Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 291 Merri Hexer

Five days later, Thales sat listlessly in the Grand Duchess's study in Valhalla, while Selma sat at the desk opposite him, engrossed in reading a copy of Cahill's Selected Poems.

Prince Star bowed his head slightly and exhaled.

The shock of the library didn't last long; a sketch in that book didn't give Thales any more information.

He could only guess that the Blade of Purification, as a weapon that might have drunk the blood of a dragon, had formed a connection and resonance with his own unique physique.

And the bridge connecting them is becoming increasingly clear:

That dragon-language name.

But this isn't the most troubling thing for Thales right now.

“I have gone to see the Earl of Lisbon.”

Thales's casual remark drew Selma's attention.

The Grand Duchess looked up, her eyes lighting up: "What did Charles say?"

Thales scratched his head.

"Risban said that regarding the Freedom Alliance, we need to wait for an official letter from Qiyuan City before we can decide how to respond."

“But don’t worry,” Prince Star grinned, “Lisban is very confident that the Grand Duchess will continue to maintain her independence and autonomy. He already has a plan—King Nunn’s prime minister is no ordinary person.”

Selma's lips curled up slightly, revealing the Grand Duchess's good mood at that moment.

"Thales, thank you."

Thales shrugged.

He recalled the scene of seeking a private meeting with Lisban the day before yesterday and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Thank you for your concern, Prince Thales. We will naturally handle the Grand Duchess's affairs, but please do not forget that we are the vassals of Dragonsreach City, and you are, after all, merely a guest, not the "host"—not in the past, not now, and certainly not in the future.

[Of course, as the Grand Duchess's most sincere "friend," please refrain from having any ulterior motives or thoughts, let alone taking any actions—whatever they may be, they would be extremely detrimental to you, to the lady, to Dragon Sky City, and to Eternal Star City.]

I admire your reputation for intelligence and precocious maturity, so I am very reluctant to see you degenerate into a mediocre person indulging in desires. I hope you will take care of yourself, as your situation is not entirely safe.

Really.

Thales closed his eyes and pounded his head hard.

What are "excessive thoughts and ideas"?
Are there also "mediocre people who are obsessed with desires"?
What is Charles Lisban, an old man in his sixties or seventies, thinking about all day long?

But it is clear that Lisbon does not want to accept his help. The former prime minister's original words were, "Your approach will only cause Dragon City to suffer unnecessary losses."

After this incident, Thales realized that his unpopularity in Dragonhill City had clearly reached a new level. Not only Risban and Nikolai, but even Lady Jinx and the two maids had been looking at him strangely these past few days. This made Thales even cautious when greeting the servants, for fear that a masked man with a knife would suddenly jump out from some corner and rush at him shouting "For Exter!"

To his surprise, Putila seemed unperturbed by the prince's involvement in the political struggles of Dragon City and his determination to help his friend escape an unhappy marriage for the sake of friendship. However, his knowing look as he smoked his pipe and smiled crookedly was really distressing to Thales.

Even the looks in Wyatt and Rolf's eyes gave Thales the feeling that he had done something wrong.

“We’re not surprised at all, you know: boys always have to go through some ‘special events’ to grow up.” This was the lord’s wicked reply, puffing out smoke rings, when Thales couldn’t help but ask him during a break from learning bard poetry with Putila.

Because of this statement, Tersk withheld all the bounty that was originally intended to be given to Lord Tersk on the day of rewards.

Thales shook his head in the study, trying to banish the memory from his mind.

"By the way, do you know anything about the new teacher who will be arriving later?" Selma put down her book and asked curiously, "I heard that he was introduced by your interesting deputy envoy."

“Putilay?” Thales, lost in his memories, said with a straight face, “He’s not my deputy, I don’t know him well.”

Selma gave him a strange look, silently snorted, and returned to her book.

At the same time, the sound of two footsteps suddenly came from outside the study.

"Thum, thump, thump..."

