Kingdom’s Bloodline

"Blood of the Kingdom ()" Find the latest chapter!

"Control?"

Gilbert's gaze changed several times, but the experienced man maintained a gentle and steady tone:

"Forgive me for being blunt, I can't understand what you mean."

Thales gave him a deep look.

"No, Gilbert," Thales smiled:

"You are the smartest person in this court, so smart that you know when to be dull."

The lights in the corridor were faint, reflecting Gilbert's face sinking like water.

"You know very well, from the moment you brought me into the Mindis Hall, everything I have and achieve: whether it is to use the name of the prince to make the Grand Duke of the Northland listen to me patiently, or to make the Dragon Cloud City cast a rat trap with the interests, or Relying on status and identity makes a small group of people willing to be used by me, including my hard work to prevent conflicts, eliminate war disasters, and aid friends..."

Taylor's smile gradually froze:

"All of these, in the final analysis, originated from him."

Gilbert was taken aback, but hesitated to speak.

Thales continued:

"It is more derived from what he represents: the kingdom, the system, the tradition...everything."

"That's why, in the face of Nun, Charmain, and Shadow Shield, I'm not afraid of them all, but I'm afraid of him and afraid of him."

Thales took a deep breath:

"Because without him, without what he gave me..."

"I can only fight back to my original form, that lonely and weak beggar in the abandoned house in the lower city."

Thales clenched his fists.

He remembered that in the night of Dragon's Blood, in the room of the Palace of Heroes, Ashida questioned him sharply.

"I just..." the prince said with difficulty:

"Nothing."

nothing.

"I know that His Majesty Kessel has always been strong." Gilbert tried his best to find a place to interrupt, and comforted him: "He is too strict with you, which makes you alienate him and even fear him..."

"Strict?" Thales repeated the word, snorted coldly, and shook his head.

"King Nunn persecuted me, King Charman used me, and the Shadow Shield hurt me—but they all had to raise their knives first and resort to the most direct and brutal methods."

"But he is the only one, and he is the only one. What he uses to control me is not a certain knife, not a certain order, not a certain sentence of threat, or even a direct and clear hierarchy, interest relationship, or power chain."

Thales turned around slowly, facing the shadows in the corridor where the lights couldn't even shine, he spoke bitterly:

"It's a towering net."

"It's called 'Star Kingdom' or 'This Damn World'."

Gilbert was startled, and blurted out:

"Your Highness!"

But Thales raised his hand abruptly, stopping what the teacher was about to say.

"And he is at the top of this net. He doesn't need to say anything, do anything, or even show up. Just the existence and weight of the net itself, and its airtight shape in all directions, are enough to make me bow my head. Bend your neck and falter."

Thales looked in a trance:

"Until I was bound and bound by the countless threads in the net to become him, or what it wanted."

"I see!"

Gilbert couldn't bear it anymore, and rushed to talk anxiously:

"I understand, Your Highness! But after all, you are father and son, connected by blood, and you are his heir, so you stand on the same side. As long as you resolve the contradictions and misunderstandings—"

"Untie?"

Thales raised the volume and turned around.

He looked at the foreign minister with a sneer on his lips.

"Gilbert, you are a diplomat, you can untie a knot, a misunderstanding, you can untangle the enmity between two people, the contradiction between two groups, you can even untie the war between two great powers. "

"But how do you untangle a—net?"

Gilbert's eyes narrowed.

"The pharmacy owner, if he has a good relationship with the gang, maybe he can pay less protection fees," Thales took a step towards Gilbert, quite aggressively:

"But Gilbert, answer me: how is he going to get out of that snare? That he's so used to being insensitive,

That one-sided emphasis that people cannot pursue freedom and security at the same time, and must give up one of them, thereby rationalizing the cruel net of violence, exploitation and oppression? "

The cold wind penetrated through the gap, icy cold.

Gilbert didn't react, he stared at Thales in disbelief.

"That good girl, maybe she can find a so-called good man like me, and be happy ever since." Thales stared at his teacher, and asked the answer at any cost:

"But Earl Caso, answer me: How is she going to jump out of this snare? That she has seen through for a long time but is helpless. That woman is designed and disciplined to only rely on and submit to another kind of person. She can only exchange skirts for bread, otherwise Will he be punished with an injustice net that makes it impossible to move an inch?"

