Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 159 A Night That Changed Fate

“When His Highness Sulir lay in a pool of blood, his eyes…” Myrk rested his chin on his daughter’s forehead, overcome with grief, “I know we committed an unforgivable sin… I could have stopped her…”

"Then why didn't you?" King Nunn raised his head, gritting his teeth as he interrupted the man who was prostrate on the ground and weeping, word by word: "You just stood there and watched Sulir be murdered by that woman?"

"Or perhaps you yourself secretly hope, hope that Suriel will disappear soon," King Nunn almost roared at the last sentence, "hope that the obstacle between you and that woman will disappear?"

The official was suddenly startled!
He looked at King Nunn with trembling, fearful eyes. At that moment, Thales truly felt the fear, desolation, and helplessness in Myrk's heart.

And the deepest despair and numbness.

There's also the fear of having one's secrets revealed.

Michael's expression gradually changed.

He slowly lowered his head, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace, and with a final punch, slammed his fist into the ground beside him, letting out a furious and agonizing roar:

"No!"

The official was breathing heavily, his expression changing several times.

“I’m going to turn myself in to you!” Myrk gasped, his head almost touching the ground. “But Adele… Adele held a dagger to her throat, crying and begging me to take them away… She doesn’t want to stay in this place anymore…”

“But I can’t… I know I can’t! I’m a Northerner, I’m a member of the White Blade Guard, and I’m also a brother and subordinate of Suliel!” Myrke’s sobs grew louder and louder. “I can’t!”

“Forgive me, Adele…” Michael trembled, clutching his head, sobbing weakly on the ground like a child: “I can’t!”

“Yet you said nothing, letting Suril rot in lies and deceit,” King Nunn said blankly, “and brought this child—the sins of you and that woman—back to my court!”

Michael lowered his hands and looked at his daughter in despair, at her motionless face.

"but……"

“Alex,” he trembled, as if his jaw was twitching, “Alex, she knows nothing!”

"She is innocent!"

Michael cupped his daughter's face in his hands, gritting his teeth and closing his eyes in anguish through his tears.

The little rascal lowered her head in fear, but she felt Thales's hand tremble slightly.

She looked up in fear and terror and saw the Star Prince with his lips tightly pressed together, staring intently at King Nuen.

His gaze was cold and indignant.

"What, do you feel wronged?" King Nuen let out a sinister laugh that was both mocking and manic. "Do you feel pain? Do you feel like your whole world has collapsed?"

"Because I killed your daughter?"

Myrk took a deep breath and stared intently into King Nunn's eyes.

Thales took a deep breath and watched Michael's movements quietly.

“Remember this feeling well,” King Nuen’s voice was deep and heavy, carrying a chilling meaning: “You deserve it.”

Michael held his daughter tightly, his teeth clenched, his eyes red with tears and emotion, and he growled in pain.

“Coward, wimp, if you feel indignant,” King Nuen said, completely disregarding his enemy who was so close at hand, “then avenge her!”

Myrk's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, like a wild beast whose anger had reached its peak. His eyes were filled with a mixture of hatred and pain, despair and madness, a tangled web of emotions.

Upon hearing this, Thales frowned.

He looked out of the hall.

Where are the bayonet guards? Where is Nicolai?

If Myrk really did suddenly assassinate the king...

Damn.

Michael stared at the king, his breathing gradually becoming heavier, and his fists began to tremble.

But the king looked at his aide without fear, as if he were not a fierce warrior from the former White Blade Guard, but a weakling in shackles, powerless to resist.

“Come on, kill your king,” a complex look flashed in King Nunn’s eyes. He gave a soft hum and said slowly, “Just like back then, you used your incompetence and cowardice, your wavering and weakness…”

"Just like killing Suril."

In that instant, Michael's expression froze, as if struck by lightning!

He opened his mouth slightly, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something.

But Michael eventually shut up slowly.

His face turned deathly pale, and then he swayed and collapsed to the ground again.

She began to sob silently.

The little rascal exclaimed in surprise.

The king said nothing more.

Thales tried his best to regulate his breathing and control his emotions.

Today's Hall of Heroes has deeply moved him.

For a moment, only Michael's irregular sobs filled the hall.

After a long while, King Nuen let out a cryptic chuckle.

"Get out," the old king said wearily, "and never appear before me again."

Michael numbly raised his head.

