Kingdom's Bloodline, page 136
"Brat, I know what you're thinking about, but if you continue using that strange gaze to look at me…"
Aida walked beside Thales' steed and clenched her fists, her index finger's knuckle jutted out. Her tone was incredibly impatient. "You know what will happen to you."
"Alright." Thales, whose curiosity had already reached its peak, stuck out his tongue and turned his head around.
"If you don't want to answer, it's fine."
The prince sighed from the bottom of his heart.
Aida sighed softly and sealed the memories of her past in the bottom of her heart once more.
'Jadestar. Those damn Jadestars.'
"Speaking of which, Aida, how did you become the Jadestar Royal Family's secret protector?" Thales watched the indistinct mountain range that was gradually appearing before his eyes and asked airily, "How did an elf come to be employed in Constellation, a country belonging to humans? I heard that they are incredibly prideful, and those who serve humans are one of a kind."
Aida lowered her head.
"Hey, brat." There was a slightly awkward tone in the elf's voice. "I already said before that I am not your family's guard. And…"
Aida folded her arms across her chest, and her voice was full of scorn. "You're just a brat, how much could you possibly know about the elves?"
Thales could only stick out his tongue and shake his head in resignation.
This highly questionable elf. This elf who had lived for several centuries and even met the Virtuous King Mindis as well as Prince Keira must have plenty of exciting stories.
As for her personality...
After the group crossed a hill covered in snow, Putray steered his steed next to Thales. The thin vice-diplomat's face was solemn as he lifted his finger and pointed at the direction they were headed for. "We are here."
Thales registered what was going on and quickly lifted his head to look down the slope.
With his blurry vision caused by the snow that covered the world, he saw a giant with silver and black colors intersecting with each other appear in the mountains.
No, that was not a giant.
Its contour appeared vaguely in the snow in the distance. That was a majestic city built at the foot of mountains. He could faintly see a flag with dashes of red and black fluttering in the wind above the city.
Its grayish black walls were adorned by silvery white snow. The highest point of the city was located at the tallest summit of all the mountains. From the distance, the city looked like a giant leaning against a snow mountain. There were plenty of villages and small towns surrounding and protecting it, and the city stood erect in the land to the north.
Thales signalled for Wya to stop his restless steed.
He sucked in a breath of the freezing wind unique to the north and quietly gazed at the majestic and powerful city in the distance. A slight wave of excitement stirred in his heart.
'This is the Great Dragon of the North, the capital of Eckstedt?'
Without even realizing it, they had already crossed Prestige Orchid Snowland and entered a new territory.
"This is the first time you saw such a grand sight, right?" Nicholas rode to their side. The corners of his lips curled up, and his face was filled with longing for his homeland, and respect. "The giant city with the mountains on her back. The largest, most magnificent, most majestic city in the Northland with the longest history. The holy land in Northlanders' hearts.
"Dragon Clouds City."
At that moment, a light snort travelled into the air from his side at an inappropriate time.
"It was not known as Dragon Clouds City in the beginning."
Nicholas cast his gaze upon the Constellatiate who interrupted him.
"It was built in the era of the feudal kings, and is one of the places humans gather to in the north. And during the age of the Ancient Empire, it was the provincial capital of the original Empire's Northland Province." Putray continued what Nicholas had left off without any expression on his face.
"The fort that is built at that foot of the mountain was originally known as Arunde Fort. It is the dwelling place for the Arunde Family for generations and whom were ordered by the Emperor to govern the Northland. When the Empire fell, this place fell into a chaos and alternation of power that lasted for three hundred years. It continued until one day, Raikaru and Tormund's armies joined forces nearby and obtained our first victory in the Battle of Eradication."
"It was Raikaru who led the army and saved Tormund, who was in a perilous situation." Nicholas shook his head, unbothered. With his own understanding, he 'corrected' the Constellatiate's words. "That is why that war was known as the 'Reversal Gust'. It is said that Raikaru's army moved like lightning on an empty field nearby, and as if they had descended from the sky, they destroyed the enemies from the back."
