Kingdom's Bloodline, page 56
Chapter 55: She Was a Nightmare |
"It seems that my mother had once made you very troubled."
Thales' expression was determined. He had resolved upon finding out the identity of his mysterious mother.
Liscia chuckled lightly and scornfully. Then the lovely ritual master walked towards him with a terrifying gaze. "Troubled? It's far more than that. She was a nightmare."
'Nightmare?' Thales thought of Kessel the Fifth's coldness and disregard towards him and could not help but be stunned.
"You should leave, kingdom's blood." Liscia coldly glared at Thales from above. "I have met you, and your duty is done."
Thales regained his attention and, clenching his teeth, took a step forward.
"TherrenGirana."
Upon hearing this name, Liscia paused suddenly. The emotions in her gaze changed.
Thales took a deep breath and continued speaking, "This is my mother's name. I don't know what this name signifies to you, but no matter what kind of person she is, I need to know!"
Liscia lowered her head slightly and narrowed her eyes.
Suddenly, Thales realized in astonishment that all the Everlasting Lamps there were shining brighter and brighter, brightly illuminating the dim stone chamber. The flames inside the lamps, which had been quiet and gentle, started making crackling sounds!
'Is this… the Divine Arts?' He clenched his left fist tightly.
Liscia stared at Thales' gray eyes. Her frown became increasingly deeper. In the end, she waved her arm in disdain.
"You are indeed a continuation of that nightmare. Let me give you a piece of advice: Stop asking anything about your damned mother. I won't tell you anything."
Thales stared at Liscia with a dumbfounded gaze.
But he still forced down his displeasure and said in an agitated tone, "But you already told me! You told a son that his mother is a nightmare!"
Thales lifted his head and glared at Liscia's cold, black eyes, refusing to back down. "I'm curious, just whose nightmare is she? My father's?" Thales gritted his teeth and asked, "Or is she YOUR nightmare?"
A piercing light suddenly exploded from Liscia's eyes.
That was not a description, there was literally a golden light bursting out from her eyes!
Thales was unable to open his eyes! He was so shocked that he took a step backwards and lifted his left hand to cover his eyes. His right hand touched JC's dagger.
He felt horrible under that golden light.
'So this is the power that came from that so called Sunset Goddess?'
"Be careful of your words, mortal." As her eyes glowed with a powerful light, and her eyes and gaze became unclear. Liscia said flatly with a dignified expression, "In this mortal world, no one knows more than I do about how despicable and hateful your mother is."
Thales stared at her blankly.
"She is a cold, cruel, treacherous, deceitful whore who was insane and obsessed over influence and power. Every single one of her actions had an ugly motive that cannot be disclosed to others.
"Remember my words: Forget her completely, or else there will come a day when you will regret this."
…..
Thales walked down a few steps absentmindedly, trailing behind Jines on a path in Renaissance Palace on whichever floor, he did not know.
He could not let go of what Liscia had said just now, even after a while. 'Cold, cruel, treacherous, deceitful? Insane and obsessed over influence and power?'
Just who was his mother?
Thales found that the mysteries surrounding his background were becoming greater, especially when it concerned… all the abnormalities of his person.
The boy gritted his teeth.
Jines watched Thales and shook her head lightly.
"Do not take it to heart." Jines pursed her lips, completely unbothered. "It is normal that Liscia does not like you… That woman has always been stubborn, and she cannot let things go."
Thales lifted his head in curiosity, only to hear the female official flatly say, "Before she became the ritual master, she was engaged to your father."
Thales was shocked when he heard it. "Engaged?"
"Yes… Because of various reasons, they did not manage to get married." Jines scoffed disdainfully. "Liscia… That woman, she can't survive without a man. Enraged, she ran to Sunset Temple and from then on, decided to serve the Goddess her whole life.
"So she doesn't like me, either—the king's lover."
The boy, who just heard a huge piece of gossip, opened his mouth in shock.
