MY TREASURED DESIRE

Chapter EIGHTEEN: The Police Are Your Friends!

The Police are your friends.

In the News, Lagos, Achaia.

Six months after the sinking and utter destruction of Retired General Jiao Yu’s Mansion with its occupants, terrorist events fell to zero level in Achaia and Middleville for a while. The two Governments counted their losses after the host Police brought out their Reports, which were of great significance to both Nations. The Police exposed the facts and evidence that Retired General Jiao Yu and his son, Colonel Chu Jiao, were culpable in the last terrorist acts against the ReyChang Mining Corporation. Hence the Chief of Police installed a long-range secret Camera at the Achaian Ministry of Aviation that overlooks the Mansion. The recordings made by the Secret Service were presented as Police Candid Camera Reports and the proceedings were presented to the Defence and Security Teams of both Nations – to expose the ignoble roles of the dramatis personae in the destruction of peace in both Nations… The Imperial Defence Counsellors of both Achaia and Middleville were arrested and placed under joint Court Marshall – with Colonel Jiao Chu… And their secrets were exposed with more facts that the police presented in their prosecution of the matter.

Infallible evidence was presented by the Police proving that a co-participant in the Terrorist Plots had bombed the One-Acre Mansion of the Retired, and now late General Jiao Yu. An incriminating document of an illicit transfer of $715,567,203= to Brigadier General Alex Chiang - with a narrative “Ground the Palace” – a payment from the Achaia Casino, now found to be owned by a Serving Minister for Solid Minerals in Government… (Master Alex Yuan - alias ‘Big Boss’) was presented. Big Boss was the pet name of the head of Casino Cartel – His real name was never known. His phone call to his wife at 11.42 pm on the night of the destruction stated that he and Brigadier General Alex Chiang, Military Brigade Commander of the Achaia Armoury, would leave the General’s Palace in five minutes, for a business deal. The Police concluded that Master Alex Yuan might not have seen his only known friend, Alex Chiang, leaving the Mansion before the disaster, who knows - he could have been saved too.

What is more, Brigadier General Alex Chiang, Military Brigade Commander of the Achaia Armoury was a very strategically placed military personnel – the custodian of such weapons that could mark a target location and destroy same. He was found drowned at the River of Buddha… and this is mysterious. If his face was shown in a video wearing the same dress, and he was later found dead in another place, it follows that he must have escaped from the Mansion earlier – to hide in his country home and feign ignorance of all occurrences - after the bombing… This school of thought was corroborated by the video presentation of the Police about the Army General who walked out before the bombing, and later came back, panickily looked left and right at 12.36 am, and ran away…

Late Prince Jon Cheng Yu was confirmed as the Mastermind behind the assassins sent to decimate the Royal Princess Reese Chang on her way to the Airport… with loaded evidence and witnesses’ accounts from Police Reports, and Videos. So, he was posthumously sentenced for his complicity in International Terrorism.

As it was the law in both nations, the three indicted military top-brass - Brigadier Gen. Thorpe Lee – Middleville’s Communists Defence Counsellor; General Shinji Xu – Achaia’s Imperial Defence Councillor, with Colonel Jiao Chu - were ignobly dismissed from the Military Service and stripped of all honours, along with their deceased counterparts in crime. The living traitors were publicly executed at the Middleville Beach, under the most stringent, tight security ever in the land.

***

Prince Liu Cheng Yu: Constitutional Ruler of Middleville.

Lagos, Achaia.

Dr. Reese Chang’s POV.

The fame of the Monarch of Middleville started to spread, positively… People commiserated with him for losing his only brother – though the latter was adjudged to have destroyed the former’s image over the years. The Prince of Middleville’s messages of love became front-page News… That his late brother was fake, while he was the right man for the best available Princess, was now in every mouth… But the Prince of Middleville has no point of view. He hardly expresses his personal views, even in his popular orations!

Prince Liu would not also disclose why he always prefer the title, Prince, though he possesses the power of a King in Middleville. But a video interview with his deceased brother had revealed that the Middleville elites are awaiting the merger of the Achaian and Middleville nations, and the abrogation of the imperial decree that gave powers to the dynasty of the Achaian Emperor… Jon had said that when the nations are united, the Middleville Head of State will have the appropriate title.

