Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 625 Star Lake Fortress

Thales realized that he had underestimated the walls of power.

Less than a week after he privately hinted to Marius and Stoddard that they might as well send someone to "study" the plan to move to Starlake Castle, the news that the Duke of Starlake was about to move away from the capital spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Everstar City.

“This is not good. Even the brothels on Red Street are saying that the prince is tired of the girls in the capital and is going elsewhere to ‘practice his spear.’ I don’t know where they found out—and don’t ask me where I know they found out.” Golov, who had just returned from his leave, reported to the prince with a serious expression, while glaring at Wyatt, who was standing next to him, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

Old Paterson, the First Executioner of the Star Lake Guard, was furious. He led two of his men, along with Rolf the Windwalker ("He looks strange and ruthless, Your Highness, perfect for the job. And most importantly, I can point at him and say to everyone, 'See, this is what happens to a chatterbox,'" Paterson said through gritted teeth), and menacingly went around Mindis Hall "hunting for the mole," determined to find out who had leaked the secret.

"That definitely wasn't me!"

DD, struggling to drag his extravagant luggage, was caught red-handed by the "Spy Catching Team" at the front door as he made his difficult return home.

"The setting sun is a testament to our move—I haven't told anyone about it. What? You mean all this luggage? Heh heh, my parents forced it on me, I had no choice. Look, they even crammed in winter clothes, it's so annoying... Hey! Dumb guy! Don't touch my lucky teddy bear! It's a must-have by the bedside!"

A sense of unease settled over the Mindis Hall until Marius stepped in and gently and tactfully reminded the old magistrate:

Such a major event as the prince's move, even if it's just preliminary "research," is bound to have many rumors and whispers. Add to that the deteriorating finances of the Mindis Hall ("I think we need to hire more people—cooks, gardeners, grooms, and maids—what? Glasses? What does that have to do with glasses? Never mind, I'll just ask His Highness directly."—Wyatt Cassel's straightforward yet bewildered last words), and as long as everyone in the Mindis Hall still has family and friends, leaks are inevitable.

As for why Duke Thales left the capital, rumors circulated in the streets, ranging from "the ghost stories of the dukes of Mindis Hall" to "the legend of the rebellious prince's elopement," and even "the story of Starlake Castle keeping a mistress"—this story has many versions, with the main controversy being the identity and number of the female protagonists, and even their gender, because Mindis Hall had not been able to recruit maids since the prince's return.

Interestingly, the common people scoffed at the claim that "the prince has gone bankrupt," and even bringing it up would elicit laughter: "Do you know how much the treasures in the Mindis Hall alone are worth? The prince's breasts are even made of gold, why do you need to worry about it?"

The rumors were rampant and escalated to the point that Prime Minister Kulun couldn't help but personally intervene at a royal meeting one day.

Thales, unable to give a direct answer, cleverly shifted the focus, while also probing the possibility of saving Mindis Hall's finances:
"Father, what do you think?"

At that time, the wise and insightful King Kessel was reading the port tax report of Emerald City, listening to Steward Juke's endless complaints ("As the dignified treasurer, I only receive a salary of five silver coins a month. Have I ever cared about money? But they, these unscrupulous merchants and corrupt officials on the south bank, have made a fortune thanks to Your Majesty's wise grace, yet they are so selfish and greedy that they even argue over such a small tax?"). His brows were furrowed and he was deep in thought. Upon hearing this, he simply waved his hand dismissively and said, "Get out of here, don't bother me."

"He granted permission."

After leaving the Palace of Restoration, facing Marius's suspicious gaze and Stolt's expectant expression ("His Majesty can't let you starve, can he?"), Duke Thales smiled brightly, appearing confident and composed.

"His Majesty highly praised the long-term and effective work of the Mindis Hall. With full confidence and expectations, he sincerely encouraged us to: be unique, keep pace with the times, be independent and self-reliant, increase revenue, pursue excellence, and explore the future—"

boom!
Marius slammed his hand on the table, expressionless: "The point."

