Kingdom's Bloodline, page 638
A distant well cannot quench immediate thirst, the future is no match for the present.
Even when Dragon Spear was worn out, and Heroic Spirit had been dimmed…
The aid and support that King Nuven and Dragon Clouds City were able to provide them, regardless of the number of King Chapmans and Black Sand Regions…
Could not be replaced.
“I believe, this aligns perfectly with the interests of Eastern Sea Hill.”
At this thought, Thales looked at the Duke of Eastern Sea solemnly, and reciprocated with the greeting, “The opportunity is upon us, God bless Constellation.”
He stopped speaking.
The Duke of Eastern Sea stared blankly at the Duke of Star Lake.
Slightly surprised.
As if he had come to know Thales for the first time.
After a long while, the old duke subtly poked his own waist. “Tsk tsk. Eliminate them while they are down… You utterly detest those northerners, don’t you?”
Utterly detest.
Thales froze slightly.
He slowed his pace down.
Thales recalled those faces from the past: first, that of King Nuven who entrapped him while roaring with laughter, then that of King Chapman who raised his glass towards him with a cold stare.
Those of the dukes with prominent statuses at Heroic Spirit Palace, each harboring their own sinister motives.
And that of the person who beat him up badly to the verge of death multiple times, and even left him with a permanent disability—Star Killer.
At this thought, Thales flexed his stiff left wrist.
Fortunately, he used his right hand for meals.
“Hmph, you know, for the past six years….” The irked Thales subconsciously ground his teeth, “I really have hated that bunch of… northern thugs who enjoy bullying children.”
The Duke of Eastern Sea stayed silent for a while.
Somehow, something was odd about the way Cullen looked at Thales.
The duke even subconsciously glanced at Thales’ buttocks.
After being discovered by a frowning Thales, Cullen coughed awkwardly and retracted his gaze. “It’s understandable, but…perhaps you should inform His Majesty about this? After all, the Eastern Sea is the throat of Constellation. This matter implicates the entire kingdom.”
Thales felt a weight in his heart.
He inhaled deeply and grinned, “Yes, I should,” Thales looked towards the innocent-looking Duke of the Eastern Sea. “But I am merely his son,” he continued gravely, “whereas you are his prime minister. Cum mayor of Splendid Port City, and suzerain of the entire Eastern Sea Hill.”
Duke Cullen stayed silent for a long while before he responded. But this time, he no longer spoke with that smart-ass, nonchalant attitude. “Thank you for this reminder. I will take note.”
But his gaze then changed. “But why? Why tell me all this?”
To…
Repay the kingdom?
Thales ditched this lame reason and sighed in his heart.
“As a gesture of gratitude.”
The graceful figure that stood up for and did everything to protect the Prince of Constellation during that turmoil flashed before Thales’ eyes.
He pulled his thoughts back to the present, and grinned at the Duke of Eastern Sea. “It’s all thanks to your sudden change of heart at the National Conference in the past to resolutely vote for me that I am where I am today. This is my gesture of gratitude.”
Duke Cullen pursed his lips.
Sudden change of heart, these words…
“Be careful, Your Highness.” He was still beaming as he looked at Thales and patted the latter’s shoulder, as one would treat a beloved nephew, and said calculatedly, “Mindis Hall is not like Renaissance Palace. The carpets here are very new, every step… is slippery.”
Thales kept silent.
He remembered the Little Rascal whose whereabouts were still unknown and whom he was uncertain whether was still alive.
But the next moment, the person that appeared before his eyes was Lady Elainor. She was leading her dull son into Mindis Hall, enduring the strange stares from the crowd.
Little Iron Spike Junior.
“But this is our family tradition, is it not?” Thales came to his senses and whispered, “The slippery carpet aside…” He looked up. “even if there were millions of iron spikes under it…” Thales grinned, “I would still have to stroll down it coolly…without so much as a flinch.”