To be precise, it was the sound of one person's footsteps, and another person's...

"Thum, thump, thump..."

Thales frowned: It was the sound of wood hitting the ground, the rhythm was disordered, casual and unintentional, as if it were struck casually.

But it's also very heavy.

Just like...

The study door opened.

Lady Jinx entered, gave a slight bow to the Grand Duchess and His Highness the Prince, and then politely and discreetly withdrew.

A frail figure appeared behind the female official.

The new guest was slightly hunched over, leaning on a rather old and heavy cane, which he put all his weight on, with the tip of the cane firmly touching the ground.

"Thum, thump, thump..."

Jin Kesi closed the door to the study.

The prince and the grand duchess quickly sat up straight and looked at the newcomer: he leaned on his cane and slowly moved toward Thales and Selma by the desk.

"Excuse me, gentlemen and ladies, I'm getting old—cough—my frail bones can't take much more," came the guest's voice, weak and withered, accompanied by a clearing of his throat, as if he couldn't speak without it.

"From Anrenzo to Exeter, the carriage ride was so bad it almost shook my backside off—the lads were afraid I'd die on the way, so they had to slow down."

"After arriving in Longxiao City, it took me four whole days to rest before I could recover."

Thales glanced at the cane and unconsciously thought of the Black Prophet, whom he had met several times before, and felt a pang of unease.

The prince dismissed any extraneous impressions, narrowed his eyes, and sized up the newcomer:
This was a thin and short old man with sparse white hair on his head and deep wrinkles on his face, as if he had experienced too much hardship.

The old man was wrapped from head to toe—I use this word because he was so thin that it looked as if his clothes were hanging on an oversized hanger—in an ordinary dark coat with a white lining and a red scarf, looking no different from an ordinary merchant doing business in a shop.

He didn't seem to be in good spirits; his eyes were hazy and cloudy. Only his left eye, which was covered by a single-lens reflex, appeared particularly large when viewed from the front. The old man managed a faint, gentle smile, but his nasolabial folds and chapped lips trembled as he looked up and down, giving him a desolate air about his later years.

He looked even older than Risban and Nunn six years ago—Thales was secretly alarmed—he was at least seventy years old.

How did Putila and Gilbert manage to persuade this seemingly ill, frail old man to travel thousands of miles to Dragon City?
“Good day, sir,” Thales said with some concern. “I… heard Puttier mention the new teacher, but he has refused to say who it is.”

Selma stared blankly at the new teacher, seemingly stunned by the teacher's age and circumstances.

"Perhaps he's right, so that when you see a decrepit old man nearing his grave, you won't be too disappointed." The old man chuckled dryly, then took another step forward, seemingly with some difficulty, his right hand holding the cane trembling slightly.

“You don’t mind if I sit down, do you know that?” The gaunt old man glanced at his trembling right arm, sniffed with disgust, and shook his head.

"My legs and feet are not good."

Clearly, he didn't consult the two—at least not the Grand Duchess—but instead chose the most comfortable leather chair and sat down.

The gaunt old man sank into the leather chair, closed his eyes, and breathed a sigh of relief, taking several seconds to recover.

Thales and Selma looked at each other in surprise, unsure how to react.

This is... the teacher whom Gilbert and Putila highly praised?

The old man seemed to slowly regain some strength, then opened his eyes and gave a weak smile:

"Don't worry, I've been weak and sickly since I was a child, and I look terrible, but in fact, I've lived much longer than many strong and healthy people, including some burly men who have been through countless battles."

Thales forced a smile and said, "I heard that you are the teacher of Gilbert Caso and Putila Niemann, and that they have achieved what they have today thanks to your teachings?"

The gaunt old man tilted his head slightly, squinted his eyes, as if he were recalling something.

“Oh, right, those two interesting lads, the little adult and the troublemaker,” the old man paused, as if just remembering, and a smile curved his lips: “A long time ago, when I was a tutor, I taught some students… um, they seem to be among them?”

