Kingdom’s Bloodline

Latest website: Thales stared at the Seychelles knight on the horse and quickly thought about the situation in front of him.

what happened?

He had just arrived in Emerald City and hadn't even set foot in Kongming Palace yet.

Is this city so unwelcome to him?

Of course, the inner voice whispered to him: Don't forget what you are here to do.

Don't forget the ring in your pocket.

People on the streets on both sides stopped what they were doing, and did not dare to approach due to the power of the two parties, but they could not help but discuss:

"Is that really a prince? That North Star? The one who took the sword himself at the banquet and cut into rivers of blood, even the wine glass was broken on the floor?"

"Where did you hear this rumor? At most, he could only kill one of the assassins!"

"Wow, look at that prince. He is so big and has a zombie-like expression. He is indeed a barbarian from the north..."

"Of course. If not for this, how can you survive in a ghost place like Exeter, where you only eat human flesh by hiding in caves during the winter?"

"But you seem to have read it wrong. Although that big guy is a noble, he doesn't seem to be a prince, he is just a bodyguard..."

"Tsk, tsk, you actually want to use such a big guy as a bodyguard. I guess you've done too many bad things and are afraid of being remembered. He is indeed a barbarian from the north..."

"What the cuckolds mean is that the prince is harboring fugitives?"

"The power is overwhelming. Of course, the law is regarded as nothing. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Who knows what is even more vile underneath..."

"Be careful, the police department will invite you to tea and sue you for slander and inciting opposition between the government and the people..."

"It's not open and transparent, and no one is allowed to pry, so of course we can only guess at the dirty places..."

"Why do you think the king exiled him? He must have committed a heinous crime! He just didn't let the common people know..."

"Master Zhan actually wants to marry Miss Heeley to such a person. Alas, this is such a bad world..."

"You think we have a choice. That's someone from the royal capital. They want your sister. How dare you refuse? Are you unpatriotic or don't support the royal family?"

At the center of countless gazes, the Star Lake Guards stood firmly in front of the Emerald Legion.

"Your Highness, this matter concerns the royal family's face. We cannot show weakness." Huaiya came to Thales' side, worried.

Thales said nothing.

"But they came well prepared and in large numbers," Miranda carefully observed her surroundings. "Although they may not be as elite as us, in a fight, the outcome is still uncertain."

At the front of the queue, the Caguire security officer was sandwiched in the middle, earnestly persuading Seychelles and Mallos to stop and make peace, but obviously it had little effect.

"How about showing the nine-pointed star flag," D.D had an idea, "Although their formation is large, they will definitely not dare to take action against the Bright Star Royal Family."

The zombie narrowed his eyes:

"Like the last time we entered Fuxing Palace?"

Doyle's face darkened:

"Can you not mention that?"

"No, if we have a tough attitude, then we are really on the right track." Miranda said coldly, "Now that we hand people over, His Highness can be said to have mistakenly trusted the bad guy, but once we have a tough attitude, His Highness will become A Yongxing City bully who hides dirt and bullies others. "

These words caused everyone in Star Lake Castle to fall silent for a while.

"So now, if we make friends, it would be a loss of dignity, and if we don't, we would be bullying them," Huaiya said angrily, "This must be intentional."

"Yes," Thales said suddenly, "This is intentional."

Everyone around looked at the prince.

"On my first day here, I was tricked twice before I even met anyone," D.D sighed, "Isn't it just that His Highness wants to marry his sister? Isn't that what it is?"

Thales sighed:

"Yes, marrying his sister is really not a problem."

Everyone glanced at the prince again.

"Your Highness," Miranda responded first, "What have you thought of?"

"No, it's nothing for the time being," Thales said in a daze, "Maybe it will be over time."

Miranda was lost in thought.

Ah, His Highness has begun to babble again - this is helpless D.D.

Ah, His Highness began to chatter again - this is the excited Huaiya.

"Your Highness Thales," at the Emerald Legion, Seychelles was tired of negotiating with Mallos, and he spoke directly, "We have to perform official duties, could you please help us?"

Thales asked him to wait and asked someone to bring Dagory up later.

"So, you told me before that Zhan sent you here?"

"Your Highness, Your Highness, I, I don't know what is going on. Logically speaking, this shouldn't be..." Dagoli was sweating profusely, and his pleading was palpable.

Thales snorted softly:

"I guess Zhan sent you to get close to me, not to spy on me, but to discredit me."

Dagory swallowed.

