Kingdom's Bloodline, page 607
“You are born a noble, Your Highness. However, if you cannot even fully understand the words spoken by others, cannot tell the logic behind texts, and do not even know the rhetoric contained behind the reasoning in the texts, then if I rashly allow you to study history and learn etiquette before I push you to the world, I will be incredibly irresponsible.” Gilbert snorted gently.
Gilbert seemed to be getting more energetic as he spoke.
“If you do not know grammar, understand logic, and rhetoric, or perhaps worse, you know all three of the above but you do not know how to use them and have never received any benefits from them, you will have very limited choices when you just rely on your wisdom to make choices regarding history, etiquette, different people, events, and things. You will either choose to act on blind impulses, ignorant objection, inferior imitations, or self-righteous disdain.
“And they can all be categorized as a type of misconception. It will only turn you into an arrogant fool.”
Thales quirked an eyebrow.
‘I was merely trying to raise a question… Why did it feel like… I just received a lecture?
‘Furthermore… Gilbert currently really feels like… the Old Crow himself.’
Thales could not help but think.
Gilbert continued speaking.
“On the contrary, if you master grammar, then regardless of history, etiquette, the code of conduct, or the ways of the world, you will find yourself that you will only need half the effort to learn them. You will master them the moment you are taught. It will be different from most people, who can only rely on their instincts and luck, and they live in this world ignorant of everything. They only live in their own world.”
Gilbert changed the topic, and his expression turned gentle.
“Please remember, Your Highness. This is not temporary, you can use this for a long time.”
Thales was lectured to the point that he felt a headache build in his head. He could not help but lean back.
‘Alright, everything you said is right. Everything is right.’
“So, this will be how your grammar classes will be set. Then, we will move on to the remaining three subjects left in the basic class: history, etiquette, ancient languages and foreign languages…”
Gilbert paused for a moment. He put down the hand-held spectacles.
“I believe that the Old Crow-Mister Hicks has done some corresponding adjustments as well?”
‘History, etiquette, ancient languages and foreign languages…
‘Three subjects.’
Thales sighed.
“You are right. He taught us history on the first lesson itself.
“But his lesson on history does not only include the fables that are part of the Northlanders’ tradition, which only tells us what happened. And I need to remember what happened, what lesson I learned, who was right and who was wrong, who made the most contributions and needs to be remembered the most, and all the associated bullcrap…”
While Thales spoke, nostalgia gradually rose in him.
“On the contrary, each section of history that Old Crow told me would lead to a main topic. Then, he would stop there and force me to think.”
He became entranced as he continued.
“The origin of laws, the foundation of beliefs, the boundaries of governance, the meaning of victory and defeat… Those are all the things I cannot see when I only look at recounts of tales, only read about songs of praises for heroes, and only flip through fixed conclusions.”
Perhaps it was out of respect for his teacher, but it was also perhaps he was feeling thirsty from speaking too much. This time, Gilbert did not say anything else anymore.
“Very good. Then we will have three history lessons per week for three nights. We will only need to make some adjustments to some of the main points of history. We could start with the two hundred and eight emperors of the Empire and the thirty-nine Constellation kings then…”
Gilbert happily filled up three boxes on the daily schedule.
‘Hold on a second.
‘How many?’
Thales instantly pulled a long face.
Indeed, he had read many of the achievements from the Empire’s emperors, but two hundred and eight?
When he saw the smile on Gilbert’s face, Thales could only let out a helpless breath.
“I had my etiquette class with Madam Ginghes. Count Ciel Lisban will show up whenever he is free. I heard that they will often hire some nobleman or noblewoman with great prestige over…” Thales said listlessly, “At first, I would always skip these classes and go to read books to learn by myself…”
‘At the same time, hide from the various eyes and ears while I try to find loopholes in Heroic Spirit Palace’s defenses.
‘I also had to go up against the Star Killer in a battle of wits and bravery.’
“But once the Old Crow arrived, he told us that even though it is uninteresting, etiquette classes do not just comprise of teaching us etiquette. At the very least, it doesn’t just teach you how to greet others and bow.” Thales felt his spirits lift. “It included ethics, morality, aristocratic rules, and religious traditions. It is what you would say to be the true Northland way.
“From this point of view, the Northlanders’ etiquette classes are not boring. That is because it reflects the value on the things that Northlanders value. They tell you when you need to kill, when you need to spare someone, when you need to go to war and need to make peace as suzerain of Northland.
“So etiquette is not merely etiquette in his eyes. It is established by the people, and it can be understood without someone being told. It is the old and new laws of Eckstedt, the order and rules for nobles, the duties of kings, the rights and freedom of vassals, for example…” Thales’ eyes became focused. “Joint Ruling Pledge.”
It did not just reflect a cold and rigid rule book but was a warm and living agent that carried out the rules of Eckstedtians.
It was the epitome of politics.
