Chapter 210: Twenty-fourth Episode: Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 210: Twenty-fourth Episode: Chapter 2

Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Speaking from a historical perspective, the city of Vielonna reached its current scale in the mid-late era of the sixth century.

Initially, when the Titan Empire's Morisette Dynasty had just completed the handover from the old to the new, Vielonna was only an ordinary small town in the south. However, after the Gaul people of the Kingdom of Faran grew stronger with each passing day, the prince of Titan, who was responsible for the defenses of the south, thoroughly changed the appearance of the small town. This member of the Imperial Household constructed the presently-called old city walls, built pillboxes and introduced a great number of local nobles to grow in Vielonna.

This kind of development lasted for four centuries. It could be said that... Vielonna having its pride today was entirely due to the Imperial Household of Morisette running this legendary metropolis the right way. However, presently... the practical actions of His Imperial Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette already proved that the eccentric tendencies of the southern nobles who gathered in the capital city of music were extremely serious.

Since the ancient times, the spirits of Vielonna had been cheerful, rich, open, and diverse! In addition to the landmark buildings and palatial streetscapes in the city, the main reason for people lingering in Vielonna was naturally music. Music was the concentrated embodiment of the city's spirit.

Music was the primary entertaining activity for the people of Vielonna. In hotels, bars, restaurants, streets, and in the corner of one's family courtyard, having artists performing with their musical instruments, and having traveling bards humming ancient ballads were the most delightful scenery in the city. Those music halls that were built on a hundred-year foundation often hosted free concerts, especially when welcoming the Holy Day of God. Every dance hall, noble opera house, and dance theatres, more often than not, would run hour-long shows lasting until midnight of the New Year.

His Imperial Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette had a natural affection toward Vielonna. When he listened to the music, he always thought of his mother's singing. He felt that all the music that was played were the melodies to his mother's ballad. Regardless of whether it was a symphony or a musical, he could always find the melody belonging to his mother in the complicated syllables.

According to the explanation by his psychiatrist… this was just an auditory hallucination produced by the Prince's mind. The music of Vielonna was not the ballad of Her Highness Princess Mica. Rather, it integrated the emotional signs of a motherly affection, warmth, peacefulness, and harmony. Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette's response to these signs was the fragmental memories from childhood. Actually… this was not any psychological problem. The psychiatrist concluded this condition as a human nature.

Anyway, Oscar soon fell in love with Vielonna and its music. He felt at home here. Whenever he and his knights appeared on the streets, the enthusiastic citizens always put down the work on their hands. The people would crowd around the hero of the nation, listening to him talk about the battle stories of the past.

Those most interested in the stories of His Highness the Prince was naturally the children. They would poke out from all sorts of places like mice and surround the young Prince of the Empire. Oscar could only send them with stories. As for the common people on the streets, their desires were very limited. For these lower class citizens, being able to take off their hats and salute His Imperial Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette was enough for them to be satisfied.

When he was young, His Highness the Prince was always followed around by shadow. Perhaps it was because they had parted from each other for too long, or that Sasha and her brother had never carefully gotten along with… the Mistress of Andrew.

Oh, that's right! Sasha was already the mistress of Andrew. This was released as a piece of public news by the Duchess of the previous generation to the outside world some time ago.

So, Sasha remained by her husband's side at all times. Instead of saying that she was studying the ways of becoming a good mistress of Andrew, one might as well say that she was practicing the method of becoming a wife. Just as that of her understanding, she had never been a good wife, or a good lover, because she had no idea just what the man who was almost within her reach wanted!

What did Oscar want? He had never brought up that strange dream to anyone. However, the 'reality' in the dream made him came to understand many things. Regardless of whether Marquis Glenn Alpré in the dream was blathering nonsense, there was at least one thing he was right about.

”The water of wisdom, filled with vitality, that gushes out from the fountain of the Creator will never dry up. It bestows those who possess a goal and a plan to have the authority to give orders to others!”– If a person had no goals and plans, then this person was destined to be bossed around by others. This was the truth. Oscar did not want to be controlled by anyone else. So… he had formulated a plan and racked his brains for the realization of this plan.

***************

On the 13th day of the 3rd month. 13, this ominous figure determined that, on this day, some unfortunate things were destined to happen. Prince O'Neil received the special investigating officer from the capital in the Serevan Palace. These mature-looking Secret Service agents were reverent as though they were meeting with an Emperor. They kept their backs bowed when they spoke to His Highness the Prince. This left Oscar at a loss for words.

