Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 236 The Undying Starlight

The other dukes looked at the Black Sand Duke with varying expressions, listening to Lyko's rejection, but made no attempt to refute him.

Rumba stared blankly at the four people.

No.

His fist slowly clenched.

"Why?" Rumba asked with some difficulty.

Grand Duke Ronnie gave a cold laugh and slowly stepped forward.

"What do you say?"

“We will not protect a traitor who has betrayed his master,” the Grand Duke of Qiyuan City said, his eyes gleaming. “Furthermore, we will not collude with him for so-called benefits.”

Rumba remained silent, but his eyes held a terrifying look.

“Even if swords and spears are drawn against us,” Grand Duke Ronnie said with a resolute expression, “even if heads roll.”

"The regicide."

Trudida rolled his eyes, while Aurelius snorted coldly.

Grand Duke Lombard gritted his teeth, his chest churning with inexplicable emotions that had been building up for years.

No.

"My actions may be difficult for you all to understand," he said through gritted teeth, controlling his emotions.

“But it was out of necessity,” Rumba’s eyes turned cold. “Sooner or later, someone has to do it.”

"A last resort?"

Grand Duke Aurelius slowly shook his head: "A person forced into this situation wouldn't have so many follow-up plans."

Rumba flung his cloak aside, his voice suddenly rising:
Can't you tell?

“That’s right. Nunn’s death caused the situation in Exter to take a sharp turn for the worse, and the balance was thrown off.”

Every word the Black Sand Grand Duke uttered seemed to be filled with years of resentment and anger:

"But isn't what I'm trying to do, in a way that puts us first, to rebalance this terrible situation?"

"Even if it's for Exter—why can't you understand!"

boom!
The sound of a hand slamming against a square table.

All the dukes turned their gaze to the now dignified and solemn Grand Duke Lecco.

The bald old man, who rarely participated in discussions, stood up shakily from his seat.

"You're the one who doesn't understand."

The old duke's voice was low and somber, as if he were deeply pained: "Your Excellency Grand Duke Chaman Lumba."

Rumba stared at him blankly.

“What we’re worried about isn’t territorial interests,” Grand Duke Lyco exhaled, his eyes no longer clouded but sharp and piercing: “It’s not reputation.”

"It's not even a creed of the North, or any loyalty to the lord."

Grand Duke Ronnie snorted.

Rumba trembled slightly as he stared intently at Leko.

“But it is you,” Grand Duke Leco’s face twisted, his words echoing through the hall, each syllable like iron, each sentence like forged steel: “Chaman Lumba.”

"Rule breakers".

"The one who broke the statue."

"You are the one who worries us the most in this farce."

Rumba paused slightly, then his eyes widened in anger.

Grand Duke Leco, supporting himself on the back of his chair, left his seat and walked step by step to Rumba, observing the other's unpredictable expression.

"The co-governance oath defines our relationship with the king; it is a sacred covenant among the ten supreme powers in this land," the old duke's voice was rather long, as if he were flipping through a classic book that had been covered in dust for many years and had been forgotten: "The rules it left behind have maintained our stability and unity for more than six hundred years."

Lumba turned to look at the other three dukes, but they all stared at him silently with cold eyes, showing no intention of speaking.

The eldest duke continued speaking.

"It granted the king supreme prestige and leadership, but it also defined the boundaries between the monarch and the feudal lords: 'I obey the king's orders, and my land follows my will.'"

Grand Duke Lyco said with great sorrow, "It means more to the people of the North and to Exter than the dragon on the flag, even more than the prestige of Nekaru, and more than the Queen of the Sky herself."

"It is the basis for the unified existence of Exster without its division."

“Whenever a vassal’s power is trampled on by the monarchy and his right to autonomy is violated, the co-governance oath is his last shield.”

"Whenever a subject is disrespectful to the monarch or harbors unfounded ambitions, the oath of co-rule is his greatest constraint."

"That is the true flag of Exeter!"

Grand Duke Black Sands stared blankly at Leko.

In that instant, Rumba felt as if he were not facing an old and decrepit grand duke.

Rather, it is a tradition and power that has lasted for more than 600 years, with a solid foundation and is difficult to shake.

"No matter how powerful King Nuen is, he can only restrain his power within the scope of the co-governance oath," Grand Duke Lyco's voice grew increasingly stern, "rather than using violent, bloody, and unrestrained means to forcibly erase the lords and vassals, territories and lands that you dislike from history and maps!"

Grand Duke Leco observed Rumba's expression and let out a long sigh.

He put his hands behind his back, lowered his head, turned away from Rumba, and began to pace.

