Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 517: Going to High School
“…Very good, I will remember that. The etiquette class can be more flexible. It can still be three evenings a week, but when it comes to practical application, it can be done anytime, anywhere.”

Gilbert's words echoed in his ears, pulling him back to reality.

Thales tried hard not to look at the schedule on the other person's lap, and also tried his best not to calculate how much free time he had left in the week, barely managing to take a breath.

"As for what you said, ancient languages ​​and foreign languages."

The prince nodded:
"Yes, it's ancient imperial script."

"People from the North look down on this thing."

“But it was the old crow who insisted on putting it back in the course,” Thales said, his eyes lighting up. “‘Don’t waste so many ancient books in the library,’ that’s what he said.”

Gilbert moved slightly.

He felt a mix of nostalgia and emotion:
“Is that so, Mr. Hicksser?”

Thales chuckled, deciding to lighten the load of the course:
"Of course, with the foundation you laid and years of self-directed reading, I find ancient imperial texts quite easy."

“As for my classmates,” Thales shrugged:

"Well, I'm afraid she doesn't think that way."

The image of Selma staring blankly at a book of political allegorical poems written in an ancient imperial script, biting her nails and looking around, occasionally casting a horrified glance at herself as she rapidly turned the pages, filled Telston with immense pleasure.

And I decided never to tell her the secret to speed reading:

can not read it?
Then let's skip it!
Just then, Gilbert suddenly spoke:
"So, does Mr. Hixser teach the ancient imperial language or the modern imperial language?"

Thales paused, then hesitated and said:
"Um, let me think..."

Gilbert nodded in sudden realization without hesitation and began writing again:
"Understood. Both of your Imperial languages ​​require additional tutoring."

Both.

Thales suddenly felt a sense of sorrow, as if he had shot himself in the foot.

The former foreign minister raised his head:

"And foreign languages?"

The prince looked at the schedule on the paper, which was getting shorter and shorter, and said with a bitter face:

"Um, does Orcish count?"

Gilbert raised an eyebrow, looked at himself with obvious understanding, and began writing, filling in the few remaining blank spaces:

"So you will also need tutoring in three languages: Gushia Elvish, Gulien Elvish, and Common Elvish."

ha?
Thales looked up in horror.

“It was just a joke, Your Highness,” Gilbert looked up and burst into laughter.
"No one except the elves themselves and linguists can speak the first two languages."

"Don't worry, all you need to learn is the common elven script."

Seeing the other person swipe away a few more squares, Thales wisely swallowed his question, "So Ada will talk?"

“Very good, then, grammar, history, etiquette, and language—that concludes the foundational courses in your curriculum,” Gilbert said with satisfaction.
"Next is the second category."

what?
besides?

Thales felt another pang of heartache.

The first category is enough to make him suffer!

However, Gilbert's next sentence caught his attention:
"philosophy."

At that moment, Thales was stunned again.

A few seconds later, disregarding the pressure of his studies, Thales exclaimed in genuine surprise:
"Zhe...Zhe what?"

Gilbert raised his head seriously and pronounced the words clearly:
"Philosophy—that's the ancient name, an extremely broad discipline."

"In today's context, especially in your curriculum, it includes mathematics, science, art, and theology."

what?
Mathematics, nature, art, theology?
Thales said in surprise:
"Are all of these things placed in philosophy?"

Gilbert smiled slightly and countered with the same question:
"Which ones can't be placed in philosophy?"

Thales waved.

“I understand what you mean,” the Duke said, somewhat puzzled.
"But I think that philosophy in a narrow and specialized sense is not so specific. Isn't it about answering some broad and profound ultimate questions?"

The former foreign minister, as if to joke with him, repeated the same statement:
"So, in your opinion, what kind of questions do not belong to the category of 'broad and profound ultimate questions'?"

Thales paused, then scratched his head—Good heavens, this must be a ailment he caught from Cohen.

"Um... 'What should we eat today?'"

He asked blankly.

Gilbert took off his glasses, took a breath, and sat up straight.

"First of all, the question of 'what to eat' can also be quite profound..."

He looked at the prince with earnest words:

"Secondly."

“Your Highness, a scribe or a civil official from an academy, as long as he works hard enough and studies the classics thoroughly, can also become fluent in grammar, knowledgeable in history, polite, and proficient in language.”

"A commoner knight who comes from a conscript or city defense force can also become a knight with superb martial arts skills, decisive command, and invincible on the battlefield, as long as he works hard enough and practices martial arts without stopping. He can also achieve many military exploits."

“They all have the opportunity to be granted a title one day.”

Gilbert's eyes sharpened:
"But how can you distinguish yourself as a true nobleman with a long and distinguished lineage, while they are not?"

Thales gave him an awkward smile.

I don't really know.

After all, this is my first time too...

To be an aristocrat, you know.

Fortunately, he managed to swallow the phrase he'd been mocked for countless times, "Golden blood?"

