Kingdom's Bloodline, page 601
The watchman stepped on the tiles on the floor.
“Ever since then, the manor in the suburbs which he had lived before he passed away was named after him for commemorative purposes.”
Mallos looked faintly at the prince.
‘The king passed all management of governmental affairs to his uncle. Then, he moved out of the palace to rest…
‘The nephew passed away at a young age, and they named the manor after him for commemorative purposes…’
This story was very short. It did not have any plot and seemed to not be an auspicious tale.
The charm behind it was even… indescribable.
But Thales still showed an expression that said, “Oh, I see.”
“So, um, the manor in the suburbs.” Thales pointed at his surroundings and tried to continue with the conversation. “You called the Twilight District as the suburbs?”
Mallos frowned. Obviously, he was not too satisfied with the prince of catching on the key points of what he said, “It used to. Then, something which I call ‘city expansion’ happened.”
Thales quirked an eyebrow.
“Oh.”
“However, three and a half centuries passed. When we stood here again and talk about the original owner of Mindis Hall, even the direct descendants of the Jadestar Family may not know about the ‘Mist King’ anymore.” The watchman snorted. When he looked at Thales, there was a profound meaning in his eyes.
Thales felt slightly awkward.
“I, urk…”
But very soon, he realized the title Mallos mentioned.
“Mist King?”
Mallos nodded.
He extended his hand and knocked on the expensive cedarwood door. His tone was deep.
“Regardless of the time Mindis the First was alive or when he passed away, he was known by the people as the Mist King.
“When he was still the king, his rule was like a mist. He seemed to have done things for the country, but in truth, there was no substance behind his actions.
“The stories passed around after his death was like the mist too. They came quickly, and disappeared quietly.”
Suddenly, Mallos’ gaze turned sharper.
“No one remembered. No one cared.”
Thales subconsciously shuddered.
“So, put yourself in order, especially when all of the guards are around you.”
Mallos’ sight was focused on Thales again, and he made Thales, who was a little depressed and lonely, to tremble.
The watchman’s tone was cold.
“No matter what you have experienced, know that you are not the only person who has been sickly and lived a miserable life among the many masters of Mindis Hall who were inconspicuous among the people and were forgotten.”
Sick and miserable.
Thales gulped subconsciously before he rubbed his face.
“But just like the Mist King, no one could remember.”
The watchman snorted coldly.
Mallos looked at the direction of Renaissance Palace, and his gaze turned glazed.
“No one would even care.”
Silence.
It had to be said, at that moment, Thales felt a bit awkward when the things and problems that had been weighing down at his mind were exposed.
After some time, the young Duke of Star Lake forced himself to laugh dryly.
“Thank you for your… encouragement, Lord Mallos.”
Although it was not very inspiring.
The watchman did not reply to his gratitude. He only cast him an indifferent glance.
“Once the room is ready, I will come and inform you, Your Grace.”
When Mallos finished speaking, he strode forward into Mindis Hall.
Thales looked at his back. He had some thoughts on his mind despite the fact that he still felt awkward.
“That royal uncle…” the teenager suddenly spoke.
Mallos could be seen freezing for a moment under the portrait of the King of Renaissance.
“Did the uncle of the Mist King who took over governmental affairs succeed the throne after Mindis the First passed away?”
Thales’ eyes sparkled.
The watchman’s back froze for a few more seconds.
“Of course.”
Mallos turned around, and his expression was profound.
“Sumer Jadestar was the one who took over the management of governmental affairs. He succeeded the throne from his nephew who had died at a young age without leaving behind an heir.
“In history, he is known Sumer the Third, the Jackal.”
Thales exhaled deeply. He came to an understanding.
But Mallos had not finished speaking just yet.
“He succeeded the throne as the Duke of Star Lake.”
Thales was horrified.
Without waiting for him to keep asking, the watchman left without looking back, and he disappeared from the top of the stairs.
He left Thales alone while he searched for the meaning of the story.
After a few seconds, the prince smiled, as if a huge burden had been relieved of his shoulders.
‘Interesting.
‘Regardless of whether it is the master of Mindis Hall, the Duke of Star Lake, or the stories of my predecessors, all of them are so thought-provoking.’
In the end, Thales cast a glance at the direction where Mallos had disappeared. He turned around, left the porticus, and headed to the garden. While he was waiting, he put up a smile and looked at the busy people around him.
He suddenly realized that among the servants and private soldiers that came back and forth, there were two figures that stood out. One of them looked very relaxed while the other stood seriously near to the pond. They looked as though they were discussing something seriously.
Thales recognized both of them. So, he walked slowly toward them.
“You did not want to come initially, right?”
At the side of the fountain, Doyle looked at a few maidservants who were far away, and he narrowed his eyes.
“You know, the Glover Family is among the top in the Seven Jadestar Attendants. They are the main supporters of the king’s party. Their family has gained the king’s great trust over a few generations, and their positions are high and mighty.”
