Little Godot’s height was about two and a half meters, coupled with his explosive muscles, it wasn’t hard to imagine how difficult it was to raise a strongman. For the sake of letting his little brother have more food, Domingo didn’t hesitate to delay his own release from prison.
Now that little Godot was free, he lived happily ever after beside His Imperial Highness Prince, along with his friend, big guy Ferry.
The first time the two giants met in the mansion, they were both startled by each other’s size. However, since it was dinner time, the expected battle between the big men did not happen. Instead, on the dinner table, little Godot won over Ferry’s friendship. It was nothing, Ferry only felt the way Godot attacked the bread looked identical to when he was first given shelter by the Marshal.
And so, Oscar had a new tag-along whenever he’s venturing out, little Godot. Godot was young, but his face was scary. He was currently the newest, hottest person in the mansion, even the kitchen ladies would bring him along during their market trips, it’s so much easier to bargain with him around.
***************
Early morning, our Imperial Highness Prince Oscar stared blankly at the glowing ball we call sun. The lad knew how lazy he was, as calling 11 o’clock in the morning ‘early morning’ is intolerable to most people.
Near noon, His Imperial Highness finally came to. To him, the immediate moment after waking up was the most intolerable moment. Hollowness and boredness filled his mind, so when Young Lady Andrew barged into her brother’s room, the only thing she saw was her usually-brilliant brother leaning against the bed like a mentally retarded person.
Young Lady coaxed her brother to dress up and get ready, when His Imperial Highness appeared in the dining hall, fresh-faced and spirited, she finally believed what her mother told her, "All men are like boys, to win a man is basically the same as coaxing a child."
Lady Sasha E. Nedgabel Andrew wasn’t sure what her brother did recently, but according to the rumors, her brother had been blacklisted by a lot of the nobles. Sasha had no idea what ruckus he caused, the nobles in the city seemed to change their attitude with a blink of an eye.
Baron Erbe had already ordered the servants to set up the dining hall. There were lamb chops roasted to the perfect golden-brown, strawberry sponge cake, crepes, fried grouse, and daffodil-flavored pickles.
While waiting for the servants to set the table, Baron Erbe mentioned something to his masters.
Major General Reynold Hewitt Preston had planned to visit Andrew in this fine morning. However, he had mistaken the time for the meeting. When Baron Erbe, the butler of House Andrew, led him into an empty living room, the major general had known his trip today wouldn’t be smooth-sailing as he thought.
Sure enough, the major general was told, His Imperial Highness Prince locked his door habitually when he sleeps, no one would be able to wake him up; Lady Duchess Andrew was setting her hair, not even His Majesty’s arrival would hurry her up; Young Lady… Young Lady didn’t even come home for the night, Her Majesty the Queen and Her Imperial Highnesses Princesses had invited her to stay the night at the Westberg Fort.
The young major general went home fruitless.
Oscar listened without much expression. He wasn’t too fond of the young major general. Maybe the grandson of ‘Silver Fox’ would be as cunning as the man himself, but the young major general had never seen a real war, so any comment toward him would not be an accurate assessment.
Lady Celia asked for the plates to be cleared. Lunch was a little greasy for her taste, she reckoned she should only have cheese and some fruit daily if she wanted to keep her hourglass figure.
"Son, you should pay them a return visit, this is a custom." Lady Celia suggested.
"No Momma, believe me, the old fox needs something from us, so I think the best move for us is to show some superiority. Besides, at the cocktail party, the old fox asked me about Sasha in detail. Hmph! He even had that ‘I’m looking for a granddaughter-in-law’ face."
Sasha’s eyes were bulging. She didn’t know such an exchange happened in the party. "Brother Oscar, what did you tell the old Marshal?"
Oscar brushed his sister’s nose, "Language, little Sasha, you should be calling him old fox."
"Oscar!" Lady Celia stopped her son’s degrading comment.
"Fine, fine! I told him straight up if his grandson was thinking of courting my sister, then tell that little scamp, he can, next lifetime!"
Sasha cheered in joy and kissed Oscar on the face. "Oh brother, I have to admit, your answer is perfect!"
Oscar hugged his sister in his arms, he was laughing merrily, recalling the expression on the old fox after he heard those words, it was like he swallowed a fly.
Lady Celia shook her head in agony, she didn’t know where in her education of the children had gone wrong, these two had started to flirt in public!
"What next? Child, what do you want to do next? Are you just going to dance through life just like that?" Lady Celia raised her voice, silencing the children.
"What does father have in store for me?" Oscar was serious for once.
"Oh? How do you know your father had something planned?" Lady Celia was a little perplexed.
"Momma Celia, I wasn’t so naive to think I can do anything I want after becoming a Prince. At least now, father can discipline me, aren’t the things that had happened in his expectation? So tell me what he had planned for me to do."
"Go home! Go home before you mess up like you did ten years ago."
Oscar didn’t think the suggestion was too sudden, he also thought about the question. As of now, Dulin didn’t have anything for him to be sentimental with, not even Her Highness Princess Alanis.
The Prince was still aware of the current state of the capital city. The arrest of the Secretary of State was definitely a political earthquake, however, the quake was dampened by his coronation. With that said, it didn’t mean the quake wouldn’t bring disastrous aftermath. The Prince believed once the Ministry of Justice submitted their investigation of the Secretary of State, punishments and exodus will rain down on the nobles in the capital.
That was why Oscar was so relaxed. Don’t forget, the challenges for duel with the Prince had mostly gone without any news, not because the youngsters in the capital forgot about their unadulterated loathing for the Prince, but because none of the families want to give themselves a reason to be exterminated.
Oscar didn’t know how the Emperor would handle the treason of the Secretary of State, but he believed the old Kachev would have predicted how it will go, and once the old guy assumed control of the State Council, he will become the main force to head the exodus. After all, only after completely purging the Brickfield’s influence can he have the State Council completely under his control.