“Byrne Mailk—live like this until you die,” King Nunn raised his eyes, his gaze dim and his eyebrows trembling slightly, “forever tormented by guilt, regret, loneliness, and pain, never to be forgiven, never to find peace.”

“This is your punishment…for Suliel.”

Michael chuckled maniacally, then looked down at his daughter and suddenly began to sob.

"Get out!" The next second, King Nunn roared furiously, "Take your sins... and get out!"

The little rascal shuddered again, and if it weren't for Thales' support, she would have almost collapsed to the ground.

Myrk stared blankly at King Nunn for several seconds before unconsciously holding Alex's body and slowly standing up.

He turned away numbly.

"The child you're holding is a disgrace to Walton, a symbol of betrayal," the king said, his eyes filled with terror as he watched his retreating figure. "She shall not be buried, nor shall she defile my land..."

“If I find out, even if you bury her anywhere in Exter… even if only ashes remain, I will send men to dig her up and feed her to the wild dogs!” King Nunn coldly ended his words.

Upon hearing this cruel decision, Thales sighed and frowned as he looked at King Nunn.

Michael, holding his daughter, shuddered violently.

But he gritted his teeth and continued, step by step...

We struggled to move forward.

“Miss Alex…” The little rascal sniffed and instinctively tried to follow, but Thales grabbed him.

“No, no,” Thales shook his head and whispered, “It’s all over.”

"Your lady."

The little rascal trembled violently, looking at Thales with helplessness and grievance.

Thales simply watched Michael's retreating figure silently, without moving.

Nikolai appeared at the entrance to the hall, looking at Michael with a complicated expression.

But Michael just stared down at his daughter, his face ashen, oblivious to everything around him.

Until Nikolai's voice slowly came:

"My blood is my oath, my body my proof, my blade my witness, my soul my sacrifice..."

Michael seemed to suddenly look up and come back to his senses.

He stopped, staring blankly at Nikolai, listening as the Meteorite recited the rest of his words:
"To resist a powerful enemy, we must fight every battle until our blood is spilled."

"Defend life, be fearless of sacrifice, until the extinction of mankind."

"Protect the future, uphold our beliefs, until the sun and moon fade."

"Passing on hope, radiating glory, until all things sleep forever."

Michael closed his eyes in anguish, tears streaming down his face once more.

“Farewell, my Bladesworn brother,” Nikolai finished reciting the oath, his gaze subtle and his expression pained as he looked at Myrk.
"Your story ends here in the Book of Eternal Life."

Michael took a breath and gave a tearful smile.

He numbly strode forward.

He brushed past his old boss.

“Don’t forget His Majesty’s words,” Nikolai said calmly to Miles behind him without turning his head, “If we find that you dare to bury her on the border…”

Michael chuckled softly, lost in thought.

The next second, Michael, carrying the girl's body, walked out of the Hall of Heroes, seemingly unconscious, his face dazed and his eyes unfocused.

He left the place he had sworn to protect.

Thales watched as Milek's figure disappeared through the doorway.

Then, the prince of the stars, breathing heavily, turned around and asked the question he had been suppressing for so long:
"why?"

King Nuen raised his gloomy eyes.

“Alex… she’s just a little girl who doesn’t know anything,” Thales said, leaving the little rascal’s side and walking toward King Nunn. His face was grim. “What does it have to do with her whether it’s Suliel or Adele? She doesn’t even know anything.”

King Nuen chuckled.

“Send her away, isolate her…you clearly have better ways!” Thales controlled his breathing.

“Ah, I’ve discovered another trait of yours,” King Nuen chuckled coldly, his tone mournful and desolate: “An excessive and unwarranted sense of justice… Who taught you this stuff?”

“This has nothing to do with justice,” Thales clenched his fist, his mind filled with images of the children in the abandoned house, their ragged clothes and emaciated faces. “She was just an innocent child.”

They didn't deserve that fate.

“Every day she lives is an insult to the Walton family and a threat to our cooperation,” King Nunn replied quietly. “It is necessary and the best option.”

“You can come up with a thousand reasons to justify your actions,” Thales scoffed. “Political necessity, vested interests, secrecy, revenge, punishment, a momentary impulse, or even claiming you were forced by your position, had no choice, or that it was the best option…”

“But none of this can justify or defend what you have done,” Thales said through gritted teeth, looking at King Nunn. “You poisoned an innocent twelve-year-old girl, ending her future, Nunn Walton.”