The lights flickered in the corridor, and there were ghostly shadows.

Looking at the prince in front of him, Gilbert shook his right hand, leaned on the cane unconsciously, and breathed heavily.

"As for the disabled and ruthless character, maybe the old friends of the gang can help him live," Thales gritted his teeth, and said in a tone of anger:

"However, Minister of Foreign Affairs, please answer me: How can he get out of this trap? That he has lived in it for a long time without smelling it, and that one keeps repeating the decision of strength and weakness, and he will be beaten if he lags behind. The logical result is that there are loopholes everywhere. , a twisted net that is seldom questioned?"

The stone walls in the palace listened quietly to Thales' questioning, as always, silent.

Gilbert's chest rose and fell, and he stared back at Thales in a daze.

"Answer me, dear teacher, answer me," Thales raised his voice:

"Use all your knowledge and accomplishments in history, politics, grammar, and philosophy to answer me: How do you untie these snares?"

The echo spread in the empty and dark corridor, like a tiny stone thrown into a bottomless and boundless dark ravine.

"Your Highness," Gilbert said worriedly and anxiously:

"I don't understand what you're talking about and we—"

But Thales interrupted him.

"last night."

The prince stared closely at the foreign minister:

"I, the Duke of Xinghu, Prince Thales, I am clearly standing on the highest point of Mindis Hall, but I still feel helpless and crumbling, but I am not allowed to turn around and give up after retreating. Because the one that belongs to me The net has already tied me tightly, making it impenetrable."

Hearing those words, Gilbert's expression darkened.

"In that trap, I can only watch two living people fight to death for ridiculous reasons in front of me, helplessly sit and watch my subordinates sacrifice their lives, just because it is in line with 'me' and in the interest of the kingdom , in line with the best outcome."

The scene at the banquet flashed before Taylor's eyes:

"And as long as I resist a little bit and tear it apart, just like last night, appealing to my humanity instead of interests, and tempting on the edge of deviance, I will immediately attract the merciless punishment and countermeasures from the top to the bottom of this net, or Force me to bow my head and be an obedient prince, or wipe me out completely and turn it into a historical legend."

Legends and Thrones.

Legend, or Throne.

That was all his options.

"Gilbert, can you feel it?"

Thales felt bitter in his heart:

"Can you feel these things, that we can't find any traces in our lives, but they are everywhere, and it's just a trap of despair and oppression that makes people unable to breathe?"

"It is so irresistible and imperceptible that even the strongest, wisest and most transparent people I have ever met will unconsciously and subtly become its most loyal and obedient slaves."

Gilbert fell into bitter thought without saying a word.

"This, Gilbert, is what has always scared me."

Thales took a deep breath, took two steps back, and rubbed his forehead vigorously.

"As Jann said: I returned to the stars, but what I got was not only the shade of the kingdom."

"It is the shadow of the throne."

The two fell silent.

It seemed like a century had passed before Gilbert let out a long sigh, the wrinkles around his eyes were evident.

"I understand, Thales."

He was careful, as if he was comforting a wounded animal:

"I understand that Prince of Stars is not an easy title. The same is true for the Duke of Star Lake and the heir to the throne. You not only have to bear the burden of your own life, but also the future of the entire kingdom, but you have done a good job..."

"I also know that our kingdom is very complicated. It is not perfect, but flawed, and sometimes even bad. We can only do our best to make up for and correct it."

"And this requires your wisdom, but before that, you have to hold great power and be in a high position, so you have the qualifications and conditions to negotiate a solution..."

Thales pursed his lips tightly and shook his head.

No.

He doesn't understand.

just like everyone else.

Gilbert continued with his hopeful words:

"But I swear, I swear on my honor and my responsibility, I will do my best, what happened today will not happen again, I will advise His Majesty, and he will give you more time, more freedom and leeway, more ..."

"I've seen it, Gilbert." Thales interrupted him with a low voice.

"I saw how carefully you walked on thin ice at the imperial meeting, striking a balance between the king and the prime minister, between finance and military, between moderation and radicalism, between humanity and interests."

Gilbert was taken aback.

Thales smiled sarcastically:

"Even if you are a royalist, you don't agree with the king, at least you don't agree with his methods and means of doing things—radical, domineering, unreasonable, arousing complaints, and nothing like the lightness of Prince Midil back then."

