Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 282 Disappointment
Selma's eyes widened slightly as she took the exquisite box, somewhat surprised.

She first looked at Thales with a puzzled expression, then gently opened it.

"This is……"

Selma looked up in surprise when she saw what was in the box.

“When I wrote to the country last year, I had Gilbert and the others arrange for it to be done by someone, and it was only brought over by Putila today,” Thales winked smugly, grabbing the contents of the box:
“You know, the craftsmen in Xingchen Kingdom are quite skilled… I measured the curvature and thickness of the lenses according to their requirements, hoping there won’t be any major mistakes. I’ve also prepared several spare lenses…”

"If there's a mistake, we'll have to re-grind the lens—and hand-grinding is very expensive..."

Selma took a breath and looked at the obviously finely crafted item in Thales' hand.

"Introducing...pennywise!"

Thales smiled and picked up the new glasses in his hand, which were completely different from the ones on the girl's face.

These glasses are strange; they have no ear frames at all, only a chain attached to one side of the frame. The frame is very thin, and the nose pads are also somewhat unusual.

Thales skillfully reached out his left hand, stroked Selma's forehead, and removed the large, heavy black-rimmed glasses from her face.

It was as if they had practiced it hundreds or thousands of times.

But Selma just stared at him blankly, letting the prince take off her glasses without any resistance, not caring at all about the great impact on her eyesight.

It felt as if I had experienced it hundreds or thousands of times.

Thales excitedly fiddled with the new glasses in his hand, pressing them onto the girl's nose and gently touching her soft skin with his fingers: "Like this, using a bit of air pressure, clipping them onto the nose will stabilize the glasses, so there's no need to put them on the ears at all!"

“Then put this chain in…” Thales grabbed the thin chain at one end of his glasses, lowered his head, and tried to find a pocket on Selma’s body to put it in.

But to his embarrassment, he discovered that the girl had no pockets; the only open space was in front of her chest, where her clothes were tightly bound by both her outer garment and a corset...

"It's fine if you don't want to let go." The second prince awkwardly looked away and stuffed the chain into the other person's hand.

When Selma first put on glasses without ear frames, she was so surprised that her mouth dropped open.

She carefully held the small new glasses frame, shook her head as if afraid it would fall, and then looked up to look around.

Thales observed the Grand Duchess's new look: the almost transparent pince-nez glasses freed Selma's face from the torment of black-rimmed glasses, and the girl blinked her bewildered eyes, looking rather charming and cute, less stiff and serious than before.

Thales breathed a satisfied sigh of relief, picked up Selma's well-worn old glasses, and chuckled.

A few seconds later, the girl finally got used to her new glasses.

"Thank you." Selma lowered her head, seemingly a little embarrassed.

“You’re welcome. I’ve wanted to say this for a long time,” the prince said with a smile. “As the leader of this land, this suits you better.”

To his surprise, Selma remained calm, showing neither excitement nor curiosity.

But...

"Hey, Thales." The girl stared blankly at the distance, adjusting her glasses.

Thales raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?"

Selma gently raised her head.

Thales noticed that there was some redness around her eyes.

No way.

It's just a gift, why are you so touched?
Thales, who was most afraid of seeing people cry, felt a pang of fear.

“Thales,” Selma said softly, “do you remember that day six years ago?”

Thales narrowed his eyes in confusion.

"The day we first met."

That night, that early morning, that morning.

Her voice was ethereal and faint, as if it drifted from afar.

Thales frowned, recalling the past.

That night.

Nuen, Rumba, the blood-stained crown, the newborn Grand Duchess.

“Of course,” he said, his voice growing serious as he looked directly at the girl before him, “how could I possibly forget that experience?”

“Because of you, Thales,” Selma looked at him earnestly, “I have become a Grand Duchess.”

"because of you."

Thales paused for a moment, about to speak, but Selma just shook her head, her red eyes leaving Thales speechless.

He only felt a tightness in his chest.

only……

Why bring this up?

“You said it,” Selma sniffed, her voice slightly nasal, a hint of sadness in her eyes as she looked from behind her new glasses, “Don’t run away, choose to become the person I want to be…”

"And you will always be by my side..."

Thales looked a little embarrassed, his lips slightly parted.

“Ah,” the prince took a deep breath, recalling his past words, and unconsciously gave a reassuring smile: “I will always be here.”

Selma did not speak.

She simply watched the prince quietly.

