Kingdom’s Bloodline

When Thales came wearily stepping on the sand under his feet, most of the royal guards stood up and waited with serious faces.

Awe-inspiring respect.

Only Saker, who was sitting the farthest, turned his head unhurriedly to him.

In the desert, Thales plowed the sand step by step.

With each step he sank into the sand, but each time he struggled to break free of the gravel and take another step.

as usual.

Finally, Thales stopped in front of everyone.

He quietly looked at the embarrassed royal guard with a gloomy face.

These are the people...

Kuaisheng, who was fighting against the army ration cake, rolled his eyes, and hurriedly stood up, pointing at Thales and showing a flattering smile of "Hey, it's me".

Belletti looked at Little Barney, then at Sackel, and found that none of them seemed to speak, so she could only sigh:

"Your Highness..."

But Thales interrupted him:

"it's over."

In front of the surprised crowd, the prince smiled:

"Thousands of people witnessed your escape from prison..."

Thales' voice lowered:

"But...it's all over."

it's over?

Belletti and Taldin looked at each other and read surprise to each other.

The prince turned around and looked at the desert at dawn, where groups of cavalrymen were dispatched to convey Roman's orders at high speed, and then watched Ricky return to his people, pointing to this side comfortingly Some mercenaries.

"The official statement is that during the civil strife at the Saber Camp, the Legendary Wing personally executed every fugitive, leaving no one alive."

The guards look surprised,

They looked at each other.

The young man quietly said:

"So, all the guard prisoners who were imprisoned eighteen years ago have all passed away."

"You...do you understand?"

Everyone breathed slowly, digesting the news.

Taylor's eyes dimmed:

"I want to do more, reopen your old cases, clear your charges, and restore your reputation, but..."

He didn't say any more.

The guards were silent, looking at each other from time to time, full of hesitation and bewilderment.

"Your Highness..."

Belletti took a deep breath, as if mustering up a lot of courage:

"We, we..."

But Thales said to himself:

"Baron Williams will arrange everything else, whether it is the secret department or the army, you will not be blocked again."

Little Barney frowned.

"As for how to leave here, hide your identity, hide your name..."

Thales swept across the exhausted and scarred guards one by one, with a hoarse voice:

"You are all masters with unique skills, I believe you will have a way."

Hide your identity, hide your name...

Belletti and the others looked at each other, puzzled.

Without waiting for others to react, Thales looked at the guy with a hippie smile:

"Do me another favor, take the fast rope—this guy, take him away from here, and keep him away from the sight of those who care."

Everyone turned their heads in unison, Kuai Sheng, who was still giggling, froze.

"Don't ask who he is, and don't ask where he comes from."

Thales looked at the fast rope with a tired expression, and managed to squeeze out a smile:

"I owe him that."

Quick Rope was stunned.

After saying this, Thales sighed, and stepped on the soft, cold and lifeless gravel under his feet:

"Now."

He raised his head and looked towards Chuyang in the east:

"You are free."

free.

The moment the word was uttered, all members of the guard were stunned for a moment.

Including Saker.

free?

At that moment, bewilderment and confusion filled the air.

Bree and Cannon followed their gazes to the east suspiciously, slightly shaken.

Little Barney looked at the sand under his feet, lost in thought.

Belletti and Tardin stared blankly at everyone, not knowing what to say.

Kuaisheng rolled his eyes slowly, as if he understood that this was not a good time to speak.

Only Saker stared at Thales motionlessly.

"enjoy it."

Thales took a deep look at them, showed a gratified smile, and turned around.

He staggered and walked towards Roman, who was leading the white horse under the sand dunes and stood upright like the man in the picture.

"Your Highness."

At this moment, Belletti finally couldn't help but speak:

"What about you?"

His words dragged the ecstatic people out of the unspeakable atmosphere.

Thales stopped in his tracks.

But he doesn't look back:

"I'm a prince, remember?"

Thales exhaled and looked at Roman in the distance:

"I will go back with them, first to the Blade Camp."

"Go back to Eternal Star City."

Back to where I started.

to face my fate...

