Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 494 Fate is Like a Poem
Thales stared in disbelief at Falkenhausen's retreating figure, listening to the sound of his cane gradually fade until it was barely audible.

After a long while, the prince finally let out a sigh of resentment.

"Yordle, do you know that guy?"

Thales picked up the ancient imperial sword left behind by Cyril, processing the astonishment he had just experienced.

A faint voice came from the air behind him:

"Unfamiliar."

"Not familiar?" Thales frowned slightly.

The boy felt the weight of the "warning sword" and slowly drew back its gleaming blade.

Its hilt is extremely long, almost long enough to be held with both hands, one in front and one behind, and used as a greatsword or even a spear.

It is slightly lighter than Ricky's "Eternal Truth," but its center of gravity is just as perfectly balanced.

It is a rare and excellent sword.

but why……

Did the Duke of the Western Wilderness give the prince a precious sword merely to show the outside world?
"Damn Falkenhausen."

Thales sighed, looking at the black gem in the center of the sword hilt that looked much more understated than "Eternal Truth".

Do you believe what he said?

Thales twirled the longsword in his hand, slowly getting used to this new weapon.

The masked guard's voice echoed softly:
"and you?"

The warning officer paused in mid-air.

Thales took a deep breath and slowly sheathed his sword.

Falkenhausen.

"I always thought he was just an elite monster."

Thales gazed at the Blade Fang camp below the window, his eyes distant.

"result……"

Thales said absentmindedly:
"He's a boss."

The room fell silent for a moment.

"I don't know."

Thales placed the longsword on the table, shook his head, and came back to his senses:
"It's nothing, just some proverbs I learned from Exeter."

But this time, Yodl responded very quickly:

"There is no such proverb in the North."

Thales paused, but he reacted very quickly:
"Ah, you didn't come with me to the North..."

But then the boy suddenly remembered something.

and many more.

Yodl.

Northland.

Thales suddenly turned around and looked behind him.

“Yordle, when I was in the north.”

Thales hesitated for a moment:
"I've met the Scarlet Witch, Cassan."

There was no response; Thales could only hear the wind outside the window.

This made him particularly uneasy.

"She said she's yours...and she's with the Black Prophet..."

Thales looked up at the empty, desolate void.

"is that true?"

Still no answer.

Thales let out a soft breath.

"Yordl?"

The room remained quiet.

Thales lowered his head in disappointment, understanding the other's "silent resistance."

"Okay, that's it. Just keep ignoring me."

Thales sat back down listlessly and brought the plate back.

"Silent violence".

he murmured.

But this time, the masked guard's voice rang out again with a slight, unnatural tremor.

“My background is classified and not honorable.”

"I don't want to trouble you."

Thales's hand, holding the grilled fish, froze in mid-air.

It's not honorable.

It bothers you.

Thales put down the food in his hand and sighed.

Is it.

but……

And aren't I the same?

Thales curled his lips as he thought about this.

The next second, Thales turned around and solemnly looked into the void.

"No, Yodel."

He said earnestly:
"To me, you will never be disgraceful."

The air was as quiet as ever.

Thales didn't receive a response, but he wasn't discouraged.

"besides."

The prince smiled:
"You have never bothered me."

An awkward silence remained.

But Thales stopped dwelling on it, just gave a self-deprecating laugh, and turned back to continue dealing with his food.

But right now.

"Thank you."

A very soft, hoarse voice drifted through the air.

It was as if it had been squeezed out from somewhere, and thanks to Thales's senses, honed by the sins of the River of Hell over the years, he didn't miss it.

Thales paused for a moment, but didn't hear anything more.

"Is this the end?"

The boy didn't turn around; he just shrugged.

Just as he expected, there was no sound behind him.

Thales sighed regretfully.

even if...

Can you say one more word?
Thales stopped worrying about it, cleared his mind of any lingering resentment, and focused his attention on the food in front of him.

But it seemed that the god of the desert did not like to see him eating in peace. Thales had only finished a few pieces of meat and a few mouthfuls of cold porridge when hurried and uneasy footsteps sounded from the stairs downstairs.

