Kingdom's Bloodline, page 591
Mallos’ face appeared outside the window. His eyes met Thales’ while he remained inside the carriage.
“I believe you know better than I do that the return of the prince will stir up a commotion. The noblemen of Western Desert are lessons we can learn from… I can already imagine the crowd and chaos we will face if the duke reveals himself in public. They will range from civilians who are there to be entertained to noblemen who will use all means to get some insider’s news… It is too troublesome to us. As a safety measure, I do not think that His Grace should reveal himself. Instead, he should stay in the carriage until we enter Renaissance Palace.”
The watchman continued to smile as he watched the curious civilians on both sides of the main road and rejected him politely. “We do not have to cause a great fanfare to attract more attention.”
‘As a safety measure.’
When he heard the man’s polite but resolute rejection, Thales frowned a little.
“Lord Mallos, if it is for the sake of safety, we have already returned to the capital, and we have you and even the regular soldiers behind us, so I believe that you will definitely be confident in ensuring His Highness’s…” Gilbert said softly, but he was interrupted by Mallos.
“No, please do not overestimate us, Your Grace. Not only do we not have the Kingdom’s Wrath, we are also not the Fortress Flower.” Mallos still maintained his smile, but it was not quite pleasant to Thales’ eyes.
“If we really have to face the people who come charging at us like a flood, we might only have… half the chance to protect the prince.”
Gilbert was speechless for a moment.
The Royal Guards of Constellation looked at each other at a loss.
Mallos was his usual smiling self.
The prince felt a little down.
Gilbert sensed the tension in the atmosphere.
“While I admire the Royal Guards’s cautiousness and scrupulous nature, but apart from this, are we not supposed to consider things in an even broader perspective?”
Count Caso sat up straight, supported himself by his cane, and showed an attitude that was appropriate for a formal negotiation.
“Regardless of whether Thales appears as the prince or the Duke of Star Lake, on the first day of his return, he should make himself known to the public for a few seconds at the very least. He should let everyone see his return to the capital city and spread the news.”
The Cunning Fox of Constellation narrowed his eyes.
“This is for the sake of the royal family and for His Majesty’s government and interest. What do you say, Lord Mallos?”
As he listened to the man’s fair and noble reason, Mallos who was on the saddle lowered his head and kept quiet for a while.
Just when Thales thought he was about to give in…
“Hahaha… Perhaps I have not made myself clear. Perhaps you are only joking.”
Mallos looked up with a smile that was even more sincere, though his gaze was calm and indifferent.
“However, it is my mission to escort the prince safely back to Renaissance Palace, Count Caso.” The muscle on the corners of Mallos’ lips curled up to make him smile, but there was no joviality in his eyes.
“Other matters are not my responsibility.”
The reply was like a nail that was struck into him with a force that was neither strong nor soft. It caused Gilbert to frown.
As he sensed the lack of cooperation on Mallos’ side, Thales took a glance at the narrow and small carriage he had stayed in for a relatively long while, sensed the numbness of his bottom caused by the bumpy ride, and looked at the vast scenery and the famous city that was his hometown outside the window, he fell into silence, and he felt a little gloomy.
“We have talked about this matter, Your Grace.”
Gilbert’s tone grew stiff, “You and I have a mission of our own, and we strive hard as not to make the other person look bad. Before this, we have always worked well together, have we not?”
As he stared at Gilbert’s eyes, Mallos smiled as well.
He was only quiet for a few seconds.
“I am sorry that my mission clashes with yours.” Mallos’ expression remained gentle and polite. “But all I can do is merely say, ‘I am sorry’, Count Caso.”
He nodded politely toward the end.
Gilbert’s expression was a little unpleasant.
Although all sentences started with a polite and humble apology…
Thales listened to the man’s repetitive rejections, glanced at Gilbert who looked slightly unhappy, and used the corners of his eyes to look at the Royal Guards who protected him securely around him.
He suddenly thought of Dragon Clouds City, Heroic Spirit Palace, and Blood Court.
When he was in those placed, Nicholas’ subordinates also blocked every entrance to the extent that no one could penetrate their strong formation.
As he pondered about it, the discomfort within the prince reached the peak.
“Your Grace…” Gilbert sighed.
“If the count could just stay inside the carriage, it would save us lots of trouble.” The watchman interrupted Gilbert with his usual smile. “And that will be enough.”
When he heard this, Thales could not hold himself back any longer and interrupted him. “So, you would rather trap me in the carriage because you think this is too troublesome for you?”
The prince subconsciously raised his volume.
“I thought His Majesty asked you to escort me, not imprison me?”
The horses’ galloping around the area changed a little.
The prince raising his voice and speaking up was obviously unusual, and it caused a few Royal Guards, or rather, a few members of the Star Lake Guards to rush forth anxiously. That included Doyle and Glover, whom Thales had gotten familiar with.
Gilbert’s expression changed slightly.
Mallos finally shifted his focus to Thales.
Thales frowned and appeared to want to argue for something.
