Chapter 242: Twenty-sixth Episode: Chapter 6 (2/2)

”Your Majesty...” the Secretary of State stood up. He must instill some confidence in his Empress. ”Marquise Wesarcia is not wrong. If the Westland Kingdom Alliance wants to push you down the throne, they must first defeat the 800,000 Imperial Guards protecting you as well as all of Titan's young and strong reserved soldiers. If it's not enough, East Border Andrew that has completed their historic mission could deploy their Narcissus Knights into either battlefield whenever you are threatened.”

”Do you think that…it would be Faran that will take this risk...or Hoillanders that provoke such a disaster?”

Her Majesty the Empress I nodded eventually. Manuel Dynasty was terrified of the Narcissus Knights so much that the Italian hurriedly married her husband the Prince upon his arrival at Roman. The troops that let Deiss suffered was not even Narcissus Knights regular army. The previous Duke of Andrew had easily destroyed Deiss Kingdom Army's Eastern Principal Army Group using Narcissus County independent nobles armed forces. As for unfortunate Slovenia, this degenerate kingdom should be enough to make an example to the people who came from the west. To violate Andrew would only invite troubles! Any invasion against Titan would eventually encounter with the God chosen warriors who were assigned to protect this empire. If O'Neil Andrew Morisette who was known as the war maniac was also involved...

”You're right...my worries seem to not make any sense. They will not and absolutely dare not overly infringe on Titan! It's too late for me to understand this only now!”

”It's not too late!” the Cabinet Chancellor grinned slyly and laid down a proposal plan on the desk of the Empress, ”Your Majesty, take this opportunity...when Deiss is not attempting to go beyond the frontier, when Faran is standing still, when Hoilland and Weden are being indecisive, we could step down into the weaker position, promise them huge profits or tempt them with attractive conditions. As long as we give them a proper step-down, they will withdraw their troops sooner or later! The various crises that might arise due to the Second Defending War will also vanish into thin air.”

”In the meantime!” the Marquise Wesarcia took over the topic of the Cabinet Chancellor, ”Once you reach an understanding with the Westland Kingdom Alliance, we can begin to rectify the internal affairs of the empire. How much longer do you want to give free reign to the southern nobles? Wait until they establish a new capital in Vielonna?”

Alanis once again widened her eyes, ”The Southerners are planning to establish a new capital in Vielonna? Is this just some frightening rumor to cause alarms?”

”I'm not completely certain about that as there is no evidence...” this time the Head of Secret Service spoke. He used the shadow of his body to block the expectations of Her Majesty, ”I just think everyone's view on the Defending War is too optimistic! I believe when Dulin seeks help from Narcissus County, there will only be two possible reactions from Andrew. Firstly, let the Westerners fight! It's best for them if the Morisette Dynasty is destroyed! Secondly, they will agree to rescue the capital but only when the imperial family is already struggling to continue!”

”Your Majesty, guess which will be the voice of His Highness the Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette? It's best not to look at this issue without considering His Highness deep relationship with the southern nobles,” Federick Roxes Morisette said nonchalantly while flipping over the pages of the proposal submitted by the cabinet chancellor.

Alanis tried to calm herself down. She knew it was not the time for her to get swayed by her own sentiments or emotions. Her closest subordinates were being reasonable. However, it was what the Head of Secret Service said that hit home.

When Dulin and the Morisette Imperial Family were in real danger, who could guarantee the position of East Border Andrew? They could definitely hit the imperial family when they were down. The southern nobles behind the back of her husband were desperate to get rid of the imperial family's control. They were more willing to see Morisette Dynasty subverted by the invaders.

”Sue for peace...how practical is it?” Alanis seized the proposal from her nephew's hands.

Cabinet chancellor nodded in affirmation, ”Your Majesty...this is of paramount importance if we want to avoid the war! Her Majesty the Queen Roulexberg of Deiss Kingdom will be more than delighted to see Titan return the two provinces taken away from them decades ago. Weden and Hoilland will be easily satisfied with war reparations and the territory we obtained in Riel Kingdom. The biggest issue is the Farans! The Farans are very dissatisfied with Prince O'Neil's actions and is concurrently terrified by him! Narcissus Knights' Red Tiger Front is running freely in Faran Kingdom's northwest provinces. Their relationship with West Percian is also tensed due to the Slovenian war that happened previously! As for Faran…we have to provide them with enough sense of security!”

