Kingdom's Bloodline, page 222
"I'm watching you.
"I warned you!"
The next moment, Thales woke up from his dream!
He took in large breaths of air. 'That voice…
'That voice!'
At this moment, a hand was placed on his shoulder.
Still panicking, Thales turned his head around.
It was Gu.
The man who just shook him up from his dream.
The Far Easterner squatted by his side and looked at him in an unpleasant manner. Next to him, Little Rascal stood with a face of uncertainty.
"Wake up, Prince of Constellation," the owner of the butcher shop plainly said. "The person you're looking for is here."
"That quick?" Thales brought his spirits up and temporarily suppressed the scenes from his dream. He rubbed his eyes as he got up from the cold ground.
"He has many social connections, so he did not need much time." Gu stood and shook his head. "Furthermore, he's come to pick you up."
Thales was stunned.
He shook his head in an attempt to wake up from the lethargy earlier.
"He came to pick me up?"
Observing Gu's gestures, Thales and Little Rascal followed him out of the shop's door.
On the empty and uninhabited street was a two-wheeled carriage with a coach. It had a window made of transparent, cheaply-made glass.
The coachman on the carriage bowed contritely. A middle-aged noble with a blonde ponytail was standing by the side. The latter heaved a breath of air.
"Your Highness, thank God!"
"Thank you for your help." Thales nodded.
"We're short on time. Please get on the carriage immediately." The middle-aged noble was obviously relieved upon seeing him. He took off his hat and bowed. "We went through an interrogation by a wave of patrols upon entering Armor District. Despite their good acting, I dare swear that they were definitely not patrols of the city. They were not even locals…"
Thales nodded, and with a dignified look, he said, "Of course. They're from Black Sand Region—Lampard has planned this for a while."
As the middle-aged noble stared at him blankly, Thales looked at the carriage.
"It's too conspicuous." Thales frowned. "A carriage? Transparent glass? Will we be able to leave? And also get back to Heroic Spirit Palace…"
For a short while, the middle-aged noble digested the news from Thales. He raised his head to answer the prince's questions.
"I'm using the name of Good Flow City's caravan to unload important cargo from Armor District, and the charter given to me previously by His Majesty…"
The noble lifted his staff and knocked it against the wheel of the carriage. "I also happen to know a disciplinary officer who receives bribes, and he cleared some guard posts, so he turned a blind eye as we exit from the blockades under his supervision. There will be no news escaping…
"As for the glass, please rest assured that this is a specially-made carriage. From the outside, you can only see me through the glass, nothing from the back. When necessary, you can even hide in the secret coach."
Thales looked at the carriage and exhaled.
"Let's go then." He raised his head and looked at the blonde noble from Camus. "Marquis Shiles Bamra."
Shiles nodded and opened the carriage door. His eyes were fixed on Little Rascal, who was hiding behind Thales.
"This is?" He narrowed his eyes.
Little Rascal shrank in fear.
"My female servant. She saved my life on the road. I cannot leave her behind," Thales calmly said.
"Very well, let's discuss it on the road then." Shiles stopped pursuing the matter. "I also need to hear your explanation on what exactly happened."
Thales and Little Rascal then boarded Shiles' carriage. Shiles sat in front while they hid in the space behind him. They were completely unnoticeable from the outside.
Just as the carriage door was closing, Thales stuck his head out. "By the way, thank you, Mister Gu."
The Far Easterner tilted his head and looked at him with a strange expression. He revealed an inexplicable smile.
"Don't thank me." Gu rubbed his hands together and smiled mysteriously. "Thank Kaslan, thank him for the bread he gave me back then, which cost six-fifty…
"That's enough."
Gu turned around and walked into his own butcher shop.
'Six-fifty.
'So that's what it was.'
Thales smiled.
The door closed and the carriage started to move.
Shiles watched Gu's figure disappear behind the door and he frowned. "How did you strike up a relationship with Dragon Clouds City's famous intelligence broker?"
