Kingdom’s Bloodline

The team of the royal guards did not stop, passing through countless blocks all the way, passing through the Twilight District and Morning Star District, and went straight to the center of Eternal Star City.

Thales, on the other hand, was in a low mood, drifting with the crowd like a walking dead, surrounded by crowds.

Although there were only about 20 of them rushing on the road, unknowingly, the number of police officers and security teams passing by gradually increased. It seemed a coincidence, but one after another, they inadvertently dispersed and separated obstacles and crowds on the road. Let them all the way unimpeded.

But Thales really couldn't arouse his interest in studying them.

"You know Mr. Heather wrote me several letters over the course of a few months..."

Finally, in the difficult silence, Gilbert spoke.

"Talk to me about your studies."

There was a hint of embarrassment in his equally low voice.

Thales suddenly came back to his senses.

"Oh, old crow."

The young Duke of Xinghu cheered up and tried to tell himself that he should not bring unnecessary emotions to those around him.

"Yes, I haven't thanked him yet, Longxiao City is thanks to him..."

Sensing the change in the prince, Gilbert's tone was a little excited

"He reminded me that you're a little ahead of schedule."

Strong Thales struggles to concentrate

"Ahead of time?"

gilbert nods

"Yes, although that is a rare evaluation, but..."

The foreign minister narrowed his eyes, and seemed a little lost at that moment

"After receiving the teacher's letter, I sometimes think, maybe... Maybe I, maybe we are all too impatient."

Thales looked at him puzzled

"about what?"

Gilbert sighed, speaking earnestly

"At least in Eternal Star City, noble young masters at your age...they care more,

It's looks and clothes, parties and girls. "

Appearance and clothing.

Party and girls...

Is it.

Thales paused briefly, recalling the past six years.

What was he concerned about in those years.

What has he experienced?

The Duke couldn't help being slightly absent-minded, but he immediately adjusted himself.

Thales, who had a premonition of what Gilbert was going to advise, squeezed out a smile and shook his head.

"You should go back to a few years ago. At that time, Wyah was only a teenager."

Hearing the familiar name, Gilbert Cassel was slightly taken aback.

I saw the prince looking towards the sky in the north, and said with a smile

"However, in those years, your son cared more about his sword...and me."

Thales smiled, thinking of the every move of the attendant Wyah Castle, his voice and smile.

Hearing the sound of horseshoes around him, looking at the surrounding guards, Thales suddenly realized...

Even though he returned to the stars and Eternal Star City, these royal guards who protected him...

so strange.

This made him miss the familiar faces that surrounded him even more.

Wyatt, Rolf, Putillai, Genard, Willow, and the one who stole the chicken drumstick and roasted the rabbit...

From Eternal Star City to Birch Forest, from Broken Dragon Fortress to Dragon Clouds City.

From the past to the present.

And where are they now?

Thales couldn't help but be lost in thought.

"I'm glad you favor him so much."

Gilbert's words brought him back to reality.

"But on this topic..."

Xingchen's cunning fox has a complicated complexion, but speaks proudly

"You know, Huai Ya has returned to Eternal Star City several times in the past few years in the Northland."

Thales nodded.

Gilbert squinted slightly

"But he probably didn't mention it to you. He came back to see his fiancée?"

Thales, who was immersed in missing his old man, subconsciously repeated Gilbert's words.

unmarried……

Thales' complexion changed suddenly!

What?

The prince turned his head in surprise.

Gilbert looked at him with a smile on his face.

"Wyah?" Thales asked with wide-eyed eyes.

Gilbert nodded, with relief and sadness in his eyes

"Wyah."

Wyah?

Thales opened his mouth wide in surprise, staring at Gilbert.

Wyah Castle?

That old-fashioned, serious, little old man...

That day was stern and polite, staring at Rolf...

That Huai Ya who is always "excessive" and hard all over?

Thales blinked subconsciously, trying hard to digest the news.

And Gilbert just smiled lightly.

Thales took a deep breath and shook his head.

Wyah, wyah!

I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it!

He couldn't help feeling a little funny, but also a little relieved.

I didn't expect you to be so thick-browed and big-eyed...

until gilbert's next sentence

"So, your age has also reached this year..."

Thales' complexion changed again.

"Cough, cough, cough..." The prince suddenly coughed, and the figure on the horse's back hunched in pain.

