Kingdom’s Bloodline

Melodious music and romantic candlelight.

The banquet entered the next stage. On the dance floor in the center of the hall, many men and women began to join hands and dance affectionately.

Except Thales.

"No, ma'am, your boldness really surprised me and lit up this banquet even more."

On the seat, facing a young, lovely, lively and lovely noble girl in front of him, Thales said dryly, "I can only deceive Ada" politely:

"It's just that my identity is sensitive, and the matter is too big to be rash."

"Especially the first dance back home, no matter who you dance with, it's unfair, and everyone else will feel resentful."

Thales noticed from the corner of his eye that Mallos had finished communicating with several subordinates and walked towards him.

The watchman's eyes contained urging and vigilance at the same time, and Thales understood the meaning:

Hurry up.

"So, for the stability and balance of the kingdom, and for the prosperity and peace of the stars."

Thales cheered up, looked at the girl's crystal eyes kindly, gently held her palms together, and held back his contempt for himself:

"I can only endure great grief and give up the beauty of dancing with you."

"It breaks my heart."

The girl in front of her bit her lower lip, her eyes were sad and hurt.

But with a slight annoyance, she lifted her skirt and knelt, glanced sadly at Thales, and then turned and left.

There is no muddy water, but it is graceful and charming.

People can't help but look sideways.

Thales breathed a sigh of relief, only feeling exhausted.

This was the ninth lady who came to invite him to dance with him tonight, and the forty-fourth "or fifty-fourth? Can't remember" guest who came to visit him.

"So you just got rid of Miss Enoch," Mallos' voice came from behind him:

"Nice job."

"So that's her name,

Enoch? Thales sighed: "Her expression, I feel very guilty." "

Mallos categorically denies:

"You don't have to."

"Miss Enoch is not only bold and straightforward, she also knows how to use her charm to capture spoils of war, causing many young talents to go through fire and water for her." The watchman sat down on the side table, as plain as water:

"Believe me, you don't want to fight a duel at the first banquet."

"Especially when there are assassins around."

Thales felt dizzy for a while.

Oh yes.

According to Mallos, at this moment, there is a damned assassin hiding in the banquet.

It is estimated that there will be big news.

And the king—his father and countless princes and nobles were all present, staring at him.

The prince saw off the next guest who visited him during the polite greetings, and then he put down his perfect smile, put down the wine glass that had stained his lips countless times, and relaxed the muscles in his waist.

"Are you sure? Assassin?"

"Just because of...a look?"

Mallos' voice remained steady:

"It's better to believe it."

Thales turned his head and glanced at him before turning around.

"All right."

"So, a guy with a high status who is qualified to participate in the royal banquet, guarding it in front of everyone, regardless of life and reputation, wants to assassinate crazily——me?"

Mallos raised his glass without changing his expression, and drank with a friend at the next table:

"Or your father."

"Or my father." Thales was kind, but still depressed:

"But why? I just returned to Xingchen, what kind of grudge? Did he rob his wife or kill his father?"

Mallos looked at the guests vigilantly, but rarely gave a cold humor:

"Or both?"

Thales glanced at him unhappily.

"Anyway, don't relax, we haven't found him yet." Mallos said softly, and continued to arrange staff.

Thales exhaled—in front, the tenth lady stepped forward tremblingly and bowed to him.

But as a prince, he had to remain calm, endure the attention of countless people, take into account the influence, and maintain his demeanor.

He had to cheer up and deal with the guests who greeted him with various purposes.

Including the girl in front of him who came to invite him to dance: she was only about eleven or twelve years old, and the nervous expression on her face always reminded Thales of the cunning when he was a child.

Oh, and Selma.

The girl is in the middle of the war in the north.

And he was still thinking about how he could help her who was thousands of miles away at this banquet.

Thinking of the Grand Duchess, Thales was in a bad mood again.

And all he can do is...

[Laugh, Thales, on this battlefield, a smile is the best armor. 】

"When you grow up, lovely lady, I will be charmed by you and dance with you-but now, we must be responsible to your father and brother."

Thales squeezed out a smile, and sent away the tearful and aggrieved "Miss No. 10".

