Chapter 168: Nineteenth Episode: Chapter 5 (1/2)
Chapter 168: Nineteenth Episode: Chapter 5
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
There was only one route to go from Dulin towards the east. From the east countryside of the Capital, the people had to pass through an unowned forest, via the highway. The first station was Fort Hanodt of the First Region of the Guards, the east gate of Dulin, but ever since the Narcissus Knights guarded the east, no enemy had attempted to attack Dulin from this direction.
Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette and his Red Tiger Cavalry unit had an easy breakfast at Fort Hanodt. Then, they went into the route towards Narcissus County. From the strategy map, this route was almost a straight line. It was built with heavy investment of the Morisette Dynasty and was mainly used to transport supply to the Narcissus frontline. Other than that, it could allow the Prince to reach the eastern land of Andrew in a short 20-day journey.
Oscar had already forgotten how long he had stayed on the horse. His small Rayshure was already a sturdy kid, but going on such a long journey had already begun to tire it out. Little Oslu tried to carry on for two days and nights without sleep and rest, even crossing the icy river when it was full of sweat. Whenever little Oslu thought of the situation, it would shudder. It still remembered a comrade in the team that was immediately paralyzed in the icy river water.
”Quickly! You meat worms! Quickly!”
Marshal O'Neil's words were limited. Not many words came out of his mouth besides that. The Red Tiger Cavalry Unit was the unit best at going on long journeys. They were already on top of their speed. Moreover, being able to go home was a happy matter, but their Marshal's dark expression truly poured cold water on them.
Oscar did not let their knights know of the truth. He simply let them journey as fast as they possibly could.
If he told these kids that their Marshal of the Narcissus Knights was in danger! That would be a different story; they would have gotten a pair of wings for themselves and be gone in a blink of an eye.
Oscar did not want to say it. Not to anybody. He had a hallucination. He thought that things must not be this way!
Sasha E. knew definitely that something must have happened at home, or with her brother! Or else, her little Oscar would not drag her out of her bed and give her a horse. The Young Lady's journey, however, would be rife with hardship. She was afraid of cold, for one, and when the horse was sprinting, the cold wind tore into her skin like needles. She was afraid for the injury slowly developing on the inner side of her thigh. The long journey had already worn out her two pairs of thigh guards, and the chaffing from the saddle on her thigh were as painful as gashes from a knife.
However, Sasha did not complain. When she saw the terrible look of her brother, she knew any sort of questioning was useless. No one could make O'Neil Andrew Morisette tell you something he did not want to talk about. On 9th day of the 1st month in Church Calendar Year 800, the Prince and his cavalry unit had to stop to rest at a small village called Blancheke, just off the highway. It was not that Oscar did not want to continue; it was his sister, whom he neglected, that had a situation.
The injury on the inner thigh of Sasha E. was already inflamed. Blood and pus glued her injured skin to her pants, and as her brother tore them open to clean the injury, she let out an explosive shriek at the blood that poured out to form a small puddle on the army bed. Her brother was shocked to see this.
Oscar remained silent. He simply apologized to his sister, and patted her on the forehead. With a high fever afflicting her, Sasha E. fell into deep slumber. She replied this heartless man, one who only knew how to take care of her when she was in pain, with a smile.
”Why didn't you tell me?” Oscar glared at his sister, anxious. Originally, he had wanted to say that he must not delay his journey.
”I thought I could pull through,” Sasha was still smiling, but what she really wanted to say was that her brother should have realized it himself, but was too adsorbed to listen and see.
”I can take care of my injury where I am. Quickly continue your journey!” Stubbornly, Sasha still wanted to be strong for her brother.
”Don't be foolish.” Oscar hugged his sister's head close to his chest, filled with the lady's breath and smell, ”I won't leave you. I won't let anything separate us anymore!”
”Really?” Sasha's eyes lit up like the stars above them. She liked hearing those words from her brother... She liked the promise he gave.
”Ola! I have never lied to you on this matter!” Oscar smiled at her.
”That is to say you have lied to me about other things?”
Oscar could only smile bitterly. He held his sister closer to stop her from overthinking.
