Kingdom's Bloodline, page 41
'What should I do?' Looking at the meaningful gaze of the three Blood Clansmen, Thales contemplated the problem.
However, he soon had an answer.
"Thank you for your protection, Chora. With you around, I'm very assured of my own safety," Thales said with a smile and tugged the lower hem of the head swordsman's armor.
Chora, who had laughed when his stomach was poked by Thales on his first morning here to determine "whether the guards were made of stone", was the leader of these guards. He was also the one who arranged for the guards to kill the attacking mercenaries one by one.
He knew that when it came to these loyal guards, he should not wave his hand and dismiss them with authority and arrogance—like what the main characters in most simplistic novels do. Moreover, to protect him, they had recently sacrificed eight of their most reliable comrades. To face their arch enemies and not immediately take out their swords to kill was already a rare show of self-restraint. Although they were already allies on paper, but to pretend that nothing happened and to dismiss his own people in front of outsiders would only turn the guards' hearts cold with disappointment, even though it would feel great to dismiss them with a wave of his hand.
Thales put on a stern expression. "I need all of you to do me a favor."
"We will follow your orders."
Although his facial expression could not be seen, the head guard's respectful tone said it all. The swordsmen who were able to stay guard here were all the most trusted and elite private soldiers of the Jadestar family. They were not informed of the situation, but based on the task received and the interactions of the past few days, the guards have made almost accurate deductions regarding the boy's identity—who was personally brought in by Gilbert and Yodel.
"Due to past incidents, I do not trust the handsome Sir Istrone Corleone, and his beautiful but equally dangerous cousin sister, Lady Rolana Corleone.
"They have caused me plenty of humiliation. Their existence makes me troubled, worried, and frightened." Thales frowned and clenched his teeth tightly while he spoke.
As though there was really great enmity between them.
Istrone and Rolana were shocked and looked at the Archduchess behind them at the same time. However, the latter did not bat an eyelid.
"We only need your word, Young Sir…" Chora's gaze behind his helmet became sharper. The sword on his waist was drawn another foot. "And our swords will leave their sheaths for you."
Having heard that, the Swordsmen pressed their hands on the hilts of their swords. Bound by a common hatred for the enemy, their gazes became more and more unpleasant.
"Very good, I want their heads so much…" Thales' countenance was cold, and he glared at Istrone with deadly eyes.
The swordsmen took a step forward together and vaguely surrounded the Blood Clansmen.
Istrone looked at the boy's expression, his heart jumping a little.
Rolana bared a fierce expression and unfolded her arms.
'It can't be.' Istrone felt an unreasonable fear in his heart and took a step back without noticing it, until the Archduchess's cryptolalia was heard next to his ears. "Steady, Isa." This childish voice that only Blood Clansmen could hear put Istrone's mind at ease. "He does not intend to turn hostile."
"… But because of the sacred alliance, I cannot hurt them in my own house…
"That is why, apart from this… young lady, chase the other two people out into the corridor, Chora." Thales pouted and hugged his arms tight as he ordered coldly.
"If they so dare to disturb the private conversation between me and Lady Serena Corleone..." Thales' eyes shone with a cold glint, making the already traumatized Istrone anxious. The boy turned his head and continued to speak to Chora mercilessly, "Chora, and everyone else… you all will have a valid excuse to take your revenge.
"Especially that one with blond hair."
Istrone's heart tightened.
"If our swords leave their sheaths, we definitely will not disappoint you." Chora nodded with a determined gaze and extended his arms towards the door of the study.
"Vampires, you have heard it."
"Get out. The corridor is where you people belong."
Istrone, who had a furious expression wanted to say something else but was stopped beforehand by his cousin sister.
Rolana perfectly hid her shock and smiled mysteriously. She then respectfully bowed towards the little loli, Serena, and dragged Istrone out of the study.
Outside the room, Gilbert flashed a smile, and, along with the astonished Jines, made way for the guards and the Blood Clansmen. The two groups, who were staring at each other with caution left the study and continued their stand-off at a corridor some distance away.