"It was by accident," Thales bluntly said, "A lucky accident."
It was now time to deal with proper business.
The carriage drove past several segments of streets.
He raised his head and looked at Marquis Shiles ahead.
"Please tell me if Heroic Spirit Palace, the other city districts, and Dragon Clouds City are still under the rule of the Walton Family."
Marquis Shiles frowned. "Before I entered Armor District, everything from the White Blade Guards to the palace guards, patrols and even the officials seemed normal.
"Of course, with the king leaving the palace with troops in tow, the devastation inflicted by the calamity and the Great Dragon's return, some guests—the archdukes included—felt some emotional instability. However, Prime Minister Lisban has thought of every possible method to make them settle down.
"Nonetheless," he changed the topic and said in a low voice, "my spy in the disciplinary hall as well as my peers' channels have both informed me that His Majesty never showed up, and that there were no commands conveyed. Only scattered White Blade Guards appeared after resisting the calamity, yet we obtained no information from them…
"From the Chief Garrison Officer to everyone in the chief disciplinary hall, they are all anxious. Not long ago, the prime minister was still discussing whether to disregard the king's curfew and dispatch a large number of patrols into Shield District, or not."
Thales breathed a sigh of relief.
"So, Heroic Spirit Palace and Dragon Clouds City are generally still safe?"
"Safe? After encountering those patrols who interrogated us, I have my doubts." Shiles shook his head and worriedly said, "First, you have to tell me what exactly happened in Shield District after the calamity destroyed it. What about His Majesty?
"And how did you end up here?"
Thales took a deep breath and looked at Marquis Shiles who had his head turned back. He enunciated his words clearly, "King Nuven was attacked by an assassin. He is dead."
Shiles sat in his place with a blank expression. His face changed subtly with each rise and fall the carriage went through on the bumpy road.
"The murderer was a man with the surname Charleton, and the person who hired him was Lampard," Thales quietly finished.
Little Rascal looked at them timidly.
"So, it seems that it is true." Shiles came to his senses after a long while. He stroked his gloves and staff, while he subconsciously said, "The king is dead.
"Eckstedt… is going into chaos."
"The Crystal Drop Ore Agreement…" Lost in thought, Marquis Shiles gazed at his staff. He seemed to be urgently calculating his gains and losses.
Thales was silent. He did not speak.
Soon, the carriage drove out of Amor District's range. By the winding streets of Dragon Clouds City, they entered a road-block formed by patrol soldiers and chevaux de frise—they had arrived at the blockade.
Thales nervously watched as the coachman conversed with the lead disciplinary officer. The coachman then shoved a letter and money pouch into the disciplinary officer's hand.
The disciplinary officer shot a glance at the carriage's glass and Marquis Shiles waved at him in a friendly manner.
The carriage passed through successfully.
Thales, who lay desperately flat at the bottom of the couch with Little Rascal, finally exhaled.
"Don't worry." Shiles smiled stiffly. "Businessmen have many social connections and they're very useful—there's no problem when it comes to settling those of the lowest rung."
The number of people surrounding the carriage started to increase.
Everywhere, there were residents of the capital whispering in one another's ears. Some stopped by the streets in ragged clothing. Many kind-hearted people were giving out food and supplies to these pitiful people who were stranded on the streets.
"These are all the evacuated residents. They have been homeless for a few hours—at least, that's how they will be until the decommissioning of the king's curfew." Marquis Shiles looked outside the window and shook his head. "Of course, I've heard that compared to the people of Shield District…"
At this moment however, a huge commotion was heard outside.
An anxious-looking man came running from the street. He yelled while he ran.
Both Thales and Shiles frowned as they exchanged a look in bewilderment.
The crowd began to gather in one spot, then they started moving forward with that man.
The surrounding discussions grew louder and soon, there was a commotion everywhere.
