Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 535 Polaris

When enemies meet, it's like a gentle spring breeze.

When old friends reunite, their eyes light up with joy.

During his days living under someone else's roof and feeling restricted in Dragon City, Thales dreamed countless times of returning to the stars.

But if anything could extinguish his homesickness, it was probably the elegant and perfect smile of the Iris Duke Jann Kevindeer.

Prince Thales would never forget the madness he encountered in the Star Realm six years ago when he traveled north on a diplomatic mission:

Whether it was the vampire hag, resembling a dried-up corpse, opening her gaping maw and dark eye sockets to him with a shrill scream, or the limbless, pure white, bloodthirsty monster irresistibly pinning him down and tearing at his neck.

These two elements served as the climactic surprises in most of his nightmares over the past six years, second only to Giza, who occasionally appeared as a hidden boss (in the ultimate nightmare), urging him to go to bed early, get up early, and stay optimistic.

Every time he thought about this, Thales felt a dull ache in his neck.

It felt like being strangled, or like being bitten through.

Therefore, Thales will never forget the culprit behind all of this.

“I didn’t expect you to come, my Duke friend,” Thales said with a beaming smile, his right arm around Jann’s back and onto the other shoulder. To onlookers, they looked like brothers, arm in arm, strolling together.

"At least, not this early."

Jann smiled gently in return, putting his left arm around Thales' neck as if he were embracing his younger brother, a natural and affectionate gesture.

“I have missed Your Highness dearly these past few months,”

I can't wait to see you.

"My prince friend".

Jann's voice was just as it had been back then—gentle, refined, friendly, and approachable.

Even better than before.

I miss you dearly...

Thales chuckled.

"So what's it this time?"

Thales displayed his remarkable salesmanship with the rope, his smile radiant, his tone cheerful, and his voice suddenly dropping:

Poisoning? Assassination? Framing? Spreading rumors? Slander?

Thales' voice was so soft that even Grover, Doyle, and Jann's old butler Ashford, who were following behind the two, couldn't hear it.

He moved closer to Jenn:
"Or should we learn from the northerners and just roll up our sleeves and get our hands on me?"

In full view of everyone, Jenn burst into laughter.

The guests, who were being kept at a distance by guards and servants and were waiting to enter, witnessed this harmonious scene and nodded with satisfaction.

Many people were talking about this scene in tacit agreement: it was clear that the Duke of the South Bank had just chuckled because of one of the prince's jokes, and what was rare was that the Duke's emotions were genuine and unpretentious.

The prince was also sincere and genuine, without any pretense or embellishment.

You see, big shots are actually just ordinary people. They live the same lives as us, experience similar joys, and suffer similar troubles. If you don't believe me, just look at their smiles. They are natural and friendly. How are they any different from you and me?

Therefore, we are only in different positions from princes and dukes, but there is no difference in rank. We are all important members of the kingdom, striving for the future of the stars.

Since they have devoted themselves to the kingdom and steered its course, we should have hope for them and maintain our faith in them.

Even if they have shortcomings, we should put ourselves in their shoes and be tolerant and patient.

This is true love... Hey! Dude, stop pushing, there's no room—whether you can see me or not is none of my business! I came here today just to catch a glimpse of His Highness and the Duke! Hey, they're leaving, hurry up! Hey, move aside! You're blocking my view! Prince Thales! Duke Jann! Slow down!

"Taylor! You..."

Ignoring the minor commotion off the court, Jenn affectionately shook the prince beneath his arm and leaned down to whisper in the latter's ear:

“You know, I’ve been thinking about this for the past six years too…”

He spoke softly, like spring rain nourishing the earth:
"If you return home in glory, how should we get along?"

His words concealed a sharp edge.

How should we get along?

Thales gave an almost inaudible snort, but inexplicably, an image flashed through his mind of King Nunn, his eyes blazing with fury, his voice cold as he challenged the man who had killed his son to a duel.

"We need to respect each other and each go our own way..."

They continued to move forward steadily.

But in an instant, Jenn's gentle whisper suddenly turned cold:

"Or will the feud rage on until death?"

Thales paused slightly in his steps.

As a result, Jenn also slowed down.

It sounds like a request for a ceasefire.

but……

Thales slowly turned his head, his smile still there, but his gaze grew cold.

“Don’t worry,” Jan patted his shoulder in a friendly manner, like an older brother encouraging a younger man, which reassured the waiters and guards who witnessed the scene.
"You have plenty of time to think it over, because what you need to worry about today..."