Alanis waved her hand, ”Sense of security? Who will provide me with a sense of security? Do I have to deal with Oscar like how I did to Marshal Alan? I can't do it! Moreover, it has turned out to be a stupid move.”

The Head of Secret Service rolled his eyes, ”Your Majesty! It's not fair for you to say this. If we had taken the opportunity then, there would have been earth-shattering changes inside internal Andrew. After all, Marshal Figg was focused in the East, which was so far away from the Empire and the royal family. Unlike now! We are responsible for the war waged by Prince O'Neil, cleaning up the mess he created by acting arbitrarily.”

”Shut up!” Her Majesty the First glared her eyes at Federick who liked to stretch the truth. She was upset just by the mentioning of this.

The Head of Secret Service who wanted to argue further was being pulled aside by the cabinet chancellor. Then, the old man turned to the angry young woman.

”Your Majesty, we definitely can't treat Prince O'Neil the way we did to Marshal Alan. It's not going to work! The Defending War has everyone's attention focused on the royal family. If Prince O'Neil was encountered by any mishaps during this time…considering the imperial family current unfavorable situation, I believe Andrew will rise in the strongest revolt in history! Mainly because Andrew already knows we can no longer control their massive army.”

”There is a way!” whispered Marquise Wesarcia into Her Majesty's ear, ”Do as he did to the King of Slovenia! Remove him from his posts in the capital and order him by law to retreat back to Narcissus County and never step out of Andrew Haila ever again!”

”This is just another form of house arrest!” Alanis turned her nose at her female subordinate, ”What's the difference between putting him under house arrest in Andrew Haila and freeing tigers back into the forests? All of you don't understand Oscar. He doesn't care about laws, he doesn't even care about me!”

”Isn't it better like this?” the Head of Secret Service lowered his voice, ”When the news of ceasefire between the empire and the Westerners breaks out, Prince O'Neil will return and argue with you like a madman. He will not bring his own troops because of the short notice, hence you can directly put him under house arrest and announce the orders against him upon his arrival in the capital. Then he can be escorted back to Narcissus County by the Imperial Paladins. If he does not accept it, we will consider other countermeasures by then.”

”No! No!” Alanis shook her head vigorously. Rationality told her that the decision was too dangerous. Each time she thought of her husband, the old memory of him gauging out somebody's eyes flashed across her mind.

”Only people with no eyes will think of challenging Oscar! He'll not compromise!” Her Majesty the Empress shivered at the thought.

”Yes, His Highness the Prince will not compromise!” the Head of Secret Service confirmed the statement of Her Majesty unexpectedly, ”Andrew's mistress is pregnant. His Highness the Prince has even named his unborn son! There is a rumor in Italia. They said that Prince O'Neil personally announced his Sinelli will be the future ruler of Faran!”

”Sinelli?” Alanis frowned.

”That's the name of His Highness' son!”

Her Majesty did not say anything after that. Or maybe there was nothing left for her to say. However, everyone noticed her tight fist was scrunching up the pages of the peace proposal.

”The priority right now is to hold peace talks...” the cabinet chancellor murmured as if he paid no heed to the empress' anger.

It was the 9th day of the 12th month in Church's year 801. Under the night sky of Dulin was dotted with sparse light. The streets were empty. Even those who were planning to flee had retired for the night. The bustling urban nightlife in the past was now left with patrolling soldiers. These restless men liked to pick troubles at the commoners. They claimed to be arresting spies with orders from their superiors but actually aiming to extort money from the people at their houses.

Both Westerners and the patrolmen would not stop harassing them! The citizens of Dulin were desperate to leave this unpleasant place although they had no idea this would please the local bullies and patrolmen even more.

It was said that some people in the lair specialized in robbing graves. Under the protection of the patrolmen, they made some fortune by digging up treasures that the nobles had buried underneath their official residence.

It was not easy to live in Dulin these days! The patrolmen wanted to get more money, similarly for the hooligans in the streets. The peasants must learn to behave themselves to be safe. It was said that the inferior people who came from the West were like the Deiss devils. They had not seen big cities like Dulin nor Titan women who dressed so beautifully. At least the great lords who liked picking troubles at them were not as outrageous as these wolves. The citizens would be like beasts if the Deiss devils captured all the capital's great lords and masters! They would steal the wealth piled up in their house and humiliate those snobbish noble ladies who thought they were greater than everyone else.

