Kingdom’s Bloodline

Chapter 14 Passing by

"His Majesty's warrant has been officially issued."

Gilbert, who was sitting across from him, smiled all over his face, raised his teacup and took a sip:

"Now, the news of your return and title has spread throughout Eternal Star City. In a few days, the entire Central Territory and even the whole country will know."

In the living room, Thales—as the host rather than the guest—smiled helplessly.

With the laziness of getting up in the morning, the boy stood up and walked slowly to the window.

The morning light shines through the window screens, illuminating the understated but tidy living room.

Thales opened the window, and the fresh air came blowing in his face.

And an abrupt and piercing noise.

"Yes," the newly promoted Duke of Xinghu yawned while leaning against the window, and pressed his waist:

"I can feel it from here."

The Mindis Hall under the window is not peaceful.

The garden and the road outside the iron gate have long been filled with carriages of various colors, not to mention the many visitors who came on foot or on horseback, quite a few of them were dressed luxuriously and had obvious badges.

Outside the iron gate, the royal guards and Canxing's private soldiers went all out and were busy: explaining and dissuading at the same time.

Thales leaned close to the window, and the sins of Hell River flooded his ears, probably capturing some scattered words.

"I'm sorry, my lord, the Mendis Hall will not welcome guests this month," came the stiff and serious voice of the vanguard officer Glover in front of the iron gate:

"Only His Majesty's special warrant can pass..."

Immediately, another slightly excited voice overwhelmed Glover.

"No, no, Luke, I've been your classmate for four years but I've never been close to each other, so I don't care about anyone... What, you just came to see the scenery? You're enough! Watching the scenery for two days in a row, seeing the scenery It's eight hours, do you think I'm an idiot?"

It's Doyle.

At this moment, he stood in front of a nobleman with an innocent face, and waved to the Mindis Hall behind him angrily:

"It's so noisy every day, every day is so noisy, I don't need...doesn't the prince need to rest?"

Thales couldn't help raising his eyebrows.

Another decent and gentle voice broke into his ears:

"...Then this honorary Viscount Kema." This is Mallos, who smiled lightly on the bright face, but actually rejected people thousands of miles away. He was facing another nobleman who was not easy to deal with:

"Why don't you go to the heir of the Karabyan family that you said, and ask him, what is the secret of being able to make an exception to meet the Duke?"

"Oh, it turns out that your family is a royal merchant, and there are three beautiful daughters ranging from nine to nineteen years old who are likely to become princes and concubines! I'm sorry, maybe you, as the future royal family, will definitely be able to do it. Got His Majesty's favor? When I come to visit at that time, I will definitely line up to clear the way."

"Well, the Mallos family is very grateful for your care, it's really sad that you can't buy your goods..."

"Thank you for your greetings to my parents and family, even though they are no longer alive..."

"Well, then on behalf of all my living female relatives, thank you for the greetings from you and the organ below you..."

"Okay, Your Excellency the Viscount, I will definitely bring the words to my family's ancestral cemetery and let my ancestors know..."

"But before that, for the safety of Duke Xinghu, I will temporarily detain you to the security hall..."

"Why? Because I suspect that you are hiding weapons in order to misbehave the Duke... Where are the weapons? You see, the gemstone on your ring is too bright, which is harmful to the Duke's eyes..."

"Then I suggest you complain directly to His Majesty or Lord Adrian about my service attitude..."

"How long? Don't worry, there are only two and a half months left before the Duke's welcome banquet. After that, your plan will be invalidated, and then the royal guard will formally file a case of 'assassination of the royal family' against you..."

Hearing this, Thales sighed, pulled down the window, and no longer listened to the flustered self-defense of the potbellied Viscount Kemar, "I'm not talking nonsense without you", and no longer cared about how he behaved. Face fled back to his carriage in horror.

This is his return to the capital,

It's the third day of entering the Mindis Hall.

From the second day on, the Mindis hall was full of people, and there was an endless stream of visitors.

The Xinghu guards were so noisy that they couldn't rest.

"A few days ago, you shouldn't have met the heir of Karabyan, even if he was your old friend," Gilbert put down his teacup and sighed:

"Right now, many nobles, officials, and prominent people in the royal capital all follow suit and want to come in because of connections."

"Yes, yes, I understand," Thales sat back in his seat and said in a daze:

"That's the price."

He underestimated the impact and shock of his return.

Prince attracts more than just visitors.

Obviously, the stay of the Duke of Xinghu not only awakened the always clean Mindis Hall, but also the improvement of the specifications of this mansion in the past three days has affected the entire Eternal Star City:

The city hall issued six urgent orders to rebuild the green plants, change the lights, clean up all the roads and intersections in the Muxing District (that the prince may see), and decorate them magnificently. Not a single refugee is allowed to enter, not a single beggar It can't be seen that the city's appearance has been greatly improved, and to some extent it is better than Dongcheng District, where the nobles gather.

