Chapter 55: Sixth Episode: Chapter 9 (2/2)

”Kamille? He was promoted to a regimental commander due to his excellence in the escort mission, as well as passing his Paladin trial. As of now, he’s probably working on his compatibility with his new troop. What’s the matter? Missing him?”

”Oh, not that, but it was because of him that I could return home safely. He and I were quite fond of each other’s company.”

”Yes, that’s right. Which reminds me, what do you think of Murat Bedoya?”

Oscar finally remembered, it was that division commander whose ensign Oscar snatched. ”Murat? I can’t tell, but obviously, he can be quite chatty, and looks like a decent person!”

”Hehe, yes he is! You have found a treasure, I’m considering assigning you a direct division.” The Duke laughed happily.

”Direct division? What for?” Oscar was slightly confused.

Celia set down her cutlery, she had heard about this. ”Every Andrew descendant will be assigned their own division, like all three of your brothers, yes, even Cody, so we’re left with you. Taking into consideration your safety, your father was considering assigning you a direct division.”

”Yes I understand that, but what has that got to do with Murat?”

”I say, son! How have you become to dull? The first thing you did when you arrived home was to snatch Murat’s ensign, that was the proof your encounter with the Red Tiger was an arrangement of the God of Light. Do you know, the ensign was the lifeline of an army? I have given an order this morning, Red Tiger and Murat is yours!” The Duke also set down his utensils. It was a necessity to assign his son a direct division, or else any rogue from Italia would be able to bully him.

”But… Don’t I need to return to Dulin?” Oscar was slightly unnerved. ”My own division? They wouldn’t follow me wherever I go, would they? I don’t think His Majesty would allow me to walk around the capital with a whole division of cavalry.”

”No, father would agree to that!” Princess Alanis chimed in, ”Don’t forget, you’re a prince of the Empire, you need to have your own army, it wouldn’t make sense otherwise. Even I am a nominal commander of the Capital Guards!”

”Is it?” Oscar was truly astonished, ”Why have you not brought it up before?”

”What is there to bring up? It was just a name. Besides, the guards don’t listen to me.” Alanis’ spiritedness weakened. Evidently, she was dejected that she didn’t have any control of the Capital Guards.

”Murat? The Red Tiger Division?” Oscar gave it a thought, but he wasn’t too worried about it, he was still not in control of anything in front of his father, whatever his father said, he only needed to follow!

The preparation for Army Day was still underway. The front line of the Border Defense slowly retreated, the backup Defense forces also moved toward the border as fast as they could. The main road that was usually empty was filled with people, farmers trying to get to the market, as well as visitors who wanted to experience the Army Day.

The Army Day of Narcissus County was one of the most well-known carnivals in Westland. Because of its heavily military influence, there were countless Titans who admire the Narcissus from all around the nation visiting every year. They could enjoy the large-scale parade of the Narcissus Knights, join the locals to watch the ‘Horseback War’ finals, and even join the crowd at night to celebrate on the streets. The most attractive event was the matches between the Narcissus Knights. After the parade, the Narcissus Knights would hold an annual martial arts tournament, there would be representatives from every Front to participate in the events such as horsemanship, archery, swordsmanship, jousting, and other matches.

The history of the tournament could be traced back to before the Narcissus Knights was formed. House Andrew used to choose their warriors through matches like this.

Figg Andrew Tibotty had been talking about this year’s competition non-stop. His knights had won three first places, as well as winning the jousting five years in a row. He bragged about continuing that result, as well as nabbing five wins and above.

His cockiness caused an uproar from his colleagues of other Fronts. The first one to rebuke him was the commanding of Ceres Front, the old General Koloniev who criticized Figg’s attitude, followed by the captain of Seist Front, General Beled. He was one of Figg’s uncles, but that wouldn’t deter him from trying to defeat Figg. After that were captains of Coran and Liszt Fronts, they abandoned their troops at the border of Italia and came all the way back to headquarters just to cheer on their knights.

The last one to stand up was a woman, to be specific, the highest-positioned woman in the Narcissus army, Lieutenant General Laura Croft, the second-in-charge of the Military Statistical Bureau, advocating for the education, military wasteland reclamation, and women’s right in the territory of House Andrew. The Lieutenant General said, ”Respected Sirs and Generals of the Narcissus Knights, I look forward to see your matches with my subordinates’ daughters.”

