Chapter 51: Sixth Episode: Chapter 5 (1/2)
Chapter 51: Sixth Episode: Chapter 5
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The unrest in the Empire had yet to spread to the Princess and His Royal Highness Prince’s carriage. To make it easier to ensure the princess’ safety, Oscar and Alanis practically never left each other for the few days. The cold war between the two was already in the past. At that moment, Alanis regarded the young prince as her most trusted companion. This was highly related to the prince saving the princess’ life, but that was not the main point; Alanis was aware that as of now, she could only receive aid from the prince. Since an assassin emerged from the procession, the princess felt that only this youngster who had faced the same fate as her, did not appear that suspicious.
Exchanging their interesting anecdotes of many years, were the princess’ and the prince’s everyday practice. Oscar probably reaped a lot more than Alanis did, for the matters in prison were far beyond the Princess’ imagination; while the Princess’ recount of the classical stories among the noble circles left the little prince gasping in awe. Only now did he know that the Madams of those gentlemen, who usually appeared so splendid, were actually so shameless deep down.
The youngster could not help but feel a little dubious as he watched Her Royal Highness Princess’ chatter on exuberantly; it seemed that the young lady was deeply disgusted by matters regarding pirates and prostitutes, but her tone made it appear that it did not bother her at all.
The princess talked about the court’s etiquette tutor, the riding instructor, her parents and both her elder siblings. Oscar managed to catch quite a few useful points for himself, yet he was sensitive enough to sense the princess’ contempt and disdain for these people.
If this was still not enough, then there was still at least one more matter that left the youngster vigilant to a certain extent. Lady Countess Emory’s condition had stabilized and this female companion of Her Royal Highness Princess was left at Fort Stanson to receive treatment like the other casualties. At that moment, Alanis was reserved in expressing her concern towards her close companion. Oscar had reason to believe that this most respected young lady of Titan Empire did not care about these people who loved and cared for her and regarded their care and love as their bound duty to her.
For the first time, the youth felt that the princess had the same problem as him in terms of personality – Both of them did not know how to cherish, and may even deprecate certain emotions. However, Oscar did not feel that there was anything inappropriate about this; he just felt that Alanis reserved enmity towards everyone other than herself.
The prince was aware that his journey had already lost its initial significance and he was only slightly better off than a prisoner now. Although he was the procession’s highest commanding officer by name, but he understood that the division commanders carrying out the guarding duties were unlikely to take his views into consideration. Currently, everything appeared as strained and orderly as a wound up clock.
Complains were after all just complains. Although everything was not in the prince’s favor, but at least he could still admire the breathtaking view of the southern mountains through the carriage window. To a young lad, this journey was unique and fresh whatever the case.
The southern military region that was made up of the mountain divisions had now entered the last phase of the journey. They escorted the procession of the princess and His Royal Highness Prince to pass through a good half of Rylie Province and crossed the steep West Berkshire Mountain. When the procession entered Bodega Province, the foothills of the majestic, towering, undulating Alps finally emerged and the terrain became significantly leveled.
When the last mountain was about to fade away behind, the Prince ordered the party to rest and reorganize for a while. The youth led the survivors of the Narcissus Knights’ cavalry of the Imperial guards and arranged themselves into a neat line a short distance from the mountain pass and paid tribute to the fallen heroic souls in the mountains.
The pitch-black mountain silhouette continued to stretch out from the west to east following the change to daylight. The huge mountain absorbed and emitted all sorts of sounds to the ”outside” of the mountain pass contentedly. The hour of tribute should have long since ended, yet the knights could not help but watch the young prince who sat upright on his horse, static, in puzzlement. In the eyes of these seasoned veterans, the youngster had already become one of their formidable members. However, only now did the knights start to consider that the child was a little too young. Although some of the older veterans also have a son just as old, but those little ones seemed to still be in the phase of playing wildly in the fields with a wooden sword.
Oscar gave a sigh, he did not want himself to appear that much like an elder, but he still had yet to master the art of concealing his emotions unobtrusively.
The youngster finally decided to leave. He had already made a vow, did he not? Those who violate or harm him will definitely regret it.
”Your Royal Highness!”
The lad turned his head around and saw that it was Sarlat Drosha who spoke. The former paladin wielded a beautiful rapier and his skills did not perish over the years in Damorga.
”Your Royal Highness, take a look.” Sarlat unfolded his palm and an urn as tiny as a thumb was revealed to the crowd. The urn was suspended on a silver corrugated necklace.