The teenager sat in his carriage, bored. He just returned from the Westberg Fort, dealing with the direct line of Royalty was not fun at all, it was as if they came from the exact same mold. Their speeches and their behaviors, even their postures look completely identical.
Oscar couldn’t help but feel defeated, going home seem like it’s the best decision right now. Perhaps only the narcissus flowers can reignite his passion. Dulin, what a city filled with hypocrisy, it’s not a place for hot-blooded teens.
Oscar stretched his head outside his carriage, seeing the other one following him from a distance. Looks like the secret agents from the Secret Service. Since the marketplace incident, he kept seeing these guys trying to hide in plain sight.
"Wozakad, let’s go home. Do you still remember the smell of plains and desert? We should head back." The teen ordered his driver.
"Isn’t that His Imperial Highness Prince O’Neil’s carriage?" A beautiful noblewoman let down the chiffon on the window.
"Is it? He may have just visited the Westberg Fort. Tell me, what do you think of him?" The man loosened his arm around the noblewoman.
"Hoho, he’s a pretty interesting little guy, I heard he kept laying his hands on some strange things, some of the ladies even considered accusing him at the Ministry of Justice."
"Oh? Is that so? How come? Are they related to the strange things?"
The Lady pretended to stare at the man at her side in shock, "Aren’t all things happening in the city of Dulin under your control? Have you not heard about the Prince’s parties, some lads and ladies had fallen because of that? Even you were pretty excited about those strange things. It’s those things you like to torture me with, Your Majesty."
Seeing the eyes on Erdogan that could make people lose their souls, Alfa III’s passion was set alight. However, the Lady didn’t plan to cooperate with the Emperor, she slapped at the hand trying to reach into her dress.
"Your Majesty, if you wish to meet my father without a shirt on, you can continue." Erdogan leaned against the seat, her posture alluring.
***************
"What’s the matter?" Snowstorm felt the little boy’s uneasiness.
"Nothing, I just felt weird about the carriage at the fork." Oscar stated.
"Oh? I didn’t notice anything." Snowstorm glanced outside.
"I’m sure if someone wanted me dead, you would be the first one to notice, but I’m talking about something else, that carriage, the decoration and the driver, everything was weird about it."
"Haha, you are too sensitive. With your current position, I believe no one would dare to cross you."
"No, Paul. In Dulin, you will never find out who is having a bone to pick with you, if you don’t have your own influence and your own men, you’re no different with the blind and the deaf. Just like me now, aside from a title of a Prince, what else do I have?"
"You’re just being self-conscious."
"No, I’m self-aware. Why else would I run home?" Oscar smiled wryly. ‘Self-conscious’? He’s not in that league. No matter it’s the Emperor, old Kachev, or ‘Silver Fox’ Alan, or even ‘Sea Creature’ Godzilla, he wouldn’t be able to take on these guys.
"Oh? Forgive my ignorance, I understand that the reason you go home was to evade troubles, but you haven’t been making troubles, have you?" Snowstorm didn’t understand politics, so his questions were somewhat naive.
"Yes, I haven’t been making troubles, but my appearance in Dulin was already a trouble." More than ever, Oscar was clear about his position. The upper class in the capital had never welcomed a provincial magnate like House Andrew, they think the military is the source of all disasters.
The young Prince’s viewpoint was extremely biased. As the the Titan Empire’s pillar of strength, House of Andrew was already a deeply rooted influence in the minds of the people. On the other hand, their discrimination toward House Andrew was also circulated from the Morisette Empire for centuries. The capital nobles who had lived in this system of centralization of authority, there was no need for them to approach House Andrew, forming this confusing situation of acknowledging of influence, but rejection of the military power that they wield.
The reason of being wary toward the Andrew’s? It was all laid out in front of them, they don’t have the military power that can rival House Andrew, who had fought the Persians and came out evenly matched. Because of that, the people who had gotten used to the peacefulness in the city feared the powers outside of their control instinctively. It was the reason a direct member of House Andrew would find it difficult to gain following in the capital city.
"But… aren’t you a royalty? I don’t understand what could possibly be difficult for a member of the Royals." Snowstorm was still confused.
"Yes, I am of royalty, but I’m afraid only His Majesty thought so. Do you know something? His Majesty Emperor Alfa III and Her Imperial Highness Princess Alanis aside, to say the rest of the royals treated me with indifference was a really nice way of putting it."
"Oh, we should leave then. Do you realize? Neither of us were the type to be able to live in a big city."
"Yes, a wonderful journey shall begin. You’ll like my hometown, I promise." Oscar’s mood was elated at the mention of his hometown. That’s of course, people will always reminisce the good things about ‘hometowns’.
Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand’s mansion was still in a state of desuetude. It seemed to fit the old Duke as well, but Alfa III wouldn’t underestimate the old Duke. He knew more than anyone else what terrifying things the old Duke could do, at the same time, he’s more afraid of the old Duke than anyone else would, if it wasn’t for lack of qualified candidate, he would never have reappointed old Kachev as the Secretary of State.
Old Kachev had a serious case of rheumatism and spinal neuralgia, the excruciating pain that came with those were a good way to test a person’s will, at least the old man who experienced it at least once a day thought so.
The old man was fully prepared for Emperor Alfa III’s visit. A pot of the Eastern tea, and chessboard, and that’d be enough.
Alfa III was still not over his excitement when he saw the old man. Even though this old man was filled with danger, his contribution to the success of the Titan Empire could not be erased.
Hugs, kisses, the Emperor’s greeting toward the old man was one toward another King.
"Teacher, nice to see you after all this time."
"Your Majesty, I’m glad you’re in good health and mood. I’ve completed your father’s order, look at you, what a great ruler!"