Thales pursed in lips in resignation.
'Oh well, it's the small "difference in opinion" between the Eckstedtians and Constellatiates, the Northlanders and the citizens of the Empire again.
'And… while they're both Northlanders, Nicholas seems to be even more stubborn than Kentvida.
'As expected.' Thales exhaled. There was an expression of disapproval on his face.
"So, how did this place turn into Eckstedt's capital?" Thales asked at the appropriate time, cutting off the 'intense discussion' that was about to start again.
Nicholas gestured to them to continue moving onwards. The commander of the White Blade Guards rode and began speaking like a real escort.
"This land was built with Dragon Clouds City as its center, and it belongs to the Walton Family, the family where Nuven the Seventh was born. It is also the ruling family that has the greatest reputation in Eckstedt. They held the title of Archduke of Dragon Clouds City for generations.
"Humanity's hero, Raikaru Eckstedt, became the suzerain of this place six hundred something years ago. He formed an alliance with nine knights here and swore an oath to protect the Northland and their homeland amid the chaos wrought by the Battle of Eradication, to regain the Northlanders' pride.
"From then on, the prideful Northlanders called their new kingdom 'Eckstedt', and the Eckstedt Union was formed.
"During the subsequent years, the nine knights returned to the land after expanding the country's territory, which to them, had been like slicing butter with a hot knife. They elected Raikaru Eckstedt as the king the Northlanders would wholeheartedly accept and would follow him to their deaths. The nine knights obtained their own fiefdoms to protect Dragon Clouds City.
"The history of the union ended here, and the start of Eckstedt's history began.
"With the spirit of fair rule and where the position of the ruler will rotate among the other suzerains, Eckstedt's highest ruler, who is the common-elected king, would be chosen from among the ten archdukes. The remaining others would obey his authority and commands. This was the oath Raikaru swore so that the other knights could rule together with him, and you can see that his prestige and influence extends until this date.
"Since King Nuven has the title of the Archduke of Dragon Clouds City as well, Dragon Clouds City hence also became the capital of Eckstedt."
At that moment, a military courier from Black Sand Region moved through the layers of blocks made by the White Blade Guards with much difficulty and reached Nicholas' side, asking him to meet with Viscount Kentvida.
Once Nicholas left, Thales turned his head around and looked towards Putray.
"You have something to say," the prince said with a certain tone.
"Of course." The vice-diplomat shook his head in disdain. "Do not believe in our hot-blooded Northland friends, especially in that nonsense he spouts about 'fair rule and where the position of the ruler will rotate among the other suzerains'. It is just used to trick the Northlanders. In truth, in Northland and perhaps in all other places in the world, power has always been the one that decides matters. Those with power will become king."
"Oh?" Thales chuckled softly. "Since that hot-blooded Northland friend of ours has left, then do you mind telling me more, my knowledgeable vice-diplomat who is gifted with many talents and who knows the Northland well?"
Putray extended his hand into his bosom, intending to take out his tobacco pipe, but the former bard hesitated for a few seconds. Then, though it was unknown whether he was lamenting over the fact that he only had very little tobacco left or he was struck by a conscience, he pulled his hand back with a pained expression.
He spoke to the second prince, "I do not know whether you have noticed it, but the first ruler of Dragon Clouds City and the first Common-Elected King of Eckstedt is Raikaru Eckstedt, but the Dragon Clouds City we see now is under the rule of Nuven Walton the Seventh's rule."
Thales registered what was going on soon. "Eckstedt and Walton are two family names, which means that the ones who inherited his position and his title are not his direct descendants?"
Putray lifted his brows and nodded. "The true history, or the history that you can find in Constellation's records are as follows: 'Raikaru died young and he did not have any children. After he passed away, his nephew, Nuven Walton, inherited the title of Suzerain of Dragon Clouds City.
