Chapter 193: Twenty-second Episode: Chapter 3 (1/2)
Chapter 193: Twenty-second Episode: Chapter 3
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In Church Calendar Year 800, Dulin's winter was late. In the blink of an eye, it was already the end of the 11th month. However, the tall banyan trees and the grass at the side still showed shades of green.
There would always be falling leaves during late fall. Those bushes and the flowers in the garden that could not stand the cold were already in a defeated state. This fall atmosphere was even more apparent from the Capital to the forest or mountainous area surrounding it. There was wind in the forest and ripened fruits which kept falling in the forest. Rain also hit the mountain sometimes, poured from the rainclouds along with terrifying thunders.
Nature had blessed Swan Hill with a fairy-tale like scenery, especially in the fall. It was the period of time when the maple leaves were red, and the last round of camellia was all over the mountain. Walking from the road at the bottom of the mountain, the blinding light and shadow fell thinly between the branches. Some small animals strolled in the woods. When you noticed them, they disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Swan Lake was still as beautiful as ever. The people who met her would always leave behind a beautiful passage but when they met her once again, the people realized that she had changed into something else. Her changes were unclear. The people tried to find words to describe her. Some said the Swan Lake was the mirror of God of Light where its reflection was the face of God of Light. Some said Swan Lake was a jewel abandoned by the God and her emotions reflected the intention of the creator. Some even said Swan Lake was the sacred place that blew life into beings and that Mother Earth of the mythical age once bathed in this place then gave birth to the greatest God in the world.
It was simply this way with Swan Lake during the late of the 11th month. The water slowly rippled and reflected the color of the cloud and sky. The mountain around her was her dock and the castle by her side was her knights. However, some said Swan Lake Castle was more like a Princess but who cared? Standing by the lake, breathing in the scent of lake water and soil, gazing upon the smoke that rose from the castle, even Oscar who was exhausted by the troubling matters showed a smile on his face. Moreover, he came to attend the wedding of his old friend today.
The wedding was right by the lake. The servants of Swan Lake Castle built an arch-like flower structure at a small stage which connected the shore. The top of the arch structure was the statue of God of Light and a shining gold cross.
The priest stood under the structure and the couple was facing him. Judging from the situation, General Murat Bedoya had already exchanged his gift with his goddess of victory. The priest smiled and announced loudly to the attendees watching over this ceremony. The couple before him was legal husband and wife who had been blessed by God.
The attendees who came were divided into two sides for the bridegroom and the bride. On the left were the family and friends of the bride or, to be specific, the Rubeck family who had good social status in the Ministry of Agriculture. On the right side of the bridegroom, to be honest, as compared to the flooded left side, Murat's friends were close to none. Only his head of the family and the people who followed the head attended the ceremony.
However, this situation had not reduced the cheerfulness of the atmosphere of the wedding. Rubeck's family loved nature, music and arts. There were a lot of members in this family and they were the infamous optimistic bunch in the Capital. Lady Ainienne's wedding was more like a family celebration of the Rubeck family. The old and young were all throwing flowers, playing tricks with the bridegroom and messing with the ceremony like children. Meanwhile, Murat simply accompanied them anxiously. Having such enthusiastic family suddenly had made him slightly uncomfortable but for the sake of his newly-wed wife, Murat could only bear with it.
Oscar finally saw the true revel of marriage. The people from the Rubeck family were indeed a bunch of tricksters who enjoyed fun and yet brought down by fun. He saw his general was tied on a chair and a lady kept pouring him wine by using her high heels. A bunch of children was chasing each other while swinging around Murat's general sword. It seemed that only the bride was not disturbed.
Oscar sat beside Ainienne. He pointed to the castle not far away, ”Do you like it?”
Ainienne flipped the veil open. She was not sure of the meaning of the Prince, ”This is the Swan Lake Castle, the fairy tale in the city. No one won't like it.”
Oscar smiled slightly and took a shiny golden key out of his pocket, ”Glad that you like it. She is yours now! I want to give you and Murat...”
”No!” Ainienne was so surprised that she jumped. Is it possible? Or she should ask how? Giving Swan Lake Castle away as a wedding gift? To be honest, the bride doubted for one splitting moment that the brain of this Prince must be broken. If not, he must have received some stimulation at the House of Lords in the Capital.