Thales raised an eyebrow and exchanged another puzzled look with Selma.

"Oh, right!" The old man raised an eyelid, and his left eye, visible through his glasses, suddenly widened, looking quite frightening.

He took the cane from his right hand, placed it between his knees, leaned on it with both hands, and smiled slightly.

“As an opening, I think we should introduce ourselves first,” the old man said gently, looking at the two embarrassed students, his wrinkles undulating like waves. “Let me begin.” “Merry Hixser,” the gaunt old man cleared his throat, “from Dragon’s Kiss Basin, the Duchy of Anrenzo, Longsong City.”

"But most people who know me like to call me 'Old Crow,' though students usually only dare to call me that behind my back."

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

Dragon Kiss Basin.

That is……

"You're from Dragon's Kiss Academy? You're a Bachelor?" Selma's eyes lit up. She leaned forward with great interest, looking curiously at her new teacher, Hixser. "I've heard from Sharl that you have a high reputation, and many outstanding figures have studied under you..."

Hixser first laughed heartily, then shook his head with a sigh, interrupting the Grand Duchess.

“Although I did hold a position at Dragon Kiss Academy,” Hicksor blinked his left eye behind his glasses, “I must say with shame that I never obtained a bachelor’s degree. When I traveled to various countries, I only managed to get a tutoring job in a noble castle by pretending to be a classmate with a bachelor’s degree certificate.”

His tone was casual, and despite his choice of words, he showed no shame whatsoever, as if he were talking about something as trivial as "forgetting his wallet when he went out."

Thales and Selma stared at each other in astonishment for the third time, then blinked.

what?
"Old Raven" Heathcliff nodded to them in a friendly and playful manner.

"Now it's your turn to introduce yourselves."

"Ladies first, how about that?"

Selma's mouth gaped slightly, somewhat taken aback.

Thales was also somewhat confused.

Over the past six years, the boys and girls of Longxiao City have experienced countless tutors from the North—rigid, flexible, serious, stubborn, indifferent, kind, humorous, pretentious, and extremely vicious…

But every teacher knew before class what kind of students they would be facing. Their reactions to the Grand Duchess and the Prince were not like those of the old man who called himself "Old Crow." At least, he never spoke to them in such a nonchalant tone about how he had forged documents to deceive them, nor did he casually ask the two noblemen to "introduce themselves" right away.

Moreover, his way of addressing them...

Sir, Madam?
This reminded Thales of six years earlier, in the Mindis Hall, when Gilbert also referred to him as "Little Sir," before he was recognized as a prince.

Thinking of this, a feeling of longing welled up in his heart.

“Don’t be shy, don’t be nervous… I’m not here to be your enemy—unlike most teachers in this world,” Hickser noticed the Grand Duchess’s reaction, opened his mouth wide, revealing a set of well-maintained teeth despite his age, and laughed casually:

“Dragon City pays me a salary, not so that I can bother you. In fact, this is just an informal meeting. If it is not well received, I will just consider it a visit to the North.”

Take a stroll?
Thales glanced at his right hand, which was still trembling slightly from exhaustion, and frowned.

The old crow exhaled and nodded with a smile.

He looked at Selma gently, his right hand resting on his cane and his left hand lightly patting the back of his right hand: "Although I have heard a lot about the two gentlemen and ladies before, I would like to hear your own voices."

The old man's attitude seemed to reassure Selma quite a bit. The girl glanced at Thales, who gave her an encouraging nod.

“Good day, Mr. Hixser, I am Selma Walton, from Dragonsreach City… cough cough, I am the Grand Duchess of Dragonsreach City,” Selma said cautiously, “Actually, I’m very stupid, I don’t know anything, all I can do is read books…”

Hicks chuckled.

“Ah, Grand Duchess, it’s so nice to see you, haha, at least we have obvious things in common.” Heathcliff winked and smiled as he poked his monocle on the bridge of his nose.