The emotions surging in his eyes made Thales quite uneasy.

The two of them just stared at each other in silence.

After a long while, the dull atmosphere was finally broken by a girl's laughter.

However, to Thales, the laughter did not sound so happy.

"I'm sorry, Thales."

“It was my fault,” the girl said with a hint of disappointment. “It had nothing to do with you… I shouldn’t have kicked you today.”

what?
Thales first widened his eyes, then scratched his head in confusion.

Selma's performance today was somewhat beyond his expectations.

The prince could only smile awkwardly, filled with doubt.

“It’s alright,” Thales sighed softly, shaking his head helplessly. “We’re friends, after all.”

Just like you said: we'll be together through thick and thin.

At this point, Selma trembled slightly!
The Grand Duchess suddenly raised her head, as if she had made up her mind.

“Thales!” Selma exhaled, her words pausing for a moment: “Today’s hearing… that…”

Thales sensed something: "Hmm? What's wrong?"

But at that moment, Selma's eyes, which were fixed on Thales, suddenly dimmed.

It's as if they've let go of something.

Thales looked at her with a puzzled expression.

What on earth is this...

The next second, Selma's tone and rhythm returned to normal.

“Um… a messenger raven has arrived from Qiyuan City,” she said, turning her head as if she didn’t care. “Ronnie and his allies, the three Grand Dukes of the North, want to invite me to invite Longxiao City to sign a declaration against the King’s decree in support of their protest.”

“Oh, that’s a good thing,” Thales said, full of questions, recalling the major events in Exter over the past few months—King Charman’s new decree on nobility in Black Sand Territory had met with almost unanimous opposition and condemnation throughout the country, and he was probably in a terrible predicament—he was somewhat gloating.
"Let's teach Rumba a lesson."

“Yes,” Selma chuckled, but her tone was somewhat low, “It’s a good thing.”

Thales frowned as he looked at the sullen girl in front of him.

“Speaking of which, you know, we’ll soon have a new teacher,” the prince asked tentatively, trying to start a conversation. “It’s someone Putila brought from the Duchy of Anrenzo. He said he’s a highly respected…”

But the next moment, Selma stood up abruptly.

"I'm full, you can continue," the Grand Duchess replied with a serene and calm expression.

Thales was startled.

what?
But she was only...

“Tomorrow, same time, the library,” Selma said with a pale smile. “A new batch of books has arrived. Don’t forget, we’ll read them together.”

Thales nodded subconsciously.

The girl gave him a slight smile and a barely perceptible nod, then clenched her fist and quickly walked out of the dining room.

Thales was left alone, staring blankly at the table full of food, completely bewildered.

What happened to her?
The prince stared blankly at the girl's departing figure.

There seemed to be a faint scent of her body still lingering on her seat.

Thales suddenly realized: when Selma left, she left those black-rimmed glasses on the table and didn't take them with her.

----

Bloodstained Courtyard, that night.

"You really don't know?"

Inside the room, Putila sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, casually puffing on his pipe, and spoke to Thales, who had a serious expression on his face.

“Of course, a foreign prince is not allowed to sneak into the Hall of Heroes on the day of the council,” Thales said somewhat anxiously. “What exactly happened at the council meeting in Dragonsreach City today? What does it have to do with the Grand Duchess, who usually doesn’t speak?”

Putila clicked her tongue in satisfaction.

"Okay, even though I can't get in, I still have some connections..."

“Putila, if you know anything, just say it,” Thales sighed, urging him repeatedly, “I’m really in a hurry.”

Thales unconsciously reached out and gently squeezed the old glasses in his pocket.

A slight heaviness settled in my heart.

Putila nodded and gave a soft hum.

“Listen to me, Your Highness,” the former deputy envoy said calmly, “Today, halfway through the hearing in Dragon Sky City, someone suddenly accused you.”

Thales raised an eyebrow.

"Whom should be blamed?"

The prince was somewhat surprised. He pointed to himself and asked, "Me?"

“Hmm,” Putila said slowly, observing Thales’ reaction. “Some say that the young prince of the stars forcibly seized civilian shops in the Spear District once a month in order to play a game of chess.”

"what?"

Thales made an "O" shape with his mouth in surprise.

But when I go to the Mao District to play chess, including in that chess and card room...

But Putila continued slowly: "During this time, the prince also encouraged his lawless subordinates to hunt in the suburban woods that belonged only to the lord... to hunt hares."

Thales was confused again.