“That’s right, we Exter have also faced collapse and destruction countless times.”

"However, thanks to the Grand Dukes' willingness to abide by the tacit understanding and uphold the rules, thanks to the proud traditions of the North, thanks to the wisdom and talent of countless people who deeply love this land, thanks to the equal treatment of the ten Grand Dukes in the co-governance oath, and thanks to the reverence and trust in the co-governance oath witnessed by Her Majesty Queen Chloressis," the old Grand Duke slowly raised his head, looking at the dragon spear stone sculpture in the clouds above:

"Each time, the powerful and proud Kingdom of Exter has overcome the difficulties."

Grand Duke Leco whirled around, his bald head reflecting the flickering firelight, as if the temperature in the hall had risen slightly.

"Compared to the bloody internal strife and struggles in the history of the stars, and the fragile nations of Dragon's Kiss that were built through compromise, the Kingdom of Allenbia's ridiculous and inefficient system of a figurehead monarch with decentralized power..."

"Compared to the constant conflicts between city-states within the Commas Alliance, the underworld intrigues that the Hambul Dynasty, despite having the Dawn Temple as its regent, still couldn't be eradicated..."

"Compared to the numerous powerful but short-lived great tribes on the Kiseri Plain, the Suye Dynasty's unique rule was based on tradition and etiquette..."

The old duke guarding the city took a deep breath and, in a tone he hadn't used in a long time—the most solemn, dignified, and earnest—spoke, word by word:

"The Kingdom of Exter, after Nekaru, brought together ten large duchies the size of medium-sized countries, ten prestigious ancient families, nearly ten million unruly and fierce northerners, and the forces on this land that had once defeated even the empire, all under the banner of a black flag with a red dragon, a tradition that continues to this day."

"Moreover, after the final empire collapsed and the war ended, as the strongest power in the Western Continent, it always stood proudly in the North, subduing its neighbors and awe-inspiring the world."

"Even when faced with the Black Orchid Queen's powerful orders, they remained neither humble nor arrogant, and stood firm in the continental war."

The brazier in the hall burned brighter and brighter, and the shadows of the dukes were reflected on the stone wall, swaying back and forth.

Like the other grand dukes, Rumba listened silently to Leko's words without uttering a single word.

Grand Duke Leco looked at him, first narrowing his eyes, then letting out a deep sigh.

“But you, Chaman Lumba,” the First Duke spoke in a low but clear voice:
"You terrify us."

Rumba's expression began to contort, and his fists clenched tighter and tighter.

"You've made a move against the one who sits on the throne of the Commonwealth," Grand Duke Lyco said calmly.

“You have broken these rules, shattered this foundation, and torn this oath in your own heart,” Grand Duke Lyco said, his face pale and his voice heavy, his fist clenched slowly inside his robes. “And the cost of repairing it is unimaginable.”

"This is the true nature of Nunn's death."

“This is what ‘for Exster’s future’ truly means.”

The eldest son's voice fell softly.

Trudida, standing to the side, clapped.

“I don’t have the old man’s eloquence,” the Grand Duke of Rebuilding Tower chuckled, “but that’s roughly the idea—of course I want to divide up Dragon Sky City and gain new territory, but if it comes at the cost of sleepless nights, having a neighbor who could go mad at any moment, and putting my family and my descendants at risk of national imbalance…”

Trudida shrugged, indicating that he was finished speaking.

“There’s a reason why we adhere to the so-called Northern Creed and Honor,” Grand Duke Ronnie said coldly, looking at Rumba. “And you, you think it’s just a joke, just meaningless pedantry and hypocrisy?”

Aurelius crossed his arms and slowly raised his head to look at the Grand Duke of Black Sands: "Do you understand now?"

Rumba looked at Grand Duke Leco in disbelief, then at the other three grand dukes.

“Yes, pin all the blame on Xingchen, feed us restless folks with profits, maintain the most false and superficial balance, and whitewash the truth—you can deceive the people as much as you want,” Lyco nodded slowly, his expression somber. “But you can’t deceive yourself.”

"You are no longer one of us, no longer a member of the co-governance oath," the bald Grand Duke said calmly.
"Your existence and your actions are the greatest threat to Exter's stability."

"The Kingslayer, Chaman Lumba."

Rumba lowered his head slightly, only his right hand trembling.

Deathly silence.

The five dukes stood face to face in the hall, their figures indistinct in the shadows cast by the braziers around them.

But one of the figures seemed particularly lonely.

He stood alone before the firelight, facing the deathly stares of the other four.

His right hand rested limply on the old sword at his waist.