"It wasn't me."

From an angle where no one could see, the smile in Jenn's eyes faded slightly.

At least.

It's not just me.

Thales fell silent.

But the next second, His Highness first twitched his eyebrows slightly, and then burst into laughter!
Janne lowered his head, a smile playing on his lips.

Their stride length returned to normal.

To onlookers, the jokes between the Duke of South Bank and the Duke of Star Lake were becoming increasingly lighthearted and easygoing—didn't they see them laughing so hard they were doubled over?

Marius, who had been leading the way, frowned slightly.

Ashford, the butler behind them, remained expressionless.

The watchman gestured to Thales that he could take over and led the Duke to the banquet hall. But the overjoyed prince waved his hand, insisting on accompanying the Duke for the rest of the journey.

The guests on the other side noticed this scene and were moved by the friendship and affection between the two.

“You know, for a while I didn’t understand why you wanted me dead—even though we had no more conflicts.”

Thales' laughter subsided, and he spoke quietly while giving Jann a hard pat on the back.

Duke Iris swayed slightly, but his smile remained.

"But later, I figured it out."

Thales leaned against Jenn's shoulder and winked mischievously:
"What do you say?"

Have you figured it out?

In that instant, Jenn's steps became fragmented.

The Duke lowered his head slightly, as if deep in thought.

Thales understandingly matched his pace, waiting with a smile for the other's response.

"A little advice, Your Highness."

A few seconds later, Jenn looked up, his expression unchanged, but his lips twitched slightly:
"Take care of yourself, kid, and mind your own business."

Although his smile remained, the warmth in Jann's tone was palpable to Thales, giving him the illusion of a slight chill down his spine.

Jenn glanced at him briefly, but a cold glint seemed to flash within him:
"Don't go looking for trouble."

"Only regret remains."

Thales paused inwardly.

Duke Starlake remained silent.

The next moment, they entered the banquet hall.

Many of the guests who had arrived earlier were already seated, waiting elegantly and patiently, greeting each other from time to time. Many others stood in small groups, chatting happily and politely.

The arrival of the Duke of South Bank and the Duke of Star Lake undoubtedly attracted everyone's attention. First, the guests who were nearby bowed, and then those in the distance stopped their conversations. Perhaps not expecting to see such important figures take their seats so quickly, a few seconds later, a small, almost boisterous, murmur arose in the banquet hall.

The guests of slightly higher status—the obsequious Doyle couple, Viscount Lozano Golova, and Eleanor Barney, who was leading her child (after seeing the nine-pointed star badge on the Baron's hand, the number of noblewomen surrounding Lady Eleanor suddenly increased)—all rose to their feet and bow.

The atmosphere suddenly became heated.

Jann and Thales naturally let go of each other and returned the greetings to the guests in a tacit and cooperative manner, responding to their pleasantries from time to time.

Unlike the chaotic state conference six years ago, those invited to the celebration of the day of the prince's return home were no ordinary people. Even the guests on the periphery were neither servile nor arrogant, but friendly and proper. The waiters and guards were dutiful, making way for the duke and the prince and seeing them off without disturbing their conversation.

However, only Thales knew the truth.

In this warm and harmonious moment, when host and guest were perfectly in sync and like fish and water, his invisible confrontation with Jann reached its climax.

The boy's steps were short and quick.

Jenn's stride is longer, but his frequency is slightly lower.

The two walked side by side, occasionally adjusting each other's pace, but for some reason, their footsteps just couldn't find the same rhythm.

But at that moment, Thales smiled genuinely and from the bottom of his heart.

Does he know, Janne?
Thales thought silently.

The Iris family, revered and worshipped throughout the Star Kingdom, and Duke Jann Kevindir, ruler of the South Shore Territory.

His threats, his warnings, his earnest tone…

Compared to those people...

Many faces flashed through Thales's mind:
King Nunn caressing his ring, King Chaman stroking his sword, the treacherous and ruthless Chisel, the eerie and sinister Ricky, the legendary Wings forging heads, the cackling Duke of the Western Wilderness...

Compared to them...

The boy chuckled inwardly.

The excitement created by the two in the banquet hall subsided slightly, and the guests dispersed again, returning to their usual small groups.

The next second, Thales' smile faded slightly. He lowered his hand that was waving hello and unceremoniously put his arm around Jenn's shoulder.

“You know, I’ve been taking a math class with Julio recently.”

"So I'm curious."

