Chapter 82: Ninth Episode: Chapter 9 (1/2)

Chapter 82: Ninth Episode: Chapter 9

Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Moving! Moving again! Oscar was already fed up beyond measure about this! He yearned to just settle down in a place for a while, but the God of Light just wanted to make life hard for him, it was this God who made the youngster go on the arduous road endlessly.

Actually, His Imperial Highness The Prince did not have much luggage of things of his own, it was just that the women felt that they should bring along anything that was still usable at home. According to the young lady and Lady Countess Antonia’s understanding, the amount of luggage symbolized their wealth and status, and it seemed that the bigger the luggage, the more they felt at ease.

On the morning of the 20th, the first batch of luggage had set out and it completely filled up six huge boxes of wagons that required four horses each to tow. Oscar initially thought that he could let off a sigh of relief, yet the young lady mobilized the women at home to engage in another round of packing tasks.

”This is simply driving people crazy!” Oscar said while peeling off a tangerine.

”Hehe, we are going to set off tomorrow, isn’t that so? There’s nothing big about it, all of this will come to an end.” Alanis smiled gently; she enjoyed seeing her fiancé in distress.

”Here! Have a taste! It isn’t easy to get fresh tangerines to eat during the winter.” Oscar broke off the peeled tangerine and passed it on to the Princess.

”Thank you!”

Alanis put on a look of pure bliss, the tangerine’s juice and taste were very rich, especially during the winter. The tangerines and grapes that were urgently shipped from the South using fast horses were the only fruits available during winter. Of course, these fruits would only appear in the glass plates of nobles.

After a moment’s of silence, the little Princess of Titan decided to bring up some more serious matters. She had to spend some time with her fiancé almost daily; during that time, they usually would not speak of matters that would upset the other. However, the Princess had decided that she really have to voice that out today.

”My Empress, Mother… was talking to me last night until it was late.”

Oscar popped a sparkling red grape into his mouth and waved his hand casually, indicating to the Princess to continue on.

”My Empress mother said a lot, I am uncertain whether she has suddenly lost all her senses! She actually brought up things when I was young, it was all jumbled up and, in the end, she even kissed me. To be honest, that simply made me feel sick.”

Oscar shrugged indifferently, ”My Princess, these words, by all means, should not be spoken outside! No matter what is said, Rolyn Kate is your mother, her concern for you is normal. I know you detest her as well as pity her, but at the very least you need to put on a superficial front.”

”I am more adept than you at this!” Alanis curled her lips in disdain, ”Her concern for me is what’s abnormal! The first thing that I learned about after I became sensible enough was that mother hates me because she almost lost her life when giving birth to me. She reckoned that I have robbed her of her health. She has always been direct with me. But... last night, there was a huge turnaround, what do you think went through my mind?”

”What were you thinking?”

Alanis gave a despicable look and she lowered her voice, ”Having been in Westberg Fort for so many years, I believe that I have seen it clearly enough! Rolyn Kate Karl Arnold Morisette, my mother, Titan’s Empress, is a beast that is far more vicious than the tigers and wolves, as well as a demon that is far more selfish than the devil.”

”Do not hope for her to be concerned about anyone!” The Princess seemed to be getting more and more infuriated as she spoke, ”She, care about me? By the God of Light! How is that a concern for me? She has only reevaluated my beneficial worth. If it weren’t because of the fact that my fiancé is Imperial Highness The Prince with a promising future, she would have still treated me as before!”

Oscar was unsure whether to criticize the Empress or to console the princess.

”My darling, since you are already extremely clear about the Empress’ person, then why are you still getting angry?”

”Why can’t I be angry?” Evidently, Alanis was really throwing a tantrum, ”Just like what you said! She is my mother, but has she done what a mother should have done? Has she fulfilled her duty a mother should have? She has not! She never has! Oh, that’s right! She has only poured out her motherly love to her eldest son because this son will become the ruler of Titan in the future, strengthening her position! So, never believe the love of Rolyn Kate, that will only consign you to eternal damnation!”

Oscar eyes finally widened; he was not aware that the Princess’ conflict with the Empress was that intense.

”Uhh… Then do you need me to readjust the strategy in dealing with the Karl Arnold family?”

”Absolutely not necessary!” Alanis answered unambiguously, ”Since she suddenly feels like being a good mother, I should naturally play along with her! Letting Her Majesty the Empress play in a one-man show, won't that a very embarrassing? I will just accompany her!”