Even though Alfa III was grinning from ear to ear, his heart was in dilemma. As the moment happened, he started being suspicious again. Was it really a coincidence that the Secretary of State had fallen as Duke Kachev appeared? Of course, this is not the time to talk about the issue, especially not in front of this cunning old man. Some other things then! His Imperial mistress, Erdogan, is she spying on him?
The Emperor didn’t want to probe the issue any further, his wariness of the old Duke wasn’t formed in a day or two. He believed the nobilities in the capital city was still in his control. As long as the military, the judiciary system, and the secret service was still under his control, there wouldn’t be anyone in this world who could threaten his Imperialty.
Both of them sat, Erdogan prepared some tea for her father and her lover before leaving the hall. Alfa III observed as the Lady left, she who pleased him for a few times. As the door closed, the Emperor of Titan Empire, Osli Alfa Morisette calmed himself down. After so many years, the Emperor today may still stand a chance against old Kachev.
***************
The Prince’s carriage entered the gates of 31 Penelope Street, the knights greeting him as they passed. Three servants came out and unloaded the carriage. They would be carrying the carriage into the store room as Wokazad herded the Raytheon stallions into the stable.
The first person Oscar saw after alighting was Baron Erbe, the Liar Extraordinaire had an expression that reminded Oscar of every single time he had won over another woman’s heart.
"Your Imperial Highness, did it go smoothly?"
"Yes Erbe, very smoothly. How’s the mansion?"
"Haha, even though you’ve only been out for the afternoon, the house had already changed somewhat. You know, we’re going to be journeying soon, so Lady Duchess Celia and Countess Antonia had already started on the packing with the servants."
Oscar pulled a face. Packing! The teenager could still remember the scene at Damorga as clear as day.
"One more thing, Your Imperial Highness, the Major General from House Hewitt had returned. Lady Duchess and Young Lady were conversing with him in the living room. I heard a little from the outside, there was nothing of matter, I think they were waiting for your company."
Oscar hesitated a little, he really shouldn’t take House Hewitt lightly, the incident in the morning was an exception, but if he would visit twice in a day, he should receive him as per the etiquette.
"Notify them, tell them I will not be so soon, my man Vick was still in his sickbed, I am of more concern with a true friend."
Baron Erbe bowed at the young Prince, "Of course, you’d never let your friends down."
Captain Vick had been released and was arranged to be placed in the small mansion behind the Andrew Mansion garden. His room was right next to the young Prince’s.
Oscar’s only miscalculation happened on the captain. At the end of the day, it was the State of Secretary’s fault. Marquis Roment Huga Andeses felt so satisfied working together with the Prince, he released this main suspect of the Damorga incident the day after the raid. Not only that, the Minister of Justice destroyed all evidence against the captain. When Vick was carried out of the jail at the Ministry of Justice, he was still the innocent, careful captain of the guards with a bright future. Aside from the injuries, he didn’t suffer much in this incident.
"Vick! Haha, how are you feeling?" Oscar sat at the side of the captain’s bed right after entering the room. He greeted his friend who was as sick as a dog.
"Thank you, my friend. Oh right, it should be Your Imperial Highness now, I haven’t been able to congratulate you due to, you know, the trial."
Oscar felt incredibly comfortable when he’s around the captain, he wasn’t sure why it is so. "Vick, I thought I had discovered all your virtues, but I didn’t expect you to have such good sense of humor!"
Vick raised his arm wrapped in bandage. This lone hero smiled in wryness. His humor wasn’t able to help him feel any better, he knew his family would have been worried sick.
Oscar was observant, even though he didn’t have a family yet, he understood Vick’s concerns.
"Hey! I think you should try and get better soon, I need a Confidential Secretary here."
"Oh? I don’t mind, Mr. Percy said my injuries should not impede me from working, but my family is still at Damorga city, I’m not so sure if my wife would be agreeable at my working here."
"Goodness! Don’t tell me you wanted go back to that hell hole? Do you want to stay in that nightmare cursed by God of Light himself?"
"Of course not, but you know, this is the capital, and I…"
"No ‘buts’! Your family… oh, forgive my capriciousness, I already sent for your wife and the kids in your name. They’re still on their way here to Dulin, I think, but I have no doubt she’d convince you to stay here and work once she sees your new home."
"Oh… Well then, what more can I say? Please give me my first task!" Vick finally grinned in sincerity. He knew his actions had earned its payback, and just as he understood, this teen Prince is fairer than a saint, he didn’t even have to thank the Prince, because he deserved all these.
"My friend, now, all you need to do is to get better, your sickly condition is not suited to become my Confidential Secretary."
Upon hearing that, Vick got excited again. He knew how important a role such as a Confidential Secretary is. "Yes sir! B-but… maybe…"
"You think your rank is too low? To be honest, don’t worry. Do you know who I’m going to meet in a little bit? Hoho, he’s the grandson of the Military Affairs Chancellor, Marshal Alan. Tell me, do you need to be a Major, or should it be Lieutenant Colonel? Hmm, a Colonel may be a little harder, but it shouldn’t be too much of a difficulty." Oscar was like a peddler, trying to convince the children to buy sweets from him.
Vick didn’t know how to answer, he dropped his jaw wordlessly.
Oscar waited for a little, he thought Vick was too shy to request for a rank! "Oh whatever! I’ll decide for you, you’re now a Colonel! I am Prince O’Neil of the Titan Empire, I need at least a high-rank officer to be my Confidential Secretary!"
Seeing as the young Prince left the room, Vick finally managed to close his gaping mouth, he doubted the reality of it all, he only really got released from jail a few days ago. Vick stared as delicately prepared dinner was placed in front of his bed by the pretty servants. He prayed. The God of Light had bestowed him with far too much on this day.
***************
"The gifts of the God of Light are fair." Alfa III said to Kachev, unannounced.