"Good afternoon, Sir Corleone and Lady Corleone." Gilbert bowed neatly. His elegant mustache curled up slightly. "I know that the members of the Blood Clan have exceptional hearing. It is much too easy to listen to the events in the study from here. I wonder if eavesdropping counts as 'disturbing' the private conversation between Sir Thales and Lady Corleone?"
The guard, Chora, who was standing beside them and the rest of the swordsmen immediately walked towards them with an imposing aura. "You want to eavesdrop?"
Rolana's smile immediately faded while Istrone's face turned green.
When she saw the angered swordsmen forcing the Blood Clan to the stairs and stopped moving while they were there, Jines became absorbed in her thoughts.
'If that is the case…' Jines lowered her head silently. 'Then what Gilbert said is true—he's really an intelligent and level-headed boy.
'But he's a little too intelligent and level-headed.'
Thales breathed a sigh as the crimson eyed loli watched him strangely. He closed the heavy door to the study and considerately drew the curtains to block the sunlight.
The study on the second floor was perfectly soundproofed. Gilbert had assured him that even the Blood Clan would not be able to pick up a single sound with their hearing.
"Alright, we were in a hurry yesterday, but now…" Thales exhaled and said sternly, "Let us talk in detail about the clauses in the alliance.
"And go especially into the details about my blood and how you would serve me."
"Wewy well." Due to the size of her body shrinking to that of a small loli, Miss Serena spoke with a lisp. She too, nodded her head seriously, "Why don't we add in your status into the clauses that need to be discussed as well?"
Puzzlement appeared on Thales' face, but his expression changed drastically when the crimson-eyed loli said her next words.
This Archduchess, the woman in the shape of a small girl, the true heir of the Corleone family, the rightful sovereign of the Hill of Pain, Her Highness Serena L.A. Corleone, spoke softly with a lisp.
"And that is the probwem of you nod gettin' your birthwight as a pwince acknwowledged even aftwer such a long time has passed."
What they did not know was that when Thales had skillfully dodged the guards and the Blood Clan's irresolvable grudge and was negotiating with Serena, Chris Corleone was hiding in the shadows of the chimney, which was right above the second floor's study, all so that he could avoid the sunlight. His posture was bizarre, and his face was expressionless.
"Alright." The pale Chris Corleone's ears twitched and turned his head to speak, "Our men didn't start fighting. I believe that Her Highness should be negotiating with that young friend of ours.
"We're both supreme class fighters, you know? There's no need for us to remain in such an awkward position, right?"
Right across the old Blood Clansman was Yodel Cato, the masked, strange man who had remained silent from the beginning until now. Only when he said these words did Yodel put away the short sword he held in his hand back into his shirt, and he gradually faded away.
Chapter 37: Starlit Night Alliance (Two) |
"The next king? Last nwight, your followers exaggewated your status." The girl with the baby face pouted. She was dressed in clothes fit for a child, which had been prepared for Thales, and she was looking quite a funny and cute sight as she sat down on the carpet beside the fireplace and continued speaking in her lisp, "But we have wealized that wight now, you are not ewen a pwince."
'Of course not. In the entire kingdom, people who know that the king has a son can be counted with less than ten fingers,' Thales thought internally. 'Should I have told you that Gilbert deliberately said that because he got annoyed looking at that blondie showing off?' Thales rolled his eyes in his heart.
"I thought…" Thales took a deep breath, looked at the pair of red eyes in front of him and said, "we have already agreed in Vine Manor. Since my blood is delicious, if you forget about draining my blood dry in one go, I will regularly provide you with a small amount of blood. While enjoying my blood, you must serve me, and I will ensure that all of you have a safe place to stay in Constellation."
"But you do not possess the power," Serena said slowly but surely, "to pwotect us."
