Kingdom's Bloodline, page 161
This was also Thales' first time seeing King Nuven's personal vassals from the Royal Court of Dragon Clouds City.
Compared to the neat and regulated Royal Court of Constellation, whether it be their placement, posture, movement or expression, Eckstedt's ruler and his vassals had a certain fierce, rough, and wild aura that seemed to seep through from their bones. It made them appear casual and unrefined. This disturbed people who witnessed the scene for the first time—it felt like they were standing in the midst of carnivorous animals.
Thales could not help but glance at Putray. He received a slight nod in return.
"Wait?"
In the meeting hall, the long-haired Archduke Roknee expressed his doubts in a muffled, rumbly voice, "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
Nobody answered him.
Archduke Trentida glanced at the white-haired, bright-eyed vassals by King Nuven's side. His face paled as he said, "Your Majesty! I do not know what you are trying to do. But from the presence of Count Lisban, the chief of governmental officers to Count Siler, who handles foreign affairs… Have you brought half the Imperial Conference here before us?
"Could it be that you want to discuss why the wine at the banquet was so sour earlier?" he asked half sarcastically, half accusingly.
Archduke Olsius, who stood by his side did not hesitate to stare at the king as well.
Not without concern, Thales took in the scenario before him. 'How will things end?'
"It seems like all this while, my leniency has spoilt the lot of you."
There was an elderly vassal, who was half-a-century old next to King Nuven. He replied the Archduke of Reformation Tower with no trace of politeness, "Listen well, Your Excellencies, Archdukes of Eckstedt. The king you vowed to be loyal to, the common master the Northlanders swore to follow is commanding you—"
"Wait!"
The old vassal's face was ice-cold as he reprimanded them without even caring about even the slightest bit of paying respect to them.
Archduke Trentida and Archduke Olsius' complexions turned frigid, whereas Archduke Lecco just looked pensive.
Only Archduke Roknee, whose expression remained unchanged sat at the left end of the long table. He appeared the same as when he first met Thales.
"Your Majesty, at least tell us your intentions behind this lame trap?" A few seconds later, Archduke Lecco of Defense City let out a long, extended sigh and slowly sat down.
"Conspiring with this rascal from Constellation to taunt the archdukes..." Archduke Olsius also sat down in his own seat. He icily continued, saying, "I feel like my dignity has been greatly compromised."
At this moment, a wave of knocking sounds reverberated across the hall.
*Tap… Tap… Tap…*
The four archdukes collectively turned their heads towards the head of the table.
Nuven the Seventh had a stern expression on his face. He was knocking on the table steadily with his right hand.
*Tap… Tap… Tap…*
Thales narrowed his eyes. He noticed a unique looking ring on King Nuven's right pinky. A black gemstone was embedded in the center of the silvery-white metal ring.
The king was nonchalantly knocking on the table with that very gemstone.
"Dignity does not give you the right to question your king, Reybien," King Nuven said in a steady voice. His gaze was locked on the table, as if he was particularly intrigued by the spot he was striking. "There is only one thing you brats need to do, the same as it was a decade ago.
"Obey me."
King Nuven gradually raised his head. A stern look radiated from his eyes, and it was a look that did not tolerate other opinions as he addressed the archdukes.
"Just as your forefathers obeyed my father a long time ago, and later on obeyed me...
"At least then, we lived together in harmony.
"Do you understand now?"
The archdukes held their breaths simultaneously.
A few seconds later, Archduke Lecco sighed. He was the first to say, "According to that boy, you used a lie to test our loyalty? We are now out of reach from our entourage and guards, this is really making me question my safety…"
"Old bald man, if I really disregard the consequences and take your life, you think you can walk out of Heroic Spirit Palace—not to mention Dragon Clouds City—alive; plainly on the basis of those petty soldiers of that supreme axeman behind you?" Lecco was stunned speechless as King Nuven abruptly raised his voice
"This is not your Defense City."
