Counterattack [Interstellar] - Chapter 16

“Madam Catherine was simply too agitated. The nurse just gave her some water, and she is feeling much better now,” Alan’s Etiquette Officer explained to the group with a smile. “The wound on her forehead has been treated. The doctor said it isn’t serious, but he believes Madam Catherine needs to lie down quietly for a while. Therefore, their Highnesses do not need to enter the room to visit her for the time being.”

Earlier, after being rendered speechless by Pei Yao’s point-by-point refutations, Catherine had resorted to the tactic she often used with her husband: feigning a faint.

Under normal circumstances, Catherine would have fallen into her husband’s arms to be soothed with gentle words. Unfortunately, the three men present were not nearly gentlemanly enough. Alan, naturally, paid her no mind. Anthony, his plans already thrown into a mess by Catherine’s interference, lacked the patience to indulge her acting. As for Major General Pei Yao…

Alan turned toward Pei Yao with a look of immense satisfaction. Just as Catherine began crying out about chest pains and prepared to collapse, Major General Pei Yao had immediately stepped in front of Alan to shield him, drawing the photon blade at his waist. He only relaxed his guard once Catherine stopped moving.

Thus, poor Madam Catherine fell solidly onto the floor, even catching her forehead on the corner of a table.

Alan shook his head in mock regret. “How unfortunate. Tell the doctor to spare no expense and exhaust every effort for the Madam’s recovery.”

The Etiquette Officer nodded in coordination. “I shall relay your command to the doctor.”

Anthony, thoroughly revolted by the master-servant duo’s performance, frowned and said, “Since the Madam is unwell, let us talk outside.”

“The initial budget should be ready by now, right? Send me a copy when you have time; I will personally take responsibility for this portion of the funds.” Anthony turned on his light computer, viewing the buildings within and around the Alice Estate via holographic projection. He shook his head. “The area is too vast. You must be careful; if anything should happen…”

“Rest assured, Brother Anthony,” Alan interrupted lazily. “Once the academy opens, my Glory Legion will be stationed here as well. There won’t be any issues regarding security.”

The mention of this made Anthony feel even more stifled. Over the past few days, Alan had used the pretext of forming a new legion to poach many of the people Anthony had his eye on. In the military, many people’s interests were interconnected, yet Alan insisted on breaking this balance to reconstruct his own order.

Anthony took a deep breath, turned to Pei Yao, and asked with a frown, “And what about Pei Yao? Alan… I truly do not understand. Why must you have him? Pei Yao grew up in the military; he has never dealt with educational or civil affairs. What can he possibly do to help you?”

“A great many things,” Alan said nonchalantly. “For instance, just now, when someone was making a scene, Major General Pei Yao was able to provide a powerful counter-attack.”

Anthony gave Pei Yao a complicated look, paused, and said, “Alan… he is a Sentinel. To have a single, unbonded Sentinel serve as the Principal of a Guide school and spend every day with a group of unmarked Guides—isn’t that somewhat inappropriate?”

“The Crown Prince need not worry about that. I think you know better than I do the extent of Major General Pei Yao’s self-discipline,” Alan said, the smile on his face fading slightly. “He spent three months on Nymph Island and remained steadfast, refusing to change his testimony. There are likely very few in the entire Empire who could achieve that, wouldn’t you agree?”

Anthony’s face flushed with shame and irritation. He knew it—Alan’s visit to Nymph Island that day had definitely been to dig up Pei Yao’s old grievances!

Speaking of this made Anthony feel utterly dejected. Ten years ago, in order to investigate the truth behind the attack on the Pearl, he had detained Pei Yao for a period of time. Because of that, Austin had once scolded him severely, leaving Anthony with weak knees whenever he saw his father for the next six months. Now, years later, Alan had come to seek justice for Pei Yao as well!

“If you are speaking of the attack on the Pearl, I have nothing to explain,” Anthony said, waving his hand impatiently. “Where the safety of royalty is concerned, I had to be careful. Furthermore, that case indeed had many suspicious points; otherwise, the Secret Court would not have been able to file it. In this matter, I have a clear conscience.”

Alan chuckled. “Of course, you didn’t do anything wrong at all. It’s just that in all things, too much is as bad as too little. Your reaction to my attack was perhaps a bit too extreme. I had already stated I wouldn’t pursue it, yet you insisted on a thorough investigation and locked my savior on Nymph Island for three whole months. I understand your noble character and won’t misunderstand, but those unfamiliar with you might suspect that such a forceful performance was meant to cover something up. After all… you had just replaced me as the first heir to the throne. There will always be people with ulterior motives who might overthink things.”

“Are you suggesting I was the one behind the incident on the Pearl?” Anthony looked at Alan in disbelief, laughing in spite of himself. “That case is still a mystery today! Do you think I had that much power back then?”

Alan gave a faint smile. “As I said, those who don’t know you might misunderstand. I, personally, have never doubted you.”

