Chapter 91: Tenth Episode: Chapter 9 (1/2)
Chapter 91: Tenth Episode: Chapter 9
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The annual Holy Day of God has finally arrived! Quoting His Imperial Highness Prince Oscar’s words, it was the perfect occasion for spending unnecessary money. The noblemen of Titan seemed to have an unlimited wealth that they could squander without worry. They widened their search for money through various means of foreign channels, and figured in the end that during this time only golden coins were their most trusted confidants.
Oscar has long seen through the hypocritical and ostentatious lifestyle of the capital nobles. Therefore, he was more than capable to hold all kinds of receptions for the difficult guests, and always appeared as the most appreciable host by putting his prestigious Imperial demeanour into perfect use. Ricky was absolutely right about getting acquainted with more nobles. Although Young Lady insisted that all of them rich noblemen were roughly the same, Oscar discovered that there were still some that were worthy of praise.
The most respectable scholar in the whole University Town was Marquis Sarife, the former astronomy professor of Imperial Academy of Sciences. The old marquis’s academic achievements focused mainly on celestial research, where he observed comets with his self-made astronomical telescope and discovered new stars that have never been seen before by the human eyes.
Of course, that was not the only reason for the old marquis to be highly regarded by others. Although his contribution to the academic research was definitely appreciated, what people value most about Professor Sarife was his respect for science and dedication to the truth.
Early in the Church Calendar’s seventh century, the Italians discovered the greatest secret of earth. It was believed that not only did the earth move on its own orbit, it also circled the sun in an elliptical orbit. However, if interpreted in accordance with the religious teachings of Light of God, the earth was the center of the universe and all the celestial bodies orbited around the earth. Religious doctrines were not to be blasphemed at all, hence the priests of Roman religious courts of that time frantically hunted down those who spread this belief of astronomical science. It was said that during that period of time, scientists and believers of that teaching were burned to death at stake in town squares from early morning to midnight. After this catastrophe, not one professor in Italia Kingdom - the most developed in astronomy in the entire Westland at that time - dared to teach this science.
It was during the Great Trials that Marquis Sarife and family left their home country Italia and fled to Titan. Although Titan’s religious forces were also greatly influential, but the Imperial power was much more prestigious in authority in comparison to that of the Pope His Grand Eminence. Not only was the House of Sarife received with respect and courteous in Dulin, the then Emperor also bestowed them noble titles and invited them to become members of the Imperial Academy of Sciences.
Without a doubt, the Emperor’s decision was strongly opposed by Holy See, but the period of dispute was already coming to an end. The vitality of science turned out to be very short. After the ferocious curtailing from the Holy See, the Knowledge of Truth movement that was previously spreading like a large mass moment suddenly vanished into thin air. The House of Sarife from Italia, who understood the essence of the Great Discovery of Astronomy, also handed their pledge to the Holy See, claiming that they have abandoned the scientific viewpoint they have always embraced. This was the only option they had for survival. However, within every family there was always one rebel who wouldn’t surrender. In their case, Palberto Sarife was the most rebellious one of this family.
Palberto inherited the elder’s noble title at a young age. At the same time, he also carried on the precious scrolls locked hidden in the ground floor of their residence. These hand scrolls recorded all the achievements made since the Great Discovery of Astronomy, and the young Sarife who yearned for the truth began researching secretly.
This secret research was soon discovered by the Holy See. The religious court was like a hound with an amazing sense of smell, it never gave up keeping watch over any potential dangerous beings such as the Sarife family.
Since the religious courts could not try nor sentence the nobles under the Titan regime, they could only endlessly trigger those fanatic religious believers to keep sabotaging the Sarife with fire or attempting assassinations. Fortunately, these tactics could not sway the strong-willed Marquis Sarife. This state of confrontation with the Holy See lasted until Church’s year 766, when Marquis Palberto Sarife finally signed his famous literature entitled The Motion of Celestial Bodies using his real last name. The beginning of the publication of this great work, which was later described as the laying foundations of modern astronomical theory, was also the beginning of all disasters.
