Chapter 36: Fourth Episode: Chapter 9 (1/2)
Chapter 36: Fourth Episode: Chapter 9
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Four dazzling black beasts carrying a luxurious carriage tore along the streets under the night sky. Along the way, a number of guards from the Ministry of Justice tried to interrupt this speeding wagon. Even His Majesty the Emperor cannot let his horse carriage gallop in full speed like this on the main street of the capital, as there was a high probability for the carriage to overturn. However, the guards changed their mind immediately after seeing the dreadful expressions on the Narcissus Knights who seemed to be rushing to the battlefield.
The Narcissus Knights exercised their excellent horsemanship in the city of Dulin. The hurried steps of the horses alarmed the citizens who moved to the sidewalk instinctively, fearful that they would be knocked down by the beasts. The knights put on their signature silver masks, and the fast-moving armors reflected the light of the flames burning in the torches along the streets. Flashes of reflected light were mistaken as will-o’-the-wisp from the hell below while the devil-like knights swept across the city.
People walking on the street stared with full curiosity at the direction that the knights and wagons disappeared, while silently imagining possibilities about what has happened that made the knights dash at such a pace.
Nothing much has happened, except that His Royal Highness Prince was not in his most pleasant mood. On the other hand, the moment the Narcissus Knights learned about the victory of their young master in his latest battle, and that he has successfully slaughtered the opposition, unanimously they felt an extreme excitement. For them, nothing could beat hearing the news of an enemy’s death.
Oscar did not begin to think about the fight until he got into the carriage. The young man was somewhat baffled. He did not even know whom he killed, but he knew that the matter was much more complicated that it appeared on the surface. At this moment, no one in Dulin would provoke the young prince so unscrupulously. That is to say, someone was indeed looking to stir up trouble. Oscar smiled lightly, there was no need for him to worry over these things. He took that guy’s life in what seemed to be only a few seconds, the proud Dulin citizens must have learned an unforgettable lesson.
Out of their expectation, a small group of patrolmen from the Ministry of Justice was seen setting up a checkpoint at the intersection of Penelope Road.
The Narcissus knights hurriedly pulled the horses to an emergency halt. The beasts who have not galloped so freely for a long time raised their forelimbs as a means of protest, kicking in the air constantly to scare off the patrolmen who were trying to block their way.
Wozakad Elladan cursed silently in his native tongue as he pulled down the emergency brake to halt the carriage. The tallest and most handsome Raytheon on the left most side was completely angered. Despite the heavy wood hanging off its back, the horse kicked frantically in a crazy chaos.
”What happened?” Oscar pulled up the window and noticed his house was only a few steps away, it seemed like everyone was trying to ruin his night.
Paladin Kamille Rayen exchanged a few words with the patrolmen before he hopped off his horse to reach his young master.
”Your Highness, an inspector from the Ministry of Justice wishes to speak to you. He wishes to discuss with you about a grand robbery.”
”Kamille, have you lost your mind? Do you need to report this to me? A mere patrolman from Ministry of Justice can’t be telling the Colonel of the Narcissus Knights what to do. Tell him to get out of the way! If not, I’ll have the carriage break him into two pieces.” Oscar released his hands and the window was shut in a loud thud.
The negative atmosphere affected the young colonel, and so the paladin vented his anger over the patrolmen soldiers who had no idea of they what they were getting themselves into.
Kamille’s sword whined fiercely through the air and sent out a deafening blow.
That action performed incited an almost simultaneous reaction from the rest of the Narcissus Knights. They immediately pulled out their respective swords and positioned themselves in a row in front of the prince’s carriage, prepared to start a violent massacre.
”Hey, you, sergeant, do not move back!” Kamille led the horse over the wooden fence used to block the streets. ” Listen clearly, my master has never heard of any robbery. You either get out of our way or stand still to wait for your official from the Ministry of Justice here.”
Al Kairi did not expect things to unfold like this. He thought that his words would make that bloody disrespectful kid to obediently invite him into the carriage. Looking at the group of Narcissus Knights in line with a handful of weapons, the sergeant could not help but feel his throat go dry.
”So ... then ... then this must be a misunderstanding! Haha ... it must be a misunderstanding!” Al Kairi suddenly revealed a cautious, ugly smile, ”What are you doing here still standing like a rock? Quickly remove the palisade to let His Royal Highness Prince and the honourable Knights through!”
In order for his performance to be extra convincing, Al Kairi kicked the frightened clumsy men while shouting loudly at the top of his lungs.