Old Kachev sat a little straighter. He knew His Majesty was no longer the Emperor who chased after fashion and pretty girls.
"Yes Your Majesty, only the God of Light could achieved complete fairness. It is a trait only Gods could possess." The old man pushed the remaining chess pieces aside.
"I may still have a chance to win." The Emperor looked at the Duke, confused.
"Hoho, Your Majesty, if I recall correctly, that was what you used to do." The old Duke smirked.
"Oh! Right! If it were me in the past, with chess like that, I would have pushed it aside and walked away."
"Yes, playing chess with you used to be such a chore."
"Oh my teacher, are you mocking me?" Alfa III laughed, the old man and him still had some happy memories together.
"No, Your Majesty, haven’t you realize where the fun is in chess?"
Alfa III gave it a thought, "If it’s the chess, I’d say it’s the tactical rivalry between the offense and the defense. What do you think?"
"Incorrect. I’ve played chess for a whole half of my life. Rivalry? Do you think an old man would be interested in the rivalry and the pursuit of victory?"
"What is it then?"
"It’s that the game could go on forever, and you would never know how it would turn out the next game.
"The victory doesn’t matter?" Alfa III stared into old Kachev’s eyes, voicing his question.
"There’s only one way to play, as the Emperor of Titan, how would you have played it? For example, if you’d overturned the chessboard as you used to, and claimed that it’s a way to play, would anyone have objected to it?"
Alfa III was utterly confused. "What are you trying to say?"
"I was trying to tell you, you can change your way of playing the game, use another method to bring about your victory."
A fat old cat ran across the window sill, not before staring at the Emperor, who glared back. The old cat leapt away, and the Emperor turned his attention back to the chessboard.
"You can win with a lot of ways, but I don’t wish to attain victory with bloodshed. As you know, what the Empire needs is not invasion or expansion, nor is it an earthshaking exodus. I have already lost my Secretary of State, I don’t know what went wrong, but I think this is already enough."
Old Kachev laughed. He knew his action right now seemed insolent to His Majesty, however he couldn’t control his urge, His Majesty’s words were exactly as he thought.
"Your Majesty, I have to say, what you said is incorrect. The taxation of the Empire had not changed for almost a century, the imperial army had not had a drill after my retirement, and the bureaucrats… Your Majesty, have you not realized all of them were old faces aside from the imprisoned old Robs?"
The Emperor retreated into his own mind. He thought something seemed wrong, but he couldn’t identify where.
"Your Majesty, I’m an old man who’s about to expire. My presence here in Dulin, aside from seeing a doctor, roots in my wish for this meeting to happen. I wanted to tell you, stability is indeed the foundation for an empire’s lasting harmony. However, this stability you’re observing is a false impression based on your willful ignorance of the truth."
"Take the imperial tax for example. Your Majesty, if Marquis Godzilla was here, I’m positive he’ll be able to give you a sufficient explanation that I can’t, however, I can tell you the Empire is only a step away from bankruptcy. Wealth was congregated in the hands of a few people and not in the Empire. Due to the rigidity of business activity, the Ti had been lost to other nations. Can you imagine if Faran, Italia, West Percy, and Hoilland decided to launch an economic war against us, what would happen to us?"
The Titan Emperor was very creative when it comes to spending, but he couldn’t conceptualize the things old Kachev had mentioned, like ‘economic war’, the Emperor had never heard the word before.
Old Kachev wasn’t expecting the Emperor to have an answer, he continued.
"The army, Your Majesty, our army, look at your guards. I don’t doubt they were all skilled as Paladins, but have you seen their moves in all the years you’re in your throne? Forgive me, my analogy involves you, but you need to to understand, the military power of the Empire has the same issue like your guards. An abundance of peace will cause their practice to plateau, their vigilance to lax. Forgive me again for bringing you into my example, but let’s visualize an assassination that had been brewing for a long time, would you trust the guards by your side to protect you with their pretty clothes and unsharpened sword? Similarly, this is the situation with the Empire. I still tremble recalling the allied forces of the five nations after the Munich Invasion, so will we be able to withstand that at our current state?"
The Emperor fell silent. He knew, even now, the five nations were still not friendly to Titan.
"Your Majesty, I’m not trying to exaggerate things, no one is more knowledgeable about our military than Marshal Alan, you can ask him to verify this. Finally, sire, I sincerely hope you could thoroughly investigate Duke Brickfield and the case he was charged for. If Count Rudolf Hoss of Secret Service tried harder, he’d find all sort of things your former Secretary of State had done in the dozen years he had controlled the State Council! With that out on the table, compared to the Brickfield’s, Your Majesty, some of the nobles, and even some larger families had already controlled a ministry for generations, don’t you think they have even more capability to do such a thing?"
Alfa III really wished there was something he could do at that very moment! But he knew, in front of this old man, he would never really be successful, it was because of that that he abandoned him without hesitation in years before this. Now, the feeling of uselessness came crashing back after years of being kept at bay.
Titan’s Emperor, Osli Alfa Morisette flashed back to the past, when his then-Secretary-of-State reprimanded him like no one was around. It reminded him of O’Neil Andrew Morisette, that little guy made his enemy swallow his own flesh, the Emperor released his neck from the suffocating collar.
"Then… according to your opinion, the Empire… this Empire… what should we do?" Alfa III forced these words out with difficulty. He was terrified at old Kachev’s narration, but as the ruler of Titan Empire, he had to say it. This was not the hardest part, however. What he couldn’t bear was that he would never be rid of this old man whom he wanted several pierce wounds on once he uttered the words.
Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand straightened his waist. To him, the conversation had only began.
"Your Majesty, are you familiar with the cabinet system of Engels Kingdom to the west?"
Alfa III’s eyebrows twitched. This old man was really hoping he would change up the gameplay!
