Chapter 78: Ninth Episode: Chapter 5 (2/2)

Oscar scratched his head; this person was really just so stiff! ”I say, Distinguished Baron, do you really feel awkward or are you intentionally opposing me?”

Abassia’s eyes widened, ”Your Highness, you are a prince! The person of highest rank that I have ever met before this was my region’s commander. Although there are many important figures in Dulin, what am I? So… It’s best if I stand!”

Oscar waved his hands; he felt that he could not converse with a professional soldier who was stubborn, rigid, and who values rank above all else. ”Very well… The meeting is over!”

”So Your Highness, when do I officially take office?”

Oscar puffed out a wisp of smoke and casually settled into the sofa, ”When you step out of that door behind you, you are already my military affairs advisor.”

After saying this, the prince’s gaze landed upon his secretary, Vick, who was suppressing a smile, ”Hey! Next!”

Vick promptly adjusted his look and checked the list, ”Next is Duchess Deliohiera Karl Arnold and she brought a letter personally handwritten by Duke Karl Arnold.”

”Oh no…” Oscar slapped his forehead; deep down, he was aware that Duchess Karl Arnold was a little peculiar.

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

”Titan Empire’s His Majesty Alfa III!” The attendant of the Kenshin Palace announced His Majesty Emperor’s arrival with his booming voice.

Alfa III strode into the living room with the stout Finance Minister and the frail

Military Commander.

”Father Emperor!” Alanis flung herself into her father’s embrace like a little bird. She indeed despised him. However, at the very least this Emperor showed due respect towards her and his son-in-law.

”Oh! My treasure! You are heavy!” The Emperor exclaimed joyfully.

Alanis gave her father a sharp pinch just as how she treated her fiancé.

”Your Majesty!” Oscar pushed through the crowd and came forward; he had just received the news. ”It is truly unexpected; just this morning the Imperial Secretariat said that you had an important meeting from which you are unable to get away.”

The Emperor was in an exceptionally good mood; his left arm was hooked over his daughter and his right hand pulled his little son-in-law in close.

”Young lad! Let me tell you if you have any matters it will be best to personally make a visit to the palace to verify. Of all things, do not listen to the nonsense of the Imperial Secretariat!”

Oscar saw that the palace chief behind the Emperor forced a laugh.

”Marquis Laston Cambre, is it true?” The Prince asked the palace chief.

”Your Highness, you know? Even an Emperor can sometimes blurt things without thinking!”

”Hahahahaha!” Alfa III burst into laughter, ”See, where else can I find a palace chief who dares to ridicule the Emperor in his presence! But… I can feel at ease handing over court matters to such a person!” The Emperor quipped while nudging Laston Cambre on the shoulder.

Oscar was finally convinced that if Alfa III were a Devil King, then he definitely would have had three brains as the watchdogs. One was the Palace Chief, Laston Cambre, one was the head of the Secret Service, Rudolf Hoss and last, if the prince did not guess incorrectly, should have been His Majesty’s confidential secretary, Philip Goolean.

The Emperor greeted the cabinet ministers who came to welcome him, but His Majesty quickly disregarded them and wedged himself among the throng of women.

Oscar pulled the Finance Minister aside, ”Are you alright?”

Godzilla shot a glare at the young prince, ”Thank you. You actually remember me eh, little madman? I cannot forget that you went so far as to send a manager to visit me!”

”Godzilla! Don’t tell me that you cannot tell that it was because of my guilt that I dared not pay you a visit?” Oscar faked a smile and edged closer, ”You are my old friend! Come over here, let me see how your wound is healing.”

”Ouch!” The Sea Creature sharply scream, ”You little madman! Can’t you be a little more gentle?”

The huge fatty and little fatty shoved each other as if nothing had ever happened before.

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

”Marshal Alan!” Oscar invited the Marshal to a quiet corner, ”Would you like something to drink? Whiskey? Rum? Of course, Absinthe isn’t bad either.”

The Silver Fox smiled and seized up the youngster, ”No need for the bother, my stomach can only tolerate plain water. I’m old! I’m unfit for anything!”

”You can’t say that! The Empire’s military cannot do without you!” Oscar put on an upset look. The many dinner parties had trained him to have perfect a ‘Social countenance’!

”Young man!” The Silver Fox took the cup of water from the prince, ”I have to remind you that interaction naturally requires one to use their brain and ingratiate themselves, but sincerity is the true way of communicating. Perhaps sincerity may cause you to suffer losses, but at least you can have a peace of mind.”

The old Marshal gulped some plain water; he said these things to the young prince because he regarded him as a person. ”Young man! You know? There isn’t much difference between you, who was flitting among the crowd a while ago and Marquis Godzilla! You displayed slyness and worldliness, and you were even putting yourself out there!”

Oscar was stunned; he knew that the Marshal’s criticisms were harsher than normal.

”Your Imperial Highness Prince, you are an Imperial Highness! What’s more is that you are a general who is about to enter the army. There is absolutely no need for you to sell yourself and even conceal your true feelings before others! If you meet a person you like, you can directly tell the person what you like about him, if you meet one you loathe, then directly tell him what you dislike about him. Only this way can you attract those with true talent and charm to your side!”