Glover scowled by his side.
“Your father is the predecessor of Kirkirk Mann, while he has a bright future in the Department of Finance.”
Doyle’s attention was still on those maidservants. He did not even look at Glover. He narrated while he was busy being sentimental.
“His Majesty is also eager to make progress. He is at the prime of his life.
“Yet, you are here to join us in this unfortunate mess.”
Doyle turned around and looked at Glover curiously.
“Why?”
But this time around, he seemed to have run into a wall.
Glover also turned around and stared at him coldly. He looked as if he was staring on a rotten piece of meat at a butcher’s stall.
He remained silent for a very long time.
After a long while, when D.D realized he would not get any response, he smiled awkwardly and consciously turned around.
“Alright, it is okay if you do not want to talk about it.
“But I am totally different.”
Doyle showed a perfect smile to a maidservant who could no longer bear with his gaze and had snuck a glance at him.
“During the years our country prospered, the Doyle family became too close with the old nobles, and we formed the wrong relationships… It ended up with us not having anyone with any important position in Renaissance Palace for three whole years.”
Glover did not say anything, but he looked away.
Doyle stared at the maidservant who stood at the wall. Her face was flushed, and she turned away.
“They are worried that if this continues, we will no longer be able to keep our status among the Seven Jadestar Attendants, just like the families who have fallen into decline, like the Tardin Family, Beldin Family, and…”
Doyle paused for a while. He gestured with his head at the direction of Mindis Hall, sighed, and said, “Mallos.”
Glover did not say anything, as though he did not hear anything.
“So, I am forced to be here.”
Doyle quirked an eyebrow.
“My father’s thoughts are very ideal. If I went from a personal guard of the king to the prince’s personal guard, I might end up being the personal guard of the king again, and in the end…”
D.D’s expression was slightly gloomy.
“Of course, those are just idealistic thoughts.”
Glover’s eyes sparkled a little.
“After all, the time where we can rely on keeping ourselves alive with our feudal lands has passed.” Doyle exhaled. He showed a resigned expression, and his tone was profound.
Doyle said faintly before Glover, who still remained unmoving.
“We are not the Six Great Clans or the Thirteen Distinguished Families. We’re just… Jadestar attendants.”
Chapter 512: Crazy |
“And you also met that kid…”
Doyle sighed in agony.
“Oh God, when we were still fourteen or fifteen, we weren’t so complicated. Shouldn’t we be simple, naive, rash, and lusted after women?”
He felt aggrieved as he looked at Glover. He sought for acknowledgment.
“There was nothing that cannot be solved by a night in Red Street Market, right?”
Against his expectations, Glover, who did not usually respond actively, spoke this time.
“Not us, just you.” The quiet Vanguard snorted before he turned his head to the other side.
D.D’s smile disappeared in a moment.
At this time, another voice could be heard,
“Is everything alright?”
Doyle and Glover felt shocked!
In a second, they both stood straight and turned to the direction of the metal gate.
They saw the highest commander of the Royal Guards, the guard captain, Lord Adrian, who stood at the metal gate while he smiled and looked at them while he was accompanied by two attendants.
Doyle looked as if he was struck by lightning. He tried hard to force himself to smile, but once he felt that the situation was not appropriate for it, he tried to adjust his facial expression to become serious while he stammered, “Captain… Captain… Captain Adrian, commanding officer?”
Glover was also stunned, but he immediately responded. “Commanding officer.”
Adrian nodded before he walked toward them with a grin. The people around him had already recognized him, and they saluted him.
“Everyone is busy, what are you both doing here?”
Doyle’s smile froze.
He quickly stood straight before he took a step forward.
“Ahem…We were assessing the vulnerability of the defense in Mindis Hall so that we can plan our future sentry duties…”
But Glover spoke up stiffly and drowned out Doyle’s voice.
“We are pretending that we are busy, commanding office, so that we can avoid being called by the Logistics Division to work.”
When he said that, Captain Adrian’s smile froze for a second as well.
Doyle swayed, and he looked at his companion in disbelief.
At that moment, Doyle was initially shocked before he had all his hopes dashed to pieces. He wanted to kill Glover. Then, he would kill himself.
At any rate, it was Adrian who reacted to the situation first in the indescribable silence and awkwardness, courtesy to his experience in life.
“Oh, so you are… Mallos’ men?”
Doyle was in deep grief, but he could feel that the captain did not want to hold them accountable for their mistakes, so he immediately said something to salvage the situation, “Um, ah… Lord Mallos is inside. He seems to be…”
Glover’s reply was still as simple as usual, “I will go and notify him of your presence.”
But Adrian stopped him. “Wait.”
The highest commander of the Royal Guards raised his both hands and walked slowly to him. He squinted to size up Glover’s fit figure.
“Are you Caleb Glover of the Vanguard division?”
Glover’s expression became stern.
“Yes.”
Adrian nodded. A nostalgic look appeared in his eyes. “Very good.”