Little Godot’s height was about two and a half meters, coupled with his explosive muscles, it wasn’t hard to imagine how difficult it was to raise a strongman. For the sake of letting his little brother have more food, Domingo didn’t hesitate to delay his own release from prison.
Now that little Godot was free, he lived happily ever after beside His Imperial Highness Prince, along with his friend, big guy Ferry.
The first time the two giants met in the mansion, they were both startled by each other’s size. However, since it was dinner time, the expected battle between the big men did not happen. Instead, on the dinner table, little Godot won over Ferry’s friendship. It was nothing, Ferry only felt the way Godot attacked the bread looked identical to when he was first given shelter by the Marshal.
And so, Oscar had a new tag-along whenever he’s venturing out, little Godot. Godot was young, but his face was scary. He was currently the newest, hottest person in the mansion, even the kitchen ladies would bring him along during their market trips, it’s so much easier to bargain with him around.
***************
Early morning, our Imperial Highness Prince Oscar stared blankly at the glowing ball we call sun. The lad knew how lazy he was, as calling 11 o’clock in the morning ‘early morning’ is intolerable to most people.
Near noon, His Imperial Highness finally came to. To him, the immediate moment after waking up was the most intolerable moment. Hollowness and boredness filled his mind, so when Young Lady Andrew barged into her brother’s room, the only thing she saw was her usually-brilliant brother leaning against the bed like a mentally retarded person.
Young Lady coaxed her brother to dress up and get ready, when His Imperial Highness appeared in the dining hall, fresh-faced and spirited, she finally believed what her mother told her, "All men are like boys, to win a man is basically the same as coaxing a child."
Lady Sasha E. Nedgabel Andrew wasn’t sure what her brother did recently, but according to the rumors, her brother had been blacklisted by a lot of the nobles. Sasha had no idea what ruckus he caused, the nobles in the city seemed to change their attitude with a blink of an eye.
Baron Erbe had already ordered the servants to set up the dining hall. There were lamb chops roasted to the perfect golden-brown, strawberry sponge cake, crepes, fried grouse, and daffodil-flavored pickles.
While waiting for the servants to set the table, Baron Erbe mentioned something to his masters.
Major General Reynold Hewitt Preston had planned to visit Andrew in this fine morning. However, he had mistaken the time for the meeting. When Baron Erbe, the butler of House Andrew, led him into an empty living room, the major general had known his trip today wouldn’t be smooth-sailing as he thought.
Sure enough, the major general was told, His Imperial Highness Prince locked his door habitually when he sleeps, no one would be able to wake him up; Lady Duchess Andrew was setting her hair, not even His Majesty’s arrival would hurry her up; Young Lady… Young Lady didn’t even come home for the night, Her Majesty the Queen and Her Imperial Highnesses Princesses had invited her to stay the night at the Westberg Fort.
The young major general went home fruitless.
Oscar listened without much expression. He wasn’t too fond of the young major general. Maybe the grandson of ‘Silver Fox’ would be as cunning as the man himself, but the young major general had never seen a real war, so any comment toward him would not be an accurate assessment.
Lady Celia asked for the plates to be cleared. Lunch was a little greasy for her taste, she reckoned she should only have cheese and some fruit daily if she wanted to keep her hourglass figure.
"Son, you should pay them a return visit, this is a custom." Lady Celia suggested.
"No Momma, believe me, the old fox needs something from us, so I think the best move for us is to show some superiority. Besides, at the cocktail party, the old fox asked me about Sasha in detail. Hmph! He even had that ‘I’m looking for a granddaughter-in-law’ face."
Sasha’s eyes were bulging. She didn’t know such an exchange happened in the party. "Brother Oscar, what did you tell the old Marshal?"
Oscar brushed his sister’s nose, "Language, little Sasha, you should be calling him old fox."
"Oscar!" Lady Celia stopped her son’s degrading comment.
"Fine, fine! I told him straight up if his grandson was thinking of courting my sister, then tell that little scamp, he can, next lifetime!"
Sasha cheered in joy and kissed Oscar on the face. "Oh brother, I have to admit, your answer is perfect!"
Oscar hugged his sister in his arms, he was laughing merrily, recalling the expression on the old fox after he heard those words, it was like he swallowed a fly.
Lady Celia shook her head in agony, she didn’t know where in her education of the children had gone wrong, these two had started to flirt in public!
"What next? Child, what do you want to do next? Are you just going to dance through life just like that?" Lady Celia raised her voice, silencing the children.
"What does father have in store for me?" Oscar was serious for once.
"Oh? How do you know your father had something planned?" Lady Celia was a little perplexed.
"Momma Celia, I wasn’t so naive to think I can do anything I want after becoming a Prince. At least now, father can discipline me, aren’t the things that had happened in his expectation? So tell me what he had planned for me to do."
"Go home! Go home before you mess up like you did ten years ago."
Oscar didn’t think the suggestion was too sudden, he also thought about the question. As of now, Dulin didn’t have anything for him to be sentimental with, not even Her Highness Princess Alanis.
The Prince was still aware of the current state of the capital city. The arrest of the Secretary of State was definitely a political earthquake, however, the quake was dampened by his coronation. With that said, it didn’t mean the quake wouldn’t bring disastrous aftermath. The Prince believed once the Ministry of Justice submitted their investigation of the Secretary of State, punishments and exodus will rain down on the nobles in the capital.
That was why Oscar was so relaxed. Don’t forget, the challenges for duel with the Prince had mostly gone without any news, not because the youngsters in the capital forgot about their unadulterated loathing for the Prince, but because none of the families want to give themselves a reason to be exterminated.
Oscar didn’t know how the Emperor would handle the treason of the Secretary of State, but he believed the old Kachev would have predicted how it will go, and once the old guy assumed control of the State Council, he will become the main force to head the exodus. After all, only after completely purging the Brickfield’s influence can he have the State Council completely under his control.
