Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 228 The Strongest Pawn (Part 1)

The rear hall of the Bright Moon Temple.

In the not-so-spacious hall, Prince Star stood calmly in the center.

Under the ever-burning lamplight, Thales gazed at the moon statue in the darkness from afar, quietly observing the indifferent expression of the moon goddess.

“Thales,” the sly boy behind him said nervously, adjusting his glasses and glancing around anxiously, “we just sneaked out like this… Nicolai and the others…”

“Ah,” Thales said calmly, “I know, they’re probably on their way to find you.”

The little rascal's face paled: "Then we..."

Thales interrupted her softly.

“Little rascal,” the Star Prince stared absently at the dim Moon Goddess, “I want to do something, but I need your help.”

The little rascal was slightly taken aback.

"What is it?" she asked curiously.

Thales didn't speak; he simply clenched his fist slightly.

"You've read a lot of books, but do you know what we went through last night?"

The little rascal's face stiffened slightly.

She lowered her head, recalling everything that had happened in Valhalla and the Shield District, and unconsciously clenched her teeth.

Alex's hand hung limply.

The King's Ring.

The calamity laughed wildly.

The common people ran about, wailing and dying in despair.

A second later, the little rascal blinked his bloodshot eyes and nodded silently.

Thales turned his head, looked at the little rascal, and gave him a gentle smile.

"That soldier from just now, Willow Ken, do you know his story?"

The little rascal looked puzzled and shook his head.

“He was originally a commoner in the North. He wasn’t rich, but he had a lovely sister and healthy parents,” Thales said absentmindedly, recalling the story in the snow. “But twelve years ago, in the winter, he suddenly learned to fish, to use a gun, to survive with difficulty, and to bear the loss of his loved ones.”

The little rascal was slightly taken aback.

“It’s not just them,” Thales sighed.

“That veteran named Jenard was probably a civilian when he was young, but it was also twelve years ago that he became what he is now,” Thales squinted, recalling the veteran who had struggled to follow him all the way, and said with some emotion, “For him, he is still living in the years of continuous war, unable to wake up, and unwilling to wake up.”

"That older sister named Miranda, twelve years ago, her family was wiped out, and she spent her childhood in the Tower of the End."

Thales looked up and stared at the bewildered little rascal.

“And it’s not just stars,” the second prince said casually, uttering a name: “Byrne Milek.”

The little rascal suddenly remembered something and his face turned pale.

“Don’t be afraid,” Thales stepped forward, took her small hand in his, feeling the coldness and trembling in her palm, and said sincerely, “I’m here, no one can hurt you.”

The little rascal's breathing gradually calmed down.

"But as you heard with your own ears, twelve years ago, he lost the vow he had kept, lost the love of his life, and fell into an endless hell, struggling to survive."

Thales watched her quietly.

“And then there’s Chaman Lumba,” Thales’s eyes darkened. “Twelve years ago, he had his hands stained with his brother’s blood. In the vortex of his fathers and power, he transformed into the Grand Duke of Black Sands he is today.”

With a serious expression, Thales released the girl's hand but grasped her shoulders instead.

The little rascal could only stare blankly at him.

“Look, the fate of so many people has been decided just like that.” Thales’ voice was broken, sometimes soft and sometimes loud, “All because of what happened twelve years ago.”

The little rascal took a breath and looked back into the prince's gray eyes: "The Year of Blood?"

Thales looked at her intently and nodded:

"A Bloody Year".

The little rascal's eyes struggled, and he nodded slightly, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Thales first closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Then, he opened his eyes, and with an expression more solemn than ever since he came into this world, he said seriously:
"Little slippery man."

"Everything we have done, seen, and heard tonight is not just a family drama between a few people, but a major event concerning the future of tens of millions of people in two great nations."

Thales looked seriously into the girl's blank eyes behind her glasses.

He gritted his teeth.

In that instant, he saw before his eyes the "Potemkin Village" he had seen after leaving the capital, the magnificent star-shaped fortress of Dragon's Lair, the northern villagers in Pass Village, and the black rocks at Lyman Pass—the place where Horace perished.

“Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of people may have their fates changed because of this,” Thales said with difficulty. “No, in Dragon City, the fates of countless people have already been altered, and many have even reached their end.”

Thales lowered his eyelids and said sadly, "Like Alex, like the Shield Zone we walked through."

"For example, ourselves."

The little rascal froze for a second.

“If we just walk away like this, leaving everything behind,” Thales sighed, feeling a heavy weight on his chest, “that burden will make me feel like I can’t breathe.”

The little rascal bit his lower lip.

“It has caused thousands upon thousands of people to suffer and be displaced,” Thales forced a grim smile. “That is too painful.”

His hands, gripping the little rascal's shoulders, trembled slightly: "We can't leave, we can't run away..."

The little rascal sniffed lightly, interrupting him.

“I understand,” the girl said with difficulty, her platinum blonde hair standing out. “You want me to…”

Her face was filled with sorrow, and she didn't continue speaking, seemingly hesitating.

Thales swallowed hard and nodded. "I want to make amends, avoid the worst possible consequences, and mend the wounds we've left behind—whether or not it was our fault."

The little rascal suddenly realized something, and his face turned pale.

“I understand, you don’t need a little rascal.” She trembled, looking at Thales in disbelief: “You need Selma Walton.”

"You want me to become her, to become His Majesty's... granddaughter."

In that instant, the little rascal's eyes turned bloodshot.

Thales paused slightly, unable to continue speaking for a moment.

He lowered his head, recalling their conversation in the butcher shop.

Choose who you want to become.

but now……

Thales clenched his teeth, feeling as if his tongue weighed a ton.

“No,” he suddenly looked up a second later, staring straight into the little rascal’s eyes: “What I need is still the little rascal, not Selma!”

The little rascal stared wide-eyed, his expression one of astonishment.

“That little rascal who went through all the disasters with me and never left my side,” Thales said earnestly, word by word, “that silly little girl, that little brat who didn’t know how to hide when she was in danger.”

“I need her to stay with me a little longer.” Thales looked at her silently, his eyes gentle.

"Although this request may be excessive."

The little rascal stared blankly at him, seemingly forgetting to think.

“I know you’re scared,” Thales said, his hand on the little rascal’s shoulder unconsciously clenching into a fist. “I know you want to escape all of this.”

"but……"

Thales' face contorted, but just seconds later, he raised his eyes again, staring directly into the little rascal's eyes.

"Raise your head and face it as if you were facing a dragon."

The little rascal didn't answer.

She just looked at Thales with tears welling up in her eyes.

A few seconds later, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

"There's no such scene in the book," the little rascal said, tears streaming down his face. "I had no idea..."

She bit her lip, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Thales sighed inwardly.

“Perhaps there are,” Thales said softly, “but we don’t know.”

The little rascal sniffed.

“If there really isn’t one,” Thales sighed, moving his hands to her head, “that would be even better.”

Thales reached out and gently wiped away her tears.

Then, holding her black-rimmed glasses, he gently straightened them, which were crooked and full of damage.

He looked at the little rascal with a solemn expression and a serious tone.

"Having read so many books and so many other people's stories, it's time for you... to write your own story."

The little rascal unconsciously let out a sob.

The girl looked at Thales, her expression dazed and her gaze blank.

It was as if I were flipping through a book I'd randomly found, rather than looking at a boy with a determined expression.

A few seconds later, the little rascal pursed his lips, then slowly opened them.

She whispered, "Will you always be by my side?"

"Yes, I will." He nodded.

Her eyes lit up: "You'll face all this with me?"

"Yes, I will." He smiled.

Her expression changed, and she gritted her teeth: "You will protect me."

He sighed, raised his head, and touched her forehead to his.

They looked at each other through their glasses.

The boy spoke softly, his tone resolute:

"Will do."

Just then, Thales heard footsteps behind him.

He gently released the dazed little rascal and turned to the person who had come.