As soon as he said it, a gleam flashed across the eyes of the Duke of Eastern Sea.
Duke Cullen burst into laughter and raised his hand gesturing his attendant to come forward, but refused to be accompanied by Thales, waving him away.
“As for their marriage proposal, Your Highness, keep in mind, even in the North…” Duke Cullen swaggered off and ended casually, “beauty is still injurious to health.”
Listening to the duke’s words that carried a hidden meaning, Thales’ heart sank.
‘Little Rascal.’
He slipped into a daze as he stared at Duke Cullen’s leaving figure.
‘Now…
‘There’s only so much…
‘That I can do for you.’
“Whoa, so that northerner was serious that he introduced the Archduke’s daughters to you?” Doyle caught up and put Thales’ cloak on for him. Thales adjusted his cloak absent-mindedly and responded with a mere “uh huh”.
Doyle pursed his lips, “You know, Your Highness, there’s a saying among the Seven Jadestars Attendants: never ever marry a northern woman.”
Thales walked back slowly and queried, “Why is that?”
Doyle shrugged. “Legend has it that this is the cause of decline of the ‘Wild Stallion’ Barney family: At that time, the old lady Little Spike Iron’s youngest son stubbornly wanted to marry a northland woman. Little Spike Iron firmly opposed but to no avail. In the end, they removed him from the family tree and kicked him out of the house, but the curse brought by this woman still implicated the family—look at the Barneys now.”
Stubbornly wanted to marry a northland woman…
Implicated the family…
Look at the Barneys now…
Thales felt a little heartbroken, and said bleakly, “Why don’t you look at yourselves?”
Perhaps it was because the prince’s tone was too harsh, Doyle was startled.
Glover calmly stepped forward and shoved Doyle behind him, the Doyle that wanted to joke around with the prince to relief his boredom but met a sharp rebuff instead.
Was it possible that…
Doyle walked behind Glover dejectedly.
In the six years that His Highness has lived in the north, he’s really taken to…
A northland woman?
‘Oh my god, then what about the mission that Dad gave me?
‘For a miser like Dad, he’s really promised a lot of money for this!’
At this moment, a minor commotion could be heard happening outside the hall, attracting everyone’s attention.
Thales turned around to look and was shocked.
A lone man without loyal attendants, accompanied only by vigilant guards, slowly stepped through the doors.
Even though he wore extravagant clothes and had an extraordinary aura, he looked solitary and grim.
The sound of clanging metal also followed the man into the hall.
It sounded jarring and harsh in the elegant of Mindis Hall.
A fervent chatter spread amongst the oblivious, whereas the nobles who had an inkling shared an uneasy silence as they subconsciously made way for the new guest.
Mallos received a report and hurriedly rushed over from the side hall, in time to see the arrival of this special guest.
The watchmen frowned as they watched the guest that walked slowly in, their gaze focused on his hands.
On them were a pair of dull shackles, with chains trailing on the ground.
The guest looked up to reveal a gaunt and weary face as well as a chest-length beard.
He stared bewilderedly at the brightly lit and lively Mindis Hall in front of him.
Mallos quickly stepped forward and motioned for the guards to bring him in promptly to avoid the countless curious gazes, while he held the penal officer, Gray Patterson, who had led the guest here.
“Gray, what’s this…”
“He refused,” Gray hurriedly answered with a look of resent and frustration on his face. “No matter how we coaxed and cajoled, he insisted on attending the banquet in shackles,” The penal officer continued, “Even that beard…”
Mallos looked at the abstracted guest and those problematic shackles with a solemn expression. “Couldn’t you guys have been tougher about it?”
Patterson shook his head in embarrassment, “His Majesty made it clear that he was to attend the banquet so there couldn’t be any injuries to his face. It’s difficult.”
Mallos snorted. “Get a piece of cloth to cover them and lead him directly to his seat… Send him back once the time is up.”