Boom, boom, boom, boom——

His steps were heavier than Falkenhausen's.

Thales instinctively gripped the warning stick on the side of the table, and then heard the door slam open again.

A clear, pleasant, yet unforgiving voice suddenly rang out:

"Have you met him?"

he.

It's him again.

Thales painfully closed his eyes and then opened them again.

The prince rubbed his face into a smile before turning around in his chair:

"Who did you see?"

Sure enough, with undisguised steps, Baron Baki, Lord Roman Williams, covered in dust and sand (without even removing his headscarf), walked into the prince's room without any restraint or even aggressiveness, leaving his subordinates standing by the door—Frank and Snake Hand, along with the dozen or so men behind them—trembling with fear, not daring to utter a sound.

"Who else could it be?"

Despite being travel-worn, Roman, who still looked radiant, had eyes blazing with anger, clearly in a terrible mood.

As he scanned the room with the eyes of someone searching for an assassin, he said furiously:

"That ugly old man who smells sour all over—Falkenhausen, he came to see you? What did he say to you?"

An ugly old thing that smells sour all over.

Thales muttered the name to himself.

If Duke of the Western Wilderness and Baron Baki have anything in common, it must be their feelings towards each other.

At least their descriptions of each other were quite accurate.

Thales coughed and put down his weapon.

"Actually, nothing happened between us..."

Before Thales could finish speaking, the legendary Winged, who had ripped off his headscarf, strode forward with an overwhelming sense of pressure and suddenly reached out his hand!

"Snapped!"

The prince was stunned.

Roman, exuding an aura that seemed to freeze one to death, gripped Thales' left wrist tightly.

Under Thales's astonished gaze, the Winged Legend coldly gripped the hilt of his sword, pulled the blade of "Warning" from Thales's left hand, and then released him.

Thales stared at the empty scabbard, his eyebrows twitching.

This……

Roman brandished his longsword back and forth with a murderous expression, finally fixing his gaze on the rough engraving at the bottom of the hilt.

"F."

Roman stared at the engraving, then coldly raised his head:

“F, Falkenhausen’s ‘F’.”

Telston suddenly felt a headache coming on, and he shook the empty scabbard in his hand:

"Uh, yes, but this—"

Roman snorted coldly, not giving him a chance to speak.

"What a sword."

Legendary Wings spoke with a deep sarcasm that even Nikolai could discern:

"What a fine prince!"

"I let you live here, so it would be convenient for you to secretly exchange favors and solicit or accept bribes behind my back, wouldn't it?"

Soliciting and accepting bribes?

Thales was taken aback.

Looking at the warning sign in Roman's hand, he suddenly felt a deep sense of injustice, a feeling he couldn't explain away:

"I--"

But the next moment, Roman moved his arm, and the sword light stabbed towards him!

Everyone was taken aback!
Thales only had time to raise his sword sheath and hold it in front of him.

"Swish"

With a sound of leather scraping against metal, when Thales came to his senses, he was surprised to find that the Warning Sword had been perfectly sheathed back in his hand.

It fits perfectly and is extremely precise.

How... how did he do that?
Frank and Snake Hand, standing behind Roman, were already pale-faced. They had one foot in the room, their arms outstretched, still wearing expressions that said, "Sir, please don't!" or "That's a prince!"

"If you like their gifts so much, Shining..."

Roman lowered his arm, forced his subordinate's grievances back with his eyes, and then looked coldly at the still-shaken Thales.

"Then you can get out of here tomorrow—join those lords."

"Get out of my territory."

Legendary Wings said fiercely, then turned and left.

Thales stared at the warning device in his hand, still not quite understanding what was happening:

"But--"

Roman paused for a moment by the door frame.

"As for you, the nameless one."

The legendary winged creature didn't even turn its head:

"You know, when you thought you had hidden it perfectly there, the plank was noticeably dented?"

Thales was startled and looked at the floor of the room.

But without his hellish senses, he would never be able to see what was wrong with such a perfectly smooth floor.

The "freak" captain at the door, Snake Hand, had the same expression.

"And you, freaks."