Gilbert gave a mysterious smile.

"If you're not used to it, Your Highness, then just take it as a nice-sounding title: Philosophy."

Gilbert looked out the window, his eyes filled with longing:

"You should know that long before the imperial era, philosophy was all-encompassing and was once called the 'scholarship of all laws.' It was a compulsory course for nobles. Back then, knights would wield weapons on horseback and discuss philosophy on foot. As a noble's son, there was no question of whether or not to study philosophy, only whether or not one studied it in depth."

The study of all methods?

The "Seat of All Laws" that Ashida spoke of...

Thales kept a close watch.

"But the content it contains—mathematics, nature, art, theology—seems somewhat..."

The prince struggled to find an adjective, but he ultimately failed.

Gilbert simply watched him from afar, a smile playing on his lips, without answering.

Unable to find the words, Thales could only exhale.

"You know, you remind me of the old crow again."

The Duke of Starlake reminisces about the past:
"Arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, geography—although the aristocratic education in the North crammed them whole into military lessons, the old crow separated them, teaching each of the four subjects separately and listing them in separate books."

"And the old crow doesn't just do simple arithmetic, but..."

Gilbert suddenly chimed in:

Algebra?

Thales' eyes lit up:
"Did he teach you that way too?"

Gilbert chuckled.

"This is a required course at Dragon Kiss Academy, a long-standing tradition. Teacher Hixer brought some of it to his private lessons."

The former foreign minister said wistfully:

"At the very least, all students at Dragon Kiss Academy must learn the principles and formulas for solving general algebra—such as quartic equations."

what?
"A quartic equation?"

Is it a required course?
Thales gave a dry laugh:
"Why? Why not just learn fifth, sixth, and seventh degree equations?"

Unexpectedly, Gilbert recalled it with exceptional seriousness:
"Mr. Hicksser said that it seems no one has found a way to solve the quintic equation yet. It is said that there were some methods during the Imperial Age... some people found them, but they were lost after the Final War..."

"It is said that some scholars who have devoted their entire lives to research have gone to even greater depths. Their algebra is no longer limited to referring to simple numbers, but to objects beyond reality and beyond imagination. They can even find ways to accurately represent direction and space, motion and change. For this reason, their arithmetic paper can be spread out over several floors..."

“Um, Gilbert, you can stop here,” Thales said, starting to feel a headache coming on. He made a stop gesture.

"You know, in the military indoor classes of the Northerners, I personally prefer astronomy and geography, even though my classmates prefer the opposite..."

Sorry, my interest in math is less than that of a little girl from the north.

Thales thought to himself, half-jokingly and half-helplessly.

This is truly a disgrace to our imperial traditions.

Gilbert lowered his head and continued the game of filling in the squares:
"Besides mathematics..."

"Nature encompasses astronomy and geography, broadening our knowledge and expanding our horizons;"

"Art encompasses music, painting, sculpture, dance, poetry, and drama, cultivating the mind and nurturing temperament."

"As for theology, well, it's rather mysterious, you'll find out."

"The weekly schedule they all require, hmm, let me see..."

Thales grew increasingly weary as he listened.

Gilbert frowned and picked up the draft schedule:

"Oh, it seems the schedule is a bit too full..."

"It's okay, I'll go back and rearrange the proportion of basic and philosophy courses, mixing them both..."

Thales closed his eyes, resigned to his fate.

But then he remembered something, opened his eyes, and asked:
"Wait, Gilbert, didn't you just say there are three main categories?"

Gilbert looked at him, giving him a "teachable" expression:

"Yes, the third category, practical matters, that needs to be reported to His Majesty for a decision..."

besides?

Thales said with a hint of sadness, "Practical matters?"

Gilbert cleared his throat and continued making notes on the sheet of paper that foreshadowed Thales' future fate:

"For example, in terms of governance, large families with titles of earl or higher especially need it."

"Military command and logistics, political reporting and processing, agriculture and commerce, finance and taxation, national politics and diplomacy, religious and aristocratic relations, law and jurisprudence..."

"But this isn't something that ordinary college teachers can teach; it often requires combining theory with practice and examples, and ideally, having firsthand experience..."

Gilbert finished writing something down, looked up, squinted, and smiled:

"You don't need to rush for now. Let's finish the previous content first."

He looked at the schedule in his hand with great excitement:
"So, in grammar class, grammar, logic, rhetoric..."

"Then there's history class and etiquette class; we'll need to make some minor adjustments to their focus..."

"Two ancient imperial scripts, plus the common Elven script, I reckon you've almost forgotten the basics of the latter..."

"Then there are mathematics, science, art, theology, and so on. These four subjects can be further subdivided based on your interests and the teachers you can find. For example, I would recommend art..."

"As for the detailed selection of instructors, let me take another look. Ideally, each course should have a different one to keep things fresh and interesting, so you'll enjoy the classes..."