Before he could rest for a few seconds, the fifty-sixth guest, Levi Trudida from the Northland Reconstruction Tower, squeezed forward with a smile and a flattering face.

"That, Polaris?"

"We, we agreed...me and yours..."

oh.

Thales covered his eyes and rolled his eyes in the palm of his hand.

How did you say that sentence? Say little slicker, will the little slicker be there?

"I know, I know," the prince put down his hands, resisted his fatigue, and put on the 'armor' again: "Just do me a favor, little pot lid."

Small pot lid?

Levi froze for a moment, then subconsciously touched his lid.

"Just sit down and smile," Thales said with a headache, "Take whatever you want, including the one on my plate, there is only one..."

"Do not talk."

Levi was taken aback again:

"But we..."

But Thales' eyes forced him back.

The guest from the Reconstruction Tower understood. He sat down, smirked at Thales while eating, and secretly noticed a certain bureaucrat off the court.

The prince also smiled at him tenderly, as a sign of friendship.

In the eyes of outsiders, it is like meeting friends and talking about everything.

They just sat there in silence for five minutes.

Unfortunately, no assassins appeared.

Fortunately, no one came to ask him to dance.

"Well, it's about time, and they must think we're almost done."

Thales was listless and authentic.

He ignored Levi's strange eyes and enjoyed the rare rest time: "By the way, Levi."

Levi put down his glass and listened humbly.

"The Duke of Nantrest of the Cliff, he told me," Thales closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead vigorously:

"He found out that you bought food from the stars and smuggled it from his territory."

Levi's complexion changed drastically.

Thales said with great interest:

"Looks like 'One-Eyed' Kuzd is very upset."

"You mean smuggling?"

To his surprise, Xiaoguodai changed his face very quickly, and said solemnly:

"What, there are still such criminals in our territory? Don't worry, Your Highness, I will be strict when I go back..."

"take it easy."

Thales slapped his hands indifferently, with a tired face, and lied without burden:

"I persuaded him, the one-eyed dragon will turn a blind eye to you, in case Lumbah gets bigger."

"You can continue to deliver supplies."

Levi's eyes stared hún yuán.

He tried to squeeze out a smile and found the proper wording:

"Ah, Polaris, you're really, really that..."

Rain from the sky? Thales found words for him.

"But you guys have to think about it," But Thales just wanted to end it quickly, and interrupted him with a wave:

"If this route is discovered by the black sand leader in the future, or even the fact that you came to me for help is exposed—then King Charman will only think that you have been colluding with Xingchen for a long time and hiding your ulterior motives."

"And you know how much he hates me."

The little pot lid's eyes turned round and round.

"You have to step up and find internal support to fight against the kinslayer."

Thales sighed:

"In the final analysis, Exeter's affairs can only be resolved internally."

Internal aid, internal.

Thales felt that he had made it clear enough.

There was silence between the two of them for a while.

"Your Majesty's kind words." Levi became serious:

"I'll keep that in mind."

Thales shook his head.

"Of course, the one-eyed dragon is not a good product." The boy raised his glass and clinked glasses with Levi: "If he breaks his promise behind my back, cuts off your goods, or wants to blackmail me..."

Taylor's eyes turned cold:

"Remember to find me to ventilate."

Levi looked heavy and just nodded.

"Finally, your previous promise..." Thales said casually.

Levi was categorical:

"It must be done for His Highness."

In this way, Polaris sent away the preoccupied little pot cover.

Thales exhaled heavily, tired and unloved.

It seems that even the sin of the prison river has dried up.

But the rest benefit that Levi brings is only these five minutes.

Soon, Thales had to put on the "armor" again and greet "Miss No. 11" fully armed.

After seeing her off, he tried to concentrate and looked around.

There's another assassin to worry about.

During this time, his "or Mallos'" Star Lake Guard had moved, lightly and quietly.

Kongmutuo, the former security officer who had a sword fight with Thales, Bastia, a burly man, Franzuke, who was as tall as a flagpole, and Ferry, who looked dull-these guards Wing's staff gathered quietly, or hid in the shadow of the corridor in the hall, or dressed up as servants to serve wine, or pretended to be on shift, guarding not far from Thales, vigilantly scanning those who approached the prince.

