Kingdom’s Bloodline

He is dreaming.

This time, he's clearly up to the point.

He felt that there was a hole in the void under his feet.

A growing void.

until he fell into it.

Inextricable.

He raised his leg subconsciously, wanting to get rid of that terrible hole, but he was greeted with a call.

"Your Highness."

Thales woke up suddenly.

Only then did he realize that he was lying horizontally on the seat, with his right leg firmly pressed against the compartment.

And under his feet, there is no hollowness.

Let alone fall.

And beside his ears, there are only rumbling horseshoes, the slow sound of wheels, low human voices, and...

"Sorry for disturbing your sleep."

In the swaying carriage, Gilbert's gentle voice slowly calmed his panic

"Did you not rest well last night?"

Thales sat up straight, took a deep breath, and rubbed his face.

"No, I just..."

...It's just that I haven't slept so peacefully for a long time.

Thales buried his face in his palms and said silently.

A second later, the prince raised his head from his hands, smiling kindly

"...just take a nap."

Gilbert looked at him seriously for a long time before he smiled

"Your Highness."

"The Eternal Star City is ahead."

Everstar City.

For a moment, this phrase seemed to have extraordinary magic power, sweeping away Thales's burnout and stupor.

"What?"

Thales turned his head in surprise.

"So fast?"

The boy dragged his somewhat numb body, tried his best to move to the side of the carriage, and pushed open the window.

"How many days have we only entered the central government..."

Thales' words stopped abruptly.

As the carriage passed an uphill slope, past the shadowy cavalry outside the window, he saw it.

Under the bright sunshine, the wilderness is vast, the roads are flat, and the villages are orderly.

It seems to be a colorful ribbon between the blue sky and the black soil.

On both sides of the road, there are more and more people oncoming

Busy merchants, farmers on the road, officials galloping past, all kinds of carriages, whether fast or slow, orderly, they avoided the side of the road under the strong order of the standing army, and stayed outside the temporary cordon pulled up by the soldiers. They all looked at the amazingly large convoy with curious eyes.

"Probably some high-ranking official..."

"Hehe, there are so many bodyguards clearing the way, maybe it's an elder count from a foreign family."

"Do you think the carriage contains people or things? I guess some expensive urinals..."

The indistinct comments reached the young man's ears vaguely.

But all of this is nothing compared to Thales' focus of sight.

It was a city.

In the distant view, the towering gray brick city wall stands majestically, like a towering tree, and the protruding sentry towers and battlements are uneven, showing a different kind of scenery.

It's not as majestic as Dragon Clouds City, it's not as strong as Broken Dragon Fortress, and it's not as free as Chaos and Freedom at Saber Camp.

but……

I don't know why, such a well-regulated, orderly, and ordinary-looking city attracts his attention so much at this moment.

Everstar City.

Thales looked a little crazy.

"You don't have to be nervous."

Gilbert seemed to understand the boy's complicated emotions, he calmly said

"You're home, that's all."

Thales still couldn't get his eyes off the distant city, only listening to him talking in a trance

"I know."

I know.

Gilbert didn't say anything, he just watched the prince's gaffe with a smile.

"If you want, Your Highness..."

Gilbert gave an encouraging look.

"Then go out and see for yourself."

See for yourself...

He is strange and familiar...

home.

Thales slowly came to his senses, his gaze gradually firmed up.

Gilbert smiled authentically

"I think it's time,

Let Eternal Star City and the entire kingdom meet their heirs who have been away for six years. "

Six years away...

Thales' gaze passed through soldiers, passers-by, fields, and even the distant city walls and clouds in the sky at the end.

"Of course, Gilbert."

Thales turned around with a complicated expression

"certainly."

With the prince's rare gaze, the foreign minister was silent for a few seconds.

Afterwards, Gilbert gently pushed the window open, knocked on the compartment, and poked his head slightly.

"Lord Mallos, could you please slow down and raise the nine-pointed star flag? Maybe it's time for His Royal Highness to appear in public."

Earl Caso's shout caused the horseshoes and wheels outside the car to change their speed and trajectory at the same time. The royal guards surrounding the prince's carriage moved into action and quickly made a formation, revealing the watchman Mallos who was approaching on horseback.

"Let His Highness take a look at his Eternal Star City..."

Gilbert's words continued, but...

"I'm very sorry."

"no."

Mallos' voice was as far and near as a horseshoe, his tone was gentle and polite, but he refused very simply.

There is absolutely no room for negotiation.

