Chapter 79: Ninth Episode: Chapter 6 (2/2)

The Ferdinand Manor was actually a small sized farm. Although it wasn’t very big, during the summer you could admire the sight of the fields that were so hard to come by. During the fall, you could enjoy the pleasure of harvest and picking and when winter arrived, although the scenery became a little monotonous, when compared to the disorder of the other seasons, on a winter’s day, the manor depicted the owner’s neglect and desolation. The lifeless atmosphere undoubtedly fueled the credibility of rumors about a blood-sucking Count living in the manor among the children who lived nearby.

At the end of the 11th month, the manor lost the protection of its forest and shrubs. From a distant, only the huge main house in the whole farm appeared to hold any form of life. The fence that were overlapping one another and strewn at random were severely damaged, forming a circle behind the wall of trees. The stables and barn appeared as if they might topple any second. When the Northeastern wind blew, the wooden planks and nails would let out a terrifying screech. All the leaves had fallen from the wall of trees and they towered silently behind the main building. The warm rays of early winter shone onto one side of the house. On the side facing the wind, the main house casted a huge shadow onto the ground.

Compared to the desolate state outside the window, the world within the house was indisputably more pleasing. The sofas in the living room were covered in thick leather fur, the delicate tea set in the silver tray was glistening with the special luster that only porcelain had. The wall facing away from the sunlight had a few fine oil paintings spread out over them and also the portrait of the owner. Attentive ones would be able to pick up clues from the portrait that the owner was no longer young.

Old Kachev had been always been busy but only a meager few knew what he was up to. In the eyes of the capital’s nobles, if there were anyone that should not be provoked, this Old Duke was definitely one of them.

”Her Majesty Empress’ actions are unexpectedly quick! This is indeed beyond my expectation!” The old man sighed, but immediately regained his grim expression. ”How did you deal with that maid?”

The fatigued Marquise Erdogan Vas Ferdinand let out a soft snort, ”You don’t want to know! I have handed over that little slut over to Lempton; I believe that he and his energetic subordinates will take good care of her.”

Old Kachev did not utter a word but only gave a casual nod.

”Mixing a slow-acting poison into a skincare product!” Erdogan sneered weakly, ”This make me recall that well-known and complicated legal case many years ago.”

The old man lifted his eyes, ”The hair oil case?”

”That’s right,” Erdogan pinched her nose and tried her best not to mind about the taste of the medicine. ”That’s right, the hair oil case! Similarly, a young lady who is related in blood to the Emperor; the culprit being her maid, but the lethal poison was mixed into hair oil. And this time? It is changed to skincare products! Hahahahaha! It seems that our Majesty Empress did not make any progress at all!”

Old Kachev shot a look of disdain at his daughter, ”What hour is it now? You actually have the nerve to say these things! The Empress did not make progress? Then let me ask you, the last legal case still had traces to be found, but this time? Do you know how your own maid was bribed? Do you know when the Empress started to go against you? If you do not know these, then what qualifications do you have to criticize the Empress!”

A ray of understanding that was never there flashed in Erdogan’s eyes; she indeed did not know how to answer her father’s questions, she only knew that hatred had caused her to be on the verge of going crazy.

”I admit I have lost once, and lost miserably at that!” The Marquise tore away the veil on her face. The originally face of ethereal beauty was covered in black and red spots. ”But I will not rest! Since Rolyn Kate started an undeclared war, then there is no need for me to be courteous. This diseased old woman feels that she has too much free time on her hands, so it’s not like I can’t stir some trouble for her as well.”

Old Kachev shifted his gaze away in disgust; those spots made him feel nauseated. In his eyes, women were forever a kind of inferior beings that were only for continuing the ancestral line. Of course, when women were used, they were extremely convenient. However, when jealousy, hatred and such things blinded them, even the brightest person would choose to distance themselves from them. The old man had been around for a long time and had practically seen all the different countenance and appearance of the women in Dulin.

”My darling! Calm down, calm down! Haven’t the His Majesty Emperor already seen you like this? He will talk to the Empress about this. Moreover, you should wait for the poison to be rid before bothering about these.”

Erdogan did not utter a word; her chest was pounding rapidly like a wind box, signifying that her rage had yet to pass. This Marquise had three things that she was immensely proud of, first was her appearance, second, her intelligence and third, her son. The Empress’ conspiracy, Erdogan could not help but shudder, was irrefutably the most ruthless stratagem!

The doctor had described to her the symptoms of being poisoned. This slow-acting poison will cause most of the flesh on the face to ulcerate. When the poison entered the brain, symptoms of insanity would appear and lastly, the person would end up becoming mentally retarded!

Erdogan bit her lip until they bled and carefully tasted the metallic sweetness in her mouth. If it weren’t for her skin showing allergic reactions to the skincare product, then her appearance and intelligence would have been robbed and that would be even harder to accept than being killed.

”Father, I wish to rest!”

Old Kachev stood up helplessly; he knew that now was not the time to conciliate his daughter. No one knew the court better than him; there, it was the most filthy, bloody and ugly place in the world! The people born in court were freaks that were crueler than wild beasts and Empress Rolyn Kate Karl Arnold Morisette was the head of these evil monsters!