The archdukes all frowned at the same time.
"Can you at least tell us what we're waiting for?" Roknee brushed his long hair aside and snorted coldly.
On the left of King Nuven stood another minister with a seemingly contemplative expression. With a meaningful yet smiling expression, he said, "Your Excellencies, Archdukes, His Majesty has demonstrated extreme altruism. Please do not worry. However, if you are aware of each other's identity and duties… find yourself a seat and sit down properly."
Nobody said a word.
The hall suddenly sunk into a silent, purposeless wait.
A good few minutes passed.
Finally, the restless Thales rolled his eyes in embarrassment as he observed his surroundings.
He caught the bearded archduke's attention.
With a violent expression on his face, Olsius cast his gaze upon Thales. In that instant, the others successively threw their gazes in his direction as well. "Brat, I will dig your heart out after this. That's the price you will pay for taunting our dignity."
Roknee, Lecco and Trentida all looked at him with varying expressions. There was alertness, thoughtfulness and also doubt.
Thales closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
'Damn it.
'I thought things would be really simple… Identify the mastermind and with a wave of King Nuven's hand, arrows will soar, vengeance will be taken. Then, I can just slip away and be done with it.
'But now, from the looks Olsius is giving me, the side effects and consequences seem grave.'
"Your Excellency, just save some of your energy," Thales heard himself saying dispiritedly. "There's no point in mentioning things you cannot fulfil in the first place…"
He no longer wanted to explain himself.
Olsius gritted his teeth. Just as he was about to start speaking, yet another newcomer joined them in the meeting hall.
Following the sound of cluttered footsteps, a young brunette appeared. He was clad in a heavy, long robe with a blood red horseshoe embroidered on it. He walked into the crowded meeting hall.
Escorted by his entourage, the Archduke of Beacon Illumination City, the young Conkray Poffret stood before the crowd.
Thales took a deep breath and exhaled with a heavy sigh.
'Finally…'
"Wonderful!"
Upon Poffret's arrival, Archduke Trentida's eyes lit up. He surveyed the people in the hall and revealed a big smile.
Archduke Roknee was the only one scowling. Archduke Lecco on the other hand, looked surprised.
"Now, we're all here: the five archdukes invited here by Your Majesty, together all at once under the attentive watch of the White Blade Guards." The Archduke of Reformation Tower twitched his brows. "Now, the question comes, what is it that you're planning to do? To wipe us all out by the ridiculous criminal charge of plotting a conspiracy, or…"
Trentida's voice abruptly stopped.
The rest of his speech was cut off in his own throat like the sudden rupture of a bowstring.
The Archduke of Reformation Tower stared blankly at Poffret's line of followers.
His men were disheveled and empty handed, they did not look good. The warrior next to Archduke Poffret himself had to be propped up. Blood flowed down between his fingers as the pale-faced warrior was held up by his shoulder.
Around them, the cold glimmer of the White Blade Guards' unsheathed battle swords guarded them intently.
The Star Killer, Nicholas had a chilly air about him. He was the last to enter the hall and saluted the king once he was there.
Trentida then came to his senses.
Poffret and his men were disarmed as the White Blade Guards escorted them here.
Archduke Poffret himself stood with a vacant look on his face. His body was still chilly as snow trickled from his brown hair.
"Are you done?" the young archduke raged. He raised his head to address the people. "A noble archduke should not be receiving such criminal treatment in the king's palace and castle!"
"What exactly are you trying to do, forcing me to this meeting hall by military force?
"This is a challenge to our ancient Northland tradition, a disregard to Raikaru's joint pledge!"
King Nuven squinted his eyes.
The four archdukes had mixed expressions.
In a hidden blind spot, Thales' brows twitched.
'It's finally ending tonight.'
"Your Majesty, this is what you wanted us to wait for? To watch you utilize all means in gathering the five of us together?" Archduke Lecco looked at the disheveled Archduke Poffret. Indifferent, he grudgingly said, "Now, can you tell us the whys and wherefores of this already?"