The Duke's smile vanished instantly:
"No money."

Two days later, the rumors circulating in the capital city took a turn for the better:
Duke Thales, in protest against the marriage arranged by his father (there are betting odds on who the bride will be; it's worth noting that although the odds are ridiculously high, the prince's old friend, the heir to the Vora territory, Cohen Karabyan, does appear at the bottom of the odds list, behind a host of noble ladies), went so far as to act dissolutely in protest, which enraged the king. At a royal council meeting, the king slapped the heir hard in front of all the ministers and ordered him to get out of the capital immediately!
"No one has ever slapped me!"

On the training field, facing a worried Wyman and a full plate of "skincare and beauty products" in his hand, Thales was furious:
"I'm fine, my face is fine! No, why should I let you see my ass—the rest of my body is fine too! The sun is setting, and I really, really, really didn't go to the palace to rebel this time! Why won't you believe me?"

Under the influence of various factors (mainly the increasingly alarming figures in the ledgers), Thales simply abandoned his low profile and stopped concealing his intentions. He began to have Marius conduct a high-profile inventory check, sent the logistics officer of St. St. to liaise with the steward of the Palace of Restoration, obtained the ledgers and maps of Starlake Castle from the Council of Noble Affairs, instructed the private soldiers of Starlight on matters to be kept in mind, communicated with the Guard Hall about the time of departure, and had others (DD was indignant about this) purchase sufficient supplies. At the same time, he closed his doors to visitors and lived a secluded life.

"Is this really okay? Wyman won't the rumors get worse?" Wyman frowned.

“Believe me,” the prince gritted his teeth as he drew his bow in the training field, aiming at Marius’s rear end in the distance, “the prince’s rear end is very popular.”

Wyman looked stunned.

Fortunately, the various rumors only circulated for a few days before all of them changed:
It is said that Duke Thales made an overstepping statement at a royal meeting, which enraged the king, who then cut off the financial support of the Mindis Hall as punishment. Duke Starlake was forced to leave the capital and find his own way.

Okay, at least part of it is true.

The prevailing narrative among the vassals and bureaucrats was that the Duke of Starlake's political stance on taxation was too moderate, even showing sympathy for the powerful princes in the distant frontiers. This offended the long-established royalists, who repeatedly slandered him at the royal council, eventually persuading the king and forcing the duke to distance himself from the political center.

Well, that's not entirely wrong.

So, on a weekday morning, as the first light of dawn appeared, the doors of the Mindis Hall opened silently, and the Duke of Starlake's convoy slowly drove out, heading towards Starlake Castle near the Royal Hunting Forest on the outskirts of the city.

"Are you sure no one has any objections? After all, this means leaving the city and going to the countryside."

Thales yawned widely, leaning wearily against the car window as he watched the logistics officer, Piloga, complete the final handover with the remaining private soldiers and servants.

“They are the royal guard, not advisors and lobbyists,” Marius said, frowning as he looked through the ledgers handed to him by the logistics wing, riding beside the carriage (the driver was originally intended to be Golov, but Thales had firmly refused). “Giving opinions is not their job—damn it, why did we go over budget again last month? What’s with all this skincare products?”

On the other side of the carriage, Wyatt silently turned his head and began to have a lively conversation with Rolf.

In the stillness of the early morning, their caravan caught the earliest opening of the city gates, passing through the Sage's Gate on the south side of the capital amidst pointing and whispering. They traveled through several markets and villages outside the city, crossed the Mu River ferry, and drove onto the southern section of the Revival Avenue, which had been extensively rebuilt during the reign of King Tormund III.

The south side of the capital was clearly more prosperous than the north side. Along the way, there were small merchants and hired workers who got up early to enter the city, farmers and craftsmen preparing to go to the market, postal carriages coming and going, and even travelers from other places. They either drove their cars to transport goods or carried their bags on foot, coming from various towns near Yongxing City. They came in groups of three or five, bustling about, and from time to time they commented on the caravans that passed them.