Immediately after, the crowd's emotions began to get out of control. Some were howling in grief, some were hysterical while others cursed at the skies in fury.
Their carriage had no choice but to slow down as well.
Soon, the man disappeared into the crowd.
However, the people did not disperse. As before, they gathered into circles. With their loud voices, they engaged in heated discussions in twos and threes. There was no lack of people shouting in agitation and people engaging in fisticuffs.
The Northlanders' temperaments were on full display.
"What happened?" An ominous premonition struck Thales' heart.
"I don't know," Marquis Shiles replied solemnly, "but we will find out."
Then, Marquis Shiles deliberately stopped the carriage at the next corner of the street.
Abiding by his gestures, the coachman asked a patrol soldier who was maintaining order, but also agitatedly arguing with his colleagues about something, to come to the side of the carriage.
Marquis Shiles opened the carriage door halfway and stuck his head out.
"I'm from Camus, a partner of King Nuven's," The blonde noble with the ponytail handed out a silver coin and put on a friendly smile. "May I know what just happened?"
The soldier seemed to have been involved in an intense debate. As he was gasping for breath, he was stunned to see the silver coin in his hand.
He raised his head again, and saw the golden wheat and dagger symbol on the carriage.
"Sir, something so great has happened, how could you not know about it yet?" The soldier calmed down from his previous agitated state. After he regained his composure, he appeared somewhat reserved.
"That's why I need you to clear up the confusion." Marquis Shiles fished out another silver coin and gently said, "Just mention a selection of what you know."
The soldier looked at the silver coins in his hand again and pocketed it subconsciously.
The soldier adjusted his armor and shook his head. He exhaled as his face turned unpleasant. "This is what happened. His Majesty, King Nuven was attacked by an assassin!"
Shiles' expression changed in a timely manner.
"What? How did you find out?"
Thales was hidden behind the marquis as he clenched his jaw and listened silently.
"I heard about it from someone." Watching the marquis' reaction, the soldier seemed to be encouraged as his words began to flow smoothly, "It's being spread to the entire of Dragon Clouds City. It's about the murderer…"
Surprise struck Thales' heart.
Marquis Shiles furrowed his brows. "Who's the murderer?"
"Those citizens of the Empire!" the soldier raised his head and shouted in anger. "They want to trigger civil unrest in Eckstedt!
The soldier's words grew resentful. His tone was laced with fury and hatred, "Those damned Empire scum, and the Prince of Constellation from the South… They ganged up with the calamity and even set up an ambush with fighters and assassins in Shield District...
"Those sons of b*tches of Constellation!
"They murdered the common-elected king!"
Shiles silently sighed.
Behind him, under Little Rascal's panicked gaze, Thales was in a daze as he leaned against the coach and gasped for breath.
His heart was ice-cold.
Chapter 195: Spirit of the Contract |
It was early morning in Dragon Clouds City. A two-wheeled carriage drove across a chaotic street, skillfully shuttling around.
As the carriage advanced, the cries of resentment outside the window grew lesser.
In the coach, Marquis Shiles turned around and looked at the silent Thales.
The marquis shook his head silently in his heart.
'After all…'
"Are you okay, Your Highness?" the marquis from Camus tentatively asked.
As though he felt something, Thales raised his head and glanced at Shiles absent-mindedly.
By the side, Little Rascal felt that something was amiss in the atmosphere and she secretly inhaled.
Under the subtle gaze of the marquis, Thales sighed after a long while.
"Yes.
"Just a little tired."
Shiles gripped his staff with a solemn expression on his face.
"What are your plans, Your Highness?"
Thales closed his eyes and took a deep breath, expelling all the terror and uneasiness in his heart.
'I have to pull myself together.
'Especially during such times…'
The prince clenched his fist and he felt the wound caused by the dagger on his palm.
'It hurts.