For centuries, the ruler of Titan empire has been struggling to lessen the control of the Holy See. There was a brief period when even the dethronement of the Emperor was decided by the latter. Although the Holy See casted its sacred silhouette over the ruler of Morisette, by the seventh century many affairs and decisions of the Imperial Family were no longer under the control of Holy See.
Even so, the literature Motion of Celestial Bodies that had caused a great uproar in the secular world was nonetheless abandoned by Morisette Imperial Family who always shielded the Sarife. In the opinion of the Holy See, both Motion of Celestial Bodies and Palberto Sarife, who were regarded as heresy must be destroyed. As for the Imperial Family, the ruling class could not tolerate with the author who caused tremendous uproar in the field of intellectuals.
The Imperial Family eventually compromised with the Holy See, and Marquis Sarife was arrested. However, the punishment sentenced failed to be executed due to Titan empire’s intervention of the trial. Hence, Marquis Sarife suffered for more than 30 years of torture in prison.
”Did you not think of what would happen to yourself and your family when you first published the thesis?” Oscar said while shaking his head, ”You know, I’m not criticising you for what you have done, but…”
”Young Highness Prince!” the frail old man leaned himself against the deck chair, ”I wasn’t thinking properly, and I could only apologise to my family. But I keep to the truth, a truth that was discovered by the lives and blood of many other forefathers before us! I believed the truth will shine itself someday. Perhaps it will take a decade, or maybe ten, but imagine! The same method would be released unto these religious frauds.”
Oscar nodded after giving some thoughts on the man’s refute, ”But… but I can’t imagine how you escaped from the trial? As far as I understand the Holy See only has one brutal way of dealing with heretics.”
”Your Highness, since you’re already calling me a heretic then I don’t see the point of us continuing the conversation anymore.”
Oscar scratched at his nose awkwardly. He was never a strong believer himself. Just like many other people, he only went to church a couple of times a year and could never remember all the words to the songs of praise. To him, religion was merely a conventional behavior.
”I’m genuinely sorry for having said that. However, I’m sure you are aware of how influential the God of Light is to the men of the world…”
”I’m completely aware of that! Only a heretic could truly understand what it means to be one!” The old marquis said while pulling at his shirt to reveal a curved, dark green cross imprinted on his chest. Oscar was dumbfounded at what laid in front of his eyes!
”You’re indeed extremely…. extremely fortunate…. to have escaped from fate!” Oscar knew the significance of the indelible mark on the old man’s chest. Only those who have been proved guilty and sentenced to execution would be branded with such a pattern representing the demon. According to the belief, the God of Light would examine the mark when He receives souls eroded by the devil before delivering these poor souls into the borderland completely absent of justice, so that they could be tortured in hell forever.
”Haha, a good friend of me saved me from hell. Perhaps you’ve not heard of his name before. Duke Kachev? He’s now the acting Secretary of State, living in seclusion in Bodega province.”
Oscar seized with terror. He couldn’t imagine old Kachev lending his hands to a heretic.
”What? Old Duke Kachev is still the acting Secretary of State?”
”You know him?” It was Marquis Sarife’s turn to be shocked this time, but he had it figured out in an instant, ”Ah I’m really old now! You’re the Highness Prince, of course you are well acquainted with the Secretary of State.”
”No, it’s not that!” Oscar quickly waved his hand. He did not want to claim any connections with that peculiar guy. ”I've only seen Old Duke Kachev a few times, he would not remember a young kid like me anyway.”
”Is that so? Haha!” Old Marquis Sarife smiled slightly, ”We’ve known each other since our years in university, and he has always been like that. You would never see any other expression on his face other than a sneer.”
Oscar laughed at the old man’s joke when someone knocked on the door.
”Father, the time for His Highness Prince O’Neil lecture is up. It’s also time for you to rest!”
The old professor suddenly slapped at his own forehead, ”Look at me I’m such a dotard. Forgive me, Your Highness. I’m your astronomy tutor, but all I’ve tell you through the span of a whole lecture was only some trivial nonsense.
