Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 512 There is something wrong with the brain

"Besides, you've seen the child yourself..."

Doyle let out a painful sigh.

"God, when we were fourteen or fifteen years old, we weren't this complicated. Weren't we all just simple, foolish, impulsive, and lustful?"

He looked at Golov, resentful, seeking approval:

"There's nothing that a trip to Red Town Street at night can't solve, right?"

To his surprise, Glov, who had always been passive, spoke up this time.

“It wasn’t us,” the taciturn vanguard officer scoffed, turning his head to the side.
"only you."

DD's smile vanished instantly.

Just then, another voice suddenly rang out:

"Everything is alright?"

Doyle and Golov were both shocked!
In a split second, the two men simultaneously straightened up and turned towards the iron gate.

Lord Adrian, the highest commander of the royal guard, stood at the iron gate, smiling at them, accompanied by two attendants.

Doyle was struck dumb. He first forced a smile, then, realizing it was inappropriate, struggled to straighten his face, stammering:

"Ed... Captain... Captain... Commander?"

Golov was also taken aback for a moment, but he quickly recovered:

"Sir."

Adrian nodded and walked in with a smile. The people around him recognized him and bowed to him.

"Everyone's busy, what are you two doing?"

Doyle's smile froze.

He quickly stopped and took a step forward:
"Ahem... We are evaluating the defenses of Mindis Hall and preparing future sentry plans..."

But Golov spoke curtly, drowning out Doyle's voice:

“We’ll pretend to be busy, sir.”

"Then avoid the mobilization of the logistics wing."

Upon hearing this, Captain Adrian's smile froze for a second.

Doyle swayed and looked at his companion in disbelief.

In that instant, Doyle was first shaken and then utterly despondent, wanting nothing more than to slap Golov to death.

Then kill yourself.

In the awkward silence, it was the experienced Adrian who reacted first:

"Oh, you're all... Marius's men?"

Sensing that his captain wasn't going to hold him accountable, the distraught Doyle quickly tried to salvage the situation:
"Um... Lord Marius is inside, it seems..."

Glov's answer was as simple as ever:
"I'll go and report it."

But Adrian called out to him:
"and many more."

The highest commander of the royal guard put his hands behind his back, slowly walked towards the other person, and squinted as he sized up his strong physique:
"Are you Garen Grover from the Vanguard Wing?"

Glov's expression turned serious:
"Yes."

Adrian nodded, a nostalgic look in his eyes: "Very good."

“I know your grandfather.”

"Forty years ago, it was he, as the Watchman, who personally promoted me to the Guard."

Doyle's expression changed.

The way he looked at Golov immediately changed.

Adrian sighed:

"He was a stern man, but worthy of respect."

Golov's eyes flickered:
"Yes."

“I hope you will be respected like him,” Adrian said in a kind and friendly tone.
"But... you don't have to be as strict as him."

"In a team, being a gentle and easy-going person will bring you more rewards."

Golov was slightly taken aback, and his answer sounded somewhat hesitant:
"Yes Yes."

Adrian nodded and looked at Doyle.

The latter immediately stiffened unnaturally, like a rat that had eaten poison.

Adrian smiled:

"So, you're that...DD?"

Doyle's lips twitched, his smile awkward:

"Yes, sir... but that's... that's just what everyone calls it for fun..."

His voice lacked confidence and grew weaker and weaker.

“Bridge told me about you,” Adrian said casually.

"what?"

Doyle's eyes lit up, his previous timidity vanishing:
"is it?"

He asked with a hint of anticipation, "Then, what did the chief say about me...?"

“He said your initial choice was the Vanguard Wing,” Adrian said casually.
"After failing to be selected, he had no choice but to go to his guard wing."

Golov glanced at Doyle almost unconsciously.

At that moment, DD's face turned bright red.

"Sir, I, I..."

But Adrian's expression turned serious:
"Admitting defeat is not shameful."

He said slowly:

"Only those who can accept failure deserve success."

"Just as one must first be a 'guardian' before one can be a 'vanguard'."

Adrian's sudden sternness made Doyle instinctively tense up:

"Yes, sir."

Adrian nodded and looked at the two of them again.

“You are all young, important arms of Marius, and reliable blades for the kingdom,” Adrian said, regaining his earlier warmth.
"Keep up the good work."

"Yes, sir!" This was Doyle, who was now completely silent.

"Yes." This was the still-stiff Golov.

Adrian smiled slightly.

“Also, don’t get caught by your master while you’re slacking off,” just then, Adrian suddenly turned his head, his eyes fixed intently on the distance:
“Especially... he was standing right behind you.”

Doyle and Golov were both startled and turned around.

Thales, who was hiding behind the tree, was also startled when his whereabouts were suddenly exposed.

He had to awkwardly step out from under the tree, amidst the strange looks from DD and the zombies, and adjust himself with a gentle, polite smile.

Adrian bowed respectfully to him:
"Your Excellency the Duke."

Thales nodded quickly in return:
Lord Adrian.

"Excuse me, could you...?"

Adrian smiled and shook his head:

Please do not worry.

