Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 254 The Death of the Black Knight

Thales never imagined that the "moment of choice" the mystical high priest spoke of would come so quickly.

He knew that Ashida wouldn't give up easily.

Unexpectedly, this fanatical yet aloof mage appeared quietly when he was at his most desperate and helpless, descending as a savior and condescendingly offering him tempting conditions, plunging him into an inner struggle.

Like a shrewd and cunning businessman.

Thales swallowed hard in a daze and looked up at the five dukes who were giving him hostile looks.

With the power of Ashida... as long as they all die here, everything will be resolved?

Of course, at that point, I had no way out.

Is that right?

However, countless people are fighting desperately on their respective battlefields, hoping for his final victory.

Thales heard his heart pounding faster and cold sweat slowly trickling down his back.

If there is truly no other way, then all you have to do is agree to Ashida's conditions and become a magic user under his guidance...

That way, one can escape all predicaments, such as inexplicable secrets, uncertain futures, a scheming king, and so on...

Not only that.

Nearly infinite power, endless life, the gateway to a new world—getting something for nothing, everyone happy, seemingly the "conditions" everyone dreams of?
Thales suddenly felt his mouth was dry.

Just a gentle opening of the mouth...

but……

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

His chin unconsciously tucked in, and his two rows of teeth clenched tightly together.

Is there really no other way?

So many people sacrificed their lives, and such a difficult struggle was endured, only to be met with such a terrible and irresponsible outcome?

Facing the gazes of the five dukes and remembering the voice behind his ear, Thales opened his lips with difficulty.

In that instant, Thales remembered that phrase:

Beware of Ashida.

What appeared before him was the girl with blood-red stripes on her face, and her eyes that seemed to be filled with relief.

[A mage... is not a talent or a blessing... but a curse and a curse...]

Thales frowned unnaturally, his throat bobbing as he hesitated and wavered.

The dukes looked at Thales, who was stunned and struggling internally, with suspicion, ridicule, or disdain, noticing his slightly trembling lips and tightly clenched hands.

It felt like watching a comedy.

At that moment, an unexpected change occurred, one that neither Thales nor the Grand Dukes could have foreseen.

A tense silence fell over the room...

A childish and vulnerable voice suddenly broke into this tense conversation:

"Perhaps, perhaps he has no right to question you..."

Thales was startled and abruptly looked up!

That is……

"But you, you..." The voice trembled uncontrollably, broken and hesitant, seemingly lacking confidence: "You are people of the North, you are, you are the dignified Grand Duke Exter, what right do you have..."

The dukes were all taken aback, looking around in surprise to find the source of the sound.

"Why..." The voice twitched at the end, then suddenly rose with a desperate courage: "Why are you discussing His Majesty's misfortune here!"

As the sound of breaking firewood rang out, everyone in the hall found the source of the sound.

To the astonishment of Thales and the Grand Dukes, a thin and small girl covered in soot and filth emerged from the fireplace.

The girl wearing glasses hugged her arms tightly, her face full of fear and timidity.

But when the girl saw Thales, she seemed to have made up her mind. She bit her lip tightly, stepped unsteadily out of the fireplace, and onto the stone bricks of the Hall of Heroes, her footing trembling as she walked on the broken firewood.

The second prince stared blankly at the girl covered in soot, unsure how to react.

how……

Why would she...?

But he immediately realized what was happening and ran forward in a few steps.

He even forgot about Ashida's voice.

"What kind of show is this now?" Trudida looked at the girl, then at the grand dukes, puzzled, and spread his hands impatiently: "First the boy, then the girl..."

"Is no one taking care of the fireplaces in Valhalla?"

Grand Duke Lombard frowned, unable to hide the astonishment on his face.

Grand Duke Ronnie sighed: "Today is indeed quite special."

The remaining two dukes exchanged puzzled glances.

"What happened?" Thales gripped the little rascal's shoulders tightly, blocking the grand dukes' view, and asked anxiously in a low voice:

"Shouldn't you be taking refuge on the top floor? What are you doing here? Where's Rolf?"

The little rascal looked at Thales, whose face was covered in dust, and paused for a moment.

A fraction of a second later, as if she had found her anchor, her breathing calmed down, and she faced Thales's questioning with a wronged expression: "The enemy has come to the top floor..."

“Rolf went to distract them, and I could only climb down all the way… and then I heard, heard you all…” The little rascal’s voice grew weaker and weaker, like a child who had done something wrong.