But Mallos only paused a little before he revealed a smile.
“I am sorry to have caused this feeling in you, Your Grace. When you see His Majesty, you can bring this matter to him anytime and propose that I be dismissed from my duties.”
Thales was stunned.
Mallos watched Thales with a gentle gaze, shrugged, and said softly, “However, before that, according to the tradition and rules, as the Watchman of the Royal Guards and the person in charge of your guards… I am afraid I will have to prioritize the considerations and judgements about your safety above your personal preferences. Please forgive me as it is my obligation.”
In that instant, the air inside and outside the horse carriage seemed to have frozen.
Thales’ expression stiffened.
Mallos’ expression remained the same as usual.
Among the surrounding Royal Guards, Doyle and Glover exchanged a glance at each other. A few of them appeared shocked. They did not even dare breathe loudly.
For some unknown reason, Thales recalled the attitude Roman had on his face while Thales was still in Blade Fangs Camp. It was an attitude that said, “Don’t teach me how to do my job.”
As Gilbert was about to say something to lighten the atmosphere, Thales closed his eyes. In the next moment, he immediately opened them again.
“You are the Royal Guards, and you are also my guards,” Thales said slowly, “You should respect my orders.”
Mallos only shrugged.
“You are the Prince of Constellation, and a duke of the kingdom.” The watchman was as courteous as ever, but he did not show any signs of relenting through his words. “You should also respect His Majesty’s orders, especially on the first day of your return.”
His eyes reflected a sparkle that showed profundity.
Thales’ face darkened.
The prince stared at Mallos and enunciated each of his words clearly. “Are you saying that this is His Majesty’s order?”
In that moment, Gilbert’s expression changed.
“No,” the watchman said faintly on his saddle, “It is my way of executing the order.”
‘His way of executing the order.’
Thales’ gaze changed.
Doyle listened anxiously by the side. He suddenly felt that the air around him seemed to have become thick with tension.
“Lord Mallos.”
Under everyone’s gazes, the prince said softly to the watchman who refused to make a concession, “I want you to stop the horse carriage, now.”
Mallos only snorted lightly.
“I am sorry…”
“Your Grace!” Gilbert sensed something was amiss shouted, so he interrupted Mallos.
The Foreign Affairs Minister immediately turned to face Thales, whose expression was as cold as ice, and said gently, “Your Highness, you have traveled a lot today, perhaps you do need to take a rest… I believe that Lord Mallos merely intends to protect you…”
But Thales broke him off.
“Protect me like six years ago?” The prince’s tone made it sound as if his words were immersed in icy water.
Gilbert was rendered speechless.
When Thales and Mallos’s gazes met in the air, one was cold and sharp, while the other was calm and indifferent.
Doyle suddenly felt that something bad was going to happen while he watched this happen by the side.
The prince asked softly, “Gilbert, tell me, did the previous kings always personally dispatched transferred his own Royal Guards to form each Duke of Star Lake’s personal guards, for example, John’s?”
Gilbert froze.
Mallos narrowed his eyes slightly as well.
The Star Lake Guards around looked at each other and had different expressions.
A few seconds later, Gilbert coughed and appeared to be rather awkward.
“This is because you were gone for too long, and were short of people you could use by your side, and His Majesty was worried…”
Thales did not listen to the rest of his words.
He only stared at Mallos closely, but it felt like he was staring at another person.
“I understand now,” the prince said softly, “Go on.”
Mallos’ expression stiffened.
“What do you mean?”
Thales looked straight at him.
“Go on and smile, Lord Mallos.”
Thales snorted coldly under the baffled gazes of the Royal Guards.
“Because if you do not smile… You will look like a dead man.”
Mallos was dumbfounded.
Gilbert looked at Thales worriedly.
“Your Highness…”
But Thales ignored Gilbert and only focused on looking at Mallos, who looked confused.
Mallos frowned a little. He ignored Thales, tugged his reins, and ordered, “Get back to your previous formation…”
But this time, the prince spoke before he could say more.
“Then, Lord Tormond Mallos, Watchman of the Royal Guards, who is conferred your knightship, and the captain of my Star Lake Guards.
The watchman’s gaze froze.
Thales raised his volume so that the Royal Guards around him could hear him clearly.
“To thank you for your meritorious service of escorting me back to the capital city laboriously and dedicatedly…”
When he spoke, all members of the Royal Guards watched him in puzzlement.
Thales then enunciated his words clearly and slowly while his eyes were fixed on Mallos, “I wish… to reward you.”
Chapter 506: This Is Just the Beginning |
The carriage continued to move toward Eternal Star City along the avenue under the bright sunlight. The people at both sides were blocked far away by the regular soldiers, and their faces could only be barely seen.
No one would think that this unusual carriage and tens of Royal Guards were having some strange conversation between them.
Gilbert was surprised when he saw Thales raise his right arm expressionlessly and showed the object he held in his hand through the window.
Meanwhile, Mallos, Doyle, Glover and the Royal Guards frowned. They were either doubtful, puzzled, or in disbelief.