Although originated from the same empire, the southerners from Titan regarded the situation differently from the citizens in the capital. The information transmitted to their ears was also not the same. In Bragg, the city of the fortresses controlled by the military, a majority of the local citizens thought the invaders would soon be defeated. This was because the famous Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette finally returned to the south. He and his entourage were estimated to arrive at the army group headquarters by night. Then...

People allowed their imagination to run wild. The Farans who had stayed put in Vielonna for two months must be alarmed at the news. They would be frightened by the tens of thousands of Southern troops and flee to the west immediately with their tails tucked firmly between their legs. Next shall be the turn of the Hoillander, Leblesian, and Weden that came from the west. How could these small kingdoms that only occupied the size of a grain on the map be compared to sacred Titan? Prince O'Neil and his army could send them into the west sea by merely flicking their fingers.

As for Marshal Alan's defeat, Alan was old enough to be the grandfather of the young soldiers. It was understandable that he could not do anything about the arrogant Deiss devils! To defeat the Deiss devils was the responsibility of the young people. Who else could be a better candidate than Prince O'Neil Morisette who made those Deiss suffered miserably in Saijo Mountain?

Based on these, it seemed that victory was indeed not far away! By tomorrow!

The soldiers and citizens of Bragg Fortress could not sleep well at night. Without any planning or organization, the soldiers and citizens who turned deaf ears to the orders of superiors and martial law rushed out into the streets. On the evening of the 9th day of the 12th month, the streets of Bragg were brightly lit. Even the sky above flushed with redness.

With torches and candles in hands, soldiers and citizens gathered on both sides of the street, leaving only a stone road in the middle. The men craned their necks as they engaged in heated discussion while women tipped their toes, repeatedly shouting the name of that national hero.

The women said their Oscar had lost some weight in Italia and had become a handsome man of slender, strong build. Men argued back! They said that Prince O'Neil was destined to be the most handsome man in Titan since he was born. Otherwise, how could he win over the hearts of the beauties like Her Majesty the Empress, Narcissus Corolla, a foreign princess, and Pearl of Italia?

The soldiers said their Marshal O'Neil had launched an attack on Faran when he was still in Italia, and that the Red Tigers might soon attack Paris. By then, they could finally be able to visit the magnificent Vanier Palace. The officers argued back! They said that Prince O'Neil only ordered the Red Tigers to attack the enemy from the back. The marshal was definitely relying on the southerners to attack the capital of Faran!

The interior of the Southern Army Group Command Center was much quieter compared to the jubilant atmosphere outside the door. This fortress-like, three-tiered masonry building was not decorated with countless banners as they normally did for receiving important guests. Only the soldiers stationed outside the gate were asked to change into formal attire. According to the chief of staff of the army group, Prince O'Neil was originally from here, hence it was not necessary to mobilize the masses for his return.

Military commanders for army group units and above gathered in the spacious combat meeting room of the Southern Army. They ignored the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians gathered in the city but were whispering around a huge sand table.

The military's supreme commander, General Eugene Mir Bradley was staring blankly at the tactical map.

Their chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tantalus Piche, was smoking on the balcony. In the eyes of the officers or in the eyes of an ordinary soldier of the Southern Army, the experienced and steady General Eugene was highly respected by the soldiers but to them, he was only a senior. On the other hand, Lieutenant General Tantalus who was always coming up with new ideas was lacking something although he had led the Southern Army through a series of victories.

”Everybody, listen to this...” the chief of staff opened the door to the balcony.

”Long live Titan!” ”Long live Marshal O'Neil!”

Bragg seemed to have suddenly become a huge microphone. Uproars erupted in every corner of the city! Soldiers sang the battle song of the Imperial Guards while citizens continued to cheer passionately. These waves of noise seemed to come and go but it was moving toward the center of the city.

The officers and men in the war room rushed to the balcony. Through the opened floor-to-ceiling windows, all that entered their sight was soldiers and citizens. They were all extending their arms in one direction.

