Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 620 Empty Proof
"Control?"

Gilbert's gaze shifted several times, but the experienced man maintained a gentle and steady tone:
"Forgive my ignorance, but I cannot understand what you mean."

Thales gave him a deep look.

“No, Gilbert,” Thales smiled.
“You are the smartest person in this palace, smart enough to know when to be dull.”

The dim lighting in the corridor made Gilbert's face appear ashen.

“You know very well everything I have and have accomplished since you brought me into the Mindis Hall: whether it was using the prince's name to make the Grand Duke of the North listen to me patiently, or using interests to make Dragon City hesitate to act, or using my status to make a small group of people willingly do my bidding, including my painstaking efforts to prevent conflict, quell war, and aid friends…”

Thales' smile gradually froze:

“All of these things, in the final analysis, stem from him.”

Gilbert paused, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Thales continued:

"It stems more from what he represents: kingdoms, systems, traditions... everything."

"That's why I'm fearless in the face of Nunn, Chaman, and the Shadow Shield, but I'm wary and afraid of him the only one."

Thales took a deep breath:

"Because without him, without all that he has given me..."

"I can only go back to my original form, back to that lonely and weak beggar in the abandoned house in the lower city."

Thales clenched his fist.

He recalled the night of Dragonblood, in his room at Valhalla, when Ashida had asked him a pointed question.

"I..." the prince said with difficulty.
"It's nothing."

Nothing.

“I know His Majesty Kessel has always been strong-willed,” Gilbert tried to find a place to interject, “His demands on you are too harsh, which has alienated you from him and even made you afraid of him…”

“Strict?” Thales repeated the word, snorted, and shook his head.

“King Nunn forced me, King Chaman used me, and the Shadow Shield harmed me—but they all had to first raise their swords and resort to the most direct and brutal means.”

"But only him, only him, he controlled me not with a knife, not with an order, not with a threat, not even with a clear hierarchy, interest relationship, or power chain."

Thales slowly turned around, facing the shadows in the corridor where the lights couldn't reach, his words tinged with bitterness:
"It is a vast, intricate web."

“It’s called ‘Star Kingdom’ or ‘This damn world’.”

Gilbert was startled and blurted out:

"Your Highness!"

But Thales suddenly raised his hand, stopping the teacher from saying what he was about to say.

"And he was at the very top of this net, without needing to say or do anything, or even show himself. The very existence and weight of the net itself, its airtight structure, was enough to make me bow my head and stagger."

Thales appeared dazed.
"Until I was bound and restrained by the countless threads in the net, becoming what it wanted me to be."

"I see!"

Gilbert could no longer contain himself and impatiently interrupted:
“I understand, Your Highness! But you are, after all, father and son, bound by blood, and you are his heir, sharing the same stance. As long as you resolve your conflicts and misunderstandings—”

"Untie?"

Thales raised his voice and turned around.

He looked at the Foreign Minister, a cold smile playing on his lips.

“Gilbert, you are a diplomat. You can untie a knot, a misunderstanding, you can resolve the feud between two people, the conflict between two groups, and you can even resolve the war stalemate between two great powers.”

"But how do you untangle a—net?"

Gilbert's eyes narrowed.

“That pharmacy owner, if he had good relations with the gang, maybe he could pay less protection money,” Thales said, taking a step closer to Gilbert, his tone rather aggressive.

"But Gilbert, answer me: how can he escape that snare, that one which he has become so accustomed to and numb to, that cruel snare that unilaterally asserts that one cannot have both freedom and security, that one must give up one, thereby justifying violence, exploitation, and oppression?"

The cold wind seeped in through the gaps, chilling to the bone.

Gilbert didn't react at first; he stared blankly at Thales, incredulous.

“That good girl, maybe she can find a so-called good man like me and live happily ever after,” Thales stared intently at his teacher, determined to get an answer no matter the cost.
"But Count Cassel, answer me: how can she escape this snare, the one she has long seen through yet is powerless to escape, the injustice that has designed and disciplined women into being able to depend on and submit to another kind of person, to exchange their skirts for bread, or else be punished and unable to move an inch?"

The lights flickered in the corridor, and ghostly figures loomed around.

