Chapter 58: Seventh Episode: Chapter 3 (1/2)
Chapter 58: Seventh Episode: Chapter 3
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Outside the city of Andrew Haila, one needed only to slightly lift their heads up to be able to see the fire beacons lighting up in the distance. The prince, Her Royal Highness The Princess, and a few of the utterly despicable ones born in Damorga walked on while looking around. They quickly became disappointed, as the road was deserted without a single pedestrian; only the occasional two or three knights urging their warhorses on were seen pacing frantically back and forth.
”Where did all the people run off to?” The King of Sins gauged his surroundings vigilantly.
”Don’t know; they probably all went home!” Her Royal Highness The Princess responded. This was also what she was rather concerned about. To the princess who came from afar, Andrew had too many things that she could not comprehend.
”Yes, Your Royal Highness! The people have gone home. Every time the fire beacon ignites, it becomes like this. Before attaining the precise intelligence report on the enemy, the whole army prohibits anyone from moving about within the borders of Narcissus.” The one who gave the princess an assuring answer was the Narcissus Knight Traisen Front’s Lieutenant Colonel, de Barry.
”Oh good gracious! Then how do the people here live? I mean, those farmers… or rather, anyone who relies on going outdoors to earn a living.” The Princess widened her eyes.
”I am also not very clear, these matters are entirely under the jurisdiction of the United Army. Your Royal Highness Princess, but you can trust me that the issue that you just mentioned isn’t an issue of utmost seriousness.” Colonel de Barry laughed.
”Then what else could be a serious problem?” Her Royal Highness Princess refused to drop the matter.
”When the Persians turn up outside the doors of your home, that is the most serious problem.”
The princess adopted a disapproving look, ”Aren’t the Persians always on the Andrew house?”
Without voicing out a reply, de Barry nodded his head.
”Colonel de Barry, I have not congratulated you for becoming the champion in the jousting tournament!” Oscar grinned at the officer who was holding a position under his second brother; he felt that the subject initiated by the princess should come to an end.
”Thank you, Your Royal Highness, I was merely lucky, nothing more.”
”Lieutenant Colonel de Barry! Even if you are modest, there is a limit to it! Don’t tell me the achievements of all six continuous victories are all because of luck?” Major General Murat, who had been following behind all this while, was not satisfied; de Barry had beat one of the knights under him before acquiring the title of champion.
”Heeheehee! Lieutenant Colonel Murat, it cannot be put that way. In a tournament, it is a match between luck and strength. My strength and your subordinate, Major Lelah’s are equally matched, it’s just that Lady Luck was in my favor.”
Murat twitched his lips in a laugh. Although de Barry showed utmost deference, this lad should not have brought up the word ‘luck’! That wretched luck! Murat felt that since he met that little prince, he had all the while been experiencing misfortune. Perhaps he had unintentionally offended the God of Light some time ago, and his current situation was probably the God’s punishment towards him.
”General Murat, is your knight well?” Oscar had noticed Murat’s bleak look.
”I beg your pardon, but perhaps you should change the way you address. You should address those soldiers as ‘My knights’,” Murat said irritably to the prince. ”They are all yours, even I included.”
Oscar was aware that this Major General was somewhat criticizing him. However, he did not care much, since they still had quite a long time together.
”Very well then Lieutenant Colonel de Barry, tell me, why did General Figg, who is also my second brother, asked you to come with me?” Oscar changed the subject.
”I apologize, Your Royal Highness, for I do not know why General Figg arranged it this way; I am only exercising the orders given to me. However, I believe that General Figg must have his reasons, for he has never issued an order without an objective.”
”So you are saying that you have absolute faith in my second brother?” Oscar dared not place a lot of trust in his second brother; for that chap was honestly too cunning!
”Yes Your Royal Highness, I have absolute faith in my General!” When talking about Figg, even Colonel de Barry’s face became serious.
”Of course you have faith!” Murat said snappily, ”Good soldiers are always willing to follow a General who is always victorious in battle!”
Oscar shrugged his shoulders, understanding that Murat was just venting.
***************
The prince’s party was about to arrive at the official residence of the Andrew family. This tiny fort sat isolated at the edge of the forest. The watchtowers of the fort had raised war flags, the gates of the fort were still open, yet the silhouettes of many guards could vaguely be made out.
