Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 38 Starry Night Alliance (Part 2)

“The next king? Last night, Li’s subordinates exaggerated Li’s status,” the chubby girl pouted, sitting comically and adorably on the rug by the fireplace in the children’s clothes prepared for Thales, and continued speaking in a lisp: “But we have found that Li is not even a prince now.”

"Of course not," Thales thought to himself. "The number of people in the whole country who know that the king has a son is probably less than two hands' worth."

"Would you think I'd tell you that Gilbert only said that because he was annoyed by that blond guy showing off?" Thales rolled his eyes inwardly.

“I thought,” Thales took a deep breath, looking into the pair of crimson eyes before him, “we agreed on this back at the Vine Manor: since my blood tastes so good, as long as you forget the idea of ​​sucking me dry in one gulp, I will provide you with small amounts of blood regularly. While you enjoy my blood, you serve me, and I will guarantee you a safe place to live on the stars.”

“But they don’t have that power,” Serena said slowly but firmly, “to protect us.”

“Okay, that’s right, I’m just an illegitimate child. So it’s not me, it’s my father who will ensure your safety…”

Serena stared intently at him, then suddenly interrupted him: "But Li is not Li's father, Li is not the king."

“So,” Thales said helplessly, “I’m very sorry, but you’re already in Mindis Hall, and we know your secret. I think the Kevin Deer family probably wouldn’t welcome you back…”

"Half a pint," the red-eyed loli said expressionlessly.

"what?"

“I need half a pint of blood every day.” She looked intently into Thales’ eyes.

"Half a pint every day?" Thales narrowed his eyes, looking at the Grand Duchess of the Eastern Continent. Just for my blood?

This boy's blood is different—Serena thought to herself. It was that vibrant and powerful blood that had awakened her from her chaotic slumber. Although waking up to find someone gnawing at her neck wasn't exactly pleasant—Serena pouted unhappily and touched her neck.

Thales, don't forget, yesterday it was this "little sister's" mummified version—on the other hand, Thales thought to himself with a nausea—that almost cost him his life. Thinking of how a mummified corpse had bitten his neck like a water pump... Thales, with mixed feelings, unconsciously turned his neck.

The two stared at each other in silence until one of them broke the silence.

"What a joke! Half a pint a day? You might as well just drain me dry!" Thales stood on tiptoe and slammed his hand on the table (otherwise he was too short to reach it), meeting her gaze head-on without backing down, though he still felt a little uneasy occasionally when he thought of her desiccated appearance.

“I wish I could suck every drop of blood from Li’s body,” Serena replied with a serious yet chilling expression, her red eyes wide. “But it would be much more worthwhile to have Li supply me with blood in the long run.”

"You really know how to be shrewd!" Thales retorted sarcastically.

“A quarter pint a day, I need to fly back as soon as possible.” Serena’s eyes turned cold, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Do you think I'm some kind of superhuman who gains full health and mana every time I level up?" Thales gritted his teeth, enduring the other's gaze. "Donate blood to you every day—no way!"

"I don't understand what they're saying," the cold-faced girl said, ignoring the boy's inadvertent ramblings. "Once a week, two pints."

"Once every six months! One-tenth of a pint! This is only because we negotiated amicably," Thales said fiercely.

"Once every two weeks, half a pint. Please show me your friendship through your actions."

"At most once a month! After losing blood, I need time to regenerate, okay?!"

Serena slowly stood up from the ground.

His crimson pupils stared at Thales, sending chills down the latter's spine.
"Kid, don't test my patience."

"The reason I can still stand here and breathe air is because I'm interested in my blood."

Serena's eyes narrowed, and her previously unchanged expression suddenly turned cold!

“If we’re determined to leave regardless of the sacrifices, they can’t stop us, and besides—” Serena’s eyes darted around mysteriously, her pupils never leaving Thales’s gaze, making the boy’s hair stand on end:

"Here lies the secret heir to the stars. I bet those great lords and nobles aren't interested?"

Telston felt a chill run down his spine.

"Damn it—that old hag," Thales thought to himself.

But his past experience in field research made him realize that as the other party in the negotiations, he could not show weakness.

“Great,” Thales forced a cheerful smile. “Your sister must miss you terribly. Especially since you not only came to Starfall for a vacation, but you’ve also grown into a cute little chubby girl.”

"By then, I won't be able to become the heir, and you won't be able to return to the Kingdom of Night. Since we're so well-matched—"

Thales smiled even more broadly: "Why don't you just marry me?"