"Alright, it's true that I am only an illegitimate child; that is why, it's not me, but my father who will guarantee your safety…"
Serena stared right at him and broke him off suddenly. "But you are not your fwather—you are nod the king."
"That is why," Thales exasperatedly said, "I am really sorry, but you and your people are already at Mindis Hall, and we already know your secret. I guess the Covendier family would not welcome you back either…"
"Hawf a pint." The red-eyed loli said with an expressionless face.
"What?"
"Your bwood. I want half a pwint of it daily." She looked somberly at Thales' eyes.
"Half a… pint, daily?" Thales narrowed his eyes and looked at the Eastern Peninsula's Archduchess. All this just for my blood?
'This boys' blood is unique,' Serena thought to herself. 'It was exactly this blood, full of life and energy, which had roused me from my deep, muddled sleep. Of course, to realize that someone was biting my neck the moment I woke up was not very pleasing.' Serena pouted her lips in annoyance and touched her neck.
'Thales, don't forget that yesterday, the mummified version of this "little girl" almost took your life,' Thales thought in disdain. Recalling that a mummy had sucked on his neck like a suction pump... Thales rotated his neck unnaturally as well with mixed feelings.
Both quietly stared at each other until one of them broke the silence.
"Are you kidding?! Half a pint daily? Why don't you just suck all my blood straightaway?" Thales stood on tiptoes (he would not be able to reach the table otherwise because he was too short) and smacked the table, staring back at her without showing any sign of weakness. But he still felt apprehensive when he occasionally thought of her mummified appearance.
"I ardently wish that I could devouwer evewy single dwop of bwood in your bwody." Serena's red eyes glared at him as she replied in a serious and eerie tone, "But to have you supply bwood to me long-term is a deal that is much more worthwhile."
"Aren't you a calculative person?" Thales replied sarcastically.
"A qwarter pint daily; I need to wecover as fwast as pwossible." Serena's gaze became cold and her tone was final.
"Do you think I'm a cockroach, that blood is replenished every time I level up?" Thales clenched his teeth tightly as he met her gaze squarely. "To give you blood daily—not a chance!"
"I do not undwerstand what you are talking about." The aloof loli efficiently ignored the crazed words the boy accidentally let spill out of his mouth. "Once evewy week, two pints."
"Once every half-year! A-tenth of a pint! And this is only for the sake of our amicable agreement," Thales said fiercely.
"Once evewy two weeks, one-and-a-half pints. Pwease use your actions to pwove your amity."
"At most, once a month! I need time to synthesize new blood after losing it okay!"
Serena slowly stood from the floor. Her red irises gazed towards Thales, making the latter shudder. "Brat, do nod chawenge my patience. My interest in your bwood is the only reason you are still standing here and bwething air."
Serena's eyes narrowed, and her unchanging facial expression suddenly became cold.
"If we decide to weave without caring for all the sacrifices we have to suffer, your pweople will not be able to stop us. Moreover—" Serena's eyes moved about mysteriously but she did not look away from Thales' gaze, making the boy's hair raise.
"This pwace conceals Constellation's secret heir. Do you think that the lords and nobwles would be interested in this?"
Thales felt himself shudder in fear. 'This damned old witch,' Thales criticized internally. However, experiences with field research from his past life made him aware that as the other party in a negotiation, he must not show any weakness.
"Sure thing." Thales tried his best to force a pleasant smile. "Your younger sister must miss you very much, too. Especially after you came to Constellation for a vacation, and even transformed into a cute and plump little girl.
"I won't be able to become the heir at the moment, nor will you be able to return to Night Kingdom. Since we are so compatible—"
Thales smiled even more delightfully. "Why don't you just marry me?"
The moment he said that, Serena's expression did not change. She did not move her gaze, and neither did she move her body.
But for some reason, a shudder wracked Thales' body at that moment, and he felt a chill that seeped right into his bones.
Both parties stared at each other for more than ten seconds.
Amidst the silence, Serena slowly and softly uttered a sentence.
