Kingdom’s Bloodline

Five days later, Thales was sitting listlessly in the study room belonging to the Grand Duchess in the Palace of Heroes, and Thelma was sitting on the opposite desk, concentrating on reading a book of "Cahill Ye Luo Poems" in her hand.

Prince Xingchen lowered his head slightly and let out a breath.

The shock in the library didn't last long, and the sketch on the book couldn't give Thales any more information.

He could only guess: the Blade of Purity, as a weapon that may have drank the blood of a giant dragon, it had a connection and resonance with his peculiar physique.

And the intermediate bridge of this connection has become more and more clear:

That dragon language name.

But this is not the thing that bothers Thales the most.

"I have been to the Count of Lisbane."

Thales' light words attracted Thelma's attention.

The Grand Duchess raised her head and her eyes lit up: "What did Charles say?"

Thales scratched his head.

"Lisbane said that regarding the matter of the Freedom Alliance, we have to wait for an official letter from Qiyuan City before we can choose how to deal with it."

"But don't worry," Prince Star grinned: "Lisbane is very confident that the Grand Duchess will continue to maintain her independence and autonomy. He already has a plan - as the prime minister of King Nun, he is not an ordinary person."

\u003ccenter\u003e\u003c/center\u003e The corners of Thelma's mouth are slightly raised, indicating that the Grand Duchess is in a good mood at the moment.

"Thales, thank you."

Thales shrugged.

He recalled the scene of privately looking for Lisbane for an interview the day before yesterday, and he couldn't help but secretly sighed.

【Thank you for your concern, Prince Thales. We will naturally handle matters concerning the Grand Duchess. Please don't forget that we are the vassals of Dragon Clouds City. After all, you are only a guest, not a "master"—not in the past, nor in the present, nor in the future. 】

[Of course, as the most sincere "friend" of the Grand Duchess, please don't have any extra thoughts and ideas, let alone behavior - no matter what it is, whether it is to you or to the lady, to Dragon Clouds City or to Eternal Star City, are very disadvantageous. 】

[I appreciate your reputation for being smart and precocious, and I don't want to see you degenerate into a mediocre person addicted to desire. I hope you can do it yourself, and you must know that your situation is not very safe. 】

Really.

Thales closed his eyes and beat his head hard.

What are "excess thoughts and thoughts"?

And "philistines addicted to desire"?

Charles Lisbane, an old man in his sixties and seventies, what is going on in his head all day long!

After this incident, Thales realized: Obviously, his unpopularity in Dragon Clouds City has reached a new breakthrough. Not only Lisbane and Nicolai, but even Ms. Jinx and the two maids have seen him these days. The look in his eyes was also weird, so Thales was cautious even when greeting the servants, for fear that a masked man with a knife would suddenly pop out from a corner and rush towards him shouting "For Exeter".

To his surprise, regarding the prince's active involvement in the political struggle in Dragon Clouds City, and his behavior of "determining to help his friend get out of an unhappy marriage for the sake of friendship", Putilei did not act in a hurry, but that The "I understand" expression with a crooked smile while smoking a pipe really worried Thales.

Even the eyes of Wyatt and Rolf gave Thales the illusion of guilt.

"We're not surprised at all, you know: teenagers have to go through some 'special events' to grow up." This was one day when Thales couldn't help asking a question while he was studying bards with Putilei. The lord who was blowing smoke rings replied with a smirk.

For this sentence, Telsk deducted all the bounties that were originally planned to be distributed to His Excellency the Lord on the reward day.

Thales in the study shook his head, trying to drive the memories out of his mind.

"By the way, do you know anything about the new teacher?" Selma put down her book and asked doubtfully, "I heard that he was introduced by your interesting deputy.

"

"Pitilai?" Thales, who was immersed in memories, said with a straight face: "He is not my deputy envoy, and I am not familiar with him."

Thelma turned his strange eyes around him, snorted silently, and returned to the book again.