Gilbert's old face froze, and continued

"You must know that you are obliged to continue the bloodline of the great kingdom..."

"Cough! Cough, cough——" The prince's cough became louder and louder, overshadowing the foreign minister's voice, and even the royal guards, who were separated by a long distance, turned around strangely.

In the end, Gilbert could only shake his head regretfully.

"All right."

"Let's save this topic."

Thales' cough disappeared instantly, and his back was straighter than the flagpole.

Gilbert narrowed his eyes, watching Thales, who was unconscious, caressing his chest peacefully on the horse, his face was full of "I knew it" helplessness.

"Then I hope that the following news will interest you."

Thales seemed to have suddenly come to his senses, naturally and suddenly

"information?"

Gilbert nodded slightly, and his face became serious again - every time at this time, Thales would think of Wyah, and the expression on the other side's face when he saw Rolf.

But the next sentence of the foreign minister made the prince's thoughts dignified.

"The newest ravens, from the north."

north.

Thales frowned

"Puttilai and Wyah?"

"No." Gilbert shook his head, but his face was not relaxed

"but……"

I saw the Minister of Foreign Affairs rode his horse closer, with a heavy voice

"A few days ago, Dragon Clouds City completed the mobilization for war."

Dragon Clouds City.

Hearing this familiar term, Thales clenched his knuckles slightly.

Gilbert's words continue

"The expeditionary force composed of 10,000 people has been assembled and is ready to go to Qiyuan City to join the battle and march westward to the Freedom Alliance."

Thales frowned deeply.

At that moment, it seemed as if all the memories about the North Land came back to his mind - the war, forced marriage, mobilization, everything that happened during Longxiao City's administration day.

Ten thousand troops.

Thales recalled his impression of Dragon Clouds City.

For Dragon Clouds City, neither too much nor too little.

So……

"Who is the nobleman leading the army?"

The Duke of Xinghu had a dignified expression, "Who will fight this battle?"

Gilbert nodded and reported the information accurately

"The lords of Kari County and Origami County, Count Karn Kierkegaard, will serve as the deputy commander of the Dragon Clouds Expeditionary Force."

Kierkegaard.

The resolute face of the one-armed earl in the Hall of Heroes came to Thales' mind.

He sighed.

"Sure enough, the one who commands the army is the one who can fight the most in Longxiao City..."

But when it came to this, Thales was slightly taken aback

"Wait, Gilbert."

"Did you just say—the 'deputy' commander?"

The prince looked at Gilbert in surprise.

Gilbert pursed his lips and nodded.

etc.

Kierkegaard is only second in command, which means...

No.

The unbelievable astonishment on Thales' face grew bigger and bigger.

Gilbert's words are solemn

"According to recent news, Dragon Clouds City's first large-scale military expedition after twenty years of silence..."

"The immature Grand Duchess Walton will lead the army in uniform and sword."

"Let's go to battle."

Grand Duchess...

go to battle...

personally enlist...

At that moment, Thales was in a daze.

And Gilbert didn't speak, just looked at him silently, waiting quietly, taking in the prince's reaction.

The familiar figure seemed to reappear in front of his eyes.

The figure crying in the dark asking him if he could escape.

emaciated.

thin.

Aggrieved and helpless.

Weak and lonely.

Grab his arm and hide behind him.

shivering.

"oh……"

"That's it..."

The Duke of Xinghu withdrew his expression in a daze, nodded subconsciously, and muttered to himself.

"Wow."

With a stiff face, he forced himself to let out a suppressed exclamation.

But no one knew that he felt so strange at the moment.

Mixed feelings.

indescribable.

But in the next second, the figure in his mind turned around, revealing a face that he was familiar with but completely different.

Under the strong pressure, the mouth was crystal clear, the forehead was wet with sweat, but the face was still pouted hard.

tenacious.

stubborn.

Stubborn and unyielding.

Resolute and strong.

Standing in front of the highest seat, standing among thousands of troops, raising your arms and shouting.

There was a lot of response.

It seems like a long time has passed.

It was so long that even Gilbert couldn't help but remind him.

"So they succeeded," Thales said faintly, trying to forget unnecessary images, forcing himself to start thinking about more practical things

"Ronnie from Qiyuan City, Lecco from Jieshou City, and Walton from Dragon Clouds City—the three-city alliance of Exeter."

"They end up standing over everything."