"Could it be as the rascal mentioned, that we still have to wait for Lampard to come along?" Olsius raged.
Trentida let out a muffled laugh.
Under everyone's gaze, the old king of Eckstedt paused for three seconds before gradually saying, "Very well." King Nuven folded his arms together. He looked stern as his eyes shot sharp rays across the room.
But his following words surprised almost everyone.
"Little Thales, my clever guest."
King Nuven slowly turned to the side to look at Constellation's prince.
Thales, who was prepared for a good show got startled.
'What?
'Little Thales?
'Have we become this chummy now?'
"Come, enlighten my loyal archdukes. Tell them why they're here."
As his voice fell, a spark glimmered in his eyes.
"Tell them… the so-called truth."
In that instant, there was a mixture of doubt, surprise and gloom in everybody's eyes. They turned towards the Second Prince of Constellation.
Thales stood blankly in his place.
'Damn it.'
Thales reacted hastily and put on an ugly smile. He raised his arms and spread them out on both sides.
"I have no intention of embroiling myself into Eckstedt's internal strife, Your Respected Majesty." Thales smiled. "Internal affairs are to be resolved by yourself. This is—"
He could not finish his speech.
"You have already been embroiled in it, Thales." Nuven's deep, old voice accompanied by his profoundly meaningful eyes, interrupted him. "You involved yourself a long time ago. You cannot run now, future King of Constellation
"And you promised to finish this for me. You gave your word, did you not?"
Thales gritted his teeth.
The archdukes were looking at him and the doubt in their eyes slowly turned heavy.
Thales swallowed and frowned.
'Nuven, this damned old man.
'Does he intend to demonstrate to the archdukes that the successor of Constellation has stood by his side?'
Thales' brows were locked tighter together.
King Nuven's eyes sharpened.
"Go on. What are you waiting for, little prince?" Olsius resumed his fierce glare at him. "After fooling us with your ridiculous words, tell us the truth. I thought Lampard would show up just now."
Thales ignored him.
At the nudging of Putray's whispered reminder, he exhaled helplessly.
'Alright.'
Thales finally stepped forward to meet the eyes of almost everyone in the hall.
"My apologies, Your Excellencies." Shouldering the unfriendly gazes of the five archdukes, Thales summoned up his courage and said, "Tonight, most the things I say will be fake, only one thing will be true.
"Price Moriah was assassinated in Constellation." Thales sighed. "One of the masterminds behind it is among you."
As soon as his words dropped, the five archdukes collectively scowled.
The king's intimate vassals started whispering.
The second prince ignored the noise, which erupted in the hall.
"King Nuven had me find the culprit who worked with Lampard in the murder of Prince Moriah," Thales said expressionlessly.
"Haih, I knew it…" The bald Archduke Lecco sighed. "The purpose of inviting us over was not just to deal with the Prince of Constellation."
Archduke Trentida turned his head and shook it disapprovingly. "The culprit working with Lampard? Hah, I know now."
"But this wasn't exactly a good assignment…" Thales turned to the five archdukes and nodded. "Almost all five of you are suspects."
The five archdukes turned their heads awkwardly to avoid the double line of sight from Thales and King Nuven.
"Reality has also proven that you indeed do not know your place." Thales laughed lightly and continued, "Frankly speaking, it really did not occur to me that those words could have lured the four of you here… I thought it would only be two of you at the most."
"My loyal archdukes, the joint rulers of Eckstedt, it seems like you are all harboring great goals and ambition," King Nuven slowly said.
Whispers and murmurs rang throughout the hall again.
Olsius and Lecco's facial expression changed in embarrassment, while Roknee maintained his cold facade. Trentida giggled, whereas the young Poffret remained gloomy.
King Nuven observed the floor silently with his hands folded together.
"So, since it is almost impossible to identify the culprit among the lot of you by acting according to customs…" Thales sighed.