”When you go out, remember to bring along Lempton, he will protect you. Remember this! I do not wish to see your corpse lying in the street!” The Old Duke instructed his daughter in the end.

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The Eastern City of Westberg Fort was the side where the fort was most solid and fortified. It was said that beneath the Eastern City was a first-rate hot spring. The rooms in the Eastern region did not need a fire during the freezing winter days and Empress Rolyn Kate, who was debilitated and plagued by many diseases, would always spend the winter here at the end of the year.

His Imperial Highness Prince O’Neil was led by the head of the chamberlains with a shaven head, to the largest warm room in the Eastern area of Westberg Fort. Above the walls of the warm room was a metal pipe where water from the hot spring flowed. The boiling spring water made the room as warm as during spring. The prince already felt his forehead beaded with sweat before he even entered.

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

This huge parlor occupied a few hundred squares. One could already hear laughing noises coming out from it when standing at a distance. Without a doubt, those who were making a clamor in the room were the noble Madams of lofty status and who were most favored and trusted by the Empress. The Eastern region of Westberg Fort was a restricted area to men, but a women’s paradise. This was the private territory of Empress Rolyn Kate and even if Alfa III wanted to occasionally drop by for a visit, he had to consider the Empress’ mood.

Rosin was burning in the living room and it invigorated the people. A few two-person sofas were arranged on the wide Persian rug and beside each of these sofas were a tiny built-in cupboard. Within these were an assortment of tea sets and beverages that were accessible to the people to help themselves to. The sofas were fully occupied. Lugging their huge dresses around, the Madams who were adorned with countless jeweled ornaments chattered away leisurely. Some of them had chosen green tea, some chose light licorice wine and others chose diluted vanilla chocolate for themselves.

Beneath a screen that was brought from the Far East, a rosy-faced middle-aged woman reclined on a wide couch. Her light auburn colored hair was spread out in a mess over the pillowed back of the couch. The hand that was in her hair was clutching the back of her head steadily while the other hand was fiddling with the pearl necklace resting on her chest. Her eyes were slightly closed, her lips tightly pursed and a pair of white bare feet were exposed from beneath the white pleated skirt. A female Persian slave was massaging her foot. Perhaps a sore spot was pressed for the Madam would occasionally wrinkle her brows.

Perhaps she had heard her friends speak about a topic of her interest, for the Madam would sometimes interrupt. Her humorous style of conversing would immediately spark responses from all the people and thus, the whole living room would reverberate with the sound of cheerful and light laughter.

This was practically the whole life of Empress Rolyn Kate Karl Arnold Morisette and as a result, the people scorned and envied her. However, perhaps you would not believe it, but the people who thought or acted out had all perished.

His Imperial Highness Prince O’Neil strode into the living room but it seemed that no one intended to greet him. The Madams eyed him and some discussed among themselves in low voices. The youngster who had just celebrated his sixteenth birthday pondered a while and turned around, deciding to leave.

”Young lad, what are you going to do?” A gentle and weak voice sounded.

”My apologies, I will like to look for a mother of five children, but evidently I have walked into the wrong room! Everyone here are respected young ladies and none look like a mother.” Oscar clarified and bowed to the pleasant people on the couch.

If this was a compliment, then the Prince’s compliment was extremely successful for the living room again erupted with joyous laughter.

Empress Rolyn Kate dragged her upper body up and sat leaning against the seat and then turned towards her friends, ”You see! Do you have a child that has such a clever mouth that blurts flattery capable of poisoning ladies? If not, then don’t blame His Majesty III and I for marrying Alanis off to him. Even the few of you Madams of virtue and prestige are no match for this young lad’s flattery, what more is to say for the young princess.”

Oscar approached the Empress, beaming. He swept his eyes rudely over Rolyn Kate’s physique, his greedy gaze roaming over every inch of the Empress! This was not because the prince felt secure in knowing he had backing, but because he clearly knew that the Empress enjoyed people to look upon her with this captivated and a little blasphemous gaze.

Rolyn Kate stretched out her hand languidly and allowed the prince to lay a heavy kiss onto the back of her hand.

The Empress shook her head and wringed her hand, ”This impudent little rascal has hurt me!”

The Empress’ words once again stimulated the roars of laughter from the Madams. If a woman was hurt by a man, then just how many more things could the people relate this to?

No matter how indifferent Oscar were, he should be ashamed. Being ridiculed by the Holy Titan Empire’s Majesty Empress publicly, he was unsure of whether he should feel honored or depressed.

”Your Majesty Empress, my future Mother Empress, I heard that your asthma have improved a lot and I have specially come visit you.”

”Your Imperial Highness Prince O’Neil, my future son-in-law, I heard that your schedule is already very packed so I specially instructed Alanis to tell you not to bother about me!”

Oscar shook his head in distress. He indeed had not visited Rolyn Kate for more than ten days. Previously when he went to the Southern region of Westberg fort to visit the princess, he would visit the Empress on the way.

