Kingdom's Bloodline, page 343
'It has been six years... Dragon Clouds City. What exactly is this city to me?'
The second prince closed his eyes, shutting Dragon Clouds City out from his field of vision. He sighed. "Promise me, Saroma. In the next day of the state affairs hearing, regardless of what happens, don't do anything stupid."
Stunned, Saroma paused. "What?"
"Don't worry about other people, don't worry about other things, don't bear the slightest hesitation or doubt. Just choose the road that's the most suitable for you, for the archduchess. That is all." Thales turned around. His complexion was like ice, for it seemed as though he was about to face the world's hardest test. "I will handle everything else."
Saroma looked at him. She wanted to speak but hesitated. Eventually, she closed her mouth and did not say anything.
Thales revealed a small smile. He nodded gently, turned around, and walked out of the dining hall, leaving the young lady behind him.
Thales walked into the corridor. Without turning his gaze, he walked past Ginghes the female officer's strict and solemn eyes, past the maidservants' gesticulative, whispered conversation, and past the ill-intended gazes of the guards.
It was exactly like six years ago, how he had walked past them numerous times before, until when he was preparing to leave the palace gates and was stopped.
"This afternoon, I noticed how they looked at you in the hall."
Thales frowned. Ian Roknee stood in a corner. He called out to him while he put on a fake smile to a guard who did not seem easy to befriend.
The heir of the City of Faraway Prayers turned around. He caught up to Thales with quick strides, leaving the knife-like gaze of the guard behind him. All smiles, he said, "I don't think she can protect you, especially among these Northlanders."
Thales sighed faintly.
'So you really did it intentionally; pushing me to the front of the stage again to receive scrutiny.'
They walked past a group of patrol guards in the corridor—they looked to be the archduchess' personal guards. The one leading them narrowed his eyes as he sized up the duo.
Ian shrugged faintly and said in a low voice, "You know, the City of Faraway Prayers is Eckstedt's furthest territory. It is far from the King's radar, and we border the Great Desert."
Thales raised his eyebrows. "So?"
"So, if you're in the City of Faraway Prayers, you won't have to worry about the king's threats. My father welcomes you, too." Ian blinked. "Furthermore, you can return to Constellation's Western Desert Hill just by crossing the desert from our place. You don't even have to cross through another archduke's territory."
Thales paused for a moment and, in his heart, shook his head helplessly.
'He's right. That is... if Dragon Clouds City and King Chapman would allow me to leave, and if you're really kind enough to let me leave; let a chess piece that can be used to blackmail Constellation leave.'
"If things are not right..." Ian raised his head, revealing his signature wild smile again. "Please remember that the weather in the City of Faraway Prayers is much better than it is here."
"I can't thank you enough," Thales said calmly, "I will always keep this in mind."
The two people walked side by side, towards the palace gate. They could already see Wya, Ralf and several protectors from the City of Faraway Prayers waiting by the gate.
"Ian... You said you wanted to write a legend of your own." Thales asked softly, "What did you mean by that?"
Ian lifted his head and rubbed his chin. It appeared as if his interest was incited by this question.
"What did I mean…?" He laughed mischievously.
"The Roknee Family hasn't come out with a king in over three hundred years. Moreover, Dragon Clouds City just relinquished their dominance over the throne."
Ian turned his head around again. His grinning appearance made him seem as if he was joking. "Or maybe it's time to balance out the distribution of power in Eckstedt. What do you say?"
Thales' eyes froze. He understood the other's implication as he recalled that long-haired and steadfast warrior. "Archduke Roknee is interested in contending for the kingship?"
Ian shook his head. "Heh." He looked down, flicked at the Knight's Canon crest on his shoulder and hid his gaze in an angle where Thales could not see. "Of course not."
Ian raised his head, his eyes exuded sparks that were difficult to understand. With a rhythmic intonation, Ian said softly through gritted teeth, "...At least not him."