“I have only come here to... to deliver the official decree of investiture to you.”

He turned around and handed a scroll to Golov (Doyle reached out to take it, but just as the scroll was about to fall into his hand, it mysteriously turned toward Golov).

"And while you're at it, see how the boys' preparations are going," the middle-aged captain of the guard said with a smile, looking at Doyle and Golov. The former quickly gave an awkward smile, while the latter stood even more stiffly.
"After all, drawing personnel from the Royal Guard to form a special unit is a first in many years."

Thales looked at the warrant in Golov's hand, not having time to delve into the meaning behind the other's words:
"Thank you for your concern."

The guard commander's smile remained unchanged: "I hope Tormond hasn't caused you any trouble."

Thales was taken aback:
"Entrust...to whom?"

Tormund.

His first thought was of the portrait of the Restored King in the Mindis Hall.

But Adrian just sighed:
“I heard from Count Cassel about your conflict with him on the road. I would like to apologize to you for his behavior.”

Thales then realized that the person the other person was referring to was...

“But please believe me, Lord Marius is not disrespectful, much less stubborn,” Adrian said earnestly.
"He's just... too impulsive."

Thales blinked.

"Spontaneous?"

He took a deep breath, recalling how Marius had just told him, 'Nobody cares about you,' and asked in confusion:

"My personal guard captain? So capricious?"

Even Doyle and Golov, who dared not utter a sound, couldn't help but look over with curiosity.

Adrian chuckled.

“Please do not misunderstand, Your Highness. When I say ‘casual,’ I do not mean laziness or negligence. Lord Marius’s abilities are beyond question.”

Adrian looked at the Mindis Hall on the other side of the fountain and sighed:

"However, he hates complexity and trouble, and when faced with a problem, he prefers to choose the solution that is readily available."

"This could be considered a kind of... arrogance."

I hate complexity and trouble...

arrogant.

Upon hearing this assessment, Thales seemed to understand something.

Adrian said helplessly:

"For example, the simplest way to protect a prince is to keep him from going out."

"Little did they know... sometimes this could cause even more trouble."

Thales nodded and smiled in response.

Adrian sighed.

"So, he often needs someone to give him a push."

"To urge him to do better."

Doyle and Golov exchanged a glance.

“Is that so?” Thales nodded politely. “I will keep that in mind.”

“By the way, Lord Marius is currently…” But Adrian raised his hand:

"Oh no, I'm not going to see him."

The captain of the guard looked at Thales with a smile:
"Seeing you is enough."

"Six years ago, when you became a prince, I was busy with family matters and was unable to be present, missing your important moment."

Adrian's gaze suddenly turned serious:
"But thankfully, I didn't miss the moment when you became a duke."

Sensing the meaning in the other person's gaze, Thales was taken aback.

"Your Highness."

Adrian stared at him intently, speaking earnestly:

"An excellent soldier can and must undergo countless trials and tribulations."

"A qualified nobleman can and must shoulder a heavy burden."

The captain of the guard said calmly:

"Even the king is no exception."

The next second, he added, not without a deeper meaning.

"Even more so for the king."

Thales was stunned and stood there.

Adrian bowed again, then turned and left.

Watching the captain of the guard disappear, Doyle finally took a deep breath, as if he had been holding his breath for a lifetime.

"Wow, wow, wow... Unbelievable, the captain of the guard spoke to me..."

DD said with no small amount of excitement:

"I've been in the team for seven and a half years, and this is only the second time I've had a face-to-face, one-on-one conversation with Commander Adrian! The last time was three years ago!"

Yes, that's right, three years ago.

That was in the guard room.

It sounded like a question: "Captain, Captain, would you like some water?" and the reply: "No, thank you?"
Doyle thought excitedly.

"Humph."

Golov snorted dismissively, looking at him with a contemptuous expression that said, "You've never seen the world."

Three years.

In the same palace as the Restoration Palace, how marginalized must this kid be to not have a chance to speak to the commander alone for three whole years?
As for myself...

Humph.

With a touch of self-satisfaction, Golov recalled his last conversation with the captain of the guard.

A few years ago...

Strange, why can't I remember?
Beside the two people with different feelings, Thales seemed to be deep in thought.

“That is…” he said slowly.

An excited Doyle answered Thales's question:
"Oh, you didn't know? He's the coolest guy in the royal guard."

"Commander-in-Chief, Lord Adrian."

Doyle looked smug:
"His seniority far surpasses that of everyone else in the guard; he is a witness to both glory and destruction."

Qualifications?

Glory and destruction?
Thales was slightly puzzled.

Golov nodded, his expression serious as he gazed in the direction Adrian had gone.

"It is said that the captain witnessed the bloody year and is the only survivor of that legendary royal guard... a former member of the guard."

I witnessed the bloody year...

Thales' expression changed slightly.

"You mean the former royal guard from my grandfather's time?"

Doyle took a deep breath and nodded with longing in his eyes.

Thinking of the prisoners in the Bone Prison, Thales was filled with dread:

"Adrian... he survived the Bloody Year? How did he do that?"

Golov shrugged.