Thales felt a pang of sadness.

No.

Now, even the little rascal is in danger...

Thales turned around, instinctively shielding the little rascal behind him, and looked at the dukes with trepidation.

“Enough,” Rumba interrupted them coldly, “the performance of these ignorant brats is an insult to today’s meeting…”

“Wait,” Ronnie interrupted Rumba. The Grand Duke of Qiyuan City narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the girl behind the prince. “Who are you, little girl? You didn’t just happen to be here, did you?”

Oleshu glanced at the fireplace and snorted, "The Star People really are insatiable, even squeezing into such a narrow hole?"

Rumba noticed the dukes' reactions and his expression turned cold.

The gazes of the other dukes turned toward them, filled with vigilance and questioning.

Thales felt a tightness in his chest and gritted his teeth.

How to do?
How to answer?

How should I answer to ensure that the little rascal escapes and doesn't fall into their hands?
But he no longer needs to worry.

The next second, the girl's shoulders trembled slightly, and then she unexpectedly broke free from his arm, revealing herself from behind Thales.

"I……"

Under Thales's astonished gaze, the little rascal raised his dust-covered face, and, hesitant and fearful, spoke in a trembling voice:
"I am, I am..."

The dukes' expressions grew increasingly hostile, and Rumba gave a cold snort.

The little rascal looked very nervous. Under the warning snort, she lowered her head and trembled slightly, her eyes welling up with tears. She couldn't finish her sentence.

Thales sighed softly, turned his head, and was about to say something to distract them.

But the little rascal's actions once again surprised him.

The thin girl stared intently at the stone bricks on the ground, clenching her teeth.

In that instant, the girl, her face filled with fear, tightly closed her eyes, then suddenly opened them again, forcing all the tears that blurred her vision to spill from the corners of her eyes.

The little rascal slowly raised his head and, imitating Thales, took deep breaths.

The fear and panic on her face had gradually faded.

At this moment, the girl seemed to have just put down a heavy burden and crossed a chasm, and she raised her eyes with a surge of energy.

Thales watched in astonishment as the little rascal reached her right hand into her pocket, and then, despite her trembling, pulled something out without hesitation.

The second prince was slightly startled.

The girl's bright eyes held a fierce determination forced out of her. She bit her lower lip hard, slowly raised her right hand, and showed everyone what was in her pocket.

The dukes were all startled the moment they saw the object, their eyes fixed on the girl's right hand.

Aside from Chaman Lumba, who had anticipated this, several dukes simultaneously cast their gazes on the girl with expressions of shock, inquiry, scrutiny, or deep thought.

Thales watched this scene in disbelief, watching the girl who, though still trembling and tearful, still insisted on raising her right hand.

He sensed that something deep within the body of that little rascal—this tiny maid, this fragile girl—had changed.

The girl choked back a sob, sniffed, and slowly said, "This is mine..."

Just then, Grand Duke Lombard suddenly looked up!
He shot a gaze full of murderous intent and chilling intent toward the girl.

The sly little devil's feignedly strong gaze met Chaman Lumba's in mid-air.

The unprepared girl trembled, as if she had remembered something, and her words choked in her throat.

"Clang..."

The little rascal lost his footing for a moment, and the thing slipped and fell to the ground with a clatter.

Under the oppressive aura of the Black Sand Grand Duke, the little rascal, like a kitten that had been brought back to its original form, cried out in bewilderment, even his glasses were shaken askew.

“I don’t think we need to waste any more time,” Rumba said with a cold laugh, his eyes sharp as knives. “Unless you want to explain to Prime Minister Lisbon yourselves why we only showed up after leaving so many corpses behind?”

But the other dukes remained silent, exchanging glances in silence.

Looking at the sly little devil in front of him, Thales, who had been silent all along, suddenly noticed a problem.

After the little rascal appeared, he subconsciously put Ashida's existence, along with the options Ashida gave him, out of his mind.

But for some reason, Thales felt much more at peace at that moment.

The inexplicable anxiety and hesitation I felt when I was forced to make a choice were gone.

In that instant, Thales knew his answer.

He lowered his eyes and gave a bitter smile.

Thales.

When facing Giza, you had already made up your mind, hadn't you?

No matter how tempting or how easy it may seem...

You must never...

Never again...

I will never again surrender my future!

Thinking of this, Thales, who had been expressionless, suddenly stretched out his right hand!
"Snapped!"

