Chapter 114: Thirteenth Episode: Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 114: Thirteenth Episode: Chapter 5

Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Colonel Payne Lubelly of the Guards stared at the Marshal who stood in front of the map. He had an urge to bow fully to him. As the confidential secretary of the Military Affairs Officer of the Guards, Marshal Alan, Colonel Payne was very contented and extremely proud. In the Army Division, even though there were many military officers with the rank of Colonel, only Payne alone was able to be in contact with the highest military secrets of the Empire. He was the only one who could let Major General, Lieutenant General, and even General to bow to him.

As the area of the map on the wall was too large, Marshal Alan could only stand on the moveable stairs to work on the map. The attack against the Rielese had gone for one entire month, but from the labels which Marshal Alan placed on the map, we knew that the progress of the Guards was not substantial.

”I don’t understand… Why does Steinberger like to break a house apart?” Marshal Alan turned to his confidential secretary at his back. Both of them and a few military officers that god-knows-what they were busying about with were left at the huge Guards Command Center.

”That… I think… Duke Steinberger was probably releasing his anger like Duke Andrew,” Payne answered according to his opinions. He had followed Marshal Alan for eight years and had known that the Marshal liked his subordinates to use their brains.

”Is that so?” Marshal Alan turned to the map. He pointed at a few places that were represented by the obvious red crosses on the map of Riel Kingdom, ”Four fortresses and two blockhouses at the border of Riel! They were all destroyed by the stone throwers of Duke Steinberger. His unit even burned everything that was flammable in these military buildings!”

”But… Marshal!” Colonel Payne Lubelly said carefully, ”There was nothing bad about it! At the very least, the Rielese will have no chance of recovering their defensive stance toward our country in a hundred years. They can’t rebuild those military facilities that quickly!”

”That is indeed true!” Marshal Alan finally nodded, ”This is all the trouble caused by the Rielese themselves. Giving way to invaders to attack another country at such peaceful times. I have no idea what these Rielese are thinking!”

Alan suddenly turned over to the corner that was still busy in the Combat Command Center.

”Still can’t find the reason Riel gave way to Deiss?”

Almost immediately, a Major General at the corner quickly checked on the documents all over the desk. Soon, he found what he needed.

”Report, Marshal. The Military Intelligence Bureau based in Riel received news today. The leader of Riel military politics had a secret meeting with the representative of Deiss’ Commander Board at the beginning of the year. The time and member of the meeting are unclear, but the information states that this series of meetings actually allows both Riel and Deiss to reach an agreement. The content of the agreement is still under investigation.”

Marshal Alan retrieved his gaze from the place of the Military Intelligence Bureau in satisfaction.

”It seemed that Rielese must receive some actual benefit! But... General Bencil Donnis of the Twelfth Region had already complained to me. Nothing could stop the determination of the people of Steinberger from breaking the house apart. The Guards could not keep up with them at all.”

”Yes, Marshal!” Colonel Payne took a document out of his hardwood file, ”The latest war news states this: the attack unit of the West Region already surpassed the Steinberger Family armed forces by more than 60 kilometers. The Steinberger is indeed busy breaking houses apart, and… Duke Steinberger did not care about the urges of the Army Division.”

Alan turned his head away, ”Why is he as stubborn as Dortmund? One is enough! Now it’s both of them! I can’t stand these local officers. They seem to be used to the free days. Payne…”

”Yes, Marshal!” The confidential secretary came forward.

Alan thought about it. He thought that… Such things should be worried by the Emperor himself.

”Place this complaint letter by General Bencil Donnis of the Commander of Twelfth Region into the report that will be presented to the Emperor.”

”Yes, Marshal!”

”Should we go?”

”Yes, Marshal!” Payne nodded, ”There is still an hour more from the time you promised His Majesty the Emperor.”

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”Yes! An hour!” The Paladin that guarded the door nodded his head strictly, ”Prince O’Neil Andrew Morisette, your free time after six in the evening only lasts for an hour long.”

Oscar nodded with a bitter smile. His messenger and he helped each other and walked out of the gate of the castle and toward the mountain a small distance away.