Thales' tone was still hollow, but his spirit gradually recovered, and his brain turned

"Facing the turmoil in the West provoked by the Rumba."

Thinking of this, Duke Xinghu took a deep breath and raised his head.

"What about us?"

Someone else might be puzzled by such a question, but Gilbert knew what he was going to ask.

The Foreign Secretary let out a sigh of relief.

"As you can see, now that you have returned and the Western Front has calmed down..."

Gilbert's mouth curled slightly

"Then whether it is the royal standing army under Baron Williams or the conscripts recruited by the lords of the Western Wilderness, there is no reason to stay in the desert and spend time and effort patrolling."

Thales took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"So, without the restraint of the stars, the single and weak Freedom Alliance stood alone, facing the three major cities in the Northland, and facing almost half of the Kingdom of Exeter..."

The Duke of Xinghu opened his eyes, this time, he became calm and dignified

"The battle has been decided."

"The Liberty League... is over."

Gilbert didn't speak, just nodded in acquiescence.

A few seconds later, the corner of Thales' mouth curled up, and his mood brightened.

"Now, it's King Charman's turn to have a headache."

He looked at Gilbert with a smile

"I escaped, and Xingchen also withdrew, so Rumba lost both chips and reasons."

"He can no longer use the stars as knives to force his vassals to obey orders."

Thales thought of the emaciated look of the aggressive kinslayer king, and felt that the melancholy of the no longer hometown just now was swept away, and even his breathing was extraordinarily comfortable.

"On the other side, Longxiao City joins Ronnie's side, and Qiyuan City's worries will be relieved."

"Heisha has one more enemy, and the opposition to the king will only rise instead of falling."

Thales snorted and spread his hands lightly on the horse

"Rumba fell on both sides."

He could even imagine that old opponent with a gloomy face, suppressing his anger, blowing his beard and staring at him...

Gilbert coughed.

"Actually..."

"Your Highness..."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs hesitated a bit, which caught Thales' attention

"A few weeks ago, shortly after you escaped from Exeter, and the news of Dragon Clouds City's hearing day just came..."

Gilbert glanced at him, frowned slightly, and hesitated to speak.

Thales' heart sank.

the foreign secretary let out an unnatural breath

"At that time, King Charman rushed back to the Black Sand Territory."

Gilbert raised the rein of the horse and looked solemnly into the distance.

"In just a few days, Charmain I visited almost every vassal who opposed him."

Thales frowned fiercely.

"visit?"

The prince thought of the so-called "visit" when Prince Charman arrived in Dragon Clouds—whether it was visiting him or the Hall of Heroes, he suddenly felt something was wrong.

Observing Thales' expression, Gilbert sighed slightly

"The secret department has limited information..."

Under Thales' bad premonition and ugly expression, Gilbert told the truth with a straight face

"But obviously, as the king claimed to conscript their army to go west, the Mende and Devinson families who had been resisting taxes in the Black Sand Territory first succumbed and expressed their position to return to the king's banner-the strangeness is unknown."

Thales felt a chill.

"Under the Rumba, the Ika family closest to the Reconstruction Tower is probably worried that the Grand Duke Trudida and the Rumba secretly communicated. They withdrew their call for tax resistance before the king came to the door, and took the initiative to send this season's grain tax to Black Sand City. .”

The prince's hand holding the rein became tighter and tighter, and his whole body tensed unconsciously.

Yet Gilbert's sighs continue

"One day later, the old Earl Peruno, who was highly respected, had a lifelong friendship with the former Grand Duke of Heisha, and was also the most fierce opponent of King Charman, suddenly suffered from an old illness."

Thales began to hear his own breathing.

"He was bedridden and unable to see things. Therefore, Peruno's son took over the power of the territory, changed his father's policy, and went out of the city in person to warmly welcome King Charman's inspection."

Under the almost shocked eyes of the Duke of Xinghu, Gilbert said unhappily

"And the last two Shifeng families who resisted stubbornly and refused to open the door to welcome the king...they were punished."

Thales gritted his teeth.

"punish?"

Gilbert nodded, his eyes showed the fear that the stars and cunning foxes rarely see

"With the support of the four major families mentioned above, King Chaman's troops approached the city and declared war with blood."

"There are two whole castles... led by the Flame Knight himself, and the Black Sand Army is as powerful as a bamboo."