Oscar felt unsatisfied. All the family members at home seemed to be rushing about for war, yet it seemed that only his third brother and he were wondering about aimlessly. His third brother was okay with it, but was there honestly nothing in which he can assist?
”Oscar! Brother!” Sasha’s yell was heard in the distant. The young lady seemed to have been waiting by the gates all this while. When she saw the prince’s party, she urged her female horse to practically frisk over.
”What’s up? Did something happen at home?” Oscar could only think of asking that when he saw his sister.
”Yes! A wedding! Second brother’s wedding!”
Oscar was astounded! Wasn’t his second brother a little too impatient?
***************
The Hall of Heroes of the Andrew family, as we know, was actually a small chapel. Today, the 29th day of the 7th month, in the 791’s year in the Morning of Light’s Calendar. Figg Andrew Tibotty, Andrew family’s second son, Commander of the Narcissus Knight Traisen Front, much like a majority of the Narcissus knights; was going to hold a wedding ceremony on this Army Day.
The decorations in the little chapel were simple. Two rows of pews and an altar, a figure of the God of Light Sapriuses, and also a red carpet spread out specifically for the wedding.
”In other words...” Oscar stood at the doorway of the Hall of Heroes, ”Our groom has invited the pastor, the Registry of Marriages, our relatives, the bride and he solely did not include himself! Am I right?”
Tracey had a white wedding dress worn over the top of her black army uniform. Although she herself did not mind this rather peculiar way of dressing up, with the black showing through the white, she at least was aware that in the history of the Andrew family’s marriages, she was the most sloppy bride.
”No Your Royal Highness! Oh, that’s right...” Tracey blinked several times, ”Would it be okay if I addressed you as little Oscar? As you know, if there are no incidents, I will be your sister-in-law in the future.”
”Of course, beloved sister-in-law. You should absolutely not call me by Prince, Your Royal Highness or any addresses of the sort.”
”Then, could we disregard that fellow who is running late for now? I would like to know, why has that scoundrel Figg got his whole body covered in blood at the arena.”
”Ah... basically, that is the blood of the fowls. I filled it into his leather bag prior to the event. However, my dear sister-in-law, with your intelligence, you probably know that all this was clearly planned by that latecomer.” Oscar stroked his nose; evidently, this little lad again felt awkward. However, he knew that if he were to come to an equal with his second brother in the future, then getting on this sister-in-law’s good side was definitely a must.
”However, I don’t think that this matters much. Figg will use his eternal love to compensate for everything he had done to you today. Although he is a little rascal, a little obscene and also a little shameless, all these do not mean anything. You should believe me, and all the more believe my brother. He is a good man who will protect you all his life.
Tracey looked at little Oscar steadily, ”Uhh... I don’t know what to say, but...Thank you!”
The bride kissed the younger brother on the cheek. She was about to say something more, but then she saw a group of knights galloping towards them from the forest trail. The young lady finally knew what ‘nervousness’ meant. She did not fling herself into his husband’s embrace like an infatuated fool, but instead ran into the chapel, red-faced.
”Hahahahaha!” Figg has not had such an indulgent laugh for a long time. Oscar heard this chap’s hearty laugh from far off.
”Hey! My little brother! How are you feeling?” And with that, Andrew family’s second son leaped off the galloping warhorse. The knights he brought with him grabbed the reins of the steed.
”How else can I feel? This question should be answered by you, you are the one who’s the groom!” Oscar grinned as he met his second brother.
”My feeling, Haha! I only have one feeling!” Figg took his younger brother into his embrace. ”This feeling is truly… truly the most marvelous!” After saying this, the elder brother did not forget to plant a heavy kiss on his little brother’s forehead.
Oscar gazed at his brother. This was his first time being in such high spirits for another person other than himself.
”We should go inside!” Oscar reminded his second brother.
Figg peered into the doors of the little chapel and straightened his military uniform.
”That’s right! Allow me to enter first and you follow behind me. If I look behind and you’re gone then, it will be too bad for you, little fellow! After all, you are the best man!”
”These words seem to be my line!” Oscar pulled on Figg’s sleeves, ”Then what should I do? No one has told me how to be a best man!”
Figg dragged his younger brother into the chapel, ”No, the best man is actually just for display, you don’t have to do anything.”
While Oscar was still dubious, the little chapel erupted with enthusiastic cheers.
