Kingdom's Bloodline, page 162
The archdukes were instantly shaken!
They now understood the causes and effects of this incident.
"And this is very possible! After all, just as I have theorized, His Majesty, King Nuven has already contacted the Black Sand Region through Nicholas…
"In the face of such a possibility, the culprit who has murdered His Majesty's son and betrayed Lampard would surely be quaking in his boots by now… In order to gain Lampard's trust, would His Majesty reveal the fact that the person who framed him is the same person who murdered Moriah?
"And Lampard just so happens to be the one who knows the truth behind the murder of Prince Moriah, and the identity of the culprit!
"Therefore, the key does not lie with His Majesty, but with Lampard himself." Thales gauged everyone's reaction and released a deep sigh. "If the king does not mention it, then he will be considered lucky. But how long will this luck last? Will this matter be mentioned in the next correspondence?
"If the king mentions it, then Chapman Lampard will know that his accomplice stationed a traitor within the Black Sand Region Army, and framed him for crime in Broken Dragon Fortress!
"That is betrayal!
"In that moment, if I were Lampard, the first thing I would do is reveal the culprit's identity to His Majesty," Thales' eyes shone with certainty as he spoke firmly.
"By the hands of the Dragon Spear Family, let this preposterous betrayer and accomplice pay the heftiest price in Dragon Clouds City!"
Upon hearing that, King Nuven suddenly threw his head back in laughter.
His laughter grew louder as time went by.
Conversely, everyone else in the meeting hall remained speechless. In silence, they watched as the king laughed.
Once King Nuven stopped laughing, he cast his gaze on the archdukes—one of them specifically.
"Go on." At this point, King Nuven's eyes were piercing as he stared at the speechless archduke. His elderly voice now clouded with a murderous intent, "We are all looking forward to it."
Thales turned around and nodded at the old king.
He breathed out through his nose and raised his head.
"Once that happens, the culprit's identity and misdoings will never be concealed from Lampard and His Majesty's eyes!
"The thought of Archduke Lampard revealing his identity and crimes through their correspondence…"
"The thought of how his every minute in Dragon Clouds City increased his chances of exposure…
"The thought of King Nuven's inability to vent the raging fire of his vengeance…"
Thales strolled towards the center of the hall. He sighed and looked at the outstanding archduke.
"How could you sit still, eat well, or even sleep well? How could you not flee to your own territory and pray for safety within its secure walls?"
The five archdukes displayed various expressions on their faces.
But the four of them had their knowing gazes cast on the one archduke who had always stood out from the beginning.
"So, this is how it is…" Thales slowly said as he adjusted his line of sight to look at this person.
When they first met in the very same meeting hall, this person was kind, fair and passionate. Tonight, he did not say a word. He only replied with silence.
It was the youngest archduke, who had a crimson horseshoe embroidered on his robes.
With a friendly smile, Thales said, "His Majesty, Lampard and my mutual rival—the murderer of Prince Moriah, my attempted murderer, Lampard's accomplice and betrayer…
"The banquet was going swell, and the palace as well as city gates were opened for the first time. I suggested such a brilliant proposal and awaited your arrival. Can you tell me why, at four in the morning, before the light of dawn even filled the sky…
"You could not even make it for a goodbye, but hurried to leave Heroic Spirit Palace? You ascended onto your carriage and galloped towards the city gate without a care for Dragon Clouds City...
Thales shook his head and with mixed feelings, he read out the culprit's name, "Your Excellency, the respected Archduke of Beacon Illumination City—Conkray Poffret?"
By this time, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Then, the young brunette, whose identity was being celebrated looked up. His body was covered in chills and snow as he looked at the Prince of Constellation.
There was only numbness in his eyes.
Chapter 147: The Northland Road |
The archdukes, the devoted vassals by the king's side, even the White Blade Guards and regular Heroic Spirit Palace guards were all staring intently at Archduke Poffret in the meeting hall.