Oscar looked at Alanis as if he was looking at a monster; he really could not fathom the Morisette Household’s relationships.

”But, this is also good!” The Prince decided he should just play along with the Princess’ wish, ”At the very least, maintaining a close relationship with Her Majesty the Empress will lead to nothing bad; it can’t be any better for us, who completely have no roots in Dulin.”

”I also have my sights on this,” The Princess nodded. ” So… I bid my farewell!”

”Can’t you stay for a while more?”

”No! I do not feel very well. I would like to be alone!” Alanis massaged her forehead.

Oscar was also at a loss for words, ‘My little princess, I do not wish to see you so reluctant. Actually, we don’t have to care about others at all…”

”No!” Alanis replied firmly! ”I do need to care!”

Oscar heaved a heavy sigh; he disliked the Alanis like this.

”Then… let me send you off!”

”No need! Sasha has been waiting for you all morning, I dare not hog my little lover!” Alanis said while giving him a teasing smile.

”Thank you for your reminder!” Oscar watched the Princess who was about to step out of the living room and could not help but call out, ”Don’t forget your overcoat and your handheld furnace, and also the few little rabbits I gave you.”

The Princess turned around abruptly, ”I really don’t understand, why did you give me those rabbits for? I detest those dull little creatures.”

Oscar laughed mischievously, ”But your leopard does not hate them, LeFou will take care of them on your behalf!”

The Princess nodded in apprehension, ”So, you little rascal, you want to turn my LeFou into a ferocious beast.”

Oscar’s pupils suddenly shrank; he caught up with the Princess steadily, then took the windbreaker in the hands of the attendant and draped it over the Princess.

”Alanis, believe me! If he does not become a ferocious beast, then we, LeFou, you and I, will not be able to survive in the palace.”

It seemed… That this was the only way to ensure their survival. At the end of Year 791 on the Church’s Calendar, the ruler of Titan Empire, without caring about the possible resistance from the Noble class, brazenly launched the greatest scale of purging operation in the history of the Morisette Dynasty! The purge was directed at the opposition faction in the Ministry of Senior Nobility to further strengthen the Imperial power and reorganizing the sovereign ruling structure of Titan's highest order.

It would appear that Alfa III played the role of an imperious, bossy and even cruel person in the Great Purge, but it made one a little skeptical because, just a week before the Holy Day of God, the basic purging operation came to the end of a phase and when the Emperor’s proposal obtained the ultimate approval by the House of Lords. Still, there was a delay in announcing the decision to reorganize the government that triggered all of this.

The nobles were whispering among themselves, some said that the reform was just an excuse used by the Emperor for the purge, while others said that the reform was stuck at one of the exceptionally crucial phases and some also said that the Emperor had his misgivings about the counterattack from the opposition faction and was searching for the most favorable excuse and opportunity for a new round of the purge.

What was Alfa III waiting for? Why was the draft to reform the government delayed again and again? Actually, this point was not difficult to comprehend at all; Alfa III weighed the men under him and realized that they lacked competence; compared to the people under his opponent, his men were incapable of taking on heavy responsibilities.

The Emperor furrowed his eyebrows. The men under his control were a bunch of fools who only knew how to sweet-talk! If he were really to let them take charge of one of Titan Empire’s matters… Forget about it! The Emperor shook his head, ”Seriously forget about it! I am not foolish! And I am not mad!” Alfa III muttered, annoyed.

However, the matter had to progress. The Emperor had done enough things that were all barks and no bites! This time was different. The people had been arrested, those to be exiled were exiled; those to be imprisoned were imprisoned, those to be executed were executed. If it were to end like this, the Emperor could as well just abdicate. Alfa III had never thought about leaving his throne, so he must see this matter through.

A few shrewd Cabinet ministers recommended many capable people for the Emperor; Alfa III practically welcomed everyone. However, the Emperor was not foolish, he only invited these people into his advisory group and only a few of the exceptionally outstanding figures were bestowed a public office. The Emperor had to observe because, since he knew just how much value a job in the bureaucracy is worth among the capital community, he did not want his court to be filled with incompetent people.