He grabbed the girl who was about to bend down to pick something up, preventing her from bending over.

The little rascal snapped out of his daze and looked at Thales.

Thales slowly turned his head, gave her a reassuring smile, and reached out to straighten her glasses.

Under the solemn gazes of the dukes, the murderous look in Rumba's eyes, and the puzzled look in Little Sly's eyes, the second prince of the Star Kingdom, Thales Starlight, slowly bowed.

He reached out and picked the item up from the girl's feet.

“I suppose you’ll recognize this—it’s one of the credentials of King Nunn’s power and status,” Thales said slowly, straightening up.

The dukes all frowned and looked at each other.

Seeing Thales's expression, the little rascal seemed to revert to his old self, staring at him helplessly.

Thales's gaze gradually hardened.

Aishida...

Who do you think you are?
I don't believe that guy is one of those portable systems that says, "This system exists solely to serve the host and will never harm the host"... or one of those portable old men who say, "I can help you become something..."

Do you want to control my destiny and make me follow the path you've planned?
Just like those people—like Rick, Quaid, Kessel, King Nunn, Rumba?
Screw you.

A mage of Qi.

Aishida, you silly little thing?

Thales chuckled inwardly, solemnly raising the object in his left hand and unequivocally pulling up the little rascal's left hand.

The way the dukes looked at them slowly changed.

Grand Duke Lecce remained expressionless, but clenched his fists.

“As you can see,” Thales raised his head, his tone becoming solemn, “this lady is the current owner of this ring.” Looking at the ring, Rumba unconsciously pressed his hand to the sword at his waist, his expression complex.

The second prince, seeing the dazed little rascal, grabbed her left hand without hesitation.

Then, with utmost solemnity, Thales slipped the ring bearing countless heavy historical burdens and representing numerous emperors and kings—"Triumphant"—on the little rascal's left thumb.

The dukes stared intently at the black ring they knew all too well, their eyes revealing a habitual apprehension and vigilance.

“The glasses she’s wearing are the same glasses that the Sky Queen once wore,” Thales said softly, adjusting the little rascal’s black-rimmed glasses while wiping a few stains off her face with his sleeve. “And this lady herself is someone who once spoke directly with Her Majesty Chloreth!”

Archduke Aurelius was slightly taken aback: "What?"

The little rascal was startled, then his eyes narrowed, and he subconsciously began to tremble.

But Thales' eyes were resolute, and he suddenly tightened his grip on her left wrist!
The little rascal was slightly startled.

“Her existence is more than mine, more than yours, more than anyone else in this city, in this country,” Thales said, uttering each word with utmost seriousness, as if this were his last: “more than anyone else has the right and the qualification to question the truth of the King’s death, to interrogate the consciences of all of you here!”

Grand Duke Ronnie crossed his arms, his face grave.

The second prince looked directly into the girl's eyes with a serious and earnest expression.

In that instant, the little rascal felt much less nervous.

"Please allow me to introduce the bloodline of the hero Nekaru..." The second prince took a deep breath, turned around, and raised the little rascal's hand, along with the triumphant ring, above his head.

Thales and Little Slipper stood side by side in the hall, gritting their teeth, and said in a deep voice: "Blood relatives of King Nunn VII and Prince Suril, direct descendants of the Walton family, the most legitimate heirs of Dragonrise City and Cloud Dragon Spear..."

Trudida narrowed his eyes, his feelings complicated.

Thales turned his head and nodded slightly to the little rascal.

The girl looked back at Thales with her bright blue eyes and slowly nodded.

The little rascal stepped forward, raising the triumphant ring in his left hand.

“I am…” The girl suddenly turned her head, forcing herself to meet the imposing gazes of the five grand dukes, and gritted her teeth as if she were going to risk everything, and said, “I am Selma!”

The little rascal caught a glimpse of the dragon spear stone carving in the clouds above her head out of the corner of her eye. She couldn't control the trembling in her voice, but she used her hoarse voice to cover up her panic and tension.

The dukes exchanged subtle glances and complex emotions, remaining silent amidst their strange stares.

The girl stepped forward again, leaving Thales's arm for support. She leaned forward, her face contorted, and shouted at the top of her lungs, "I am the granddaughter of King Exeter and Grand Duke of Dragonstreet, Nunn Walton!"

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

Archduke Aurelius lowered his head slightly, while Archduke Ronnie shook his head slightly.