At the same time, the footsteps of two people suddenly came from outside the study.

"Dum, thump, thump..."

To be precise, the sound of one's footsteps, and another's...

"Dum, thump, thump..."

Thales frowned: This is the sound of wood touching the ground, the rhythm is disordered, loose and inadvertent, as if it was knocked out casually.

But it is also very heavy.

like...

The door of the study opened.

Lady Jinx walked in, bowed slightly to the Grand Duchess and His Royal Highness, and then retreated politely and low-key.

A frail figure appeared behind the female officer.

The new guest bent slightly, leaning on a rather old and heavy crutch, putting all his weight on the crutch, and the tip of the cane was firmly on the ground.

"Dum, thump, thump..."

Jinx closed the study door behind her.

The prince and the grand duchess quickly sat upright and looked at the person who came: he walked towards Thales and Selma next to the desk.

"Sorry, gentlemen and ladies, I'm getting old—cough—this broken bone can't stand the toss," followed the guest with an old, weak and dry voice, accompanied by a clearing of the throat. As if he couldn't speak without doing this:

"From Anrenzo to Exeter, the carriage on the way almost knocked my ass off-the boys were afraid that I would die on the way, so they had to slow down."

"After arriving in Dragon Clouds City, I also had to rest for four days."

Thales first glanced at the crutch, thinking of the black prophet who had met several times a long time ago, which made him feel uncomfortable.

The prince eliminated redundant impressions, he narrowed his eyes, and looked at the comer:

This is a thin and short old man, with thinning white hair on the top of his head, wrinkles and ravines on his face, as if he has experienced too much wind and frost.

The old man was fully clothed—the word was used because his figure was so emaciated that it looked like clothes were hanging on too small hangers—an ordinary dark coat with white lining and red scarf. , looks no different from an ordinary businessman doing business in a shop.

His spirit seems to be not very good, his eyes are misty and cloudy, only his left eye is wearing a pince-nez monocle, which makes his left eye look too big when viewed from the front, the old man reluctantly wears a plain and gentle smile, The nasolabial folds are linked to the trembling of the chapped lips, giving people a feeling of bleakness in the evening.

He looked even older than Lisbane and Nunn six years ago - Thales was secretly startled - at least seventy years old.

How did Putilei and Gilbert invite such a vicissitudes old man, who seemed to be in a bad situation and was in danger, to come to Dragon Clouds City all the way?

"Good day, sir," Thales said with some concern, "I... heard Puttilai mentioning the new teacher, but he has been refusing to say who it is."

Selma stared blankly at the new teacher, seemingly stunned by the other party's age and situation.

"Maybe he's right, so you won't be too disappointed when you see a bad old man who is about to fall into the ground." The old man laughed dryly, and he seemed to be struggling to take another step forward, his right hand holding the crutch trembled slightly .

"You don't mind if I sit down, you know," the skinny old man looked at his trembling right arm, tightened his nose with disgust, and shook his head:

"I have bad legs."

Obviously, he didn't want to consult the two—at least the Grand Duchess. Instead, he chose the most comfortable leather chair and sat down.

The thin old man sank into the leather chair, closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, and took a few seconds to relax.

Thales and Selma looked at each other with surprise, not knowing how to react.

This is... the teacher whom both Gilbert and Putillai admired so much?

The old man seemed to slowly recover some strength, and then he opened his eyes and showed a weak smile:

"Don't worry, I have been weak and sick since I was a child. It looks terrible, but in fact, I outlive too many strong people."

Thales raised the corners of his mouth and forced a smile: "I heard that you are Gilbert Cassel and Putile Nieman, both of whom are taught by you?"

The thin old man tilted his head slightly and narrowed his eyes, as if recalling.

"Oh, yes, those two funny boys, the little adult and the troublemaker," the old man paused for a moment, then seemed to remember, he curled the corner of his mouth: "A long time ago, when I was a tutor, I taught students of... well, they seem to be among them?"