Looking at the prince in this state, Gilbert's right hand trembled, and he unconsciously leaned on his cane, his breathing becoming rapid.

"As for that crippled tough guy, maybe his old friends in the gang can help him make ends meet," Thales said through gritted teeth, his tone indignant.
"But Foreign Minister, please answer me: how can he escape this snare? The one he has lived in for so long that he has become desensitized to its stench, the one that constantly repeats the idea that strength determines gain and weakness invites aggression, a logically flawed system full of contradictions and loopholes, yet rarely questioned?"

The stone walls in the palace listened silently to Thales's questioning, remaining as silent as ever.

Gilbert's chest heaved as he stared back at Thales.

“Answer me, respected teacher, answer me,” Thales raised his voice:

"Use all your knowledge and skills in history, politics, grammar, and philosophy to answer me: How will you untangle these snares?"

The echo reverberated through the empty, dark corridor, like a tiny pebble dropped into a bottomless, dark abyss.

“Your Highness,” Gilbert said, his voice filled with worry and anxiety:
"I don't understand, what you're saying has nothing to do with us—"

But Thales interrupted him.

"last night."

The prince stared intently at the Foreign Secretary:

“I, Duke of Starlake, Prince Thales, stand at the highest point of the Mindis Hall, yet I still feel helpless and teetering on the brink of collapse, not even allowed to retreat, turn back, or give up. For the net that belongs to me has already bound me tightly, leaving no room for escape.”

Upon hearing this, Gilbert's expression darkened.

"In that web of deception, I could only watch helplessly as two living people fought to the death before my eyes for ridiculous reasons, and I could only watch my subordinates sacrifice their lives, simply because it was in line with 'my' position, in line with the interests of the kingdom, and in line with the best outcome."

The scene at the banquet flashed before Thales' eyes:
"If I resist and tear at it even slightly, just like last night, appealing to my humanity rather than my interests, and testing the limits of deviance, I will immediately be met with ruthless punishment and countermeasures from this net from top to bottom. It will either force me to bow my head and become a good prince again, or completely eliminate me and turn me into a legend of the past."

Legends and the Throne.

Legend, or throne.

That was all he had to choose.

"Gilbert, can you feel it?"

Thales felt a bitter taste in his mouth:
"Can you feel these things, these invisible yet ubiquitous traps in our lives, these desperate and oppressive entrapments that make it hard to breathe?"

"It is so irresistible and imperceptible that even the strongest, smartest, and most insightful people I have ever met will be subtly and unconsciously transformed into its most loyal and obedient slaves."

Gilbert remained silent, lost in bitter contemplation.

“This, Gilbert, is what has always terrified me.”

Thales took a deep breath, stepped back two paces, and vigorously rubbed his forehead.

"As Janne said: I returned to the stars, but I gained more than just the protection of the kingdom."

"Moreover, it casts a shadow over the throne."

The two fell into silence.

It felt like an eternity before Gilbert finally let out a long sigh, his wrinkles around his eyes becoming more pronounced.

“I understand, Thales.”

He was very careful, as if comforting a wounded little animal:

“I understand that being the Prince of Stars is not an easy title, nor is being the Duke of Starlake or the heir to the throne. You not only have to bear the burden of your own life, but also the future of the entire kingdom. But you have done very well…”

“I also know that our kingdom is complex. It is not perfect, but flawed, and even terrible at times. We can only do our best to make up for and correct it to the greatest extent possible.”

"And that requires your wisdom, but before that, you must hold great power and be in a high position to have the qualifications and conditions to discuss solutions..."

Thales pursed his lips and shook his head.

No.

He doesn't understand.

Just like everyone else.

Gilbert continued, his words filled with hope:
“But I swear, with my honor and my duty, I will do everything in my power to ensure that what happened today will not happen again. I will advise His Majesty, and he will give you more time, more freedom and leeway, more…”

“I’ve seen him, Gilbert,” Thales interrupted in a low voice.

“I saw how carefully you treaded on thin ice in the Royal Council, balancing between the King and the Prime Minister, between finance and the military, between moderation and radicalism, between humanity and interests.”

Gilbert was taken aback.

Thales gave a sarcastic smile:
“Even as a royalist, you do not agree with the king, or at least you do not approve of his methods and means of doing things—radical, domineering, inhumane, arousing resentment, and completely unlike the effortless handling of Prince Midil back then.”