Marshal Alan stared at the youngster meaningfully, ”Child! Sincerity is a quality that a great person must possess. Cutting the Sea Creature on the throat was a right choice! You have absolutely no obligation to put on such a pitiful face! Tell him clearly, you wretched fatty, if there is a next time, I will instead cut that tiny brain below! Do you think he has the audacity to do anything to you? He will immediately try to earn your favor!”

Oscar gazed at the Silver Fox in disbelief. He couldn’t believe that this old, serious Marshal actually blurted those… Those low…

”Thank you!” Oscar suddenly came to a realization, he no longer knew how to face this old man who was earnestly providing him guidance. He felt his face burn and was extremely ashamed! He only just knew that the things he picked up from the social platform was actually wrong and was a synonym of hypocrisy and scorn!

”Here.” Alan handed two documents to the young prince, ”This is the inauguration documents signed by His Majesty the Emperor and this is the certificate of enrollment signed by me. Open it and have a look! Lieutenant General of the guards, His Imperial Highness Prince O’Neil Andrew Morisette!”

”Lieutenant General of the guards?” Oscar was taken aback, but he quickly rejoiced, ”I am actually a Lieutenant General? It is really like the Division Commander of the Snow Lions, Colonel Hyatt Brandy said! General O’Neil! Oh wow! It sounds so lordly!” The youngster thought about it with delight, but his joy was quickly dashed!

”Hold on! Hold on!” Oscar’s brows appeared as if they were scrunched together.

”My Marshal! The certificate of enrollment you signed is written... Length of schooling, 5 years! This length of schooling, 5 years... What does it mean?

Alan gave a hoarse laugh; he just knew this lad would react this way.

”The so-called length of schooling is the duration of your semester. Length of schooling, 5 years means that…”

”Means that I will have to study there for five years!” Oscar interjected, ”Which insane fellow invented this? Oh, goodness, gracious! Five years! How is it I never heard anyone mention this before?”

”My apologies!” Marshal Alan settled down comfortably into the sofa, ”Otherwise, what do you plan to do? Do you take the award of the Imperial Military Office for a joke? A fifteen-year-old… Oh, that’s right, you’re already sixteen! A sixteen-year-old General! Are you a General of the scouts? Military science, war studies; these aren’t as those described in war history or those concluded in the theoretical materials. It is a science that covers every manifestation of nature, perhaps even an art! It requires you to experience it with your life! To a youngster like you, who is still a blank sheet, the duration of five years may even still be insufficient!”

Oscar mumbled, being rendered speechless. Five years! It made him feel as if he had stepped out of Damorga only to enter another prison! This wouldn’t do! I must discuss this with His Majesty; I must talk this over with my fiancé; I must talk this over with Sasha! This was too much! Oscar thought while getting to his feet. He walked away without giving the old Marshal a second thought.

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

”Your Highness! Your Highness!” Vick finally caught the prince with great difficulty.

”Let go of me! This is an emergency! Quickly release me!” Oscar was close to hysteria.

”Your Highness, the real emergency is here!” Vick tugged at the prince and stepped into the living room. ”Look, the person beside His Majesty III is the envoy that the Kingdom of Italia sent to Titan. He would like to invite you to personally unwrap that gift, hurry! Even the Emperor is waiting for you!”

Oscar abruptly recalled Princess Caro Arsia Manuel. He stroked his lips subconsciously. ”A present from the Italians?” He was already starting to look forward to it.

”Sorry to keep everyone waiting!” Oscar squeezed through the crowd. Before the Italia envoy could greet him, he had already uncovered the gift!

”Wow!” The crowd erupted with excited gasps.

Oscar gazed at the present and could not help but stare blankly at it. This was a sculpture in the image of a man. To be exact, it was his head sculpture! To be even more precise, it was a head sculpture completely identical to his features, hair and even his expression!

The envoy of Italia stepped forth and reminded, ”Your Highness, you should have a look at the signature underneath this gift.”

As soon as Oscar heard that, he started searching. However, the Emperor beat him to it and read out in a booming voice: ”Delius Dedenil! Made for the sixteenth birthday of His Imperial Highness Prince O’Neil Andrew Morisette! A gift from Italia’s Royal Household of Manuel!”

”Wow!” The surrounding crowd again let out a gasp of awe in unison.

Alfa III shook his head in a pity, ”Young lad, this present is far more valuable than those that I have given you! If it weren’t carved in the figure of your head, I would definitely move it into my imperial palace. You know? Master Dedenil is the greatest artist of this present age and has produced countless priceless works that are passed down from generation to generation!”

Oscar unexpectedly shook his head, ”My Majesty, putting it this way isn’t right. Admittedly, Master Dedenil’s works are precious, but how can you par this gift with the treasure chest you have given me? Could it be that you have forgotten the world’s most precious treasure you have handed over to me?”

Alfa III abruptly came to a realization; he saw Alanis nestled against his side, ”Hahaha! Indeed! You are truly very fortunate!”

”Report!” The thunderous high-pitched male voice startled everyone in the living room.

A communications official covered in dust and windblown debris appeared at the living room door with a red-skinned file clutched tightly in his hand.