Thales stopped walking.
About a dozen meters away from the palace gates, Wya bowed at him respectfully at a distance.
Ian stopped walking as well. Calm and unruffled, he looked back at Thales.
The prince let out a soft laugh. "You know that you're going to face Lampard, the king that's perhaps the hardest to deal with in all of Eckstedtian history?"
Ian also laughed. "Yes, my father has to remind me at every meal about how terrifying the man under the crown is."
They both stared at one another.
"But, since we want to write our own legends"—Ian's smile slowly disappeared—"then we cannot leave too much pen and ink for the supporting roles."
Thales raised the corners of his mouth and shook his head in resignation.
"Are you sure he's a supporting role?" The prince looked firmly at Ian. "Chapman Lampard."
Ian displayed an innocent expression and shrugged. "I don't know. But I know that if I want to be the lead..." The nineteen-year-old viscount heaved a sigh.
"...Then he has to be the supporting role."
The air seemed to have gone still for a moment.
With a complex expression, Thales looked at him and nodded. "Right."
Ian curled his lips. "The successful legends were all written like this, there are no exceptions."
Constellation's second prince and the heir of the City of Faraway Prayers looked at each other for a good few seconds. Both their expressions disappeared gradually.
"Now, I'm starting to believe." The second prince narrowed his eyes slowly.
Ian raised his brows, his tone bright. "Believe what?"
Thales let out a long breath of air, it was laced with a little sigh.
"Ian Roknee, without a doubt... You're indeed your father's son."
Chapter 311: The Day of the State Affairs Hearing |
When the first ray of sunlight from the east crept its way onto the windowsill and into the room, Thales awoke.
Just like the past six years, he took a deep breath, rose from the ground, stretched his aching back, and tossed his pillow and blanket back onto the bed.
The ancient tree still looked stately in the court outside the window. Thales heard from the chatter of the servants that the tree had been there probably even before the founding of Eckstedt.
There were a few Constellatiate soldiers yawning, and the Northlanders were changing shifts outside the walls. It was still the same old arrangement: one-third of the Archduchess' Guards, two-thirds of the palace guards.
...Guarding him securely.
After washing up, Thales sighed. He lifted his head from the washing bowl, rubbed his face, and took a look at his surroundings once more.
His vision swept over the books on the table, the sword and shield on the rack, and everything in the room. He then let out a breath and shook his head, as if he was free of his burdens.
Thales, like always, tied his own boots and buckled up his belt. His movements were very slow and meticulous. It was as though he was doing something sacred. He even spent more time than usual straightening his collar and tightening his sleeves.
He rearranged some of his important belongings: A perpetually sharp JC dagger at his back; a piece of black cloth that he always brought with him to cover his breath; the fangs bracelet that came to him from the Night Queen six years ago, after he experienced much misfortune; a lightweight palace map that hid terrifying secrets handed from King Nuven; and a poorly drawn sketch of a young girl by an anonymous person on a piece of unusual paper from Mindis Hall.
Thales discreetly slipped the paper into the map and rolled it into a scroll. He then tied it to the bracelet with the black cloth, and tucked it into his pocket.
'Today. It's today.'
A knock came from the door. The prince took a deep breath.
"Come in".
The door opened. Putray walked into the room biting his pipe, and said smilingly, "How early of you to be awake."
The prince glanced at him but remained quiet. He just walked to the window and gazed at the scenery outside.
"I believe you've already known that the last immediate count arrived at Dragon Clouds City last night," Putray groaned softly, "So, according to—"
Thales nodded his head, and he spoke in a voice that contained not even a tinge of anxiety, "I know, since all of the vassals are here, the hearing shall commence today."
'Yes, it was today.'
He looked at the familiar yet strange scenery on the court, moved by a mixture of feelings. "How's the diplomat group from the City of Faraway Prayers?"
"There's no news yet."
"How about Black Sand Region?"