There was still a dim red light at the skyline of the West. The sun was emitting its last radiance in the summer days. The grape plants far away emitted a fruity aroma. The farmers were still busy far away. These kind and sincere people greeted each other passionately in their mother tongue. Along with the wind blowing from the river, the singing voice of a young girl came faintly. Not long after, the red light at the sky finally disappeared. Many lights of the fishers were lighted up at the Laufenkamen River below the mountain.

As they walked up the hill, Ellington Steinberger was already out of breath. Oscar stopped. He put his new ‘cellmate’ on the ground.

”Your Highness! I remember that… You had the worst injury amongst the four of us!” Ellington looked at the lively little Oscar with doubt. This was too difficult to understand. His injury was still throbbing in pain but the Prince had already begun his morning exercises.

Oscar looked at the river from a distance away and showed a secretive smile. Laufenkamen River was so tender and quiet. The Prince imagined that he could touch the skin of the river. It was just like the breast of a cute girl.

”Ellington, when we get back to our country, let me bring you to a hot spring. You will love the taste of it!”

Ellington became even more confused. ”Hot spring? I heard that… It can indeed make a body stronger, but can that change the nature of a person? Even the Deiss Paladin that guarded us said that you are a monster!”

Oscar looked around. Around his messenger and him, it was all Paladin that surrounded them near and far. To demonstrate the true definition of free activity, they kept a distance with the honored prisoners. However, these brave Deiss knights wore armors and had iron swords around their waist. They even carried longbows on their backs! It could be seen that they did not care about the distance between the prisoners and them. They were more like a hunting team that was about to move out.

”I wanted to test my ability on them!” Oscar said excitedly. ”Yesterday when I was doing my morning exercise, I saw their head of knights. We already changed to wooden swords, but Opareal suddenly appeared stopped us strictly! Damn it! This Princess of Deiss is just like a witch. She can always find me in time.”

”Are you talking about me?” A beautiful women’s voice rang suddenly not far away.

”See! Am I right?” Oscar shrugged towards Ellington in despair.

The Paladin made an opening amongst the dense guards or the surveillance formation. Princess Opareal Roulexberg led a few noble Ladies into the quiet hill. The carefree girls let out a cheerful laughter. They took each other’s arms and held their dresses, their cheerful yet graceful steps made them as if they were dancing ballet.

Facing the two prisoners of Titan, the girls stopped their noise. They cast curious glances at the warriors of Titan and exchanged their opinions in small voices by using quick Deiss language.

”That Prince is so young!”

”I like his knight more. That young Colonel has depressed eyes!”

”No! I like the Prince. Oh god! He attained victory even when he faced countless Kingdom warriors!”

”Alright!’ Opareal stopped her companion just in time. These birdlike girls had never been to the battlefield. They were still at the age to indulge in knight’s novel and romance novel. Their sparrow-like hearts were not fitted to judge upon these two lions.

Oscar greeted Opareal and the ladies in the perfect courteous greetings. He knew that every Princess in the world was the same. They were always surrounded by children of the highest nobility.

”Did I disturb you?” Opareal let her dress down after she returned the greetings.

”Yes!” Oscar confirmed this without thinking.

”Hey!” Opareal made an angry face. ”I haven’t even complained about you calling me a witch and you bit me first. This is not the action of a gentleman!”

”Your Highness!” Oscar came forward. The Paladin that was responsible to keep watch over him came forward too. This guy came too close to the Princess.

”I was just complaining to my messenger that the life at Lombardy Castle is too boring! There is no fun, no balls, and no music! As a result? When I said this, you and the ladies came.”

Opareal suddenly blushed under the gaze of the Prince. She stood there, not knowing what to say!

”Alright! I know it!” A lady came close to the Princess. ”So… The person who likes the Prince most amongst us is actually…”

”Shut your mouth!” Opareal hit the arm of her companion and took a glance at the Prince who had already spent three months with her. ”Oh… Luckily he doesn’t understand Deiss language!”

A fishing boat came towards the riverbank. The few Paladins who were in the outer area of the Guard circle immediately rushed towards that place. After a series of quick talk, a knight waved his hands at the Guard base on the hill. The knights near to the left of the Prince relaxed that hands that held the sword and knives. They were a little too nervous.

”Alright! Girls! Tonight’s job is here!” Opareal completely relaxed. She finally found an excuse to rid of the awkwardness.

”Do you want to come along?” Changing to Titan language, Opareal asked the Prince.