The Generals shut their mouths immediately. They can stand up against the Marshal, but no one would even think to risk offending this female leader in the Narcissus County.

Princess Alanis had immense curiosity and admiration toward the female soldier in House Andrew. These ladies didn’t participate in combats, but they are holding a position in the army, and they are responsible for matters that actually matter. It was a rare sight for Dulin, not to mention the whole of Westland. What does a woman do, not staying at home to serve their husbands and teach their children, but spending their daytime around various men? Goodness! Alanis looked at Lieutenant General Laura with applause in her eyes.

”How does Lieutenant General Laura obtain her achievements?” The Princess asked Lady Celia discreetly. The lady general had left her a deep impression.

”You mean Laura?” Lady Celia glanced at the female general. ‘Perseverance! Valor! Don’t be afraid of the opinions of the Prejudiced, even without the God of Light’s guidance, I will climb the mountain tenaciously to reach my own peak!’

Celia turned to the Princess, ”Your Highness, this was one of the sentence Laura wrote in her diary. If you can achieve that, your accomplishments would surpass any of the previous rulers in the Morisette Dynasty.”

The Princess’ gaze started to waver, ‘Perseverance’, ‘Valor’, ‘Prejudice’, ‘My own peak!’ These phrases spun into the lady’s heart. She seemed to see herself standing on the pedestal, receiving the praise and love of thousands of citizens.

”Thank you, respectable Duchess Andrew.” The Princess saluted to Celia.

Celia nodded, accepting the salute. She knew her words had struck a chord in the Princess.

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

7th Month, 28th Day, it was one day before the Army Day, the preparation inside the Narcissus County had entered its final stage. Outside Andrew Haila city, the parading Narcissus Knights erected a boundless tabernacle. The knights were comprised of fifteen Fronts, each Front sending out an impressive phalanx of a thousand knights.

On the massive plain outside of Andrew Haila, an orchestra of commands and horse trots formed. Citizens from all over the city brought them cooling water and fruit wine with a faint taste intermittently. Girls deliberately came all the way to the outskirts of the city to stand and watch the cavalry.

The Knights raised their voice in response. Before that, they cleaned their horses up and shined their weapons, they used the most expensive grease to perform maintenance on their inherited armors, they even took their capes they never wore. Maybe, this year they’d be able to get lucky and get acquainted with a few pretty Andrew Hailan ladies!

”Andrew Haila!” The cheer could be heard throughout the training ground, teams and teams of young men were carrying out last minute practices. Formation, tactics, cooperation, charging, anything to help them throw their rivals off of their ‘horses’. The amount of seriousness they put into the game were as if they were going onto the battlefield the next day.

That’s right! The training ground would be used as the boys’ battlefield tomorrow! The sweat and blood of the past year had been a preparation for the ‘battle’ tomorrow. With the single-round elimination system, the significance of any failure would be the same as death! The future of Narcissus youths were foreordained to be spent on battlefields, to them, ‘Horseback War’ is not a game, it’s not even a competition, their participation symbolized their transition into a man, marching toward the battlefield!

Citizens of Andrew Haila had only a few days in a year when they can completely relax, they have too much work to do. Usually, every household would take care for a warhorse, every household would need to voluntarily help out the army for half a month, every household would make a set of military uniform for the army. All four seasons, Narcissus citizens held their silence and stitched the pain into the uniforms.

”These uniforms are bound to be splashed with blood!” Prince O’Neil Andrew Morisette sighed painfully.

”Yes!” Racheff Andrew Nedgabel replied to his youngest brother, he originally wanted to bring Oscar to witness the spectacularity of the training ground, however it looked like it may have backfired.

”Look!” Racheff pointed at the camp crowded with people. ”The busiest time in the year is when the army reclaim the military supplies.”

”Is our clothes factory not providing enough for consumption?” Oscar was a little suspicious, he saw over thousands of people turning over their fall season uniforms.

”Oh no, it’s not a question of consumption, it’s the sudden increment of soldiers. The production rate from ten years ago can no longer keep up with our needs. For example the uniforms, we can only afford to give out raw materials to the citizens for them to produce the uniforms without pay.”