The crowd centered on one point as they moved. They continued leaning toward the center of the circle and raised their hands in that direction. They wanted to touch the heart of a saint, the armor of a hero! Men chanted slogans whereas women screamed hysterically. With many people lending their hands, the soldiers propped the grinning Marshal on their shoulders and moved forward into the sea of people just like that.

The southern military generals on the balcony laughed happily as they were infected with the delightful atmosphere, all while whispering in their hearts. There will be bread! There will be achievements! There will be moments of fame to bring glory to the ancestors! Fortunately, Prince O'Neil returned in time. Otherwise, who knew how long General Eugene was planning to put off the war!

”Attention...” the command from the door suddenly awakened the minds of the soldiers. ”The Prince of the Empire, Marshal of the Imperial Guards, and Chief of Military Intelligence Department – His Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette is here!”

Simultaneously, all the soldiers in the combat meeting room put away reveries and smiling faces. They held the sword with their left hand, their right arm pressed tightly against their uniforms, their right fists clenched and pressed down their chest…

”Salute...” O'Neil Andrew Morisette stood by the door as he swept his eyes across the room of ”statues.”

”Ola...don't be so serious!” the Prince of Empire could not help spreading his hand after casually returning the salute. ”Look at me! Those who didn't know would have thought I was being kept in a bedroom with a dozen bold girls!”

The soldiers roared with laughter. The prince's uniform was ripped apart by the enthusiasm of the soldiers and the citizens. The usually shining plait behind his back was also a mess.

The officers get a clearer view as the Marshal approached the lights. On the prince's bare chest, neck, and face were covered with lipstick marks, one above another.

”Ola…what an enriching experience...” Oscar took over the handkerchief from Tantalus as he murmured and began to rub his face. In the meantime, he walked straight and headed for the high chair which was placed in the most prominent area of the room.

The Prince of the Empire took a cigar from General Eugene and got it lighted from another man. He puffed out a cloud of smoke and looked out to the window. The cheers outside the window were still going on! Tens of thousands of officers and citizens of Bragg could not bear to tear themselves away from the square outside of the building of the command center building.

Oscar requested for his orderly, Lieutenant Colonel Kirk and yelled at the other party. ”Ask them to return home! Tell them that I'll mobilize my whole army to fight against Faran who attacked Vielonna the first thing tomorrow morning!”

Oscar called him back again just as Kirk Douglas was planning to leave and execute the order given. Perhaps the young Marshal of Imperial Guards had not had enough of the limelight, or perhaps he suddenly found the balcony of the war room to be a good venue for speech. O'Neil Andrew Morisette waved his hand at Kirk and began walking to the floor-to-ceiling window, ”I'll do it myself...”

”Please wait for a second...” the chief of staff of Southern Army Group Lieutenant Colonel Tantalus quietly grabbed His Highness's arm.

Including Oscar, all the officers threw confused glances at Madman Tantalus.

”Your Highness! Now that you have arrived, I have to announce to everyone the speculations formed by the Staff Department of the army group regarding the current situation!”

Oscar returned to his seat once more.

Tantalus tapped on the tactical map hung on the wall, ”Faran is unable to attack the Southern Front. The enemies in Western Front only keep gathering forces but are not making any move. Deiss in Northern Front had won the first battle but Bron Fortress with their high walls poses as a threat for these devils! Therefore, what will the decision makers in the capital do now?”

The war room went completely silent.

”Apart from surrender without fighting, I don't know what other good ideas would come from the capital nobles who are accustomed to a comfortable life!”

”Surrender without fighting?” O'Neil Andrew Morisette repeated through his gritted teeth. It was not because he was disgusted by the idea but he did not fully understand what it meant to ”surrender without fighting.”

”Sue for peace!” Tantalus confirmed with an affirmative nod, ”Since Anti-Titan Alliance has not been paying full effort in treating the war, the noble circles in the capital have no reason to entrust hopes on the soldiers! They are all experienced politicians--”

”No...no...” O'Neil Andrew Morisette shook his head vigorously. Although he did not want to believe it but the spirits built about winning had completely collapsed.

”Alanis will not betray the empire! She will not betray the army of the Empire! She will not betray me...”

All of the Southern military officers bowed their heads down at the Imperial Prince's piercing gaze as if trying to tell their marshal something.

”Who knows what Her Majesty the Empress will do?”