It looked as if the prince had remembered something interesting, leaned over, and whispered it to the duke.

Thales' mouth remained still, and he made the sound from between his teeth:

"I'm curious: Six years ago, when I went north and encountered an accident, you transferred those baronies and the crystal mine to the royal family in order to gain my father's leniency..."

How much revenue do you lose each year?

The words fell.

Jann's breathing became slightly erratic.

Baron's territory.

Leachite.

income……

Jenn's arm muscles were slightly tense.

"this matter."

He smiled and turned to Thales.

"I thought we had finished..."

But the prince responded with an even brighter, more radiant smile:
"And do you know how I survived these past six years in the fierce and treacherous North?"

In that instant, the head of the Kevin Deer family felt a sudden tightness on his shoulders:
“Times have changed, Jen.” Thales whispered in the other’s ear, a malicious smile playing on his lips.
"Don't go looking for trouble."

"Only regret remains."

Jann stared at him intently.

His expression slowly stiffened.

To many, Prince Thales was overjoyed, whispering something in Duke Kevin Deer's ear the whole way, while the latter listened patiently and affectionately to the boy's words, showing no displeasure whatsoever, let alone a cold expression.

They were as close as brothers.

It was so gratifying to see, that it brought a smile to one's face.

Since the prince and the duke, one a pure, lively, and cheerful youth, and the other a refined, wise, gentle, and kind gentleman, together created a friendly and warm atmosphere...

The guests on the periphery will naturally be deeply affected and resonate with the sentiment.

I wish I could be of one mind with these two noble role models who led the world and set an example for all.

The banquet hall instantly transformed into a sea of joy:

In the past, blood feuds that would inevitably escalate into bloodshed upon meeting have ceased. Instead, they have forgiven each other with smiles, embracing one another like brothers and showing mutual tolerance.

Even strangers who would never have met before instantly became fast friends, chatting happily, only lamenting that they met too late.

At this moment, the Mindis Hall perfectly showcased the unique spirit and characteristics of the era among the nobles and commoners both inside and outside the Star Kingdom's palace, united and full of fighting spirit.

Those who heard it were surprised, and those who saw it were moved.

Thales and Jann finally stopped.

The two continued to gaze at each other with smiles, everything understood without a word.

For a fleeting moment, it was as if their world consisted of nothing but each other.

Marius, standing ahead, had to raise his voice to remind the two who were lost in their eye contact: the guests have been delivered, and Your Highness should return to greet the other guests.

Finally, Jenn smiled and reached out to put his arms around Thales' shoulders, his tone softening.

"I understand, Your Highness."

"Please don't worry."

Jen lowered his head and pursed his lips:
"As long as the stars remain, the empire will endure forever."

Thales raised his eyebrows.

Then, Thales grinned happily and, without any hesitation, stretched out his arms and hugged Jenn tightly!
"That's good. May our friendship continue..."

Jann's expression froze, and he felt his waist being firmly gripped, with the pressure gradually increasing.

Thales pressed his cheek close to the Duke's neck and, from an angle unseen by others, said in a cold voice:
"We will not perish because of the enemy."

The next second, the prince released the duke and transformed back into the cheerful and genuine Thales, laughing heartily.

Jan looked at him and smiled.

To complement the prince and duke, the well-mannered nobles around them, while secretly watching, politely raised their voices to make the laughter less abrupt.

Thales seemed genuinely happy. He waved to Jann with a beaming smile before turning and walking quickly between Golov and Doyle (who was looking at the prince with a strange expression).

When no one was watching, the boy relaxed his facial muscles, which were almost numb from laughing too much.

He let out a long sigh of relief.

Somewhat strange.

Feeling Jenn's gaze coming from behind, Thales, who was feeling tired again, thought to himself.

Jann Kevin Deer.

As one of his most disliked enemies, this guy is still just as insidious, as deep, and as despicable.

But in my memory, the Duke of Iris wasn't like this before...

initiative?

Thales pondered this as he walked toward the exit of the banquet hall, accompanied by his guards, intending to return to his seat and continue fulfilling his duty of greeting guests.

However, before he could finish thinking...

An accident happened.

As he passed a group of foreign guests, a tall, imposing figure, even more imposing than Glov, suddenly sprang to life!
The other person entered his line of sight with a sharp and imposing aura!

In an instant, Golov and Doyle both changed color.

But the two guards were well-trained. They instantly bent their knees and placed their swords on their hands, ready to draw their swords and kill the assassins before they could get close!