At the front of the team, the confrontation between Mallos and Seychelles continued. Surrounded by the Kaguire security officer, he was talking loudly, and the two refused to give in.

"He may have discovered something wrong with you. For example, you pocketed money behind his back and took kickbacks?"

Dagoli was shocked when he heard this and denied it:

"What? Your Highness, I didn't..."

"Don't quibble, otherwise he wouldn't sacrifice you so decisively."

Thales interrupted him with a solemn tone:

"So, what will happen to you if you are captured?"

Dagoli thought of something and his face turned pale:

"Oh, no, high seas, ship..."

Thales nodded and sighed:

"Then you're lucky today."

After saying that, Thales turned around and shouted to the cuckolds, the Emerald Army:

"Knight Seychelles, right? I remember you!"

The Emerald Army, the Star Lake Castle, and the onlookers on the street all paid attention to him.

Seychelles looked back at Thales, but his face was cold and he did not answer.

"Seven years ago, in an assassination in Yongxing City," Thales continued, "you and Duke Zhan En saved my life and the hope of the kingdom."

This caused a lot of discussion in the crowd.

"Really?" Seychelles did not move, "I'm sorry I don't remember."

Thales nodded.

It's really hard to deal with.

"Or to be precise, I saved Zhan En's life first," Thales changed the subject, "and then saved your life, saving you from the shame of dereliction of duty - I guess you don't remember it either?"

As soon as this was said, the discussion on the street became louder.

"Has this happened?" D.D asked in confusion, "He saved your life? Such a great contribution?" Wyatt, Rolf, Glover, Miranda... Everyone in Xinghu Castle narrowed their eyes and looked at Seychelles with unfriendly eyes. Seychelles frowned, he looked at the crowd around him, and cleverly did not respond: "Your Highness, please ask your subordinates to get out of the way so that the Emerald Army can arrest the criminals." It's really watertight. Thales muttered in his heart. "Don't worry, for this old relationship," Thales smiled, "I will naturally not hinder your work." Dagori, who was originally slightly relieved, was shocked when he heard the words, and his knees softened: "No, Your Highness! Please--" But the sin of the prison river began to burn, and Thales pulled him up from the ground: "Get up!" Thales pulled Dagori in front of him, gritted his teeth and whispered: "The suffering of prison is inevitable, but do you still want to live?" Dagori was stunned. In front of the team, Seychelles was not in a hurry, and seemed to be happy to see Dagori pulling and tugging in the prince's team and building more relationships.

"Then use your ability to persuade me to drink," Thales whispered, "tell the secret between you and Zhan En, and then beg for mercy - not from me, but from him."

"What?"

"You heard me," Thales said with an unchanged expression, "now."

"But -" the terrified Dagori wanted to ask again, but a huge force surged in Thales's hand, pushing him two meters away and falling to the ground.

Seychelles snorted when he saw this scene.

This prince is rational.

At least he knows that unnecessary confrontation will only make himself more and more black - "Lord Zhan En!"

A pig-killing scream came from Dagori:

"You can't do this to me! Over the years, I have collected intelligence and circulated information for you and the Kevin Dill family, and I have been working hard and loyally..."

The people on the street were in an uproar again.

Seychelles' face changed slightly.

"Nonsense," the knight shouted, "Catch him!"

The Emerald Army was well prepared, and a group of cavalrymen were about to move forward.

"No one is allowed to move!"

Malos suddenly said loudly:

"Protect His Highness!"

Everyone in Xinghu Castle received the order, drew their weapons together, and forced back the soldiers of the Emerald Army.

"Lord Zhan En, you, your people promised me that year!"

Dagori, who was originally frightened by the soldiers, was even more fearless when he saw this. He struggled to get up from the ground, approached Seychelles, and cleverly hid behind Mallos.

"As long as, as long as I expand my business in the Central Territory and get to know the dignitaries in the capital, then no matter your funds, raw materials, equipment, channels or technology, the Iris Family and Emerald City will continuously give me as much as I want!" He slid to the ground trembling, tears streaming down his face, heartbroken: "Yes, I did a lot of bad things, selling inferior goods as good ones, defaulting on debts, bribing officials... But that was his order, everything was for Kevin Dill! I defaulted on the raw material money of the grape farmers, and put all the book losses on a few temporary workers who made mistakes. In the end, I closed the winery and secretly ran to Emerald City, but that was also your wish! It was Duke Zhanen who ordered me to do it! He said it was necessary, and anyway, it would not be a loss to Emerald City! He said so!" Thales supported his forehead behind him. At this time, he still did not forget to shirk responsibility. The exclamations on the street came one after another, and the discussions became louder and more mixed. Seychelles was shocked and angry: "Catch him!"

