Chapter 141: Sixteenth Episode: Chapter 5 (1/2)
Chapter 141: Sixteenth Episode: Chapter 5
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
On Church Calendar Year 798, 16th day of the 6th month, Duke Dortmund Andrew Nedgabel counted the days. He had already been in the Capital for almost a year. It was time for him to return. Thinking about it carefully, this year sure was a crazy one!
On this early morning, 31 Penelope Road began their hectic and nervous preparations. The knights that guarded the Marshal packed all the luggage and documents and prepared four huge carriages for Marshal and the others.
Mam Celia was busy caring for the officials that came to bid them farewell. She was a little absent-minded because she was always thinking of whether her eldest son's body had been dealt with properly.
Duke Andrew was not in the mansion. He had rushed to Hamilton Palace in the early morning as His Majesty the Emperor prepared a short farewell party for him. According to the sayings, the famous families in the Capital's nobility circle had all attended this party, but the Duke believed that most of the representatives of these families could not be considered true and sincere friends.
The Young Lady had fallen sick! This news more or less made the people depressed. The moving of her family had finally taken its toll on Sasha E.'s body. She had a terrible cold, and a continuous fever almost made her blind. Even thinking about this was terrifying, but the Prince moved her to Swan Hill Castle. Even though the beautiful scenery and under the care of Miss Fenrar Donarte was slowly aiding her recovery, she definitely wouldn't be able to send off her family in time.
Until the afternoon, little Oscar brought his newly-wed wife and the Chief of Staff of the Guards, Marshal Robin Sparse, to the mansion. Celia greeted them with relief, but this Madame cared more about her daughter-in-law. She took Alanis to the study room and spoke privately to her. Oscar was a little confused because he saw his wife coming out with her face bright red. She did not even dare to look at him.
”What did you say to her?”
Celia smiled, ”Nothing! I just told her a method to get pregnant extremely quick!”
Oscar had his eyes wide open, ”Mother, are you saying... I do not matter in this?”
”You silly kid! How do you not matter in this?” Celia pulled the ear of the Marshal of Guards. ”Get this done quickly. Don't let me wait too long!”
Oscar massaged his ears with a bitter smile. His Vij had already given birth to a healthy baby boy. At the same time, considering the sudden excitement that had occurred with Opareal Roulexberg 9 months ago, this Deiss Princess's expected due date was also near.
”Mother, this thing can't be rushed!”
”The people in the family don't think that way!” Celia shook her head. ”Didn't you notice? You wife actually cared a lot about this. I believe the Imperial Family is the same as well. If you guys can give birth to a healthy boy, I believe many things will change.”
Oscar sighed helplessly, ”Mother, if you really want to say this, Alanis is my cousin. The probability of us giving birth to a healthy boy is not large!”
”But you have to try!”
”Haven't I been trying for some time?” Oscar said impatiently in a loud voice.
”Alright! Alright! Quiet down!” Celia finally felt embarrassed for her son. Did he have to announce this sort of things loudly?
Lunch was set up in the dining hall of the Duke's mansion. The Andrew family once again took out the exquisite dining set, but the situation now was calmer than before. Weird people had already excused themselves. There were only Andrew's members and Marshal Robin at the dining table. Celia was very passionate towards the old Marshal. She even asked openly about why the old man was single all this time. In the end, this made the Chief of Staff of the Guards very embarrassed.
When Oscar tried to finish off the huge fruits cake, his father returned. Duke Andrew stopped all of this just in time.
As a father, Dortmund advised Alanis, with heavy hearts, to control little Oscar's diet. However, Alanis simply said yes to that. She still understood her husband well. If there was anyone who dared to control his diet, this little guy would surely be furious and become unreasonable like an animal.
”Alfa III His Majesty didn't let you stay for lunch?” Oscar looked at his father, a little confused.
”No!” Dortmund suddenly smiled. ”Guess what had disturbed the Emperor's schedule. There is supposed to be a huge lunch event at the Hamilton Palace.”