That was…
“This is the Sentinel.”
The prince rubbed against the long and narrow sword hilt expressionlessly. He spoke with a profound tone, “It is the Ancient Empire’s national sword, forged using the skills of dwarves and elves, as well as the elites from the land and the seven seas.”
The Sentinel.
Mallos was shocked.
Doyle and Glover were stunned as well.
“Your Highness, I don’t…” The Watchman looked around and suppressed the strange glances from his subordinates.
*Swish!*
The sound where the metal slid out of leather made Mallos’ words die in his mouth.
The young man sized up the longsword that was pulled out slowly and could feel the sword glitter coldly.
“A long time ago, it is an heirloom sword handed down through the generations of the Fakenhaz Family. It accompanied their ancestors during the Battle of Eradication. After hacking its way through many obstacles, this sword witnessed the King of Renaissance build his kingdom.
“In recent times, it acted as the most reliable blade among the Royal Guards. With its master, they helped King Aydi to get his throne together after bracing through many hardships.
In front of everyone, Thales’ finger grazed past the sharp blade before he put away the sword back into the sheath. He praised it in a low voice.
“It has extraordinary meaning.”
Perhaps it was because it could no longer withstand the pressure of the atmosphere, but Mallos’ steed let out an unnatural whine before it twisted its head anxiously.
But Mallos just sat on the saddle while his eyes shone brightly. No one could tell his emotions.
The anxiety of the warhorse affected its fellow horses. They whinnied together and made the progress of the carriage become more difficult.
Doyle tried hard to control his steed while he stared at the sword with the unique arc. He opened his mouth wide.
‘That sword…’
Glover, who was beside him, pursed his lips while comforting his own horse.
Gilbert kept looking at the sword while he thought of something.
In the next second, under the different gazes from the people, the young Duke of Star Lake said coldly without allowing anyone to question him, “Lord Mallos, from now onwards. It belongs to you.”
Thales steadily raised his right arm to deliver the hilt out of the window.
‘It belongs to you.’
The surrounding became quiet in an instant, and only the sound of wind moaning could be heard.
Gilbert snapped out of his shock, and he looked at the teenager in disbelief.
The Royal Guards around him rose into a mini clamor, while Doyle even looked as if he had seen a ghost. It was as if he had just gotten to know the prince for the first time.
Mallos frowned, and he pulled tightly on his reins.
But Thales did not give him any chance to speak.
“Of course, I do not wish for merely that.”
The young Duke continued speaking gently, “In truth, upon my return, the discussion and assumptions about this sword will flood in from the whole nation.
“People might spare no trouble and keep coming over to ask you about the secret behind this legendary sword out of curiosity, puzzlement, confusion…”
Gilbert had a slightly odd expression on his face.
“This will be especially so regarding how it left Duke Fakenhaz’s cane in Western Desert and reached Renaissance Palace in Eternal Star City. They will also ask how it went from the Prince Thales and the Duke of Star Lake’s hands into your hands in the end.
“They will also ask you the reason and meaning behind why it rotated among so many people. ”
Thales glanced at every Royal Guard coldly. His intonation rose and fell, as though he was reciting an old bardic poem.
Everyone who met his gaze subconsciously avoided his eyes, and that spanned from Doyle to Glover.
In the end, Thales switched his attention back to Mallos, who was quiet but had a deep scowl on his face.
“But I believe that you can handle it very well, yes?”
The young duke said lightly while he waved the hilt.
Everyone remained silent.
All of them looked at Mallos while waiting for his decision.
At the next second, Mallos suddenly turned around!
He gazed at everyone with blazing eyes.
And it was as if they had reached a tacit agreement, the Royal Guards turned their heads around and looked elsewhere.
They dared not look at Mallos or the Sentinel.
It was as if the former was not their superior, while the latter was not a famous sword as well.
The area around them became quiet again.
But Mallos’ expression was no longer relaxed, it had not been relaxed since a long time ago.
He pulled the reins on his steed with slightly stiff movements to force it to stay quiet.
Time seemed to become a long lost mural. It was faded and silent in the background. The mural only began flaking and peeling away following Mallos’ movements.
He stared at the Sentinel, which had half of its body revealed through the window. He spoke slowly, “Your Grace, what does this mean?”
Mallos’ words were spoken very lightly and softly, just like the sound of someone flipping through old papers.
The guards around them controlled their breathing. They dared not breathe loudly.
The logistics officer, Stone, who was at the back of the group, even gulped subconsciously.
Gilbert remained silent as well.
“What I mean is…”
Only the Duke of Star Lake reacted differently from everyone else. He smiled in a relaxed manner.
“Congratulations, Lord Mallos. From now onwards, Sentinel, which has a long history and a great meaning behind it, is the family heirloom of the noble and loyal Mallos Family, who is one of the Seven Jadestars Attendants.” Thales’ gaze met with Mallos’, like they had just confronted each other in the air.
He said softly, “Remember, pass it to your son and your grandchildren.”