The eldest in the Andrew family led his wife and children to sit in the first row. Madame Pauline glanced back and forth between the bride and her son; Sasha, as the maid of honor of the bride, stood beside the altar while the third son was the most bizarre. The silly son of the Andrew family was actually standing at the seat of the wedding witness with a serious atmosphere. There was another thing, the people who attended were all seated on the at the bridegroom’s side while there was no one at all seated at the bride’s side. However, there was nothing suspicious about this at all, considering the bride was an orphan and both her parents had already passed away within the chaos of war.
Just like this, an extremely simple wedding ceremony; including the pastor, had not more than ten of those who showed up to witness the ceremony.
Figg strode towards the altar. Did he know what he was doing? He initially planned to thoroughly dispose of the Persians first, and then only consider the prospect of marriage, yet he had already decided, hadn’t he? Moreover, the gods seemed to keep exhorting him, in his ears, ”Child! This is a fine young lady, if you miss her, you will regret it for a lifetime!” Figg quickened his pace; he walked towards his wife with resolution. He did not want to regret, especially not with regards this matter.
”Why is time moving so slow?” Tracey muttered in her heart. The cheers had already resounded, right? He had arrived, had he not? The bride faced the altar and bowed. She finally heard his footsteps approaching, but oh god! Great God of Light! Could you please fast forward the chiming clock a little? Wedding! Goodness, gracious! Tracey groaned, she did not know whether she had lost her mind, but her wedding dress, her hand grasping the... ”You’re late!” The pastor of the Andrew family greeted the groom.
”My apologies! An emergency military affairs meeting! I got away with great difficulty.”
Dressed in his holy robes, the pastor shrugged nonchalantly, he was aware that the child was saying those for the bride to hear.
”So shall we begin?”
”Yes... Oh no!” Figg was quick to change his words.
The pastor shot a baffled look at the groom.
”I mean to say... my subordinates are waiting for me outside, you know I have very limited time, so with all due respect, Mr. Pastor, can you skip over and conduct the most important part?” Figg glanced at the pastor with distress. Time! That was most important to him.
”Does the bride have any opinions?” The pastor asked Tracey.
The bride who had been silent all this while shook her head.
”Then very well. The all-powerful God of Light, in accordance with the requests of this newlywed who loyally serves you, we have cut short the rituals of the wedding ceremony. Now may the wedding witness pass on the sacred keepsake to the groom and bride.”
Cody took a step forward. He uncovered the silk on the silver platter in his hands. Two diamond rings, one large and one tiny, were seen lying on it.
The bride took the larger one while the groom took the smaller one. During this process, as the best man who was standing dumbly behind the groom, Little Oscar was indeed sweating rivers in the place of these newlyweds. He was afraid that his third brother would at this crucial moment demand for yogurt. Ola! If that were the case, then it would certainly be a huge laughing matter!
However, the teen’s anxiety was unnecessary. Cody was like a true clergy, completing the process strictly by the rules; just like when dancing, the dumb third young master transformed into an image of a fine man, mature and staid.
”So, before the God of Light, please answer me with the sincerest of hearts. Figg Andrew Tibotty, are you willing to take Miss Tracey Ninova as your wife, and to rely on one another throughout your life, be it through age or sickness?
During this neutral moment, Oscar glanced at the young lady beside the bride and met Sasha’s eyes. Both of them were startled and averted their gazes swiftly.
”Yes, I do.” It was rare for Figg to say his vows solemnly. His chest was perfectly straight and the scar on his face was emanating a fantastic radiance.
”Tracey Ninova, are you willing to marry Figg Andrew Tibotty, even if a horde of Persians were to suddenly burst through the doors?”
”I do.”
”Then please exchange your rings.”
After the groom and bride had completed that step, Tracey tried to free herself from Figg who was grasping her hand, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not do so.
”In that case, groom, what are you waiting for?” The pastor asked the second young master who was staring at him blankly.
”Waiting for what?” The second young master was a little perplexed.
”Don’t tell me you don’t wish to kiss the bride?”
Figg came to his senses! Aside from being a rogue pervert, it was his first time knowing that he was also a fool!
The groom uncovered the bride’s veil. This was not his first time meeting her, but at that moment, he was completely mesmerized. Figg tried to find the best position on those enchanting lips before his eyes, forget about it! Who cares!