”You have to ask him!” Oscar pointed to the head of knights on the hill.

After standing still, the head of knights did a military greeting to the honorable Princess of the Kingdom, ”Your Highness!” This words of the person in charge of the guard duty were a little rushed.

”Sir Marquis Harriens Van Rousted said that Prince O’Neil was not allowed to get near to 50 meters of the riverbank.”

Opareal did not say anything. She simply looked at the head of knights quietly.

Facing the gaze of the Princess, the head of knights finally realized the problem. Was the order of Sir Marquis Harriens Van Rousted more important than that of the future Queen?

”Your Highness! You… Please wait for a moment! I… Let me get the arrangement done!” The head of knights led the Paladin that he brought from the castles and rushed down the hill.

”Alright! Let’s go!” Opareal let out a cheer.

Oscar helped Ellington up again and made a ‘you first’ hand sign to the Princess.

Getting close to the riverbank, they could finally hear the sound of the river. Laufenkamen River played a beautiful melody, complementing this land and sustaining the hardworking people. There was a fisher boat of five-meter long by the riverbank. The Paladin lighted the fire torch to shine on the river. The shadows of the fisher boat were shone. This was a two-sail sampan boat of the Deiss. When it faced strong wing, it would travel much faster on water. It would be best not to get confused by its light boat body and the narrow cabin.

”Salute to Her Royal Highness Princess!” The owner of the fisher boat kneeled lowly by the riverbank. This was an old man. He had served many years for the royal family members who lived on the mountain.

”Alright! Let us see the results for today!” Opareal was the first one to walk on the fisher boat via the plank wood connection. However, before she stood properly on the bat, she was shocked by a tall and skinny man who suddenly ran out from the cabin.

At the surprised shout of the lady, Oscar ran towards the direction and caught the Princess who fell from the boat in a swift.

Deiss Knight withdrew their weapon. They rushed forward in a craze and the noble ladies bulged their eyes excitedly. A low-life that was dismembered was enough for them to discuss it for weeks!

”Wait! Wait!” The owner of the fisher boat ran towards the fisher boat first. She pressed the tall thin man who seemed as if he did not understand what had happened on the floor.

Numerous weapons pressed on the poor guy’s back. Deiss knights looked at their Princess. They were waiting for the Princess’ judgment upon this guy who ought to die a thousand times.

Being hold so dearly in one’s embrace. It was Opareal first time experiencing this! Even though the process was quick, she was able to identify care from the man’s eyes. Placing her down carefully on the riverbank by the man, Opareal felt that her heart was thumping violently and uncontrollably. Her breath was so intense and she did not know what to do. She could not even hear what the Knights were shouting in front of her. The man’s chest was so warm. His arm so strong. And his smell! Opareal realized that the man’s body had the smell of smoke and medicine. Maybe a little sweat, but she could not differentiate that. These smell made her dizzy.

”Your Highness! Your Highness! Are you alright?” The head of knights was almost driven toward madness!

”Yes… Yes, I am alright!” Opareal finally came to her senses. She did not dare to look at the Titan Prince who stood beside her. Instead, she gazed upon the tall thin man who surprised her for no reasons. He was looking all over the place in fear with bewildered eyes.

”Your Highness! He is just an idiot. A helper! I took him in just recently! You know it’s about the season for the fishing to get busy!” The owner explained in a loud voice. This smart old man did not care about the life of the helper actually. He only thought that it was good enough not to cause trouble to himself.

Opareal waved her hands. The Knights quickly took away the weapons that were placed on the idiot’s body. This idiot stood up nonchalantly as if nothing had happened. He pulled a huge basket and threw it towards the river bank.

Opareal went forward. She looked at the basket of seafood and this idiot who looked dazed.

”What is your name?”

”Er… Ugh… Er…” Facing the Princess’ question, the idiot simply let out a few meaningless sounds. He even used his hands and legs to show something to her.

”Your Highness! He is mute!” The old owner came towards them helplessly. He pulled the mute’s ear and pulled him towards the direction of the cabin. Then, he kicked this trouble-causing guy into the cabin. The whimpering of the mute could be heard from within the cabin.

”Your Highness! Please forgive… Please forgive us… Please forgive us...” The old owner faced the noble Royal Family Member once again. He did not even know how to explain this incident. He simply held his hat and bowed relentlessly.

