Chapter 80: Ninth Episode: Chapter 7 (1/2)

Chapter 80: Ninth Episode: Chapter 7

Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation

On the twelfth day of the twelfth month, Dulin had welcomed the first snow in the Year 791. The light snow turned heavy in the afternoon. The snowflakes the size of a cotton slowly fell down from the sky. It was not long until the buildings were painted white.

There were no people on the streets, only the carriages pushed forth the snow on the ground. The well-built Tyler purebred horse exhaled a long, white steam. When the snowflakes fell on it, the temperature of the horse quickly melted the snow. The loss of heat made these poor, cheap labors shivered in the cold. However, the whip was always there for them during these times, so they had no choice but to quicken their pace.

The snow was blinding. The people had to find some dark-colored object to adjust their sight whenever they went out. Even though snow-blinding was not common, to those who earned a living in the snow, being snow-blinded meant they had lost their eyesight. This also meant that they had to live in hunger, and alas death would be their final destination.

The skies of Dulin could not be seen any longer. Everything else was all painted a pure white color. The temperature of the air was not low, but the ground was exceptionally cold. The grey smoke that came from the buildings quickly dissipated in the air. The ashes of the coal flew in the sky along with the smoke and finally attached to the snowflakes and fell to the ground. Thus, the snow on the ground was not clean. They always had pieces of black spots on them.

A heavy sound of a bell ringing could be heard from Dulin Scott Cathedral. In the twelfth month every year, the bell at the bell tower was rung more frequently. The people loved to hear it because the ringing of bell indicated that Holy Day of God was around the corner. This was the holiest and most important event of the Religion of Light. It did not only celebrate the birth of the God, but also the beginning of a new year.

The carriage moved slowly on the road covered in ice. It went into the Road of Kings after turning at the intersection of the church. Then it turned into the Jewel Street from Foreign Ministry South Road. When the gate of 10 Jewel Street was visible, the carriage stopped. The guarding knight in the house came rushing. After greeting the carriage driver, they opened the iron gate.

His Imperial Highness The Prince O’Neil could finally stretch his limbs, relaxed, on the Polar Bear Sofa. This extremely luxurious sofa had always been taken by little miss. Oscar could only get a feel of it when his sister was not around.

Aeolia was still as usual. She seemed as though she would be frightened anytime. Maybe it was because the palace of the Prince was too large. Just one sound of footstep terrified this Countess.

Oscar always had a strong sense of powerlessness when he was facing this lady. For the reason none other than the fact that Aeolia never dared to raise her head when she faced herself.

”Aeolia, how long have you been in the Kenshin Palace?”

”Forty-nine days… fourteen hours…. Twelve minutes.” Aya answered the Prince with the voice of a mosquito.

”As expected of a math genius!” Oscar rolled his eyes, ”Let me ask you again. In this forty-nine days fourteen hours and twelve minutes, how many words have you spoken to me?”

Aeolia tried to recall back. She could not remember. This Countess buried her head lower due to embarrassment.

”Alright, Aeolia. Let me tell you. In these forty-nine days fourteen hours and twelve minutes, you have only spoken nineteen sentences to me!” Oscar, frustrated, made his tone sound serious, ”As your guardian, I think we need a good talk! I suspect that you have been hiding from me. If that is not the case… You probably think I am just a parrot or a decoration.”

”No…” Aeolia cried! ”I… I don’t mean it that way… I…”

Oscar took a deep breath. He knew Aya would surely cry. The Prince left his Polar Bear Sofa. He sat beside of Aya. As expected, Aeolia immediately stopped her tears. She shivered violently and kept moving toward the inner part of the seat.

”Aya, everyone here treats you like a family member. Just like a good friend. I am the same as well. I don’t know what you are afraid of, so… I only wanted to chat with you. To be honest, I’ve had enough with that obedient look of yours. You should learn to share your inner thoughts and feelings with others. Do you want to live in your world forever? Do you want to ignore the kindness shown to you by your family and friends?”

Perhaps these word uttered by the Prince had some effect. Aeolia stopped shivering now. She raised her head slightly, but still did not dare to look the young man in his eyes.

”That’s some improvement!” Oscar screamed this in his heart.

”Then do you care to talk to me? For example… Where did you grow up from?”

”At a small town called Austella near Vielonna.” Aeolia obviously mustered her courage and said a full sentence.

”Ola! That is a good start!” Oscar mumbled to himself.

”Then… Your family is not around anymore, but… I mean… Do you have a boyfriend or are you in any marriage contract?”

Aeolia looked at the Prince, but she quickly turned her head around. She was not sure why the Prince had asked about this. However, as a girl, her instinct told her that this was a test.