“Ah, I recognize this convoy. It must be the traveling court this quarter, the judges who are on the King’s way to inspect and adjudicate cases in the territories…”

"Come on, there's not even a flag. This must be the illegitimate son of some noble family, the kind that's rolling in money but doesn't want to make a fuss about it."

"Look at the momentum of this team, wow, that's awesome! That's how a man should be!"

"Tch, just a lucky bastard. If I were born there, I could take his place!"

It was late summer, and the vegetation around the avenue was lush and green. The Duke's caravan turned off the avenue, the number of travelers decreased, the trees grew thick and the shade was shady, birds and animals took flight, and the surroundings were full of life and the wildness gradually increased - they entered the royal hunting forest.

"Holy crap, I swear it was a bear!"

DD exclaimed in surprise, instantly putting the entire team on edge: "Zombie, draw your sword!"

“Don’t be so paranoid,” the veteran Jenard shouted at them, shaking his head. “I saw it clearly; it was just a stray cat.”

According to Marius, the royal hunting grounds, designated since the Black Eye era, have always been a popular spot for royal leisure and picnics, as well as for entertaining guests. Before the Bloody Year, the late King Edd led his courtiers hunting there on more than one occasion, and the two princes, Horace and Hyman, especially enjoyed gathering with friends and partying on horseback.

In the Bloody Year, Everstar City was threatened by both the rebels and Exter, forcing it to close its gates. As a result, bandits gathered throughout the Central Territory, creating an atmosphere of fear and unease. The surrounding villages and towns, including the fiefdoms of many nobles, were almost all devastated, and the Hunting Forest was turned into a wasteland. It wasn't until the Fortress Treaty was signed that the Wrath of the Kingdom returned with the Wrath Guard, reorganized the Central Standing Army, and wiped out the remnants of the rebels and the bandit forces around the capital.

As for the post-war period, the national treasury was in dire straits, the people's livelihood was in ruins, and the Iron-Fisted King himself had no interest in hunting and feasting. The royal forest rangers responsible for guarding and maintaining the palace received no reward money, and the merchants and farmers had no profit to share. As a result, they scattered to the nearby areas to settle down, either becoming tenant farmers, working as hired laborers, or joining the Starry Sky private army. Ironically, they became a high-quality source of soldiers when the standing army was reorganized.

“The Baron’s Manor of the Wrath of the Kingdom is just down that road, next to the Central Standing Army’s barracks. For over a decade, he has practically turned the hunting grounds into their own training ground and exercise area,” Marius said, his gaze deep as he looked at a forest path that was clearly worn down by countless footsteps. “But the advantage is that with the Standing Army here, no one dares to invade the nearby royal territories.”

Jenny, who was raised as a noble warhorse from a young age, was extremely dissatisfied with this environment. She would often break free from her groom and neigh as she chased after fleeting deer or badger shadows in the depths of the forest, causing chaos in the group. She would always return home covered in scratches from branches and grass, looking disheveled and dejected, after Thales had tried to call her back.

“In the stable, she is the queen, and no horse dares to challenge her,” veteran Jenard said with a chuckle. “But the birds and beasts here don’t have that awareness, and she’s not very satisfied.”

They soon arrived at the foot of a landmark tree, which the watchman said was once the most popular campsite when the hunting forest was thriving. The thick, dense, and ancient tree was called the "Star Tree," and it had many legendary stories about the Starry Royal Family:
It is said that at the end of the empire, the Prince of Restoration, who was still an illegitimate child, once ignited his fighting spirit under this tree, determined to make a name for himself and get rid of the name of being a bastard.
Some say that five hundred years ago, Prince Brad, the "procrastinator," encountered a coup and fled Yongxing City in a panic, carrying the Nine-Star Crown. He climbed this tree to escape his cousin, the "unfortunate" Kayla, and fled to Heroes' Fortress to recruit soldiers and horses, thus opening the bloody curtain of the "Twin Stars Standoff".
There is also a legend involving the giant prince Kahn Trudida, who invaded the stars four hundred years ago. He said that he camped under this tree to besiege Everstar City, but in the middle of the night he saw the King of Restoration immediately charging at him with a gun. The brutal and terrifying "giant" was awakened from his dream and was so frightened that he broke camp and retreated overnight.
Some say that three hundred years ago, Sumerian III, the "Jackal," invited five guardian dukes to a hunting feast under this tree, and three of them never left the hunting forest again.
Some poems even say that two hundred years ago, when she was still a princess, the "Northern Conqueror" Erika met a mysterious knight not recorded in history under the shade of this tree while hunting, and that's how she became pregnant with the "Wolf Enemy" Keira, whose father was unknown.