"Victory in one day, break the city in three days."

Gilbert's solemnity and vigilance have been raised to the extreme

"According to the ancient rituals of the people of the Northland, they hung the heads of those who disrespected the king's order on the city gate, as a warning to others."

"The king was still on the execution ground, depriving an earl and a viscount of their titles on the spot—relegating their heirs to commoners."

Listening to Gilbert's words, Thales could hardly adjust his expression - it seemed that every sentence of the other party carried the ice and snow from the north.

Gilbert sighed slowly.

"More than that, on that day, King Charman used the power of conquest to break the rules and canonize several new nobles from humble backgrounds. However, none of the vassals in Heisha, big or small, dared to speak up."

Thales slowly let go of his body and put his arms on the horse.

The shock in my heart couldn't be added.

Gilbert shook his head

"To this day, except for a few small families who are close to the border and have nothing to do with the overall situation in the Black Sand Territory—out of morality or interest—still clamoring and refusing to compromise..."

But Thales didn't let him continue.

"He succeeded."

The prince stared blankly at the northern sky, as if seeing the shadowy and cruel king.

"He won."

Gilbert watched Thales' expression worriedly, and coughed involuntarily.

"Inside, that's true."

Xingchen cunning fox squeezed out a smile, and his tone changed from fearful to positive.

"But externally, whether it's the Reconstruction Tower or the Welland Territory, they immediately strengthened their defenses after getting the news, and heavily deployed troops on the border of the Black Sand Territory..."

"And the other grand dukes in Exeter's country were even more enthusiastic and attacked in unison. From Qiyuan City to Fengzhao City, from Elk City to Glacier Sea, many people in the Northland even openly questioned the source of his throne..."

Gilbert smiled, but Thales could feel some dissonance from his laughter

"The Heisha leader has provoked public outrage, and King Charman is alone, not to mention the economy and people's livelihood in their territory is already in shambles..."

But the prince interrupted him.

"late."

In the team, the boy under the cloak straightened his back, but lowered his head silently.

"Charmain Rumba."

"Maybe many people don't recognize him as the king of Exeter."

Thales pursed his lips tightly, imagining the scene where he was confronted with the opponent face to face, as if he felt the real pressure

"But now, he has become..."

"The king of the black sand collar."

Gilbert froze, unable to answer.

Only the second prince looked up to the sky and sighed, closing his eyes

"I told them, back then, in the Hall of Heroes, I told..."

"But I'm afraid they still don't understand."

Thales opened his eyes, and instead of looking at the clear blue sky above his head, his eyes touched the looming and rolling black clouds in the distance.

"They don't understand that the tide they are facing cannot be easily stopped by resorting to the military or paying money."

Gilbert was slightly taken aback.

The prince gritted his teeth and frowned

"And that's just the beginning."

"Charmain Rumba, he will become stronger, more greedy, and more..."

Tels paused for a moment, exhaling an annoyed breath from his nose.

"Your Highness, you don't have to worry so much," Gilbert seemed impatient

"No matter how powerful King Charman is, we can..."

But Thales shook his head.

"No."

"not us."

He stared fixedly at the overwhelming black clouds in the sky

"Killing, seizing, bestowing, these things that King Charman did...seems like a spark."

"But unstoppable."

Gilbert was silent while listening to the prince's words.

"And will eventually ignite..."

Thales lowered his head and looked straight ahead, the seriousness in his eyes couldn't be more serious

"The entire Northland."

at this moment.

"Boom!"

The bell rang loudly.

Thales and Gilbert were shocked.

The sound of this bell rises faintly, rolling and rolling, long and heavy, and shocking.

At the same time, it penetrates the ground and the air, reaching the ground and the sky.

The reverberation was heavy and lasted for a long time.

Amidst the uneasy neighing of the horses, many royal guards also frowned and looked at each other.

Only Mallos, who was at the front, was as calm as before, holding the rein and stepping on the pedals, and moved forward steadily.

"That is……"

Feeling the roar in his ears, Thales, who seemed to feel it, slowly turned to Gilbert.

The latter got over the initial surprise and nodded slowly to the prince

"The Bell of the Stars."

Thales thought for a moment.

Gilbert sighed, "The last time it sounded, it was..."

"I know."

Feeling the emerging memories, Thales said blankly

"six years ago."

"The state is... the meeting."