”What?” Marshal Robin laid down his knives and fork. He was very curious as well. The Emperor must have encountered some huge urgent matter.
”War news just came in from the Deiss frontline!” Dortmund paused for a moment here. He was pleased to notice that the people on the dining table were all listening to him attentively.
”Two Corps that were set up by Marshal Alan at the left wing of the central army group are surrounded by the Deiss Kingdom Army!”
Oscar and Marshal Robin exchanged a glance. They actually did not say anything.
”Don't you have something to say about this?” Dortmund was a little surprised.
Figg broke the silence just at the right time, ”Do we need to? The truth is right in front of our eyes. This is not even an obstacle in the attack of Marshal Alan. He will encounter a disaster. The left-wing army group is actually surrounded by the enemy? What is our Marshal of Guards doing there?”
Marshal Robin wiped his mouth with a napkin. It seemed that he wanted to say something.
”Young man, Deiss' Minister of Supreme High Command is Marshal Stanbein! This Marshal climbed up to his position slowly from a Company Leader! He is definitely not one to be trifled with! If Alan wants to complain, he can only blame the lack of ability of the northern army group.”
”Yes!” Oscar nodded. ”We still don't know Alan's strategy, he definitely won't make a huge mistake that would allow his whole lot of people to be wiped out. It's highly probable that some problems have occurred at the northern army group.”
The seated people all nodded.
”Oh right! When did this war news arrive?” Marshal Robin suddenly turned to Duke Andrew.
”Nine days ago!”
”Ola!” Oscar clapped his hands. ”It seems that the next news will be one that says Alan's left wing is wholly eliminated.”
Chief of Staff of the Guards showed a slight smile, ”Yes, yes! After that, it will be about the battle of the main forces, but I doubt that Alan will win.”
”Hahahaha!” Dortmund suddenly laughed boldly. ”Let's leave these things for our companions of the Guards to worry about them! I am bringing my wife and children back home. Come! Let us cheer to that! For blessed livings and healthy souls!”
”Cheer!” everyone resonated Marshal Andrew's suggestion. A beautiful clinking of wine glasses rang in the dining hall.
The team left at 1 in the afternoon. The team of carriages rumbled past the Road of Kings and turned out of Victory Square. After passing through the Gate of Light, the team of carriages reached the outskirts. The motel at the outskirts waited for the whole Knights Division of the Narcissus Knights. They were responsible for guarding the Marshal and his family safely back to their home thousands of miles away.
As expected, Alfa III His Majesty did not keep his promise again. This Emperor was not there. He simply sent Palace Chief Marquis Laston Cambre to send Marshal Andrew away. It seemed that everyone was more relieved at the absence of the Emperor. If that guy came as promised, then they would have to keep up complicated formality and pretentiously entertain the Emperor.
Under the guarding of the Narcissus Knights, the team quickly continued their journey. Along the small path at the outskirts of the Capital, the parents of the Andrew family began their return journey.
The farewell words seemed brief. Oscar then asked Alanis to return to the city with Marshal Robin. He himself boarded his parents' carriage.
”Aren't you going to your Chief office?”
Little Prince shrugged at his father, ”That is Alan's Chief office! I've had enough of that place!”
Dortmund let out a hmph. He couldn't do anything with this child anymore. ”It can't be you still haven't dealt with this problem?”
Oscar spread his hands helplessly, ”Even though I have an overall grasp of Alan's people in the Military Intelligence Bureaus, I still can't trust the remaining ones. Don't forget this is Dulin. It's the world of the Military Affairs Chancellor and his old friends here.”
”Then.... How is your south-bound trip coming along?”
”Still arranging it. I don't dare to make any bold moves right now. I am just collecting useful information now. I have also contacted a few nobles in the south. Oh right! Later, I have an appointment with the Commander of Military District 5 of the Guards, General Vangol Abberning Hagrid. I must talk to him! If possible, I would like to set up my southern Bureau at Vielonna. Vielonna is the center of the politics, economy, and culture of the Five Southern Provinces. It will be more convenient doing things there.”