“You’d better have a decent explanation, little prince,” the pale, cold face of the Fallen One appeared before him, his expression unfriendly and his tone accusatory: “Regarding the abduction of the Walton bloodline…”

Serrey Nicholas glanced at the pensive young man, who was deep in thought: "Come back with us. You shouldn't associate with this dangerous prince, madam."

The little rascal pursed his lips and hid behind Thales. Nicolai frowned.

Thales took a deep breath and looked up at Nikolai.

And Michael behind him.

Thales ignored the Meteorite and said softly to Miles, "Lord Miles, I'm sorry, but I still prefer to call you Lord."

Michael, looking dejected, paused slightly.

Nicolai was slightly taken aback.

“Why did you come back? Why did you come back to help the Walton family?” Thales looked calmly at Michael. “You are no longer an officer. I remember, King Nunn has exiled you forever.”

Michael's expression turned sorrowful and desperate.

His muscles tensed up involuntarily.

“In King Nuen’s eyes, you are the sinner who killed his son, aren’t you?” the prince said calmly. “He took your child away for this… He treated you this way, so you should treat him fairly in return.”

Michael was jolted.

Nicolai glanced at his former colleagues, his expression shifting.

“Hey, you, little prince,” the Meteorite spoke decisively, “if you…”

But someone interrupted him, and it wasn't Thales.

"Yes."

Myrk raised his head with trembling hands, his eyes burning with a strange and complex emotion.

“But that’s his opinion,” he said painfully. “But I will always belong to the White Blade Guard, and my duty is to be loyal to the King.”

The former officer gritted his teeth.

"No matter how he treats me."

Thales' eyes lit up.

Michael's hands were trembling, as if he was recalling many things from the past.

"That has never changed."

"I did my job, that's all."

Finally, the former officer gritted his teeth and looked back at Thales with unwavering determination.

Nikolai stared blankly at his comrade.

Thales smiled slightly.

“Not only that,” the prince said softly, “but also because of Prince Suliel, isn’t it—you’ve always felt guilty towards him.”

Michael swayed slightly.

“It must be tough,” Thales observed his expression, then sighed softly. “You put your heart and soul into something, but fate is playing a cruel joke on you—you’ve made a terrible mistake, committed a grave sin.”

"But it was too late to undo it."

Michael tilted his head and closed his eyes, his face contorted with struggle.

“So you want to make amends,” Thales said regretfully, “to atone for your sins.”

Nicolai stepped forward impatiently: "Enough."

"I don't know why you're spouting this meaningless nonsense, but..."

Just then, Thales suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp!
“Because this is what we’re facing right now!” Thales almost roared, interrupting Nikolai.

The Meteorite was stunned. He looked at the Star Prince with a look of surprise and uncertainty on his face.

Thales was breathing slightly, trying to calm his sore throat.

“Look around us,” he gritted his teeth. “King Nunn’s blood is spilled on his own land, Lumba walks proudly in Dragonsreach, his hands cover the sky of the North, and Cassan, Slade, and Kaslan smile at us in the darkness.”

Nicolai listened to Thales' words silently.

But anger began to rise in his eyes.

“War and disaster are coming, with countless killings and destruction,” Thales exhaled with difficulty, “and we are like stray dogs, running for our lives and fleeing in fear.”

"I would hide in a corner and comfort myself—'This is the only way,' and then fall asleep peacefully, as if nothing had ever happened in my dream."

Michael sighed, looking flustered.

Nikolai clenched his fist.

“Hmph,” he sneered, “thanks to your secret department.”

Thales ignored him, simply shaking his head with a sharp look in his eyes: "But is that all?"

Nikolai frowned.

"Is this the end?" The prince raised his hands and waved them forcefully in the air. "Are you satisfied with that?"

"Nikolai, the Meteorite?"

He called out Nicolai's nickname without restraint.

Nicolai's face was flushed with anger, his nails dug into his palms, and he managed to exhale a breath through his nose.

"Then what the hell do you want to do?" the Meteorite said through gritted teeth, "Poor little prince?"

Thales raised his head, his expression solemn and serious.