The Winged Legend suddenly turned his head, and the Serpent Hand and the "freaks" behind him visibly trembled.

“I don’t care how many soldiers they have, how high their status is, how capable their men are, or how eerie this broken tower is, how scared you are, or how tiring your shifts are.”

Thales couldn't see Roman's expression, but he could feel a chilling intent in the tone of his voice:
"Next time, you will let outsiders trespass into our territory with impunity."

"Go back to the prison of bones."

The snake-handed man, who was still trying to flatter or explain, immediately fell silent and stood at attention.

The next second, with a rumble of footsteps, Legendary Wings came downstairs with Frank, who had a "you'd better watch yourself" expression on his face, leaving Snake Hand and the others to close the door with a hundred times more respect and caution.

The footsteps of Roman and his bodyguards rolled away.

Thales remained in the sword-holding posture in the room, looking completely bewildered.

just……

what happened?

Inside the ancient Ghost Prince Tower, Roman Williams descended the stairs in silence, and his bodyguards behind him dared not even breathe.

Everyone knows that Legendary Wings is at its most dangerous right now.

"Frank."

The Wings of Legend suddenly spoke.

Frank, who was behind him, immediately responded respectfully in agreement.

Roman coldly replied:
“Go tell those noisy nobles that every noble soldier we caught in the camp yesterday… will not be released from prison until they pay the full amount of compensation.”

Frank, who was about to nod, paused, then, realizing what was happening, said awkwardly:

"However, some of them are descendants of high-ranking noble families, whose identities are sensitive..."

But Roman's cold snort forced him to shut up.

Yes, those people.

After turning a corner of the stairs at the Wings of Legend, a cold, dark passageway appeared:

"They'll charge twenty times more."

Frank paused again. A few seconds later, Frank sighed:
"Okay, they'll hate us even more now."

Roman paused in his steps.

The dozen or so men behind the Baron stopped in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized and seamless, as if they had practiced thousands of times.

"very good."

Legendary Wings said in a cold voice:
"And the reason we've been able to establish ourselves here..."

At this point, Roman suddenly looked up at the layers of stairs above him, his gaze freezing on the darkness at the top floor:

"It's precisely because they hate us."

Frank was stunned.

But his commander said nothing more, and simply stepped out of the tower.

In the room on the top floor, Thales looked suspiciously at the doorway, then glanced awkwardly at the longsword in his hand.

He suddenly had a premonition that this was probably one of Falkenhausen's goals.

To make it clear to everyone, the prince accepted the gift from the Falkenhausen family.

But ironically, those words he said to himself...

Hold on tight, hold on tight to your sword.

Don't lose it.

After a long pause, Thales could only sigh.

That damned, smelly, ugly old man.

Has he always been like this?
What did he say to Prince Hyman back then?
The mere thought of the name, and of Hyman's death here, made Thales lose his appetite.

Hyman and the Shadow Shield.

What kind of connection do they have?
As for that... Teng, which has been mentioned by countless people?

Who is he?

Thales paused for a moment.

He remembered something.

The prince stood up, walked quickly to his luggage, and began rummaging through it.

A few seconds later, he finally pulled out the roll of expensive letter paper.

But the moment he opened it, Thales stopped in his tracks.

“Yordle,” Thales took a deep breath, “how much do you know about my fourth uncle, Hyman Starstar?”

A few seconds later, the air came with the same calm, unchanging reply:
"Unfamiliar."

well.

Thales gently closed his eyes.

"I guess so."

The prince smiled and then opened his eyes.

The next moment, Thales carefully, yet without hesitation, unfolded the letter that held special significance for him.

----

To my angry little kitten:

You didn't write to me.

Eight months and twenty-one days ago, after that precious yet unpleasant meeting.

You may not understand.

You may not understand what I was feeling when I wrote this letter.

As a result of that argument.

That's right, Cat, you've always been perceptive and understanding, with accurate and insightful intuition.

But my dearest friend and lover, you may not understand what you mean to me.

You turned and left, free-spirited, proud, and dashing.

But it took everything from me.

