Chapter 31: Fourth Episode: Chapter 4 (1/2)

Chapter 31: Fourth Episode: Chapter 4

Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation

”Thank you for the dinner, Your Royal Highness.” Major General Reynold Hewitt Preston felt it was time to bid goodbye to his hosts.

”Hehehe, you need not be so courteous. I wish you’ll have a pleasant journey home.” Oscar escorted the officer to the entrance of the mansion where a servant had prepared his horse at.

Reynold mounted the horse in one smooth motion. His grandfather had more than once reminded him to take the House Carriage, but as he is a major general, it was obviously more appropriate to ride a horse himself.

”I’ll be taking my leave now, please do inform me of all things related to the journey, I’ll be on my way at your order.” Reynold posed a proper military salute to Oscar before making his horse trot along the road.

Oscar waved at the major general as he moved away. He lamented the fact that this Reynold seemed much more accomplished even though they’re both similar in age.

The teenage prince returned to the hall where servants already prepared desserts and drinks that help with digestion. Oscar chose a few he had never tried.

”Hey! What do you think, Mam?” Oscar asked with his mouth full, not caring about how rude he looked.

”What do you mean ‘what do I think?’” Lady Duchess Celia leaned against a chaise lounge in the parlor with her dress dangled to the floor, crossing her feet casually.

”I’m talking about that boy. If I had a daughter, I’d marry them without hesitation.”

Lady Duchess shot the teenage a glare. ”Give that a rest. You should think about the Marshal’s request and not agree to it so readily. The Narcissus Knights had never received orders from the army, oh, what would your father say when he hears about this!”

Oscar squeezed himself beside his stepmother, ”Come on, dear Mam, he was just trying to get experience on a real battlefield, you don’t think we can find Persians in other places, do you?”

Lady Celia popped the strawberry her son offered her. ”What if this precious Hewitt gemstone got endangered on the battlefield?”

Oscar shrugged. ”That’s his luck then. It’s a battlefield, it brings honor, but also brings pain and suffering. I believe Marshal Alan would understand that of all the people, so I don’t think it’s that big a deal. If the major general was injured due to not having prepared enough, it’s not our responsibility to bear.”

Lady Celia gave it some thought. There is a point to what Oscar had said, but Reynold Hewitt Preston is not the type who would want battle merits with his background as a noble member rooted in a military family. When this type of character appears in the Narcissus Knights, the whole situation would not be as simple as it seemed.

However, Lady Celia also knew, they can’t refuse a small request from House Hewitt like this. Perhaps her husband would be more proficient dealing with this, but they need to be very cautious about it. Like how Oscar bears the future of House Andrew, this major general would be House Hewitt’s hope for the future, so it was necessary to handle the relationship between them and this young major general.

Lady Duchess Andrew recalled suddenly her son’s words. If she did have a daughter, it’s not a bad idea to marry her to the Hewitt kid.

Lady Celia shook her head, she may have overthought it.

”So that settles it. You already agreed to him, so bring him to our territory before we discuss further.”

Oscar grinned, he tried to feed Lady Celia with more strawberries, but she refused.

”Goodness! Do you know what you’re doing, you insolent boy? You’re tempting a Lady with a dietary regimen! If I notice an increase in weight tonight, even one gram, be prepared to face my wrath!”

Even though Baron Erbe appeared just in time, Lady Duchess Andrew wasn’t planning on releasing the rascal’s ear. He’s too exasperating.

”Milady, you should let His Royal Highness go, His Majesty’s Confidential Secretary is waiting outside, I don’t think we should let him see this.”

***************

The ancient Imperial Library sat at the end of the Morpheus Avenue, which is at the East of the Road of Kings. By habit, people called this old palace-like building the Dvoris Palace.

Technically speaking, Dvoris Palace was a private property of the Titan Royalty, but it was the only palace the Morisette royals have allowed access to others. As long as one has a rank of nobility, he would be allowed access to any materials he was interested in at any time.

Since its plaque outside listed the place as the Imperial Library, it was obvious its purpose is to exhibit books and literature of all sorts. Compared to other famous libraries in Westland, Dvoris Palace was no doubt the first in its long history and the number of books.