"Practical applications require a separate note..."

As he listened to his words, Thales's expression went through the initial fear, pain, and sorrow, and now it gradually became numb.

"Very good, those are your three types of courses."

Gilbert grinned so hard his teeth were showing.
"I wish you a pleasant learning experience."

Thales glanced at the almost completely filled schedule and immediately turned pale:

"You think... you think I can handle this?"

Gilbert shook his finger, full of confidence.

"No, no, no, others may not know, but I personally witnessed your learning progress six years ago, Your Highness. You are truly a genius."

wait wait wait.

Thales's lips twitched.

“I believe these courses will be a piece of cake for you.”

"Besides, didn't you tell me this six years ago, when you were still young?" Gilbert blinked, his eyes filled with the satisfaction of finding a good student:
"You love going to class the most."

Thales' vision went black.

Gilbert.

You...you must have misunderstood something.
Would it be of any use if he said now that his brain was damaged by the Northerners?
But the former foreign minister clearly didn't understand his feelings:
"Then I'll take my leave now. I'll come again tomorrow. Be prepared—grammar lesson!"

Thales no longer remembers how he sent Gilbert away.

He only remembers nodding and smiling blankly, then nodding and smiling.

By the time Thales came to his senses, he was already standing at the door of the reception room.

Just then, a voice that was no longer so unfamiliar rang out from behind.

"it's over?"

Thales turned around blankly.

“Very good, the Security Bureau just sent people to disperse those uninvited guests who wanted to visit the Duke.”

His captain of the guard, Lord Marius the Watchman, still wore that same nonchalant smile:
"Then you should have some time now, right?"

Thales stared at him blankly, completely bewildered.

Marius grinned, and everyone who saw him felt a warm breeze.

"Get ready, Your Highness, our training will begin tomorrow."

Oh.

Thales also came back to his senses in a daze.

and many more.

"Hold……"

Thales snapped out of his daze, turned abruptly, and his eyes widened in shock:

"What the fuck?"

Marius frowned slightly.

"Didn't Count Cassel tell you?"

Thales shook his head instinctively.

The watchman stepped forward, squinting as he sized up the Duke:

"Besides the complex courses in basics, philosophy, and practice, there is one more crucial point for Star Nobles."

The most important point?
Marius nodded and smiled:
"Since the time of the kings, the most crucial standard for proving the difference between the status of nobles and commoners."

Come again?

An ominous premonition gripped Thales' heart.

Marius then spoke with a smile:
"Martial arts."

Thales didn't react and was speechless for a moment.

Three seconds later.

The prince took a deep breath:

"No, I learned martial arts skills, what does that have to do with...with you..."

Marius interrupted him with a standard courtesy:

"Unfortunately, I am Tormond Marius, and His Majesty has just assigned me to be your..."

"Martial arts instructor".

Thales was stunned.

Marius raised his head, his face beaming:

"So I need you to set aside seven early mornings and seven afternoons a week—starting tomorrow, please be at the training ground in the backyard at six in the morning and five in the afternoon."

"Follow me, practice diligently."

The last few words were spoken with immense pleasure by the Watchman.

Thales stared at him blankly, unable to utter a single word.

Marius patted him on the shoulder and gave him a friendly smile: "Don't worry, Your Highness."

"We have a long way to go."

Thales took a breath and walked forward numbly, completely ignoring the amused gazes of those behind him.

But Marius called out to him.

"Your Excellency the Duke"

"Training may be disciplined, but swords and blades have no eyes."

His smile was gentle and generous, but in Thales' eyes it appeared utterly wicked: "If there's any bump or knock..."

Please bear with me.

Marius bowed politely, smiled, and turned to leave.

The prince was left alone, bewildered in the morning light.

At this moment, Thales' emotions were complicated.

Feeling gloomy.

After a long while, he finally walked out of the living room looking haggard.

Preparing to enjoy my last days of carefree life.

The prince suddenly understood.

So, what was previously in the Northern Lands was merely a part of this world...

Nine years of compulsory education.

Thales let out a painful sigh.

Now, he is finally fourteen years old...

It's time to go...

Thales thought desperately:

I'm in high school now.

Watching the Duke walk away with a blank expression, Doyle shook his head from a distance.

Unfortunately, the child happened to arrive at a time when Marius was being threatened by some fat nobleman and was in a bad mood.

but……

Doyle looked at Thales's distraught appearance.

Wow, our second prince, the Duke of Starlake, is already no good?

DD rolled his eyes and scratched his chin.

You should know that the ladies-in-waiting in the palace...

I'm still waiting to give him a sex education lesson.

Yes, I've gone mad.

Wu Jian has been cursed with the vicious curse of "writing 24,000 words in a row" today!

Huh? Stockpiled drafts? What are those? I don't know!
Just post it!

(Blink, blink desperately, blink so hard! Blink, please!)

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(End of this chapter)