Gilbert's expression tightened slightly.

"No, Your Highness, this is mere conjecture..."

Thales shook his head, but his gaze remained firm:
"But there's nothing you can do."

"Because of you, Gilbert Cassel, the creator of the Fortress Treaty, the cunning fox of the West who once went north alone and drove back an army of 100,000 tigers and wolves, because you, like me, are also caught in this towering net, controlled by it, and powerless to resist."

The Foreign Minister was stunned.

"Just to secure your seat in the Imperial Council, just to protect yourself from falling off the scales of bias, just to prevent yourself from being crushed and assimilated by them, you have already exhausted all your wisdom and strength."

Thales stared at him, then reached out and gripped Gilbert's shoulders tightly:

"I have no more energy left for myself, for my past ideals and ambitions."

Gilbert's brow twitched slightly.

Thales slowly clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying:

"So when you first discovered me six years ago, and realized that there might be another candidate for the Star King, you were overjoyed and treated me like a treasure, working tirelessly as my minister and doing so much for me."

"Because you expect me to one day..." "take his place."

At that moment, Gilbert looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with utter shock!
Thales smiled:
"Is not it?"

Silence, a suffocating silence, lasted for a full three seconds.

The next moment, Gilbert realized what was happening and instinctively stepped back in surprise, breaking free from Thales's grasp.

Thales stared at him, his hands outstretched, but there was only emptiness in his palms.

Gilbert stared at the student in astonishment, as if he no longer recognized the boy.

"You should be happy, teacher."

“Because I will,” Thales suppressed his disappointment, looking down at his empty palms, where the scars were even more prominent.

"Let's start now."

Gilbert's expression suddenly changed.

"Your Highness, Your Highness?"

Realizing something, he quickly stepped forward and put his arm around Thales' shoulder again:

"What are you saying? What are you going to do?"

Thales smiled.

“Gilbert, do you know why I was able to walk out unscathed after committing such a heinous act?”

"Do you know what the most interesting thing about this web we're in is?"

Facing Gilbert's shocked gaze and feeling the weight on his shoulders, Thales looked behind him, towards the dark corridor leading to Ballard's Chamber.

"That is: in this country, the one who is bound more tightly, more deeply, and more heavily by the net, and who is more powerless to extricate himself, is neither me nor you."

The boy's smile remained unchanged, but his gaze was cold and unfathomable.
"But there is someone else."

----

"How can I trust you?"

In Ballard's Chamber, King Kessel resumed eating, his voice soft and distant, less sharp but more ruthless:
How do I know what you're saying is true?

Across the council table, Thales listened silently, expressionless, as the other party's words progressed step by step:

"How do I know that you truly intend to be used by me, rather than secretly strengthening yourself, accumulating fame, and gathering support?"

"How do I know that this isn't like raising a tiger to cause future trouble, making you an unprecedented threat?"

"How do I know you won't take advantage of the chaos, seize the opportunity, and ultimately turn against us..."

The next second, King Kessel's words turned chilling, and a murderous intent suddenly appeared:
"To take my place?"

In that instant, the cramped room seemed even smaller, with no room left to move around.

Thales sneered, finding it utterly absurd:
"Now that we've gone this far, why are you still worried about this?"

The king picked up a piece of meat with his fork and squinted his eyes:
"If you can deceive a prince like Falkenhausen, you can certainly deceive me."

"And how will you gain my trust, guarantee that you will fulfill your duties, and become my sharpest sword, my most loyal pawn, and my most trusted ace?"

Thales remained silent for a moment.

At that moment, he finally realized that he was sitting in the same room as King Kessel.

Just like the words he used to threaten the Black Prophet in the Secret Society.

He faced the Iron-Fisted King alone.

Face to face.

King versus king.

Shining stars against shining stars.

How much did he sacrifice for this moment?

How much more will we lose?

Finally, the boy took a deep breath and stared directly at the king:
"First of all, regardless of my intentions, facts speak louder than words, and the process and reality cannot deceive people. Your rights and interests will tangibly expand and grow in our cooperation."

"For example, this time, I will persuade the lords of the Western Wilderness to reduce their troops and pay taxes in order to support the expansion of the standing army."