In the Hall of Heroes, beneath the stone carving of the Dragon Spear in the Clouds, before the five Dukes of Exeter, the girl tightly closed her eyes.

Tears streamed from her eyes, dripping onto the ground and shattering into countless teardrops.

Thales stood behind her, silently watching the girl's performance, his heart filled with mixed feelings, and a strange, indescribable feeling of unease welled up inside him.

The next moment, the girl clenched her fists and screamed out the mark that would accompany her for the rest of her life, her voice filled with anguish:

"I am Selma!"

“Selma Alex Suril Walton!”

The sound echoed in the hall, and even a low commotion could be heard outside.

The dukes stood stiffly, silent, and even Rumba remained motionless with a cold expression.

After shouting that, the little girl gasped for breath and swayed as if she had collapsed.

Thales quickly caught up and helped her up.

The silence lasted for several seconds.

The only sounds in the hall were the girl's sobs and the whispers of the dukes.

The girl seemed to have just made the biggest decision of her life, her teeth trembling as she silently sniffed.

“It’s alright,” Thales patted her shoulder gently, comforting her in a low voice, “Think about what it was like facing the Sky Queen, and then compare it to now…”

The girl's heart skipped a beat, and the image of that giant dragon, possessing both majesty and elegance, flashed before her eyes.

She took a deep breath and slowly but firmly raised her head.

“Just as Thales said,” the little rascal, no, from now on, it was Selma Walton, who pulled away from Thales’s arm, her face full of resentment, “I stand here, representing my bloodline, representing Dragonfall City, to question you…”

The girl, Selma, stared intently at the five dukes. At that moment, she seemed to no longer care about their gazes and majesty, and she forgot the fear and timidity that had always followed her.

"My lords of Exter, you uphold the sacred oath of shared rule, protecting this equally sacred land," Selma said coldly and in a deep voice.
"But when the kingslayer stands right before you..."

The girl's gaze swept over the four dukes as if she were looking at four thick books.

"Gentlemen, why are you protecting the murderer?"

Her voice was calm and cold.

The dukes all frowned and turned to Grand Duke Leco, who was the most qualified to speak.

But the eldest son stared straight at the girl, remaining silent.

Selma gritted her teeth, stepped forward, and continued, holding up the ring:
Why be unable to distinguish right from wrong?

Why distort the truth?

Why should we go along with their corrupt practices?

"Why do you willingly degenerate in the darkness and seclusion? Why do you disregard the dignity and traditions of the North? Why do you abandon the justice and honor of Exter?"

The dukes stared at the girl in disbelief, their gazes shifting between her face and the triumphal ring, and for a moment no one dared to object.

In the hall, the girl's voice grew louder and louder, her face turned redder and redder, and her gaze became increasingly aggressive.

Thales watched in astonishment as Selma performed like a real judge.

"How can you stand so calmly in the Hall of Heroes, a place passed down through generations of Walton, beneath the Cloud Dragon Spear Stone, which stood with Exter in life and death..." The girl took a breath, cleared her throat, and continued to speak with righteous indignation and imposing force: "How can you so readily defile and dishonor the glory and dignity of my grandfather, your king?"

Selma stared coldly at the grand dukes before her.

"You, the dukes who should bear the glory of the North with your beliefs and protect Exter with your loyalty..."

“Answer me…” she leaned forward and shouted without hesitation:

"answer me!"

The sound echoed in the hall.

Selma lowered her arms, panting heavily. She glanced at the dukes, her face showing a hint of stage fright—as if she herself was surprised by her performance.

Thales stepped forward and pulled her back.

The dukes looked at each other, their expressions varied, and it was a long time before someone finally spoke.

“To be questioned like this by a little girl,” Grand Duke Lyco looked at Selma, sighed, and said slowly:

"How embarrassing."

"And now?" Archduke Aurelius said coldly to the old Archduke, "Hardline or soft approach?"

Grand Duke Lecco gave a soft snort.

Behind him, Trudida leaned against Rumba, whose face was ashen with displeasure.

“I thought you had her under control,” Trudida gritted his teeth, glancing at Selma who was whispering to Thales, and whispered, “And she should be an innocent child, very ‘obedient’ and ‘cooperative’!”

Rumba didn't answer him, but just stared intently at Thales.

“If the bloodline of Dragon Sky City doesn’t ‘cooperate’…” The one who answered him was Grand Duke Ronnie. This Grand Duke of Qiyuan City seemed to enjoy making a fool of Trudida. He shook his head contemptuously: “It seems that you’re going to have some trouble getting the new farmland, Perseus.”