"Just to punish her father for his mistakes," Thales said with disgust, "do you feel good about it? Do you feel like you've gotten revenge?"

“Ha, you are sometimes more mature than the most cunning nobleman,” King Nuen chuckled, his face full of mockery, “and sometimes more naive than the most foolish idiot.”

Thales ignored his laughter.

“I’ve seen someone who took his anger out on children before,” Prince Star said, lowering his head and clenching his fists. “He couldn’t face his own failures and shame, so he vented his anger and hatred on unrelated children.”

“You’re not much better than that coward,” Thales gasped, recalling the feeling of flesh piercing through his right hand. “Want to know what happened to him?”

King Nuen's eyes turned cold.

“Don’t forget,” the old king straightened up and sneered, “if it weren’t for that girl’s birth and the sins hidden behind her, we wouldn’t have traveled south to the stars—and you wouldn’t be standing here.”

“Go to hell, Nunn,” Thales said bluntly. “We know each other well, so stop with your boring lies.”

“In that situation, whether or not there was the assassination, whether or not Prince Suliel died, Exter would have invaded, sooner or later.”

"So you pity her?" King Nuen chuckled coldly. "I told you, you'd better get used to this kind of life sooner rather than later, little prince... just as your enemies won't show you any mercy just because you're an innocent seven-year-old child."

Thales looked at him, then suddenly chuckled and shook his head.

“Kaslan may be wrong. It’s not that you’ve changed, or that you’ve grown old,” Thales said sarcastically. “It’s that you’ve always been this way.”

“Suriel, Moral, Peffert, Maille—do you know why they suffered such a tragedy?”

King Nuen frowned.

“If the Walton family has used such methods to govern your country and treat your vassals and subordinates for the past few decades or centuries,” Thales said coldly, “don’t expect them to repay you with loyalty and integrity.”

“Your sons…they died the way they did because of a father like you.”

Thales finished speaking and looked at the king before him.

He actually felt at ease.

There was no sense of self-awareness or burden of blaming or offending King Exte.

King Nuen stared at him intently, remaining silent for a long time.

Until the old king's expression turned serious, he stared straight at Thales, his gaze filled with complex emotions.

"You think this is cruel?" the king said softly. "You haven't seen anything crueler yet."

Thales frowned slightly.

“You,” King Nuen said slowly, with the majesty unique to a king, “come before me.”

Thales took a deep breath.

Damn old man.

What are we going to do now?
He slowly raised his head, looked directly at King Nuen, and took a step.

But he didn't take a single step.

“It’s not you,” the king’s sharp gaze swept past the Star Prince and coldly shot toward what was behind him.

King Nuen said coldly, "What I'm talking about..." "is that child."

Thales was taken aback.

His pupils suddenly shrank!
Thales turned his head in a daze, looking at the little rascal behind him.

The cunning little devil, who had been holding his breath and not daring to utter a sound, realized something.

She jerked violently.

The little rascal glanced at the king in disbelief, then looked at Thales for help.

She seemed to have never experienced such a scene before; she was extremely flustered and terrified, and almost burst into tears.

“Don’t make me say it a third time,” King Nuen said, his face as cold as ice.

The little rascal trembled all over, not daring to lift his head.

But her experiences over the years still made her walk towards the king with fearful, trembling steps.

Thales looked at everything in front of him with a puzzled expression.

The little rascal stood in front of King Nunn, staring intently at the ground, trembling.

“Ever since Sulir’s assassination, I have kept Alex under very tight protection,” the old king said calmly. “Most people don’t even know the name Alex; they only know that he exists.”

"Fortunately, not many people know this secret, this truth." King Nuen's eyes were terrifying, his tone resolute:

“From the kitchen to the bedroom, from the guards to the maids, everyone who knew Alex was eliminated on your way here.”

"Only one remains."

The little rascal suddenly jerked!
Tears streamed down her face: "No, I didn't see anything, I didn't know anything..."

King Nuen lowered his head, raised his right hand, and looked at the black ring on it with a subtle expression.

Thales' breathing quickened instantly!
He vaguely knew what the old king was going to do.

Thales hurriedly walked towards King Nunn: "Hey! You..."

But before Thales could take two steps, a strong hand grabbed his shoulder from behind!

The pain started in my shoulder.

“Stay put,” Nicolai, the “Meteorite,” coldly restrained him from behind. “Don’t cause trouble, little prince.”

Telston suddenly felt that half of his body was immobilized.