“Congratulations, Your Grace,” DD sighed and shrugged.

"You just asked about the third of the 'Top Ten Unsolved Mysteries of the Royal Guard'."

Thales was stunned and speechless.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the iron gate.

"No, no, no, this place is closed today... Even if you're a nobleman, you can't..."

The three men's attention was drawn to it; Doyle walked toward the iron gate, with Golov following closely behind.

Curious Thales was about to step forward, but Golov grabbed him and held him firmly behind him.

"What happened?" Doyle called out to one of the Star Guardians' private soldiers outside the iron gate.

The soldier turned around and pointed resentfully at a man in the distance who was being blocked by several soldiers:

"Sir, this guy tried to force his way in... He said he's a nobleman, otherwise we would have..."

Doyle narrowed his eyes and made out the man who had been stopped.

His eyes immediately widened.

"Wait, wait, I know him..."

Doyle stared in disbelief at the man waving at him from outside the door:
"why you?"

The man outside struggled to break free from the soldiers' hold, straightened his clothes, and was equally surprised to see Doyle:
"Hey, that's what I was going to ask, DD, is that you?"

Doyle's expression darkened:
"Nonsense, I'm a member of the Royal Guard... no, no, I asked you first: how come it's you?"

The man outside the door blinked, looked around, and seemed quite puzzled:
"It's...it's me!"

Behind Golov, Thales, who overheard the inexplicable conversation between the two, chuckled.

Golov looked at him strangely.

“It’s nothing, it’s just…” Thales waved his hand apologetically:

"It reminds me of a joke told by someone from the north: 'What, it's you?'"

Thales couldn't help but laugh again.

Not understanding, Golov's expression grew increasingly strange.

Outside the door, the animated and inexplicable conversation between Doyle and the uninvited guest continued:

"You do it? What do you do?"

The guest scratched his head:
“I… I took the day off early today. I came all this way just to see the prince—no, I mean the duke now… I heard he’s back today…”

Doyle shook his head:

"No, nobles need to make an appointment before visiting..."

But DD realized:

"Wait, how did you know the prince was back today, and how did you know he was the duke...?"

"Oh dear, my messenger crow is faster... Okay, move aside, don't block my way to see him..."

"No, how did you know he was here..."

"Have you forgotten? When you brought the prince here today, we were the ones who cleared the way..."

"No, no, wait a moment... I mean, what is your status, and what qualifications do you have to come and visit the prince..."

"What a joke! At my age, I'm the only promising young man in our hall with an imperial title of nobility..."

"A title bestowed by imperial decree? You mean you got that 'spoiled brat' title because you have strong connections, a powerful background, and a good father?"

"Bah, get out! I was granted a title because of my contributions to the kingdom!"

"Achievements...you mean, catching thieves on the street?"

"Arrest you, you son of a bitch... It was clearly six years ago that I bravely led an expedition to protect the kingdom from the ravages of war!"

"Hey, let's see how long you're going to keep bragging..."

"Let me tell you, DD, this is blatant jealousy. You're just envious because you can't make it big yourself..."

"Pah! You've been single for over twenty years, do you even have the nerve to talk back...?"

Behind the iron gate, Golov pressed his head in embarrassment.

Clearly, Doyle's negotiation with the man outside wouldn't end anytime soon, while the Star Guardians, tired of the commotion, had already returned to their posts.

But Thales understood something.

"Doyle?"

Ignoring Golov's expression, Duke Starlake decisively stepped past him and loudly reminded him:

"Doyle!"

Standing before the iron gate, Doyle, who had been arguing incessantly, finally snapped out of his daze and remembered his duty. He quickly turned around and said with a forced smile:
"Excuse me, Your Highness, I'm sorry to bother you... Um, let me introduce you, this is..."

Doyle turned to the side, pointed at the uninvited guests outside the door, and awkwardly uttered a string of words:
"...my grandmother's brother-in-law's grand-nephew."

Golov sighed again and slapped his face.

In that instant, Thales saw the guest outside the door clearly.

He was stunned.

"The heir to a certain great count's estate is on a working holiday in the capital..."

Doyle chuckled dryly and stated the man's name:

"Cohen Karabyan".

Thales stared blankly at the man outside the door.

"Hey, hey, hey, Your Highness! Do you remember me? I'm that... that... the one who eats more fruit and liver..."

Outside the iron gate, the tall guard officer Cohen looked at Thales, who had grown considerably, in surprise. Then he pointed to himself, revealing a set of big white teeth and a silly grin that said, "It's me."

Doyle looked at Cohen, who was waving frantically, with alarm and coughed awkwardly.

"By the way, Your Highness."

Unaware of his master's unusual behavior, Doyle lowered his voice and brought his head close to Thales' ear:

"The nobles in the capital are all talking about... this guy..."

Doyle pointed at Cohen, who was grinning and waving foolishly, subtly nodded his own head, and said in a low voice with conviction:
"There's something wrong with his brain."

The reason why six chapters are shown as unread is that four of the previously blocked chapters have been released.

Of course, the first chapter is still censored; this is still a novel without a first chapter.



(End of this chapter)