The sky dimmed as the Imperial Library passed its business hours, but right now, it’s still as brightly lit as daytime. The guards at the entrance of the palace had been changed to guard cavalry, several carriages parked in the space between the entrance and Morpheus Avenue. From the patrols of Ministry of Justice at the side of the road, to the number of citizens passing by the streets, it was apparent the guard cavalry was making sure there were no suspicious characters near the palace.

The rooms on the third floor of the library were seldom used, these intricately designed, well-equipped rooms were reserved for the prominent figures in the capital city of Dulin.

As the King of Titan, Oslo Alfa Morisette occupied the largest, most lavish room in Dvoris Palace. He stared blankly at the pile of records occupying the whole table in front of him detailing about the Cabinet system of the Engels Kingdom.

The palace itself did not change because of the King’s arrival. Even though a hefty sum of guards followed the King here, but these rowdy imperial guards didn’t dare make a noise at this point in time. Right before this, King Alfa III His Majesty who had always been kind roared like a beast. The guards communicated through their eyes, worried about their ruler.

The King stood. He stretched his limbs and turned around, as the ministers behind him faked their smiles.

Alfa III turned away, disgusted.

”Godzilla.”

The Finance Minister moved with some difficulty in front of the King, ”Yes, Your Majesty.”

The King sized up the severely obese minister, ”Oh fine, you may stay seated while reporting.”

The Finance Minister thanked the King for his grace and moved onto the couch.

”Godzilla, if Faran were to ally with Italia, Hoilland and West Percy and launch an economic war at Titan…”

”Your Majesty, is it real? I mean did you receive some sort of information?” The Finance Minister of Titan Marquis Almodovar Godzilla leapt even before the King had finished talking and bounded in front of the King in just two steps.

”Your Majesty, please tell me if that is real!” Almodovar’s face was wild.

Alfa III got a shock from his own Finance Minister, but he already found his answer.

Indeed, the King’s nonchalant delivery scared Godzilla, leaving him reeling and dazed.

”Oh God, oh God! This means it’s real, oh my God! Why would this happen? O great God of Light! Can you believe this? I will be bankrupted! Oh God!”

”Guards!”

”Your Majesty.”

The King pointed at the Finance Minister who was slumped on the ground, ”Move Marquis Almodovar Godzilla to somewhere airy.”

The captain of the guards glanced at the pile of meat on the ground and whispered to the other guard, ”Hey, go get more people in here.”

The army boots clomped on the ground accompanied with some groans from the Finance Minister. Alfa III had already loosened his collar, this was the second time he had done this disgracing move.

”Marshal Alan, if the Deiss were to launch an attack on Titan with the Farans, Italians, Olliers and Rielese from the west, northwest and southwest, then…”

”Your Majesty.” The old Marshal with his hair of silver had already stepped forward. He had disrupted the King’s questioning knowing it was an example that he could get through with a simple explanation, but as the leader of the military of Titan Empire, it would be treacherous to lie.

”Your Majesty, if the Western Alliance attacked, I can utilize the National Wartime Mobilization Order in one week, and gather three hundred thousand reserve soldiers from the six eastern provinces in half a month.”

”That’s all?” The King thought he heard it wrong.

”We can also reactivate the Dulin City Defense Act to hold the invaders off for half a year with our durable city wall.”

”Is there no possibility that we can win without them breaching the border?” The King continued his questioning, unwilling to let it go.

Marshal Alan looked at the King, confused. ‘Win without border breach?’ Has the King gone senile? ”Your Majesty, I have to say this, our military power had already lost its strength as far back as a century ago. What I can only do now is to strengthen the strongholds at the borders, and…”

”That’s enough! Out! Get out of my sight!” The King had tried very hard to curb his anger, but he couldn’t.

Marshal Alan respectfully performed a military salute before leaving with his head high. None of this was his fault, the old Marshal felt he had did the best he could with the given circumstances. Even though he had never won even an inch of land for Titan Empire, Titan’s rivals were not able to take anything parts from Titan as well. The King’s concern was a dangerous hypothesis, but if they were met with such a situation, the old Marshal concluded he would still be able to manage.