”Why is it without pay? Even a token fee to the citizens can be helpful!” Princess Alanis didn’t understand, she thought House Andrew was treating its citizens somewhat cruelly.

”You didn’t know?” Racheff laughed, he thought the Princess’ question was ridiculous.

”House Andrew’s budget had been the same since half a century ago, do you take us for wealthy people? Like you said, we can’t even afford a token fee for these uniforms.”

The Princess quietened, House Andrew’s military budget had always been provided by the Empire. As a member of the Royal Family, she felt awkward being posited the situation. If she didn’t come to Narcissus County, she wouldn’t have believed there are people in the world who worked so hard, and considered the honor of sacrificing as a reward in itself. Looking back, as the ruler of Titan Empire, the royals of Morisette Dynasty seemed so calculative.

Racheff knew his words may come across a little heavy, but it was the truth, just as General Toshtor said. Racheff knew he shouldn’t continue the topic anymore then he needs to, so he asked his knights to open a path for them.

”Your Royal Highness, it’s going to get chaotic here, let’s leave before it does.”

”Oh yes! You’re right!” Alanis agreed, her thoughts were largely in disorganization. She gave it some thought, and finally understood why the Royal Family would use such as strange tactic with House Andrew. After witnessing different facets of House Andrew, she lost her initial affection toward them, leaving only fear.

Alanis was scared of House Andrew, just like how all the other members of Royal Family were. They were afraid of this strong, god-like charisma House Andrew wield and how it would be like if they were allowed to continue this development.

Andrew Dynasty! The never-existed noun leapt into the Princess’ mind. No! Princess Alanis quickly erased it from her mind, House Andrew wouldn’t do something like that! They are loyal to the Royal Family! They are devoted in their belief! Alanis completely rejected the possibility that House Andrew would continue developing.

”Huh? What did you say?” Alanis was shocked out of her fear! Someone was talking to her, she tried to appear as calm as possible, but she noticed every person around her only looked at her with a confused face.

”Your Royal Highness… I was looking for His Royal Highness Prince O’Neil.”

”Oh! Right, excuse me, I’m… a little out of it!” The Princess apologized profusely, afraid that the others might spot her unnaturalness.

”Is something wrong? You look antsy. Tired?” Oscar asked with concern.

”Oh, no… I… yes! I’m a little tired.” Alanis changed her mind.

”You should return to the mansion. Big brother, do you mind escorting Alanis?”

”Of course not! It is my pleasure.”

Oscar stared at Princess Alanis’ back with a worried look on his face. He knew something must have happened to Alanis. He hadn’t seen her being this anxious, not even when they’re facing a life-and-death situation.

”Are you looking for me?” Oscar turned toward the mounted officer who blocked his path with a team of knights.

”Yes, Your Royal Highness!” The officer saluted him on his horse. ”Your Highness, Sir, I am a Chief Inspector from the Military Personnel Bureau, stationed in Andrew Haila. Please call me by my name Bovard, or by my title of Lieutenant Colonel.”

”Of course Lieutenant Colonel! Is there anything you want to tell me?” Oscar felt weird, what does the chief inspector of Andrew Haila want from him?

”Yes sir! I’ve captured a team of dangerous individuals claiming to be your followers in their confession. I wish to get confirmation from you, otherwise, according to the law, they should be executed.”

”Ah…” Prince O’Neil Andrew Morisette felt a sense of powerlessness from the depth of his soul. His followers? He had been meeting people the past few days, his followers must have stirred up a hge trouble! The teenager had only remembered his followers were, in fact, a bunch of dangerous individuals.

”Agh… What did they do?”

The Lieutenant Colonel produced a piece of paper from his chest pocket and read aloud, ”The court accused the defendant against twelve charges, number one, carrying deadly arms, number two…”

”That’s enough!” Oscar interrupted the Lieutenant Colonel, he knew it! He knew the group of killers, conmen, and idiots, with the King of Sins leading, would never care about his reputation.

”Let’s… go and have a look!” The teenager chose to compromise with the reality. He hated these people to their guts for their unruliness! They’ve already left Damorga Prison, can’t they be a decent person like he does?