"I had to find another way out. I stopped investigating the suspects first. I decided to act from the reality of the matter, from how the murderer would act in accordance to the current situation.
"I see, so that's the case," Archduke Roknee of the City of Faraway Prayers said. "Whatever you said previously was false… There's no such thing as a secret meeting between Dragon Clouds City and the Black Sand Region. There is also no alliance between Walton and Lampard, correct?"
Thales shook his head. "Of course not. I invented this crazy nonsense—His Majesty would never join forces with a blood enemy who murdered his kin."
At the long table, a strange gleam flashed across King Nuven's eye.
"I got it," Archduke Lecco mumbled. "The key lies in Lampard, does it not? Because the so-called culprit who murdered Moriah secretly conspired with Lampard?"
"Hmph, what a lousy scheme—trying to convince us and the culprit at the same time." Olsius snorted. "Lampard working together with His Majesty? Leading him to think that Lampard would betray him and reveal his identity to His Majesty?"
"The scheme was executed so bluntly." Archduke Trentida leaned back and laughed. "Will someone actually be fooled by it?"
Thales stared at the three of them. His gaze wandered back a forth for a few seconds.
Eventually, the second prince chuckled.
"No"—Thales shook his head sternly—"it is not that simple."
"Don't forget the words I've spoken to you: those about Lampard not being a murderer, but only being identified as one by the Secret Intelligence Department.
"Maybe the innocent archdukes would believe this," Thales continued resolutely, "but only him, the culprit would not. As Lampard's accomplice, only he will know that Lampard was indeed one of the murderers! Lampard will never be cleared as a suspect in the prince's murder. It is then impossible for Lampard to be working with His Majesty, hence making it impossible for him to betray him.
"Only the culprit himself would know." Thales turned and looked around to assess the reactions to his speech. "The so-called 'Walton and Lampard alliance' I was talking about was just to alarm people. Lampard would never seek an alliance from His Majesty."
"Then, what did you actually mean that night?" The bald Archduke Lecco glared at him. "You said a lot of things about how His Majesty would put hatred aside and favor his interests. If you cannot convince the murderer of the alliance between Lampard and His Majesty—"
"I never prepared for him to believe it," Thales said fully. " I only wanted to tell him, His Majesty suspects that Lampard was not the murderer and he is still attempting to contact Lampard."
At the head of the long table, King Nuven let out a cold-blooded laugh.
"Moreover, if I had started this from when Nicholas picked me up, their liaison would have begun a long time ago."
Archduke Olsius impatiently said, "You just said that Lampard was the murderer. He wouldn't have the guts or desire to work with His Majesty. And, you haven't been able to draw out the name of the culprit from Lampard—"
"I wasn't finished!"
"Through King Nuven's investigation, we also realized one key point," Thales interrupted him ruthlessly, startling Olsius. "The culprit also did something else!"
"He also participated in my attempted murder, the assassination of Constellation's prince!"
The whispers in the hall ceased instantly.
"While Broken Dragon Fortress and Lampard played their little games, he bribed an organization called the Disaster Sword. They utilized Lampard's Mystic Gun Unit to murder me in an attempt to frame Lampard," Thales took a deep breath and said each word severely.
"This is what I wanted him to know!
"I want to let the culprit know that His Majesty, King Nuven is now aware that the murderer of Prince Moriah is the same person who framed Lampard!"
Behind Thales, Putray sighed. Marquis Shiles however, stood smiling by his side.
Thales just shrugged. "At the end of the day, amid all the nonsense I told you this evening, I only wanted to make two points: one, His Majesty is contacting Lampard; two, His Majesty knows that Prince Moriah's murderer is also plotting against Lampard."
Under everyone's doubtful gaze, Thales slowly nodded his head.
"If that's the case, it doesn't matter if His Majesty is able to work with Lampard anymore. What's important is that when His Majesty contacts him to confirm Moriah's murder, will he also reveal this fact to Lampard?"