The security department has rescheduled the patrol schedule and manpower arrangement. The Muxing district and the three security departments in the two adjacent districts (originally arguing with each other) are united, friendly and sincerely cooperating. Going back and forth to shift shifts, patrolling day and night, turned this location, which was so embarrassingly forgotten, into a paradise on earth where people never pick up lost items on the road and never close their doors at night.

The chief garrison officer of Eternal Star City hastily increased the city defense team on the city wall on the side of the Muxing District (even though the Muxing District is a thousand miles away from the city wall), to ensure that "no Xiao Xiao can pass us and threaten the prince", and specifically asked The warrant was obtained, the standing army was transferred from outside the city, and a special route was set up to clear the way for the supply and logistics transportation of the Mindis Hall—according to a certain soldier, "Even the prince's poo that is transported out must not be defiled!"

Thales pressed his forehead listlessly.

Gilbert smiled helplessly:

"I can already picture myself coming home... I probably have never been so 'welcome' in my life."

"As His Majesty's most trusted vassal, you are already very popular," Thales let out a breath:

"And believe me, the Exeters will welcome you more than the Starmen."

Gilbert nodded suddenly.

In the past few days, if you don't look at the crowd of speculators waiting outside the wall with stretched necks, eager to try their luck to see the prince, the life in Mindis Hall is quite peaceful.

Sleep until wake up, breakfast, free time, lunch, sleep until wake up, free time, dinner, free time, sleep until wake up.

Oh, by the way, you can basically not go outside for free activities, because you have to avoid the paparazzi-ahem, he means, avoid those fanatical speculators who ask to see the prince.

Although the rhythm of life is similar to that in Dragon Clouds City, but...

There is no intrigue, no anxiety about the enemy, no continuous high pressure, no excitement of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and no crazy journey of fleeing thousands of miles.

No one bothers, no one interferes, no one asks.

He really is a little...

Not used to it.

Thales picked up the teacup and moistened his throat with satisfaction.

Compared with living here as a guest six years ago and everything had to go through Gilbert, it is still good for him to become the owner of this place six years later.

At least he can give direct orders to those around him (like "change me to a firmer mattress") and have those words obeyed—at least on paper.

It's been a really good day...

Thales slowly leaned back, and sincerely let out a wail (praise) (sigh) that belongs to Michong:

Decadent.

So much so that he almost forgot about the...

that person.

"So, Gilbert, what are our plans for today?"

Thales pointed to the table sullenly:

"Why did you bring a pile of... paper?"

Gilbert, who looked at the Duke lovingly, turned his head as if suddenly remembering, moved the stack of papers on the table to his lap, and pulled out a pair of glasses at the same time.

"Forgive me, I'm getting old, and my eyes are a little hard..."

The middle-aged foreign minister said embarrassingly.

His glasses are very special, a pair of hand-held folding mirrors, without a frame, but a special handle on the right side of the frame.

"By the way, the gift you requested for the Grand Duchess was ordered at the same handmade mirror shop..."

While speaking, Gilbert raised his glasses to cover his eyes, and began to flip through the papers on his lap.

"I don't know what you think, but after all, they are custom-made glasses for scholars and old men like me. The color design is neither fancy nor trendy, so it probably won't please young girls. You didn't Thinking about sending something else..." There was something in the foreign minister's words, but Thales, who had already experienced many battles, looked as usual and deafened it.

"Well, first..."

I don't know if he saw no reaction from the prince, or if he finally found the target on the paper, Gilbert still sighed slightly, and said:

"Your welcome banquet is tentatively scheduled for more than two months."

"The newly promoted Duke of Star Lake will be officially introduced to the entire kingdom—at least the entire Eternal Star City."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs still lowered his head, but he glanced over his glasses and looked at Thales.

Introducing to...the whole kingdom.

Thales felt a chill.

He took a deep breath and sat up straight in his chair.

The laziness and comfort of the past few days were swept away in an instant.

It is also time.

he told himself with a sigh.

Wake up, Thales.

Except for the noble master of the shit-shoveling officer...

Where in the world are happy rice worms?

Thales cheered up:

"And these two months?"

Gilbert lifted his eyes from the paper:

"It's your time to rest, adapt and adjust."

"so long?"

Gilbert shook his head in denial:

"No, not at all, in fact, a little too short."

"After all, you have been in the Northland for six years," the Foreign Minister looked at Thales, looking at Thales' habitual, seemingly unorganized, but actually sitting on his elbows, a sitting posture that could roll over and fall to the ground at any time, and did not evade , sharp and direct eyes, including the casual uniform that is good for action but not very dignified, frowned imperceptibly:

"From speech, behavior, habits to etiquette, knowledge, we have too many things to correct..."

This time it was Thales' turn to frown:

"Correction?"