”According to your instructions, I have carved yet another urn. The ashes of the few of your maids are inside.” Sarlat suddenly fell dejected for he had personally witnessed two of them suffering inhuman torture.
Oscar thanked him and took that bottle shaped decoration and without a hint of hesitation, wore it around his neck. The surrounding knights started muttering in low voices. The prince’s practice was completely against the religious teachings; the God of Light forbade a living person to carry any items of the dead; this was a respect for death, a consecrate to God. Yet what about this youngster? He had kept the ashes of the dead and by his attitude, it seemed as if he did not intend to ever remove that ”Ash bottle” from his neck.
”Inform the commanding officers of the mountain division that we are setting out!” The youngster gave a last glance at the Alps behind him, ”Wait for my return and I will make you crawl beneath my feet.”
It appeared as if the mountains had heard the lad’s inner thoughts and the mountain pass spat out a gale that caused the blistering hot summer to instantly be caught up in a freezing winter.
His Royal Highness Prince O’Neil Andrew Morisette’s cloak was flapping nonsensically under the whistle of the valley. This youngster gave off an odd sneer. He and his knights quickly disappeared onto the road that extended to the plains and the mountains seem to have forgotten the youngster’s words in a blink of an eye. However, undeniably, the Alps absolutely did not expect that this boy of stocky build, would one day bring about Earth-shaking changes in the not so distant future.
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Year 791, 17th day of the 7th month, at a region of Bodega Province where it were only a few kilometers to the Eastern border of Andrew’s territory, both the Imperial guards and the knights of the prince could at long last let out a sigh of relief! Just a moment ago, the cavalry scout squad of the mountain division ran into a huge lineup of a welcoming procession from the narcissus knight group at the provincial borders.
”What kind of procession and what kind of lineup?” Oscar questioned the leader of the scout squad delightedly. His mother and sister watched him from the side, laughing.
”Your Royal Highness, I cannot describe the spirit of the Narcissus Knights, but I dare assure you that I saw more than twenty military flags, meaning to say that there are more than twenty groups of armed forces. You need to see if for yourself to believe it!”
Oscar averted his eyes and pondered, but he failed to make sense of a certain matter, ”Why... Why did they not come to greet us?”
”Do not be silly, child!” The Lady Duchess of Andrew walked over and embraced her little son, ”Any unit of the Narcissus Knights larger than a group is forbidden to set foot outside the territories without the order from his Majesty the Emperor; that is an act of treason!”
Oscar nodded his head in understanding.
”Very well my child, you have arrived home! Don’t be like a fool! Ride on your Raytheon lest you be ridiculed for appearing before the proud knights in a carriage!” The Lady Duchess ruffled her son’s hair after saying that.
The last few kilometers passed in a blink of an eye. Oscar was as excited as a lion cub. His Raytheon could sense its little master’s vibrant air and this proud little creature became agitated. It jumped and kicked left and right; in short, it refused to stride properly on the national road, causing the knights close by dare not steer their mounts too close to it.
At ten in the morning, Her Royal Highness Princess of the Titan Empire and the recently appointed His Royal Highness Prince passed through the last village at the northeastern part of Bodega Province. The knights who were exploring the way had ordered the people of this village to remain in their homes. Usually such actions that seriously disturbed the villagers would have been severely reprimanded by Her Royal Highness Princess, but at that moment, Alanis felt that she should not probe into the matter with the mountain warriors who were diligently carrying out their duty throughout the journey.
The procession passed through a national road at the edge of the village and they followed the path to turn into a small col. When they emerged from this little valley, it was already the inherited, private territory of Titan Empire’s Duke Andrew!
”Mam! Sasha!” His Royal Highness Prince called for his mother and sister. He urged his Raytheon to dash back as fast as gathering dark clouds. The youngster’s fierce expression caused the mountain warriors to duck beneath the roadbed of the national road.
”Haha! And also Your Royal Highness Princess!” Oscar was undeniably the most enthusiastic. He halted in front of the women and his Raytheon, having not galloped to its heart’s content, skipped on the spot with the teen still on its back.
”Take a guess at what I saw.” Evidently, the youth did not intent to let the women answer the question; he followed on by saying, ”The boundary stone! The boundary stone!”
”Do you know what was written on it?” The Raytheon led its young master to circle around the women, ”Haha! On it was inscribed in the most ancient Titan text ‘Here dwells Andrew, his knights and his people, welcome to the first and also the final defensive line set up by the God of Light!’ and inscribed beneath is ‘distance to Andrew Haila, 189kilometers’, my respected ladies, do you know what this signifies?”
