Kingdom's Bloodline, page 345
"Lyner!" The gold-bearded Count Hearst interrupted him angrily. "Stop, for the sake of the Sunset Goddess! Save your complaints for later!"
Upon hearing this, a gloomy feeling came suddenly to Thales heart.
'Saroma. What kind of vassals did you face during these six years?'
Count Lyner then sneered lightly and disdainfully, but just as he was about to speak—
"The Count of Eagle County and the Blood Lands!"
The voice of the messenger came once more. "Regent of Dragon Clouds City, Ciel Lisban!"
Finally, Thales saw someone familiar. The level-headed and serious Count Lisban walked into the great hall, bringing with him a dignity and bearing that allowed no one to argue with him.
The moment Regent Lisban entered, all the nobles quieted down, a spectacle that was different from when the other counts entered. Only the five counts at the frontmost seats showed no signs of weakness when they looked at him.
Count Lyner even sneered softly.
Regent Lisban walked to the front of the five counts. His expression was indifferent. "Everyone, welcome. It is my pleasure to have you here."
"Not you, Ciel." Count Nazaire shook his head, revealing a hideous smile. "Not me. We came to respond to the ruler's call."
Lisban turned and looked at Nazaire.
"Of course," the Regent said gently, he turned and walked past the seats of those five people, then sat in the place nearest to the archduchess.
The other four did not even look at Lisban, as if he did not belong with them. He was not one of their comrades.
As he watched the interaction between the six counts, Thales frowned.
"Ian." The prince shifted his seat one step towards Ian and said softly to him, "Tell me that Dragon Clouds City is not your only hope in this matter."
Ian, who was waving at his diplomat group, was slightly surprised.
He turned, showing a puzzled face. "What?"
Thales' expression was firm. "Tell me."
Ian wrinkled his brow and it seemed like he thought of something. "You look like… you don't quite trust us."
Thales shook his head and his emotions were indecipherable. "Just tell me."
Ian narrowed his eyes. In the end, the heir of the City of Faraway Prayers let out a light snort. "Of course not. Dragon Clouds City is just one of our possible plans."
His expression became a little dark. "At this time, my older sister should have probably taken her mission to Defense City."
Thales remained silent for a while.
"Defense City. Archduke Lecco."
He thought of that bald archduke and the fuss he made in this great hall six years ago. "Of course, twenty years ago, they were also a part of the reinforcements to attack the Alliance of Freedom."
The prince raised his head. There was worry on his face. "But if you can think of this, then Lampard would have thought of it as well. Just like how he predicted you would come to Dragon Clouds City."
Ian whistled, then waved his hand, completely unconcerned. "My sister will have her ways. Who knows, maybe she will use that big pair of tits to seduce the old baldy to send his troops, or use her mouth. Who knows which mouth she will be using, though."
Thales frowned. He noticed that Ian's gaze slowly froze on a spot in the air, as if he was thinking about something else.
"You don't seem to like your older sister."
Ian snortly lightly, as if he did not agree with Thales' statement.
"Don't get me wrong, we used to be very close to each other." The younger Roknee looked at the stone carving of the Cloud Dragon Spear above his head, then scoffed gently from his nose, "But now, we're like enemies."
His expression was one of extreme mockery.
Thales raised his eyebrows. "Do you mind if I ask why?"
Ian did not speak, he just cast a glance at Thales with a complicated expression.
At the same time, a shout louder than before came from the door.
"Raikaru's and Chara's bloodline..."
The Northlanders in the great hall all turned. All the Northlanders stood while countless chairs knocked against each other. The six counts did so as well. They all grimly clenched their right fists and pressed it tightly over their chests.
"The heir of the Dragon Spear..."
Ian sighed and slowly stood up. Thales, too, quickly stood up because many pairs of displeased gazes urged him to do so.
"The ruler of Dragon Clouds City..."
Amid the thunderous shouting, Thales saw a young figure—from a gap through the many layers of shoulders—walk into the hall slowly with heavy footsteps.
'It's her.'
That young lady whom he knew like the back of his hand walked past the vassals at both sides to her seat, accompanied by Nicholas.
The only seat.
The young girl's face was calm. Her demeanor was graceful as she moved forward.
"You ask me why?" Ian's voice traveled into his ears. "See, this is why."
The Prince of Constellation was suddenly shocked and he turned his head around. "What?"
Ian lifted the corner of his lips and revealed a mocking smile.
"Six years ago, Eckstedt welcomed her first archduchess in history, in Dragon Clouds City, in this great hall." Ian's gaze grew cold. He turned and looked at the Soul Slayer Pike above the fireplace, he then looked again at the young girl walking slowly down the middle of the great hall, his voice was filled with a sad tone.
"ArchDUCHESS... From that moment on, my dearest twin sister, the woman who was nurtured with me in my mother's womb, no longer saw me as her dearest brother."
Thales was dumbfounded.
*Thud, thud, thud…"
The Archduchess' steps continued among the crowd. She withstood the numerous wanton gazes from the men, passed through them while they discussed about her openly and discreetly, walked past the crude tiles of the historical Heroic Spirit Palace, and into the place where those qualified to enter for hundreds of years had only been men of nobility. Step by step, she walked to her seat.