But no matter how vividly and emotionally DD recounted the above legends, which "used to play here often when I was a child," leaving listeners like Willough, Rolf, and Wyatt stunned, the Duke of Starlake simply laughed it off.

Thales had assumed the road would be through such dense jungle, but after a short while, the view suddenly opened up at the end of the road: a pool of azure water came into view amidst the verdant forest. It was as clear as a mirror, reflecting the pure white clouds in the blue sky, like a dream, making it hard to distinguish between heaven and earth.

Faced with such a beautiful view, everyone, including Thales, couldn't help but stop and pause.

“The sunset is here,” Doyle said excitedly, gazing at the azure lake. “It’s much more beautiful than in the paintings!”

"Wait, draw it?"

Wyman realized what was happening and looked at him with suspicion: "Didn't you say you used to come here to play all the time when you were a kid?"

“It’s not time yet, let’s keep going,” Marius said, unusually in a good mood. He ignored the people behind him who were glaring at DD. “It’s not too late to be amazed then.”

The Duke's caravan traveled along the lake, where the vegetation grew shorter and the view became more expansive.
Looking out into the distance, on the other side of the lake is a towering, steep mountain wall, with more than a dozen surging waterfalls hanging from it, rushing out from between the rocks and plunging into the lake, like a giant silver curtain falling from the sky.

“My goodness, I’ve read about this in a book. It says that practicing swordsmanship under a waterfall is twice as effective,” the young trainee vanguard officer Neshi excitedly pointed to the wide waterfall complex. “Anyone want to surf?”

"Don't believe those chivalric romance novels. If you charged down from there, even if you survived, you probably wouldn't be able to find your manhood anymore," Second Class Guard Officer "Tall Guy" Franzuk coldly poured cold water on his enthusiasm.

Thales was equally captivated by such magnificent scenery, his gaze lingering on it.

"That is one of the lower reaches of the Mu River."

Marius patiently explained to those who had never seen such a sight before—almost everyone else in the caravan:
"The riverbed plunges down here, forming a waterfall, which in turn creates a wide and clear lake, known as 'Star Lake'."

Xinghu Lake.

Thales silently repeated the name in his heart and subconsciously turned his head.

Sure enough, on the other side of the lake opposite the waterfall, a towering castle appeared before us.

It sits on the edge of a hill, surrounded by lakes on three sides. Its architecture is ancient and simple. Only a small path can lead up the hill, across its moat, and into the hill.

It blends perfectly with the jungle, lake, waterfall, blue sky, white clouds, hills, and castle, creating a tranquil and intoxicating atmosphere. Everyone subconsciously lowers their voices and walks softly, as if unwilling to disturb this beautiful scene.

“That is…” Doyle’s eyes widened.

“Yes, that is Starlake Castle.” Marius stopped his horse and sighed quietly.

Everyone held their breath.

Including Thales.

The boy had done his homework beforehand. He knew that Starlake Castle was originally a secluded monastery, dating back to the Black Eye era, and was full of highly learned but ascetic monks.

But what truly brought this monastery into the public eye was an old scholar named Sumer, who, nearly five hundred years ago, was of noble birth and erudite. During the chaos of the "Two Stars Confrontation" war, he and his family went into seclusion here to devote themselves to the study of theological classics.

