to take this from me. Excuse me, I need to return to my seat,” Silas muttered with anger as he pushed Mikaela aside and stormed to his seat.
Mikaela looked down at her watch. She had only two minutes.
… … ...
The Prefect of the College hushed the chamber and once again reiterated the rules and procedures of the vote. After another explanation, the second round of voting was underway.
The diocese of Bayside-Bronze Docks was alphabetically first, and so the Bishop of Bayside-Bronze Docks would again be first to cast their vote. Again, the vote went to Firoux. The next dozen votes all went to Firoux, until the first Traditionalist bishop voted. As promised, the bishop voted for Mikaela. An audible gasped was emitted across the Reformist caucus. Firoux stared blankly in confusion. Anja spun her head around and looked at Mikaela.
Several more Traditionalists bishops voted, all for Mikaela. Then, the first Progressivist bishop announced their vote. It was also for Mikaela. Mikaela smiled in her seat and exchange glances with Karinn, who smiled back at her. Firoux then caught on, realising that the Traditionalists and Progressivists have shifted their support to Mikaela. Nevertheless, Firoux remained cautiously optimistic, as the ensuing Reformist bishops continued to vote for him. Soon enough, Hariett Copala was at the speaking podium.
“I, Hariett Copala, Bishop of City Centre-Viewmont, cast my vote for Mikaela Kligenberg, Bishop of Eamony.”
El Caudillo soon followed. “I, Juan-Bernardo Fernandez-Velasquez, Bishop of City Circus-Two Pillars, cast my vote for Mikaela Kligenberg, Bishop of Eamony.”
Mikaela rocked nervously in her chair. Even with the support of the other blocs, her fiancée and Copala, she was still several votes behind Firoux. Mikaela knew that the only way she could catch up was if she hemorrhaged the support of the Reformists. Anja, who was then next, stemmed the tide of Mikaela support.
“I, Anja Emerett, Bishop of City Gates-New Chapel, cast my vote for Edward Firoux, Bishop of Swanridge Heights.”
Anja’s vote was followed by a flurry of Reformist bishops who stood steadfast in their support of Firoux. A Reformist bishop who previously voted for Silas too, voted for Firoux. Firoux continued to maintain a decent lead over Mikaela. Firoux peered at the bishop beside him, who was keeping a vote tally. Firoux was up 18 votes. Firoux, himself, had a bad feeling. He looked nervously over his shoulder at Anja, who was staring at the podium with fixated gaze. Mikaela, meanwhile, nervously twitched as JennaMarelle took to the podium.
“I, JennaMarelle Johnson, Bishop of City Marches-Hillfort, cast my vote for Mikaela Kligenberg, Bishop of Eamony.”
Firoux, Anja and dozens of bishops all instantaneously covered their mouths in shock. Reformist bishops all began to exchanged looks with each other, and an echo of faint whispers could be he heard. As Reformist bishops then took to the speaking podium, they all seemed either confused or unsure of their votes. Most continued to vote for Firoux, but some had changed their allegiances and voted for Mikaela. Mikaela began to creep up in her support. She glanced at the tally beside her. She was now only down 4 votes. Soon enough, it was her own turn to vote.
“I, Mikaela Kligenberg, Bishop of Eamony, cast my vote for myself.”
Mikaela’s vote was soon matched by Michael Cunard and Karinn, who placed their votes for her. The remaining Progressivists and Traditionalists votes clashed with Reformist votes, which mostly still stood strong for Firoux. An unsure Firoux then took to the podium.
“I, Edward Firoux, Bishop of Swandridge Heights, cast my vote for myself.”
Mikaela Kligenberg looked at the tally beside her. It was almost even. 109 votes for Firoux and 108 votes for Mikaela. The winner need 116 votes to win. There were only 13 votes left. A complete back and forth of Firoux and Mikaela votes were then made. After a few minutes, the third last bishop cast their vote. It was now tied. 114 votes for Firoux and 114 votes for Mikaela.
Mikaela couldn’t bare it. She covered her eyes and peered through the cracks of her fingers as the second last bishop went to vote. He announced his vote for Mikaela. Mikaela gulped the air in her throat. She was now in front. She had 115 votes. She needed the final vote. If not, it would be a tie. A tie would result in a third round of voting. This was Mikaela’s only chance. She knew her Reformist support would crumble in a third round. Mikaela’s heart sank as she realised that Silas was the last to vote. She carefully eyed Silas as he coolly walked to the speaking podium. Silas smiled and nodded at Firoux from the podium.
“I, Silas Kligenberg, Bishop of Zion Canal-New Market, cast my vote for…”
Silas narrowed his gaze. He looked disappointed. Then, after a second, he raised his head. “For Mikaela Kligenberg, Bishop of Eamony.”
All the bishops in the College rose to their feet and erupted in applause. Finally, a new archbishop had been elected. Firoux stood and clapped. For some reason, he felt relieved. Firoux exhaled. “This has been 11 years in the making.”