But Mallos took the initiative to block his mount, preventing him from moving forward.

"Duke Zhanen, you can't, you can't turn your face against me at this time! You, the people you contacted with me, Charlie from the Wine Merchants Guild, the clerk of the notary office, and the report to the housekeeper every quarter-"

Hearing this, Thales suddenly said:

"Shut up!"

The prince strode forward and scolded Dagori:

"Duke Zhanen is fair and just, and he is a man of integrity. How could he do such a despicable thing! I will not allow you to frame him here and slander him!"

Dagori was shocked:

"Your Highness, everything I said is true, please do me..."

Tales shouted:

"Shut him up!"

D.D was stunned for a moment, but Miranda on the other side took the lead and knocked Dagori unconscious with a scabbard.

"It's unbelievable, it's simply shocking," Thales was surprised at first, and then got angry, "But a businessman dares to speak so bloody words and slander the guardian duke of our kingdom!"

Seeing that Dagoli didn't say anything further, Seychelles snorted coldly:

"In that case..."

"This is really unreasonable!"

Thales interrupted him angrily and pointed at the unconscious Dagory on the ground: "Duke Zhan has paid a lot for the kingdom and the South Coast Territory, but he has to be slandered and slandered by such villains. It's really infuriating! "

Behind the prince, everyone in Star Lake Castle stared at Thales with mixed emotions.

Miranda coughed slightly:

"Too much stage accent."

Upon hearing this, Thales quickly adjusted his voice.

Seychelles frowned, and he instinctively felt something was wrong: "In that case..."

"How could Zhan be related to such a dirty thing? If he hadn't respected Duke Zhan and the laws of the Emerald City, I would have killed him with a sword right now!" Thales waved his hand angrily.

D.D reacted very quickly this time and held out his sword, but before holding the sword and shouting "Your Highness, please", Miranda pushed him back.

Seychelles had a complicated expression for a moment: "In that case..."

"In that case, Captain Seychelles!"

Thales finally took over Seychelles' words:

"Please arrest him now!"

Seychelles frowned: "That's natural, come on -"

"Let us escort him to Kongming Palace together and confront Duke Zhan!"

Thales yelled angrily and with righteousness:

"I vow to restore the Duke's innocence!"

Seychelles was stunned.

Officer Caguire also opened his mouth, and Mallos turned back and frowned.

What?

The people around him became noisy again, noisy and uproarious.

"Don't worry, Zhan is my friend, and he may be my brother-in-law in the future," Thales said unceremoniously. "I swear to the sunset, as long as I, Thales Bright Star, am here, I will not let him." Suffering injustice!”

After saying that, Thales grabbed the reins from Jenard's hand, pulled Jenny and rushed forward, frightening the horses of the Emerald Legion into pounding their hooves: "Let's set off now!"

Seychelles struggled to control the horse's reins, and also signaled to his colleagues whose horses were also out of control not to rush into the prince. He was distracted and said anxiously:

"No, this criminal has nothing to do with the Duke—"

"Oh, I understand, you have something to hide!"

Thales came to his senses, and while pulling Jenny forward (who looked at him aggrievedly), he loudly ordered:

"In this case, Star Lake Guards, for the sake of law and justice, arrest Dagory Moss immediately!"

"yes!"

Doyle, who had been holding it in for a long time, finally found a place to use it. He roared, stepped forward, and grabbed one of the wrists of the unconscious Dagori on the ground:

"The arrest is over, Your Highness! The prisoner has been captured!"

Huaiya frowned from behind and whispered:

"His actions and lines look familiar, don't they?"

"The last time we broke into the palace," Glover reminded reluctantly, "Brother Da Diao."

Several people who passed through Fuxing Palace suddenly realized.

Seychelles, who was holding his mount tightly, reacted and coughed:

"No, Your Highness, I understand it with good intentions. The Emerald City has its own laws, and we will follow the procedures..."

"That's even better, Captain Seychelles!"

Thales was overjoyed and climbed onto Jenny's saddle:

"I know that the trial hall is also in Kongming Palace, so I might as well go directly to the trial hall. I will watch this person be tried and plead guilty today, and then tell the world, and clear Duke Zhan's unfair reputation in front of the entire Emerald City! "

Seychelles was shocked and speechless while trying to control his unreasonably agitated mount.

no……

Under the push of D.D, everyone in the Star Lake Guards moved forward together, following the prince and pushing forward. The Emerald Legion didn't know what to do and was in a panic.