"No, you saw what just happened, that secret, didn't you?" King Nuen said slowly to the little rascal in an old and deep voice:

"And you are one of the few people who know of Alex's existence."

The little rascal looked at Thales's fate and burst into tears. Then she looked at King Nunn's expression and trembled with fear!
“Please, Your Majesty,” she cried, “I will be good, I will stay in the castle, I will not say anything…”

King Nuen continued to stroke the word "triumph" on his finger and smiled gently.

Thales gritted his teeth, looking at the little girl in front of King Nunn.

No.

Damn.

Thales glared hatefully at Nikolai, then looked at King Nunn.

"Guess what will happen to you," King Nuen sneered, gripping the little rascal's hand tightly.

"Nun!" Thales struggled desperately, but his resistance was futile under the suppression of the White Blade Guard leader.

King Nuen's face was cold as he pulled the little rascal's hand toward his right.

No.

The little rascal was almost crying with fear: "No...no..."

Thales gritted his teeth, drew the JC dagger from his waist, and swung it at the Meteorite at an odd angle!
The fourth offensive technique of the Northern Army's swordsmanship.

The Thrust Stance.

then……

Thales stared in astonishment, his mouth agape.

He saw King Nunn extend his right hand and place the ring in the little rascal's palm.

The little rascal stared blankly at his palm, at the black gemstone ring with a silver band on it.

"This is the 'Triumphant' token passed down through generations of the Walton family," King Nunn said calmly and coldly.

"From this moment on, you are the last of Walton's blood."

“It is I, the granddaughter of Nunn Walton, the co-ruling king of Exter and the grand duke of Dragonstreet.”

"She is the daughter of Prince Suril Walton and Marquis Gerst of Vine City, and the only daughter of Adele Walton."

Thales and the little rascal stared blankly at King Nunn.

“Selma Alex Suliel Walton,” King Nunn said softly. “That’s your name.”

The little rascal unconsciously gasped softly, his face turning deathly pale.

A few seconds later, she finally realized what King Nunn meant.

The little girl with glasses trembled as she held the "triumph" in her hands, and took a step back in fear.

Nicolai released Thales, letting go of the dagger he was pointing at, and gave a cold snort.

But Thales had no time to care about his attitude.

He got up from the ground, looked at King Nuen in surprise, and then at the absent-minded, frightened, and helpless little rascal.

“You must forget everything from your past, whether it be your origins or the girl you served.” King Nunn continued, his words devoid of emotion yet carrying immense force:
"You will obey my orders and become a Walton lady."

"You will marry that boy as a condition for Starstar to support and protect the Walton family, and as a link between the two families."

“You shall fear him, obey him, serve him, assist him and support him in the name of Selma Walton.”

The little rascal glanced at Thales, his eyes brimming with tears behind his glasses: "No..."

But King Nuen interrupted her pleas.

“Remember your first middle name—Alex, it will forever remind you of your true identity…”

"A reminder that this night will change your destiny."

“But this is also a warning,” King Nuen’s eyes flashed with a sharp light: “If you ever threaten the interests of Starry Sky and Walton, that kid can reveal your identity at any time… A bloodline ritual can destroy everything, believe me, you won’t like that.”

The little rascal was terrified; she was so frightened that she forgot to breathe, and only managed to take a breath when she was too weak to continue.

“And you, Thales,” King Nunn turned to look at Prince Star, his expression somber, “today I will expose the greatest secret of this family, the most terrible past, to you.”

“‘Triumphant’ was just the first lock, this is the second lock—now you can confidently take over Walton.”

"Our covenant remains in effect."

Thales was startled.

He looked at the little rascal.

“Whether for your own benefit or for your ridiculous pity, you must protect her, protect her identity,” King Nunn’s voice suddenly became tired and hoarse, “just as you protected Walton.”

The little rascal snapped out of his daze, staring at the ring in his palm, and began to tremble.

“No, please, Your Majesty…” the little rascal cried out in fear, “I’m scared… I don’t know anything… I can’t…”

"I wasn't asking for your opinion!" King Nuen turned sharply to look at the little rascal, causing the latter to pause in his tracks. A fierce glint flashed in the king's eyes: "Do you understand?"

The little rascal was so frightened that his glasses were askew, and he could only nod mechanically.

King Nuen gave a faint smile.

Thales stared blankly at the scene, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

“Alright,” the old king sighed, and said slowly, “Thales, you know everything you need to know…”

King Nuen raised his eyes, his voice weary: "Go back to your room."