The Special Task Force notified the latest findings of the Sukhoi Family's series of major corruption cases. In the face of hard evidence, Duke Sukhoi had already self-requested a transfer of his title, his feudal fiefdoms, and hereditary nobility titles. Apart from the old Duke, seventeen Sukhoi Family members, who were direct descents, were arrested, and nearly 30 extended family members had been terminated from their public office, waiting for the ”Double Rules”.

Oscar held up his chin with his hand. He listened to the report absent-mindedly. When the unsightly secret service agent brought up about the right time to arrest the mistress of Sukhoi, Madam Vijdeline, His Imperial Highness the Prince impatiently called for the guards and announced that the meeting was over. The head of the Special Task Force had no choice but to remind His Highness the Prince, saying that the people all knew that Madam Vijdeline was hiding in the Serevan Palace. Oscar ignored the stupid guy and only replied, ”Vij isn't here, if you don't believe it, then go ahead and search.”

With that... the meeting ended. The leader of the task force was not as stupid as His Imperial Highness the Prince thought him to be; at least not that stupid as to search for the fields of the Serevan Palace.

After this, the depressed young Prince had no choice but to engross himself with work as usual. He wanted to conduct an analysis on the intelligence gathered by the Southern sub-bureau in order to carry out an assessment on the covert operations on the Slovenian side. He also wanted to discuss the proposal of expanding the reserves with the representative of the Southern Army Group. Finally, he still had to go to the United Government building where there would be a detailed meeting on financial topics.

By the time all these were settled, it was already early evening. The setting sun stopped over the far end of Don River. At the furthest end, as far as the eye could reach, the fiery red sunset lit up the clouds, rivers, and silhouette of the city. The crowd returning home and the carriages that shuttled back and forth ceaselessly transformed the street into an alley. The overflowing and powerful stream of people only gradually thinned out after passing through the old city walls to the south and north of the city. Most carriages entered the noble merchant and aristocrat-inhabited areas, while the crowds were digested by the old houses and shacks.

At this time, the taverns and restaurants with lace curtains came alive. The inferior common people would enjoy their lives in the bars and brothels. They gathered around an enormous hot iron plate, drinking cheap beer and absinthe. On the huge iron plate, beef and pork ribs drenched with blood were spread out and being grilled red through and through. It only took around a dozen Ti coins to buy a large slab of meat, it was just that all the meat were not fresh, and some were even emitting the stench of corpses.

In the restaurants with good-looking shop fronts, the situation was naturally greatly different from the bars on the streets. Clothed in tuxedos with a gentleman's cane in hand, the noble Lords and their ladies (most were mistresses and courtesans) relished in the culinary delicacies of various countries in the restaurants. This was a city called ”Vielonna”. These restaurants naturally could not do without bands or artists that performed all sorts of instruments.

The nobles' dining tables would usually be in the best position to listen to the music in the restaurant. A great attention was also paid to the service and decor in this area. The wealthy merchants and upstarts of various names should say that high society was not very welcoming to them. However, the high society did not think it was good to reject the wealth of such people. So, in the secluded corners of the restaurant, the Titan Empire's very best great merchants sat. They were already in the same room as the nobles, but they still lowered their voices when they spoke, trying their best to avoid having the noble lords, who were enjoying fine food and music, cast contemptuous gazes at them. The merchants were only too familiar with those looks.

It was as if they were saying, ”behold, a group of uncultivated monkeys...”

***************

At 33rd Palace Garden Avenue, the Bruckwim Restaurant had a history of more than 100 years. It was rated a four-star restaurant by the Vielonna Food and Beverage Industry Association. It mainly served palace-style main courses of freshwater fish and authentic flavors. In Vielonna, there were not many that who dared use palace dishes as their specialty; Sir Bruckwim was the only one. He had once been the private chef of Emperor Morisette, and after quitting his job due to a misfortune, he went far away from Vielonna and opened this restaurant. However, as of now, everyone under the restaurant now was already Bruckwim's grandchildren.

As per custom, Prince O'Neil, who paid a visit to the restaurant, first greeted the owner. The owner greeted the Imperial husband with utmost respect using the palace's etiquette, he then led His Highness the Prince to the private Shalon of the restaurant. The owner of the restaurant, who had already been informed by the court, had closed the salon. There would only be one guest here tonight: O'Neil Andrew Morisette.

When His Imperial Highness the Prince had settled down on the sofa, the restaurant owner passed him a menu, but he did not introduce the menu to His Highness. Instead, he recommended a worthless meal set in accordance with the custom of receiving an honored guest. When he saw that there was not anything on his restrictions, Oscar gladly accepted the recommendation of the host owner.