”No! No!” Oscar immediately shook his head in disapproval, ”Please don’t say that. At least now I’ve learned that more than half of the people in this world fool people for a living, and the other half…”
”Are murderers!” Old Duke Sarife said through gritted teeth.
”Father!” His son junior Sarife shouted. This stubborn old man shouldn’t have said such things, even if he was in his own house.
”Alright, alright! I know!” The old professor waved his hands in the air impatiently, ”Look, Your Highness, I can’t escape from being monitored even in my own house!”
Oscar could only force a smile at the old scientist’s remark.
”If you don’t mind, Your Highness, can I take a few more minutes of your time? I should at least advise you on something related to your studies.”
Oscar nodded, ”Of course, I don’t mind at all. But you, you should probably take a rest now.”
”Just a couple of minutes!” The old professor dismissed his son with the wave of a hand.
Junior Sarife shook his head helplessly and left the room.
”Your Highness, a successful military commander, though not always a good astronomer, knows more or less about the knowledge of the celestial bodies. Before we get hold of the compass invented from the East, astronomical phenomena were the only information available for reference while we were at war. Now, even with the help of a compass, astronomical knowledge remains extremely useful. So, you have to master this science systematically.”
”Alright, I’m extremely looking forward to your teaching!”
”That’s about it. I can only explain to you the practical value of this science, as to how much of its essence you can grasp depends completely on your own effort. However, I have to state in advance that this study is all dry and dull work, and you have to be very patient in this learning process!”
”Yes! Don’t you worry!” Oscar made a solemn vow, but turned his head around before he left the room, ”Are you… are you still in close contact with old Duke Kachev?”
”Of course not!” Sarife shook his head vigorously, ”Rescuing a heretic who is on the verge of being subjected to be burn at stake has already exposed my friend to unprecedented trouble. If possible, I will never be in contact with him again in order to avoid any more dissension. Do you know? The Holy See has been keeping their eyes closely on me.”
Oscar nodded but said nothing more.
”What do you think?” The old professor asked his son after the prince’s departure.
”That young Highness Prince?” junior Sarife said indifferently, ”He’s your student, not mine.”
”Then let me tell you!” Old Sarife’s face changed into an indescribable expression, ”He is an unusually sensitive young man. I thought it would at least make him less suspicious of me if I confided to him my relationship with Kachev, but now I think otherwise.”
”Maybe things are not as complicated as you said.”
”No!” The old man shook his head. Although he was a scientist, the great and powerful Holy See has taught him how to fight in battle. ”Remember! If you ever come across the young prince again, remember to be careful! Extremely careful!”
***************
”Hmm… it seems that even our Aeolia can be careless sometimes!” Oscar went looking for Countess the moment he returned home. He was told earlier that the other hidden secret agent in his household has been exposed.
Aeolia could not argue with the prince’s sarcasm, and she was indeed genuinely sorry. As an excellent secret agent herself, she should have noticed any suspicious person around her and never have allowed this to happen.
”I’m truly sorry! It was because of my negligence that put Your Highness and your men in danger. If Mirandez did not remind me about it, I wouldn’t have doubted the young girl I had asked for help.”
Oscar smiled mischievously. He liked it when Aeolia lowered herself in front of him.
”Sit down and tell me what happened.”
Aeolia did not follow the order but she poured the prince a cup of coffee and stood in front of him like every other report briefing.
”I always prohibit anyone to ever step foot into the study I work in, and I usually tidy the room myself, but to handle the massive wine rack all by myself, you know, that’s actually a very demanding task. Those exquisite white and red wines cannot be kept in the closet for too long or they would either turn bad nor evaporate quickly, so I need to frequently bring them down to the cellar and return up there with another batch of wine. I usually demand the young girl who manages the wines in the residence to join me in this task so…”
”Hence she’s the only one who has access to our secrets!” Oscar grasped the essence of the incident now.
”Exactly. After my thorough inspection on all the other secret agents in the house, she remains the most suspicious!” Aeolie revealed a rare savage expression. It seemed that this incident really taught her a good lesson.