Gilbert's complexion tightened slightly:

"No, Your Highness, you are making strong assumptions..."

Thales shook his head, but his eyes were firm:

"But there's nothing you can do."

"Because of you, Gilbert Cassel, the founder of the "Fortress Peace Treaty", who once went north alone to drive back the cunning fox of the west land with a hundred thousand tigers and wolves, because you, like me, are also caught in this towering net, Under its control, there is no power to resist."

The Foreign Secretary froze.

"Just to ensure yourself a seat in the Imperial Council, just to protect yourself from falling on the balance of deviation, just to keep yourself from being overwhelmed and assimilated by it, you have exhausted your wisdom and strength throughout your life."

Thales stared at him, stretched out his hands, and clasped Gilbert's shoulders:

"There is no more energy to spare, leaving it to myself, to the ideals and ambitions of the past."

Gilbert frowned slightly.

Thales slowly clenched his palms, gritted his teeth and said:

"So when you discovered me for the first time six years ago and found out that there might be another candidate for King Xingchen, you were so excited as if you had found a treasure, and you worked hard and willingly to be a minister. You have done so many things for me back and forth. .”

"Because you count on me to one day..."

"Replace him."

At that moment, Gilbert raised his head abruptly, the shock in his eyes couldn't be more shocking!

Thales smiled:

"Is not it?"

Silence, a suffocating silence, lasted for three full seconds.

The next moment, Gilbert reacted, instinctively backed away in shock, and got rid of Thales' palm.

Thales stared at him, raised his hands flat, but there was only emptiness in his palms.

Gilbert looked at the student in front of him in surprise, as if he never knew this boy again.

"You should be happy, teacher."

"Because I will," Thales put away the disappointment in his heart, looked down at his empty palm, the scar on it became more and more obvious:

"From now on."

Gilbert suddenly changed color.

"Your Highness, Your Highness?"

When he realized something, he hurried forward and embraced Thales' shoulder again:

"What are you talking about, what are you going to do?"

Thales smiled.

"Gilbert, do you know why I can walk out unharmed after committing such a treacherous act?"

"You know what's the funniest thing about this trap we're in?"

Facing Gilbert's shocked eyes and feeling the weight on his shoulders, Thales looked behind him, towards the dark corridor leading to Ballard's room.

"That is: in this country, the person who is bound by the net more tightly, deeper, heavier, and more powerless is not me, nor you."

The boy's smile remained the same, his eyes were cold:

"And someone else."

————

"How can I trust you?"

In the Ballard room, King Kessel resumed eating, and his voice sounded faintly, a bit less sharp, but more ruthless:

"How do I know what you say is true?"

On the opposite side of the discussion table, Thales was expressionless, quietly listening to the other party's progressive words:

"How do I know that you really want to be used by me, instead of secretly growing yourself, accumulating fame, and gathering support?"

"How do I know that this move is not raising tigers and making you an unprecedented threat?"

"How do I know, you won't take advantage of the situation, take advantage of the situation, and finally fight back..."

In the next second, King Kessel's words were cold, and his murderous intent suddenly appeared:

"Replace me?"

At this moment, the cramped secret room seemed even narrower, and there was no room for movement.

Thales sneered, only to find it extremely absurd:

"It's all said and done, are you still worried about this?"

The king picked up a piece of meat with a fork and narrowed his eyes:

"You can deceive princes like Falkenhauser, and naturally you can deceive me."

"And how do you win my trust and guarantee that you will fulfill your duties and become my sharpest long sword, most loyal pawn, and most trusted trump card?"

Thales was silent for a while.

At this moment, he finally realized that he was sitting in the same room as King Kessel.

Just like the words he used to threaten the black prophet in the secret department.

He faced the Iron Fist King alone.

face to face.

King against king.

Canxing vs. Canxing.

How much did he sacrifice for this moment?

How much will be lost?

Finally, the boy took a deep breath and looked straight at the king:

"First of all, no matter what my intentions are, facts speak louder than words, and the process and reality cannot be deceived. Your power and interests will visibly expand and grow through our cooperation."

"For example, this time, I will persuade the princes of the Western Wilderness to cut troops and pay taxes to support the expansion of the standing army."