The barricade was soon pulled down. Two Narcissus knights led the Prince’s carriage first to head back to the residence while Kamille and the remaining knights followed. The Paladin's sword inadvertently scratched Al Kairi’s army cap when he passed by. The sergeant was intending to exchange his goodbye with the Paladin but felt threatened by that accident and fell to the ground.
The carriages have gone a long way by now. The helpless patrolmen finally came and aided their Sergeant who was paralyzed and sat on the ground. Each of them was horrified by the incident. They usually just put on a strong facade and that was probably the first time they faced a full-forced formation of knights. A younger patrolman wept uncontrollably and the first thing Al Kairi did when he got up was to give the disgraced little guy a kick.
”Head! What do we do now?”
”Hey! Lift up your spirit! He’s not submitting himself because he knows we have no evidence. Isn’t that little rascal leaving tomorrow? I bet those two criminals must be hidden somewhere among his convoy. By the time we root them out… hehe! Let’s see how that proud prince would react,” The sergeant was positive again. He was still fairly convinced at his own judgment.
The prince looked back in disgust. He never had any respect toward the people in the Ministry of Justice. In his eyes they were only sly wolves who wore legitimate cloaks, sometimes even the lowest criminals were disheartened by the Ministry of Justice’s behaviour.
The residence of the Governor of the East Border became so quiet under the night sky. Oscar asked the servants to retreat and walked along the dim corridor slowly all by himself.
The room of Countess Antonia Horman was still illuminated with lights and the door was ajar. Outside the door, Oscar adjusted the pace of his own breathing, and then walked straight into it.
”Hey, little guy, you came just in time.” The countess obviously knew about the arrival of the prince. ”Come help me with this piece of luggage, I only realized how much I packed when I failed to carry it. Haha how silly am I!”
”Annie…” Oscar was unsure of Antonia’s intention. She was well-dressed and appeared ready to go out.
”No, please do not say anything. I apologize for my selfishness. Did you come back by carriage?”
Oscar nodded lightly.
”Oh, it can take me right away. Lady Celia and the young lady must have been worried for me! When we arrived in Westberg Fort, I will be just in time to say goodnight to them.”
”Annie!” Oscar blocked the door, he owed Annie an explanation. Although he still did not think he had made a mistake, at least he should not have left Annie alone here in the morning.
”Annie, mind if we sit down?” Oscar reached for Annie's hand but the countess immediately pulled back as if she had been struck by the lightning.
”What's wrong Annie?” Oscar stepped closer to her.
”No, nothing. I thought about it. There is no one to be blamed. You said that things have changed, but actually, we have not changed. It is just that... how do I say this? Since we left Damorga, your path has changed, and the point is, in this brand-new path that you’re taking, there is no more room for me.”
”Annie, I know my heart. I know I did cheat myself trying to suppress my feelings for you. But Annie, I cannot leave you, in fact, I have never thought of the day when we will ever be apart. However… you know, I only refused to make love to you, because… that is not fair to you, I can no longer be like before. I would never want to violate you for my own physical needs anymore.”
Annie was silent. She spent a whole day trying to put herself in the young prince’s shoes in order to understand his feelings. She did, eventually, but she still wished it was not true.
”Annie, you are an independent individual and no one can deny you all your wishes and hopes as a woman. But Annie, do you know? When I pondered at myself properly for the first time, I found out that I could not do anything for you! Your aspirations and hopes could never have been realized in me.”
Annie shook her head. ”All my hope is on you, you …”
”No! Annie, have you never expected to have a wonderful family? Have you never imagined living a beautiful life with your husband and children? Do not deny it Annie, this is a question every woman has considered.”
Annie could not deny it because she was indeed a woman, and she was no different from the other millions of women.
”So Annie, look at me. I could never be your husband, and I could never have children with you. I am sorry to say so, but you knew this from the very beginning. However, the main point is, we love each other. Annie, although my words are cruel to the heart, but believe me, I do this entirely for you. I think you should forget about me and relocate the love to give it to someone else who can reciprocate your feelings and give you in return much more than I could ever give to you. It would be the best for me, and for you too. Annie, look around you with your heart, and you will find the right man. And I, believe me Annie, I will love you constantly even though I cannot give you the things you wish for.”
Oscar pulled the crying Annie into his loving arms. Was this right or wrong for him to do so? Oscar did not know, but he was sure that in the future Annie would have a husband who loved her with all his heart and was able to give her three or four lovely children. As for himself, Oscar never imagined the same. His future would be like a jungle in thick fog, ghastly and endless.