"But why does that matter?" At that moment, Jines recovered her experienced and capable appearance. The first-grade female official curled the corner of her lips up slightly. "Why should you let others' opinions dictate your fate? Even if it is the Gods' opinion."
At this moment, Jines stopped in front of another, bigger stone chamber, and gently pushed the door open.
"We are here. Similarly, you have to go in alone." Looking at the stone chamber, Jines' experienced and confident expression from before disappeared. She heaved a sigh in desolation. "Only you and your family can enter this place," the female official said faintly.
"Us… us?" Thales was bewildered. He finally noticed that there was something off about Jines who stood before the door.
But again, Jines pushed him into the stone chamber without any explanation.
…...
Eternal Star City. Western City Gate.
"Wait! Are those in front the Karabeyan Family's carriage fleet? May I know if Count Karabeyan himself is there? Uncle? Uncle, is that you?"
A troop of knights who held a single-winged crow flag rushed over from the city gate and caught up with a carriage that was escorted by more than ten knights. There was an emblem of two towers and a sword carved on the carriage door.
The knights with the single-winged crow flags were led by a male noble who seemed to be over thirty years old. He sped up his horse and went in front of the carriage. He then looked at the stern and dignified old noble with graying temples who disembarked from it.
"Derek, it's you? The Kroma family's young and successful Count of Wing Fort rode a horse here?" the old noble asked gently.
The young Count of Wing Fort, Derek Kroma, smiled. "It takes at least two days and two nights to travel here by carriage, and I wouldn't have made it in time, so I decided to just ride here.
"On my way here, I bumped into the carriage fleet of the Bozdorf and the Lascia Families. They should be here soon. Then, among the thirteen Distinguished Families, all the ones from the west should be here.
"What about you, uncle? I have not seen you for such a long time… How have my cousin-brother Kohen, aunt, Kasa and Gina been?"
"After returning from the battlefield, Kohen could not sit still… I arranged for him to be a police officer in the capital city… haih." Recalling the complaint made by his old friend, Count Karabeyan heaved a deep sigh.
"As for your aunt, she is still the same, always worrying about Kohen's marriage. This has made the two little demons at home very happy. They are always urging their mother to organize balls, in the name of finding their brother a wife," the old noble said plainly.
"What?" The young Kroma was stunned for a moment. He then smiled. "She has always been like that. When I first reached adulthood, she brought almost half the girls in Walla Hill over."
Kroma then took a step forward and said in a low voice, "Then, is that matter true, that King Nuven's only son died in Constellation?"
The Count of Walla Hill, Turami Karabeyan looked at his nephew and sighed softly. "It seems to be true. I just bumped into Count Zemunto of the Arunde Family. I heard that Eckstedt's messenger is already on the way, and that their army force is being assembled now. Right now, the most anxious ones should be the Duke of Northern Territory himself and the families under him."
Kroma sighed. He leaned his body forward and said with a solemn expression, "Will there be war?"
Count Karabeyan glanced at his nephew and spoke slowly, "If no miracle happens, you should ask this instead—how bad would the war be?
"Start stocking up food supplies, and prepare for the enlistment of soldiers within the territory." As he spoke, he got down from the carriage and opened his arms to embrace Western City's director of the police station, Lord Lorbec Deira, who was welcoming him. "It's been a long time, old friend!"
"Haha, you have gotten so much plumper!"
"This is the Count of Wing Fort, and also my nephew, Derek Kroma. He is one of the nineteen vassals who are qualified to receive His Majesty's general edict."
"You are the One-Winged Savior from within the thirteen Distinguished Families, the legendary Kroma!"
"You must be the 'Horse Slayer', Lord Lorbec Deira, who rose to fame during the 'Fortress Battle' twelve years ago?"
"Hah, that damned battle…"
After Karabeyan introduced Lorbec and Kroma to each other, a melodious chime suddenly rang from a distance away.