Thales clenched his fists.

my future.

"Your Highness."

Belletti took a deep breath, looked around, and nodded with his colleagues.

"Let us follow you."

"Whether it's the Saber Camp or Eternal Star City."

Thales frowned slightly.

I saw Belletti step forward, facing Thales' back, pressing his chest and sincerely said:

"This sword is only wielded by the emperor."

"It's only broken for the imperial edict."

Tardin and Cannon also pressed their hands on their chests and followed solemnly:

"No other use."

Thales trembled slightly.

He turned his head slowly and looked at the group of veterans in front of him who were scarred and exhausted, but still tried their best to straighten their chests and waists.

Maybe……

Just like eighteen years ago.

Thales couldn't help feeling a little emotional.

At that moment, there was silence in the desert.

Not daring to take a breath, the fast rope looked left and right, and he suppressed the phrase "Can I go first" in embarrassment.

A few seconds later, Thales smiled softly.

"First of all, I am not the emperor."

The prince sighed:

"There has long been no emperor in this world."

The guards lowered their arms, slightly surprised.

"Secondly, I can't convince my father, and he'll just throw you back in jail."

Thales glanced over everyone, toward the brand marks on their faces:

"Or worse."

Everyone in the guard seemed unable to react for a while, and looked at each other in blank dismay.

Thales smiled, shook his head and silently refused, and walked away.

A group of bewildered guards were left behind.

Another gust of wind blew away the slightly rising heat.

"But we're dead."

Tardin's desolate voice sounded low, stopping Thales' pace.

I saw Taldin looking at the sand under his feet in a daze, and slowly raised his head:

"Your Highness, we... have nowhere else to go."

His words shook the rest of the guard for a moment.

Sackel, who stood the farthest, even turned his head.

"Let us work for you, this is all I can think of, our only value." Tardin said bitterly.

Thales exhaled.

the only value...

He remembered the oath of the guards and suddenly had mixed feelings.

The royal guard, eh?

Feeling the wordless sorrow, the boy nodded and smiled:

"If in the past, when I was younger, maybe I would have said 'OK, come and play for me'."

"but now……."

The prince was in a daze for a moment.

He then raised his head and sincerely looked at everyone, receiving their confused, unwilling, empty, or disappointed eyes:

"Eighteen years, you have already paid enough for the stars, for the Fuxing Palace, for the royal family of Canxing... more importantly, for yourself, for your own choices."

Many people trembled.

Thales walked back to Tardin slowly, looking at his puzzled eyes.

"What you need is rebirth."

Thales wanted to put his shoulders on him, but regrettably found that this action was a bit awkward due to his height.

"Really, freely, unfettered, unrestricted..."

The boy shrugged helplessly, so he clenched his fist and tapped Tardin's shoulder lightly:

"...survive."

The wind and sand blew Thales' words into the distance.

All the guards stared blankly at the prince in front of them.

Silence and confusion enveloped the place for a while.

"And trust me, you'll always have somewhere to go."

Thales showed a soft smile and looked towards the east where the sun was rising:

"Better place."

Tardin stared blankly at the prince.

Belletti opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately said nothing.

But Little Barney's thick voice sounded, attracting attention:

"As far as the history of the stars is concerned, being a prince is never easy."

Thales frowned and turned his head, watching Barney pass through the crowd and come to him:

"You're going to need a stealth force out of sight."

"We are very suitable as your sharp sword outside the Fuxing Palace."

Little Barney stood in front of everyone, staring at Thales with burning eyes.

Thales was taken aback for a second.

as a prince...

Out of sight...

hidden power...

At that moment, Thales remembered a lot.

For example, the map of the Fuxing Palace that King Nun gave him.

For example, the dying crow's crazy eyes.

And a long time ago, the black prophet's gloomy tone.

This made Thales a little dazed.

"Coincidentally."

Thales raised his head and looked at the crowd with a smile:

"Jianzi, that guy from Shadow Shield just now said similar things to me."

These words made everyone startled again.

Shadow Shield?

"I want to be a secret sharp blade in my hand."