When the hell did I send my men to hunt rabbits...?

Wait... this...

Thales thought of a figure under a cloak, and suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, his vision went black, and he felt as if he almost vomited blood.

"Anyway, it caused a huge uproar," Putila took a drag of his cigarette, hummed with satisfaction, and continued, "After hearing about the arrogant and domineering behavior of the enemy prince in Dragonfall City, which had been so tolerant and courteous to him, the vassals at the council meeting were all filled with righteous indignation and demanded of Regent Lisban..."

“I demand that your crimes be punished accordingly… such as more severe dungeon confinement,” Putila chuckled, “such as the whipping unique to the North.”

“‘Teach that imperialist a lesson’ or something like that.”

Thales' eyes widened in disbelief.

“A crime? Well,” the prince suddenly realized something, and he cast a suspicious glance at Putila, who was leisurely smoking, “Wait, your prince is about to get a spanking, why are you still so calm?”

Putila chuckled and shook her head in front of Thales, who was slightly displeased.

"Don't rush, Your Highness."

"Your luck remains as good as ever."

“Something unexpected happened,” Putila said with a nostalgic tone, “the first time in six years.”

"The eighteen-year-old Grand Duchess of Walton, who was usually silent during court sessions..."

"He actually stood up from his seat in excitement."

Thales frowned.

she……

Stand up?

"The Duchess of Walton shocked everyone—despite the fierce condemnation from almost all the vassals, she loudly proclaimed that she was willing to guarantee it with her own reputation and authority," Puttier said lightly, but to Thales it was so awe-inspiring:

“I guarantee that your actions were all permitted by her: if you want to hold someone accountable, start with her.”

Thales was stunned.

He stared blankly into the void, and unconsciously murmured, "And then?"

Putila's face darkened.

He lowered his leg and sat up straight.

"Then..."

“There was a short-sighted viscount who publicly criticized your lady,” Putila sighed, “saying that she was so protective of a hostage prince, could there be something going on between them…”

Thales listened blankly to Putila's story, completely unaware of the Lord's deliberate or unintentional special way of addressing the girl.

"Of course, he was immediately beaten black and blue by the angry northerners and driven out of the hall."

"What happened next was ugly. I heard that the Grand Duchess lost her temper and smashed a stone cup—the Regent of Lisbon almost lost control of the situation."

"For the sake of an outsider... I think the vassals of Longxiao City probably have an even worse impression of their female lord."

After saying this, Putila gently exhaled and blew out a smoke ring.

original……

Thales unconsciously slumped onto the bed, his expression one of astonishment.

He touched his knee, recalling the girl's vicious kick.

She today...

He recalled her abrupt words at the dinner table, her tone almost tearful.

Because I...

"But because of this matter, many vassals looked very grim, and they all voiced their objections: for the sake of the stability of Dragon City's rule and the continuation of the Walton family's bloodline..."

Thales sat there, stunned, completely unaware that his breathing was beginning to quicken.

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess should choose a husband from among her local vassals this year, marry and have children,” Putila’s words reached Thales’ ears with a sense of detachment, as if they were coming from another room.
"The reasoning is so sound that even Lisban cannot object."

"This is what happened at the hearing—I think it's at least what you'd like to know."

Thales unconsciously clenched his fist.

Putila looked thoughtfully at the somewhat distraught Thales and sighed softly, "Your Highness, prepare yourself."

"Your friend."

"That poor little girl."

Recalling the past, the thin man clicked his tongue and shook his head:
"She's getting married."

Putila's voice was very low, as if afraid of waking someone who was sleeping.

On the other side, Thales, who had been silent for a long time, had even forgotten how to react.

Putila silently exhaled a perfect smoke ring, watching it drift away and disappear into the air.

It's as if it never existed.

Only the person who blew the smoke ring can remember how perfect it was in that moment.

After a few seconds.

Prince Thales Star instinctively turned his head to look out the window.

You will always be by my side, you will face everything with me, you will...

Little rascal.

He silently called out that name, which he hadn't uttered in a long time but which remained as clear as ever, staring blankly in the direction of Valhalla.

I felt my hands and feet were ice cold, and I felt a sense of loss.

I'm back!
Don't be nervous, everyone.

So far, the plot is progressing smoothly and steadily.

Um, when we get to drifting around corners and shifting gears for a tail-sliding maneuver, I'll remind everyone to fasten their seatbelts.

For example, right now.

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(End of this chapter)