The teenager sat in his carriage, bored. He just returned from the Westberg Fort, dealing with the direct line of Royalty was not fun at all, it was as if they came from the exact same mold. Their speeches and their behaviors, even their postures look completely identical.
Oscar couldn’t help but feel defeated, going home seem like it’s the best decision right now. Perhaps only the narcissus flowers can reignite his passion. Dulin, what a city filled with hypocrisy, it’s not a place for hot-blooded teens.
Oscar stretched his head outside his carriage, seeing the other one following him from a distance. Looks like the secret agents from the Secret Service. Since the marketplace incident, he kept seeing these guys trying to hide in plain sight.
"Wozakad, let’s go home. Do you still remember the smell of plains and desert? We should head back." The teen ordered his driver.
"Isn’t that His Imperial Highness Prince O’Neil’s carriage?" A beautiful noblewoman let down the chiffon on the window.
"Is it? He may have just visited the Westberg Fort. Tell me, what do you think of him?" The man loosened his arm around the noblewoman.
"Hoho, he’s a pretty interesting little guy, I heard he kept laying his hands on some strange things, some of the ladies even considered accusing him at the Ministry of Justice."
"Oh? Is that so? How come? Are they related to the strange things?"
The Lady pretended to stare at the man at her side in shock, "Aren’t all things happening in the city of Dulin under your control? Have you not heard about the Prince’s parties, some lads and ladies had fallen because of that? Even you were pretty excited about those strange things. It’s those things you like to torture me with, Your Majesty."
Seeing the eyes on Erdogan that could make people lose their souls, Alfa III’s passion was set alight. However, the Lady didn’t plan to cooperate with the Emperor, she slapped at the hand trying to reach into her dress.
"Your Majesty, if you wish to meet my father without a shirt on, you can continue." Erdogan leaned against the seat, her posture alluring.
***************
"What’s the matter?" Snowstorm felt the little boy’s uneasiness.
"Nothing, I just felt weird about the carriage at the fork." Oscar stated.
"Oh? I didn’t notice anything." Snowstorm glanced outside.
"I’m sure if someone wanted me dead, you would be the first one to notice, but I’m talking about something else, that carriage, the decoration and the driver, everything was weird about it."
"Haha, you are too sensitive. With your current position, I believe no one would dare to cross you."
"No, Paul. In Dulin, you will never find out who is having a bone to pick with you, if you don’t have your own influence and your own men, you’re no different with the blind and the deaf. Just like me now, aside from a title of a Prince, what else do I have?"
"You’re just being self-conscious."
"No, I’m self-aware. Why else would I run home?" Oscar smiled wryly. ‘Self-conscious’? He’s not in that league. No matter it’s the Emperor, old Kachev, or ‘Silver Fox’ Alan, or even ‘Sea Creature’ Godzilla, he wouldn’t be able to take on these guys.
"Oh? Forgive my ignorance, I understand that the reason you go home was to evade troubles, but you haven’t been making troubles, have you?" Snowstorm didn’t understand politics, so his questions were somewhat naive.
"Yes, I haven’t been making troubles, but my appearance in Dulin was already a trouble." More than ever, Oscar was clear about his position. The upper class in the capital had never welcomed a provincial magnate like House Andrew, they think the military is the source of all disasters.
The young Prince’s viewpoint was extremely biased. As the the Titan Empire’s pillar of strength, House of Andrew was already a deeply rooted influence in the minds of the people. On the other hand, their discrimination toward House Andrew was also circulated from the Morisette Empire for centuries. The capital nobles who had lived in this system of centralization of authority, there was no need for them to approach House Andrew, forming this confusing situation of acknowledging of influence, but rejection of the military power that they wield.
The reason of being wary toward the Andrew’s? It was all laid out in front of them, they don’t have the military power that can rival House Andrew, who had fought the Persians and came out evenly matched. Because of that, the people who had gotten used to the peacefulness in the city feared the powers outside of their control instinctively. It was the reason a direct member of House Andrew would find it difficult to gain following in the capital city.
"But… aren’t you a royalty? I don’t understand what could possibly be difficult for a member of the Royals." Snowstorm was still confused.
"Yes, I am of royalty, but I’m afraid only His Majesty thought so. Do you know something? His Majesty Emperor Alfa III and Her Imperial Highness Princess Alanis aside, to say the rest of the royals treated me with indifference was a really nice way of putting it."
"Oh, we should leave then. Do you realize? Neither of us were the type to be able to live in a big city."
"Yes, a wonderful journey shall begin. You’ll like my hometown, I promise." Oscar’s mood was elated at the mention of his hometown. That’s of course, people will always reminisce the good things about ‘hometowns’.
Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand’s mansion was still in a state of desuetude. It seemed to fit the old Duke as well, but Alfa III wouldn’t underestimate the old Duke. He knew more than anyone else what terrifying things the old Duke could do, at the same time, he’s more afraid of the old Duke than anyone else would, if it wasn’t for lack of qualified candidate, he would never have reappointed old Kachev as the Secretary of State.
Old Kachev had a serious case of rheumatism and spinal neuralgia, the excruciating pain that came with those were a good way to test a person’s will, at least the old man who experienced it at least once a day thought so.
The old man was fully prepared for Emperor Alfa III’s visit. A pot of the Eastern tea, and chessboard, and that’d be enough.
Alfa III was still not over his excitement when he saw the old man. Even though this old man was filled with danger, his contribution to the success of the Titan Empire could not be erased.
Hugs, kisses, the Emperor’s greeting toward the old man was one toward another King.
"Teacher, nice to see you after all this time."
"Your Majesty, I’m glad you’re in good health and mood. I’ve completed your father’s order, look at you, what a great ruler!"