The family letter reached Blancheke on the 12th day of 1st month. It was a cool and clear day, with only a slightly icy breeze from northeast. The faraway mountains stood alone at the edge of the plains, the horizon danced across the sky when mixed with the sunlight. It was such a day that nothing could possibly go wrong.. At least... Oscar could not foresee any bad signals.
The Marshal of Guards was washing his horse at the small pond in the village. He could see a string of smoke jumping around on the highway, far ahead. That was a messenger unit from the base in Andrew Haila's Shanvelor Palace. The captain of this messenger unit was actually a Major General of Narcissus. It was Colonel Loran Julier who welcomed them, which felt a little strange.
”What is this? Was there a funeral in the family? Colonel Loran looked in disbelief at the white Fierce Tiger Flag of Narcissus held by the messenger unit.
The Major General did not say anything. He jumped off his war horse and saluted the stunned Fourth Young Master. Then, he passed the family letter to him.
The letter was written by Figg. Oscar was not familiar with his brother's handwriting, but he could read it. He was completely stunned by the first sentence he saw.
At the middle of the letter, Figg Andrew Nedgabel wrote...
”The last time seeing father... was in his office in Shanvelor Palace. He was lying on an army bed. The white sheet was painted with blood. Father turned his head slightly to see me, and also the huge fish tank, in which he had quite a few goldfish. He opened his eyes slightly, and I saw in it the calmness before death, the trust towards his son. I did not know what to say. I had never been this panicked before.”
”Father was pierced by a dagger to the rib. He knew he had no much time left. Still, he managed his beard and maybe had a mask. I lied down close to Father, right at his puddle of blood. I do not know why. After a few minutes, I almost fell asleep. It was father's calling that woke me up. He said, ”Oscar”... ”It's about time for Oscar to return.” Then, Father left, leaving me alone...”
Oscar kept the family letter and got rid of the knights. His sister was still resting on the bed, and he held her tight, imagining how Figg had held his father. Thinking about it now, he had never had many happy memories with the man. In fact, he began to hate his father when he was young, because his mother would become unhappy whenever she saw him. It was because of this reason that Oscar began to avoid his father, but now, he hoped the God of Light could forgive his sins.
”You're crying?” Sasha touched his brother's face.
”Yes. I am crying!” Oscar said as he sobbed.
The news from Narcissus County reached the office of Imperial Secretariat on the 19th. The Palace Chief Marquis Laston Cambre then relayed the death of Marshal Andrew to all government departments, and the newspaper in the Capital published the Imperial news on the following day. Thus, Dulin city was drowned in sorrow. The people said that both Alfa III His Majesty and Duke Andrew had left the world. This was the indication that Titan's strong force was crumbling.
Alanis held the Imperial news tightly. Her feelings were complicated, because from what she saw, her father-in-law was a good man. But he was the Duke of Andrew. Moreover, his youngest son had already dealt with the main culprit for his father's death. What could she do, thinking about this? The Princess shrugged. There was again that intermittent pain in her stomach, and it was coming more often. She had no such awareness as a mother, but simply prayed for all of this to be over.
The funeral was done properly at eastern Andrew. The nobles in the Capital believed that there was still a capable second son, and a courageous youngest son in Andrew family. Dortmund Andrew Nedgabel did not hold much regret when he passed away. He was more at rest than Alfa III His Majesty.
Alfa III His Majesty also had two sons, but speaking of his two sons gave him headaches, especially the First Prince Lobble, who was the Crown Prince as well. It was enough that he played with men and beautiful teenagers, but yet he neglected his wife, even allowing her busy herself such lowly matters.
On 16th of the 1st month in Year 800, first snow arrived in Dulin City. The white snowflakes seemed to cover up all dirt in the world, but the people were getting anxious. The palace of House of Lords had begun their intense quarrel about the accusation against the wife of Crown Prince Her Highness Ashfin Kristen, by the Karl Arnorld family.
This accusation was not unfounded. The people who knew His Highness Lobble well knew that he stayed in a different room than his wife. The two bedrooms were few kilometers apart in the city! Just as the representative of Karl Arnold family had asked, if the distance between the couple was true, then where did the daughter of Her Highness Ashfin Kristen, Princess Phrenby Alfa Morisette come from?
