Kingdom's Bloodline, page 79
Thales opened his mouth in shock.
"I am Elise Sora, and am a little younger than Constance." Princess Elise smiled slightly. A charming dimple appeared on the side of her cheek. "However, I do not have the right to use the Jadestar family name… Sora, this is my husband's family name."
'Half… aunt?
'Why did no one mention it before this?'
"May I know who your husband…" Thales spoke in a stiff manner.
Hearing that, Elise sighed and spoke, "Count Sora… an honorary count from the late king's era. He just passed away a month ago."
'A widow?
'No wonder she's wearing black… Is she still mourning?'
Thales spoke in puzzlement, "A month ago? The passing of an honorary count? Was it because of illness…?"
However, Thales realized that he was a little rude. He immediately bowed and apologized. "Sorry, aunt Elise. It was presumptuous of me."
Princess Elise was at first stupefied. She then smiled bitterly and spoke, "No, there is nothing to hide…"
The adopted daughter of the late king, Princess Elise spoke slowly.
"He died in that huge explosion at the center of Red Street Market a month ago."
'Red Street Market… Huge explosion?'
Thales immediately froze.
'Could it be that…?'
"It was the night the gangs were fighting in XC District and Western District," Elise spoke sadly.
'Yes. I knew it.
'It was the explosion me, Yodel and Asda triggered.'
He immediately felt guilty.
Thales exhaled.
He forced down the unhappy feelings in his heart and asked slowly, "He... Your husband… why was he in Red Street Market that night?"
'Wasn't there a curfew that night?'
However, Elise obviously did not know much. She heaved a sigh.
"Our relationship is not really good. My husband… likes to seek pleasure in Red Street Market… A few days before he passed away, I went there to look for him and we had a huge argument. He did not come back for three days after that…
"I never thought that it would be the last time I saw him."
Elise shut her eyes, shook her head, and sighed.
She tugged the velvet shawl on her shoulders, which was used for keeping her warm.
However, at this moment, Thales' pupils suddenly contracted!
'That velvet shawl… looks a little familiar.
'Velvet… Woman… Red Street Market… A few days before the huge explosion... Looked for husband… argument…
'Could it be that she is…?'
Thales' entire body trembled greatly!
He looked towards his aunt Elise's face again.
This time, his aunt's delicate and pretty face completely overlapped with another face that seemed have come from an event that happened in the distant past.
'It seems like it had happened so long ago that I almost forgot.
'Yes. It's her.
'That female noble clad in velvet.'
Thales stared blankly at that princess.
'That day, it was her.'
She was the one who was clad in velvet and brought along twenty Swordsmen of Eradication. She met Thales, who was taking a risk and begging at Blood Bottle Gang's territory in Red Street Market.
She was the one who donated twelve coppers and… one silver coin on the spot to the unkempt Thales.
However, Thales' transformation was too great. She probably did not realize that the second prince in front of her was the same child beggar from a month ago.
Thales touched his chest.
The scar burned by Quide using that silver coin was there.
Because of that donation, the seriously ill Coria survived typhoid fever.
Because of that donation, Ned ratted them out to Quide.
Because of that donation… he… the child beggars… Quide… Jala… Red Street Market…
Because of that donation… everything else followed...
Thales heaved a deep sigh.
"What seems to be the matter?" Princess Elise looked curiously towards Thales, who had a complicated expression on his face.
"No, nothing much."
Thales raised his head and flashed a respectful but cautious smile.
This aunt suddenly seemed a lot friendlier in his eyes.
"I'm just a little emotional after meeting a relative."
Asda Sakern's smile flashed in front of his eyes again.
'Is this the coincidence you spoke of?
'Or-' The desolate figure of the robust Kessel in the royal family's burial ground appeared in front of Thales' eyes. 'Is this the will of fate?'
…..
XC District. Underground market. Sunset Pub.
"Cast it off.
"Just pretend that it is a piece of wood.
"Cast aside useless emotions and principles, and become a true Charleton!
"Cast it off!"
'No. No!'
Jala Charleton abruptly woke up from her nightmare!
She shot up from the bed gasping.
She remembered that after the three child beggars were taken away, she knelt down at Sunset Pub and did not get up for a long time until she lost consciousness.
And now…
"So disgraceful."
On the other side of the bed, which was the corner of the room, a hoarse voice that Jala was extremely familiar with rang up.
"Do you have that nightmare every single time you are upset?"
Jala sighed heavily.
"Old man, when did you come back?"
She shut her eyes and laid back down on the bed.
However, that voice did not have the intention to reply her.
"Jala Charleton, if you cannot look back and face your trauma from that year, you can only be a weakling forever."
Jala opened her eyes. She then pursed her lips and turned to face the wall, turning a deaf ear to the old man's words.
"Who would have thought that even Roda could render you powerless to fight back..? What a waste of those two good knives for killing..."
Jala thought of the three child beggars, who were taken away, as well as Coria's heart-wrenching plea.