In the vanguard, Zoneveld who used to use a left-handed sword, Vladeng who helped Thales practice shield lifting, the young and vigorous Nexi, the unattractive Oscarsen, Supa with foreign blood, served in the military and fought in the war Morgan, several people were scattered in the hall, each occupying a different place, guarding the high hall, the servant passage and the entrance and exit, and also paying attention to the people coming and going.

As for Piloga and other people in the logistics wing, under the strong request of the prince, they went to search the fireplace and other hiding places in Mindis Hall." "Once upon a time there was a grand duke who didn't pay attention to the fireplace, and then he became king. "——The extremely serious Prince Thales".

The heralds directly under Mallos, Toledo and Tang Xin, went back and forth between them inconspicuously like scheduled patrols, but they were actually passing orders and communicating information.

They also kept an eye on the prince all the time.

Looking at all this, Thales felt even more pressured.

Kings, Banquets, Guests, Assassins, Stars, Exeter, Selma, Star Lake Guard, and damn Mindyth Hall and Duke titles...

He only felt that he was locked by countless chains.

The other end of the chain was firmly fixed to every pillar in the hall, making him immobile and dying.

Thales's smile had already frozen into ice, like worn out armor.

The prince looked at the shackles and lonely Duke Val from a distance, and he felt envious from the bottom of his heart.

Perhaps, he is more fortunate.

At least, after tonight, he won't have to bear these anymore.

At this moment, Doyle, who went to inquire about the news among the guests, came back.

"Sir, Your Highness."

He is full of spirit, radiant, majestic, and high-spirited.

It is in contrast to the exhausted Thales and the battered Mallos.

Thales and Mallos narrowed their eyes at the same time and leaned forward.

The two of them stared at a certain suspicious red that was looming under Doyle's collar—lip marks?

d.d noticed their gazes, and straightened his collar calmly:

"Well, you know, intelligence work... some senior informants charge a lot..."

Mallos coughed:

"Doyle?"

"Sorry, sir," Doyle said with a serious face, and returned to the topic:

"If you ask me, almost all the unmarried ladies between the ages of nine and thirty-nine, including their male relatives, are looking at Your Highness overtly or covertly, glancing upward every ten seconds, and talking enthusiastically about your status and appearance. , figure, clothing, emotional life, deeds and experience, character and character, the importance is decreasing in descending order..."

"There are quite a few people asking me about your preferences and habits, and betting on who can capture your heart! Hehe, how would they know that what our Highness likes is..."

Thales frowned:

"d.d?"

"Sorry, Your Highness," Doyle saw that the situation was not good, and quickly changed the subject:

"With all due respect, those people's enthusiasm for gathering information on His Highness, and the way they look at His Highness, no matter men or women, seem to want to eat him alive, more like an assassin than an assassin."

Doyle spread his hands helplessly.

Thales was taken aback, and looked towards the banquet center.

But wherever he looked, every guest was immersed in his own small world, chatting, or exchanging glasses.

Elegant and civilized, polite and decent.

The young girls were all radiant and charming. Some were teasing enthusiastically with their friends, some were invited to sing and dance, and some stayed quietly and elegantly beside their elders, except that no one deliberately stared at the table of His Highness the Prince.

Even when some ladies met Thales' eyes, most of them bowed their heads politely, or nodded shyly, or smiled, or responded gracefully.

It looks natural and self-sufficient, noble and dignified, and has a good personality.

He was not bothered by the status of the prince at all.

Just like the lady named Linosha or Inasha just now.

Call people respect.

Thales scanned around:

"Why didn't I feel that?"

Doyle smiled mysteriously:

"Of course it's because you are inexperienced, and they are skilled and sophisticated, and they are used to scouting out the enemy's situation before launching a general offensive..."

Mallos interrupted at this time:

"enough."

"Glorver is back."

The three turned their heads in unison: Glover, who was going to contact the superior, appeared in the shadow of the corridor.

And behind him was another royal guard with a calm face and outstanding temperament, but Thales didn't know him.

Doyle’s face changed immediately.

"Oh no."

Thales looked at the guard:

"Who is that?"

Doyle stood up, pressed against Thales's ear, and whispered through gritted teeth:

"That's the villain, Your Highness, the villain of the guards, the real villain of the Fuxing Palace..."