”My Majesty, Alanis indeed carried out your orders faithfully. Not only is my schedule extremely packed, but also has to be altered according to her sudden inspiration of wanting to do something. It seems that I have really neglected Your Majesty, please forgive me.”

Rolyn Kate made no reply; she knew that the youngster’s words were the truth, for Alanis had been leading him all over the place, more of to show him off.

”Please have a seat.” The Empress indicated with her head, the rectangular sofa beside her couch.

Oscar once again bowed. He felt even more uncomfortable after taking his seat, with the group of noble women staring intently at him as if examining stallions.

”Your Majesty, if there is no issues from your side...”

”Why?” Rolyn Kate raised her voice, ”Still thinking about that red braised pork at Kenshin Palace?”

Oscar’s heart became cold, ”The red braised pork of Kenshin Palace!” This was what he had just said during noon. The prince felt that he should keep his eyes open. The Imperial Household had stationed secret agents at Kenshin Palace and No.31 Penelope Avenue; this was no secret. However, there was completely no need for the Empress to directly inform him of this; in other words, it implied that he was being watched tightly.

”Your Majesty, if my presumptions are correct, it’s that young lady in charged of refreshments in Duke Andrew’s Official Residence who told you the story about the red braised pork? I really don’t understand! How can wages of two golden Tis per month cause the young lady to be so conscientious? Should I whine about the stinginess of the Secret Service Department? Or should I complain about the prices in Dulin being too low?”

The prince shot a glance at the Empress, unperturbed. He did not care since the Empress already opened up, then he did not mind to reveal his hand as well.

Rolyn Kate was indeed astonished, but she quickly believed that this could be possible. Dulin was controlled very strictly, but the Military Personnel Bureau’s investigative department of the Andrew Family operated was still just as impressively. This showed that they had a secret net that was just as good as the Secret Service Department.

”Young child, you should change your habit of not walking the talk. A while ago you were complimenting my ‘Young ladies’ here and now without even taking a sip of tea, you cannot wait to leave this group of old women.”

Oscar could not stand such a joke; this was equivalent to offending all the Madams here.

”Your Majesty, I just do not wish to interrupt your recuperation. Moreover, I have already grown up and do not wish to again make you worry.” Oscar gave a half-smile. He then fished out a letter and was pleased to see the Empress’ eyes gleam.

Although Rolyn Kate’s face remained expressionless, her heart was pounding. This young man was her son-in-law and also her sister’s son. Despite the little rascal having killed her nephew, everyone knew that he was just a sword that Alfa III borrowed.

The Empress took the letter and was momentarily taken aback. Her eldest son wrote the letter to the young prince, but the wax glue on the envelope indicated it was yet to be opened.

”Your Majesty, I have not read it. It is not because I do not respect the Karl Arnold family, but because I believe that some words are better left unsaid. That was a misunderstanding, one where both sides have already understood the misunderstanding. You will be my future Mother Empress, so the Karl Arnold Family will forever be O’Neil Andrew Morisette’s friend.

The Empress was a little emotionally moved. Even though she would not childishly take the promise of a murderer, the prince’s magnanimous attitude more or less left her feeling stunned. However, the prince’s standpoint towards the Karl Arnold family was not the reason why the Empress had called the youngster here. Rolyn Kate had called him for a completely different matter; one where she would even be willing to sacrifice her family, to sacrifice everything she had! She would absolutely not allow that matter to happen or continue to develop under her watch; and more so, she would not let the people involved in that incident get away with it.

The Empress casted the letter aside; her swift motion of discarding it appeared as if she was chasing away a fly.

”Let us talk about something that is of interest to you. Do you still remember the day you and my little daughter got engaged? A young, handsome Viscount had roamed the backstreets of Hamilton Palace with your little sister during the night. Do you know who this man is?”

Oscar gave a sneer in his heart, Vicsount Minsk Drakas Ferdinand, or... I should call him... An illegitimate child!”

The whole room suddenly fell into silence; all the Madams had stopped talking. Empress Rolyn Kate’s face blushed furiously. She wanted to say something, but the only the only thing she managed was a violent cough.

Oscar did not intend to pat his future Mother Empress’ back or anything similar. He put up a pretense of not having seen it.

”Your Majesty Empress, as the prince of Titan, a member of the Imperial Household, as long as you give your orders, I believe I am able to get rid of that lad! You know? I only need to give the word to those cold and trained assassins, and that will be it!”

As soon as the prince finished saying this, the Madams seated there started to feel that something was not right! This was not something that they should hear about and without even needing the Empress’ permission, the Madams started to retreat out of the living room, one after another. Practically in a split second, the crowded guest room had became as deserted as if it were haunted.

Oscar relaxed and leaned against the sofa; he was not yet done talking.

”Your Majesty Empress, I am only joking! You can’t have believed that right?”

Rolyn Kate gripped her chest; she was completely baffled. She really did not know what this young man intended to do!

The chamberlain shut the living room door tightly and the meeting between His Imperial Highness Prince and Her Majesty Empress progressed on.