Anyway! Year 791’s Holy Day of God was exceptionally difficult to endure! Dulin’s temperature was already close to negative ten degrees, yet the temperature of the political air seemed to be even colder than the outdoors. The Emperor’s intent became more and more indefinite; signifying that the definite step in the reformation still required a certain period of time.

However, the State Council group that prioritized the Secretary of State’s proxy, Old Duke Kachev was impatient. Old Kachev no longer dared look down on his students of those days. What exactly was Alfa III planning to do? When the final date to implement the reform was postponed without end, Kachev at long last understood what it was all about!

Firstly, when the Old Duke returned to Dulin, the Emperor praised the Duke highly for his proposition of the reformation in a public area as soon as the opportunity arose, causing the nobles of the capital to easily place their perspective of their struggle onto Old Kachev. And when the Great Purge arrived, although the Emperor did not offer any words, the people naturally thought this was Old Kachev’s proposition. Kachev’s style had always been to take care of his enemies swiftly. Thus, Old Kachev’s position in the capital’s noble circle was getting more and more dangerous and more and more isolated.

Secondly, why was Kachev ”The Secretary of State’s Proxy”? To be frank, be it a proxy or the official one, once the Emperor was certain about his resolution of reformation, the first thing he did would be to remove the State Council’s authority in matters and then formed an initial temporary government affairs cabinet composed of the people in charge of the six respective departments, which are the military, finance, justice, foreign matters, agriculture and education, as well as the Ministry of Senior Nobility. Of course, ”The Secretary of State’s Proxy”, Duke Kachev, was also the highest spokesperson of the temporary Cabinet, yet there was not a single subordinate under him, and the State Council gradually lost its frame.

At last, Old Kachev finally realized that Alfa III had created a golden cage for him and, for this while, he couldn’t escape from it! This Emperor had used the nominal Cabinet to get rid of the State Council that was in control of all the Empire’s governmental decrees. Although the State Council’s authority was distributed to six departments and one Ministry, even greater authority was wielded in His Majesty’s hands. As long as the reformation had yet to be realized, no one could change this situation! It could be said that the order of Titan’s centralized Monarch power that accumulated over the past few hundred years had reached its highest peak!

Could it be that… There was an exceptional being of the same level by the Emperor’s side? It suddenly struck Old Kachev! Otherwise… with his young student’s mind, he could not formulate such an ingenious scheme! Moreover, this was a stratagem that could only be described using the objectives of brilliant, interesting, frightening and other adjectives of similar caliber.

Who was this person? How could Old Kachev have no idea at all? He had ruled out the few cunning people he knew of, the few nouveau riche who recently made a reputation in Dulin, and finally ruled out the only person he had missed out, the young Prince! Who was the one giving the Emperor ideas? Why did the person have a need to conceal himself so carefully? Kachev pondered over it longer than he ever did; he knew that his future path would get progressively arduous. He had not even done anything and was already forced into a dead end by an unseen force!

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

Dulin’s winter made it appear as if it was hopeless, but this did not affect the festive atmosphere at the Westberg Fort. There was only one more week before the Holy Day of God, and the fort of the Imperial Household had already entered the last phase of their preparations!

At this time every year, if there was anything that could make Titan’s nobles tremble with excitement, it would be the wine reception organized by Her Majesty the Empress. Despite Rolyn Kate giving birth to five children, she still had a graceful, mature charm. However, her health had always been frail and she lived a secluded life at the Westberg Fort. Because of this, the annual Holy Day of God wine reception appeared increasingly important. Although the people believed that the Empress already had already stepped halfway into her coffin, nevertheless this Empress was Rolyn Kate Karl Arnold Morisette; the significance this name held was far more precious than this woman’s life. Nobles from all around would use the occasion of the wine reception to inquire about the Empress and among the humble crowd who hurried to Westberg Fort were the Imperial Households and celebrated overlords from foreign countries.

”Mother Empress, you were looking for me?” Alanis lifted her skirts and bowed slightly to the frail woman lying on the couch.

”Please sit!” A towel emitting steam was laid on Rolyn Kate’s forehead. One could see that she was already fed up with her illnesses.

”Why aren’t you calling me mother like your brothers and sisters? I admit that you are the most opinionated one among them, but isn’t your sense of self-preservation a little too strong?”

Alanis took a seat disapprovingly, ”Mother Empress, you ought to also see that my few brothers and sisters do not respect you as I do! They…”

”Enough, Alanis!” The Empress cut off her young daughter’s emotionless reply. ”I only see that you regard me as a pathetic old woman! Do not try to justify, I know you better than anyone else!”