"Come on, let's go, everyone led by Nan'an! Let's go to Kongming Palace!" Doyle threw Dagory onto (unhappily) Glover's back, inciting people on the whole street to commotion. Wolf also added a strong wind.

Seychelles ordered the soldiers and tried to control the direction of things.

"Captain Seychelles! This matter involves the dignity of the kingdom and the reputation of the Duke. There can be no delay! Look at the people around here. Rumors will spread everywhere in a moment!"

Thales came to him and asked eagerly:

"Now, is there anyone who wants to stop me?"

————

Kongming Palace, main palace, reception room.

The huge portrait of "Deadly Iris" Leinster Kevin Deal, the first Duke of the South Coast Territory seven hundred years ago, is hung on the wall that will never be ignored when you walk in, and the hanging wall hangings in the hall There are patterns of tricolor iris flowers everywhere on the flag.

Jann Kevin Deal sat expressionlessly under the portrait of his ancestors, reaching out and waving away a cup of tea brought by the butler Ashford.

"Sir, the specific situation is, that's it."

The Seychelles knight gritted his teeth and looked at Dagory Moss, who was tied tightly on the ground and still unconscious.

Seychelles glanced sideways:

His Royal Highness the Duke of Star Lake is sitting diagonally opposite Zhan, admiring the portrait of Deadly Iris while enjoying tea and grapes comfortably.

That damn little...

Jenn sighed, drawing Seychelles' attention back.

He looked at Dagoli on the ground and snorted coldly.

On the other hand, Thales, who was diagonally across from him, pouted and sipped tea, making rude and indecent noises as if no one was watching.

Zhan frowned.

Don’t the royal family teach etiquette?

Damn savages.

Two seconds later, the butler Ashford appeared quietly and took away Taylor's tea cup. When he brought it back, there was a wooden straw on it.

"Only for children." Ashford said with a smile.

day.

Thales was asking for trouble and put down the tea cup in a sullen voice.

Mallos, who was standing next to Thales, said angrily: "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Thales coughed and turned back to cover his mouth:

"Our top priority is to gain a foothold in this hostile town, rather than being beaten without knowing why..."

"I can hear you, Your Highness." Zhan En's unbearable voice came to his ears.

Thales sat up awkwardly and picked up the teacup again:

"Um, do you have any scented tea? Come on, Thor, you can have a cup too. It's unbelievable. I finally have tea that's neither bitter nor brewed..."

Zhane sighed heavily.

"Seychelles, take the prisoner down."

Seychelles, who felt depressed, bowed his head.

Sure enough, the damn boy's voice next to him started crackling again:

"Ah, why don't you go to trial? Let the entire Emerald City see..."

"We have scented tea here," Zhan En suppressed his temper, "There are flowers from all over the world, so can you please concentrate on tasting it, Your Highness?"

Thales nodded:

"certainly."

Seychelles and his subordinates were about to take Dagoli away when Thales suddenly raised his head again:

"uh-huh?"

This hum made them pause again.

A few seconds later, Zhan En exhaled again:

"Seychelles, be polite."

Thales then beamed and waved Mallos to leave:

"Thor, relax, treat this as our home, feel at home."

These words made the groove on Zhan En's forehead deepen a little deeper.

Soon, the huge living room became empty, with only Thales and Zhan left.

And the fatal iris on that portrait.

"I knew this trick wouldn't be a problem for you."

As soon as the door closed, Zhan spoke softly.

However, what greeted him was——

Bang!

There was a crisp sound.

Zhan frowned and looked at the fragments on the ground: "That's a porcelain cup imported from Donglu."

"I know, repay the debt from last time."

The next second, Thales lost his smile:

"what do you mean?"

Zhan En sneered: "It's up to me to ask this question. You came to my city..."

"You, it was you who asked the wine merchant with a criminal record to approach me," Thales stopped talking nonsense and met Zhan's eyes, "so he knew I was coming, including the little earl who was dueling for love. Know I'll be there waiting to go into town."

Zhan snorted.

"And you, Your Highness, you know he has problems, but you still accept him to join your team?"

"Reminds me of the veteran I sent to your team seven years ago - what was his name, Jason?"

The eyes of Duke Xinghu and Duke Nan'an met in the air. They were both cold and sharp, but they also had reservations.

Like the opening round of a sword fight.

"His name is Jennard—how dare you mention that."