Thales raised his eyebrows, and he and Selma looked at each other for no reason.

"Oh, that's right!" The old man raised his eyelids, and the left eye in the lens suddenly widened, looking quite scary.

He took the crutch in his right hand, put it between his knees, leaned on it with both hands, and smiled.

"As an opening remark, we really should introduce ourselves first." The old man looked at the two students with embarrassing faces gently, the wrinkles on their faces curled up like waves: "Let's start with me."

"Merry Heather," the skinny old man cleared his throat, "from Dragon Kiss Basin, Principality of Anrenzo, Changyin City."

"But most people who know me like to call me 'Old Crow', and of course the students generally like to call me that behind their backs."

Thales' heart moved slightly.

Dragon Kiss Basin.

That is……

"Are you from Dragon Kiss Academy? Are you a bachelor?" Thelma's eyes lit up, she leaned forward excitedly, and looked curiously at the new teacher Sixel: "I heard that Charles said that you have a very high reputation, There are quite a few eminent people who have been in your..."

Heather first laughed, then shook her head with some regret, interrupting the Grand Duchess.

"Although I do have a job at Dragon Kiss Academy," Heather blinked her left eye lightly once, "but I have to say with shame that I have never obtained a bachelor's qualification—when I traveled abroad, I always relied on pretending to be classmates Only with a certificate of bachelor's qualifications, I managed to get a job as a tutor in a noble castle."

His tone was ordinary, and although he used such words, he was obviously not ashamed, as if he was just saying something like "I forgot to bring my money bag when I went out".

Thales and Selma looked at each other in astonishment for the third time, and both blinked.

What?

Heather "Old Crow" gave them a friendly, playful nod.

"Then it's your turn to introduce yourselves."

"Ladies first, how about it?"

Selma opened her mouth slightly, unable to react.

Thales was also a little confused.

In the past six years, the boys and girls in Dragon Clouds City have experienced countless tutors from the Northern Lands—rigid, flexible, serious, stubborn, numb, kind, humorous, pretentious, and extremely vicious...

But every teacher will know beforehand what kind of two students they are going to face, and their reactions when they see the Grand Duchess and the Prince are not like the old man in front of him who calls himself "Old Crow". In a nonchalant tone, he told them the fact that he had forged certificates to pass the test, and he never asked the two nobles to "introduce themselves" so casually as soon as he opened his mouth.

And, what he called them...

ladies and gentlemen?

This reminded Thales of six years ago, in Mindis Hall, Gilbert also called himself "Little Mister" who had not yet been recognized as a prince.

Thinking of this, a wave of nostalgia surged in his heart.

"Don't be restrained, don't be nervous... I'm not here to fight against you—unlike most teachers in this world," Heather noticed the Grand Duchess's reaction, and he opened his mouth wide to reveal a mouthful of old but still With well-maintained teeth, he laughed casually:

"Dragon Clouds City pays me salary, but I don't want me to bother you. In fact, I just want to chat with you. If you are not welcome, I have the right to come to the Northland for a stroll."

The old crow exhaled, smiled and nodded.

He looked at Thelma gently, with his right hand resting on the crutch, and his left hand patted on the back of his right hand: "Although I have heard a lot about the two gentlemen and ladies, obviously, I want to hear more Your own voice."

Obviously, the old man's attitude reassured Thelma a lot. The girl glanced at Thales, who gave her an encouraging nod.

"Good day, Mr. Heather, I'm Selma Walton, from Dragon Clouds... Ahem, I'm the Grand Duchess of Dragon Clouds," Selma said cautiously, "Actually, I'm very stupid. , do not understand anything, only read books..."

Heather chuckled.

"Ah, Grand Duchess, it's kind to see you, haha, at least we have something in common." Sixer blinked and poked the monocle on the bridge of her nose with a smile.