The bloody and brutal "dual-star confrontation" ended dramatically: the two (each ruling) stars died in the same day. But their "morning faction" and "evening faction"—the domestic lords who chose sides—forged a deep-seated blood feud that would last for generations through years of war, death, alliances, and betrayals.

So much so that when the kingdom was without a ruler and the throne was vacant, looking through the Star Family Genealogy, there was not a single heir who could simultaneously convince the two equally powerful factions of lords, ascend the throne without controversy, and prevent the rekindling of the war between the two stars.

(In fact, due to interests and the situation, many members of both parties served in more than one camp during the eight-and-a-half-year civil war. It was common for them to form alliances and then betray each other, and to defect and then return. Today they would hold banquets to form alliances and exchange heartfelt words, vowing to be loyal. Tomorrow, when they were captured on the battlefield and faced the noose, they would suddenly realize their mistake and abandon the darkness for the light. The Kuren family of Huigang City, the leader of the heroes of the East Sea, was even more remarkable, repeatedly switching between the Morning and Evening factions. They were a miraculous existence, having defected four times and returned three times, yet still remaining unscathed. As a result, the two Dukes who guarded the East Sea were nicknamed "Noon" and "Midnight," respectively.)
Fortunately, the kingdom had already shed enough blood—so much that countless priests of the Nightshade had died from exhaustion—and the men of the Star Kingdom were already few enough that no one wanted to don armor and fight anymore. During the eight years of confrontation between the two stars, countless people and families were destroyed, and many great families were wiped out. The cost and the lessons learned were so high that they were rare even in the history of the Star Kingdom, which was frequently embroiled in civil war.
The two factions, Dawn and Twilight, who were on the verge of exchanging blows, finally laid down their arms and entered Everstar City under the initiative and coordination of the High Priest of Sunset. They then began arduous negotiations in the Temple of the Underworld, which was filled with corpses awaiting burial (this is also the origin of the names of the Dawn Star District and the Twilight Star District, which are divided by the Temple of the Underworld in the administrative division of Everstar City).

Thus, the sixty-year-old Sumerian scholar, who was the great-grandson of "Black-Eyed" John—or later, "Sumerian Star II"—was invited out of his secluded Sunset Monastery, out of the lakeside fortress deep in the forest, and escorted by two groups of covetous vassals into the Restoration Palace, stepping onto the stage of history and ascending to the highest position.

Regardless of how much the Dawn and Twilight factions regretted this decision afterward, and how it caused their respective alliances to fall apart, not long after Sumerian II's coronation, in accordance with the newly promulgated Bloodline Decree, he renovated and expanded the lakeside monastery where he had spent his scholar years and had deep feelings for it, turning it into a castle. He then bestowed it upon his eldest son, Elam, and made him a duke, to show that the succession was predetermined and indisputable. "From princes to commoners, no one may violate this law." The standoff between the two stars caused by the dispute over the succession was thus resolved, drawing a complete end to the impasse.

Starlake Castle, and the Duke of Starlake, who held great significance, came into being.

"This is our territory, the castle where we'll be staying?" Wyatt's expression was one of shock.

These words brought Thales back to his senses, allowing him to set aside the heavy weight of history and pull himself together.

Okay, at least...

Looking at the castle by the lake, the prince felt relaxed and happy.

He owns a house now.

The landscaping is excellent, the lake view is delightful, and there's even a natural swimming pool.

Just ...

Thales glanced at a corner of the ledger in Marius's saddlebag.

I don't know how mortgage payments are calculated.

"Good place."

Grover, who was not good with words, nodded as he walked.

“Look at its layout and terrain: surrounded by lakes on three sides, high up, with narrow passages and a wide field of vision, drawbridges, moats, arrow towers, lookout posts, the height of the city walls, their staggered angles and the breadth of the defenses,” the zombie pointed to different locations in Star Lake Fortress, “it can be defended by just a dozen people without a single leak.”