"Sister Jala…"
She shut her eyes tight and fought back the tears in her eyes.
However, the old man's words were still travelling into her ears. "One single trauma made you shut yourself to this extent. You are just like that Quide… That year…"
The nightmarish memory came.
Jala could not take it anymore. She flipped out of the bed and yelled furiously at the corner.
"Enough! You don't have to remind me anymore!"
The old man laughed in a deep voice.
"Hehehe… remind you of what? Hmph, look, you are so traumatized that you don't even dare to mention it…" the old man continued mocking her.
A clunking sound rang, giving Jala a good scare.
She knew that it was the sound of the old man playing with the blade with his fingers.
Although she felt a little weak, Jala stood up indignantly.
"Hmph, you sound as though you are saying that if I mention it, I will immediately become a supreme class elite."
The old man continued speaking mysteriously, "Who knows? However, if you continue escaping from it, you will definitely not be able to reach supreme class… and what happened yesterday will still repeat itself.
"The Charleton family name will still imprison you all your life like a curse.
"Do you really want the nightmare of that man to rule you for the rest of your life or do you want to experience your powerlessness and weakness again?"
Jala opened her mouth and took in two deep breaths.
"How is this difficult?" She gritted her teeth. "It's just that incident."
"Oh? What incident?" The old man's voice started to gain a little lilt.
Jala's face was distorted. The room made of stone appeared before her eyes.
'It won't do.'
She started trembling.
'It won't do.'
Darkness and blood spread in front of her eyes like current.
'It won't do.'
Her teeth started chattering.
'It won't do.'
She almost could not breath.
'It won't do.
'I must not recall…'
However, the next moment, a small figure appeared before her eyes.
It was a cocky brat with black hair and gray eyes. Although his body was covered in wounds, he was over-confident and spoke firmly to her.
"I will go by myself."
Jala opened her eyes and sucked in a mouthful of air.
In her mind, she returned to that room made of stone.
Trembling, she started speaking.
"Twelve years ago, at Renaissance Palace…"
Her forehead broke out in cold sweat.
*Ting!* In the air, the sound of the old man flicking the tip of the blade rang.
The old man spoke coldly, "Continue speaking."
Jala grit her teeth hard. Her face became paler and paler.
"During my first- first mission…"
Jala's entire body started trembling uncontrollably.
However, the sight of Roda gripping her knife with a calm expression and taking away the three child beggars appeared before her eyes.
That was… Coria's pleading gaze.
"I…"
Jala shivered. She felt nauseous.
"I…"
Jala could feel that there was some liquid flowing out of her eyes.
"I…"
Everything in front of her eyes became bright red in color…
'So... scary…'
Jala stuttered. Her lips could not touch each other.
At that moment.
The old man yelled violently!
"Say it!"
Jala's whole body trembled greatly.
What followed was a streak of silver light that shot rapidly towards her!
*Clunk!*
A Wolf Limb Blade was embedded into the wall, half an inch away from Jala's left ear.
Jala shuddered violently!
All the scenery, people, sound, and colors from that day vividly appeared before her eyes again!
"That day, I-"
Her eyes were blank. She could not help but roar loudly.
"I beheaded a baby while he was alive!"
After roaring out those words, Jala panted and took large mouthfuls of air. She felt that the energy in her entire body had left her.
Twelve years had pass.
She managed to shout it out.
She finally managed to shout it out.
*Thump!*
Trembling, Jala directly threw herself on her knees. Covering her mouth and holding back the nausea and queasiness, she wailed.
At the corner, the old man's voice rang airily.
"Now, pick up your knife, your own knife.
"And not Charleton's knife."
Chapter 79: Diplomat Group |
Three days later.
It was just snowing at Eternal Star City this morning. The roads of the city were stained with mud.
But the road in front of Mindis Hall was swept clean.
A few carriages were already arriving one after another.
"We are in a bit of a rush. People are saying that Archduke Lampard has yet withdraw his troops. He is still deploying his soldiers around the border. It is unknown if King Nuven has chosen to not restrict him or that King Nuven is unable to restrict him anymore."
Gilbert, along with the well-dressed Thales stood in the study room located on the second floor. They were both looking at the carriages coming through Mindis Hall's entrance from the window.
Gilbert said with a serious expression on his face, "It seems like conflicts aimed to test your stance cannot be avoided. Even though Baron Murkh and Lady Sasere are going to serve as garrisons in the forts while the Zemunto and Friess Family also promised to give their full support, I heard that after receiving news of the duke's imprisonment, Cold Castle and Arunde's vassals are in a state of chaos… It is better for us to arrive earlier in order to eliminate the disaster of war."
Thales lightly nodded his head as he listened to Gilbert's report in silence.
"According to usual practice, as Constellation's prince, Your Highness, you will need three instructors to respectively guide you on military affairs, political affairs and etiquettes. You will also need one attendant, who will usually become your assistant hereafter, and two protectors…
"But since your diplomatic mission will arrive soon… we can only keep everything simple and make up what you lack by the time you return to Constellation.