Her Royal Highness Princess had been influenced by the prince’s enthusiasm. She made a fuss trying to order someone to make a stone rubbing of the boundary stone, as she wanted it to bring it back to Dulin as a souvenir. The Lady Duchess of Andrew and the young lady watched the young boy before them without uttering a word. The question brought up by him indeed left them perplexed; just what does this signifies?
”Mam! My beloved little sister! This signifies that I have arrived home! Hahaha!” The Prince once again turned his horse around and the Raytheon shot forwards with all its might, causing the group of soldiers in front to plunge into chaos.
His Royal Highness Prince’s cheers accompanied by his hearty laugh made its way into the ears of the women, ”I have returned... Hahahaha… I. Am. Home!”
As soon as the youngster cheered, the long drawn-out sound of a bugle horn suddenly sounded from the little valley close to Andrew’s territory!
There was absolutely no difference between Lady Celia and the young lady. Both of them locked eyes and broke into laughter. Indeed! They have arrived home!
”Kamille!” Celia twisted her head and called for the paladin.
Without having to be told by the Lady, Colonel Kamille Rayen already had the horn at his lips. Another long and drawn-out sound of a horn complimented the horn that was yet to be seen in the distance. The knights instantly abandoned everything, the heartbreak of losing their comrades, the trepidation brought on by their wounds and illnesses, the stress accumulated from their guarding duties and the enemies who were concealed in hidden places. All this did not matter anymore! When the horn to assemble sounded, they were no longer the cavalry company that had been reduced by half, but the most valiant armed conglomerate on land that used the Narcissus as their totem.
The blast of the horns lasted a long time in the small valley before they faded away. The commanding officer of the mountain division used a variety of commands to alter the formation of the soldiers. They had accomplished their mission and the ones taking over were Titan’s most brave and fierce, armed force. What a glorious moment! The warriors of the mountain region puffed out their chests towards the skies and started considering how they would brag to their wives and daughters! They had received the welcome of the Narcissus Knights; they had stood on the same spot as these heroes that only existed on murals and epics.
Just like the banner that who knows when appeared on the opposite mound; those who set eyes on the flag would be filled with immense pride! The mountain warriors thought to themselves that they were undoubtedly fortunate as the last security squad of the Imperial Guards. This was because not many of the Empire’s soldiers could truly see the true form of the flag with their own eyes despite hearing that it was so huge it could obscure sunlight as far as the eye could see. The sight in pictures had no way of depicting the awe that the flag brought to the people.
The whole procession made their way towards the flag. One of the warriors silently read the name of the flag ”The resilient fierce tigers, the undefeated Narcissus.”
When the horns sounded, officers of a small Narcissus Knight squad galloped for the mound hectically. They urged their horses to arrange into a long line of thirty-two steeds and only came to a halt when they had dashed up the hill.
The thirty-two steeds were linked tightly by the reigns to form a column throughout the way. Every four steeds formed a group and each group was dragging along a special made carriage. There were eight carriages in total and each had a slender log about thirty over meters, running through each of them. The first carriage even had a capstan installed.
When all the carriages had come to a halt, under the orders of the knights’ commanding officer, they hacked the ropes binding the logs together. Two Herculean-like brawny men gave a deafening shout and pushed the capstan. The log raised little by little under the influence of the chains of the capstan. When it was erect and pointing towards the sky, following a loud shout from an officer, the flag bearer severed the rope that was binding the log tightly. The rope slid continuously and a huge flag about five meters long and six meters wide descended rapidly from the top beam of the log.
When the huge flag had completely unfolded, the bottom of the pure black banner obscured part of the sky and under the sunlight, a formidable, fierce white tiger was seen billowing, and as usual, with a blooming Narcissus within its mouth.
The prince had already been gazing at the flag for quite some time; he was the first to dash over to it. However, Oscar did not plan this; the youngster was at a loss of how to react after he laid eyes on the enormous Narcissus of the Fierce Tiger. It was his Raytheon stallion’s instincts, which led him to charge towards the undeniably familiar silhouette.
Twenty-six knights emerged from behind the flag. Oscar did the calculations himself but he was counting the war flags in the knights’ hands instead of the number of knights. If each war flag represented a battle unit, then just how many knights had assembled here?
Oscar stared at the oncoming knights, immersed in thought. These knights appeared not to have recognized him and did not seem to intend to address him. When the lady Duchess and the young lady had caught up, only then did the youngster realize what an awkward position he was in.
”What should I do… Or is there something I should say?” Oscar asked his sister under his breath, ”Why are these knights like mutes?”