"It seems that you weally intend for our relations to turn sour." As she spoke, Serena suddenly cracked a smile, revealing her tiny fangs.
Thales was shocked.
His right hand—hidden behind his body—trembled. JC's dagger was already ready in his hand and could be used to strike at any time.
"Wewy well, then." Serena curled up the corners of her lips mysteriously and licked her fangs.
'From this angle and with this distance, I can continue talking by beating around the bush with her for more than ten seconds.'
Thales lowered his head, furrowed his brows, and swallowed hard.
If Yodel had not bumped into Chris, he would have been able to rush here. The guards, Jines, and Gilbert were also at the corridor. But Istrone and Rolana… Damn it!
Since they reached the worst possible outcome, Thales had no choice but to accept it.
He bent his calves slightly and spread his feet apart. He prepared to raise his left arm high and held the dagger steadily with his right hand. He was obviously about to pull off a standard 'Iron Body' style.
'Northland Military Sword Style... although I only practiced it for two hours, I hope that you are well worth the effort.' Thales laughed wryly in his heart.
For the first time, Serena suddenly flashed an unsettling smile. Her young voice rang in the air. It sounded especially scary to Thales' ears.
"Then, I have no choice but to compwomise. I will follow what you said. Once a month it is, then. As for the number wof pints, Thales, it is up to you to decide."
'Use my left arm as a shield and block her first attack. Based on yesterday's experience with the mummy, I don't know if she will… eh?'
Thales then processed what Serena was saying. 'What? Compromise?' Thales' mouth widened in shock to the point that it was big enough to fit two of Serena's fists. 'I was about to deal with her 'gently', but the enemy… surrendered? Why aren't things going according to the script?'
Something scarier happened after that. Two faint dimples appeared on Serena's adorable face. The little loli smiled bashfully. "My dear Thales, since I have compwomised, shouldn't you do something to show your sincerity too?"
Thales frowned and looked at her with suspicion. He found that he could not react to the expressionless, silent, and emotionless girl suddenly transforming into a loli with a bright smile—akin to a blooming flower.
He could only answer with a hoarse voice by going with the flow, "What…*cough cough*… show you… how?"
The little girl's smile became even brighter.
At that moment, Thales suddenly thought that those strange red eyes were actually quite beautiful.
"The young and capable Prince Thales." She smiled amicably. "Let's form an awiance. I will assist you in gettin' through this cwisis… so that you will be cwowned successfuwy.
"And you will suppwort me…" Serena's pupils shone with a strange bright light. "In seizing back my throne."
Thales was stunned. 'Seizing back… her throne? The Eastern Peninsula's… Night Kingdom?'
The cute girl blinked.
"Erm, this goal is too far away." Thales scratched his head. His dagger had long since been tucked back into his pocket. He spoke with some slight awkwardness and hesitance, "If I really become king one day, then, uh, based on the situation…"
Before he even finished speaking, the loli's eyes sparkled brilliantly and she slowly inched towards him. Thales stared in befuddlement as the strange girl extended both hands and softly held his right hand. "I know that Thales reawy needs me!"
Before Thales could pull his hand back, he saw the pair of red eyes watching him with a teary gaze.
Blinking her unusually coquettish eyes, she pouted her lips and shook her arm slightly, just like how a normal, playful, little girl would. As he stared into her gaze, a shudder swept through Thales' entire body.
His mind felt dizzy for some reason...
"For the sake of not revwealing your identitwy, you cannot simply let us go." Serena bit her bottom lip and curled her lips into a smile that would have enamored other people. "And because of my value and my swensitive identity, you can't get rid of me easily, either….
"This is why we have no choice but to form a mutuawy beneficial awiance." The girl used the soft skin on her arms to gently rub the back of his hand. Her eyes shone with an odd but submissive light. "Instead of being fworced by the situation and being dwagged awong by the fwow, just like what happened to us in the manor, isn't becoming allies and hwelping each other something wewy common? This way, both of us will feel more unrestrained…"