Even though Alfa III was grinning from ear to ear, his heart was in dilemma. As the moment happened, he started being suspicious again. Was it really a coincidence that the Secretary of State had fallen as Duke Kachev appeared? Of course, this is not the time to talk about the issue, especially not in front of this cunning old man. Some other things then! His Imperial mistress, Erdogan, is she spying on him?
The Emperor didn’t want to probe the issue any further, his wariness of the old Duke wasn’t formed in a day or two. He believed the nobilities in the capital city was still in his control. As long as the military, the judiciary system, and the secret service was still under his control, there wouldn’t be anyone in this world who could threaten his Imperialty.
Both of them sat, Erdogan prepared some tea for her father and her lover before leaving the hall. Alfa III observed as the Lady left, she who pleased him for a few times. As the door closed, the Emperor of Titan Empire, Osli Alfa Morisette calmed himself down. After so many years, the Emperor today may still stand a chance against old Kachev.
***************
The Prince’s carriage entered the gates of 31 Penelope Street, the knights greeting him as they passed. Three servants came out and unloaded the carriage. They would be carrying the carriage into the store room as Wokazad herded the Raytheon stallions into the stable.
The first person Oscar saw after alighting was Baron Erbe, the Liar Extraordinaire had an expression that reminded Oscar of every single time he had won over another woman’s heart.
"Your Imperial Highness, did it go smoothly?"
"Yes Erbe, very smoothly. How’s the mansion?"
"Haha, even though you’ve only been out for the afternoon, the house had already changed somewhat. You know, we’re going to be journeying soon, so Lady Duchess Celia and Countess Antonia had already started on the packing with the servants."
Oscar pulled a face. Packing! The teenager could still remember the scene at Damorga as clear as day.
"One more thing, Your Imperial Highness, the Major General from House Hewitt had returned. Lady Duchess and Young Lady were conversing with him in the living room. I heard a little from the outside, there was nothing of matter, I think they were waiting for your company."
Oscar hesitated a little, he really shouldn’t take House Hewitt lightly, the incident in the morning was an exception, but if he would visit twice in a day, he should receive him as per the etiquette.
"Notify them, tell them I will not be so soon, my man Vick was still in his sickbed, I am of more concern with a true friend."
Baron Erbe bowed at the young Prince, "Of course, you’d never let your friends down."
Captain Vick had been released and was arranged to be placed in the small mansion behind the Andrew Mansion garden. His room was right next to the young Prince’s.
Oscar’s only miscalculation happened on the captain. At the end of the day, it was the State of Secretary’s fault. Marquis Roment Huga Andeses felt so satisfied working together with the Prince, he released this main suspect of the Damorga incident the day after the raid. Not only that, the Minister of Justice destroyed all evidence against the captain. When Vick was carried out of the jail at the Ministry of Justice, he was still the innocent, careful captain of the guards with a bright future. Aside from the injuries, he didn’t suffer much in this incident.
"Vick! Haha, how are you feeling?" Oscar sat at the side of the captain’s bed right after entering the room. He greeted his friend who was as sick as a dog.
"Thank you, my friend. Oh right, it should be Your Imperial Highness now, I haven’t been able to congratulate you due to, you know, the trial."
Oscar felt incredibly comfortable when he’s around the captain, he wasn’t sure why it is so. "Vick, I thought I had discovered all your virtues, but I didn’t expect you to have such good sense of humor!"
Vick raised his arm wrapped in bandage. This lone hero smiled in wryness. His humor wasn’t able to help him feel any better, he knew his family would have been worried sick.
Oscar was observant, even though he didn’t have a family yet, he understood Vick’s concerns.
"Hey! I think you should try and get better soon, I need a Confidential Secretary here."
"Oh? I don’t mind, Mr. Percy said my injuries should not impede me from working, but my family is still at Damorga city, I’m not so sure if my wife would be agreeable at my working here."
"Goodness! Don’t tell me you wanted go back to that hell hole? Do you want to stay in that nightmare cursed by God of Light himself?"
"Of course not, but you know, this is the capital, and I…"
"No ‘buts’! Your family… oh, forgive my capriciousness, I already sent for your wife and the kids in your name. They’re still on their way here to Dulin, I think, but I have no doubt she’d convince you to stay here and work once she sees your new home."
"Oh… Well then, what more can I say? Please give me my first task!" Vick finally grinned in sincerity. He knew his actions had earned its payback, and just as he understood, this teen Prince is fairer than a saint, he didn’t even have to thank the Prince, because he deserved all these.
"My friend, now, all you need to do is to get better, your sickly condition is not suited to become my Confidential Secretary."
Upon hearing that, Vick got excited again. He knew how important a role such as a Confidential Secretary is. "Yes sir! B-but… maybe…"
"You think your rank is too low? To be honest, don’t worry. Do you know who I’m going to meet in a little bit? Hoho, he’s the grandson of the Military Affairs Chancellor, Marshal Alan. Tell me, do you need to be a Major, or should it be Lieutenant Colonel? Hmm, a Colonel may be a little harder, but it shouldn’t be too much of a difficulty." Oscar was like a peddler, trying to convince the children to buy sweets from him.
Vick didn’t know how to answer, he dropped his jaw wordlessly.
Oscar waited for a little, he thought Vick was too shy to request for a rank! "Oh whatever! I’ll decide for you, you’re now a Colonel! I am Prince O’Neil of the Titan Empire, I need at least a high-rank officer to be my Confidential Secretary!"
Seeing as the young Prince left the room, Vick finally managed to close his gaping mouth, he doubted the reality of it all, he only really got released from jail a few days ago. Vick stared as delicately prepared dinner was placed in front of his bed by the pretty servants. He prayed. The God of Light had bestowed him with far too much on this day.
***************
"The gifts of the God of Light are fair." Alfa III said to Kachev, unannounced.
