Kingdom Bloodline

The moral of the story in Chapter 322

The girl became visibly anxious.

Selma's breathing quickened, and she instinctively shook her head: "But, Count, no..."

But her hesitation lasted only a few seconds before the Grand Duchess raised her head again and reaffirmed her stance.

“Count Nazel, you don’t understand,” she said, her words somewhat incoherent, but the underlying firmness made Risban frown. “I swear… I beg you all to give me some time. I will definitely resolve this matter, whether it’s the Star Army or anything else… Prince Thales is no ordinary man. He was our comrade-in-arms six years ago. We cannot repay kindness with enmity!”

Thales was jolted awake!
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall seemed to turn cold instantly.

Count Lisbon let out a heavy sigh, while Nazel's expression was extremely unpleasant.

The other earls were not to be outdone.

More and more northerners are turning back to Thales.

But the gazes fixed on him were becoming increasingly ominous.

“Silly girl,” Ian said, rubbing his forehead in frustration. He nudged Thales and whispered, “Yeah, maybe she did it to protect you…”

"However, if we have to sacrifice the support of the entire Dragon Sky City for this..."

"Then what's the point of everything we've done today?"

Thales did not answer; he simply banished all superfluous emotions from his mind and quietly watched the Grand Duchess who refused to back down.

“Madam, Ms. Selma Walton, you said…”

Earl Nazel addressed her by her full name, narrowing his eyes: "Our comrade-in-arms?"

Nazel quietly repeated Selma's words.

Selma took a deep breath, her face pale: "Yes, you may not know, but Charles knows very well..."

But the next moment, Count Nazel's eyes widened, and he suddenly raised his voice:
"indeed!"

The loud voice reverberated through the hall, and the old count stood up from his seat!
The vassals were all deeply moved.

Selma was stunned by the Earl's sudden outburst.

Nazel's expression was tense, and his words were stern, making one forget his age: "Do you think we don't know?"

"Six years ago, from Grand Duke Pefit's conspiracy to the disaster that struck the city, to the death of King Nunn and the coronation of King Chaman..."

"Yes, I know exactly what role those despicable Starfolk played in that tragedy!"

Discussions arose again in the Hall of Heroes.

Selma stared blankly at the other person: "Count Nazel..."

Count Nazel looked coldly at Selma, then at Thales: "Lady Cassans explained it very clearly: what came with this Prince of the Stars was the catastrophe that shattered Dragon Sky City! It is what has brought us to this state of desolation and ruin!"

Lisban was about to say something to smooth things over when he heard this and was taken aback.

“Kasan…” The Regent sighed, “It seems you’re not as contemptuous of the Black Sand Territory’s outstretched hand as you claimed.”

"Old man."

Nazel snorted coldly.

The elderly count cast a sharp gaze that seemed out of place for his age, sending a chill down the spines of those who met it.

"Six years have passed, and the calamities brought by this ominous prince have never ceased," Nazel said slowly, pacing back and forth, addressing the slightly flustered Grand Duchess.
"As a so-called hostage, he cannot be moved, used, or harmed, yet he is still in Valhalla, living and eating with you!"

“I hate to say this, but…” Nazel gritted his teeth, his words carrying a newfound resentment: “Dragon City has had enough.”

"Whether it was the disaster of the past or the predicament we face now."

"Whether it's the Black Sand Territory or the Star People."

"Whether it's by your side or on the battlefield of the Freedom Alliance."

Selma stared at him blankly, unsure how to respond.

A chorus of approval rang out in the hall, and pairs of eyes turned toward Thales, filled with hostility.

Curtson and Earl Linna exchanged a glance, Hearst and Earl Kerkegol lowered their heads and remained silent, while Regent Lisbon frowned.

After a long silence, Nazel coughed heavily a few times.

"I'm sorry, I overstepped my bounds."

Nazel lowered his voice, seemingly reverting to his old and decrepit count appearance.

“And it’s time for your naiveté to end here.” He shook his head, his eyes filled with sorrow: “Please forgive me for reconsidering my decision to send troops—perhaps Dragon Sky City should stay away from these matters, even if it damages your reputation.”

"Please understand: We came in response to the call, not to satisfy a child's willfulness in protecting a childhood playmate."