Thales was panting, his fists clenched.

He glanced at the little rascal again, looking at the other's helpless and pitiful eyes.

Then, gritting his teeth, he turned and left.

“And you,” King Nunn said in a deep voice to the little rascal behind Thales, “starting tonight, you will sleep in Alex’s bedroom…”

Thales clenched his teeth tighter and tighter, when he heard Little Sly's scream from behind.

"If you ever feel bored, think about today, think about the previous owner of your bed..."

Thales' breathing quickened; he could imagine the little rascal's expression at that moment.

"Think about Alex's fate, think about her agonizing, convulsing body as she died..."

Thales gently closed his eyes, his steps slowing down, and behind him came the sobbing of the little rascal.

"Think about those who died because of this, and then think about how lucky you are..."

Thales stopped and took a deep breath.

"The servants and kitchen staff have all been purged, but you'll soon have new servants; they'd better put on a good show..."

"enough!"

Under everyone's astonished gaze, Prince Star turned around and glared angrily at King Nuen and the sobbing little rascal.

Thales gritted his teeth and strode forward, grabbing the little rascal's wrist.

Then, without saying a word, he pulled her to his side.

He could feel that the little rascal's wrist was still trembling.

“Don’t be in such a hurry, Thales,” King Nunn waved away Nikolai who was about to step forward, and said slowly, “You will have plenty of time to get to know your fiancée.”

“That’s enough,” Thales said coldly, looking at King Nunn. “Tonight, she’ll be with me!”

After saying this, he grabbed the little rascal and walked out of the hall with a heavy expression.

The little rascal pressed down on his glasses, which were about to fall off, and let Thales pull him away, glancing back in fear every now and then.

“Tails,” King Nunn said calmly from behind, “Where are you taking my granddaughter?”

"I can't stay with you guys anyway!" Thales said bluntly as he walked away. "A bunch of lunatics!"

Behind him came King Nunn's loud laughter, but this only made Thales feel more annoyed and his thoughts were in complete chaos.

"Tales Star," came the king's loud laughter from behind, "The first night..."

Be nicer to your fiancée!

Without turning his head, Thales pulled the little rascal out of the hall, ignoring the frowning expressions of the White Blade Guards.

They simply moved forward decisively.

It wasn't until the little rascal snapped out of his daze and fear that he spoke up silently.

"Um..." the little rascal timidly tugged at his clothes, "You are..."

“My name is Thales,” Thales said coldly.

“Miss Alex, she really…” The little rascal sniffed, looking aggrieved, “really…?”

“Yes,” Thales replied curtly, his face stern. “She’s dead—poisoned.”

The little rascal shuddered suddenly.

Thales frowned.

"Poisoned to death..." The little rascal's eyes glazed over as he began to mutter nervously to himself:
"In Imperial Calendar 207, Duke Skarch killed the Fourth Knight with a poisoned arrow... In Imperial Calendar 489, Count Kate Nantes and Princess Leslie were both poisoned at their wedding... In Imperial Calendar 721, Emperor Eddy III fell into a coma after being poisoned... In Imperial Calendar 1171, the 'Poison Emperor' poisoned Lord Reddy Sodara at the negotiating table... In the End Calendar 359, the 'Beautiful Grand Duchess' Lacey Anrenzo died from a cup of herbal tea... In the End Calendar 418, Count Lloyd Olesch was poisoned by the 'Mourning Grand Duchess'... In the End Calendar 660, the Star King-Crown Prince was killed by Indigo..."

"Enough!" Thales shouted decisively, interrupting her whispers. "Stop thinking about this!"

The little rascal finally came to his senses.

Thales pulled her along and they continued walking.

"Um, we should go back..." the little rascal said hesitantly.

“You can’t go back,” Thales interrupted her decisively, shaking his head.

“According to Nunn, a lot of people just died there, so it’s definitely not a place for you to live.”

The little rascal trembled slightly.

Thales walked along, sighing silently to himself.

"But, I'm afraid we..." the little rascal hesitated again before speaking.

“Don’t be afraid, there’s no bastard like Nunn here,” Thales said quietly, “but I can only protect you for a while…”

"No, I mean..." the little rascal said softly, his voice trembling with tears.
"We've taken the wrong turn..."

"..."

Thelma, a name that pays homage to Thelma & Louise—I still remember the scene where the two of them drove off a cliff.

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(End of this chapter)