Old Kachev sat a little straighter. He knew His Majesty was no longer the Emperor who chased after fashion and pretty girls.
"Yes Your Majesty, only the God of Light could achieved complete fairness. It is a trait only Gods could possess." The old man pushed the remaining chess pieces aside.
"I may still have a chance to win." The Emperor looked at the Duke, confused.
"Hoho, Your Majesty, if I recall correctly, that was what you used to do." The old Duke smirked.
"Oh! Right! If it were me in the past, with chess like that, I would have pushed it aside and walked away."
"Yes, playing chess with you used to be such a chore."
"Oh my teacher, are you mocking me?" Alfa III laughed, the old man and him still had some happy memories together.
"No, Your Majesty, haven’t you realize where the fun is in chess?"
Alfa III gave it a thought, "If it’s the chess, I’d say it’s the tactical rivalry between the offense and the defense. What do you think?"
"Incorrect. I’ve played chess for a whole half of my life. Rivalry? Do you think an old man would be interested in the rivalry and the pursuit of victory?"
"What is it then?"
"It’s that the game could go on forever, and you would never know how it would turn out the next game.
"The victory doesn’t matter?" Alfa III stared into old Kachev’s eyes, voicing his question.
"There’s only one way to play, as the Emperor of Titan, how would you have played it? For example, if you’d overturned the chessboard as you used to, and claimed that it’s a way to play, would anyone have objected to it?"
Alfa III was utterly confused. "What are you trying to say?"
"I was trying to tell you, you can change your way of playing the game, use another method to bring about your victory."
A fat old cat ran across the window sill, not before staring at the Emperor, who glared back. The old cat leapt away, and the Emperor turned his attention back to the chessboard.
"You can win with a lot of ways, but I don’t wish to attain victory with bloodshed. As you know, what the Empire needs is not invasion or expansion, nor is it an earthshaking exodus. I have already lost my Secretary of State, I don’t know what went wrong, but I think this is already enough."
Old Kachev laughed. He knew his action right now seemed insolent to His Majesty, however he couldn’t control his urge, His Majesty’s words were exactly as he thought.
"Your Majesty, I have to say, what you said is incorrect. The taxation of the Empire had not changed for almost a century, the imperial army had not had a drill after my retirement, and the bureaucrats… Your Majesty, have you not realized all of them were old faces aside from the imprisoned old Robs?"
The Emperor retreated into his own mind. He thought something seemed wrong, but he couldn’t identify where.
"Your Majesty, I’m an old man who’s about to expire. My presence here in Dulin, aside from seeing a doctor, roots in my wish for this meeting to happen. I wanted to tell you, stability is indeed the foundation for an empire’s lasting harmony. However, this stability you’re observing is a false impression based on your willful ignorance of the truth."
"Take the imperial tax for example. Your Majesty, if Marquis Godzilla was here, I’m positive he’ll be able to give you a sufficient explanation that I can’t, however, I can tell you the Empire is only a step away from bankruptcy. Wealth was congregated in the hands of a few people and not in the Empire. Due to the rigidity of business activity, the Ti had been lost to other nations. Can you imagine if Faran, Italia, West Percy, and Hoilland decided to launch an economic war against us, what would happen to us?"
The Titan Emperor was very creative when it comes to spending, but he couldn’t conceptualize the things old Kachev had mentioned, like ‘economic war’, the Emperor had never heard the word before.
Old Kachev wasn’t expecting the Emperor to have an answer, he continued.
"The army, Your Majesty, our army, look at your guards. I don’t doubt they were all skilled as Paladins, but have you seen their moves in all the years you’re in your throne? Forgive me, my analogy involves you, but you need to to understand, the military power of the Empire has the same issue like your guards. An abundance of peace will cause their practice to plateau, their vigilance to lax. Forgive me again for bringing you into my example, but let’s visualize an assassination that had been brewing for a long time, would you trust the guards by your side to protect you with their pretty clothes and unsharpened sword? Similarly, this is the situation with the Empire. I still tremble recalling the allied forces of the five nations after the Munich Invasion, so will we be able to withstand that at our current state?"
The Emperor fell silent. He knew, even now, the five nations were still not friendly to Titan.
"Your Majesty, I’m not trying to exaggerate things, no one is more knowledgeable about our military than Marshal Alan, you can ask him to verify this. Finally, sire, I sincerely hope you could thoroughly investigate Duke Brickfield and the case he was charged for. If Count Rudolf Hoss of Secret Service tried harder, he’d find all sort of things your former Secretary of State had done in the dozen years he had controlled the State Council! With that out on the table, compared to the Brickfield’s, Your Majesty, some of the nobles, and even some larger families had already controlled a ministry for generations, don’t you think they have even more capability to do such a thing?"
Alfa III really wished there was something he could do at that very moment! But he knew, in front of this old man, he would never really be successful, it was because of that that he abandoned him without hesitation in years before this. Now, the feeling of uselessness came crashing back after years of being kept at bay.
Titan’s Emperor, Osli Alfa Morisette flashed back to the past, when his then-Secretary-of-State reprimanded him like no one was around. It reminded him of O’Neil Andrew Morisette, that little guy made his enemy swallow his own flesh, the Emperor released his neck from the suffocating collar.
"Then… according to your opinion, the Empire… this Empire… what should we do?" Alfa III forced these words out with difficulty. He was terrified at old Kachev’s narration, but as the ruler of Titan Empire, he had to say it. This was not the hardest part, however. What he couldn’t bear was that he would never be rid of this old man whom he wanted several pierce wounds on once he uttered the words.
Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand straightened his waist. To him, the conversation had only began.
"Your Majesty, are you familiar with the cabinet system of Engels Kingdom to the west?"
Alfa III’s eyebrows twitched. This old man was really hoping he would change up the gameplay!