Patterson nodded in acknowledgment and turned to look at the new guest. He said matter-of-factly, “Master Val, welcome to Mindis Hall. Please follow me…”
But the new guest broke his silence. “Tormond Mallos, in its glory days, your family…”
Mallos’ expression shifted as he turned around to face the guest.
The guest’s voice was deep and majestic, but his tone resembled a sickly, worn-out horse; its dreariness aged the listener. “Your father proposed marriage on your behalf to the daughter of the Arunde family.”
Mallos frowned slightly.
“He probably thought, Nolanur would eventually inherit the family fortune, and my younger brother was close to the two princes. Regardless of who succeeds as king, the Duke of the Northern Territory would be influential. As for you, with marital relations with the family of a duke, naturally your status in Seven Jadestars Attendants would be higher.”
At these words, the guards responsible for escorting the guest froze as they looked tentatively at their commander.
Mallos merely paused for a moment before he put on a smile and looked at this strange guest politely.
The guest let out a bitter laugh. He raised his hands, causing the metal shackles and chains to clang again. The clanging fused with the faint joyous music, as if a stroke of cold color was infused into a spring landscape painting.
“Now… look at us. One, a family of prisoners in shackles,” the man raised his head slowly. He looked at Mallos, then looked around Mindis Hall; the movement of his mouth stirred his silver beard. “Another, a family of shackle guards.”
Shackle guards…
Mallos furrowed his brows as he forced himself to ignore the connotation in the man’s words. “Your Grace, we have arranged a seat for you in the banquet hall…”
But the guest’s words carried an august that had been accumulated over the years, as if it was always capable of interrupting him at just the right moment. “You know, many years ago,” the man in extravagant clothing examined the layout and furnishings in Mindis Hall absent-mindedly, “my brother was just like you. He stood here, diligently carrying out his duty as an honorable royal guard and guarded this royal manor. As for me, I passed the garden countless times and watched that crazy lass run towards me.”
The gaunt man put down the chains. There was a glaze across his eyes. “Now Mindis Hall has reopened. Yet my brother, is no longer here.”
Mallos did not speak.
The man scoffed. He looked up high at the portraits of the Three Constellation Kings. The color in his eyes turned a shade darker.
Bastard King, Adulterer King, King of Bad Debts, the man thought to himself as the corners of his mouth curled upwards.
But a few seconds later, his gaze turned cold. “And he is not the only brother I have lost.” He looked at the Three Constellation Kings and said disdainfully, “No.”
Mallos was silent for a moment before he exhaled and looked towards his subordinates. ” Escort His Grace into the banquet hall through the side doors. Keep a low profile. And of course, be courteous .” His tone was grave, his gaze stern.
Penal Officer Patterson understood his commanding officer. He had had enough along the way to the banquet. At a wave of his hand, two guards with cold expressions stepped forward to restrain the man.
But the man turned around abruptly and burst into a fit of rage!
“I am the descendant of Arunde, master of Cold Castle, Guardian Duke of the Northern Territory of Constellation! I spotted that old fatso’s carriage. He walked in from here, all dignified and upright!”
The majesty he radiated at that moment perturbed those around him.
Arunde glared at Mallos coldly, “If your master wants to prove to the kingdom that I am still breathing, prove that he isn’t ruthless, then the least he could do is respect the status of a duke.”
Mallos’ gaze turned cold.
At that moment…
“Mallos!” A young but gentle voice shouted. Thales walked over from another side door and nodded at the watchman. “Allow me. You can back down now.”
Patterson eyed Mallos warily.
Mallos paused for a moment, looked at Glover and Doyle behind Thales, then nodded to Patterson.
“As you wish, Your Grace.” The penal officer bowed to Thales and retreated aside with the guards.
Thales exhaled and approached the new guest.
“Long time no see, Duke Val.”
Ever since Thales appeared, the guest had fixed his gaze on the young master of Mindis Hall.