Thales was stunned.

"My Vogel Talen," the visitor raised his wine glass, walked to Thales's table, and saluted gracefully, like a guest more than a guard: "His Royal Highness Thales."

"Second Commander of the Royal Guard."

"And chief flag officer."

"I wish you good health and happiness."

This Vogel Tarron straightened up and glanced at Glover and Doyle.

The latter two reluctantly saluted and stepped back.

"Second Commander..."

Thales, who has practiced the "armor" to the full level, smiled and toasted, like a normal social etiquette.

"So, you are the deputy captain of the royal guard? Captain Adrian's deputy?"

"And your surname... Tarun of Ice River City?"

The young man used his brains and tried to quickly switch between the guest's title and surname.

"Yes, Your Highness," Vogel explained his doubts:

"My uncle is the Earl of Glacier City."

Thales' eyes flicked over the pentagram pattern on his cuff.

Taron of Ice City.

Distant relatives of the Canxing royal family, one of the thirteen prominent families, the Tarun family with the five-pointed star as their emblem, the powerful helper in the central government.

Coincidentally, their ancestor happened to be one of the Dukes of Xinghu in history.

only……

Thales was talking about another title of the other party.

Chief flag officer?

He suddenly thought of Samuel, the former royal guard who had joined the Baneblade.

"May you enjoy tonight."

Vogel didn't say much, he bowed, came to the side table, and sat side by side with Mallos, who also clinked glasses with him.

Looks like an old friend having a drink in the corner.

"Lord Taron, good night," Mallos said in a businesslike tone with his expression unchanged:

"I believe you brought the captain's order?"

"Oh, Tormund," Vogel called Mallos' name gently, but Thales noticed that his smile was very polite, as if he had put a sandwich on his face: "About the matter you reported..."

"We look forward to your explanation."

"I believe Glover has explained it very clearly."

The watchman said indifferently: "For safety reasons, we now..."

"clear?"

Vogel gently shook his glass and interrupted Mallos kindly:

"Are you sure it's an assassin?"

Mallos' pupils shrank.

Thales also frowned.

A few seconds later, Mallos said slowly:

"Probably."

Vogel put down his wine glass, his tone slowly tightened: "Maybe?"

"Dear Tormund, do you really know what you're talking about?"

Glover and Doyle realized that the atmosphere was tense and looked at each other.

"This is the first official banquet of the royal family in more than ten years after the war. It has been prepared for a long time, and the guests are prominent, which is of great significance."

The deputy captain's words became serious:

"What happens here now will spread throughout the kingdom tomorrow, with a far-reaching impact."

He turned his head and stared at Mallos, as if he was staring at a prisoner who broke the law:

"Whether the banquet was interrupted, the nobles were arranged to leave hastily, or the Canxing royal family was greedy for life and fear of death, nervous and searching for assassins."

Vogel narrowed his eyes:

"Just because... some guy took a look at you?"

"Sounds like a scene from some country tavern, Tormund."

The contempt in his tone was clearly audible.

Thales couldn't help looking at Mallos.

"Because this banquet is so important," the captain of the Duke of Xinghu's personal guard was not sullen, and his tone remained flat:

"So once the assassination is real, the trouble will only get bigger."

Vogel snorted coldly.

He stared at the profile of Mallos, but the latter just looked forward silently, as if pointing at him with suspicious eyes that were not blade-like.

After a few seconds, Vogel exhaled.

"We have already acted."

Vogel turned his head and put his attention back into his wine glass: "They will pay close attention to everyone who tries to get close. Your Majesty, Your Highness and other important dignitaries will be safe..."

"But a strong shield cannot defend against a sharp spear," Mallos said without looking at him, still paying attention to the situation in the hall:

"The best way is to avoid the accident before it happens, maybe we can withdraw some of it temporarily..."

But Vogel's gentle tone seemed to harden suddenly, inserting the other party's words like steel, and even changed the address:

"For the sake of the setting sun, Mallos."

"Please don't educate me."

He spoke slowly, but earnestly.

There was a sudden silence between the two.

At that moment, both Doyle Glover and Thales felt the tension.

The music died down, and the dance time came to an end.