But Thales immediately burst out laughing.

"strength?"

In the eyes of everyone who didn't know why, Thales raised his head with regret, and looked at the endless desert:

"Yes, I pulled you out of the dark dungeon, from the bottomless abyss, from the eternal nightmare."

He shook his head, spread his hands and sneered:

"So, I have gained your loyalty?"

"And you can be my strength?"

What the prince seemed to be talking to himself made everyone puzzled:

"And then, let's get along with each other, make contributions, sweep the world, and leave a name in history?"

Thales looked at the distance of the sunrise, and there was an incomprehensible joke in his eyes:

"Good story."

"Enough to write a book."

The guards looked at each other in amazement.

Belletti tentatively asked:

"Your Highness..."

But Thales quickly came back to his senses, and said with a complex expression:

"A long time ago, I knew a guy."

"He was always smiling, watching the children fall into the endless abyss, watching them struggle helplessly, and smiling again, appearing as a savior, reaching out to them."

"In this way, he can occupy the unblemished high ground, and through the impeccable ethics, he will be rewarded for his kindness, without guilt, without burden, and as a matter of course, he will become the master of the saved, and he will reap the gratitude and gratitude for him. men."

Thales sighed softly, his words made Belletti and Tardin look at each other with doubts on their faces.

The prince looked around at the people in front of him, looked at their scattered and tired figures, and said desolately:

"If you modify the perspective and style of writing to hide the evil, a person like him is enough to become the protagonist of the legendary story, with a perfect image and a logical achievement in the final chapter ending, and a harmonious world."

Thales said quietly:

"Except... I was one of those kids."

Everyone fell silent.

Thales was quiet for two seconds, then raised his head:

"You know, there is still some truth to what Sackel said."

"I'm thinking……"

"Is everything I do to help you, or to help myself?"

The guard veterans were stunned again.

Only the penalty knight looked straight at him, his eyes dim.

Thales stared directly at everyone's eyes with deep meaning, and called out their names:

"Barney, Belletti, Tardin, Cannon, Bree..."

"Sackel."

Everyone who was called out couldn't help standing up subconsciously.

"listen."

Thales said seriously and earnestly:

"It's not me who saved you, but yourselves."

"Your freedom is what you have won."

"You don't owe me anything."

This remark stunned many people.

"You were tortured, and escaped with great difficulty,"

Thales looked in the direction of the camp with a firm tone:

"It's not for loyalty to me, it's not for a change of shackles, it's not for a change of master."

"It's not to stand still, not to return to the abyss of power."

The prince looked at everyone unquestionably, and even the fast rope subconsciously stood at attention.

"If after you escaped from the prison of bones, you turned into my subordinates and became the second prince's game chips..."

"Then everything I have done today and everything you have endured in the past will be meaningless."

Thales tightened his throat and sighed:

"It's just another Canxing's selfishness that tied you back to the old game, to the vortex of eighteen years ago, and the nightmare reappeared."

"You... don't deserve such a fate."

At that moment, everyone was speechless.

The way Saker looked at him changed.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Little Barney's voice sounded slowly.

The vanguard officer frowned, as if determined to refute Thales' words:

"Don't talk about anything else, at least we all know your... secret."

His last word was bitten especially hard.

It also made everyone present change color!

Even Thales' expression darkened.

my secret.

Quick Rope behind the crowd subconsciously grabbed the time crossbow in his hand.

Regardless of Belletti and Tardin's winks, Barney gritted his teeth and said:

"For your safety and benefit, if you don't take advantage of this opportunity to bind us by your side and strengthen yourself..."

"That's very unwise."

Little Barney said coldly:

"If there is a slight leak, waiting for your fate...it will be very bad."

Thales was silent.

Belletti patted Barney on the shoulder, but Barney just ignored him.

But a few seconds later, Thales raised his head and smiled in relief.

"Not long ago, I met a prince—another one."

Everyone was puzzled for a while.

Only the fast rope changed suddenly.

"The way of life we ​​choose determines our outcome, and has nothing to do with power or status."