Oscar saw the girl’s face turned a dark red. Although he loved such alluring shade, he knew that the conversation might just be this way.

”I used to have a marriage contract. It was a Viscount. He courted me almost to the extent of being mad!” Aeolia regretted it as soon as she said this. She prayed in her heart that the Prince did not hear this.

”Ola! Is that so?” Oscar laid back, slightly lonely. He knew it. How could such a beautiful girl not be courted by others?

”Then… What happens after that?”

Aeolia curled her fingers. The distance between the Prince with her was truly close. This made her really uneasy, but she still answered honestly.

”The marriage was canceled later on because… Because that Viscount said he did not want to face a flower vase that was stiffer than the wood forever.”

Oscar was stunned, but he quickly realized what he should do for Aya.

”Aeolia, do you know that? As the Prince, I can help you kill that bastard.” Oscar ignored the shock of the Countess. He had not finished his words! ”Assassin! Some cruel and professionally-trained assassins! I only need to notify them!”

”Are… Are you joking with me?” Aya’s eyes popped wide open.

”No! I am serious!” Oscar answered definitely. He was not joking with her like he did to the Queen, ”I want you to know that I will do anything for you. As long as it makes you happy… Or… not afraid of me! Don’t hide away from me!”

Aya felt that her heart almost stopped. She wanted to find a hole to crawl in now, but she knew she could not let the Prince misunderstand her.

”No! I am not afraid of you. Neither am I hiding from you! It’s just… It’s just that when I face you… I blush. I became careless. Maybe I look like an idiot. Maybe you don’t even understand what I am talking about! But… This is the truth. I don’t even know what is wrong with me!”

Oscar leaned toward the sofa cheerfully. He finally understood it.

”Then it’s fine like this!” The Prince suddenly took hold of Aya’s hands. ”Don’t care about the others. You can treat me like your friend. Not the Prince, a guardian or your benefactor. Just a friend of your age.”

Aeolia wanted to take her hands away. She felt that she was burnt by his touch! However, her attempts failed. The will of the Prince was very determined. He had no plan to let her go at all! Thus, the Countess simply buried her head in the chest.

”Aya, I must remind you that when you speak to someone, especially to your friends, you must look into his or her eyes. This is a basic mannerism,” Oscar continued to calm the Countess, ”Also! Do you know the meaning of a friend? A friend is a person with whom you can discuss the way to kill your ex-fiancé!”

Aya could not hold it in anymore. She burst out laughing.

”Look! Isn’t this great?” Oscar also smiled. He let go of the lady’s hands. He could not ask for too much at a time. The Prince understood this very well. He already knew that Aeolia’s hands were soft and delicate today. This was enough. The rest of it could be left to tomorrow and the days after. After all, they still had many days ahead of them!

”Then, let’s change the topic! I wanted to ask this of you! If I am not mistaken, you chose to major in political economy.”

Aya was interested, as expected. She faced the Prince and for the first time ever, she realized this was not a difficult thing to do.

”Yes. The little miss once told me the doubts you had for this course. Political economy is a course independent of political study and economy study. This whole new concept was introduced by my grandfather. He had created this course when he was the principal of the University of Dulin. I have always wanted to study this course.”

Oscar nodded. ”But… Your major is in accounting and mathematics. According to what I know, the girls that study these two courses are truly rare! What I am trying to say is… Dear Aeolia, if you did this completely out of your own interest, then I have nothing more to say. I will support me more determinedly! But if it is because of other people and things…”

”No! I love the things related to mathematics...”

”Aeolia!” The Prince interrupted the Countess. ”Do not be quick to explain. And don’t answer me this way. Look at you. The second day you came to the Kenshin Palace, you went to Colonel Vick and asked to do something for me. Then, you took over the budgeting and auditing work of all sorts of account and expenses. Then you work every day until late night. Then you wake up in the early morning to help Madame Keegan with the housework.”

Aya pursed her lips tightly and lowered her head again. She was so naïve to think that His Imperial Highness The Prince did not know the things that she did.

”I said that you have to face your friend when he is talking to you!”

The order of the Prince was responded. Aya raised her head. She tried to make herself look calm.

”Aya, I need a friend. A friend that knows how to live her life and correctly treat her friend! If I needed an accountant, I would have hired one. If I needed a maid, I would have requested from Madam Keegan. And you, you must live for yourself. What you learn should be the things you truly wanted to possess. Don’t think about how you want to repay the debt to your friend. As a friend, it is only reasonable for him to do everything that he did for you.”

Aeolia nodded. The reason that she was as busy as a maid was because she felt uncomfortable in the Kenshin Palace. She was simply a wild animal saved by His Imperial Highness The Prince. The title of Countess simply made her feel like she was indebted to the Prince even more. She had no friend, and now she had a lot. She naturally wanted to do something for her friends, but just as the Prince had said, her friends did not wish for her to change her lifestyle, hobbies, and principles.