Nazel snorted and sat down again.

His blunt remark instantly plunged the entire hall into a chilling atmosphere.

The vassals' breathing gradually became erratic.

“You son of a bitch,” Ian cursed bitterly behind Thales, “everything was fine before…”

No one spoke.

Everyone was waiting for the girl sitting at the highest point of the Hall of Heroes, perhaps the highest point in Dragon Sky City.

Selma trembled slightly as she looked at Nazel in disbelief.

No.

She was struggling internally, and her eyes slowly turned red.

"Anyone else?"

Selma's voice slowly rose, as if through a veil of water: "Is there anyone else who is determined to withdraw their troops because of this?"

Count Lisbon clenched his fists tightly, looking at the Grand Duchess with a hesitant gaze.

Earl Hearst hesitated, but ultimately said nothing.

Earl Linna and Courterson exchanged a glance, their meaning unclear.

Count Kierkegaard bowed deeply.

“Naive? Willful?” Selma murmured.

"Protecting childhood playmates?"

She raised her arms as if trying to grab something, but in the end she could only slump helplessly onto the chair.

The girl looked at Thales with a sorrowful expression.

But Thales did not respond to her.

A few seconds later, her gaze returned to Nazel, looking at the count's sorrowful and unhappy face.

"The decisiveness expected of a wise grand duke?"

Her expression slowly turned indignant.

“It’s easy to say, Count Nazel,” the girl’s breathing quickened, “but you’re not there, Nazel.”

Count Nazel looked puzzled.

Selma took a deep breath.

"Six years ago, when the disaster struck."

“You’re not there.”

She said it with great difficulty.

Count Nazel frowned as he listened to the Grand Duchess's words.

Beside the prince, the Viscount of Qiyuan City tugged at his sleeve in annoyance: "Did you see her expression?"

"I don't think it's good."

Thales nodded expressionlessly.

He suddenly had a premonition that Selma was about to say something.

An inexplicable emotion broke through the blockade of the River of Sin and surged into his heart.

“Madam,” Count Nazel sighed, “you are now…”

"King Nuen!"

Selma looked up and interrupted him loudly: "When King Nunn unfortunately passed away."

This name made many of the vassals' hearts tighten.

Many people lowered their heads as they thought of that emperor.

"That blood calamity, when the shield area...

"When the Queen of the Sky descends."

“You weren’t there at those times.”

Selma, with a sorrowful expression, slowly curved the corners of her mouth into a smile.

more than.

Also, when King Nunn...

When he placed that ring on my hand

When I was captured by that monster.

When Rumba appeared and surrounded us.

As the vassals looked at the girl, doubt and confusion slowly crept into their hearts.

"Miss?"

Lisban coughed and whispered a reminder: "Perhaps you should think it over..."

But Selma ignored what he was saying.

How do you know.

How could you know?
"So, you don't know."

The girl gritted her teeth fiercely: "Back then, back then..."

"What exactly do I owe him?"

At this moment, Thales, who was in the eye of the storm, slowly curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

The girl and Nazel's words reminded him of what happened back then.

Those... things he will never forget.

He watched from afar as the Grand Duchess struggled and hesitated, and sighed softly.

Selma stood tall, holding onto the arm of her chair, and the anger in her eyes slowly turned into relief.

His expression changed from initial resentment to indifference.

“Nazere,” she said calmly, “do you think Dragonsky City lacks a true Grand Duke?”

Nazel's eyes narrowed, and he instinctively felt something was amiss.

"Do you think that with a naive Grand Duchess in charge, we shouldn't send troops?"

Lisban's breathing quickened as he stared in astonishment at the Grand Duchess.

Selma exhaled and said coldly, "Fine, then it'll be as you say..."

Choose a husband for me.

The Grand Duchess gave a sorrowful smile, and breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had just let go of a burden.

The counts were all moved, and the Count of Lisbon was particularly shocked!
what?
“In a vassal family, choose a husband, have an heir, and get married even tomorrow—it’s all fine if that can secure your cooperation.”

"Then I'll do it."

The hall seemed to be filled with boiling water, and the courtiers immediately exclaimed in surprise!

"What's going on?" Ian seemed not to have reacted, he dazedly pulled Thales, "She...she...she..."