"Even if besieged by an enemy force that outnumbers our own, with sufficient supplies, we can hold out for months or even a year—much better than the almost undefended Mindis Hall."

“My God, you can’t make that comparison. The Mindis Hall is a work of art, while this, this is…” DD paused before managing to stammer out the next sentence, “...another kind of work of art!”

On the other side of the group, Paul, a newcomer from the Black Lion family of Heroic Souls Fortress, suddenly sighed, attracting everyone's attention.

“My father told me that long ago, every lord and every chieftain was proud to have his own family castle—even if it took two or three generations and all his wealth, he would build a castle of great significance.”

The young heir of the Bozdorf family gazed wistfully at the distant castle.
"The Heavenly Pillar Fortress of Junlin City, the three palaces of Floating Sand, Quicksand, and Sinking Sand in the Wasteland, the Wave-Treading Palace and the Tide-Breaking Tower in Huigang, the Empty Bright Palace in Emerald City, the Blood Gate Fortress in Blade Tomb City... Although they are different in form and style, they are all famous fortresses with a long history and are difficult to attack and fall. Not to mention the magnificent and grand Fuxing Palace, which is simply a miracle."

"And the Cold Castle of Arend, our Heroes' Castle of Bozdorf, including the Wing Castle of the Clomar family, even the territories are named after fortresses and castles."

Paul's words were sincere and wistful:

"They are our defensive line rooted in the earth, the immortal mounts of the knights, and the strongest guardians of this land."

At this point, Paul sighed deeply:
"But now, such castles are no longer being added, and are even becoming fewer and fewer."

His words made many people think deeply. But the response he received was unexpected.

“Of course,” Doyle said casually. “My castle is hundreds of years old. It’s drafty everywhere. In the summer, it’s infested with flies and lice and smells terrible. It’s not much better in the winter. The cold wind makes your nose run, and the windows rattle. No amount of repairs can fix it. Besides, just hiring people to clean and maintain it costs a lot of money. It’s not worth it.”

"So my stepmother finally decided to close off most of it, using only a few complete, newly renovated halls and rooms. And as far as I know, more and more nobles and lords prefer to spend their money elsewhere. I've even heard that in some places, families have abandoned their ancestral castles and moved into towns and villages."

DD enthusiastically raised his finger and gave the next example:
"Not to mention the Fuxing Palace, that building is so old..."

Golov coughed violently.

"So old..."

Doyle suddenly shuddered, realizing what was happening:

"It's so old, so historically significant, so culturally rich!"

"You should know that the Palace of Rejuvenation is a miracle built with divine power and magic!"

The crowd, who had initially been gloating, now showed expressions of disappointment upon hearing this.

DD, realizing he had misspoke, cleared his throat:

"In short, no matter how strong or grand a castle is, it will develop problems over time."

“In that case,” Paul said coldly, “why not just destroy it, tear it down, and rebuild it from scratch?”

These words silenced Thales, who was in the car.

“My stepmother did have such a plan, but she gave up because of funding problems,” DD recalled. “And my father said that even though we don’t live there anymore, at least we lived there.”

He sighed:

"If we just demolish it like this, some things will never be able to be rebuilt."

These words made many people look at him in a new light.

Doyle's eyes darted around, and his grin returned:

"Besides, what if another war breaks out?"

Paul did not speak.

Wyman then took over the conversation:
"A mediocre monarch builds his strong walls with earth and stone, making it difficult for foreign enemies to invade and his castle difficult to fall. A warlike monarch builds his walls with blood and flesh, possessing unparalleled martial prowess and countless heroic souls. A wise monarch builds his walls with the hearts of the people, ensuring his constant victory and eternal prosperity."

The prince's attendant seemed to recall something, his gaze becoming deep:

"Only truly great monarchs use peace as their wall, living ordinary lives, yet remaining unknown to the world."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the convoy turned to look, and even Rolf's expression changed.

“Wow, really Wyatt, you said it yourself?” Doyle exclaimed in surprise.

"Do not."

Wyman lowered his head, his expression complex.
"I heard it when I was a child."