The words fell.

Serena's expression remained unchanged, her eyes did not turn, and her body did not move.

But for some reason, Thales suddenly felt a chilling cold!
The two stared at each other for a full ten seconds.

In the silence, Serena spoke very slowly, uttering a single sentence:

"It seems that Li really wants to break ties with me."

As she spoke, Serena suddenly grinned, revealing small fangs!
Thales was startled.

His right hand, hidden behind his back, trembled. JC's dagger was ready to be drawn at any moment!

"Alright then." Serena smiled mysteriously and licked her fangs.

At this angle and distance, I can maneuver around for more than ten seconds.

Thales lowered his head, frowned, and swallowed hard.

As long as they don't run into Chris, Yoddle will be there in time. The guards, Ginny, and Gilbert are also in the corridor, but Istrom and Lorana—damn it!
But having received the worst possible outcome, Thales had no choice but to accept it.

He bent his legs slightly, spread his feet apart, prepared to raise his left arm, and held the dagger firmly in his right hand, about to strike a standard "iron body" pose.

Northern military swordsmanship—though I've only practiced for two hours, I hope you get your money's worth, Thales thought to himself with a wry smile.

For the first time, Serena suddenly broke into an unsettling smile.

The childish voice rang out, sounding particularly terrifying to Thales:
"Then I have no choice but to compromise and do as you say, once a month."

"How many pints, Thales, that's up to him."

Using his left arm as a shield, he blocked her first attack. Based on his experience with the mummified corpse last night, he wondered if she would—eh?

Thales suddenly realized what Serena had said.

what?
compromise?

Thales opened his mouth in astonishment, wide enough to fit two Serena's fists.

Just as I was about to offer "gentlemen," the enemy surrendered?

Why not do it the way it was originally?
What happened next was even more frightening.

Two faint dimples appeared on Serena's lovely face.

The little girl smiled shyly and said, "Dear Thales, I've already compromised, shouldn't I do something in return?"

Thales frowned, looking at the other person with suspicion.

He was completely taken aback when the girl with no connections suddenly transformed into a smiling little girl.

He could only respond passively with his dry, broken voice:

"Wh...cough...what...means?"

The little girl's smile widened even more.

In that instant, Thales suddenly realized that those eerie red eyes were actually quite beautiful.

“Young and promising Prince Thales,” she smiled kindly, “let us form an alliance.”

“I helped Li overcome his current difficulties…and successfully get crowned.” “Li, in turn, supports me,” a strange glint appeared in Serena’s crimson eyes:
"Reclaim the throne."

Thales was stunned.

To reclaim...the throne?
The Night Kingdom of the Eastern Continent?
The cute girl blinked.

“Uh, that’s too far off,” Thales scratched his head—his dagger was already back in his pocket—and said somewhat awkwardly and hesitantly, “If I really did become king one day, well, it depends on the circumstances…”

Before he could finish speaking, the little girl looked at him with bright, sparkling eyes and slowly moved closer.

Thales stared in disbelief as the strange girl reached out her hands and gently took his right hand in hers.

"I know Thales needs me too!"

But before Thales could withdraw his hand, he saw a pair of red pupils staring at him, watery and clear.

Serena blinked her unusually alluring eyes, pouted her lips, and gently shook his arm, just like an ordinary little girl being coquettish.

Looking into those eyes, Thales felt a jolt run through his body.

He felt a strange dizziness.

“To avoid revealing our identities, we can’t just let us go,” Serena bit her lower lip, a pitiful smile curving her lips. “Because of our value and sensitive status, we can’t easily get rid of us either…”

“Then we’ll have to form a win-win alliance,” the girl said, gently stroking the back of his hand with the soft skin of her arm, a strange and submissive light in her eyes. “Compared to the helplessness and circumstances in the manor, isn’t it normal to help each other as allies?”

"That way we'll both feel more comfortable..."

Thales withdrew his arm, his face turning grim.

But the strange tactile sensation on the back of my hand seemed to linger.

“If this can reduce the hostility between us…” Thales sighed, “we can cooperate temporarily, but for now, it can only be limited to providing you with shelter…”

“You know, I’m in an awkward position too. I can’t help you reclaim the throne until my identity is recognized.”

“Okay, okay,” Serena’s expression suddenly lit up, like an ordinary girl who had found a doll. She bit her lower lip and nodded vigorously with a happy smile: “I understand, I understand!”