The salon had quieted down and the owner of the restaurant had personally gone off to the kitchen to set up the meal. The Military Intelligence secret agents in the salon... oh no! Now those following His Highness the Prince should be the secret operation personnel under the Andrew's Military Investigation Bureau, posted in the South of the Empire. They tapped here and there and surveyed the place. It was only after a quarter of an hour did they ascertain that the soundproofing condition was not bad; there were also no eavesdropping devices.

Not long after, ”Bruckwim” brought in the pre-dinner wine and Tremella Bracken Soup and Oscar gazed at the clock above the built-in cupboard, frowning. He did not expect his guests to be late.

However, fortunately, when Oscar was complaining about this, the great oak doors of the salon were already opened. A middle-aged man, with his face covered with a beard and a wig on his head, barged in boldly. Behind this man were a few fierce-looking mercenary thugs carrying cutting tools!

***************

The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense, and the secret agents following the Prince kept their hands over the hilt of their swords. Only the King of Assassin and the Imperial assassin were indifferent to everything before them.

Oscar quickly stood up after seeing the other person. He stepped out of his seat and hugged the other warmly. After that, His Imperial Highness the Prince beckoned to his left and right, and all the secret agents and entourage of the mysterious figure retreated from the salon until the great oak doors were closed tightly.

”My apologies...” Oscar said as he pulled the other person into the seat. ”It was Lady Vijdeline who invited you, but you know, it is inconvenient for her to move about now!”

”It's understandable!” the mysterious guest took off his cloak and removed his wig. He revealed a pair of shiny eyes. ”Empress I issued the ultimate ruling on the Sukhoi Family. If it were not for you protecting Lady Vijdeline, the five-year plan of the Imperial Military Industry will have fallen through!”

Oscar shrugged, and he truly understood the reason Alanis had to target Vijdeline!

”My Lord! The Andrews and Titania are close neighbors, but I remember that... we don't visit each other much!”

The mysterious guest grinned. His gaze fell on the table, and Oscar said nothing more and merely shot a glance at the Black Devil in the corner. Shaw Curlink understood intuitively. He walked to the door and rang the golden bell. The oak doors opened again and the owner of the restaurant personally pushed in a dining cart filled with scrumptious, fine food. The attendant who followed him from behind then arranged the dishes on the dining cart onto the table.

Oscar waved his hand, and the attendant removed the pre-dinner wine and thick soup, and then set the main course for the prominent figure and the mysterious man. The main dishes were Susilo roasted foie gras, smoked oysters, mashed potatoes and leek sauce mixed with white wine. The side dishes included Lohan fishballs and mutton balls in onion red wine stew.

”Ola... I'm very satisfied!” Oscar nodded his head slightly at the owner of the restaurant. The owner burst into laughter, still abiding by the old customs. Sir Bruckwim took out the beverage list, but he did not let His Highness the Prince see it. Instead, he recommended a mixed Rochette pre-adjusted cocktail and the special champagne of Faran lemon-sweet liquor.

Sipping champagne and relishing in the fine palace food of the reputable place, Oscar could not help but gasp at the owner's attentive effort. The people of the world all knew that the Titan prince had intestines that were in a disastrous state. The chef of the restaurant chef had specifically gotten rid of the meat from the oysters that were the most difficult to be digested, while the meatballs and leek sauce were also adjusted to be soft and tasty.

”Then... as for my proposal in the letter, what do you plan to do?” Oscar scrutinized the other's face.

General of the Guards, Duke Hank Brutnort Titania returned the look of the Imperial Prince, who was a little overbearing. To be honest, he was still considering O'Neil Andrew Morisette's proposal, but…

”As head of Titania, one of the four major military houses, you know just how special a situation my family and I are in in the Empire. I must consider the capital's reaction.”

Oscar nodded and shook his head again, ”You should say that it is the three major military families!”

”Oh yes!” the middle-aged man smiled for a while. ”Hagrid is already a term of history! I believe this name will only take up a single space in Dulin University's history exam.”

Oscar rolled his eyes. He was somewhat baffled. As a previous generation of the Imperial Household, Titania was naturally in a very special position in the Empire! However, just what was special about it? If this problem was not clarified, Oscar was already aware that he would be sending the helve after the hatchet.

”I don't really understand!” the Prince of Empire felt that it was still necessary to clarify the problem.

”Your leader ancestors established the official name of Titan, then when the Moriceite family took over the imperial throne and reset the Imperial System, why would TItania accept the arrangements of the new emperor? You were once the ruler of this empire. What made your ancestors feel willing to lead a province with a miserable land, to be a Duke?”

”You don't know?” General Hank Brutnort ripped off his fake beard, his grave and stern face immediately enhanced his monotonous expression greatly.