Upon hearing this, Thales was moved. He remembered what Prince Midil had told him, as Ginny had relayed to him.

Even with palace walls a thousand feet high and fortified passes ten thousand feet wide, what chance do I have?

"Makes sense."

Marius, at the front of the column, suddenly spoke up:
"The city walls are thick and solid, which can defend against foreign enemies, but they also block out the sun and are a heavy burden. There are many examples in history of this: lords are satisfied with strong cities and fortresses, and are content with the status quo behind the city walls. As a result, they become narrow-minded and short-sighted, and do not strive for progress. In the end, they suffer the consequences."

The Watchers' long-standing prestige over the past few months silenced everyone, and the convoy fell silent for a moment.

"Perhaps it's more than that."

Grover, obsessed with fortress designs, seemed oblivious to social cues. Ignoring whether it was "officer's address time," he began to speak:
“My grandfather said that the means of warfare are destined to become more and more diverse, especially after the advent of the magic gun. Whether it is to besiege a city or to launch a strong attack on the city, they have all become the worst strategies.”

"After all, no matter how thick the city walls or how wide the battlements, they cannot withstand the continuous high-temperature bombardment of the magic energy guns and the earth-shaking falling rocks from the catapults."

Paul sighed:
"So, castles like this are destined to decline and become history?"

“Perhaps,” Golov stared intently at Starlake Castle, as if trying to find its weakness, “but perhaps our descendants, future generations, will come up with better ways to build stronger fortifications, to construct super walls that even magic guns cannot break through?”

“Perhaps they will be smarter, smarter than us,” Wyatt interjected, his voice tinged with disappointment, “and come up with ways to withstand war, defend against foreign enemies, and ensure safety without relying on city walls or fortresses?”

"They might be even more foolish."

Marius joined the conversation, sighing, "They may build more and more, thicker and thicker walls, becoming complacent and self-satisfied, until their self-righteous walls collapse and they regret their actions when disaster strikes."

Thales listened attentively to the conversation, lost in thought for a long time.

"Or perhaps they are incredibly talented!"

DD's excited voice suddenly rang out, causing many people to frown:
"For true peace, our descendants will build flawless, unbreakable walls and fortresses that can isolate everything, so that people on both sides will never be able to touch a single hair on each other's heads!"

Doyle bowed from his horse and proudly spread his arms toward Starlake Castle:

"Tap tap—Peace has arrived!"

After hearing this nonsense, everyone in the convoy rolled their eyes and sighed.

Until another young voice came from inside the carriage:

"Therefore, the city walls were high and the moats were deep, and the people at both ends could not see each other, could not hear each other, and could not understand each other's conversations."

Everyone turned around in astonishment: they saw Duke Starlake leaning against the car window, gazing at the breathtaking Starlake Castle, his eyes filled with a deathly stillness.

Thales said quietly:

"Until everyone's fate becomes lonely and helpless without realizing it, struggling in pain without knowing why, and inexplicably angry without being able to quell it."

"Until everyone inside and outside the city walls, from birth to death, is destined to be a prisoner of the walls."

The Duke's words silenced the entire convoy.

Everyone looked at each other, unsure how to react.

Marius rode up to the window:
"Your Highness?"

Thales snapped out of his daze, waved apologetically, and sat back down in his seat.
"Don't worry about me, just keep going."

The Duke's entourage continued on its way.

Once they reached Star Lake Fortress, the rest of the journey was much shorter. They quickly circled around the hill, crossed the heavy ramps over the trench, and drove into Star Lake Fortress.

But what I see before my eyes is far less than what I feel on the horizon.

"My goodness, cough cough, I thought, cough cough, that only my castle was in disrepair..."

Doyle stared dumbfounded at the iron gate of the fortress that had collapsed with a gentle push, coughing violently amidst the dust:

"How long has this place been uninhabited?"

"The previous Duke of Starlake?"