It seemed like a century had passed.

Finally, Rumba's voice rang out softly.

"Is this what you're afraid of?"

At this moment, his voice sounded utterly exhausted. "Me?"

The four dukes looked at him coldly.

It's like watching a severely wounded person on a battlefield with no hope of survival.

"Hmph." Rumba gave a soft, cold snort.

He took a step and walked quietly to the rectangular table, his gaze sweeping over the eleven seats on it.

Rumba first glanced at the main seat at the far end with a complicated expression.

A second later, he sneered and reached out to pull out a chair.

"Notice!"

Grand Duke Ronnie crossed his arms and called out to Rumba without any politeness.

He narrowed his eyes and coldly warned, "Fourth on the right—that's the Camaron family's chair." Rumba's hand froze in mid-air.

“Each of the ten dukes has a fixed seat that has been in place for six hundred years,” Grand Duke Trudida said, turning his head meaningfully. “Don’t sit in the wrong place.”

Rumba remained motionless.

But the next second, his hand instinctively landed on the chair!

Boom!
Amidst the echoing sounds that reverberated throughout the hall, Rumba unhesitatingly picked up the Camaron family chair and slammed it down in front of him.

Grand Duke Ronnie's face turned cold.

But it's not over yet.

Rumba then reached out and pulled out another chair next to him.

Under the unfriendly gazes of the four dukes, the Black Sand Duke sat heavily in Camaren's chair.

Then, Rumba leaned back and brazenly raised his legs, placing them on another chair.

He sat there in this reclining posture, facing the four dukes standing in the room with impoliteness and arrogance.

The dukes looked at him in disbelief.

“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time,” Rumba leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, looked up at the four grand dukes, and sneered.
"It feels good."

Ronnie clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fury, and was about to step forward when Aurelius grabbed his shoulder.

“Calm down, his soldiers are outside the door…” the Grand Duke of Wilan reminded his colleague, “and the Prime Minister of Lisbon will be here soon.”

boom!
Rumba slammed his sword down on the table without any hesitation.

"so……"

He leaned back in his chair and chuckled.
"Is this what you're so proud of?"

"Co-governance pledge?"

"Protecting and maintaining the great Exter, is that it?"

The four dukes simply stared at him coldly, seemingly too disdainful to speak.

Rumba watched them quietly.

one second.

two seconds.

Rumba chuckled and put his legs off the chair.

He rested his arms on the table and clasped his hands together.

But the dukes still looked at him with hostility.

Rumba's gaze remained fixed on his sword for a long time.

His gaze gradually drifted away.

It was as if I could see the distance ahead.

“You still don’t understand,” Rumba’s voice rang out again, but this time, his tone seemed to contain relief and a sigh, “you don’t understand what truly threatens us.”

"In your eyes, there is no difficulty or obstacle that the mighty, proud, and dominant army of Exter cannot overcome."

"In your view, our nationwide southern expedition that shook the Western Continent twelve years ago is an example, isn't it?"

Grand Duke Lecco frowned.

“But your vision is more fragmented than grains of sand,” Rumba said calmly, “You only ever see the distance between your own territory and Dragonsreach City.”

"Your ears can only hear the shouts and whispers from your own territorial meetings to the election of the king—oh, and perhaps the annual clatter of the tax collectors' purses."

"And in your minds?"

“Become a nobleman and gain a title? Become an heir and acquire qualifications? Become a grand duke and gain power? Become a king,” Rumba shook his head dismissively and sneered, “and control Exter.”

Just like the past six hundred years.

Rumba's expression darkened.

Even the biggest waves are submerged in this suffocating past.

He sneered, "But do you really think things will develop in this way, and that history will repeat itself forever?"

Ronnie interrupted him coldly: "What are you trying to say?"

But Rumba ignored him.

"Our last real national war was twelve years ago—the Star People called it the 'Year of Blood.' Ha, to them, we were one of the ones who brought bloodshed."

Chaman Lumba said quietly.

It was as if he was talking to himself.

Trudida and Grand Duke Leco exchanged a glance, seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.

"And what about the last nationwide war?" Rumba continued to mutter to himself, a strange light gleaming in his eyes.

No one answered.

So Rumba continued shaking his head and muttering to himself, "Yes, more than a hundred years ago, the Fourth Continental War."

"It's been so long that I can only find it in history books."

Rumba closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

Grand Duke Black Sands looked at Aurelius, and this time, he finally stopped talking to himself.

“Rebian Aurelius,” Rumba raised an eyebrow and gestured with his right hand, but the latter remained motionless, “Do you remember that prisoner?”