”And then? What else did this Mirandez girl discover?” Oscar held his chin while sizing the Countess. He looked exactly like a small child.
”That girl once told me that she’s illiterate, that’s why I let my guard down and asked her to tidy up my room together. As you know, my desk is always messy, with secret notes and confidential correspondence scrambled all over the desk, however not long ago Mirandez told me she saw that young girl writing to her family…”
”Hahahaha!” Oscar interrupted the Countess who was anxious to explain herself, ”So in the end you found yourself being fooled by an underage young girl, right? My dear Colonel! Anyway, that young girl is also a smart person. It seems that smart people make silly mistakes like this! Therefore… you don’t have to overly blame yourself!”
”Um… whatever!” Aeolia was exasperated and furious. She wasn’t stupid enough to not know how to differentiate sarcasm from comfort! If she knew the prince would ridicule her like this she would have tortured the young girl during interrogation to vent her frustration! Anyway, it was too late now! The whole incident felt to her too depressing and frustrating!
”Where is that young girl now? Has she confessed?” Oscar withdrew his playfulness and put on a serious look.
Aeolia gave a snort of contempt, ”She is now locked in the cellar, and confessed after being interrogated by your ferocious looking companion. She also admitted having taken advantage of the opportunities to bring wines for your companion to obtain further confidential information! What a shrewd little whore!”
Oscar stared at Aeolia as this was the first time he heard her speaking so crudely. Perhaps this lesson really made the Countess extremely irritated.
”So, how did she get the information delivered? Did we get hold of her collusion yet?”
Aeolia nodded but shook her head again, ”Each month, the girl brings the expired or unfinished wines in the mansion out to the street to sell on credit. You know, certain people recycle this stuff, so the person who comes to the residence to buy drinks from her is believed to be her collusion. However, the person has not appeared until now. I guess the possibility of capturing him is extremely slim.”
Although it was not a perfect explanation, Oscar nodded with satisfaction.
”However, there’s one more thing.” Aeolia opened her mouth but stopped herself from continuing.
”Say it!” Oscar demanded, ”Unless there is anything wrong?”
”No!” Aya shook her head, ”It’s partly related to that friend of yours, Viscount Tove Van Sukhoi. As you might have known, he and that whore are on intimate terms…”
”Aeolia!” Oscar shouted at the Countess immediately, ”Stop behaving this way, calm down! I don’t like your way of speaking, you sounded like a nervous mad woman!”
After a long, dead silence, Aya finally lets out a heavy sigh.
”Alright, I apologise. I admit I’m a little neurotic right now! Shall we revert our attention back to Tove Van Sukhoi? I did an investigation on him without your permission, although I did not find him any unusual but I’ve discovered his ugly behaviors. I can’t figure out the reason you’re keeping him by your side.”
Oscar declined to comment but just shrugged nonchalantly, ”I still don’t find him annoying for now, and a rascal could be useful in certain occasion.”
”Anything you like, now I’m going to tell you something of more importance.”
Oscar nodded and motioned for the Countess to go on.
”Your Highness, after my investigation it seems like there is no reason for the Chief of Secret Service Department to betray his own agents, therefore I can only land on two rather far-fetched explanations.”
”I’m on all ears.”
After a brief moment of thinking she raised her head. ”First, it might be possible that he sold out this remarkable spy to you as a friendly gesture to foster a harmonious relationship. Second, he did so to give cover to another secret agent who is still hidden in the mansion.”
His face grew grave, ”I have been thinking about these possibilities too. It seems that our ideas are similar to each one. This decision would allow the other more capable agent to remain relatively safer.”
Aeolia shook her head in disapproval, ”This is why I said these two reasons are quite far-fetched. After a recent investigation, I can affirm that the secret agents in the residence are all under our control. In other words, Hoss’s other agent is non-existent. But if that’s the case, how do we interpret Count Rudolf Hoss’s action?”
Oscar did not want to be pestered around this issue anymore. Just let the secret agents do their job, all his secrets have been exposed to the Secret Service already anyway.