‘It’s just like…’
Everything in front of Thales’ eyes suddenly went blurry for a moment.
“‘Garfinkel’s accountability and indexical expressions are described as self-evident factors that are built on a tacit understanding between people. They build bridges between actions and situations, allowing people and the environment to reflect each other and build a structure together… such as public etiquette that everyone must abide by…”‘
Thales shook his head vigorously and cast the world that was already too far away and the memories that were too profound deep into the recesses of his mind.
After returning from Western Desert, he had no idea why the gradually fading memories of his previous life came flooding into the forefront of his mind like a volcano that erupted after it had accumulated enough pressure.
It was just like a resurgence.
Thales pressed against his forehead. While he chased away the dizziness from before, he was filled with suspicion.
He had started becoming like this once he returned to Constellation, was it really just a coincidence?
Chapter 517: Went to High School |
“Very well, I will remember that. We can try to have more flexible etiquette lessons. We will still have a class every Wednesday. You should be able to apply the knowledge at any moment in every practical sense.”
Gilbert’s words traveled into Thales’ ear, and Thales was pulled back to reality.
Thales tried his best not to look at the timetable above Gilbert’s knees or calculate the free time he had remained in a week. He took in a deep breath.
The prince nodded.
“As for what you mentioned about ancient languages and foreign languages… the Northlanders despise the national language of the Empire.
“But Old Crow insisted on putting it back into my curriculum.” Thales looked excited. “‘Don’t waste the ancient books in the library.’ That is what he said.”
Gilbert moved slightly.
He was slightly nostalgic and touched. “Is that so, Mister Hicks?”
Thales snorted and laughed. He tried to reduce the burden of his curriculum.
“Of course, with the basics that you taught me and all the reading I did over the years, the national language of the Ancient Empire is still quite easy for me.
“But as for my friend, I am afraid that she did not think of it that way.” Thales shrugged.
Thales felt incredibly happy when he thought of Saroma being stunned when she read an old book written in the national language of the Ancient Empire—The Poems of the Political Allegory between the Era of Feudal Kings and City States. She bit her nails while she looked at him occasionally in shock and fear as Thales quickly flipped through the pages.
He also decided not to tell her the secret behind why he could read so quickly.
‘If you don’t understand it, just skip it!’
At this moment, Gilbert suddenly spoke, “So, did Mister Hicks teach you the national language of the Ancient Empire or the modern national language of the Empire?”
Thales was stunned. He said hesitantly, “Um, let me think about it…”
But Gilbert did not hesitate before he nodded in understanding and started to write something. “I understand. You will need extra tutoring in both the national languages of the Empire.”
‘Both.’
Thales suddenly felt sorrow, as if he had just smacked himself in the head.
The Foreign Affairs Minister looked up. “How about foreign languages?”
The prince looked at the decreasing amount of blank space on the timetable and said with a long face, “Can the language of the orcs be counted?”
Gilbert frowned. He had a face as if he had come to understanding something as he lowered his head and wrote to fill up what little remained of the blank space on the timetable.
“So, you still need to be tutored for three languages, including the language of the Ancient Cia elves, the language of the Ancient Rehan elves, and the common language of elves.”
‘Huh?’
Thales raised his head in fear.
“It is just a joke, Your Highness.” Gilbert raised his head and laughed loudly. “Except for the elves themselves and linguists, no one else is able to speak the first two mentioned languages.
“Do not worry too much, all you need to learn is just the common language of elves.”
When Thales saw Gilbert cross out a few grids, he wisely held back from asking whether Aida could speak them.
“Very good. Then, that will be the end for your basic classes such as grammar, history, etiquette, and language in your course,” Gilbert said in satisfaction. “Next would be the second type.”
‘What?
‘There’s more?’
Thales felt sad again.
The first type was already enough for him to suffer!
But Gilbert’s next sentence drew his attention.
“Philosophy.”
At that instant, Thales was stunned again.
After a few seconds, he could no longer care about his academic pressure. Thales spoke in pure surprise, “Phi… Phi what again?”
Gilbert raised his head and enunciated clearly, “Philosophy. This is its ancient name, and it is a very broad academic discipline.
“As of today, if it is included in your course, it includes mathematics, natural science, arts, and theology lessons.”
‘What?
‘Mathematics, natural science, arts, and theology classes?’
Thales was surprised and said, “All these are included in philosophy?”
Gilbert smiled gently and asked in the same sentence structure, “Which of these should not be included in philosophy?”
Thales waved his hands.
“I know what you mean.” The duke was a little skeptical. “But I think that philosophy is a narrow and specific discipline, and there are not that many details in it. Is it not supposed to be used to answer some broad and deep ultimate questions?”
The Foreign Affairs Minister seemed as though he wanted to joke with him, so he repeated, “Then, what kind of questions do not belong to these ‘broad and deep ultimate questions’ you speak of?”