Until Marius's powerful hands reached out at just the right moment.

He held their shoulders down tightly!

This avoided the embarrassment of the Star Prince's first appearance in front of everyone causing guests to bleed profusely.

"Hold on," Marius whispered a reprimand.

At the same time, a deep, rough voice, with a tone that Thales knew all too well, rang out in the banquet hall:

"Look who this is?"

The burly guest stood in front of Thales, laughing heartily.

Startled, the nervous Golov and Doyle glanced at Marius who was stopping them and then noticed that although he was intimidating in appearance, he was unarmed and standing at a safe distance.

They overreacted.

Thales stared in astonishment at the stranger before him—a man whose body and beard were as thick as his clothes, which were thick but somewhat rustic, and who looked like a big bear.

"An old friend of the people of Exeter!"

"Prince Thales..."

The bearded man in front of me opened his thick arms wide, beaming with joy, and shouted out the next word in a booming voice:
"Polaris!"

Thales was stunned.

Wait a minute...

North, what star is North?

He turned around in a daze and glanced at the guests around him. They, who had been watching curiously, immediately turned back and went about their own business.

But that didn't stop Thales from recognizing the other person's familiar accent.

He is from...

"Look!"

The bearded man's laughter was rough, powerful, and full of energy.
"The prince who grew up drinking the milk of us northerners is truly different!"

Thales was stunned for a moment again.

What...what kind of water?

"sorry?"

The prince finally composed himself and responded politely and appropriately:

"In fact, when I arrived in Dragon Sky City, I had already... I had already done that..."

Thales awkwardly replied in his mind:

She's been weaned.

Wait, in this world, his childhood self...

Have you ever drunk milk?

But he was met with another round of rude laughter.

“I am Jorge, and I have no surname.”

The northerner, who called himself Jorge, pounded his chest, the sound like a thunderous drumbeat, startling several Star Nobles nearby who instinctively moved further away.

"I am the aide to Grand Duke Gadro, bringing you the hospitality and grandeur of Deer City!"

Thales's expression changed.

Grand Duke Gadro.

Deer City?
The northern geography that he once knew so well returned to his mind.

Of the ten territories of Exter, if Qiyuan City is in the far west, then Elk City is in the far east.

In fact, the Gadero family of Deer City, though located in a remote area, is situated on mountains and cliffs, near ice and the sea. In a situation where good ports are scarce and the coastal environment is harsh, they have managed to hold onto a narrow coastline that is rare even in the entire Kingdom of Exter.
Heading north, they can use sea transport to support Watchtower and the Glacier Sea, defending against the Glacier Orcs;
To the south, the fleet from Elk City can echo the Reconstruction Tower and Black Sand Territory, remotely controlling the ports of the East China Sea.

To the east, the vassals of the Gadero family had to set sail and fight against the "sons of the maidens"—the Kasei pirates who roamed the islands—to protect the sea lanes.
In some extreme times, they even faced threats from across the End of the Sea, sounding the first clarion call of a continental war.

Six years ago, Grand Duke Gadro did not heed King Nuen's invitation to come to Dragon Sky City to witness that night that shook the Western Continent.

Ketels remembered how the Count of Lisbon called him—"that sanctimonious goatee."

however……

Thales looked thoughtfully at Jorge, the familiar yet unfamiliar northerner before him.

He came to attend...his own homecoming banquet?

"It is my great honor to meet you; even the bright moon is astonished!"

Jorge spoke incomprehensible grammar, yet laughed heartily, and cheerfully waved his arms at Thales:

"My North Star!"

Thales raised an eyebrow.

"North, Polaris?"

Thales repeated, puzzled.

What the hell kind of name is this?

"Yup!"

Jorge's every call seemed to make the floor tiles beneath his feet tremble.
"You've been in Dragon Sky City for a full six years, you brat surnamed Canxing!"

He clapped his hands loudly, completely ignoring the disdainful looks from Golov and Doyle:

"So after you returned to China, everyone called you Polaris..."

"Because you are the most courageous person in the last few centuries, and the one who has lived the longest in the north—"

Jorge looked excited, his voice resounding through the dome:

"King of the Stars!"

For a moment, it seemed as if the entire banquet hall had fallen silent.

Everyone turned their eyes and stared at this corner.

One second, two seconds.

Jorge noticed the sudden silence around him and paused for a moment.

He looked around cautiously.

The official from Deer City took a deep breath and looked at the prince, whose face was stiff and who looked utterly hopeless.

He seemed to realize something.