"It seems they wished to listen to the discussions in the hearing, but they were barred at the palace gates."
"What is the situation in Heroic Spirit Palace?"
"The usual. It's just that there are more guards on patrol."
Thales nodded his head. It was always calm before the storm. The prince's line of sight scanned over the entire Blood Court.
This was the place where he lived in solitude for two years. It was the beginning of him being banished to this forsaken place since when the archduchess was young until she grew up.
According to Joseph, the child working in the scullery, this was once a room for some Dragon Clouds City's archduke to recover from his illness. During that time, when he was so sick that nothing could be done to heal him, he decidedly passed down his title to his heir. As for the archduke himself, he walked into this forsaken court, then waited in loneliness for the day he heard the bell chimes of the ferryman from Hell's River.
Since then, the Blood Court became a cursed place in Heroic Spirit Palace.
Thales silently looked at the appallingly dilapidated scenery in the court, but at that moment, a sense of closeness rose inside him, one that he had never experienced before in this place.
The prince chuckled.
"What do you think of Dragon Clouds City?" Thales suddenly asked.
Putray raised his eyebrows somewhat as he stood behind him. It seemed like he was shocked by what the prince had asked.
"Dragon Clouds City...? A city," said the haggard, old man in a voice completely void of intonation while he blew out a puff smoke. "Nothing more, nothing less."
'Nothing more, nothing less?'
"She has stood here for more than a thousand of years." Thales looked at the distant gatehouses which could vaguely be seen, then shook his head. "For the past one thousand of years, countless people came and went from it, lived and died in it."
Kings, archdukes, soldiers, nobles, peasants...even dragons.
Or princes...
"But she has always stood here, regardless of who was above her, regardless of who reigned over her, and regardless of who was buried here." Thales heaved a long sigh. "She witnessed everything... for thousands of years."
Six years ago, the Prince of Constellation set foot onto this land, and nearly ignited the flames of war between two countries.
Six years ago, the Blood Calamity came rampaging in the dark of night, reaping lives and destroying the city while terrifying sounds roared in the air.
It was also six years ago when the Queen of the Sky descended from above. Under the dragon's deafening roars, everything was burned.
And again, it was six years ago when the Great Dragon's blood was spilled onto the land, that great Born King was murdered, and his murderer stepped on his bones, wore the crown while blood still dripped from it.
But she, Dragon Clouds City, was still here, and continued to witness numerous historical accounts...
...like the last thousand years.
The man who stood behind Thales did not reply, all he did was blow a perfect ring of smoke.
"Two thousand."
Thales snapped out of his contemplation. His expression changed slightly. "What?"
Putray sneered softly, and he looked rather relaxed. "If you trace back to Arunde Castle during the era of the Ancient Empire, then the history of Dragon Clouds City would be two thousand years old."
Thales turned, and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Three thousand years if you consider the ruins of the Northern Royal City during the age of feudal kings," said the man smoking his pipe with a teasing smile on his face. "But if it's the broken walls during the uncivilized period—or during the period of time where the orcs' tents were made from beast hide—Dragon Clouds City must have been around since four thousand years ago..." Putray gestured to the faded symbol of Cloud Dragon Spear by jutting his bottom lip in its direction. "If we go further up, we can go up to a few ten thousand years."
Thales raised his eyebrows.
"But this piece of land, Dragon Clouds City, is still here." Putray shook his head, his words contained a hint of disapproval. "And are you going to pray once for every single dead ant in the soil beneath your feet, be in awe of the history of Dragon Clouds City? Forget it, because to Dragon Clouds City, you're nothing."
The prince was rendered speechless. Thales turned away, he let out a sigh of resignation.
"Putray..." The prince shook his head mockingly. "You are definitely second to none when it comes to being a wet blanket."
Thales forced down his feelings of sentimentality, turned around, and walked to the door. Putray smiled softly as he watched the prince's back, and breathed out gently.