A part of the officials thought that this accusation was a challenge to the Imperial family, a conspiracy to topple the politics in the country. Yet some others pointed that the accusation was simply stating the obvious. The matter against the Imperial Family was another part of a larger, national issue. They must at least get this clear. The remaining part of the officials who were in neither camp were in fact clearer with their opinions. They gathered openly and jointly sent a petition to the Imperial Secretariat to dismiss the Crown Prince.
The matter was, in fact, very simple. If there was no evidence to prove the birth of Princess Phrenby Alfa Morisette, then her mother and fake father would go down together with her! An Emperor must not have such dark spots in his life. The nobles of Titan would never accept such useless Emperor or such dirty Queen.
The Imperial Secretariat seemed to plan to continue to watch over the situation. After all, there was no Emperor in Titan currently. Everything was still uncertain. His Highness Prince Lobble's palace was quiet. Only those officials that determinedly supported the lineage were going about at this place, but the situation was not optimistic at all. The faces of these officials were always painted with panic, but Lobble did not seem to care that much about the accusation. He only thought that his wife was quite pitiable. Ashfin and the Princess were innocent.
In Wetberg Fort, the Crown Prince and his mother Queen Rolyn Kate had the most intense quarrel they'd ever had, especially considering Lobble had never fought back with her mother before. It was usually his mother that did the scolding and he did the listening.
This time was different. The Madame around the Queen in Westberg Forst all thought the same. They saw with their own eyes that the Crown Prince shouted at the Queen and kept throwing things in a tantrum. At last, the Prince even said, ”Why not come at me when things happen?”
Rolyn Kate was strangely quiet. She did not speak a word from the beginning. Only until her eldest son calmed down that she ordered the guards to send him off.
”What do you make of this?” Old Duke Kachev looked at the Princess of the Empire with careful glances. Maybe the old man was still a little restless. He then looked at Rudolf, who was sitting at the opposite side of the long table.
Alanis took the dish in front of her away, then wiped her mouth with perfectly elegant movements, ”Is there a need for explanation? My brother is finished! Completely ruined!”
Old Kachev nodded. He thought so too. Once the matter became clear, His Highness Prince Lobble might still have a chance to live if he gave up his rights to inherit on his own will. However, his wife would have to die with Alfa III His Majesty. The punishment against traitors and adulterers was stated clearly in the Titan law by the Imperial family. There was nothing more to discuss.
Rudolf Hoss glanced at the Cabinet Chancellor who wore a normal expression with disdain, ”Sir Duke, you are the expert. How do you think the people at Westberg Fort would move?”
Kachev smiled. He treated the mockery of the head of agents as wind by his ear.
”From what I see... the Queen would have two choices. One, she will call for the expansion of the meetings in the House of Lords and discuss about the adultery done by Her Highness Ashfin Kristen openly. Second, she will directly intervene in this matter through the Religious Court and let a representative of God of Light to judge the sins of adultery.”
”Hmm...” Alanis hummed coldly, ”There is another possibility. And that is to do both at once! The whole world is waiting to see the Imperial family to make a fool out of ourselves. My mother will not miss such a chance to humiliate Morisette. She hates everything that has to do with the Golden Lion.”
”Do you still need to wait?”” The Princess turned to Rudolf Hoss. The Head of the Secret Service then turned to the Cabinet Chancellor.
”Sir, do you think the time to fight back has come?”
Kachev stared at Rudolf. If Alanis was a cunning cat, then the Head of Secret Service was a cruel demonic beast. The first loyal hound Alfa III His Majesty passed to his younger daughter was not easy to deal with.
”Now, it's still not the time!” The Cabinet Chancellor said this at last.
Time did not wait for the people. The quarrel in the noble circle in Capital became more intense day after day. The people were sick of listening to the dark news of the Imperial family and even began to attack each other without a care. Hamilton Palace, in which Alfa III His Majesty had passed away in, was undoubtedly the best place to do so. The troublesome people in the noble circle shouted that 'they should take an eye for an eye'. Helper attacked their officer, the worker their boss. In short, the matter was becoming serious. The personal attack without careful consideration had led to four bloody duels.