“I want to change, I want to make amends,” he said seriously. “I want to do something.”

"I want to fight back."

Nikolai's gaze sharpened, and he lowered his head to meet the prince's gaze in silence.

A few seconds later.

“Ha,” Nicolai laughed, his sarcasm evident in his voice, “very humorous.”

Thales squinted.

"Laugh all you want," the prince said softly.

“But that’s my decision,” Thales said firmly and unequivocally, “and what I’m going to do next is just to let you know.”

"You guys wanna come together?"

"Northlanders?"

Upon hearing this, Michael's expression shifted.

Nikolai's face froze.

"To be honest, this is really not a good idea."

A calm and mature male voice came through.

“If this is your reason for summoning us, Your Highness.” Putila appeared in their sight with Rolf, Wyah, Willow, Jenard, and others.

The deputy envoy nodded slightly to the prince.

His eyes were full of worry.

Thales turned to his entourage.

"Putilay".

Thales let out a sigh of relief, his expression softening: "I'm very grateful that you've been with me all this way and witnessed so much."

"Without your strategies and advice, I wouldn't be where I am today."

Putila frowned, reaching for his pipe, but put his hand down halfway through.

He looked at Thales with a very complicated expression.

"Do you understand what you're saying?" the deputy envoy said hesitantly and meaningfully. "I know you're very unwilling, but I have an obligation to persuade you to abandon this unwise decision."

Thales forced himself to laugh twice.

"Thank you."

But no matter how hard he tried, his laughter still sounded forced and desolate.

"But I don't want to let them down."

Putila gently raised her eyes: "Who?"

“A lot of people.” Thales seemed a little lost in thought, and he said unconsciously:
"Do you all remember, Putila, Wyatt, Rolf?"

"Do you remember that most of the private soldiers of Shining Star died in the birch forest, falling victim to the claws of the vampires and the schemes of the nobles?"

"Do you remember Baron Mu carrying me as he charged into the enemy lines? Do you remember the Kingdom's Wrath Guard, who sacrificed countless lives before the fortress?"

Thales unconsciously clenched his fists, countless figures flashing before his eyes: "They're all trying to get me into Exter's territory."

"In order to eliminate the scourge of war."

"To stop those scum who cheer for war but are utterly indifferent to life."

"For a peaceful Star Kingdom."

Putila lowered her head and let out a long sigh.

"What I also remember is the White Blade Guard, those many strangers who gave their lives for me." Thales came to his senses.

"And Dragonrise City, and those in the North who will be implicated by our failure, and those who will suffer further annihilation because of the war in the future."

“We are already in a precarious situation,” Putila unconsciously pinched three fingers of his right hand as if he were holding a pipe. “Any impulsive action could lead us back into the dangerous situation we have barely escaped, making things even worse.”

Thales looked quietly at his mentor, recalling the scene of their first meeting by the carriage.

Oh no, it was their second meeting—their first meeting was at the west gate, when the beggars stole Putila's Great Library pass from him.

Thales smiled.

"But we can't get any worse, can we?"

He said softly:
"Don't forget, I am the murderer who 'killed' King Nuen."

Putila's expression froze.

“We have destroyed the kingdom’s hard-won peace and pushed it into the abyss of war,” the second prince shrugged and laughed sarcastically. “Just as you said, once I return to the capital, the northerners will be marching south in full force.”

"The fortress will be burned down, the land will be trampled, and human lives will be ruthlessly harvested like straw."

"Millions of people will curse all of our names."

Upon hearing this, recruit Willow trembled slightly.

Thales shook his head slightly: "And once we lose the North, once we lose our greatest bulwark, I will soon be facing for the rest of my life a fragile kingdom, full of suffering, battered and bruised."

"I will become a mediocre and incompetent ruler, guarding a weak and feeble country, waiting for the day when the name of the stars will end in my hands," Thales concluded somberly.

"As a ruler of a fallen kingdom..."

What were the feelings of the last emperor of an ancient empire before his death?

The next chapter is still being written; I'll post it tonight.
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(End of this chapter)