Apart from being an orator, an accomplished General, a lawyer, a great military strategist, and a soft-talking advocate of peace between Achaia and Middleville, Prince Liu Cheng Yu has the prowess of a classic scholar and natural diplomat. As head of International Policy and Defence of Middleville, before he was crowned the Monarch, he had ensured that his nation’s policies won accolades all over the world. However, he was notorious for being adjudged the most dangerous schemer in Asian history, arguably more cunning than the Italian Prince, Nicolo Machiavelli. Pundits say that no one has ever known his next step in the diplomatic chess game. One other area of his life that is not well known is his love life! He had never been known with any lover. He seems disinterested in women, but the press would disagree and uphold the fact that he was a serious General of the Army with strongly guarded thoughts: hence, he would announce his choice when he finds a good spouse. That qualifies him to be one of the most eligible bachelors in Asia… At 37, he was a famed Monarch with no Queen!

Then came calling, the ‘Princess of the East of the Niger’ from Africa, with a long list of successes of international acclaim - visiting Achaia, and Middleville on the Emperor’s 86th Birthday. The emperor, and King of Achaia invited the Prince of Middleville to stay at Lagos to welcome the Emperor’s Childhood Friend (HRH. Igwe Sir Okoro George-Orji), the Achaia King’s Childhood Friend (His Excellency, Crown Prince Alex George-Orji), and Achaia’s Princess’ best friend (Princess Alexa George-Orji) … Achaia’s Crown Prince Reynold Chang and his General were officially representing the Kingdom in a Conference with the King of England.

It was a grand reception, at the Achaian Emperor’s 86th Birthday, and the One-week It was a grand reception, at the Achaian Emperor’s 86th Birthday, and the One-week celebration was perfect. “It was the best reception I have ever had in my life!” EnDee enthused, as I took her around the palace, especially to a particular Huge Gallery where the Wax effigies of the Emperors of Achaia were displayed; the section where the Kings’ effigies were tastefully exhibited… When we got to the section where the effigies of the Crown Princes were, EnDee marvelled… "Pleasant Young Men with adorable looks… One of them particularly looked like a split image of Reese: but he spotted a handsome mustache and beard – just looking like a lovely Indian, but only fairer in skin colour and with a lovely pair of blue eyes...”

“WOW… This guy sends jitters down my spine…” EnDee later exclaimed… And that was exactly what I was waiting for! EnDee continued: “He must be the future Emperor… I read in your history books that the Crown Prince becomes the emperor, and whilst he is Emperor, his first son in life becomes the next king… And the first grandson from the first son of that Emperor will become the Crown Prince. Interesting, isn’t it?”

“Oh Yes, I know that you are good with Literature!” I replied, giggling. “But the reality is that this guy -” I pointed at Reynold’s wax sculptural piece in 100% life representation, “is Crown Prince Reynold Chang the 7th. Most of the Crown Princes were Reynold or Rey… The reigning emperor is Emperor Rey Chang the 6th.”

“That’s your Reynard the Fox… Your elusive Crown Prince?” EnDee asked, and blushed –

“My pleasure to present to you, Your future husband, Prince Reynold Chang of Achaia. He has been trained as an Expert Fighter – who became a Master of the extreme combat art - and the topmost General of the Defence Force of Achaia since our father – the king, is the Field-Marshal. The Crown Prince is a master’s degree holder in Money Management, Chartered Accountant, Certified Mining Engineer, a Paratrooper, and Certified Pilot…” I curtsied coquettishly as I introduced my brother in absentia and smiled amiably!

EnDee smiled at her drama and said, “But wishes are not horses, Baby Girl.”

EnDee briskly walked out of the gallery, and I followed, still trying to convince her! But I know that the effigy’s picture got engraved in EnDee’s heart!

The visit to Middleville by all the Royals was the final Programme of the Emperor’s 86th Birthday celebrations… It was a beautiful day to remember… Ndidi met the Prince Liu Cheng Yu of Middleville who fell in love with her at first sight. He expressed his willingness to have Ndidi as his own wife – being the first lady that he ever proposed to… Ndidi obviously knew his pedigree as a diplomat and national leader who has no immediate craving for any woman. Yes, he had just decided to settle down after losing the antagonists to his regime. But her thoughts were far away from the handsome 37-year-old Constitutional Monarch… She wants to see the Crown Prince of Achaia and confirm all that she had heard about him! So, she politely turned down his love advances, advising the Prince of Middleville not to rush matters of the heart now that he has decided to choose his queen. He only smiled and said, “Advice happily accepted, Princess.”



Soon, it was time to return to the United Kingdom, where Ndidi will spend the next One or Two Years overseeing her parents’ businesses as well as the Broadcasting Service where she has some duties to perform. Will she also need to see her chauffeur to end the nostalgic feelings, or to make a discovery…?