However, amidst the astonishment and shock, Thales remained calm. He simply watched the girl quietly.

That little rascal.

It was as if nothing had ever happened.

“But Thales, he is my friend who has been through thick and thin with me.”

Selma's aloof voice was like a beacon in the darkness, ignoring all distractions and carrying clearly and distinctly through the cacophony of sounds:
"As long as he is in Dragon Sky City, he will not be harmed!"

"I will not use Xingchen as a pawn to be sacrificed and sent to the front lines just because I am wary of him."

She gave Curtson and Earl Linna a warning look, and the two earls awkwardly turned their faces away.

The onlooker, Monty the Raven, had a serious expression, but there was something else in his eyes when he looked at the Grand Duchess.

“This is my promise, and more importantly, it’s a debt I owe him,” Selma glanced at Thales, her eyes filled with unspoken emotions.
"It's worth spending a lifetime to repay."

The murmurs among the courtiers grew louder, and the faces of the earls turned ashen. Earl Hearst even turned away with an angry snort.

Thales silently looked back at her.

A second later, the prince revealed a faint smile.

The same smile as before.

Completely ignoring the angry glare from the Grand Duchess Nicolai beside her.

Selma seemed encouraged, and her expression became lively.

The Grand Duchess proudly raised her head, surveying the entire hall:

"Gentlemen, what do you think of this deal?"

Count Nazel stared at her blankly, seemingly stunned by the girl's determination, speechless for a long time.

"Miss!"

Unable to contain himself any longer, Count Lisbon roared, "Enough with the whims!"

Do you know what you're saying?

Selma slowly turned her head to look at the regent who had been accompanying and caring for her for more than six years.

“She’s losing this game, losing her stakes as a Grand Duchess,” Ian said, looking at the prince with a complex expression and a hint of resentment in his voice. “All our efforts for her have been in vain.”

"Just to protect you?"

I really don't understand.

Ian snorted coldly.

Thales was slightly startled, and he slowly turned his head.

"Do not."

Thales interrupted Ian coldly, "She didn't lose."

Faced with Ian's questioning gaze, Thales took a deep breath, tugged at his collar, brushed past the nine-pointed star symbol, and patted his abdomen pocket.

There was a pair of old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses hidden there.

The prince gazed at the stone carving of a dragon spear amidst clouds on the ceiling of the hall, his face resolute.

“At least, with me here, she won’t lose,” he said calmly to Ian beside him.

We cannot lose.

Ian was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

Ian suddenly realized something and tensed up: "Thales, what are you going to do?"

Thales gently curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

“As I said,” Thales seemed somewhat wistful, and he chuckled softly, “the second move.”

Meanwhile, everyone awaited the Grand Duchess's response with either shock or indignation.

That crucial decision that could determine the future politics of Dragon City.

The young duchess's hands trembled more and more violently, yet her gaze grew increasingly resolute.

“Of course I know what I’m talking about, Charles, thank you.”

Selma said coldly, "But I am a Northman, and Northmen never forget kindness."

Even if it costs me my life.

At that moment, all the people of the North stared intently at their lord, but everyone's expression was solemn.

The Grand Duchess looked coldly at Count Nazel: "Rather than sitting in this position with a guilty conscience, reflecting on this day..."

However, before Selma could finish speaking—

"Hahahahaha!"

A loud laugh, made no attempt to conceal its volume, suddenly echoed through the Hall of Heroes.

This interrupted the Grand Duchess's emotionally charged words.

This also broke the solemn atmosphere.

Selma, who was about to speak, was taken aback.

"Hahahaha-"

Laughter echoed back and forth, reverberating without restraint.

It seems like something really funny has happened.

Many of the vassals were also taken aback: Risban frowned, Nazar turned around in surprise, and many more nobles turned their gazes unhappily, searching for that disrespectful and inconsiderate fool.

"Wow--"

A chair was forcefully pushed aside, the unpleasant noise of wood scraping against the stone floor echoing jarringly in the hall.

Selma and the other vassals frowned and looked in the direction from which the noise was coming.

The Grand Duchess was stunned.

Everyone else, including Ian, was equally stunned.

A figure slowly walked out of his seat.

Footsteps sounded.