”What is this?” Murat came rushing. He seemed to hear his wife shouting at his master.
Oscar leaned against the chair and glanced at the beautiful castle in a relaxed manner.
”Castle...his castle...”
The Red Tiger Corps Commander looked strangely at his stuttering wife, then turned to Oscar, ”What is happening? What is with the castle?”
Oscar shook the golden key in his hands, ”Giving a huge mansion as a gift. Of course, I need to prepare such a key.”
Murat glanced at the castle and understood, ”But...that is not just a mansion. It is the Swan Lake Castle. It's what your mother left--”
”No!” Oscar shook his head, ”I only understood yesterday. There is nothing that truly belongs to me in Dulin!”
Murat thought about it, then took this valuable gift from the hands of his head of the family. He stopped his wife who wanted to say something and sent depressing-looking Ainienne to join her family.
The Red Tiger Corps Commander pulled a chair and sat by the Prince. He could see that this young Marshal who was once confident was eaten away by his depressing mood.
”Just because the House of Lords rejected the suggestion of establishing a joint government of Southern Five Provinces?” Murat asked carefully.
Oscar laughed, ”You should say, it's the second time the House of Lords had rejected the suggestion of establishing a joint government of Southern Five Provinces.” The Prince took a small sip of the champagne in his wine glass. Between his furrowed eyebrows gathered countless anxiety. ”Titan Law clearly states that once the House of Lords has rejected the same suggestion for three times, this suggestion will automatically be put off for three years. That is to say, we only have one more chance.”
Murat blinked. He was only familiar with the Narcissus army rules but not at all about the Titan Law. Thinking hard about it, he had no idea how to console his troubled master. At last, he could only say, ”That way, we just have to grab this last chance.”
Oscar gave a bitter smile, ”Do you think, my wife will give me such a chance?”
Murat widened his mouth. This time, he could not utter a word.
Oscar patted his old friend's shoulder. Maybe, he was simply troubled. He did not care too much about this matter.
”Murat, you have followed me for eight years and experienced countless things with me. It can be said that you watched me as I climbed to my current position. Between all these things, did you realize something? Or understand something?”
Murat thought about it carefully and at last, he said, ”Sword and fire!”
”Sword and fire?” Oscar felt a little odd. This was not the answer he was looking for.
”Yes! Sword and fire!” Murat stared into his master's eyes with an affirmed gaze.
He could recall the first time he saw his head of the family. He was still a reckless and combat-loving child, but now... ”Think carefully about it. Just as you said, we have experienced numerous things together. Which amongst those things are not solved by a sword and blazing fire? Some things seem complicated, but if we use the simplest method to deal with it--”
”By sword and fire?” Oscar glared at him as he interrupted Murat's sentence. Before considering properly of this, he had already rejected this line of thought.
”Why not?” the Red Tiger Corps Commander showed an expression that only belonged to a soldier. He raised his chest and released a formidable aura. His only hand gripped tightly of the sword that was capable of directing thousands of soldiers.
”Since our words can't move them and our effort is in vain, we shall use sword and fire to deal with it.”
Oscar shook his head. Greatly. ”No! No! This can't work! This is Dulin! It's my wife's Dulin. It's my Empress' Dulin.”
”Yes, yes...” Murat gazed mockingly at the young Prince, ”Alanis is your wife and your Empress, but her title increases by one now. It is your stumbling block! In my opinion, you only have two choices. I believe you have already realized this. First, it is to move this rock away and let us walk away. Second, it is to allow her to block our path and we will go with the flow.”
”Alanis is my wife!” Oscar almost moaned in pain, but he had already subconsciously removed the ”my Empress” statement when he reaffirmed his thought.
”Murat! You know I won't hurt Alanis!” Maybe he realized his tone was weakening, Oscar added this statement determinedly.
Murat smiled. He admitted that he was judging his master, ”To be honest, everything that you have said is b*llsh*t. You said you won't hurt Alanis, but you have been doing things that hurt her!”
Oscar's gaze became sharp. He glared at Murat. Since he was young, he was not fond of getting analyzed by others and allow others found out his hypocritical mask.