Glov tied his face mask tighter, cautiously stepped into the doorway, and gestured for the people behind him to dismount:
"Eighteen, no, almost twenty years. After the God of War Stars led his army into battle, he never returned."

“Be careful, Your Highness,” Wyatt opened the car door for Thales, his tone annoyed, “this place…”

Thales stepped down from the carriage and discovered that the once-famous Star Lake Castle was in a state of disrepair, with weeds growing everywhere, ironware rusted, and wooden furniture rotten.

Many corners of the courtyard had become dens for small animals. When they entered the gate, they even startled a group of bats perched overhead, which enraged Jenny, who broke free of her ropes ("When she saw the state of the stables, she probably felt cheated when buying the house," Thales later explained). She neighed loudly, kicking and panting, causing a flurry of activity for the guards, while also frightening out a flock of birds in the watchtower, three cats on the city wall, and a swarm of bees under the eaves of the fortress.

The young duke frowned.

Okay, it's okay, it's okay...

Second-hand... no, it's an unfinished apartment.

"Are we hoping to reduce spending here?"

The logistics officer, Stoddart, exerted all his strength to pull the boot out of a collapsed wooden door, and muttered a complaint to Marius:
"What do you rely on? Selling antiques?"

"what!"

Doyle carefully navigated the uneven paving stones, brushed aside the cobwebs, and arrived at the old gate of the main castle. He pulled the knocker and said sarcastically:
"Be careful, everyone, we're in an antique shop! A single bump or scratch could cost thousands or tens of thousands!"

The disappointed crowd chorused to tell him to shut up, but Doyle ignored them, smiling as he turned back to open the main castle gate.

Just then, a gate on the door suddenly opened, and a hideous and terrifying face appeared from the darkness behind the door!

DD shuddered and fell backward, making everyone—including a black cat practicing its balance on the iron chain—hear his heart-wrenching wail: "My dear Sunset Goddess above!"

"A ghost! Aa ...

Thales was startled, and the guards all drew their swords until Marius stopped them.

"Hold on!"

The Watcher (after kicking away a patch of spider web at his feet) stepped forward and grabbed DD, pulling him up: "Look carefully!"

Upon closer inspection, everyone realized that the main gate of the castle had been opened at some point.

Thales frowned:
The main castle was pitch black, with an ominous atmosphere. In this darkness, a hunched figure holding an ever-burning lamp appeared silently before them.

"Holy crap!" Upon seeing this person, DD was about to exclaim in surprise, but was dragged to the back of the group by Golov and Bastia.

The hunched figure shakily stepped through the gate.

He had wrinkled skin and white hair, looked very old, and moved slowly; he was an old man nearing the end of his life.

But the moment the old man looked up, Thales felt a sharp pain.

“Guards, mind your manners,” Marius straightened his dusty clothes and turned around. “This is the warden of Starlake Castle.”

Thales carefully examined the old man before him. He was simply dressed, with cloudy eyes that seemed to be looking at the horizon even though he was looking at them.

The old man carrying the lantern grinned, revealing his few remaining teeth, and gave them a strange smile:
"Ah."

The old man's voice was faint and carried a chilling undertone, sending shivers down everyone's spine.

“It’s been a long time,” Marius said, his expression unchanged but his tone extremely respectful, “but I believe you have already been informed.”

The old man remained motionless, and against the backdrop of the darkness of the main castle behind him, his lantern-carrying figure appeared even more eerie.
"Ah."

The guards looked at each other, filled with doubt.

Marius extended his hand to Thales in the ranks and said respectfully:
"Please allow me to introduce you, this is His Highness Thales Starlight, the new master of Starlake Castle."

Upon hearing this, Thales straightened his back and smiled.

The old man lifted his lamp, his gaze sweeping over Thales, but without any expression, as if it were a boring routine:

"Ah."

“Yes, we are here to take over the castle, sir…” Faced with the old man’s reply, which seemed to indicate whether he understood or not, Marius bowed deeply and called out the old man’s name:
"Vitano Gatoh".

(End of this chapter)