Among them all, King Nuven's stare was particularly terrifying.
He was like the ferocious human-devouring dragon of legends.
Archduke Poffret's entourage were pale. Many of them raised their heads as if they were meeting for the first time. Their eyes were filled with shock and astonishment as they looked at their master in disbelief.
Thales, who was observing all of this sighed softly. "Sometimes, it is not a good thing to be in such a rush."
In the face of it all, the young Archduke Poffret just pursed his lips and said nothing.
The commander of the White Blade Guards and the Star Killer, Nicholas was behind him. He stared coldly at the archduke, his eyes full of disdain. "Apart from that, when our men stationed at the city gate flagged them down…
"This group from Beacon Illumination City did not intend to respond peacefully. They immediately drew their swords instead," Nicholas' voice grew fainter as more and more people grew restless. "That was until I personally slaughtered that supreme class fellow."
Poffret's entourage from Beacon Illumination City exchanged unpleasant looks. They gritted their teeth and looked down.
"Conkray? You?" Archduke Olsius looked at Archduke Poffret in a daze. "I thought Beacon Illumination City was the closest in terms of distance, and also Dragon Clouds City's most trusted right-hand…"
"Obviously, reality is somewhat different from our assumptions." Next to him, Trentida exhaled. "Take a guess, how will tonight end?"
Right on time, the king's voice rang.
"End?" Nuven the Seventh sneered in a terrifying manner. His eyes were locked on the silent Poffret. "Believe me, everyone…
"Tonight's outcome will be very terrible…"
No one answered.
Still, Archduke Poffret bowed his head without a word.
*Bam!*
With a severely bitter expression, Archduke Roknee resolutely slapped his palm on the table. The impact echoed throughout the hall.
Roknee raised his head and addressed all the archdukes; his voice was laced with disappointment and fury, "We're Northlanders, not conspiring, murdering citizens of the Southern Empire!"
Thales curled his lips and whispered, "Umm, thanks for the compliment."
"Now that this is all out, I must say, it really came as a surprise to me." Archduke Trentida's eyes exuded a slight slyness and playfulness. "Our little guest from Constellation… are you really only seven years old?"
Olsius stared at Thales disdainfully. "Little vipers have a special sensitivity towards conspiracy."
Thales took a deep breath.
'Conspiracy? No,' he secretly said in his heart.
'From the assassination of the Eckstedt Diplomat Group to the battle of Constellation and the Dragon, from the battle for Broken Dragon Fortress to the Mystic Gun that shot me, from Lampard to Poffret… All the dots are starting to connect.'
Just in time, a wave of fluctuations rushed up his brain, allowing Thales to think more rapidly and clearly. All the different elements and events lined up clearly in front of him like the old times.
"This is not just a simple conspiracy," Thales heard himself say.
"A lot of things have happened at the end of this year." The Second Prince of Constellation closed his eyes as he straightened things out in his head. "For Eckstedt, nothing can surpass the murder of Prince Moriah in Constellation.
"However, that was not an isolated incident. It's part of a terrifying chain of conspiracies that stretch across the Southern Peninsula's two strongest countries."
Scenes of the past resurfaced.
The Duke of the Northern Territory's sinister expression.
King Kessel's unsuppressed roar.
The mixed gazes from the Dukes of Constellation.
The Archduke of the Black Sand Region and his expressionless eyes.
Nuven the Seventh's despair.
And now, the Eckstedtians in Heroic Spirit Palace.
Thales gradually reopened his eyes and they were filled with a sense of heaviness.
"This strategy ingeniously utilized the long-standing relationship between the two countries. And, it was inflated by the Garrison Contract, bilateral conflict and hatred that has been accumulating for several decades.
The executor of this strategy would mold himself into a sharp blade for both countries in an attempt to revamp the structure on each side during unrest. This would in effect, reshape the situation in the entire West Peninsula."