Gilbert froze for a moment, as if he didn't expect his proposal to be rejected.

Thales also frowned.

Fortunately, the foreign minister only paused for a few seconds, and then continued to lean out of the car, trying to make another effort.

"Okay, Lord Mallos, I understand your work, but we don't have to stop or deviate from the route. It's just that His Highness needs to enter the main road..."

But what greeted him was still Mallos' polite answer.

"I can't allow it."

Thales paused.

Gilbert also froze slightly.

"Lord?"

Mallos' face appeared outside the car window, and he exchanged glances with Thales in the car.

"I believe you understand the commotion caused by the prince's return to the National Assembly better than I do. Those Western Wilderness nobles are a lesson from the past..."

"I can even imagine what kind of crowd and chaos we will face if the Duke shows up in public, from the civilians watching the excitement to the nobles trying to find out the news... It is too much trouble for us. For safety reasons, I don't think it's appropriate for His Excellency the Duke to show up, but should stay in the carriage until he enters the Fuxing Palace."

The watchman still smiled. He looked at the curious civilians on both sides of the avenue and rejected him in a friendly tone.

"And we don't need to make any fanfare to attract more attention."

For safety.

Hearing the other party's polite but decisive rejection, Thales frowned slightly.

"Lord Mallos, if we are concerned about safety, we have already reached the capital, and there are you and even the standing army behind us. I believe you are sure to guarantee His Highness..." Gilbert said softly, but Interrupted by Mallos.

"No, no, don't overestimate us, Earl, we have neither Kingdom Wrath nor Fortress Flower." Mallos still smiled, but Thales didn't like it very much

"If we really want us to face a flood of people, at most it will be... 50-50."

Gilbert was momentarily at a loss for words.

The members of the royal guard looked at each other in blank dismay.

And Mallos is still smiling.

The prince's mood became a little dull.

Gilbert felt the stiffness in the atmosphere.

"I appreciate the caution and concern of the royal guard, but should we think more than that?"

Earl Caso sat upright, supported his cane, and showed the attitude of professional negotiations

"Whether it is His Royal Highness or the Duke of Xinghu, on the first day of his return, he should show up in public, at least for a few seconds, so that everyone can see him return to the city and let the news spread."

The cunning fox of the stars narrowed its eyes

"And this is for the royal family, for His Majesty's rule and interests."

"Lord Mallos?"

Hearing the other party's just and noble reason, Mallos on the mount lowered his head and remained silent for a while.

But just when Thales thought he was about to compromise...

"Hahaha... Maybe I didn't express clearly, maybe you were just joking."

Mallos raised his head, his smile was more sincere, but his eyes were calm and indifferent.

"However, it is my task to safely escort the prince back to the Fuxing Palace, Earl Caso," Mallos bent the muscles on both sides of his lips, but there was no smile in his eyes

"Others no."

The nail was neither hard nor soft, making Gilbert frown.

Sensing Mallos' lack of cooperation in this matter, Thales glanced at the relatively small carriage that had been there for a long time, feeling the numbness on his buttocks shaken by the carriage, and then looked at the vast scenery outside the window and In that famous hometown city, he was a little depressed in silence.

"We should have talked about it, my lord."

Gilbert's tone became a little blunt

"You and I both have our own missions, and we try not to embarrass each other—before that, we cooperated pretty well, didn't we?"

Staring at Gilbert's eyes, Mallos also smiled.

He was silent for only a few seconds.

"I'm sorry that my mission conflicts with yours," Mallos said with a gentle and polite expression

"But all I can do is 'sorry'."

"Count Caso."

He nodded respectfully at the end.

Gilbert's expression was a little ugly.

Although every sentence begins with a polite and humble apology, but...

Thales listened to the other party's stereotyped refusal, looked at the slightly displeased Gilbert, and glanced at the royal guards who surrounded him tightly from the corner of his eye.

He suddenly thought of Dragon Clouds City, the Palace of Heroes, and the Garden of Blood.

There, Nikolai's men did the same, blocking every entrance and exit.

Thinking of this, the discomfort in the prince's heart reached its peak.

"My lord..." Gilbert sighed.

"The duke is staying in the carriage, which will save us a lot of trouble." The watchman interrupted Gilbert with the same smile as before.

"This is enough."

Hearing this, Thales, who couldn't listen anymore, couldn't help but interject

"So, because you think it's troublesome, you'd rather have me stuck in the carriage?"

Prince unconsciously raised the volume

"I thought His Majesty asked you to escort me, not imprison me?"