The Chief of Staff of the Guards Marshal Robin Sparse announced a public letter when the dark news of the Palace and the government were increasing drastically. It was aimed at the commanders of nineteen Regions. In this public letter, Marshal Robin stated honestly the political instability in Titan and the dark news regarding the Imperial family that was able to create political crisis. He asked for the soldiers of the Guards to keep a clear head and to maintain strict discipline. They must not let the destructive people within the country and foreign opposing forces to take advantage of this situation.
Titan's Military Affairs Chancellor, Marshal Alan, emphasized that the Guards must not be involved in the political events in the Capital when he read the open letter of his old friend. Every official in each region and department must true to their duty.
At last, he said Marshal Robin's opinion was very neutral.
The head of Guards openly expressing his neutrality was undoubtedly a great help to Prince Lobble, who was struggling against the rumors. On the 21st, the House of Lords finally invited the Crown Prince to lay bare the accusation.
Lobble entered the meeting room of the House of Lords under the protection of a team of Paladins. The way the Lords looked at him was as if they were taking in the culprit that killed their father. But Lobb was not afraid. After so many things, it was about time for him to appear. About the accusation against his wife, the Crown Prince invited his palace chief to be his witness. This palace chief proved that before Princess Ashfin Kristen followed Prince O'Neil to the south, she indeed shared a bed with the Crown Prince. He even recorded the accurate time and venue. From the timeline, they could more or less predict the birth date of Princess Phrenby Alfa Morisette.
The House of Lords naturally did not believe in such explanation. They invited a witness that was as powerful in his words. Palace Chief Marquis Laston Cambre vowed before the God that he saw Alfa III His Majesty perform adultery with Princess Ashfin Kristen. Then, the venue fell into chaos.
Lobble calmly glanced at the Palace Chief under all sorts of curses and scoldings. He asked for evidence, or else he would not believe that his wife performed adultery with his father. Laston Cambre was unable to provide him with any. Alfa III His Majesty was very cautious. There would definitely not be another person around the scene when as he did what he did with his daughter-in-law.
The meeting was forced to a stop at this point. The Crown Prince was set in his opinion. He said that even if he did give up his position, he must recover the honor of his wife. Many were advising him that this was not worth it, but Lobble was too stubborn to listen. Maybe because the poor young Prince Phrenby moved him, he still thought that he should do something for Ashfin and her child. Moreover, it was not like he knew nothing of his Father's strategy. It was clear that he was a good one. His sister believed the latter was the main reason for his blind determination, but chose to stay quiet at this key moment.
Alanis obeyed the suggestion of the Cabinet Chancellor and Head of Secret Service Department. She quietly looked at the situation and even prepared to collect her brother's corpse. The strange thing was, there was no news at all from Westberg Fort, either. No one knew in what way Queen Rolyn Kate would join the matter, and even if the Queen's power was not active, the people believed that Rolyn Kate would not miss this chance. This Queen must be waiting for a special moment.
In the Church Calendar Year 800 24th day of 1st month, at the same time Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette arrived at Andrew Haila, the representative of the Pope from Holy City of Rome arrived at Dulin Scott, and along with him was a judge from the Religious Court. Rolyn Kate was finally here. This judge was one who brought the order from His Grand Eminence the Pope Radriere VI. Since this matter involved a Faran Princess of high social status, the Religious Court must judge this matter openly and justly. Everything would have a conclusion from here.
Andrew Haila's situation was completely different from Dulin. The sorrowful northern wind blanketed the whole of Narcissus County, and the scenery looked even more deserted. The huge city had been strict and majestic just as a few hundred years ago. The houses by the roadside all held the totem of Andrew, and The Military Department had even hung a huge white banner. Around mid-afternoon, only the white banner and the Fierce Tiger Narcissus Flag were flying in the air. Not a human soul could be seen on the street.
”Are the people all dead?” Oscar cursed under his breath, but his father had truly left them. This made him speechless, so he mumbled again in a low voice.