There was a moment where Thales wished that he did not have sensitive hearing and clear vision... because he could see the men in the hall—regardless of their age and status—staring at the archduchess' figure and her face from top to bottom, and from her front to her back without any fear.
He even heard them sneer, joke, make dirty comments about the archduchess' figure, face, and even her...
A strange anger rose in his heart, making Thales involuntarily clench his fists tight.
...And tighter still.
But the young lady was still moving forward.
*Thud, thud, thud…*
Her feet stepped over the tiles of Heroic Spirit Palace that were hundreds of years old, and each time her feet landed, the sound would travel very clearly into the people's ears. The tiles in Heroic Spirit Palace were still as solid as ever, just like it had always been these past few years—still indestructible.
Still, the young lady continued to move forward.
*Thud, thud, thud…*
Her boots continued to step on the tiles. Even if the tiles were never broken or shaken by her steps, she continued on without stop. She would not even back down.
"You know, from that moment on, my sister's eyes..." Ian's voice continued to travel into Thales' ears. The heir of the City of Faraway Prayer's eyes shone with a dangerous spark.
"That pair of beautiful eyes never again looked upon cosmetics and clothes, at dowry and money, at those young and handsome men who can be her reliance and shelter, at those things which girls should care about and mind about since birth. But she turned her gaze to my father, and to me..."
Thales did not speak.
The young girl was graceful in her demeanor, her facial expression appeared calm, but the sound of her footsteps was still heavy… as if they bore a burden that weighed a thousand tonnes.
"You changed the rules, Thales." Ian's rate of speech was neither slow nor fast, but was filled with a sad tone that could not be resolved. "You and Lampard together..."
He looked at Thales' eyes and revealed a gaze that brought discomfort to others. "It was you. All of you took my sister away."
The young lady finally made it to the stairs leading to the archduchess' seat. Nicholas stood resolutely on the first step. As her most important personal guard, he could only stand there and was not allowed to take another step forward. The young lady walked up the stairs to her seat, alone.
Once Saroma walked up the steps, the messenger deliberately dragged out his announcement of her arrival and finished his announcements.
"The Archduchess… Saroma Walton!"
Under so many gazes, Saroma sat down slowly, but it was difficult to cover up the pale look on her face.
Everyone under the stairs—the vassals affiliated to Dragon Clouds City—lowered their heads and bowed. They showed a sign of respect to their suzerain.
Still, Thales heard. With help of the Sin of Hell's River, he could listen clearly...
*Thud… thud… thud…*
There was a strong pulse from the archduchess' chest, and that sound was traveling to his ears without end.
That was Saroma's heartbeat, lively and full of energy. Even the chaotic voices of the people sitting in the hall could not drown out that sound.
Thales sighed long and hard.
"I see." Thales sat down. Then, while looking at Ian beside him, he put on a face as if he was deep in thought. "Due to the Alliance of Freedom's crisis, you came to Dragon Clouds City, and your sister went to Defense City. If you failed—"
"No," Ian cut him off coldly.
The heir of the City of Faraway Prayers had a flame that Thales could not ignore burning in his eyes. "I will not fail. She will be the only one who will fail, only her."
Thales turned his head around and stared at Ian before he slowly lifted his head. His words were profound.
"You just said… that I snatched away your sister?"
Ian frowned.
Thales sighed long and hard again. He slowly clenched his fists. "You're right."
The prince sucked in a deep breath and stared at the archduchess who was trying to force herself to be calm while she sat in the archduke's seat. "I did indeed snatch away YOUR sister."
Thales smiled. He turned his head around and cast a glance at the archduchess, ignoring the puzzled Ian.
Just now, when Saroma strode to her seat and when Ian spat out his and his sister's story hatefully, Thales came to a sudden realization.
'So, six years ago, Lampard and I... didn't just come to a compromise in this hall.'
Chapter 313: The Beginning |
After the archduchess took her seat, all twenty something nobles in the hall sat down as well.
Thanks to the archduchess, Thales had received quite a fair bit of education on the nobility, filled with their unique Northland features. Compared to the knowledge Gilbert taught him in one short month, which was so long ago that they were starting to fade, he was more familiar with Eckstedt's glorious history.
...Such as Dragon Clouds City's day of the state affairs hearing.
It originated ninety years ago by the Archduke of Dragon Clouds City, Nuven the Sixth, who later became the Forty-Third Common-Elected King. He was the grandfather of the late king, Nuven the Seventh, and was a king worth remembering.
He was the one who established the Walton Family's most prosperous period, and was the first of three successive kings from the same family.
Under Nuven the Sixth's rule, the Kingdom of the Great Dragon fought against Constellation several times at the border between the two countries after the Virtuous King passed away. This king had never lost a battle in the face of the three Great Clans—the Northern Territory's Arunde Family, Overwatch City's Zemunto Family, and Lonely Old Tower's Friess Family—pushing Eckstedt's southern border until it was right in front of the Broken Dragon Fortress, thus allowing the Northlanders to be the only ones to enjoy the Eastern and Western Pine Forest.