”Your Highness, I officially request you to take over the financial matter in the palace! You know, in this whole month, my work is passable. As for studying, the study of political economy is my dream. Accounting is my working direction. As for mathematics, even though I am very good at it, but I really do not want to study any further. I want to have delicate hands like little miss and Madame Antonia. I don’t even know the craft skills that girls are supposed to know. So… I have always wanted to learn home economy.”

Oscar smiled with relief. ”Look, be a little honest with yourself and your friend! Isn’t that better?”

Aeolia did not say a word. It was her first time looking at the young Prince from such a close distance. He had a tall nose unique to the people of Narcissus. His eyes were dyed an elegant, light green color. His hair was slightly golden and curly. There was a small braid at the back of his head. It seemed that except for the round face was more refined now, this young man was still very handsome.

”Ah… Ah… Let me look at the broiled pork on the stove!” Aeolia suddenly excused herself. She ran away as if she was shocked.

Oscar looked at the beautiful figure of that girl and laughed mockingly at himself. His great excuse was no longer his own right.

”Vick, have you been waiting long?” The Prince said as he went back to his Polar Bear Sofa.

”Yes, but the one waiting for you was not me. It is Baron Messier De Quixote who traveled far from the south to visit you. You didn’t forget about that, did you? The ex-Action Officer of the Secret Service at Rylie Province. You invited him to Dulin.”

Oscar slapped his forehead. ”Look at me. Yes! Baron Messier! Oh God! Has he arrived? Let him in quickly!”

Baron Messier De Quixote respectfully greeted His Imperial Highness Prince. He understood the change of this young man. The little Prince was simply a small character who had the crown of a top member of the royal family when he was assaulted at the mountain area. However, looking at him now, he was already the fiancé of Her Imperial Highness The Princess and the most favorited young man by the side of Alfa III His Majesty.

”Alright! Old friend! I can see that your frightened demeanor is just an act. Come and sit here!” Oscar passionately pulled the ex-Action Officer to the chair.

Messier seemed to not be affected by the Prince’s words. He thanked the Prince and subsequently took a seat on the sofa.

”Your Highness, I am truly honored to receive your invitation. I don’t even know how to respond.”

Oscar laughed. He did not want to waste his time on compliments and useless conversation. He asked about the situation of the riot in the south from this ex-Action Officer, as well as the recent situation of this Baron.

”That is to say… You are truly out of job!”

”Yes, Your Highness. That hearing had taken everything from me.”

Oscar smiled bitterly. ”I am sorry, Baron. This is all because of me! I once mentioned your name in front of His Majesty the Emperor in Dulin, but obviously, His Majesty had not taken notice of this.”

”Your Highness, it is wrong to phrase that this way. I accept the punishment for neglecting my duty because there are truly loopholes in my work. For example, the riot in the south this time... the Action Officer and I did not see that coming at all.”

Oscar waved his hands. He did not want to talk more about this. ”I have a question. Since the rioters have put in so much effort into this before and performed such a detailed setup, why did their uprising only last for a short month? I am not denying the ability of the Imperial army. It’s just that I feel that the rioter lost too quickly. As compared with the work they did before, the action in the last stage undoubtedly failed terribly.”

Messier nodded. ”Your Highness. Your thought has a point, but you did not speak of the key. What is the point of rioting in the south? It was neither those poor tenants nor those workers in the factory. It was the businessmen. Have you forgotten? Those wealthy businessmen! Even though those businessmen had prepared enough supplies and manpower for this uprising, they had underestimated the strength of the country.”

”I do understand this,” Oscar slightly nodded. ”According to what I know, when Dulin City lit up the beacon, the commander of the southern front had already begun dispatching army toward the rioting area. I am not clear about the numbers, but it can’t be blocked by those farmers for sure. As for the Imperial Army, the Imperial Army had dispatched the troops in the four provinces in central Titan to support the war in the southern mountainous area. Even though the Guards have not joined a war before, they have received training. They know how to fight. This is enough!”

Baron Quixote took the cup of coffee served to him by the maid. He thanked the Prince before he held up the cup.

”Your Highness, the strength of the country is an important element of success, but we still have to consider the nature of the businessmen. This is also one of the reasons why the uprising failed. The businessmen are only looking for profit. It was only under the urge to earn profit had they started an uprising. And, the factor that causes them to compromise is also profit. The Imperial Army blocked the roads and closed the factories. The wealth the businessmen accumulated with difficulty has been robbed to emptiness in one night. At this time, they naturally consider an exit route for themselves.”