Archduke Aurelius frowned.

"captive?"

"Hmm." Rumba raised an index finger and tapped it lightly in the air, as if recalling something.

“Twelve years ago, I had just become Grand Duke, and we captured the Dragonbreaker Fortress,” he frowned slightly. “A little over a month later, in early spring, 100,000 Exter warriors marched south to the stars, singing war songs.”

As the Grand Duke of Lombard reminisced, the other dukes also lowered their heads, recalling the war-torn years of the past.

“When we breached Coldburg,” Rumba said casually, “because the scene was so chaotic—tens of thousands of people were looting indiscriminately—we were left behind to take stock of the spoils and handle logistics.”

“I’ve gathered every literate clerk and official I could find in Black Sand Territory,” the Grand Duke of Black Sand snorted, seemingly disdainful. “You’re about the same.”

Aurelius shrugged.

“They spent a whole day and night counting the prisoners, the provisions, and the spoils,” Lumba sighed. “And then, those idiots…”

Archduke Aurelius frowned and picked up where Rumba left off: "...They gave an incorrect figure and made the grain transport plan based on it."

Rumba snorted, his tone laced with sarcasm.

“That day, the supplies that were supposed to be delivered to Dragon City went wrong: several thousand soldiers didn’t have lunch while besieging Ice River City, and the timing of the attack was delayed because they had to go to the surrounding areas to collect supplies,” Lumba shook his head, his eyes full of nostalgia. “Nun’s reprimanding order came the next day. As usual, he scolded us, ‘Fighting is one thing, but can’t you even count?’ That was his exact words.”

Archduke Aurelius sighed: "He has always thought we are holding them back."

Rumba nodded.

“That’s normal. After all, it’s an unprecedented expedition, involving the feeding, drinking, and toileting of 100,000 people,” Aurelius shrugged. “Half of the conscripts have to transport supplies, and it’s in unfamiliar territory—it’s hard not to make mistakes.”

“That’s right,” Rumba’s eyes turned serious. “We’ve punished a lot of people and killed a lot of people—and the logistics are still a mess.”

“Do you remember that prisoner named Urad, a lowly commoner living in the North, who said he had studied arithmetic and writing at some damned accounting school in the South, so he volunteered to help us.”

Aurelius did not speak.

He remembered.

Rumba scoffed: "I remember you were furious back then, wanting to behead this arrogant prisoner who boasted he could handle the supplies for our 100,000-strong army."

Aurelius narrowed his eyes: "But you stopped me."

Rumba sighed.

His gaze was quite complex.

“Yes,” Rumba said quietly, “that prisoner—gathered his men from his peers: Star People who had learned arithmetic, Star People who could read, Star People who knew the market: they took pen and paper and spent half a day getting everything done, the numbers accurate and in perfect order.”

"King Nuen's reprimanding orders have finally stopped coming."

Grand Duke Ronnie frowned impatiently: "Why are you saying this?"

Rumba suddenly raised his head, his eyes sharp: "Because this is not a coincidence—didn't you feel anything about the war twelve years ago?"

The expressions of the several dukes changed slightly.

“Do you remember? Ronnie didn’t make it, and Qiyuan City didn’t participate in that expedition, but Leko and Trudida were on the front lines, by Nunn’s side.” Rumba shook his head.

Grand Duke Ronnie squinted.

Grand Duke Leco didn't speak; he just stared blankly at Rumba.

"Later, although it took much longer and resulted in more casualties than expected," the Grand Duke of Black Sands exhaled a long breath, his eyes showing apprehension, "our invincible army managed to advance smoothly and successfully in the North."

Rumba narrowed his eyes, then changed the subject:
"Until we encountered those child soldiers from the south."

“Hmm,” Grand Duke Trudida nodded, his face extremely serious, and continued, “Duke of Starlake, John Starlight’s Starlight Legion.”

Grand Duke Lecco and Grand Duke Aurelius both moved slightly at the same time.

"Do not."

Grand Duke Lombard shook his head in denial: "The God of War Stars was already dead at that time."

A hint of caution flashed in his eyes: "To be precise, we are facing..."

"It belongs to his personal guard captain, Sonia Satherre..."

"Star Legion".

No one speaks.

Until Grand Duke Lecco sighed and uttered a peculiar name in trembling voice:

"The undying starlight".

I saw the 10000 yuan donation from the account that was repeatedly hacked, and the 20000 yuan donation from the person who said "I don't want a nickname anymore"...

Um...

(Trembling and waving a white flag) Bookkeeping...

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(End of this chapter)