Over the past eight months, even the most urgent official duties have become tedious and cumbersome, the most exciting life has become dull and uninteresting, the close friends who visit daily have become mundane and unbearable, and even the imported fine wines of the Duchy of Sera and the brilliant manuscripts of Hobb's novels have become tasteless.

Do you know, my dear cat, from infancy to adulthood, from prince to viscount.

Nobody, nobody, nobody has ever treated me like this.

This is how Hyman Shining was treated.

My father could not, my mother could not, Midil could not, Horace could not, Maester Selome and Sister Alan could not, and even my grandmother could not.

Simplicity, innocence, kindness, sincerity, and optimism—they took a lot from me.

But they never took everything away.

all.

They never cruelly dragged me out of the noble palace and the gorgeous mask, pushing me into the muddy abyss, leaving me to writhe in the torrential rain and cold moonlight, only to show the scarred and sincere heart in my chest.

Because I won't allow it.

Hyman, he may not be known for his fighting prowess.

But believe me, deep down, he was a warrior who never surrendered to anyone.

No one can make him bow down, compromise, or admit defeat.

nobody.

Except for you, kitty.

you.

Only you.

The emptiness and pain of losing you have been tormenting me, abusing me, tearing me apart, and even defeating my pride and dignity, my defenses and ego. All my arrogance and self-esteem are no match for them.

I was like a lowly, sleazy, cowardly commoner, hysterical, distraught, unable to sleep or eat—damn it, that was the kind of dramatic scene I used to despise the most.

You know, cat, it would be better to just kill me than admit it.

But none of that matters anymore.

Before I met you, I was full of vigor and self-respect.

After we parted, I felt utterly worthless and filled with self-pity.

But none of that matters anymore.

If, in the face of haughty indifference, one of us must bow our head first, then I want you to know, Cat.

Without you, I am in unbearable pain and torment.

I cannot stop missing you, I cannot stop writing you letters, I cannot erase your reflection in the mirror.

The only thing I have the right to control in my entire being is that childish impulse that disregards dignity and honor, pride and tradition, and simply wants to completely abandon everything and utterly surrender to you.

My cat, for the past eight months, I've often thought about:
What caused our disagreements and discord?

Is it because of their sensitive identities?

Is it an unblessed future?

Are they completely different lives?

Is it a personality that's hard to compromise with?

What were experiences as different as heaven and earth?

But it's the same result we face every time we argue about responsibility versus freedom, life versus love, unity versus independence, reality versus dreams, or whether Cahill Ellsworth or Boser Caandi has a greater achievement in rhetoric.

There is no answer.

Until recently, in those years of turmoil and war, when the kingdom was in peril and the world was in decline, I suddenly understood.

I understand what is most important to me and to us in days without tomorrow.

Just now, the bugle call for nightfall sounded at Baki Camp.

But what flashed through my mind was our first meeting.

That night, you pointed your sword at me, a contemptuous smile I can never forget, and whispered:
This kitten could rip your heart out.

You did it.

Cat.

If you don't believe me, my cruel yet lovable friend, then just bow your head gently.

Now, do you see it?

My heart, weak and bleeding, yet also utterly honest.

It is lying quietly in your palm.

Lying there in the fate to which it was destined to fall.

willingly.

At that moment, the soldiers and civilians below the watchtower were bustling about, and I suddenly understood what I thought was little Kessel's pointless persistence.

He loved her, madly in love with that lowly, infamous guard.

He loved her whole being more than anything else in the world.

Then he could naturally give up everything for her, even if it meant defying the world and becoming an enemy of the entire aristocratic world, abandoning a respectable marriage vow, giving up the surname of the Star, giving up the status of a prince, giving up royal property, giving up the right to inherit the throne, giving up... his father's strict love.

In comparison, I, his brother, was a coward.

It's me, Kitty.

It's always been me.

I'm the one who dragged you down.

It was my pointless worries and pride that kept you from reaching us and hindering our future.

Cat, you have always been free and unrestrained, proud, elegant, brave and strong, and you are willing to do anything for your goals.

As the so-called son of a king, a descendant of a splendid star, I am listless, burdened, sensitive, fragile, and burdened with worries.