A pale-faced Marquis Roment Huga Andeses decided to do something himself. As a Minister of Justice, he could almost guess what the King may hypothesize.

”Yo… Your Majesty! The Ministry of Justice…”

”Silence!” The King’s roar echoed throughout the palace.

”Don’t you know I didn’t even plan to talk about your Ministry of Justice?” Alfa III really needed to work off his fury, and the trembling Roment is undoubtedly the best choice for him right now.

”Your Ministry of Justice went ahead and make deals with criminals? Do you think I’m completely oblivious to what was happening in my nest?”

The King shot a glare at the head of Secret Service Count Rudolf Hoss.

”One of you can’t differentiate right and wrong, the other can’t differentiate truth and false, such a perfect pair, both of you!”

Roment and Rudolf looked at each other, feeling sorry for themselves.

The King’s outburst seemed to have calmed quickly. The King knew he was being unreasonable to his ministers, but he just couldn’t let go of the conundrum old Kachev had set up for him. Even though he understood the country more than anyone else, he still found it hard to accept when it’s been laid out so clearly in front of him. After all, Titan used to be the favorite of God of Light, it was the only holy place that was named after the holiness in Westland.

”Take a seat.”

The Minister of Justice and the head of Secret Service released their held breath. It seemed the King’s anger had already subsided.

”Do you know why I chased the other two away?” The King was organizing the papers full of information on the table.

Minister of Justice cleared his throat. He’s not an idiot, he knew the King had decided to rearrange the whole order of noble ranks.

”I believe you have just heard some really bad news from the two other ministers. Yes, the Empire is currently at our weakest period, the wellness of the capital for the past decade had led most of us into a false sense of security against the enemies, just like Robinson, the betrayal of our former Secretary of State is definitely a signal of danger. I hope you could sort out whoever else is making the same mistakes, which of the nobles are using the Royal Treasury for their own gains, and who are involved in business deals that violate the Titan Law. I hope you two can investigate thoroughly, don’t doubt my determination in this. No matter who was involved in the case, no matter whose extended family it was, no matter their position. As long as they had violated the law, investigate them assiduously!”

***************

Prince O’Neil Andrew Morisette followed the Imperial Confidential Secretary to the Dvoris Palace. He had planned to tour around the Imperial Palace that was famous throughout the whole West World while he waited for the King, however the two ministers that appeared back to back dampened his spirited visit.

”Ola! Is no one gonna tell me what happened?” The teenager asked one of the nearest guards.

”Your Royal Highness, His Majesty is throwing a fit, both Marshal Alan and Marquis Godzilla were thrown out by His Majesty.”

Oscar slipped a Golden Ti into the officer’s palm.

The boy turned toward a white-faced ‘Sea Monster’.

”Hey, old friend, looking good?” The teenager hooked his arm around the back of Almodovar’s barrel-thick neck impudently.

”Looking good? I thought I’m going to die! Uh, What are you doing here?” The Finance Minister had obviously recovered from his nausea-induced breakdown. He was regretting his behavior in front of His Majesty, but there’s nothing he could do now, his investments were basically focused on the nations on their west, if an economic war broke out, he wouldn’t even have the energy to fall unconscious.

”His Majesty summoned me, what did you do?”

Marshal Alan smiled at the teenager courteously, he was staring at the boy who appeared very close with the Finance Minister.

”Oh nothing, His Majesty gave us a few imaginary scenarios and, well, he wasn’t happy with our answers.”

Oscar sat opposite of the old Marshal, the three of them started chatting in the rest area at the corridor.

After a little while, Marquis Roment Huga Andeses and Count Rudolf Hoss came outside and joined the crowd, but Oscar could feel the air seize up immediately, maybe they weren’t willing to share anything in front of him, or maybe, these power holders don’t see him as one of them.

The awkward silence broke up quickly, the King sent for Oscar through his secretary. Oscar stood up, not planning to say farewell to the others.