Dortmund nodded, but he shook his head afterward. ”Vangol is my old friend, but you should be careful when you deal with him. This guy was a gangster when he was young.”
Mam Celia at the side could not hold it in any longer. Originally, she did not want to interrupt the men's conversation.
”Don't think of Vangol that way!” the First Lady pulled on her husband's shirt. ”Child! Listen to mother, General Hagrid is a person worth trusting. He will help you without holding back! In fact, I have already talked to him about this before!”
”Why don't I know about this?” Dortmund pulled his shoulder back. He was surprised. ”When did you meet with him?”
”When you were not there!” Mam Celia took a glance at her husband impatiently. Even though her husband being jealous about this made Celia contented, Vangol and her were no longer the young people they used to be before. It was, in fact, Duke Andrew who always treated this matter like a child.
Oscar suddenly laughed. This made his parents looked at him in surprise.
”Do you know that? Your conversation just now made me think of my Mother Mica. Not long ago, when Alfa III His Majesty dismissed the House of Lords, I saw the man that Mother Mica kept remembering. Ola.... What is his name again? That Regimental Commander of the Imperial Paladins?”
Dortmund kept his mouth in a thin line. Talking about Mica made his expression even darker.
”His names is Kiener Ritz!” Oscar smiled lightly. ”My mother's perception is much worse than that of Mam Celia! Comparing to General Hagrid, Kiener is much more useless. He is more like a monk of the Religion, a penance one on top of that.”
Mam Celia frowned unhappily, ”My little Oscar, you shouldn't comment on this sort of things so lightly.”
Dortmund rolled his eyes coldly. Obviously, he did not like both of the men his son had mentioned.
”As compared to Hagrid, Kiener still has some advantages. Before I sealed Mica's marriage, he once came to me for a duel even though there were no results from that. But Vangol did not even have that courage. He simply fought with him without putting much effort into it! This guy has always been like that. He knows when to act very well.”
Celia set her gaze out of the window. She chose to be silent.
Dortmund sighed. He also felt that he should stop this.
”Alright kid! Stop this topic! Tell me about your south-bound trip. What exact plans do you have in mind?”
Oscar raised his eyebrows excitedly. It was obvious that he was full of confidence for this trip.
”I plan to start from the administration. The local political power of the Southern Five Provinces are all concentrated in the hands of those hereditary nobles, but the 791 Uprising had already chased all these nobles to the city. That is to say, the first order in the town is extremely chaotic! I think that the military order will control the situation very well. I want to set up a new government in the south that is similar to Andrew's Military Personnel Bureau, one that combines military and political power.”
”This seems like a good idea!” Duke Andrew nodded. ”But have you considered the reactions of the Imperial family and the Capital? Moreover, the southern Empire is still different from your family's lands. This complicated political situation has existed for a few hundred years. It's based on the tradition and....”
”No! Father, you don't understand this,” Oscar interrupted the Duke. ”It's because the Uprising destroyed the stagnant situation and administration in the southern lands that I have the chance of rebuilding it with a new method. I only have to care about the benefits of each level of people and used some methods. Stabilizing the south is not such a difficult thing to do.”
”What about after that?” Dortmund looked at his youngest son worriedly. ”What can you do after stabilizing the southern political situation? You will have to return to Dulin and the Imperial family will definitely send people to steal the fruits of your success. They won't let you possess the chance to truly control the southern lands. You have no way to protect your own benefits in the south!”
Oscar nodded, ”I've thought about this as well! But I think...… A large-scale war is enough to let Central Empire acknowledge my position in the south.”
”What do you mean?” Duke Andrew was a little confused!
”What I mean is what I need is a still chaotic southern Empire. Only when the south is being threatened will I be able to build a new order. Once the south has resumed its peace, then the Imperial family will retrieve my power just as you said.”
”What do you want to do? Start a war like Alan?”
Oscar shrugged. ”Who knows.... There are a lot of chances coming along!”
”Child!” Dortmund suddenly held his son's shoulder. ”I must tell you that your strategy is too dangerous! Once you make a mistake, you will bring yourself to death!”