Murat welcomed the Prince's gaze. He knew this was not the time to care about his pride.
”Am I wrong? You have been hurting her. When a woman who loves you deeply look at you kissing other woman and even having children with others, doesn't this count as hurting her? Moreover, please don't think of having four wives as something reasonable. If you think this is the blessing of the God, then you are wrong. This is only a special right in which the holy Andrew possesses. Thus, Alanis won't complain about the God. She is a woman. She will only complain about you!”
Oscar turned his head away abruptly. He wanted to pour his anger at Murat, but he remembered that this is Murat's wedding. Moreover, he could not find any words to oppose Murat's words. At last, the depressed Prince only said in a compromising tone, ”I admit it, alright? I hurt Alanis before, not only about the four wives matter. But I have sworn not to hurt her anymore. I...” Oscar suddenly felt speechless. This time, he had subconsciously omitted ”my wife” statement as well.
Murat shook his head, sighing, ”This is no use! No use! You only think so. To put it frankly, it's not that you don't want to hurt her. You just don't want to get on her bad side!”
Oscar did not speak for a long while. His lips seemed as dry as cracked skin of a tree and his heart was drowned in emotion and everything that could not be put into words poured out like a broken hourglass.
”All of these just to not get on Alanis' bad side?” Oscar thought about it continuously. He thought not wanting to anger Alanis and not hurting Alanis was the same matter. But, when it was said out loud, why was there any different feeling to it? Could it be...he truly was...scared of angering her? But this could only mean how deep his love towards her was. That was why he was afraid of the situation which might happen after he hurt her.
Oscar covered half of his face with one hand, only showing a pair of uncertain eyes. This was probably the first time he realized this. No matter when, he had loved Alanis deeply to the extent he was afraid of her gaze and feeling. But, when did such deep love began? Oscar was in doubt because he truly did not understand it.
”Marshal, head!” Murat called in a low voice. He pointed to Ainienne who was surrounded by her family and laughter. Murat Bedoya who did not even frown as he went in and out of battle had a blissful gaze. He said to the Prince, ”Do you know why I fell in love with her?”
Oscar shook his head. He did not think the love of a man towards a woman could be explained by reasoning or limited words.
”Because she made me realized what a woman truly wishes for.”
Oscar was even more confused. What a woman truly wished for? Jewelry? Mansion? Social status? Man's love? Envy of woman? Who knew?
Murat was still staring at his wife lovingly. He said to the head of the family clearly, ”What a woman...truly wishes for...is to control her own fate! She loves daringly and hates deeply! Such woman is a true woman.”
Saying it was enlightening was overrated. Oscar only barely understood the meaning of Murat's words. He did not understand women, not to mention thinking about what a woman truly wished for. His love was blind and mixed with all sorts of limitation. If this was so, Oscar was not so sure again. He felt doubtful of his feeling towards Alanis.
”Then...” Murat paused for a while. He felt that now was the time to say it, ”It's still the two choices! First, move the rock. Second, go with the flow! You are the head of the family. My master and my marshal. You must decide.”
Oscar finally removed the palm that covered his face. He touched his hair, the back of his head and that neat braid that had oil on it. The braid was done by Alanis in the morning.
”Ola...” along with a deep sigh, Oscar used a volume that he hoped no one could hear him and said, ”Gather the people...”
No matter what, Murat heard it. He stood up happily and saluted to the head of the family. Maybe his honeymoon holiday would be put off due to this, but nothing could beat getting down on a good fight in the Capital.
Oscar left Swan Hill in the afternoon and brought Torry with him. The carriage was not quick. The Prince stared blankly at the scenery outside the window. Lately, he seemed to be doing this frequently. It was noisy outside the window. It was a miniature version of the whole world. The farmers were busy working on the field. When they saw knights and a majestic Imperial carriage coming from afar, they quickly went to the side of the road and kneeled. Some gentlemen took off their hats and greeted the carriage. However, most people were busy with their own work. They pretended to see nothing.
The priest had taken off the enlistment advertisement outside of the church and changed it to a large banner that urged tax payment. The people surrounded the banner and pointed at the rules on it. However, the citizens who constantly suffered in life only subconsciously complained a bit. They did not say anything more than that.