Thales' face was expressionless.

"I accepted Moss because I guessed that he was sent by you and keeping him might have some use - of course, what happened later confirmed my guess."

"Did you guess it?" Zhan smiled sarcastically, "Or did you already know?"

"It's not important anymore," Thales shook his head. "What's important is that Moss is indeed your person and has been serving you for many years."

"My people have checked the asset accounts of Dagory Moss in recent years," Zhan did not deny it, but showed no weakness, "To be honest, in terms of the dirty things he has done in recent years, he is now the most What I should do is to go abroad immediately and keep my name anonymous for the rest of my life so that I won’t find him again, instead of taking the initiative to be a spy by your side—that’s not normal, right?”

Damn secret science.

Thales cursed in his mind.

You really just came to trick me.

His face remained calm:

"But according to him, it was you who forced him to come to me."

Zhan sneered:

"I bet that if I asked someone to interrogate him now, he would burst into tears and say that you forced him to betray me."

not me.

Thales said secretly.

But...it seems to be about the same.

"So this time, I suspect that he is yours, you suspect that he is mine, and we are causing trouble for both sides and bringing trouble to ourselves?"

Jenn didn't answer.

But after a few seconds, his eyes sharpened

"I know what you're up to, my dear lord."

"Do you think that by inciting a chess piece under the Emerald City to rebel, you can come to my territory and run wild, and follow the clues from the inside out?"

Thales frowned.

Zhan En snorted coldly:

"This chessboard is not yours. It's more complicated than you think."

"I'll give you my exact words. Do you think that by giving a sword at a royal banquet, you can hit the weak point and make me look good?" Thales retorted, "Now, I'm here to ask for interest."

Jenn smiled.

He stretched out his hand, grabbed a stack of letters from the side, and threw it in front of Thales:

"You mean this?"

Thales frowned, he recognized it.

It was a "breeding" letter sent by King Kessel on his behalf - compared to the one sent to the Arend family, the title and signature seemed to have been changed.

It's really rough.

In addition, there is also one of his...

"This portrait is not very good," Thales raised his lips, "You know, I grow up very fast."

But the other party didn't mean to make a joke.

"I don't care what you're here for, Tails."

"I don't care if you come to me for trouble or to die," Zhan threatened, "but if you want to come, then I will give you a welcome, just like today. If you want to stay, then I will give you... a commensurate welcome." Entertain—until you get off my property.”

entertain.

Thales curled his lips inwardly.

poor guy.

Does he know?

Coming here by yourself is not just about looking for trouble.

It's far from a personal grudge.

At that moment, Thales vaguely felt the heaviness of the bone ring in his pocket.

You are here to destroy him.

The voice in my heart said.

For the stars.

"Zhan, tell me," Thales said after a long silence, "You and I, we must be hostile to each other, do we live or die?"

At that moment, the prince's tone was a little low.

Zhan caught this and his eyebrows moved slightly.

"What do you think?"

Thales sighed and put down his portrait.

"Well, Jenn, actually, the first thing I did here..."

"Don't even think about it," Zhan shook his head gently, "Xi Lai is not in the city, you can't see her."

"Actually, I want to say that I'm here to apologize, Jenn."

Zhan frowned.

"Apologize?"

"What happened at the royal banquet... I understand your anger. You probably think that I am retaliating against you and provoking you by attacking your sister as soon as I return to the country? So you want to fight back?"

This time, Zhan En looked at him for a long time, seemingly surprised and alert:

"but?"

Thales took a deep breath: "But - to be clear in advance, I still feel resentful about you using the vampires to assassinate me - but this, your sister?"

The prince held up the "Mating" letter and said sincerely:

"I swear, this was not my intention and I did not even write this letter."

Zhan stared at him and hummed:

"If not, how can you show your contempt and provocation?"

"Well, would it make you feel better if it was written by me?"

"Won't."

"That's not right."

The two people in the living room were silent for a while, seeming to be thinking about something.

"Anyway, I apologize for this," Thales was the first to speak. He shook his head. "I swear, this was my father's idea. I didn't know about it beforehand. In fact, I didn't know the truth not long ago. But please believe it." , I have no intention of coveting your sister, nor am I trying to get back at you - I'm not that mean."

Zhan stared at him, his eyes searching, and he spoke after a long while.

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because you know me, just like I know you."

"You don't know me," Jenn denied, "Not at all."

"Then you must believe me too."

Thales calmed his expression: "For what I will tell you next."

"And that is?"

Thales took a deep breath.