Alanis hung her head, her mother had already seen through her excuse. However, the young daughter still muttered in her heart, ”My mother, you are indeed wrong! In my eyes, you are not just a pathetic old woman, you are a terribly dangerous old woman!”

”I really don’t understand! You are a girl who is just engaged; how can your little mind still be capable of accommodating such thoughts? Perhaps the others are unaware, but how could I not know? These days, you have been spending the night in your father’s palace! I called you here today to make it clear to you; this is dangerous! Extremely dangerous!”

”Hehe! Mother Empress, you are saying that it is dangerous to spend the night at Father’s place?” She did not care one bit about the ambiguity held in her words and looked back at her mother shamelessly.

”You are humiliating yourself when you humiliate your parents!” Rolyn Kate’s chest swelled; her fury was ignited. If there was anyone who could cause her to feel distraught and anxiety, it was this little rascal before her, who was getting more and more difficult to refine.

”In that case, mother, please forgive my stupidity, I really do not understand what you are referring to.”

She steadied her breathing and suppressed boiling rage in her; Rolyn Kate held up her medicine goblet and gulped.

”You don’t understand? Then you aren’t as bright as I thought!” The Empress had once again adopted an arrogant air, ”My little darling, it seems like you are still unclear about your position, you are already His Imperial Highness The Prince O’Neil Andrew Morisette’s fiancé. That is to say that everything you do should be in support of this prince. To put it more specifically, as a princess, one who has already been crowned the surname of her husband, you do not have any right to meddle in the Dynasty’s policy! Perhaps your father supports your actions, but the nobles may see your recent conduct as a message of threat, you know? The ones in line to the throne are your two elder brothers; as for you, I have already said many times, consult more with your little fiancé; he is an intelligent man; you know what you should do!”

Alanis still remained unperturbed. ”Did someone accuse me of interfering with politics?”

”Interfering or not, it is not important anymore!” The Empress tilted her head, ”The important thing is how you see this matter, and if you stubbornly insist on your way, then I believe that someone will give you an exceptionally memorable lesson.”

Alanis looked at her mother in astonishment, ”Mother Empress, your words… bring a hint of threat!”

”My darling, you are always like this, taking my advice as a threat, while you turn a deaf ear to those who truly threaten you.”

”Then mother… What is the true threat?”

”When the interest group my husband is targeting knows that you are against them, then the true threats will naturally come looking for you; is there still a need for me to clarify?”

”Thank you Mother Empress, there’s no need!”

”Then… Can I understand it as… you know what you ought to do?”

Alanis nodded, ”Yes Mother Empress, I know!”

Rolyn Kate spread her arms towards her young daughter, ”My child, why don’t you open your heart to your mother?”

Alanis threw herself into the embrace that lacked warmth and care, ”That is because… My heart has already been cruelly destroyed!”

Of course, those words were spoken from within the Princess’ heart.

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

When night fell, the young lady’s ”Great Purge” of the Duke’s official residence was almost complete. She invited her brother to stay for dinner but on the rare occasion, Oscar did not have any appetite. The young lady was very persistent, in the end, His Imperial Highness obliged.

Dinner was simple; Sasha had instructed the kitchen to prepare fresh borecole and eagle fern. These were rare items during the winter and the price of fresh green vegetables was almost as much as silver.

Oscar did not have any appetite, but he could not dampen his sister’s spirit. He could manage to swallow the roasted mutton with borecole, but... forget about the eagle ferns! The Prince disliked vegetables with excessively strong flavor as eating too much made him inarticulate, and moreover, he had always been picky about his food.

No. 31 Penelope Avenue actually had no wine! This was something that Oscar could not accept the most; he did not know where his sister had hidden those vintage wines! Perhaps it was Cody who inspired her, the young lady had stored the cellar with yogurt. Oscar hated yogurt and he felt that drinking it was disrespect towards his bowel.

Thus, the atmosphere during dinner was unpleasant; the Prince whined ceaselessly, like a patient with a mental disorder. However, the young lady was not going to argue with him about it. The intelligent girl knew better than anyone else that although the Prince’s temperament was very contradictory and eccentric, as long as he was not provoked, he would usually be able to accept any arrangements.