Status, identity, age, gap, outside opinions, royal dignity, and the responsibilities of a prince.

Excuses, everything is just an excuse.

It's an excuse that I enjoy being with you, ask for your understanding and consideration, but am unwilling to make any sacrifices for myself.

You're right, kitty.

Perhaps if you cut open his chest, crack his skull, and tear his skin, the Hyman Shining Star who is truly revealed to the sunlight is just a coward with a hollow reputation, no sense of responsibility, and no courage to face his true self.

The intelligence about the desert being in dire straits and the unusual gathering of orcs and skeletons is now on my desktop.

But I can't help but miss the time we spent together over the years.

I miss your light footsteps, your beautiful voice, your melodious piano playing, your timeless poetry, your innocent smile, your beautiful lips, and your clear eyes.

And there's your figure, walking through the dew in the woods, dancing under the moon.

I can eloquently quote classic texts in front of the most dangerous enemy, speak rationally and calmly in front of the most cunning merchant, and remain calm and composed in the most critical situation.

But I just can't, I can't remain strong and righteous in the letter I wrote for you—at this moment, even the tip of my pen is trembling, and my handwriting is as ugly as an orc's drawing.

But I understand now, cat.

You gave me the most precious opportunity to discover my truest self.

My world only has meaning when it's connected to you.

But the thought that I might lose you because of a pointless—or perhaps not so pointless—argument makes my heart ache as if it were being cut by a knife.

You are like a gentle rain from heaven, washing away all my filth, cleansing my muddled pretense, and irrigating all my madness.

What would I become without you?
No.

I can't even imagine it anymore.

So I understand now, cat.

I love you.

No conditions. No cost. Without hesitation.

There is no other way.

Without it.

----

As Thales silently read the letter, noticing the increasingly messy yet still uniquely beautiful handwriting, he couldn't help but notice that the ink had blurred between these lines, as if it had stained...

Tear stains.

Thales paused for a few seconds, then continued reading.

----

but.

You may not understand, but at the risk of angering you again, my cat.

Beyond you and me, in this corrupt world, there is one more thing I need to do.

The last thing.

I know that I shouldn't pollute your mind with my annoying mundane affairs while we're together. I also know that you're tired of me worrying about boring and pointless political affairs, and I know that you've always disliked my anxious and fussy side.

I am sorry.

But since you left, I have no one to confide in.

I can't tell you how difficult things are right now.

Blood ties, family, kingdom, politics, history, the future—everything is intertwined, inextricably linked, impossible to escape or break free from.

I'm sorry, kitty, I love you.

But I can't just walk away, in their most desperate moment.

I want to beg you to forgive me, my cat, my love, the blood of my heart, my birth sin, the source of my madness.

Forgive me.

Forgive me for stepping into this bottomless vortex, even at the expense of our future which was just beginning to show signs of dawn.

But as you said, your love for me is not for my physical appearance, nor for my poetry and literary talent, nor for my status or position.

It is not love, but love for that glimmer of light deep within my soul.

Now, that glimmer of light suddenly began to flicker.

It told me what to do.

After we've done it, my cat, no matter how heavy the shackles of cruel reality may be on us, no matter how many obstacles our identities may pose, no matter how Father responds to our love, no matter whether fate blesses or curses our union.

None of that matters anymore.

In any case, throughout our family history, we have always been the ones who arrogantly offended the gods, and the gods have never been lenient in protecting us.

I love you, kitty.

forever.

wait for me.

Wait for me to end everything in this suffocating vortex and pay off my debts.

wait for me.

————————The one who loves you, and hopefully the one you love too.

————————H·N·Canxing
————————November 19, 660, at Baki Camp
Fate is like a poem; how can its rhyme scheme be known?

P.S.: I will have Roman deliver this letter. Ever since the unfortunate passing of Taino, whom you knew, he has been my most reliable messenger, familiar with the route to Half Tower—though he has a troublesome temper and can be a bit mischievous at times.

----

After a long while, Thales finally let out a breath.

With a slight tremor, he gently put the letter down.

This letter was written to "Cat," but she never received it...

love letter.

(End of this chapter)