Alfa III’s face was suddenly in a panic; he was all too familiar with that emergency military affairs report. The military men dressed in general uniforms in the living room crowded around His Majesty. Their faces had the same panicked expression.

The Emperor opened the blood-red military report and the jubilant atmosphere in the hall fell to its all-time low; no one dared make a sound! The joyous din in Dulin caused the people to completely turn their backs on the faraway war, but when the report emerged before their eyes, fear and helplessness now gripped their hearts.

Alfa III screened through the whole report without a sound and heaved a sigh. His Majesty then passed the file to the young prince beside him.

”You are the host here, it is better for you to announce it.”

Oscar took the file, feeling a little perturbed.

”Report from the Southern Army Group’s Military Command Center to the Imperial Ministry of Military Affairs. On the 6th day of the 11th month, 11 p.m., the destroyer unit under the Southern Region seized control of Stowenken, Meridian, Doga, Fooschni, Cyren, Azhar Fortress, Shanresse Holden, and Babelton, one after another! As of now, the guards have taken back all the major cities occupied by the insurgents. Most of the insurgents were annihilated, and the remaining survivors have fled to deep into the mountains. The officers and men affiliated with the Southern Region report to His Majesty Emperor and Titan’s military-masses, our army has acquired victory in stages!”

”Long live His Majesty!” Without waiting for Oscar to finish, the whole palace shook with the roaring cheers of the crowd! The nobles surged towards the Emperor in a frenzy.

”Colonel Vick, open the cellars and bring forth the precious, good wine of the Kenshin Palace! ” The prince instructed his secretary.

”Great!” Alfa III stood there in high spirits; he finally broke into a signature smile of his, ”Thanks to His Highness Prince, we now have two pieces of good news.”

The wine reception had turned into a carnival. The news of victory had mesmerized the people and stirred them up! Be it gentlemen or ladies, Dukes or Lords; the people congratulated each other, embraced one another, exchanged flattery, crossed their arms and drank with one another. The Sun slowly started to set on the west and the people danced and sang drunkenly; the Sun gradually sank below the distant horizon and the people were still seeking good drinks. The Emperor enjoyed wine receptions; he had not indulged himself like this since forever! His Majesty borrowed the young prince’s authority to match up the pairs in the Kenshin Palace; claiming that he wanted to dance with all the ladies. Of course, if the circumstances permit, he would want to make love with all the ladies that were pleasing to his eyes!

Alanis was practically the first to excuse herself from the wine reception. Oscar did not try to urge her to stay for he knew that the princess detested the Emperor’s unrestrained behavior. Oscar carefully hid away all the female members of his house; His Majesty was already drunk beyond reason after dinner. A group of Madams who had sexy figures and knew no shame had him surrounded. Their perfume and increasingly exposed bodies caused the Emperor to burn with desire for them. Thus, the well brought up gentlemen of high status also left, followed by the bewildered young ladies who were blushing furiously and lastly, the upright and dashing military men who were filled with indignation!

Finally, the ones who persisted to the end were the most shameless and vulgar nobles! On his sixteenth birthday, Oscar remembered that moment and the faces of those who hardly concealed their desire and obscenity.

The prince shifted his gaze away from the tangle of bodies; he was utterly disgusted and felt that it was dishonoring to him. However, he realized with a start that practically all the nobles were doing the same thing! The youngster shoved a girl who had thrown herself onto him towards Doramy Basinger, the old chap’s arms. Just when he had turned away and was about to leave, he saw the King of Sins make an obscene gesture simulating penetration towards him.

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

The moon hung low in the sky, and the clouds masked it in a hazy halo. The lights in gardens of the Kenshin Palace were extinguished. The elegant moonlight immediately cloaked it in a silvery outline. In this pure world that seemed to stretch on forever, the gentlemen, youths, ladies, Madams craved to make a living.

Oscar stood on the veranda of his bedroom and assessed everything that had taken place in the gardens. The lights were off in the room, and the darkness more or less managed to soothe him.

A girl hugged the young prince from behind and her soft hair let off a familiar scent of Narcissus. Oscar turned around and took his sister into his arms, but suddenly released her with a startle.

The naked body under the moonlight appeared like the sculpture of a Goddess. The gentle ray of light made its way over the girl’s towering chest and between the perfectly round buttocks.

Oscar wanted to say something but realized that he could not make a sound. The girl’s delicate fragrance pierced his nose and her brilliance stung his eyes!

”This is my present for you brother…” Sasha bit her lower lip, feeling thankful that her brother did not turn on the lights.

Oscar took in the sight before him to his heart’s content, not missing a single of the fine details. He wanted to engrave the world’s most beautiful picture into his memory forever! Finally, just when the young lady was about to melt under the intense, burning gaze, she snatched up her cloak.

Tears welled up in Sasha’s eyes and she stared blankly at the cloak draped over her body.

”Thank you!” Oscar once again brought his beloved into his embrace, ”I have received your gift, but before I put a wedding ring on her, I will absolutely not open it.”

Sasha lifted her head and searched for her brother’s lips.

His youth ended in an intense, passionate kiss!