But his emotion didn't last long, as the procession quickly turned the next block and embarked on another avenue.

It was also at this time that Thales noticed

Unknowingly, they have passed through countless blocks, and the surrounding people have gradually drifted away. They were isolated a hundred steps away by the gradually increasing security team, leaving only curious heads and eyes.

Soldiers and guards, police officers and security teams, countless people have stood neatly in front of them, either forming their own teams to maintain order, or acting as city walls to separate passages.

Waiting for guests.

But on this side, the road under the feet of the royal guard has become a broad road, wide and boundless.

Of course, at the end of the avenue, the most eye-catching thing is...

Thales breathed in a trance, and slowly raised his head.

saw it.

it.

The classical mottled colors, the endless steps, the thick and black palace walls, the grandeur rising from the ground, the vicissitudes of the centuries, and the majesty of the stars.

Renaissance Palace.

This great flat-topped pyramid that had appeared in his dreams countless times, just like a giant who walked silently but covered the sky, appeared in front of his eyes suddenly and unexpectedly.

Such as overwhelming.

But silent.

Thales stared blankly at the huge palace in front of him, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses.

Passing through the passage formed by the palace guards, the royal guards unconsciously lowered their horseshoes and slowed down.

Until Mallos raised his hand high, the twenty-five royal guards raised their cloaks in unison.

The silver helmet and bright armor are exposed, reflecting the sunlight.

Hugo, the flag officer, even raised a tall nine-pointed star flag, fluttering in the wind.

In the distance, the people who were separated outside the isolation line began to clamor.

Countless eyes shot at the twenty-odd riders, and there were many discussions.

Thales turned his head with complicated emotions, looked at the civilians who were tightly separated on both sides, looked at the soldiers and guards standing upright around him, and finally looked at the heart of the kingdom in front of him, separated by the palace wall

Renaissance Palace.

No one knows his state of mind at the moment, no one can describe his current feelings, no one can describe his current emotions.

He could only open his mouth in silence, lost in thought.

Thoughtful.

If something is missing.

As Thales' team came to the front of the palace wall, the black defensive crossbows and magic guns turned around under the hinges and manpower, and there were many sentries, with awe-inspiring murderous intent.

A nobleman in the same attire as Mallos and the others came from the palace gate surrounded by a group of soldiers, raised his right arm and showed his palm towards Thales' team.

In an instant, following Mallos's gesture, the twenty-five members of the royal guard rode their horses together, Glover and Doyle stepped forward and stretched out their hands, holding Thales and Gilbert's mounts stop together.

And at this moment, they all have serious faces and awe-inspiring attitudes.

"Twenty-five members of the royal guard, under the command of the king, escort the important officials."

The voice of Mallos sounded in front of the palace gate avenue, bounced off the palace wall of the Fuxing Palace, and echoed on the wide avenue

"The Duke of Xinghu, the Prince of Stars, the first heir to the Nine-Star Crown and the Supreme Throne, His Royal Highness Thales Canxing..."

"Already returned."

As soon as this remark came out, everything was silent.

Regardless of the guards in front of the palace gate, the sentries on the palace gate, or the security team on the avenue, all fell silent.

For a moment, only Mallos' crisp and indifferent voice could be heard, echoing in all directions.

In front of the palace gate, the noble who stopped Mallos straightened his body and took a step forward.

"Password."

The nobleman dressed as the royal guard looked at Mallos and said coldly

"crown?"

Mallos slowly rode forward, facing the ferocious defensive crossbow comfortably.

He narrowed his eyes and spoke softly, his voice was like a gossamer

"dark."

Thales was slightly shocked.

Time seemed to stop for a moment.

Until the noble guarding the palace gate nodded, turned around and waved.

"boom……"

Amidst the deafening roar, the steel noose moved.

The dark palace door in front of Thales trembled violently, and slowly moved and bounced as if trying to push away the dust that had accumulated for thousands of years with the rhythm of great force.

tear yourself apart.

Reveal the true appearance of Fuxing Palace.

As the sun sets, it melts into gold.

Just like the setting sun that illuminated the Fuxing Palace bright red at the moment when Thales became a prince six years ago.

But this time, under the shining sun, Thales just looked up in a daze.

He watched the dazzling golden light falling inch by inch on the outer wall of the Fuxing Palace.

But only darkness was reflected.

Bottomless.