Everyone in the Hall of Heroes had their eyes locked on the Prince of Constellation, even their breathing slowed down.
Behind Thales, the vice diplomat of Constellation, Putray Nemain was the only one who frowned slightly. It looked as if he was worried about something.
"First, he would murder Prince Moriah within the borders of Constellation. That would spark a war between Constellation and Eckstedt. During the internal strife between the Jadestar Royal Family and noblemen of Constellation, both parties would suffer without victory. King Kessel would have to sadly step down in defeat and condemnation. With the support of the people and glory of defeating Eckstedt, the Guardian Duke of the Northern Territory, Val Arunde would then take over authority and the royal crown of the Supreme King of Constellation.
Thales lowered his head and described it all plainly as though it had nothing to do with him.
"Just a butterfly's wings, this is just the one side involving Constellation. As for the one in Eckstedt…"
Archduke Poffret unwittingly clenched his fists.
Thales' voice continued indistinctly.
"The passing of Prince Moriah would strip the Walton Family of their hope in crowning a new king, transforming King Nuven's rage into a war-instigating fertilizer. In the name of seeking vengeance for the king, Archduke Lampard would rashly send troops out. In the midst of chaos, coupled with the cooperation of an insider, Lampard would successfully conquer the Northern Territory of Constellation, achieving unprecedented prestige and gain. Finally, the Archduke of the Black Sand Region would return with the glory of battle and overwhelming prestige. He would then be successfully crowned as the common-elected king.
"Once the plan is completed, Constellation and the Dragon would have their masters replaced amid their hatred towards each other, and the nations would be born anew."
Thales paused for a while and finished with, "An elaborate, grand, risky, ambitious, and creative as well as courageous strategy."
The five archdukes exuded mixed feelings.
Roknee had a heavy expression on his face and Olsius thought about what Thales said in shock, while Trentida glanced at the others in the hall, looking askance. The old, bald Lecco just blinked, his expression indistinguishable.
Archduke Poffret's breathing grew heavier.
"A young man with so many thoughts and so much ambition," Archduke Lecco's cloudy eyeballs twitched as he said to Poffret, "But going out of your way to kill the Prince of Constellation has exposed you instead."
Poffret did not answer him. Instead, he just looked at the ground transfixed, as if everything around him did not exist at all.
"I think he did not go out of his way—he did not have a choice." Thales raised his eyebrows. "It just occurred to me just now: the scene of my murder in front of the fortress was to completely destroy Lampard."
Archduke Lecco turned towards him.
"According to the original plan, Lampard would claim the throne to become King Chapman—I do not know the generation count for this name.
"But you, Archduke Poffret are Eckstedt's most secret ally."
Poffret finally raised his head, but he was not facing anybody in particular.
"The problem is, this plan had already failed from the start." Thales sighed.
"Prince Moriah was murdered, but Constellation's insider failed. My appearance denied the Duke of the Northern Territory any provocation of war as planned." He frowned as he recalled all kinds of things in Renaissance Palace, as well as Sonia and Arracca in the fortress. "Lampard also failed to gather the forces of the three southern archdukes to invade Constellation. Needless to say, he could not take down Broken Dragon Fortress—the war between Constellation and the Dragon was simply not possible!"
"Count Lampard could not achieve the glory of conquering the Northern Territory of Constellation, to retrieve the highly aspired crown."
Archduke Poffret exhaled ever so slightly and a low gasp for breath was heard.
"Even more terrifying… with the defeat of Val Arunde in Constellation, Chapman Lampard's conspiracy was exposed." Thales forced a smile. "The raging King Nuven would seek his vengeance, and Lampard as well as the Black Sand Region would pay the price."
"Ah, exactly," King Nuven added without a care. At the end of the long table, he caressed the black ring on his finger.
The archdukes exchanged glances.
Thales nodded. "Hence, Lampard was destined to be finished. His Majesty, Nuven and Dragon Clouds City will not let him go."