Selma adjusted her pince-nez, her eyebrows slightly raised, and the corners of her mouth curled up—Thales knew that this was the expression she wanted to laugh but suppressed.

The old crow shook his head, turned to another person, his left eye widened slightly in the lens: "Why don't you sit closer, Thales?"

Star Prince, who was observing the interaction between the two, paused for a moment.

"You don't have to act like a hedgehog—you may always be in trouble, but it won't be today, and it won't be here." Hickser nodded his cane and looked at Thales with some deep meaning.

Thales stared at the new weird teacher, and his throat rolled.

"Good day, sir," he finally moved his chair forward politely, lowered his scrutiny, and nodded, "I am Thales Canxing, and I am looking forward to your teaching—thank you He accepted Putilei's invitation and traveled thousands of miles to teach us."

"Well, Thales," Heather took a deep breath, staring at Thales with her left eye in the lens, her voice was a little weak: "Canxing, it's good. Canxing, it really is."

Thales was slightly taken aback.

"By the way, lecture!" The old crow didn't talk anymore, he patted the back of his hand and sighed.

"You must be very surprised. What does such a weird old man want to teach you? What can he teach you?"

Facing the curious and scrutinizing eyes of the two students, the thin old man sitting in the leather chair lifted his back from the back of the chair and raised his head.

"I thought about this: even among the many students I have taught, you cannot be said to be the most ordinary type."

Thales and Selma both looked at the teacher seriously.

To be honest, whether it was Gilbert's highly respected evaluation of "he is the second most respected person in my life" in his letter, or Puttilai's seemingly careless but intentional introduction, all made him feel good about this man he met for the first time. Underneath, the rather strange "Old Crow" has a sense of expectation.

Snapped!

Heather slapped the back of her hand and laughed.

"Actually, I can't think of anything I can teach you."

"So I finally decided, to hell with teaching or something!"

ah?

Under the surprised eyes of the two students, the skinny old man said casually and relaxedly: "What about us today, let's chat."

Chat... chat?

For the fourth time, Thales and Selma released shocked and incomprehensible gazes, and glanced at each other.

What's this……

"It's very interesting, isn't it, one of you is the supreme ruler of Dragon Clouds City," Heather said with emotion, "The other is the heir to the ancient kingdom."

"A man and a woman, but by chance, sitting in the same room, facing the same old man."

"Then let's chat, how about something that's relevant to both of you?"

The prince raised his eyebrows. He looked at his notebook, closed it silently, and pushed it away.

The old crow frowned, as if he was deep in thought, his eyes kept moving between the bewildered teenager and girl: "Well, the topic related to both the people from the Northland and the people from the stars...let me think about it."

Heather frowned, and the wrinkles on her face fluctuated again.

"Oh, yes," the old man looked at Thelma kindly: "Ma'am?"

Selma quickly nodded politely in response: "Mr. Heather?"

The old man nicknamed Old Crow nodded in satisfaction, then reached out to Thales on the side.

The prince was slightly taken aback.

"This is Thales," Heather said solemnly, "Tyles Canxing."

"Ah, I know." Thelma was a little puzzled.

Heather sighed.

"Calm, calm, vigilant, handsome, sharp-eyed Prince Star, with a pair of interesting gray eyes, but bears the rise and fall of an ancient kingdom in his destiny..."

"Struggle and struggle in the invisible dark vortex."

Thales frowned,

This teacher, his words, are somewhat...

Selma couldn't help but glanced at the second prince, with worry and pity in her eyes.

He said indifferently: "So, Selma Walton, as an unprecedented grand duchess in Dragon Clouds City, a youthful, young, restless girl from the northern land with a delicate status and full of vitality, you..."

In the next second, they saw their gentle new teacher, Meri Heather from Dragon's Kiss Land, smiling and asking the bewildered female grand duchess:

"Do you like him?"

Snapped!

At that moment, the book in the girl's hand fell heavily to the ground.