Thales was stunned, and he continued to scratch his head. ‘Ah, this must be an influence from Kohen.’
“Urk… such as, ‘What should I eat today’?” he asked dumbly.
Gilbert put down his spectacles, took a deep breath, and sat up straight.
“First of all, the question of ‘What to eat’ can be very deep as well…” He gazed at the prince earnestly. “Secondly, Your Highness, for a transcriber or a civil officer who graduated from an academy, as long as they are hardworking enough and read the classics thoroughly, they will be able to understand grammar, be familiar with history, have decent etiquette, and master languages.
“For a recruit or a commoner knight who comes from the city defense team, as long as they put in more effort and train well, their martial arts can be better than others. If they can remain calm while they give commands and win in battles, they can give perform meritorious deeds.
“All of them will have a chance to be appointed as nobles.”
Gilbert’s gaze suddenly became sharp,
“But how do you differentiate between yourself, who is a real noble that came from a long history of aristocrats and are outstanding, and they are not?”
Thales gave him an awkward smile.
‘I can’t say, after all, it’s my first time being a noble.’
Luckily, he tried hard to keep himself from saying the words that had been used multiple times to mock him—Shining, gold blood.
Gilbert smiled mysteriously.
“Your Highness, if you are not used to it, just treat it as a nicer address: philosophy.”
Gilbert looked outside the window, and there was a longing look in his eyes.
“You must know that during the age of the Empire, philosophy covered everything, and it had once been known as the knowledge of all laws. It was even a compulsory lesson for nobles. During that time, knights would lead the army when they were on horses, and when they were not on horseback, they would discuss to each other about philosophy. As nobles, there was no option to them as to whether they could learn philosophy, but only the option of the depth of their learning of philosophy.”
‘The knowledge of all laws?
‘This is rather similar to the Convention of All Magic mentioned by Asda…’
Thales quietly paid attention to this.
“But it includes mathematics, natural science, arts, theology, and it seems to be a bit…”
The prince tried hard to think of an adjective, but he failed in the end.
Gilbert only looked at him from the distance. He quirked up the corners of his mouth without replying.
Since Thales could not find any suitable adjective, he sighed.
“Do you know that you just made me think of the Old Crow again?”
The Duke of Star Lake recalled the past. “Mathematics, geometry, astronomy, and geography… Although the nobility at Northland included them in their military lessons without analyzing the knowledge, Old Crow separated them. He provided explanations for all four lessons, he also provided a separated list of books for them.
“And the Old Crow did not just teach us simple mathematics, but…”
Gilbert suddenly took over the conversation. “Algebra?”
Thales was excited. “Did he teach you this way as well?”
Gilbert chuckled.
“This is a compulsory lesson in Dragon Kiss Academy. It is already an old tradition in the past. Mister Hicks incorporated some of those lessons into his home-based classes.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister said airily, “At least, all students of Dragon Kiss Academy will need to under the principles and formulas of normal algebra such as quadratic equation.”
‘What?’
“Quadratic equation?”
‘And it was a compulsory lesson?’
Thales laughed dryly. “Why? Why do we not just learn quintic, sextic, and polynomial equations?”
Against his expectations, Gilbert began recalling seriously.
“Mister Hicks has said that up until today, no one has really found a way to solve quintic equations. According to some methods during the age of the Empire… Some people did manage to find it, but it was lost after the Battle of Eradication…
“It was also said that some scholars who had been poor for their entire lives had delved even deeper into this subject. Their algebra was not limited to the scope of simple numbers, but beyond reality, and they were things that were beyond our expectations. They even found ways to point to directions, space, motion, and change accurately. So, their mathematics draft papers could be a few floors tall if they were spread out…”
“Urk, Gilbert, you can stop here.” Thales started to feel a headache again. He gestured at Gilbert to stop.
“You should know that I personally prefer astronomy and geography in the Northlanders’ military class, even though my classmate was had opposing preferences…”
‘Sorry about that, my interest in Mathematics cannot even be compared to a Northland girl. I am a true embarrassment of the traditions of our Empire.’ Thales thought in a mocking and resigned manner.
Gilbert lowered his head and continued the game of filling in the blanks.
“Besides mathematics, they naturally included astronomy and geography to increase their knowledge and widen their perspectives.
“Meanwhile, arts include music, painting, sculpting, dancing, poetry, and theater that can cultivate your mind and body, and train your character.
“As for theology… Yes, it is more abstruse, and you will know soon.
“When they are added together in your weekly timetable… Hmm… let me take a look…”
Thales became more mentally exhausted when he heard this.
Gilbert frowned and picked up the draft of the timetable. “Oh, we cannot quite fit in everything in the timetable…
“But all is well. I will go back and rearrange the proportion of your basic lessons and philosophy lessons so that they can be mixed together…”
Thales could only acknowledge that he was unlucky, and he closed his eyes.