Before the dukes, Selma lowered her head in a daze, her right hand reaching for the word "Triumphant" on her left thumb.

Her face was flushed, and she was breathing in a daze.

The moment Selma touched the ring and felt the metallic texture, her expression changed, and she flinched.

It felt like I'd been burned.

Selma turned her head away, seemingly unable to look at the ring.

But her left hand was immediately grabbed firmly.

Selma looked up blankly.

“Well done.” Thales stood beside her and gave the girl an encouraging smile.

Selma's flush faded slightly, and she nodded happily, like a student who had received affirmation.

"By the way," the Star Prince, who was smiling with his eyes narrowed, suddenly changed the subject, raising an eyebrow:

"Which region's lines are you reciting?"

Selma, who had been very excited, stiffened slightly, like a student caught doing something wrong.

"I……"

Her little face drooped, and she blinked behind her glasses.

The girl seemed to instantly lose all her previous impassioned manner, looking at Thales with a pitiful expression.

Thales frowned slightly, his eyes filled with the question mark.

Seeing the prince's expression, Selma instinctively shrank back.

A second later, her face turned pale, she pouted, and weakly began to speak: "The Plays of Elados, Book Ten, The Death of the Black Knight..."

Selma pouted and said aggrievedly, "The indictment of Elson Slade, the Grand Inquisitor of the Ancient Empire, against 'Black Knight' Yutherly Ander for murdering the Supreme Emperor."

"I made a few minor changes..."

Thales was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter.

He instinctively reached out and happily pinched Selma's cheek.

The girl stared at him blankly, unsure how to respond.

Just now.

“Miss Selma,” Duke Lyco’s voice came, drawing the two children’s attention, “I offer my deepest condolences for the loss of the Walton family and Dragonstreet City.”

The eldest duke slowly walked to the rectangular table and sat down: "Your Majesty's misfortune is also Exter's misfortune."

Selma's face turned pale.

But Thales smiled.

The other dukes exchanged glances, each with a different expression, while Rumba remained expressionless, his thoughts unknown.

“But you are too young to understand all this,” a strange light flashed in Grand Duke Leco’s eyes. The bald grand duke spoke slowly in his unique, aged yet dignified voice: “I suggest you do not believe the one-sided story of the enemy prince—such as who assassinated His Majesty.”

Upon hearing this, Grand Duke Ronnie gave a strange snort, immediately earning a furious glare from Trudida.

Selma bit her lower lip.

“I…I stood in the Shield District, on the land of Dragonsreach, and watched with my own eyes as Nunn…His Majesty…his head fell to the ground,” she said, struggling to suppress her trembling as she recalled the horrific scene. “I watched the King of Heaven die, die, die from a despicable and clumsy assassination…”

"Child!" Grand Duke Lyco interrupted her, his eyes wide with anger. "Miss Walton!"

“I respect your grandfather.”

"But please don't doubt our loyalty to the North, to Exter. The reason we stand here is precisely for the future of Exter!" Grand Duke Lyco said coldly. "In the face of that future, in the face of Exter, whether it is you or me, or even His Majesty Nunn, we are nothing but dust in the desert, insignificant—even to the Walton family!"

Selma was stunned and speechless for a moment.

Behind her, Thales sighed softly.

“Our decision was difficult too,” Grand Duke Trudida sighed, waving his hand as if in great pain. “One day you will understand, but not now.”

Ronnie hugged his arms tightly, his face grim.

“Of course, if you don’t understand,” Archduke Aurelius said calmly, with a hint of threat in his tone, “we have no choice but to reluctantly persuade you to cooperate.”

Rumba continued to stare intently at Thales, without uttering a word, as if Thales were his greatest threat.

The hall fell silent once more.

"Cooperate?" Selma frowned, somewhat flustered and at a loss, as this was the first time she had encountered such a situation. "You..."

But her arm tightened slightly.

Selma looked at the prince with a puzzled expression.

Beside her, Thales quietly watched the girl's rosy cheeks.

Selma felt a little awkward under his gaze.

Thales slowly exhaled.

"That's enough, my lady, you've done enough."

In Selma's eyes, the boy from the stars smiled his brightest smile and gently shook his head: "What happens next..."

"Just leave it to me."

This chapter is somewhat related to the fourth side story, so you may want to refer to it while reading.