*Dong!*
The chime was heavy and long, and could be heard from far away.
Kroma, who did not visit the capital city often, frowned. "If I am not mistaken, is that not the Bell of Constellation? Did something significant happen?"
Lorbec, who had been in the capital city for many years, nodded. "Yes. When the Bell of Constellation rings, it means that something important would be announced at the center of all main districts. Usually, it would be the wedding of someone from the royal family or some important personage… However, lately there has been no…"
At that moment.
*Dong!*
The long chime rang again.
Lorbec's expression changed, and he said solemnly, "The bell rang for a second time! This signifies that within a few hours, His Majesty would be convening a National Conference at Renaissance Palace's Hall of Stars."
"A National Conference? The conference that is known to be directed towards all citizens, whether they are nobles or the populace?" Kroma's face had paled. "But the news of the assassination of the Eckstedt Diplomat Group is still a secret, and only circulated among the nobles. Even the Higher Parliamentary Meeting of Constellation would only be held tonight, is it not? Why would a National Conference be convened right now?"
'True. The matters discussed in the National Conference will be announced to the entire Star Plaza, and the entire Constellation. Do you still remember the declaration of the Desert War?' Director Lorbec thought hard.
Count Derek Kroma watched the citizens of the capital city who gossiped in excitement and rushed towards Star Plaza. His expression was unpleasant. "Could it be that His Majesty is making the news public and declaring war on Eckstedt in advance?"
"Who knows?" Count Karabeyan's expression turned gloomy. "He is the 'Iron Hand King', and it is not as if he has never done anything like this before."
Chapter 56: Live for Constellation |
This stone chamber was extremely huge, so huge that it could still appear spacious even if there were over twenty large stone pillars in it.
However, there was no window. Instead, there were only a few large black holes on the ceiling served as air vents.
It was terrifyingly gloomy and cold. Thales stared dazedly at the scene in front of him.
A robust figure wearing an astral blue cape stood with his back to Thales before a stone pillar. A grotto had been dug on the stone pillar where the robust figure was facing. Inside, two large stone urns were placed side by side, along with six little stone jars.
A deep and authoritative voice rang from the figure. "Here lies your grandfather, Aydi Jadestar. Honestly, I did not like to be in the same room as him. When he looked at me, his gaze was always filled with disappointment and accusation. After my mother passed away, I avoided him even more fervently."
That voice did not sound too unfamiliar to Thales. However, he was not very acquainted with it either.
"Come here."
Thales inhaled deeply and adjusted his emotions.
He walked towards his so-called father, the Supreme King of Constellation—King Kessel Jadestar.
The Iron Hand King, Kessel the Fifth was wearing the crown with the nine-pointed star. He had an Everlasting Lamp in his right hand, and tightly held a crystal-studded scepter with a shining tip in his left hand.
He turned and glanced at Thales, his sharp gaze made the boy a little breathless.
"Starting from our second king, John the First, all supreme kings and queens of Constellation were buried in this stone chamber after their death and cremation." Kessel's voice sounded extremely low and deep—as if he was afraid that he would rouse something.
Kessel extended his hand and placed it on the large stone urn on the left. A name was engraved on it.
[King of Eternal Rule, King, Aydi L.K. Jadestar, 595-660]
Kessel looked at the other large stone urn on the right. There was another name on it.
"This was my mother. She passed away when I was fifteen."
[Queen, Natalie J.F. Jadestar, 604-642]
The supreme king ran his hand over the small stone jars with a complicated, indecipherable expression.
"As for the king's sons and daughters who did not inherit the crown nor change their surname, they rest within these little stone jars."
Thales was stunned. He slowly turned his head and, as expected, saw that all four sides of each stone pillar had two large stone urns inside. There would sometimes be a few little stone jars beside them.
'Is this the royal family's… burial ground?'
Kessel lowered his head and looked towards a small stone jar. Thales followed his gaze.