"He was the first Nuven from the Walton Family to become the Suzerain of Dragon Clouds City, Nuven the First.
"From then on, with the Cloud Dragon Spear as their symbol, the Walton Family ruled this land and this city to this day.
"But Nuven the First's blood made the suzerains skeptical of his legitimacy and also caused the other suzerains to cast covetous eyes on the throne of the common-elected king. No matter how many times he stressed that his mother was Raikaru's older sister and how Nuven himself was the legitimate successor closest to the former King Raikaru, it could not diminish the ambitions the other nine suzerains habored in their hearts. Even if they were the model knights that had been loyal to Raikaru."
A light crease appeared between Thales' brows.
During that moment, what laid in his mind was not Raikaru and his nine knights. Instead, he was thinking of the gigantic portrait in the middle of Mindis Hall. On the battlefield under the setting sun was a young knight covered with injuries. Six people accompanied him and charged forward fearlessly.
Constellation's King of Renaissance, Tormund Jadestar the First, with his six knights who were the celebrated families of the dukes in their territories, the Six Great Clans.
Arunde, with their white-backed flying falcon; Cullen, with their sun sword and shield; Covendier, with their tricolored iris flowers; Fakenhaz, with their four-eyed skull; Nanchester, with their great deer antlers; and Tabark, with their blood moon.
Together with the ancestors of the Thirteen Distinguished Families, they were the ones who fought beside Tormund in the past.
Were they 'loyal' to the King of Renaissance in the past? Just like the nine suzerains, the nine knights, behind Raikaru?
Putray continued. "An intense conflict erupted between Dragon Clouds City's Nuven the First and the nine knights as well as their descendants, for Eckstedt's throne and the issue of the legitimate right of succession. After the war, the suzerains' stalemate and conflict lasted for several decades. At that time, Eckstedt was practically ten fragmented pieces. They were known as one country, but in truth, they were enemies who were like oil and water.
"During this period of time, the survivors of the Final Empire were at the bank of Shepherd's River, located to the south. The new country that was originally insignificant and built on the area that was once the ancient chauvinistic province's territory… began slowly rising to power and continued expanding its territory outwards."
Thales understood what he meant and answered, "Tormund the First, the King of Renaissance?"
"That's right." Putray nodded. A peculiar light shone in his eyes. "Constellation."
"In the end, due to the pressure cast by the rising Constellation, Nuven the First and the nine suzerains came to a compromise in the end, though it was in the most awkward fashion possible.
"Under the support of the nine suzerains, Nuven Walton continued to possess the common-elected king's seat, and Nuven the First used the name of the great previous King Raikaru and designated Eckstedt's territories once again, then conferred the ten suzerains, including himself, the titles of Eckstedt's legitimate ten archdukes. But once Nuven the First died, the king must be chosen once more from among the ten Archdukes. They would vote on their own to choose a new common-elected king, and the new king will rule until his death. This repeated itself, and Eckstedt's king selection system was established and applied for six hundred years.
"This is the so-called 'oath' Raikaru swore so that the other knights could rule together with him, because it is the oath ten people swore in Raikaru's name and was also made once they signed their names under Raikaru's signature. Ironically, it has nothing to do with Raikaru."
"Hold on." Thales was stupefied by Putray's words. "The king selection system… I only read the general idea of it when I was in Mindis Hall… The ten archdukes vote at the same time and choose someone from among them?
"What if they had the same number of votes? Is there a mature system with rules to ascertain that the common-elected king will be chosen in a smooth manner during the King Selection Congress?"
Thales remembered a peculiar movie he watched in his previous life. In there, the pirates had to choose a Pirate King, but in the end, all the candidates chose themselves [1].
"There is, and it is simple, straightforward, effective, and filled with the romantic flair of the Northlanders," Putray said in a low voice, "That method has inherited the customs of the Empire and the age of glory from the knights. It is still used by Eckstedt, and when the archdukes are in a bind, they will use it to choose who the throne will belong to."