The Prince and his Red Tiger Cavalry Unit passed by the whole of Andrew Haila and the forest at the outskirts of the city. They then stopped in front of the door of Shanvelor Palace.
Figg Andrew Nedgabel and his generals, such as the Chief of Staff of the Narcissus knights, welcomed this Marshal of the Guards. The brothers held each other tightly. Figg kept saying that, ”You're back... It's good that you're back!” But his younger brother was not well at all. This young Prince threw a tantrum like a lunatic and cursed all knights present. He scolded them for not protecting his father properly.
”It's enough... All guards by father's side had committed suicide after the incident! Only this one is left!” Figg patted his younger brother's shoulder.
Oscar turned his head away. He felt uncomfortable. His father's guards were all Narcissus Knights that were hand-picked from a million others. This was a loss that was not supposed to be.
”Why is there one left?”
Figg sighed, ”He said he needed to live and report the incident to the officer investigating the assassination. He saw the culprit but was not able to stop him.”
”What do you mean?” Oscar stared at his second elder brother with gritted teeth.
”That knight could not describe the assassin's sword. It was too quick. So quick that father did not even know that he was heavily injured. He fell only after running away on the horse for a while.”
Oscar looked at Paul, who was beside him. Snowstorm turned his head away. He did not know how to look at this incident. In the end, they could only blame everything on Alfa III! This old guy was too cunning. He definitely knew of the close relationship between Oscar and Thirteen. After all, they spent such long time in the underground cellar.”
”You couldn't find the culprit?” Oscar was finally calm.
Figg shook his head, ”The investigation is still ongoing. You should have seen it when you were coming back! The whole county is under martial law now. The war at the frontline has completely stopped as well. All main forces are at the stations on roads. Countess Aeolia was still filtering the spies of the Secret Service Department at the Military Personnel Bureau. Now she is organizing the operation and interrogation, but we still have not found any clues.”
Oscar huffed outside impatiently, with the The Narcissus officials of Shanvelor Palace and Figg in tow. These officials were all gazing at the Prince with a strange look, as if he were a stranger from a foreign land.
The strategy room of the base had remained intact, but it had lost its master. The war strategists seemed to be discussing something in low murmurs in groups, and immediately retreated from the room as they saw the high-level generals entered the room, after which They closed the huge oak door behind them.
Oscar glanced at the arrangement of the strategy room. In it was an office desk, one that belonged only to his father. Behind the huge desk was a swivel chair, adorned with a made of tiger skin. It was the seat his father had sat on while he commanded the huge and numerable Narcissus Knights.
Oscar looked at his brother, who kept silent. He was the same as everyone else, only standing his ground quietly.
The young Prince touched the tiger's skin on the swivel chair. He loved the soft touch, and the cruel face of the tiger head. Without hesitation, O'Neil Andrew Morisette sat on his father's position.
”Say it! If you have anything to say, spill it! Don't keep anything from me!”
The Chief of Staff of Narcissus Knights, General Laurier Nedgabel Andrew broke the silence in the strategy room. He asked for all military officials to be seated. These officials surrounded this Marshal of Guards, but they were still staring at him. No one seemed to want to speak.
”Everyone, don't be this way! Look at me!” Oscar knocked on the table, ”I am sitting right here. You did not stop me, and I'll take it as a sign of my acceptance. You have to say something. Do you think I am deaf or blind? I do not see nor hear anything!”
General Figg looked around and simply said to his younger brother, ”Don't worry, there are only emotional barriers keeping up from accepting this..”
Oscar nodded. Just as what his father used to say. Still, Alfa III could not wait any longer. He ordered for the elimination of Duke Andrew. If Andrew was compromised, then the Prince would be the new Marshal of Narcissus; if Andrew was not, then Oscar must clean his family thoroughly. This way, the power could be safely transferred to Oscar.
”Alright! I'll say this… It is because of me that father is murdered. Does everyone want to bring justice upon me?”
”You can't say that!” The Chief of Staff said, ”Everyone knew the inside news about this incident. The act that the Emperor took only proved that he guessed wrongly! He placed you in the center of power in the Capital and pushed you to be the leader of Andrew. This is what the family wants. What Dortmund did was only self-sacrifice.”