"If I spend all my time worrying about dogs, worrying about things, even engaging in conspiracy and tricks, and caring about power and interests..."

Thales looked at the fast rope in the crowd intentionally or unintentionally, and sighed:

"Then I will never be able to break free from the shackles of fate."

His words silenced everyone.

Thales looked at everyone:

"Just like you now."

"Your choices determine whether what you get is another chain with a different name, or..."

Thales took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled:

"True freedom."

Everyone was slightly moved, even little Barney bowed his head slightly.

When many people began to meditate, a voice that had not been heard for a long time penetrated the wind and sand:

"You're not like your father."

Everyone turned their heads one after another, and they were surprised to find that it was Sakel who was standing on the periphery who was speaking.

Father.

The scene of father and son meeting for the first time in Mindis Hall appeared in Thales' mind.

He thought of the Northern Territory again, of Dragon's Blood, and of the Saber Tooth Camp.

Think of the crown on the throne, the scepter.

Father.

But Thales was only slightly lost in thought, and then smiled:

"Because I'm not him."

He said with certainty:

"And never will be."

Saker stared at him fixedly, but suddenly snorted:

"not necessarily."

This made Taylor's smile fade a little.

However, Sackel uttered the next sentence:

"Your mother is dead."

Thales was taken aback!

I saw the penalty knight said lightly:

"Don't look for her again."

For a moment, all eyes turned to Sackel.

Already... dead?

"What's the meaning?"

Thales, who reacted, said in surprise:

"You know my mother? Serangirana?"

But Sackel just shook his head, his expression turned back to indifference: "No."

"Remember my words."

This time, Thales stared at him for a long time.

what he said...

died……

So……

In the end, the prince could only sigh helplessly in the face of Sakel who was as silent as ice.

"Forget it, I guess you won't tell me either."

Saker didn't answer, but just looked at him coldly.

But Thales immediately sneered:

"'It's dead, don't look for her again'..."

"You know, Thackel, what's the funniest part of language?"

Sackel frowned.

The prince narrowed his eyes:

"People always like to put the emphasis on the back."

These words startled Sackel.

Thales smiled.

The neighing of war horses sounded in the distance.

The prince took a breath, gave up on continuing to ask, and turned his head to look at Chuyang who was gradually rising.

"Royal Guard, for the last time, I order as Thales Canxing... No, tell you."

Everyone in the guard immediately stood in awe.

Just listen to the prince quietly said:

"The nightmare is gone, the darkness is gone."

He scans everyone carefully.

Barney with a stubborn expression, Belletti with a worried face, Tardin with a gloomy expression, Cannon who is shy as before, Bree with a unwilling heart...

The silent Sackel.

And a dull fast rope.

"From now on, truly free..."

He smiled.

"Live."

After saying this, Thales turned around resolutely regardless of other people's reactions, and walked towards the sand dunes in the distance - there, Roman was waiting for him.

Just like when he came, Thales dragged his tired body and waded through the gravel step by step.

on his way home.

The morning light shines, and a golden reflection blooms on his back:

it's over.

with these...

Everything in the dungeon flashed before his eyes.

I am deeply moved.

such a pity……

"Your Highness."

Belletti's faint, choked-up voice came from behind.

But Thales just shook his head and continued to trek.

do not.

royal guard.

There was a faint muffled sound behind him.

Thales, in a daze, didn't look back.

But in the next second, more and more muffled sounds came one after another.

The cavalry and mercenaries in the distance seemed to see something, and there was a slight uproar, casting their gazes here.

Um?

Thales, whose thoughts were interrupted, stopped.

Roman in the distance frowned, and Ricky stopped talking with his subordinates.

They all looked this way.

Reminded by these abnormalities, Thales turned around in doubt.

And he was stunned immediately.

This is……

The early morning shines, and the yellow sand is long.

I saw six stubborn figures standing on the horizon of the desert like cast iron, leaning slightly forward.

In the blurred light and shadow, there are neat and consistent figures drawn out, withstood the washing of morning light and wind and sand.

This is……

Thales stared blankly at the scene in front of him: Sack El, Barney Jr., Belletti...