"I first came to Dragon Clouds City forty-three years ago."
Thales came to an abrupt stop.
Putray's voice continued to travel into Thales' ears. His voice seemed drawn out, "That's year 635, King Kahn had passed away, a year before King Nuven was crowned."
'It was so long ago.'
Putray gazed at the floor beneath his feet, unknowingly rubbing the pipe in his hand.
'Everything in the past…'
He smiled, shook his head, and said, "I was fifteen years old. As a newly appointed attendant for the prince, I was an utter dimwit."
Thales turned with a frown on his face.
"Attendant?" The prince tested him by asking, "So, you were under…"
"Yes, the eldest son of the late King, His Royal Highness Midier." Putray was not even looking at him. He sighed softly. "He was younger than you are now, and he, too, got himself into trouble, unfortunately."
A thought came to Thales' mind.
'Midier Jadestar. It's that story.'
King Nuven told him about the tale six years ago after the duel. It was the tale about that young Jadestar on a diplomatic journey to the Great Dragon, who fearlessly faced the king and the archdukes.
The thin man was rubbing his old pipe.
"With the royal edict from King Aydi, our young diplomat group stepped into Dragon Clouds City. Excited, worked up, curious, nervous, uneasy, shuddering—all kinds of stupid looks you can imagine.
"Clover had a fierce look in his eyes, feeling as if all Northlanders would respect him this way. Old smoker Jalpet who never put down his pipe, surprisingly did not touch it during those few days; old Barney was the lieutenant of the royal squad, and that paranoid man even thought that there could be enemies lurking in His Highness' ears; Zakriel was a new recruit in the squad, he tried his best to keep a stern look on his face during his first expedition with His Royal Highness. He looks weaker than even the current Wya."
Putray stopped smoking his pipe. His gaze was fixed on a point in the air, at a spot that was only stored in his memories. "But the late King's eldest, the young Midier, only smiled."
Thales did not say anything, he thought about the day of his first arrival at Dragon Clouds City and he pictured in his heart that, forty-three years ago, another Jadestar had arrived in Dragon Clouds City.
"It was as if he wanted to bury all his emotions in that smile, be it sadness, pain, anxiety, or his insecurities."
The room sank into silence.
Putray placed the pipe into his mouth again, and took a deep drag, as if he wanted to keep those memories of the past firmly in his mind.
He breathed in and subsequently puffed out a few smoke rings. Putray's face became blurred by the smoke, but his voice traveled into the air through that smoke, and it was filled with emotions Thales could not read. "Decades have passed, when I returned to Dragon Clouds City, I thought I would have felt my burdens, or I would be sentimental, or I would, as someone who came here before, smile at those who had just arrived for the first time, just like you now, immersed in your melancholy for this city."
When the smoke dispersed, the thin old man lifted his head. "But I did not," he said coldly.
Thales knitted his eyebrows.
Putray stared straight at him. His gaze was cold. "I felt nothing at all"—Thales held his breath subconsciously—"because the only piece of memory that surfaced in my mind when I came here was not of Dragon Clouds City's bricks and walls, not the grass and the trees..."
Putray shook his head. He raised his foot and walked towards the prince. Thales watched him in a daze, not knowing how to reply him.
"After many years, I understood it." Putray stood in front of Thales and looked straight into his eyes. "What I remembered wasn't Dragon Clouds City, but only my partners then in Dragon Clouds City, and His Royal Highness Midier's smile."
It was his friends who journeyed together with him that year, while they had no knowledge of anything.
"What's worth remembering for you isn't the land," the old man whispered, "but the people on this land, and the tale you live through with them."
There was only silence.
After a long time had passed, the conflicted Thales opened his mouth and said slowly, "Then, where are they now?" Putray's eyes moved. The prince elaborated on his question, "The diplomat group that year, I mean. Where are those who lived through the tale together with you?"