[Starlight God of War, Liberator of Zodra, Duke of Star Lake, John L.K. Jadestar, 613-660]
"This is Uncle John, the only person in our family who had travelled around the world.
"He is my father's youngest brother, and was almost completely raised by my mother. This is why I insisted to place him in my father's grotto."
Kessel ran his hand over the stone jar and flashed a smile, much to Thales' surprise.
"He was experienced and knowledgeable and had great fighting skills. He was also funny, and no one's jokes could surpass his.
"When I was young, every time he came back, my twin brothers and I loved to follow him around and listen to his stories about his romance with Mane et Nox's princess—until my mother coldly exposed him. At that time, I had thought that he was the greatest person in the world.
"John's marriage made my father extremely furious. My God, he married a supreme class female knight! That part of their wedding where they hugged and kissed, I think John must have done it with both feet off the ground.
"After being anointed a duke, John often visited us in the capital city. From time to time, he brought young Constance little gifts. However, after his wife passed away, I rarely saw John smile after that."
Feeling the atmosphere in the stone chamber, Thales did not even dare to exhale. Kessel was lost in his memories, and only turned after a minute.
Kessel looked at another stone jar and frowned slightly. "This is my eldest brother, Midier. He was supposed to inherit the crown."
Hearing a familiar name, Thales immediately looked towards the stone jar.
[Eldest Son of the King, Crown Prince, Midier T.E. Jadestar, 622-660]
"He had the closest relationship with our father, and was the only one who could match up to him when playing chess. He was a man of few words, and always smiled as he watched us brothers mess around. He was clever, and also very likable. Everyone said that he was the best crown prince. He was also the brother I was closest to.
"One day, when I was sixteen, on the way back from a female servant's room, I accidentally saw him sitting despondently in the courtyard, drinking wine with a distressed expression. At that time, I was only puzzled—he had moments when he felt dejected, too? Now, I finally understand him."
Thales looked at the stone jar and thought of the things he had heard about Midier Jadestar.
'So, this is Jines' rescuer, someone Gilbert respects, and the person Yodel hopes that I "will be better than"?'
The next stone jar.
[The Sword of Reversing Light, the Second Prince, Horace M.E. Jadestar, 623-660]
"This is Horace. He still holds the record for the highest sword speed in the Tower of Eradication during his student days. The last I heard, it had not been broken yet."
Kessel tapped the stone jar with his fingernail and snorted. "He is the only supreme class elite in my family, and even had a prestigious nickname. My father always exclaimed about how the Jadestar Royal Family finally had a third person in the supreme class, after the 'Oath Keeper', Midier the Fourth and the 'Enemy of the Wolves', Prince Keira.
"His relationship with my eldest brother, Midier, was very bad. When playing chess with Midier, he liked to use his Power of Eradication to catapult off the latter's chess pieces in secret. Even with that, he was never able to defeat the smiling Midier. He always told us that, if he was not born a year later than Midier, he should had been the Crown Prince.
"A month before he passed away, he received an invitation from the Tower of Eradication to become a scion. If he passed, he could have become one of the eight supreme class scions of the Tower of Eradication.
"These are Bancroft and Herman, my twin brothers." Kessel glanced towards two stone jars, which were placed side by side, with a complicated gaze. "It was said that a careless female servant messed up their birth order. My father could not endure the sight of two doctors arguing about which baby's head was bigger. That was why my mother simply flipped a gold coin, and with Tormond the First's head portrait, decided that Bancroft would be the third prince, and Herman the fourth.
"That gold coin is now placed in my mother's stone urn together with the first sheet of Politics homework Midier got full marks for, Horace's first Swordsman Trophy, and the baby wrapping cloth used on me and Constance when we were born."
Thales took a step forward and surveyed the two little stone jars clearly.
[The Third Prince, Bancroft N.E. Jadestar, 624-660]