Anthony felt a sharp pain in his chest from Alan’s verbal sparring. He shook his head with a bitter smile. “Think whatever you like, heh… Is this why you insisted on taking Pei Yao back to your side?” Anthony looked at Pei Yao, his gaze complex. “Major General… I once believed you were absolutely loyal to the Empire. Over the past few years, I even considered restoring you to your position as Legion Commander. But looking at things now…”

“Major General Pei Yao has not betrayed the trust you once placed in him,” Alan said with a smirk. “From our parting on the Pearl until my birthday banquet a few days ago, Pei Yao and I had no contact for ten years. Of course, whether you believe that or not is up to you.”

Anthony looked at Pei Yao hesitantly. Pei Yao remained as calm as ever, neither insulted nor flattered, quietly watching Anthony without speaking. Alan lowered his head and gave a mocking, light laugh. “I knew you wouldn’t believe it. I’ll say the same: think whatever you like.”

“I didn’t come here to talk about this with you.” Nine out of ten things Alan said were lies, full of twists and turns; one never knew which sentence was meant to mislead. Anthony had a headache and didn’t want to get entangled with Alan on this. “I came today to relay His Majesty’s expectations for you.”

Alan raised an eyebrow. Anthony continued, “A year from now, if the Guides who graduate from here are not stronger than those from the White Tower, His Majesty will revoke his previous decision, cancel the ‘Free-Style’ teaching, and revert to the previous model.”

Alan smiled. “Is His Majesty applying pressure to me?”

“You know better than I do how precious Guide resources are.” Anthony stretched his arms out to let his officer help him into his coat. “To be allowed to allocate so many Guides for your experiment is already a miracle. If it doesn’t yield good results, His Majesty will naturally stop it in time to prevent you from delaying more Guides from receiving a proper education.”

Alan scoffed. “A ‘proper’ education—you mean flower arrangement?”

“Pfft…”

Anthony’s Etiquette Officer couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Anthony turned and glared at him. The poor officer hurried to bow and apologize, “My apologies, Your Highness. I lost my composure.”

Anthony truly regretted this. It was one thing to let Catherine negotiate with Alan, but why did he have to come along? Not only had he failed to regain any ground, but he had also left with a stomach full of frustration!

“Aren’t you going to wait for Madam Catherine?” Alan kindly reminded him. “She’s likely still unconscious… she came on your starship. If you leave early, how is she supposed to get back?”

Anthony’s refinement was completely exhausted. Hearing this, he said irritably, “Thank you for the reminder; I will send someone else to fetch her!” Anthony didn’t want to stay a second longer. He turned and led his entourage away. Alan sent him to the door with a beaming smile. Anthony couldn’t help but turn back once more. “Alan… I must remind you: do not think the courses in the White Tower are a joke. Sentinels will always prefer a more delicate Guide. You are a commoner, you don’t understand—as a Sentinel, I am certain.”

Alan smiled dismissively and offered a military salute. “Thank you for the reminder. Goodbye.”

Anthony returned a perfunctory salute and turned to leave.

Alan dismissed the staff and turned to Pei Yao with a smile. “You heard him. Your Emperor has set a deadline for us. At the graduation ceremony a year from now, our students must be significantly stronger than those from the White Tower.”

Pei Yao’s gaze was resolute. “I believe in you. We will not lose to the White Tower Academy.”

“Of course.” Alan sneered. “The reason Catherine was so frantic to come and make a scene is simply because she is already afraid.”

Alan’s thin lips pursed slightly. Suddenly, his tone shifted. He leaned close to Pei Yao’s ear and whispered, “By the way, I’m truly curious… Anthony just said that Sentinels always prefer a more delicate Guide. Is that true?”

Pei Yao looked at Alan in shock. Alan took a step forward, closing the distance, and looked into Pei Yao’s eyes. “What about you? Do you prefer a more delicate Guide, or someone like me?”

Major General Pei Yao—who hadn’t yielded an inch when facing off against Catherine—instantly turned red in the face. He took an embarrassed step back. “I…”

“Speak up.” Alan adored Pei Yao’s serious look; he suppressed a smile and continued, “Which kind do you prefer? Major General, surely you don’t lack confidence in our own education? I am in dire need of a Sentinel to refute Anthony’s words just now, so that I have the confidence to persevere.”

Pei Yao was at a loss for words. He naturally couldn’t say he preferred a delicate one; that would be equivalent to dousing himself in cold water and agreeing with Catherine and Anthony’s viewpoints. But to say he liked…

Pei Yao stammered, until he was backed into a corner with nowhere to retreat. Just as he was about to be kissed by Alan again, he finally muttered in embarrassment, “I… prefer your kind…”

The gloom that Anthony had just added was swept away instantly. In Alan’s heart, the sky was once again clear and vast.

Major General Pei Yao had said it: I like you.