It's the Royal Guard.

The wind and sand were blowing, and all the guards knelt down on one knee in the sand without knowing when.

They didn't say a word, they didn't move, they couldn't see their faces or make out their expressions.

They just put their right palms on their chests and swung their left arms back, facing the direction of the prince...

I bowed my head deeply.

Like a final tribute.

At that moment, Thales suddenly felt his chest sink when he saw the six kneeling figures.

He pursed his lips.

But Thales didn't say anything after all.

With a half-smile, he raised his right fist and lightly hit his chest.

Then turn back decisively.

Behind him, six figures lowered their heads even lower.

The legendary wing standing in the distance frowned and looked at the scene in front of him:

In the distance, among the golden sand dunes, six scarred men knelt firmly on the ground, bowing their heads in the same direction.

Nearby, under the pale sky, a thin and frail young man walked slowly, his steps were difficult but firm, and his expression was bitter but relieved.

Like an oil painting.

"Bright star." Roman muttered and snorted coldly.

In the team of Sword of Disaster, Josh looked at the six figures unhappily, and said disdainfully to Samir, who was looking a little crazy beside him:

"You can join them if you want,"

"You won't forget it anyway."

Samir's complexion sank, and then he turned to Josh.

"I thought you would know better than me."

Josh was taken aback:

"Clear what?"

Samir snorted lightly and looked towards the sky:

"Will you forget your wife and children, Josh?"

Wife and children...

Josh froze.

He unconsciously clenched the hilt of his sword and gritted his teeth.

Seeing Josh's appearance, Samir sighed:

"Yeah, I know."

"But, once some things are lost," Samir watched the six figures kneeling on one knee slowly stand up from a distance, and his words were melancholy:

"It's irreversible."

The next moment, Semir's bewildered eyes returned to determination:

"We have nowhere to go but the future."

"Nothing."

Sammy turned and left without thinking.

Josh was left behind with a complicated face.

Josh looked at the six figures, and then at Samir's back.

Clay came over and asked strangely, "What's wrong?"

Josh shook his head:

"nothing."

"Tch, self-righteous imperial guy."

He muttered unhappily, and turned to pack his luggage.

In the distance, Thales resisted the desire to look back and moved forward step by step.

Until the sound of the fast rope sounded from behind.

"Hey!"

Thales turned around in astonishment, and subconsciously caught the package in his arms.

"Your luggage."

Kuaisheng stood behind him, his tone a little low.

"And your... crossbow."

Quick Rope threw the Time Crossbow to him again, forcing Thales to be in a hurry.

Kuaisheng sighed, watching the royal guards who got up slowly and drifted away:

"Are you sure you don't want them?"

"They will be a good help, and it is rare to have such a deep bond with you. They are loyal to you and willing to go through life and death for you."

Thales hung up the package with difficulty, exhaled, and said with a smile:

"Maybe."

Kuaisheng frowned and said:

"You know, your identity is not good... If you have them as your subordinates, at least in the future when you encounter accidents..."

He didn't go on.

Thales raised the corner of his mouth.

Yeah, that's exactly what it is, so...

"The sword of disaster."

Thales suddenly spoke.

"Did you know that they are looking for those desperate people who have fallen into the endless abyss, taking advantage of the hopeless void in the latter's heart, making empty promises, capturing their spirits, taking advantage of their danger, and taking them as their own?" use."

"Even if it wasn't Ricky who pushed them into the abyss."

Thales looked at the puzzled Quick Rope, and said seriously:

"And I hate that feeling."

Kuaisheng narrowed his eyes, expressing his confusion.

Thales sighed, looked away from the backs of the royal guards, and looked towards the sky:

"It's like there is an invisible hand in fate, which tortured these poor people to scarred and desperate, just for today, for when I stand here, let them be my pawns willingly, Use it for me until the final chapter that was destined long ago."

Quick Rope was stunned.

Thales said faintly:

"But I can't do it, I can't do that kind of hypocrisy, shamelessness and selfishness."

"They are not my pawns."