The minstrel reappeared and sang the tragic long song of the Blade King's expedition to the Dragon's Kiss, but on the eve of his success, he died in a foreign land.

Thales held back the desire to interrupt, tried not to look at the two people behind him, and vigorously cut open the next plate of lettuce, while smiling, dismissing the next guest who came to greet him.

After a while, Mallos' voice came again, still calm:

"Don't dare, sir."

Vogel was silent for a while, and returned to normal when he spoke again.

"We can't drive everyone away just to avoid accidents. This is the Mindis Hall, and its opening marks the kingdom's return to prosperity and stability."

Thales sighed secretly in his heart.

Return to prosperity and stability...

Vogel looked around vigilantly, making sure that he didn't attract too much attention:

"Raise your vigilance, the banquet will continue as usual."

He got up to leave.

"But this is also the Mindis Hall of the Duke of Xinghu."

"Once something happens, His Highness Thales will be the first to bear the brunt of the blame."

Mallos slowly turned his head and looked directly at Vogel:

"My people are the ones who take responsibility."

He spoke very slowly.

Vogel's movements stopped.

The deputy head of the guard let go of his arm propped on the table, and sat down again.

"your people?"

This time, Vogel snorted coldly, and his tone was no longer polite.

"Mallos, I think, you, and your son and brother team, you need to sort out your position."

These words made Glover and Doyle change their expressions.

Thales also frowned.

Young Master Brothers Squad...

Mallos listened expressionlessly, while Vogel's eyes were unquestionable:

"Even if the station is changed, you are still the royal guard."

"And I'm your—superior."

"It's like the Mindis Hall, which belongs to the Fuxing Palace."

This made Thales shudder.

Mindis Hall belongs to Fuxing Palace...

Vogel's words were cold to the bone:

"Never, never forget this."

"Watchman."

Mallos didn't respond.

Just as Thales did not.

Time seemed to stand still for a few seconds.

In this square of the sky, Glover and Doyle seemed to be frozen.

Only Mallos took a deep breath, closed his eyes and then opened them again: "Of course, sir."

"Don't dare or forget."

He said respectfully.

Vogel nodded slightly, looking satisfied.

Until Mallos was calm and calm, and seemed to have no emotional fluctuations in the next sentence:

"But if I remember correctly, in a state of emergency..."

"The inheritance watchman of the guard, at the same level as the deputy captain?"

"Yes, sir?"

This time, it was Vogel's turn to change his face.

For a second, Thales thought the temperature dropped sharply and the air was no longer flowing.

A few seconds later, the deputy captain stared at Mallos coldly, with a playful tone, like a mosquito:

"That's right, according to the top-secret "Watchman's Law" in the "Covenant of the Guards", in certain "emergency states", the watchman can and should make independent decisions."

"And I have no right to interfere."

Thales shuddered.

The top-secret "Watch Law".

in a state of emergency.

Overwatch can and should...

independent decision?

Thales felt his heart tighten when he heard it.

Vogel lowered his voice, his words were cold:

"But you know, the last time the royal guard invoked the regulations in a state of emergency, activated this secret decree, and gave the watchmen great powers independent of the command wing..."

"When did it happen?"

At that moment, Thales's mind was blank, and he suddenly thought of Sackel who didn't know where he was.

The penalty knight.

[The person who should really be charged with the crime of collaborating with the enemy, but despicably concealed the truth for eighteen years...that shameful, sad, hypocritical, disgusting, pretentious, sanctimonious, duplicity guy...is me. 】

Thales was stunned.

Vogel's pupils focused.

He raised his glass and put it close to Mallos' ear, suppressing his voice:

"And you really thought about it..."

"To force an emergency declaration here, in front of me?"

"Activate "Watch Law"?"

Mallos confronted him silently.

Glover and Doyle couldn't hear Vogel's words clearly, but this did not affect their judgment of the tense relationship between the boss and the deputy captain at this time.

Neither of them dared to speak out.

After an unknown amount of time, Mallos finally smiled:

"certainly……"

For a moment, Vogel's eyes became even colder.

Glover and Doyle looked ashen.

Until a few seconds later, the watchman lowered his head gently and chuckled as usual:

"...No." 13