The hooves of the surrounding mounts changed a little.

The prince's loud voice was obviously not ordinary, and several members of the royal guard—or Star Lake's personal guards caught up nervously, including Doyle and Glover, whom Thales had gradually become familiar with.

Gilbert also changed color slightly.

Mallos finally shifted his focus to Thales.

Thales frowned, looking like he wanted an explanation.

But Mallos just paused for a while, then smiled

"I'm sorry to make you feel that way, my lord."

"After meeting His Majesty, you can protest to him at any time and suggest that he remove me from my post."

Thales was taken aback.

Mallos looked at Thales gently, shrugged, and said softly

"But before that, according to tradition and rules, as the watchman of the royal guard, and the person in charge of your personal guard..."

"I'm afraid my consideration and judgment of your personal safety will take precedence over your personal preferences."

"The responsibility lies, Wanwang Haihan."

At that moment, the air inside and outside the carriage seemed to freeze.

Thales' expression was stiff.

Mallos looks normal.

In the surrounding royal guards, Doyle and Glover looked at each other, their eyes were surprised, but they didn't dare to say a word.

For some reason, Thales recalled Roman's "don't teach me how to do my job" look when he was still at Camp Saber.

Just when Gilbert was about to say something to warm his cheeks, Thales closed his eyes tightly, and then opened them again.

"Are you the royal guard, or my personal guard?"

Thales spoke slowly

"You should obey my orders."

But Mallos just shakes his shoulders

"You are the prince of the stars and the duke of the kingdom."

The watchman was still respectful, but his words did not show any weakness

"You should also respect His Majesty's appointment."

There is a profound light in his eyes

"Especially on your first day back."

Thales' face darkened.

"You mean..."

The prince stared at Mallos closely, saying every word

"Is this an order from His Majesty?"

At that moment, Gilbert also suddenly changed color.

"No," the watchman said lightly, riding on the horse.

"Just the way I carry out my orders."

The way the command is executed.

Thales' eyes changed.

Doyle, who was listening nervously, suddenly felt that the surrounding air seemed to become thicker.

"Lord Mallos."

Under the eyes of everyone, the prince faced the watchman without giving in, and said softly

"I want you to stop the carriage, now."

But Mallos just sneered.

"I hug..."

"My lord!" Gilbert, who felt something was wrong, snarled and interrupted Mallos.

The foreign minister then turned to Thales with a cold face, and said softly

"Your Highness, you have traveled a lot today, maybe you really need to rest...I believe Lord Mallos is also here to protect you..."

But Thales interrupted him.

"Protect me," the prince said as if he had just been dipped in ice water

"Like six years ago?"

Gilbert was dumbfounded for a moment.

The eyes of Thales and Mallos met in the air, one was cold and sharp, and the other was calm.

Doyle, who was watching, suddenly had a premonition that something bad was going on.

"Gilbert, tell me," the prince said softly

"Is the personal guard of every Duke of Xinghu - such as John - composed of the royal guards directly dispatched by the king and stationed personally?"

Gilbert froze.

Mallos also narrowed his eyes slightly.

The surrounding Xinghu guards looked at each other with different expressions.

After a few seconds, Gilbert coughed and seemed rather embarrassed

"That's because you have been away from home for too long, and there is not enough manpower around you, His Majesty is worried..."

Thales didn't hear the rest of his words.

He just stared at Mallos closely.

Like staring at another person.

"I understand." The prince said softly.

"continue."

Mallos' expression froze.

"What."

Thales stared straight at him

"Keep smiling, Lord Mallos."

Under the puzzled eyes of the surrounding royal guards, Thales snorted coldly

"Because if you don't smile..."

"Then you will look like a dead face."

Mallos was taken aback.

Gilbert looked at Thales worriedly

"Your Highness..."

But Thales ignored Gilbert's words, and just looked at Mallos with a puzzled expression.

Mallos frowned slightly, ignored him, turned his horse's head and ordered:

"Back to the previous formation..."

But this time, the prince spoke before him.

"Then, the watchman of the Royal Guard, the Imperial Knight, and my Captain of the Star Lake Guard, Lord Tormund Mallos!"

The watchman's eyes froze.

Thales raised the volume so that the surrounding royal guards could hear clearly

"In order to thank you for your hard work and hard work, you escorted me back to the capital..."

As soon as this remark came out, all members of the guards became puzzled.

I saw Thales staring at Mallos, and said slowly

"I want……"

"Reward you."