条顿骑士

Year 3397. - Dinner Party -1

Most of the ruling classes, such as nobles or politicians, were invited to this kind dinner party at palace once in a while.  Tonight, the party was organized by [Head Liners], so there was none of nobles or politicians in [Control Faction] had invited to this party.  Instead of them, there were some military officers were invited. Evarist, with Izac, was invited also.     “What a rich dinner, huh? We're in a war, aren't we?”  Izac was complaining while he was devouring foods.  “You can think whatever you want. Just don't speak out, Lieutenant Osvaldo.”  Someone warned Izac from his back.  “Well I speak what I want to speak, sir...”  Izac responded to warning with rude attitude. He thought that someone who warned him was either Evarist or some politicians who he does not even know the face.  He found General Schidor standing, with wine glass in his hand, when he turned around.  “Oops... Please excuse me, sir.” General Schidor seemed that he did not care about Izac's rude attitude.  “Well, this is a fun party. Why don't you enjoy yourself more, Lieutenant Osvaldo?”  General Schidor said to Izac.  “I am enjoying this wonderful dinner, sir. However, I would be having more fun in battle field.”  Izac was smiling when he said that.  “Ha-ha. That's nice...By the way; do you know where Major Waltz is?”  To answer General's question, Izac pointed his fork with a wry smile, to direction where Evarist should be.  General turned his head to that direction, and then he found Evarist dancing with some young lady.  “Ah, I see. Nice step huh?”  General laughed.     Unlike other military officers, Evarist leaded his partner with his elegant steps.  Around of Evarist, there was group of young ladies waiting their turn to dance with him.  These ladies seemed that all of them were daughter of powerful politicians.  Perhaps these young ladies wanted to introduce themselves to handsome young hero with a promising future.  “Mr. Waltz! May I dance with you?” “No! It's my turn next!” “No way!”  Ladies started to surround Evarist when he finished dancing, and they had blocked General's way.  General clapped his hand to drag their attention, and started to talk.  “I am sorry ladies. Please excuse me to borrow Major Waltz for a while.”  “You are not excused, sir!!!”  Unified voice denied General.  “Please excuse me ladies, I'll be back soon.”  Evarist smiled gently to ladies to help General Schidor.     “Well, it seems my status of General does not mean anything to those young ladies, huh?”  General said to Evarist after walking away from young ladies.  “These young ladies just likes popular person, sir.” Evarist responded.  General laughed once and said to Evarist in serious tone.  “Follow me Major. Some [lady] wants to see you.”  Both of them got out from party room and started to walk in hallway.     There was young beautiful lady sitting on magnificent chair. Her noble figure was totally different from young ladies in party room.  Empress Alicetaria, speaker of [Immortal Emperor], and also the icon of Empire, was sitting in front of Evarist.  If there was dominate power in this Empire, it will be under her name.  Evarist knelt down and saluted to empress.     Empress Alicetaria stood up from chair and walked to in front of Evarist.  Evarist kissed her hand and stood up, and then said,  “It is my honor to see Your Majesty.”  “I heard your great efforts in front line. I am proud of you.” Empress gave her word to Evarist.  “I thank Your Majesty. All of my men worked hard for my efforts. I am proud of them.”  Empress Alicetaria looked much younger than her portrait. Her eyes had mysterious lights of both tenderness and coldness.  There were only two of them after general Schidor stepped out of the room quietly./  “You look strained, Evarist. Just two of us are here. I allow you to speak normally.”  Empress smiled to Evarist.  “I thank you for your kindness...I never imagined meet you in this room.”  As the empress said, Evarist did not feel any signs of empress guards.  The empress laughed gracefully and responded to Evarist.  “I'll be wherever I want to be in this palace, so be aware of that.”  While she was saying that, she slowly came close to Evarist and she held his arm, and said,  “I said, don't be nervous. No one is around here.”     After introducing Evarist to the empress, General Schidor went back to party hall.  Many people showed their respect and flattered to him as soon as they saw him while he was walking around in party hall.  He was in a good mood to confirm his own power.     In such a situation, General Beard came to speak with General Schidor.  Unlike other participants, General Beard was not belonged to [Head-Liner].  “Listen, Schidor...one of your man, Major Waltz, he his dangerous. He is a kind of man hides ambition. His eyes are showing it.  General Schidor responded.  “That is why I use him, Beard. He is the icon of young soldiers. It raises the morale of soldiers if I treat him well. And of course, he can't to do anything without my back-up.”  General Beard shook his head, and said,  “Well, it used to be like that. But the thing always changes.”  General Schidor laughed at General Beard.  “Ha-ha. I guess you are concerning way too much, Beard. I'll not be used by my [tool].”  “Well then, why you introduced your [tool] to the empress?”  General Schidor responded to that question shamelessly saying,  “Well, the empress wanted to see him. That's all I know, Beard.”  “Don't want to speak the truth, huh? Just be careful not to walk into your own trap.”  General Beard walked away.  “I'm not afraid of anything, Beard”  General Schidor talked to himself while he was staring back of General Beard.     Dinner party was almost over. Some of participants started to leave.     It was wonderful night for General Schidor. He confirmed that there will be no enemy against him in this Empire.  The only matter left for him was to think [when] he put the end to this political conflict.  He was excited to think how to deal with member of [Control Fast] after everything is over.     By his excitement, and alcohol he took, his mind was almost in the dream.  That is why he did not recognize that driver of his coach was not the same man as usually.  Also he couldn't recognize a dead body of original driver.  When he stepped into inside of his coach, strange gas started fill inside of coach.  As soon as he noticed that, he tried to escape from his coach, however, doors and all of windows were dead locked from outside.  General Schidor lost his consciousness.  Assassination by [Control Fast] succeeded.  [Control Fast]lost their power after officer Kamdon had been assassinated.  So they decided eliminate General Schidor. It was a huge gamble; however, they won this gamble.     Coach ran away to somewhere.     Izac was there watching everything. However, he did not try to rescue General Schidor.  He was faithfully following order form Evarist.     General Schidor was already useless for Evarist. He decided Schidor to be as the last sacrifice in this political conflict.  Even though he caught plan of this assassination in advance, he did not do anything.  Once again, Schidor had become needless person even in his own party.  Evarist had finished his groundwork already. Main members of [Head-Liner] were on his side.  He will be the top of [Head-Liner] after all.     Evarist came back to party hall after seeing the empress. He went to out on the balcony to cool him down by a night breeze.  Izac came beside of Evarist.  “What happened? Took you long time. Ladies were crying, you lady killer.”  “I'll talk to you later.” Evarist said.  Then Izac showed ironic smile in his face, and said,  “Oh, by the way. <General Schidor had some visitor tonight.>”  It was their secret code meaning that Schidor had been assassinated.  The time has come. Evarist thought that with confidence.