“I knew it, Thales is the best to me!” The girl narrowed her crescent-shaped eyes and grabbed Thales’ arm again.

Thales raised an eyebrow. Not used to this, she instinctively tried to pull her arm back, but the girl held on tightly.

Serena's expression changed again, from a smile to grievance and hesitation.

“But…” The girl pursed her lips, feeling wronged, and poked Thales’ arm.

"Just what?" Thales frowned again, feeling overwhelmed.

“There’s just one thing…” Serena shook Thales’ arm pitifully, “A tenth of a pint a month is too little, I’m starving…”

Thales' face darkened: "Why don't you go and suck other people's blood!"

“Because I think Thales is the most special person,” the girl blinked, looking like she was about to cry, “We’re best allies…”

Thales frowned, his head throbbing.

Finally, the blood supply agreement was set at one-eighth of a pint per month. Thales did the math on his fingers and realized it wasn't much.

But he still felt he had lost out.

"With the help of two super-class experts and one extreme-level master," Serena suddenly reverted to her expressionless loli form, but her eyes sharpened as she said, "the path to becoming the heir will be much smoother."

"Yes," Thales thought dejectedly, "if you had the support of a powerful nation in the West, your path to reclaiming the throne would surely be much smoother."

"Furthermore, to keep Thales' promise, I will also work hard to help him become the heir and ascend the throne!"

"A promise"—Thales' face twitched.

I clearly didn't agree to her just now, did I?
Why try to understand it yourself?
But hey, what's with that cold expression that suddenly came back?

As he watched the little girl stagger out, Thales suddenly realized that he was covered in a cold sweat.

I feel like something's not right.

"By the way, I have a question," the little girl turned back as she left, asking with her usual expressionless face, "What secret does the blood inside hold?"

"Just a little bit, and it can actually wake me up?"

"That wasn't just 'a little bit' of blood last night!" The bewildered boy complained, "For this question, please consult books, research materials, search for literature, or just ask my parents!"

Unexpectedly, Serena nodded seriously: "If there's a chance, then yes, I'll take it." She raised her eyes: "The blood and my power, the throne and my throne, our cooperation is actually very worthwhile."

The next moment, Thales was surprised to see Serena sway her small body and take a step back.

"For this, I apologize for my own and my subordinates' recklessness, and I pray for your magnanimity and forgiveness."

Serena bent down again, her chubby little hands pinching the non-existent hem of her skirt, and said softly in a childish voice, "The future Prince Thales Star."

Thales paused for a moment.

Thales Shining Star.

This was the first time someone had called him that.

Just as Serena said before: after all, he's not even a prince now.

From beggar to prince—I still can't get used to it, Thales thought with distress.

"This witch"—Thales kept reminding himself of this as he broke out in a cold sweat. Despite her stern demeanor before, she was indeed the former Grand Duchess.
Thinking this, Thales sighed deeply, feeling that today's negotiations had been somewhat frustrating.

He earnestly reached out and helped the little girl up. Although the two children's actions looked comical, they both became extremely serious.

“Your Highness Serena Corleone, I accept your friendship.”

Thales moved his right hand in front of little Serena, his eyes serious: "Now, we are allies."

Serena glanced at him, her crimson eyes flashing.

A moment later, she stretched out her chubby little hand and placed it in his palm: "Of course, Stars and Night, it's a pleasure to work together."

Two little hands gently clasped together.

"Also, keep your men away from my guards from now on—they have an irreconcilable blood feud with me!"

Thales looked at the little girl who was a head shorter than him and said meaningfully, "Next time, you might as well tell me how you got back on your feet—no need to go to all that trouble testing my attitude, Eastron's acting is too bad."

"On this point, we need to be open and honest and trust each other."

"Trust?" Serena's crimson pupils narrowed slightly, and she nodded. "Alright, if the future Prince Thales inherits the throne, and we form the Starry Night Alliance, then our relationship will be extraordinary..."

Serena gave a strange smile: "For the future of our two countries, perhaps we should even arrange a marriage contract!"

"Of course we need to trust each other!"

A frustrated Thales' face twitched.

He was so choked up he felt like vomiting—someone take this guy with the lisp away!
Did the clichéd plot of this chapter disgust you?

If so, or even if someone deletes the book, hehe, then I win.

If you can withstand the malicious cuteness of a delicate, frail old woman, then... guess what will happen next? (Continues to laugh eerily)
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(End of this chapter)