Near the city, the flourishing aura became more apparent. Bustling men and women who were covered with wool clothing and walked with relaxed steps began to appear on the street. There were many people and carriages in the city. Carriages continued its journey on the rocky road and caused a symphony of rumbling sounds. Sometimes, a postman or knight would pass by the pedestrian while riding tall horses which carried the label of government property. If they were to scrape the vendor by the road, the scolding and cursing would follow immediately throughout the street.
The patrolling unit of the Ministry of Justice came forward along the street outside of the market. These soldiers waved a short rein respectively. Under the saddle was a huge thick stick. When they saw any troublesome person or anyone they did not like, these trouble-causing soldiers would wave the sticks and vented out their anger until the person handed a few Tis or was barely breathing.
The ones who earned for a living on the street were the poor ones. Dulin's true gentlemen all stayed at the country's public service area at the two sides of the road of the kings. There was no disturbance by the patrolling soldiers there. Nor was any street artist who kept troubling you. Only gentlemen who wore tuxedos and held the black umbrellas would roam in this area. They were just like a two-feet animal who only knew how to shake. Even though their expressions were lively, but there was a sort of numbing aura coming from their bones.
”How are you doing with the Capital's Home Base Commander?” Oscar suddenly turned to Torry.
The Lieutenant General only shrugged, ”You meant Marshal Alan's grandson?”
”Yeah...who else other than him?” Oscar hummed coldly.
Torry massaged his nose. He had a cold lately. ”How should I describe General Reynold Hewitt Preston?”
The Cannon Division Commander thought for a while, ”Just like his grandfather, he is a true soldier. Maybe not as cunning as Silverfox Alan, but smart and capable.”
”I am asking how are you doing with him.” Oscar was getting impatient.
Torry spread his hands out, ”What do you mean ”how”? It's normal! My ranking doesn't differ from him that much. He is embarrassed to order me. Moreover, I don't have much to do every day unlike him who is always busy. I can only find some fun myself.”
Oscar looked worriedly at his old friend, ”Tell me. What have you done?”
Torry smiled, ”Rest assured I am already over the age of causing trouble!” the Cannon Division Commander said as he reached into his pocket, ”Do you know what I am working on?”
Oscar looked at the Lieutenant General who pulled a drawing paper out. When Torry opened the paper, he saw that this was the two-dimensional map of Dulin City.
Torry glanced at his masterpiece proudly, ”Look at this! After around a month of observation of the actual landscape, I made it as I squeezed my brain juice. On it labeled the position of every cannon in Dulin City. Once there is chaos in the city and my cannons are at those positions, I dare to ensure that no one can reach the Palace and every important government department...”
Oscar snatched the map over, ”Torry! You are an idiot!”
The Cannon Division Commander was a little confused. He thought he did something good and made some contribution to the defense of Dulin City. Shouldn't it be so?
Oscar glanced at the masterpiece of the Cannon Division Commander. He even had his special kind of smile with cold feeling attached to it.
”If you turn the cannon around at these locations, won't Dulin City be finished?”
”How is this possible?” Torry widened his eyes. He did not understand what the Prince had meant.
Oscar threw the map back to Torry. ”Still saying you won't cause me trouble? Just remember this thing in your heart! If you stick it on the wall of your office, I believe everyone in the world will know how to attack Dulin the next day.”
”Then...what should I do? I spend a whole month...”
”Enough!” Oscar glared at the map. He noticed rather sharply that the cannons on the map were double-edged swords. Going forward might defend against the strong enemy, turning backward might destroy Dulin and this country's upper-class buildings. If Alanis was to know Torry had such a thing...
Oscar took a deep breath. He finally confirmed Murat's analysis. He was indeed afraid of Alanis, afraid of her strength that might destroy the things he wanted to protect in his heart. But...
Speaking of it, if he really wanted to maintain his relationship with Alanis, why would he order Murat to gather the people secretively? It appeared that this matter could not be stated clearly in a short amount of time.
”Accompany for a few drinks. I want to see you burn that thing to ashes,” Oscar mumbled, irritably.