"Listen carefully, Zhan Kelvindir. I have received quite reliable information," Duke Star Lake said seriously, "At this moment, there is someone in the Emerald City who is planning to do harm to you."

The living room fell silent.

Zhan looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"I know this trick: someone wants to harm me, and you happen to be able to help," the Duke of South Bank sneered: "So in order to survive, I'd better cooperate with you and love each other?"

Thales exhaled, feeling a little helpless.

"Well, it's my father."

His words made Zhan En's expression change.

Thales leaned forward and looked directly into Zhan's eyes very seriously:

"The High King of the Star Kingdom, Kessel V, wants to do harm to the Emerald City—to harm you."

"Here, now, here."

"Carry the power of a king."

At that moment, the time flowing in the hall seemed to have been hit hard, breaking the balance and no longer being even.

Zhan remained expressionless.

But his eyes were fixed on Thales' face, and he did not move away for a long time.

Almost more unbearable than the "covenant" in Thales' pocket.

Thales felt a little thirsty, but when he lowered his head, he remembered that his cup of tea had been smashed long ago.

He could only sigh.

"So yes, in order to survive, Zhan, you'd better work with me, on a blind date—"

Taylor paused.

"Well, just cooperate."

Zhan said nothing.

He just looked at Thales' face carefully over and over again.

It's like there's some code hidden there that needs to be cracked.

"that's all."

Finally, Thales couldn't bear the sight of him, so he stood up:

"If you want to know more, if you're still interested, you know I live in—well, I don't even know where I live now."

Right now.

"How do you prove," Zhan said softly, "your father?"

Thales smiled.

"That wine merchant, if what we said is true, then I thought he was sent by you, and you thought he was instigated by me to rebel." Thales shrugged, "But no matter how he dared to return to the Emerald City, Faced with you, there is some truth behind why he voluntarily spied on me. "

Thales' voice suddenly tightened:

"There's only one explanation."

Zhan narrowed his eyes:

"The Secret of the Kingdom."

Thales smiled.

"You're not that stupid."

"As for this letter of request that my father wrote to you in my name, as far as I know, he sent it to no less than ten families." Thales spread his hands and gestured to the furnishings in Kongming Palace, " But now I'm here, the Emerald City."

The lines on Zhan En's face gradually disappeared, and no emotion could be seen.

"Do you think this is because he likes Emerald Celebration? Or because he likes you?"

Zhan En didn't speak. He looked straight ahead with a calm expression.

Just like the ancestors behind you.

Thales couldn't wait any longer and sighed:

"Okay, let's get back to the point: where does your sister live?"

Zhan's eyes moved, and they stabbed Thales like sharp knives.

"It's just a joke," Thales had to raise his hands in surrender, "Let's see if you are still alive."

But Zhan's gaze was still sharp and unbearable.

Thales smiled awkwardly and walked towards the door.

"Go find Ashford."

Thales stopped and turned around.

"He will arrange a room for you and a new teacup." The owner of Emerald City said calmly.

"Thank you." Thales raised his eyebrows.

Zhan didn't look at him again.

The Duke of Nan'an just lowered his head again and looked at the pile of broken porcelain pieces on the ground.

They lay helplessly on the floor tiles of Kongming Palace, every piece of them lonely.

Never complete.

"One more thing: Shire is out of town."

Zhan En said calmly:

"It's true."

————

"Your Highness?"

Mallos followed Thales who walked out of the living room.

"We are safe."

The smile on Thales' face disappeared:

"For the time being, there won't be any jealous little nobles coming to duel with me, or any bad businessmen coming to seek refuge with me."

"Only temporarily?"

Thales glanced at him: "Don't be so demanding, Thor. Do you know what the most difficult thing in the world is?"

"Well, don't let a questionable wine merchant into the team?"

Thales took a deep breath: "Can you not ridicule me for even one day?"

"Of course, Your Highness. The hardest thing, let me think about it, based on what you just experienced, I guess, is, lying?"

"Yes, but no," Thales snorted. "The hardest thing is to mix the truth with lies, and then embed the lies into the truth."

Mallos curled his lips slightly: "It doesn't sound like something a human being can do."

"Isn't that right - are you calling me a human being?"

"I dare not. I mean, only His Highness can do such a difficult thing."

"You are indeed scolding me."

"Your Highness is very smart."

"How do you manage not to use a single curse word, which seems to be a compliment but is actually a curse?"

"It's not about me."

"You... scolded me again?"

"Your Highness is as smart as ever."