King Kessel did not answer—but Thales, who had clashed with him many times, gradually realized that this was the best answer the other party could give.

"Secondly, if you're worried that I'll go down a dark path, truly collude with the disloyal, and betray them to the enemy..."

Thales spoke calmly and methodically:

“I believe you know why I made this proposal and embarked on this path.”

"To fight you to the death, to the point of destroying the kingdom and sacrificing countless lives, would be contrary to my original intentions and the last thing I want to see."

King Kessel snorted, his emotions unreadable.

"Thirdly, as you said, there is a price to pay for me taking this step."

Thales' gaze remained fixed:
"If I want to return to the Palace of Reconstruction, walk into the stronghold of the pro-monarchy party who sees me as an enemy, and inherit the throne safely, peacefully, elegantly, without bloodshed or killing, and ensure that my head is on my own shoulders, then I have to rely on your endorsement and recognition at the last moment—only by taking my final bow with the king can I avoid being pelted with eggs by the audience."

This time, King Kessel frowned slightly and remained silent for a long time.

"But if you're not openly betraying us and causing widespread suffering," the Iron-Fisted King's gaze shifted:
"Or should you emulate your dearest northern friends, plotting secretly and launching a sudden attack?"

His friends from the North.

Thales frowned as he recalled Rumba's old sword and King Nunn's head rolling to the ground.

"Even someone as experienced as you is afraid of assassins?" Thales said sarcastically.

King Kessel's knife and fork paused in mid-air.

“You know, Yodl is gone,” the king resumed eating, his voice as unchanging as ever, seemingly indifferent: “Now take my head…”

There's still time.

Yodl is gone.

Thales' heart sank.

"Another day."

The prince looked at the now-cold food in front of him and said calmly:
"This spoon... doesn't feel right."

King Kessel also gave a cold laugh.

Even if you're truly blinded by greed and genuinely want to do this...

The king said slowly:
"But how can you guarantee that if the situation changes in the future, and times have changed, you will still keep your promise, remember your agreement, and pave the way for me, punishing evil and upholding justice?"

Overcoming all obstacles and punishing evil.

Thales sneered inwardly.

"do not know."

The boy, showing no weakness, decisively retaliated:
"I cannot guarantee what has not yet happened, nor do I want to say anything nice about staying true to my original intentions."

King Kessel frowned.

Until Thales changed his tone:
"But that's up to you."

The king's eyes flickered: "What?"

"Like me, there's a price to pay for taking this step."

Thales leaned forward, his voice threatening:

"If you don't want to be rejected and betrayed by me one day, if you don't want to be forced into a civil war to punish your rebellious son, if you don't want me to use all my strength to mobilize the kingdom's heroes to fight against you."

"Then you'd better come on stage with me, cooperate with the performance, and take the curtain call together."

King Kessel listened quietly.

"Don't be a stage tyrant, don't cut corners, don't tamper with the script, and don't harbor ulterior motives to frame or scheme against others."

"As long as you don't get off the train first, I will behave myself and pave the way for you. Just as I won't back out halfway, you will abide by the rules and grant me the throne at the finish line."

The king's brow furrowed: "What you're trying to say is..."

"The essence of politics is the binding of interests."

Thales said coldly:

"I think we all acknowledge that this cooperation is merely a mutually beneficial arrangement, and it is destined to be anything but smooth sailing, dear friends and sincere friends."

The next second, Thales's gaze turned cold, and his tone became stern: "But we know each other's character better: whoever betrays first, whoever strikes first..."

"The other side can make him pay an unimaginable price."

As he observed Thales' expression, the king's lips slowly curled into a smile.

"We're all tied together on this chariot."

Thales affirmed:

"We ourselves are each other's guarantors."

This time, Ballard's Chamber was quiet for a long time.

Just when Thales thought the lights would go out, the king's deep voice finally rang out:
"not enough."

Thales' brow twitched.

Across the long table, Iron Fist King pushed away the plates and cutlery.

"You want to become the king's enemy?"

For the first time, the usually cold and stern Kaiser Star looked up and gave the boy a bright, calm, and even slightly mocking smile that the latter had never seen before:
"Empty words."

(End of this chapter)