King Kessel didn't answer—but Thales, who had confronted him many times, gradually figured out that this was the best answer for the other party.

"Secondly, if you're worried that I'll go all the way to the dark side, really collude with dissidents, defect to the enemy..."

Thales spoke in a steady tone, eloquently:

"I believe that you know why I made this proposal and set foot on this road."

"Fighting against you in battle, fighting with blood, to the point where the kingdom was destroyed and countless sacrifices were made, that is contrary to my original intention, and it is the last situation I want to see."

King Kessel snorted, unable to distinguish his emotions.

"Thirdly, as you said, there is a price for me to take this step."

Thales didn't move his eyes:

"If I still want to go back to the Fuxing Palace, walk into the stronghold of the King Party who regard me as an enemy, and want to wear the crown and inherit the throne safely, peacefully, gracefully, without bloodshed or killing people, and want to ensure that my head is in my On my own shoulders, I have to count on your endorsement and acknowledgment at the last moment—only when I take a curtain call with the king, can I avoid being smashed by the audience.”

This time, King Kessel frowned slightly and remained silent for a long time.

"But if you didn't betray and betray you on the bright side, you would be a living being in charcoal," the Iron Fist King turned his eyes:

"Instead of imitating your dearest friend in the north, plotting secretly and making a sudden blow?"

his northern friend.

Thales frowned when he thought of the old sword of Lumbard and the head of King Nun that rolled to the ground.

"As experienced as you, are you afraid of assassins?" Thales said sarcastically.

King Kessel's knife and fork froze in the air.

"You know, Yordle is gone," the king resumed eating, his voice was the same as before, and he didn't seem to care: "Now I'm going to take my head..."

"You still have time"

Yodel is gone.

Thales' heart sank.

"Another day."

The prince looked at the cold meal in front of him, and said lightly:

"This spoon...doesn't fit right in your hand."

King Kessel also sneered.

"Even if you are really fooled by lard at this moment, if you want to do this sincerely..."

The king said slowly:

"But how can you guarantee that if the situation changes in the future and the time passes, you will still keep your promise, keep the agreement in mind, overcome obstacles for me, and punish rape and eradicate evil?"

Overcoming thorns and thorns, punishing rape and eliminating evil.

Thales sneered in his heart.

"have no idea."

The boy did not show any weakness, and resolutely fought back:

"I can't guarantee things that haven't happened yet, and I don't want to say beautiful words that don't change my original intention."

King Kessel frowned.

Until Thales changed his subject:

"But it's up to you."

The king's eyes moved: "What?"

"Just like me, there is a price for you to take this step."

Thales leaned forward, speaking threateningly:

"If you don't want to be rejected and betrayed by me one day, if you don't want to be forced to launch a civil war and crusade against the rebels one day, you don't want me to do my best to mobilize the kingdom's heroes to fight against you."

"Then you'd better go on stage with me, cooperate with the performance, and take the curtain call together."

King Kessel listened quietly.

"Don't be a stage bully, don't cut corners, let alone tamper with the script, or even have other intentions to frame and slander."

"As long as you don't get out of the car first, I will be safe and secure and overcome difficulties for you. Just as I don't go back on my word halfway, you will abide by the rules and give me the throne at the end."

The king's eyebrows moved: "What you want to say is..."

"The essence of politics is the bundle of interests."

Thales said coldly:

"I think we all admit that this cooperation is just to get what we need, and it is not destined to be smooth sailing, dear and sincere."

In the next second, Thales' eyes turned cold, and his tone was stern: "But we understand each other's nature better: no matter who repents and betrays first, no matter who turns his face first..."

"The other party can make him pay an unimaginable price."

Looking at Thales' expression, the king's mouth slowly curled up.

"On this chariot, we are bound together."

Thales affirmed:

"We are each other's guarantee."

This time, the Ballard room was silent for a long time.

Just when Thales thought the lights were going to go out, the king's thick voice finally sounded:

"not enough."

Thales frowned.

Across the long table, the Iron Fist King pushed away the plate, knife and fork.

"You want to be the Enemy of the King?"

For the first time, Kessel Canxing, who has always been cold and stern, raised his head, and showed a bright, indifferent, and even slightly joking smile to the young man that the latter had never seen before:

"Empty talk is empty."