”Father, please be rest assured! I know how to take care of myself.”
”Enough! How do you know to take care of yourself? Shooting yourself also counts as taking care of yourself?”
”What are you guys saying?” Mam Celia interrupted them in shock. She saw both men shutting their mouths tight subconsciously.
The inside of the carriage suddenly became quiet. Oscar knocked on the window of the carriage subconsciously while his father fidgeted with his own fingers. Only Celia was glancing at the men that were definitely avoiding a certain topic.
”Alright! I think I will just send you guys off here!” Oscar suddenly straightened his body.
Duke Andrew knocked on the front window of the carriage. The carriages and the team stopped almost immediately.
”After talking for so long... I seem to have forgotten to give you your blessing!” Dortmund said as he pulled back his son who was about to get off the carriage.
Oscar nodded, ”Thank you, father. I know you and the family only want me to be safe.”
”Then... Take care!”
”I will!” Oscar jumped to the ground. He pulled the carriage door for his parents whilst his parents stared at him with eyes full of adoration. This made the little Prince pause before saying anything.
”I... I will take good care of Sasha E. Don't worry about her!”
Mam Celia reached out her hands and touched her son's face tenderly. ”Then I leave Sasha, that poor girl, in your hands! Don't disappoint us!”
”I won't!” Oscar smiled as he kissed his mother goodbye.
Dortmund spread his arms open and held his son tightly after his son left his mother's side. He even kissed his son's forehead.
”Alright. Off you go then. Bring out the will of the God-chosen warrior! I believe nothing can bring my son down!”
”Yes, Marshal!” Oscar saluted the Narcissus Marshal with a strict expression, then closed the door for his parents.
Celia was waving her hands and Dortmund was smiling. They were both giving their blessings to this child who was finding his own way in the outside world.
Figg Andrew Tibotty's tall war-horse stopped beside little Oscar. The second brother of the Andrew family pulled out a weapon that was wrapped in clothes from the bag on one side of the saddle.
”Hey! I bet you can't find a good machete in Dulin. I picked a good one for you from home when I came!”
The happy Oscar quickly took the weapon. He pulled the clothes open and happily examined the high-quality machete that had an elegant design and ancient style.
”This was found under the body of a Black Belt Warrior. Do you still remember that? It's the one you and Murat dealt with in the Werksan mountain area. How is that?”
”Absolutely amazing!” Oscar held the machete in his hands carefully. He couldn't wait to try his blade on an unlucky guy. But after the excitement, the Prince frowned in doubt.
”Brother! I remember..... I remember this thing was kept by the family members!”
”Hehe! Hehehe!” Figg Andrew Tibotty laughed evilly.
”You stole it?” Oscar guessed, looking at his hated brother.
”Why are you looking at me like that? It's already yours! The family won't care about this even if they check the inventory!”
”You!” Oscar smiled helplessly. His brother was still the same as before.
”Alright! I should go now!” Figg suddenly turned his head away in a lonely way. He saw Cody who was behind the team also rushing towards them. ”Now it's just the three of us! Take good care of yourself!”
”You too! The East War will not be that smooth. You must take care as well!”
Figg nodded towards his younger brother, then turned his horse away without even turning back to see Oscar.
”Yogurt!”
Oscar turned to his third elder brother with a bitter smile. ”Cody! I'm sorry! I forgot to prepare some for you!”
”No!” Cody shook his head in a silly way. ”For you!”
Oscar looked at the small pot that his third elder brother handed to him strangely. It seemed that he had not heard of Cody sharing his favorite yogurt with anyone else. Oscar suddenly felt touched by him. His eyes were slightly puffy and red. The young Prince held his tall silly brother tightly. He kept the yogurt and waved his hands vigorously towards his family's team.
Duke Andrew pulled the carriage window open and saw his son's silhouette shrinking on the forest path before finally disappearing. Dortmund turned around, but he did not know that this was his last farewell to Oscar! He had no chance to witness the success of his youngest son.