Selma adjusted her pince-nez glasses, slightly raised her eyebrows, and curved the corners of her mouth upwards—Thales knew this was an expression she was trying to suppress.

The old crow shook his head, turned to the other person, and slightly widened his left eye behind his glasses: "Why don't you sit closer, Thales?"

Prince Star, who was observing the interaction between the two, paused for a moment.

“You don’t have to act like a hedgehog—you may always be in trouble, but not today, not here.” Hexer tapped his cane, looking at Thales with a meaningful gaze.

Thales stared wide-eyed at the strange new teacher, his throat bobbing.

“Good day, sir,” he finally moved his chair forward a little, lowered his scrutinizing gaze slightly, and nodded. “I am Thales Star, and I look forward to your instruction—thank you for accepting Putila’s invitation and traveling so far to teach us.”

“Yes, Thales,” Hixer took a deep breath, his left eye behind his glasses staring at Thales, his voice weak, “Brilliant Star, very good. Brilliant Star, just as expected.”

Thales was slightly taken aback.

"Oh, right, the lesson!" The old crow stopped rambling and patted the back of his hand, letting out a sigh.

"You must be wondering what this strange old man is going to teach you, and what he can teach you?"

Facing the curious and scrutinizing gazes of the two students, the gaunt old man sitting in the leather chair lifted his back off the chair and looked up.

“I’ve thought about this: even among the many students I’ve taught, you can’t be considered the most ordinary kind.”

Thales and Selma both looked intently at the teacher.

To be honest, whether it was Gilbert's highly complimentary assessment in his letter that "he is the second most respected person in my life," or Putila's seemingly casual but actually deliberate introduction, both filled him with anticipation for this rather peculiar "old crow" he had just met.

Snapped!
Hicks slapped the back of his hand and laughed.

"In fact, I can't think of anything I can teach you."

"So I finally decided, to hell with all this teaching!"

what?
Under the astonished gazes of the two students, the gaunt old man said casually and easily, "Let's have a chat today."

Let's...have a chat?

For the fourth time, Thales and Selma exchanged a shocked and puzzled look.

What's this……

“Isn’t it interesting? You are, on the one hand, the supreme rulers of Dragon Sky City,” Hickser remarked, “and on the other hand, the heirs of an ancient kingdom.”

"A man and a woman, by sheer coincidence, find themselves sitting in the same room, facing the same old geezer."

"Then let's talk about a topic that's relevant to both of you, shall we?"

The prince raised an eyebrow, glanced at his notebook, silently closed it, and pushed it away from his side.

The old raven frowned, seemingly deep in thought, his gaze shifting between the bewildered boy and girl: "Hmm, a topic related to the Northerners and the Star People... let me think."

Hicksher's brow twitched, and the wrinkles on his face rippled once more.

“Oh, I’ve got it,” the old man said kindly, looking at Selma. “Madam?”

Selma quickly nodded politely in response, "Mr. Hicks?"

The old man, nicknamed Old Crow, nodded seemingly satisfied, then reached out his hand to Thales.

The prince was slightly startled.

“This is Thales,” Hickser said solemnly, “Tyles Star.”

“Ah, I know.” Selma was a little confused.

Hicksor sighed.

"Composed, calm, alert, handsome, and with sharp eyes, the Star Prince carries the weight of the rise and fall of an ancient kingdom in his destiny..."

"Struggling and fighting in an invisible vortex of darkness."

Thales's brow twitched.
This teacher's choice of words is somewhat...

Selma couldn't help but glance at the second prince, her eyes filled with worry and pity.

He said calmly, "So, Selma Walton, as the first Grand Duchess in Dragonsreach City, a youthful, restless, and vibrant girl from the North, with a delicate position, you..."

The next second, their gentle new teacher, Merri Hixter from Dragon's Kiss, smiled and asked the bewildered Grand Duchess:
Do you like him?

Snapped!
At that moment, the book in the girl's hand fell heavily to the ground.

(End of this chapter)