”I don't know! There are no clear records with the Imperial Historian!”

The Duke Titania nodded, ”It should be like this!”

”Why... should it be like this? Just how is this like?” Oscar frowned.

Hank shrugged. He was as melancholic as all the middle-aged people, just that he had the additional grave and stern manner, and a dignity distinctive of the top-notch nobles.

”At that time, four hundred years ago, my ancestors lost the prestige of continuing to rule Titan. Be it the nobles or the subjects of this country, they all needed a strong, fearless, heroic character to lead Titan out of the crisis and hold off the large-scale invasion by the Persian-armored cavalry.”

The Duke of Titania paused here. He was thinking about a way to express something. After a long while, he continued to say, ”but, of course… we can only put it this way today, four hundred years later. If it were at that time, the situation in the country may be even grimmer, one couldn't say for sure.”

”You haven't directly answered my question!” Oscar persisted.

General Hank only sighed. Obviously, the question was not easy to answer, ”Because... 400 years ago, the Morisette Family's Emperor, who founded the country, was just a shrewd, valiant politician. He did not have any kinship with my ancestors, which meant that… even though he occupied the leading position due to a popular vote, he was not eligible to take over the Imperial System! He was not a legitimate successor, and the Morisette Household did not have any granted title as well. But the truth is... he was still crowned as emperor in the end. You know what we should call such an illegal and unreasonable situation?”

Oscar nodded, ”a schemed crusade to seize the throne!”

”Hehe!” Duke Titania nodded repeatedly. ”Yes, yes, a schemed crusade to seize the throne! The oriental rhetorics has always been close-fitting!”

Oscar again fell into doubt, ”But is this illegal and unreasonable?”

General Hank waved his hand, ”I'm going to address your problem! Even though... I'm not too clear about the plans of my ancestors and the current Imperial Household, the Morisette Family possesses the legal foundation of accession through inheritance, Titan, and titles, plus…”

”Plus the intermarriage with the Titania Family... just these?” Oscar looked at the previous generation of Imperial descendant with a sense of distrust.

Hank muttered to himself for a long time. In the end, he said, ”yes, just these!”

The salon fell silent. Prince O'Neil had already turned his head away. He knew that Duke Titania was bound to be concealing certain hidden stories!

Although this was enough to explain the reason why the Titanic family was spared in the successive great purge initiated by the New Emperor, it was just as Vijdeline suspected, the pact between the new and old dynasties would not be as simple as a matter of merely intermarriage and inheritance. There was probably a deeply-rooted reason, a reason why the Imperial Household of Morisette did not dare put it down into the historical records, one which caused the Titania Family to keep their lips sealed.

”Let us not talk about this!” Oscar chuckled. ”Surely you must have heard of the rumors between Lady Vijdeline and me! So I can tell you here, the rumors... are not just rumors!”

”I understand!” General Hank nodded. ”At a time like this, you will do everything to protect Lady Vijdeline.”

Oscar nodded. ”I just hope for you to know that I will unwaveringly preserve the safety of Lady Vijdeline! So… I've chosen you and your family! Because Vijdeline originally would have attempted to establish the first modernized army in the history of our country! I think there isn't anyone better-suited to be her guardian than you. ”

Without waiting for General Hank to speak, Oscar waved his hand impatiently. He continued to bring up the proposal, ”If you bring Lady Vijdeline into the protection of the Titania Family, I think… even Her Majesty Alanis I will be lenient with you. Just as you said, ”the Titania Family is in a very special situation! Moreover… the noble leader is very close to the Andrews. In the event that any incident happens, or perhaps... someone dares challenge my resolution in protecting Vijdeline, the Front, which the Narcissus Knights set up at the provincial boundaries of the noble leader, will react in the first instance. ”

General Hank Brutnort Titania suddenly raised his eyebrows. He sarcastically looked at the young man who was brimming with self-confidence up and down, ”I want to know… are you threatening me?”

Oscar shook his head, ”I'm just putting forth an initiative to an old neighbor. With this initiative as a foundation, the Titania Family can possess the most modernized army in the world, while I can also protect my intimate lover.

”If this is the case… your Narcissus Knights need not respond to anything.” General Hank finally nodded.

Oscar embraced the 'old neighbor' with great joy. The significance of him emphasizing the address of 'old neighbor' was still for it to be a threat! The Narcissus Knights deployed to the provincial borders of Great Titania could reach the feudal fiefdom of the former Imperial Family within two days. Before a threat of such a degree, Hank Brutnort did not have much room for in-depth consideration, ”So in other words... I can entrust the adult and child to you?”