"Talk, manners, habits?"

Gilbert realized his gaffe.

"Sorry, no disrespect, but I mean, we have so much to prepare..."

The Foreign Minister glanced at Thales, with a respectful tone:

"With all due respect, although there was a stunning appearance at the State Council meeting that year, it was six years ago after all."

"For six years, no one knew about you except sporadic news."

"Now, they only know that Prince Thales has just returned from the rough, barbaric, dangerous and bitterly cold Northland. He grew up under the influence and education of the Exeters among those unreasonable northern men."

Gilbert followed a standard etiquette and said sincerely:

"And we need to show them..."

Thales leaned back in the chair and pressed his head helplessly.

"I see."

"You can tell me directly," the young Duke of Xinghu sighed deeply:

"Everyone in the kingdom from top to bottom is wondering whether the second prince may have been distorted by the wild and perverted Yankees, his personality has been badly taught, his brain has been beaten, and his sexuality has been reversed..."

"After all, in their eyes, the people of Exeter are all illiterate, so they may even suspect that the heir of Return of the Kingdom will not only look like the Prince of Stars on the outside, but in his heart he is a rude illiterate from the North?"

After finishing speaking in one breath, Thales exhaled unhappily.

Trapped me for six years, six years.

Are you satisfied?

All right, Charmain.

Barely count you won a hand.

Thiel thought dully.

"I didn't say that," Gilbert smiled happily, but then his face became serious:

"But sexuality...you're kidding, right?"

Thales didn't bother to end this little joke, and said to himself:

"And what you have to do is to make me more local, more decent, more acceptable, and more...'star' before I show up?"

"Not quite, Your Highness."

On the surface, Gilbert let go of the "joke" that was not very reassuring, and laughed again:

"In fact, the trip to the Northland is one of your most eye-catching resumes, just like the legendary journey of a mercenary: strange and mysterious, it attracts the awe and amazement of those who don't know it."

the uninformed...

Thales laughed at himself in his heart.

But when the other party mentioned mercenaries, he suddenly thought of the fast rope, and then the mysterious and terrifying Ricky.

"So we might as well keep some of the imprints left by Dragon Clouds City on you..."

Thales came back to his senses:

"brand?"

Gilbert smiled and nodded:

"Let others know that the Duke of Thales has the advantages of both sides of the border: you are the only one in this era, who has been inherited from the empire and the stars, and honed by the north wind and the dragon. The debaters can also survive in the desperate situation of the Palace of Heroes..."

"Heaven's proud son."

The air was quiet for a second.

In front of the staring foreign minister, Thales lowered his head and subconsciously rubbed his face.

Damn.

It is worthy of being engaged in diplomacy.

Compared to "package the bumpkin Thales", this is quite a saying...

beautiful?

The star cunning fox's skill has not diminished - Thales sighed.

A few decent and harmless soft words dispelled the unhappiness in his heart.

In this regard, there is a real difference between him and Puttilai, the gloomy little old man who talked down the fun.

Maybe that's why, one of the two people who worked together in the Department of Foreign Affairs was able to skyrocket and become the king's confidant, famous in the West.

And the other person is running around, working hard all day long, no matter how many achievements he has made, no one will know.

Thales thought silently.

"Well, if I'm really illiterate, Gilbert..."

A few seconds later, Thales adjusted his emotions, and replied with a smile:

"Then you only started literacy at the age of fourteen, isn't it a bit late?"

"Others may not understand, Your Highness, but I am your full-time teacher," Gilbert said with emotion when talking about the past:

"It's just six years of recess."

He winked at Thales:

"So, do you remember how to write a sonnet?"

Thales and Gilbert chuckled at the same time.

But unexpectedly, with a smile on his face, Gilbert suddenly spoke.

"So, it's just a six-year break."

His voice lowered:

"Your Highness."

"Six years."

Thales put away his smile and looked at the foreign minister strangely.

"Don't be discouraged, kid," Gilbert said slowly without looking at him:

"To know."

"Sometimes, dads make mistakes too."

Thales was stunned.

"Give him time, Your Highness," Gilbert said quietly:

"Give him time."

He choked up slightly.

The temperature and light in the reception room seemed to sink at that moment.

Thales was silent, thinking deeply.

Gilbert didn't speak either.

The two sat opposite each other in silence.

For a long time.

Finally, Thales took a deep breath and smiled.

"Gilbert," the prince looked at the middle-aged man who had taught him how to read by hand, who was once in his prime, but now gray-haired and exhausted, and said earnestly:

"Thank you."

Gilbert forced a smile, restraining his emotions.

"for what?"

Thales lowered his head, and raised the corners of his mouth after a while:

"For... everything."

silence.

For a moment, there was only a faint noise outside the window.

"No, Your Highness."

"everything……"

Gilbert sighed:

"It's all for you."

Thales didn't speak.