Under the watch of the archdukes, he gestured towards the expressionless Poffret.
"If Lampard was really forced to his wit's end, how could his accomplice be fine alone? Judging from Lampard's character, he would certainly drag his accomplice to hell with him." Thales shook his head.
"For his own survival, Archduke Poffret had to act fast in eliminating previous accomplices and potential ones…"
The long-haired Roknee snorted.
"If the Prince of Constellation had died in the Black Sand Region, Lampard's reputation would have been smeared with his blood…" Thales walked back to Putray's side and sneered. "As for the throne of Constellation, even before King Nuven can act, the Dukes of Constellation would have come in droves, tearing Lampard and the Black Sand Region into pieces. I think the other archdukes would be happy to see that happen too.
"Then, you would be completely safe."
The voice of the Prince of Constellation dropped.
In the hall, many people released sighs of different intents. There was everything from deliberation to pity, grief, dissatisfaction and wrath.
At the next second, the young Archduke Poffret finally turned around. His eyes were no longer gentle and friendly as he glared at Thales up and down. He then resumed his stare at Nuven the Seventh, who was sitting at the end of the table in front of him.
*Clap, clap, clap…*
A slow, rhythmic applause began to sound from the end of the long table.
King Nuven had started applauding, but remained expressionless.
Nobody joined him.
"Our guests from Constellation deserve an applause..." the old king applauded as he spoke in a disturbing rhythm and tone.
Thales rolled his eyes begrudgingly. He could feel all the eyes on him. Their stares were heavy with deliberation and fear.
"You too, ally of the Walton Family, leader of the Poffret Family, my most trusted Archduke of Beacon Illumination City, Conkray Poffret."
The eyes of the Common-Elected King of Eckstedt and Archduke of Beacon Illumination City finally met.
One side was filled with complexity and rage, while the other was numb and indifferent.
"Say something, Conkray, before you can no longer speak," King Nuven's voice was heavy and stifled. It echoed in the fire-lit meeting hall, giving people a sense of suffocation.
"At the very least, you can try choosing your own method of execution?"
All of a sudden, Archduke Poffret raised the corner of his mouth. It revealed a shady, yet terrifying smirk.
"Method of execution?" he murmured.
With a face of concern, a disarmed subordinate behind Poffret whispered, "Sir, maybe we should—"
The next moment, Poffret turned around. He had furious expression on his face as he spoke coldly to his subordinate, "Shut up."
His follower began to slow down in his speech before he sighed and stopped talking.
Poffret turned back. As his face twitched, he gritted his teeth. His expression successively changed between dissatisfaction and fury.
"Hmph," the young archduke sneered.
"You want me to say something…" His laughter extended further.
Thales scowled, while King Nuven's expression remained unchanged.
"Hahaha, what else can I say?" Poffret shook his head sarcastically.
A moment later, he suddenly turned around. His eyes were sharp like a falcon's as he swept his gaze across the hall.
"I do not know what you are talking about," Poffret's indifferent words caused a change in everyone's expressions.
"I received an invitation from His Majesty to come to Dragon Clouds City on the basis of a discussion regarding bilateral issues," Poffret addressed the crowd with a sneer and reached his hand out to Thales. "Then, the common-elected king, whom I respect the most, the one I cannot say no to formed an alliance with the enemy's prince—the one he has a deep-seated vendetta against. All that to accuse me of being the murderer of Prince Moriah?"
"And the reason?" With a fierce expression, Poffret jerked his head back, causing Thales to jump in surprise.
"Just because I wanted to leave the banquet early? Because I wanted to rush back to my own territory? Because my people and the White Blade Guards had an unnecessary conflict in the middle of the night? I even had to sacrifice a supreme class guard!"
Poffret gasped for air as he firmly beat his chest.
"Such shameless slander!"
"Screw you, Poffret!" one of the vassals by the king's side spat. "That's a coward's defense!"