”It’s alright!” Opareal waved her hands. ”Everyone, come and have a look!”

The ladies at the side finally came forward. Even though they missed a good show, they did not mind at all! Surrounding the baskets full of seafood, these girls of noble upbringing that were honored and possessed ancient surnames actually evaluated the seafood as natural as they were buying vegetables from the market.

This scene more or less surprised Oscar! He even saw the ladies turning the fish and prawns that had a fishy smell back and forth without cringing. This… Could it be that even the noble lady of Deiss have to do this sort of thing?

”Tradition!” Opareal stood by the Prince’s side. She could sense the confusion in Oscar. ”If it was a Titan lady, she will stay away from the kitchen, agriculture products and all kinds of hard work! However, in my country, hard work is a virtue, especially for the ladies! When war broke out, everything related to their family territory and family will be borne by them because the men are all enlisted! So, the women have to arrange food for the family and manage the few labor forces to cultivate the land. You see! There’s a lot to learn for a Deiss lady. They need to know how to identify seafood, how to manage the wine factory, how to work around in the kitchen and know how to cultivate the fields.”

”Even for me! The Princess of the Kingdom… is no exception!” Opareal said as she caught a lively fish from the basket. ”Here, for you!”

Oscar took it, flustered, but the stickiness of the fish fin made this Prince, who had never done this before, jump like a clown. The poor fish then squirmed stubbornly in the hands of this fool-like young man.

Looking at the troubled Prince, the Paladin around him let out a sincere laugh. Towards this Titan warrior, they had an indescribable feeling. As a warrior, this Prince was braver and more excellent than anyone else! He was a hero! As for the Deiss, especially Deiss soldiers, they were more respectful than hateful towards the hero.

The troubled Oscar threw this fish into the sky. He took this chance when that head of knights that was closest to him had already set his eyes to midair.

The Prince turned around in a swift and withdrew the sword. As the head of Paladin, that officer was not slow in reaction. He saw the silhouette flickered in front of him and he placed his hands on his sword. However, this head of knight suddenly realized that his long sword was already in others’ hands!

The shine of the sword turned in high speed under the light of the torch. The brimming dots turned into a dancing fire. When everything returned to tranquility, Oscar released a satisfied sigh as he looked at the fish that was pierced by the knight's sword.

The ladies clapped for him while the Princess was staring at him with eyes that seemed to ripple with water of awe. Only the disturbed Paladins pulled out their weapon and gathered together slowly as if they were facing an enemy.

”Isn’t this better?” Oscar brought the sword close to him. That fish on the blade had already stopped moving. Following that, Oscar threw the long sword back to the dazed head of knights.

”Keep it properly for me! Er… Braised is fine!”

The head of knights angrily clutched at his weapon, but he dared not to touch the fish on the sword. After all, this was a gift given by the Kingdom’s Princess!

”Alright, Your Highness! Your action caused the early termination of your free activity time. Please go back!”

Oscar smiled lightly. He took Ellington Steinberger by his neck and whispered into the messenger’s ears.

”Did you smell that? That boat, those fish and even in the air has the smell of Snowstorm!”

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Smellll!

Engerbury Roulexberg knew that he looked just like the wolfdog which was produced in the Kingdom, but he did not care. No one could stand the smell of corpses that had been strongly exposed to sunlight on him. Other than the stinking smell of perfume, that sort of fishy smell didn't seem to be present. His Majesty the Ninth of Deiss raised his head in satisfaction. He glanced at the two officers in front of him. He truly did not want to think why these two guys had their eyebrows knitted so intensely.

”Tell me…” The King breathed heavily. He got over another month. Other than the gradual rotting of his body, he did not discover anything new. ”My... My energy is limited!”

”Your Majesty! The Narcissus Knights had completely defeated all mobile forces at the east border,” The Palace Chief Einsenstein said in a deep voice, ”Except for a few fortresses that had the Royal flag hanging on them, the land in the most eastern province of the Kingdom is no longer under our control! It seems that we must fight back towards the invasion of the Narcissus Knights!”

”Fight back?” The Deiss King was happy humming, ”With what? The Teutonic Knights? The soldiers have not been fully replaced, haven't they?”