It was already late at night when the prince returned to Westberg Fort. The entire area of the fort was under martial law, but the guards behaved respectfully when they saw the prince's carriage. Despite the orders from superiors, the news of the prince’s terrifying strength has spread throughout the capital like a disease, and these guards could not be more cautious and courteous whenever they encountered the prince.
Without any regular inspection, the prince and Narcissus Knights entered the Westberg Fort successfully. On the porch leading to the main rampart of the fort, three ministers were waiting patiently to greet His Royal Highness Prince.
Oscar exchanged greetings with the ministers. He knew that he could trust these ministers, all the three of them could be considered as the closest confidants of His Majesty the Emperor.
They were Count Rudolf Hoss from the Secret Service Department, the Imperial Confidential Secretary Philip Goolean, and Palace Chief Marquis Laston Cambre who was responsible for all matters relating to the royal family. The lords seemed to be in the middle of a dispute but when His Royal Highness Prince arrived they immediately shut up and received the prince with bright warm smiles on their faces, as if they just met their little nephew whom they have never met before.
”Oh la! I did not expect you, distinguished men, to receive me tonight.”
”Your Highness, we have been worried about you. What was the matter that kept Your Highness busy just now?” said the Imperial Confidential Secretary Philip Goolean.
”Oh, it was nothing. Countess Antonia Horman and I left behind an extremely important piece of luggage. Oh, right, Marquis Laston Cambre, would you mind arranging a room for Countess Horman?”
”Of course not, it is my pleasure!” Laston Cambre kissed the back of Antonia’s hand lightly. He noticed that the Countess seemed to have just cried a little before, but he knew better to not mention it at the moment.
”My dear Antonia, I am so sorry I did not visit when you returned to Dulin. I really did not have the chance to be out of the palace, I hope you understand.”
Annie smiled while keeping her little hand in the Marquis’s. He could be considered as her old friend as they knew each other from when they both entered the palace at young age. She was the companion of Princess Mica, while Laston became the little footman of the then crown prince Osli Alfa Morisette.
”You do not need to be so polite with me,” Annie’s voice did not sound like herself.
”So dear Annie, let me serve you and direct you to your room personally. The troop will leave tomorrow morning and it will be good for you take some rest.” The Marquis was somewhat excited. Annie’s appearance brought back to him many of his childhood memories. He could still remember the times when Annie and Her Royal Highness Princess would tease him.
”Alright, thank you.”
Countess Antonia Horman and Marquis Laston Cambre bid farewell to the Prince and the other two ministers. Oscar waited until they disappeared at the corner of the hallway, only then did he return his gaze to the other ministers. The young man was feeling rather uncomfortable. He thought Marquis Cambre seemed to have an ulterior motive on his Annie, but the boy quickly dismissed the thought. Annie was not his lover, he could not be concerned about it anymore.
”I hope I did not cause you lords any trouble?” Oscar said to the remaining two ministers.
”Oh, what do you say? It is not uncommon for you to leave us with huge mess!” Said Count Rudolf Hoss from the Secret Service Department jokingly. ”After you left the ballroom, ha! Guess what? The aristocrats, who are usually poised and well mannered, went into chaos. They were clamoring for all sorts of things madly. Thankfully, Marquis Cambre called in the guards to quell the riots.”
”What did His Majesty say?” Oscar asked calmly. He was sure the emperor would not let him off this time easily. After all, he had turned a lively ball into a bloodshed war.
”You do not have to worry about His Majesty, for His Majesty will talk to you about it in a moment,” Confidential Secretary Philip Goolean sounded like he was ridiculing the young prince. ”What you really should be worried about is Her Royal Highness Princess Alanis, who definitely is not used to being refused in public.”
Oscar felt a slight pain in his head at the thought of Alanis. He did not think about the consequences of his action when he was at the ball. Sure enough, the young man was worried, and Alanis was harder to deal with than the emperor.
”So ... Her Royal Highness Princess... did not say anything?”
Philip looked sympathetically at the young prince, he knew this little guy had created for himself a big trouble. ”Her Royal Highness Princess did not say a word after the incident, but she shed tears for you. My God! You have to believe me Your Highness, the tough and stubborn Princess has never been like this before. She locked herself in the room after you left, and Her Majesty the Queen and several elderly ladies are now comforting her, but I do not think any of their words will work.”