'But…'
"I seem to understand a little now." He opened his eyes and his gaze was firm. "With regard to Lampard's daring actions to risk assassinating His Highness and even personally lead an army into Dragon Clouds City—we must rush to Heroic Spirit Palace as soon as possible."
"It's war again, isn't it?" Marquis Shiles sighed.
He shifted his gaze towards the streets outside the window. Initially, his expression was hesitant, but with concern, he continued with, "Is there any other circumstantial evidence regarding the King's assassination?"
Wave upon wave of White Blade Guards surfaced before his eyes as he recalled the scene of them using their body to resist bows and arrows for the two children.
He remembered the last White Blade Guard's contorted face, the image of him struggling to turn around and face an attack.
'The Dragon's Imperial Guards.'
Thales came to his senses and shook his head. "Perhaps not. Judging from Lampard's character, he probably would have cleaned it up well. Any news on Lampard or the others? What about the people in Shield District?"
"None, as far as I know." Marquis Shiles tugged his cuffs lightly and faintly sighed. "Seems like things have gotten a little troublesome."
"Yes," Thales said. His voice low, he quickly pondered over the situation before him. "Nobody would have thought that Lampard would use such rapid, violent and extremely effective measures… I'm afraid that there are not many occurrences of an Eckstedtian king being killed by his own archduke."
"Not even one."
A young female voice rang in the coach.
Thales and Shiles were both stunned at once. They turned their heads around to Little Rascal.
"In the recent two hundred years or so, the Tannon Family of Prestige Orchid Region attempted to assassinate the common-elected king, but their plot was exposed—King Corsa gathered the troops of the other archdukes before the Tannon Family's castle and erected the Roknee Family's 'Canon of Knights' banner."
Upon finishing her sentence, Little Rascal blinked and touched her head as though she was trying to recall a memory in detail.
"On the seventh day, the Mourning Archduke, Emerson Tannon who violated the Joint-Ruling Pledge was tied up and sent out of the city by his subordinates as well as the seething, discontented citizens." The girl raised her head and said with certainty, "Before everyone's eyes, King Corsa personally pierced through the traitor's chest with the Soul Slayer Pike."
"Jacob Olsius was the first to detain the Mourning Archduke and he sent him out of the city. Later, he became the first Archduke of Prestige Orchid with the surname 'Olsius'."
Thales and Shiles frowned. With a weird expression on their faces, they listened and waited for Little Rascal to finish.
Little Rascal took notice of the other two's expressions. She blushed and shyly lowered her head at once.
They exchanged looks.
"You mentioned that she's your servant?" Marquis Shiles was a little doubtful.
"Yes, this part of her was exactly what I took a fancy to." Thales stroked his head. A little embarrassed, he quietly nudged Little Rascal, causing the latter to lower her head even further. "Heh."
"Really?" Shiles cast a meaningful glance at Little Rascal and revealed a sly smile. "So that's the case."
Thales quickly switched topics, "So, whether it's committing regicide or rebelling, both seem to be intolerable offenses in Northland."
Shiles nodded and sighed. "How could Lampard have such guts? Even if he pushed all the guilt onto you…"
Thales put his hands down. His expression was solemn.
He remembered Viscount Kentvida from Black Sand Region and the Fire Knight of the Five War Generals.
"I'm afraid that we have underestimated Lampard," he silently said.
Thales suddenly raised his head.
"But there's still one hurdle he cannot go around." The prince narrowed his eyes. "That is if his intentions are indeed what I think they are."
Shiles fixed his gaze on his staff. "For instance?"
"Too many things are still shrouded in mystery. There's a need to sort out the clues once again." Thales shook his head, and his expression grew more solemn as his brain revolved frantically. "When did Lampard start planning this and how did he execute all of this?"
The carriage turned a corner.
"Is this important? Things have already worsened to such an extent." Marquis Shiles fished out a fine pocket watch with a copper chain. "Forgive me for being frank. Apart from clarifying the facts, maybe you should consider how to escape. I can provide you with some methods…"