"Since the place you are heading to is the unfamiliar Eckstedt, and the aim of this trip is to apologize, we have no other choice than to reduce the number of followers you have. Apart from thirty Jadestar private soldiers lead by Chora, there are three special candidates.
"There is one instructor—I will introduce an extremely knowledgeable scholar to you later, as the vice diplomat of this trip; one attendant, which has already been chosen and is currently in the carriage; one protector—since your safety is very important, the protector must be an experienced supreme class expert…"
Thales could not help but to feel stunned when he heard this.
"The candidates for instructor and protector… Gilbert, do you mean that you, Yodel and even Jines… will not accompany me on this trip?"
Gilbert smiled at him helplessly.
He said faintly, "Yes. I am the signatory of the Fortress Treaty, and I have an infamous reputation in Eckstedt as a 'conspirator'... My appearance in Dragon Clouds City will only bring upon unnecessary troubles to you.
"As for Yodel…"
Gilbert shook his head. "For the past ten years in Northland, there have been five strong, supreme class warriors with outstanding reputation, commonly known as the Five War Generals. Each respectively worked under King Nuven and the few archdukes. Their status is similar to the Three Commanders of Constellation, who wield the legendary anti-mystic equipment. Your Highness, if you happen to meet any one of them, please do not mention the 'elite who wears a dark purple mask' and also the fact that he is now the secret protector of the Supreme King of Constellation."
Thales was momentarily stunned.
After a month of education, he knew about Constellation's Three Commanders… but as for Eckstedt's Five War Generals...
The former Foreign Affairs Minister sighed. "Yodel… has offended every single one of them…"
Thales spent a second to understand that sentence, then his face twitched as he replied, "Every… every single one of them? What kind of offense did he commit?"
Gilbert only glanced at him in silence.
Thales took a deep breath and put on a resigned smile. "Alright… I guess it is the kind that is more troublesome…"
Another question was added in the prince's heart.
Yodel's past.
What exactly did he do to provoke all of the Five War Generals at the same time?
It was just like a person who set himself against the Three Commanders at the same time… It was totally unimaginable.
Gilbert glanced out of the window and saw a few people walking down one after another from the carriage. "As for Madam Jines… Her identity is rather sensitive… you know, her relationship with the king…"
Thales sighed. "According to what you have told me, besides the 'allies' from Corleone Family, I probably will not see any familiar faces around me, am I right?"
Gilbert became reserved. "This is the exact matter I was about to bring up. Are you really going to bring members of the Corleone Family along with you?"
Thales replied with a solemn expression, "I have already made a promise with them. I do not like to go back on my word."
'Also, even though that old witch, Serena is annoying, she did use the Blood Clan's telepathic ability to help me during a crisis. It is not an exaggeration to say that she saved my life.'
Thales furrowed his brows. "After all, they have one supreme class expert and two supra class experts. Serena also hopes to realize the restoration of her position by relying on my status. These are all bargaining chips that I can take advantage of. On the way to Northland, they can hide among the followers by changing their appearance…" He paused slightly and thought of that robust figure. "Also…
"His Majesty has already agreed to this, did he not?"
Gilbert exhaled lightly. "Of course, that is the promise of Constellation's prince… It is Jadestar's promise. They will not dare to be too presumptuous when in Constellation as the king and our forces are always by your side, but when you are in Eckstedt… I hope they will not bring about any trouble.
"After all, Yodel and I will not be by your side." Gilbert furrowed his brows. "You have to be careful of that old butler, Chris… I always feel like I have heard of his name from somewhere."
Thales rolled his eyes at Gilbert. "Hey, do not forget who was the one who facilitated this alliance."
Gilbert gave him a perfect smile and tipped his hat.
Thales' expression became worried. "Also, Gilbert, the matter I mentioned to you yesterday… about Lower City District…"
Gilbert breathed out from his nose. "Yes, Your Highness, since your identity no longer needs to be kept a secret, and Mindis Hall has already resumed its free passage… I have already sent someone to Lower City District yesterday afternoon. We will get a report back, latest by tonight. It is not easy to blend into that place. People from the Secret Intelligence Department are more suitable than us in investigating the matter regarding those beggars and that female bartender.
"I will update you on the latest situation by corresponding with you. I believe you will already be on your way by that time. If possible, I will do my best in taking care of them, even if we almost have no manpower in Lower City District."
"Thank you." Thales looked at the former Foreign Affairs Minister gratefully. "This way, I have no need to go to Morat anymore."
"But you have to understand…"
Gilbert hesitated slightly, but he still lifted his head and said, "What the Black Prophet said was not entirely unreasonable, Your Highness. After all, you are different from them."
Thales' gaze became still for a moment.
"Furthermore, it may not be a good thing for them to be too close to you… Your help may be entirely useless to them. Worse, it may even bring upon disaster."