"Just as I am not a pawn of fate."

The two were silent for a few seconds.

Quick Rope sighed:

"If my father were here, he would call you stupid."

King Nun?

yes.

Maybe.

Thales smiled.

"You know what, Ricky, he said my finisher has been drifting, swinging from side to side, with no direction."

"I think he's right."

"So I made my choice."

Thales stared fixedly at the fast rope:

"It's like you made a choice too."

"That's all."

These words made Kuaisheng's expression lighten, revealing a thoughtful expression.

A few seconds later, Kuai Rope suddenly spoke:

"You are different."

Thales was stunned:

"What's different?"

Quick Rope shook his head.

"I can't say, but..."

Kuaisheng frowned and looked at Thales:

"I can feel."

"Compared to Thales who was in the desert before..."

Kuaisheng is very serious, with a dignified and serious expression:

"You seem to have something more and something less."

The two faced each other and were silent for several seconds.

Thales raised his eyebrows and smiled helplessly.

"Maybe... I've grown up."

Quick Rope raised his eyebrows.

"You know, this trip has taught me a lot."

Thales sighed slightly, looked to the northwest, looked at the direction when he came, and was a little crazy:

"Even more than... the sum of the previous six years."

Kuaisheng looked at him and sighed.

"So that's the farewell - you're going back to being a prince, aren't you?"

Thales came back to his senses.

"I guess, yes."

With vague sadness, he resignedly teased:

"Back in the chains of power."

Chains of power.

Quick Rope was silent for a few seconds.

"As a prince, Thales, what do you think of my father?"

Quick Rope abruptly said:

"As a king?"

Thales was taken aback.

King Nun?

Thinking of this name, Thales couldn't help frowning as he recalled the past.

Nuen VII of Exeter.

As... king?

Looking at Kuai Rope's sad or resentful expression, Thales sighed softly:

"He is a well-deserved overlord of the generation."

"Foresighted, tactful, wise and ruthless."

only……

Not so lucky.

Thales bowed his head sadly.

"yes."

Kuai Rope seemed to be recalled, and nodded in a trance:

"What do you think, how do you compare with him?"

I?

With King Nun?

Thales was stunned again.

In just a few seconds, I recalled the other party's determination to challenge Peifit, the sternness with which he poisoned Alex, the majesty of ordering the princes, the decisiveness of delivering "triumph", the courage to conquer disasters, and the fact that he hid behind the scenes, After both myself and Luba calculated the countless conspiracies...

Thales couldn't help laughing:

"No, I will spend my whole life..."

"It's not as good as him in case."

Kuaisheng was silent, his complexion was unwell, as if recalling some unpleasant memories.

"Listen, Thales."

A few seconds later, Kuaisheng sighed:

"I don't know how Lord Extermin like Dragon Knight, King Han, Broken Steel, and Whisperer led thousands of troops and ruled all directions..."

"I don't know how a star monarch like the Fuxing King, the Oath Keeper, and the Xianjun can prosper the country and bring great order..."

Speaking of so many names, his tone was quite serious, contrary to his usual relaxed and humorous tone.

This made Thales uncomfortable.

At this second, Kuaisheng's face was full of seriousness, which made Thales stand up subconsciously.

It was as if the person in front of him had changed back to that Moral Walton.

"But after today, I know at least one thing."

Moral stared at the boy closely:

"Thales, whether it's my father or my brother."

He shook his head slowly, but his tone was firm:

"They even have one of your little fingers..."

"Nothing compares."

silence.

There was a long silence.

Looking at Moral's resolute and unquestionable eyes, Thales was completely stunned.

he……

He said……

What?

"Morral, you..." Thales, who had finally come to his senses, said subconsciously.

But Moral interrupted him.

"Tales," King Nun's second son slowly approached, pressing Thales' shoulder with one hand:

"Become a king."

"A good king."

At this moment, Prince Moral Walton's eyes shone with a rare light:

"Because after today, I believe that you will be better than them and other kings."

"You can prove: even in the chains of power..."

"There are also different ways of living."

"Add bookmark for easy reading"