"Inherited the customs of the Empire, use it to choose who the throne will belong to?" Thales tightened his grip over the reins and remembered something he heard from Kaslan in the Hero Tavern. He could not help but be shocked. "Are you saying...?"
"Yes." Putray nodded. With a complicated gaze, he uttered two words with some force.
"Through battle."
Thales was stunned.
"When the sacred King Selection Congress cannot perform the final choice, the candidates for king with the same number of votes, no matter their age or status, must enter the arena to personally prove their worth.
"They must prove in the arena that they have the bravery that is worthy of the common-elected king, the leadership qualities that can lead the Northlanders, the fearlessness in battle born from being numb to death, and the ability to stand victorious in the end."
When he heard this, the Archduke of Black Sand, Chapman Lampard's face that alternated between light and dark due to the illumination by the light from the fire suddenly appeared in Thales' mind. He also remembered the battered old sword on his table.
In the end, they were Northlanders.
Thales suddenly realized that even though he had already stepped into Eckstedt's territory in the north, his understanding of them still remained very basic.
This country in the north that was famous for their strength and their determination was far more complicated and peculiar than he thought.
And he was about to face them.
"Continue." Thales frowned with a solemn expression. "Before I face them, I would like to understand the Archdukes of Eckstedt...
"... Such as their relationship with the common-elected king."
Putray only paused for a moment before he nodded his head and continued. "The Archdukes of Eckstedt have absolute autonomy in their own territories. They will only show obedience to the common-elected king and have the duty of sending their soldiers to battle when the country is at war. They also need to fix the quota for tax, though I heard that many archdukes cannot even do this. They can decide the matters in their territories on their own, and whether or not they want to accept and carry out the king's decrees which is supposed to be effective through the entire country completely depends on the archdukes' wishes.
"Don't the Archdukes of Eckstedt have too much power in their hands, then?" Surprise appeared on Thales' faces. As he moved forward, he sighed softly. "Can it be considered a miracle that Eckstedt has not been divided even now?"
"That is right, which is why they are called archdukes and not the dukes during the Age of the Empire." Putray sighed. "To a certain extent, Eckstedt—born from a compromise—is even more divided than Constellation.
"The power they have to run their own territories is far greater than what the dukes have in Constellation. At least, no matter how miserly and unwilling he is, Duke Cullen still has to send a certain amount of money from Eastern Sea Hill to pay a sufficient amount of his taxes to Eternal Star City and His Majesty. The appointment or removal of important officials in Constellation as well as the appointment or demotion of nobles must adhere to the 'Holy Constitution of Constellation'. In fact, they have to verify these promotions or demotions through the supreme king's warrant, which is why if the dukes want to interfere with the kingdom's politics, the fastest way they can do so is to take part in Eternal Star City's central departments, or by drawing the kingdom's alderman to their side with the influence of their territory."
Thales shook his head. "Then what is the point of having a common-elected king? If he cannot even control his own archdukes who are his subordinates, then why does he still want to be the common-elected king?"
Putray pondered over it for a moment before he answered seriously, "For great prestige, the obedience of the other suzerains, and the legitimate name of the rule of Eckstedt."
Thales frowned again.
"This is much more effective for Northland than for Constellation. No matter how uncultured these Northlanders are, they know that the common-elected king's authority cannot be infringed upon. They cannot go against Raikaru's oath." Putray recalled his knowledge and continued.
"In history, there are three occurrences where the Archdukes of Eckstedt rose against the common-elected king because they were displeased with him, but every single time, it ended in failure. Because no matter how the archdukes who rose against the common-elected king tried to defend themselves with their arguments, once they publicly ignore Raikaru's oath, they will lose the public support from their subordinates and their people. Even the greediest Northlander will not be willing to fight for them. Some of these archduke's families even withdrew from the right of ruling Eckstedt ever again."