He supported the newly-formed Alliance of Freedom in a few wars. On the other hand, while facing the sudden uprise of Camus Union, he nipped their budding power with his powerful hand, stopping the continuous expansion of their power and influence and gaining a firm control over the eastern side of the Golden Passage.
He even redrew the Glacial Quiquer Defense Line—which had been in the original position for a long time—once more banishing the fierce and violent glacial orcs to the north of the Thirty-Eighth Sentry Ground.
Internally, the tradition of the Dragon Clouds City vassals to greet and report regularly to the archduke also began from the time of the excellent Nuven the Sixth. The vassals would show their loyalty to the archduke, report the important affairs of their territories in order to obtain the permissions to execute certain rules in their territories or obtain the support of the archduke. Meanwhile, the archduke would showcase his authority and tolerance by listening to his vassals' general situation, and maintain and strengthen his relationship with his vassals. Hence, the day of the state affairs hearing.
'It is also proof of Dragon Clouds City's expansion of ruling power,' Thales thought. 'But now…'
The archduchess' voice rang clearly in the hall, jolting him from his thoughts.
"Lisban, Karkogel, Nazaire, Lyner, Cotterson…" even though Saroma's face was pale, she still called out the family names of the vassals under her one by one according to their seats while facing so many people. Each suzerain nodded slightly when their names were called. "Banner, Hudson…"
In one breath, Saroma called out the names of almost twenty families. Among them were two families who shared the same name and had to be distinguished by their territories.
Almost all the seated nobles nodded respectfully. At least, they appeared respectful.
'If this happened in Constellation…' Thales could not help but recall the pomposity of the National Conference. He thought of the Six Great Clans, Thirteen Distinguished Families and the Jadestar Family's own immediate vassals. 'Just calling out these families' names would…'
The prince sighed. 'My God, I hope they have a roster.'
"Welcome, everyone." Under the sharp gazes of the Northland nobles, Saroma inhaled deeply and shot a glance at Lisban. She said slowly, "Once again, the great families of Dragon Clouds City are gathered together on this glorious day of the state affairs hearing. Because of your presences, the Cloud Dragon Spear appears even sharper. With your loyalty, the Walton Family becomes even stronger."
A crisp female voice echoed in the stone hall, fading gradually and eventually disappearing.
At the same time the archduchess finished speaking, as though by agreement, almost all the vassals solemnly raised their right fists and pounded their chests three times consecutively as a reply to their feudal lord.
*Thump! Thump! Thump!*
The dull sound echoed throughout the hall. Even Heroic Spirit Palace seemed to shake entirely.
"Look, do you understand what I mean now?" With a bored expression that said 'I told you so', Ian pounded his chest and said beside Thales' ear, "Gorillas…"
Thales let out a soft cough.
While the vassals pounded their chests, Saroma did not move an inch. But Thales knew her very well and could feel that the maiden was hiding her nervousness and anxiety beneath a calm exterior.
"The hearing will begin now." The archduchess cleared her throat. "Ciel?"
Count Lisban was originally sitting on the primary seat to the archduchess' left, but he raised himself slightly from his seat and turned to look at everyone in the hall.
The five frontmost counts finally rested their gazes on the regent. But Thales noticed that those looks were not as friendly as he had imagined.
'Six years ago, during King Nuven's funeral… What were the attitudes of these five extremely important people?' Thales reminisced.
"According to the usual practice..."
Regent Lisban's steady and gentle voice echoed in the hall, just like how it had done so countless times for King Nuven during the Imperial Conference. "Is there anything all of you want to consult the archduchess about?"
No one said anything. From what Thales could see, the twenty or more vassals did not even whisper to one another. They gazed, sharp and fixatedly, at Lisban, as though they wanted to cut the old count into pieces.
...Especially the five most powerful vassals.
Thales could not help but clench his fists.
Lisban looked around the hall. Still, none of the vassals answered. It was as though they planned it. Lisban's expression became more and more unpleasant.
"Manners are dead." Ian's annoying voice rose softly beside Thales' ears with a vague hint of perverse delight. "I reckon that no one wants to say hello to the archduchess."
In the silence where even the sound of a pin dropping on the floor could be heard, Ian's words were quite jarring.
Many of the Northlanders turned to look at him, their gazes were cold.
Ian made the face of someone caught red-handed and smiled apologetically at them.
This was the first time Thales participated in the hearing in these six years, and the first time he saw the attitude of Dragon Clouds City's suzerains towards their feudal lord. Thales' heart ached as he stared at Saroma, who was doing her best to maintain a calm façade on stage.
During these six years, beginning from the moment he stepped into the Hall of Stars and became Constellation's second prince, his journey had been very difficult. But at this moment, compared to Saroma, the first archduchess in Eckstedt, all the events he had faced which he thought were difficult…
"Very well, it seems everyone is doing well, and there is not much bad news," Lisban said coldly. He looked up and bowed slightly at Saroma. "My lady."
The eyes that were focused on Lisban were unanimously cast onto the archduchess.
Thales stared pitifully at the lonesome Saroma. The maiden cleared her throat unnaturally and subconsciously avoided her vassals' stares.