He took stock of the Duke of Star Lake’s figure, initially surprised but then relieved.
“So you’re back.”
Val Arunde—the Duke of the Northern Territory who had his conspiracy foiled and was consequently jailed six years ago stared at the second prince with mixed emotions. “How is Eckstedt?”
How?
The prince looked at the man and sighed slowly, “Neither harsh winds nor bitter frost can sway it.”
Thales meticulously sized Val up too. He noticed that Val’s once muscular figure was much thinner now, and he now had a shaggy boxed beard.
Inexplicably, he suddenly remembered what Josef of Disaster Sword said when he was in the Prison of Bones:
This is the effect imprisonment can have on a person… No matter who you are, and no matter how powerful you are.
They’re forever lost in a lonely hollow, and will never be able to return.
Thales focused his eyes in front of him.
The once impassioned and majestic Duke of the Northern Territory…
Was no more.
Val hesitated for a few seconds. “Lampard, how is he?”
Lampard.
Thales’ heart sank.
How did Val feel when he met with the then Archduke of Black Sand, Chapman Lampard and agreed to collaborate with him?
Six years later, when their situations are poles apart, how does he feel?
“Neither harsh winds nor bitter frost,” the prince started speaking softly, and gave an identical answer, “…can sway it.”
After this series of peculiar questions and answers, Val fell silent.
But then he started chuckling softly. He strode forward and made his way into the banquet hall habitually.
Like a wanderer returning home.
Patterson and the guards from the Discipline Division immediately followed suit.
But when Val reached Thales’ side, he stopped.
Glover and Doyle anxiously stepped forward in an attempt to separate the duke from the prince, but were again held by Mallos.
“Thank you.”
Thales was slightly stunned.
The emaciated Duke of the Northern Territory did not bother to look at Thales but merely whispered, “Someone told me. About everything you did for my daughter six years ago in Eckstedtian territory.”
In Eckstedtian territory…
Miranda?
Thales recalled Dragon Blood’s Night and the cold swordswoman with a heavy heart.
The imprisoned duke turned his head and said expressionlessly, “It’s just, please do me another favor.” Val’s expression became somber, “Don’t marry her.”
Thales was dumbfounded.
“If you must marry her,” Val scoffed, like an enlightened despondent gambler who had lost all his chips, “don’t leave your seed in her belly.”
Thales blushed. He immediately adjusted his expression.
“Mira faced misfortune in her early years,” Val looked at the ceiling as he continued mournfully, “She’s seen enough bloodshed.”
Thales’ gaze trembled upon hearing this.
A second later, at the sight of the gaunt, lonely and aging Duke of the Northern Territory in front of him, Thales sighed, “I promise.”
Val laughed. He lowered his head to reveal his wrinkled-face with a smile, “Thank you. You are different from him. You have yet to… become him.”
Different from him.
In that moment, Thales had a sudden realization.
He remembered that, before they parted ways at Blade Fangs Camp, the former watchman of the royal guards, Knight of Judgement, Zakriel, said something similar to him.
This made Thales, who had been putting on a smile to greet guests all night, realize that, this emaciated man who was disinterested in everything was probably the only person who would be honest with him in this night of joy and mirth.
“Perhaps,” Thales answered with a forced smile, somewhat hoping that his words would bring comfort to this man who had abandoned all hope in life.
But Val shook his head, his smile desperate yet cynical, “Just like then, he too thought he was different from the previous master of this place.”
Thales’ expression changed. “What do you mean?”
Val did not answer; he merely turned away.
He looked at the boisterous and lively scene outside the hall, and took in the thriving scene of Mindis Hall where large crowds were coming and going. “Do you see that?” As the Duke of the Northern Territory watched the magnificent scene before him and listened to the soft music, illuminated by the resplendent Everlasting Lamp above him, it was as if there was a disparate scenery in his eyes. It took him a while before he said with a smile, “This scene…it’s a magnificent scene of hell.”