“I know your grandfather. With his status as the watchman, he selected and promoted me to become a part of the guards forty years ago.”
Doyle’s expression changed while he stood by the side.
His gaze when he looked at Glover immediately became different.
Adrain sighed. “He is a stern man, but worthy of respect.”
Glover’s eyes twinkled. “Yes.”
“I hope you could be like him and be respected by others,” Adrian spoke with a cordial and friendly tone. “But… you do not have to be as stern as he was.”
“In a team, you will realize that you will benefit more if you are an easy-going person.”
Glover trembled slightly, and his reply made him sound slightly uneasy. “Y-yes.”
Adrian nodded and looked at Doyle.
Doyle was like a rat which had eaten poison. He stiffened up unnaturally.
Adrian smiled. “So, you are… um… D.D?”
Doyle’s lips twitched, and he smiled awkwardly. “Yes, Captain… But that is… a nickname that everyone uses for fun…”
His voice became less confident and weaker.
“Bridge told me about you,” Adrian said in a relaxed manner.
“What?” Doyle’s eyes brightened, and his timidity from a moment ago vanished. “Really?”
He became slightly hopeful. “Then, what did the chief say about me…”
“He said you wanted to join the Vanguard Division initially,” Adrian said calmly, “After you failed to be chosen, you were then forced to join his defense division.”
Glover subconsciously looked at Doyle.
At that moment, D.D’s face turned red. “Chief, I-I…”
But Adrian’s face turned stern. “There is nothing to be ashamed of in admitting our failures.”
He said slowly, “You can only succeed when you accept failure.
“Just like how you can be a vanguard after you do a good job in being a guard.”
Adrian’s suddenly sternness made Doyle subconsciously stiffen his body. “Yes, commanding officer.”
Adrian nodded and sized them up again.
“Both of you are still very young, and you are important people for Mallos. You are also the kingdom’s reliable swords.” Adrian returned to his cordial behavior from before. “Work hard.”
“Yes, sir!” This was from Doyle, who decided to keep his mouth shut.
“Yes.” This was from Glover, who was still as stiff as ever.
Adrian smiled gently.
“Also, do not get caught by your master when you are loafing around at the job.” At this moment, Adrian suddenly turned his head around and looked into the distance. “Especially… when he is behind you.”
Doyle and Glover were shocked. They turned around.
Thales who was hiding behind the tree felt very shocked when he was discovered.
He had no choice but walk out from behind the tree under D.D and the Zombie’s strange stares. Then, he recomposed himself and smiled politely and gently.
Adrian greeted him politely, “Your Grace.”
Thales immediately nodded and greeted back, “Lord Adrian. May I know if you…”
Adrian smiled faintly and shook his head. “Please, do not bother yourself. I just came over… to pass you the official duke appointment warrant.”
He turned around and passed a paper scroll to Glover (Doyle wanted to go and take it, but the scroll landed in Glover’s hands when it was about to reach his hand).
“I also took the chance to come and see how are your preparations.” The guard captain who was more than fifty years old smiled and looked at Doyle and Glover. Doyle smiled awkwardly, whereas Glover became even stiffer.
“After all, this is the first ever case where we mobilized the Royal Guards to form another special unit.”
Thales looked at the warrant in Glovers’ hands, and he had no time to guess what Adrian actually meant in his words.
“Thank you for your concern.”
The commander of the guards continued smiling. “I hope Tormond did not bring you any trouble.”
Thales was stunned. “Tor… who?”
‘Tormond.’
His first response was to remember the drawing of the King of Renaissance in Mindis Hall.
But Adrian only sighed.
“I heard from Count Caso about the conflict between you and him during the journey. I would like to apologize to you for what he did.”
Thales suddenly realized that the man Adrian said was…
“But please believe in me that Lord Mallos did not intend to be disrespectful, and he is not stubborn as well,” Adrain said seriously, “He is just… too casual.”
Thales blinked.
“Casual?” He took a deep breath, and he thought about how Mallos had told him that no one would care about him. He said doubtfully, “The captain of my personal guards? Casual?”
Doyle and Glover dared not even breathe loudly, but they could not hold themselves back from looking over curiously.
Adrian chuckled. “Please do not misunderstand me, Your Highness. When I said ‘casual’, it does not mean that he is negligent and careless. Lord Mallos’ capabilities cannot be doubted.”
Adrian looked at Mindis Hall that was located at the other end of the fountain before he said with a sigh, “It is just that he dislikes complicated and troublesome matters. When he encounters a problem, he is more willing to choose a solution that can be easily achieved. But I suppose this is also considered a kind of… arrogance, yes?”
‘Dislikes complicated and troublesome matters.
‘Arrogance.’
Thales suddenly realized something when he heard this comment.
Adrian said in resignation, “For example, the easiest way to protect the prince is not letting the prince go out. Yet, he does not know… that sometimes, it brings even more troubles.”
Thales nodded and smiled in response.