Count Kerkegol narrowed his eyes in confusion, Count Hearst frowned, and Linna and Corterson exchanged glances with some surprise.

None of the people in Longxiao City had any idea what was going on.

Ian stared blankly as the boy next to him stepped out of his seat and walked towards the center of the hall.

Lord Justin, the deputy commander of the Grand Duke's personal guard and on a special mission, changed his expression and reached out to grasp the hand of the special guest: "Your Highness..."

But to his surprise, the seemingly frail boy had a resolute expression and quickly flicked his wrist.

Snapped!
Hold onto his outstretched arm tightly!

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Thales coldly said, "Release me, Your Excellency."

Before Justin could react, Thales took a step closer and whispered in his ear, "Or watch her get worse."

Justin was stunned—the unusual strength from the prince's hand filled him with surprise and doubt, and the hints in his words made him even more uneasy.

The next moment, a tremor suddenly came from the prince's hand. Justin lost his grip and the prince forcefully broke free of his hold.

The Grand Duke's personal guard captain in charge of maintaining order, Nikolai the Meteorite, shouted angrily:

"Justin! Stop him!"

But Justin just stared blankly at the prince who continued walking forward, without moving an inch.

His hands were still slightly numb.

This is... what kind of power?
Thales had reached the center of the hall and stopped.

Ignoring the angry stares of others, he faced the Grand Duchess.

To the northerners filling the hall, the young man squinted, his expression one of utter disdain, and swept his gaze across everyone who stared at him.

"you."

"Have you had enough fun?"

Thales addressed the entire hall with an indifferent expression.

It seems like this was just a picnic.

Selma stared blankly at Thales, who was behaving strangely, completely bewildered.

“Little Prince, shut up,” the Meteorite said angrily, “or I’ll have someone ‘invite’ you out right now!”

"Save your breath, Meteorite, haven't you figured it out yet?" Thales sneered, giving Justin, who was trying to catch up from behind, a glare. "In this hall, your shouts are as useless as the Grand Duchess's prestige."

Nikolai was momentarily speechless, then revealed an expression of annoyance.

Thales seemed amused by his own words, and he smiled again: "Hmph... Now, you'd better listen to me obediently."

But despite his smiling face, his eyes held no smile, only coldness.

The people of the North seemed to have no appreciation for the prince's sense of humor.

They stared at the arrogant prince with unspoken malice, their eyes filled with malice, and the sounds of fists cracking and teeth clenching were incessant.

Count Lisbon and Count Nazel exchanged a surprised glance, tacitly confirming that this was not the other's doing.

Ian looked at his partner in disbelief: This was definitely not part of the plan.

Selma stared blankly at Thales as he walked out of his seat, speechless.

"We're discussing how to save you—or take your life."

"And you find this funny?"

Earl Curtson turned his gaze to Thales, staring coldly at him: "An Imperial?"

Upon hearing this, Thales let out another cold laugh.

As the prince laughed, the expressions of the people in the north grew increasingly grim.

Have you heard that story?

Thales, with a cold expression, slowly began to pace:
"A lazy fisherman and a cunning woodcutter were eating lunch under a tree... They were both poor and had never tasted beef, so..."

"So they came up with a solution...to imagine the black bread in their hands as beef..."

As the prince appeared, the cold gazes of the northerners followed.

Thales' voice grew colder, yet remained vivid, like a skilled bard describing a scene in his mind: "Then they started discussing: 'Hey, look at this piece of beef in my hand, should I bite it horizontally or vertically...'"

Before he could finish speaking, Thales laughed again.

His words, accompanied by sarcastic laughter, echoed throughout the hall, fueling the increasingly suppressed anger of the northerners.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Earl Courtson could no longer bear it; he gritted his teeth and glared at Thales:
"What the hell are you talking about?"

Thales stopped laughing, exhaled, and shook his head: "Don't you understand?"

"Neither my life nor that piece of beef in my dream are unattainable fantasies."

The prince's gaze returned to its icy coldness.

He glanced disdainfully at the vassals around him: "The moral of this story is: don't be arrogant and aim too high."

"What do you think?"

"Dragon Sky City?"

If I said I'd update twice today, I bet some people wouldn't believe me.

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(End of this chapter)