Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 634 Discretion
The moonlight was cold and clear. The funeral hymn stopped, replaced by the Fortress Flower's laughter once again and the shouts of her soldiers.

"Depose the Duke, destroy Jenn?"

In the lounge, Thales repeated the king's words, taking a deep breath:

"Let me guess, Your Majesty, you will gather the strength of the entire nation to build me a royal standing army of over 30,000 men, strong and invincible, equipped with the best gear and provided with the most abundant logistics. Then, you will unleash a Kingdom's Wrath on my left and a Legendary Wing on my right. Under my correct leadership, they will charge into the Emerald City from both sides, simple, brutal, and unstoppable, smash the Skylight Palace, and then drag Jann Kevin Deer from his ducal throne, shove him headfirst into a toilet, and flush him into the moat?"

King Kessel remained silent for a moment.

"Do not."

Thales gave a cold laugh that said, "Just as I thought," his words laced with sarcasm.
"So, you must have planned a perfect scheme to safely and discreetly eliminate Janne without provoking the surrounding lords to rebel and causing the Star Kingdom to perish in its civil war, which gives you the confidence to order me around? After all, we should all learn something from the last 'Sand King' incident—and perhaps my little protest—right?"

Iron Fist King glanced at him, then turned to look at the desk.

"Open it."

It took Thales several seconds to realize that the other person was referring to the scroll that the king had brought.

The prince pursed his lips to express his dissatisfaction with Kessel's teasing, but he still went to the desk, picked up the scroll, and found that it was printed with the exclusive crest of the Iris family.

"A warm welcome... Duke Thales's reputation is widespread... We had a very pleasant conversation... It's been a long time since we last met, and I've missed him dearly..."

Thales read the contents of the letter in a haphazard manner, mostly consisting of polite but empty platitudes.

"Though Emerald City is small and Kongming Palace is humble... the two great families have a long and rich history... I and the other sages of the South Bank... are deeply honored... and eagerly await your arrival..."

Thales finished reading the scroll and was still confused when he noticed something on the desk that was underneath it.

He picked up the square box—which he initially thought was a scroll—and his expression immediately changed.

“What is this?” Thales looked up, staring at His Majesty the King in disbelief.

"As you can see, it is the Duke of Kevindir's reply," King Kessel V said, still gazing at the shimmering Star Lake. "He welcomes his dear friend, the Duke of Star Lake, to stay at the Emerald City at the Sky Palace to participate in the 'Emerald Celebration,' to celebrate with the people of the South Bank, in remembrance of the deep friendship between the Nine-pointed Star and the Iris, and the loyal bond between the Restoration Palace and the Sky Palace."

"No, no, no, what I mean is..."

Thales put down the scroll, held up the framed object—actually a small portrait—facing the king, raised his voice, and spoke rudely:
"What the hell is this?"

King Kessel turned around.

To Thales's astonishment and anger, in the frame on his chest, a round-faced teenage girl turned her head from among the flowers and smiled sweetly and innocently at the king.

And on her well-tailored dress, the iris pattern was faintly visible.

"They must have changed artists; it's not as good as the last one."

The king glanced at it only once and gave a dismissive snort.

"Don't worry, as is customary, your portrait has been sent as well, which is fair."

fair……

Thales felt as if blood was welling up in his forehead, about to burst from his veins. He took a deep breath and used all his strength to ensure that he wouldn't shout so loudly that he would break the window.
"I repeated it one last time: fucking, this, fucking, is, fucking, what?"

Every time the prince swore, the picture frame would tremble with his fingers.

The room was quiet for a few seconds.

“Nothing much,” King Kessel said casually. “You need a reason to go to the Emerald City. For example, you will be going to visit and meet one of your potential fiancées, the sister of Duke Jann—the noble and virtuous Lady Hilla Kevendill.”

The king glanced at him as if he were looking at a complete fool:

"Is there a problem?"

Have.

A huge problem!
Nobody told me!

Thales flipped the portrait over and stared in disbelief at the round-faced girl in it.

Hilaire Kevindeer.

Jenn's younger sister.

Recalling the Duke of Iris's cold and sharp threat, Thales felt a chill run down his spine as he gripped the picture frame.

What the hell...

"Okay, please correct me if I'm wrong. So, my purpose, or rather, my pretext for this trip, is to go to Emerald City... for a blind date?"

Thales tried to compose himself and forget the anger of being fooled.

"The letter won't be too explicit. But yes, it's a long-standing tradition in the kingdom for young men and women of important families to get to know each other before betrothing, and ideally cultivate feelings for one another."

The king spoke casually, as if no one should be surprised at all.

Thales stared blankly at the girl in the painting for a long time before putting Miss Hilly down and returning to his conversation with the king.

“Alright, I know that’s unlikely given your temperament, but I still want to ask,” Thales swallowed hard, suddenly remembering his ultimate goal for this trip, “you don’t mean you want me to get engaged to that lady, then have Jann suddenly die, and we can use that lady’s inheritance to reap the benefits and take over the South Shore?”

King Kessel snorted, his meaning ambiguous, which made Thales feel a pang in his heart.

"Two or three hundred years ago, this would have been an effective method, but unfortunately, at least in the Star Kingdom, simple family marriages are no longer the best way to seize power."

“Oh, what a pity,” Thales breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but showed no regret on his face. “It seems that my relationship with that noble and pure Miss Hilley can only end here.”

The king did not speak, but squinted and looked at him from a distance.

"You know, after what happened at the last royal banquet, Janne and I have a lot of old and new grudges, and we're like oil and water."

Thales sneered:
"And now I actually have to go to Emerald City to propose marriage, well, at least to visit his sister with the intention of a marriage alliance... Now look what's happened, he'll definitely think I'm doing this on purpose, trying to provoke him through his sister, hey, with Little Flower's petty temper, she'll definitely go crazy and mess with me—"

As Thales spoke, he seemed to remember something, his expression froze, and his words faltered.

Eh?
Through his sister's provocation...

They've gone crazy and are messing with me...

"and many more."

Thales' expression changed slightly, and he picked up the scroll again.

"This letter, this is just Kevin Deer's reply, so..."

Duke Starlake stared wide-eyed at the composed king in disbelief:
"Your Majesty, whether it's an engagement or a blind date, how long ago did you tell Jann about this affair between me and his sister?"

“When it was confirmed that you had escaped from the North and were about to return to the capital,” King Kessel said, no longer looking at him, his tone casual, “the Noble Affairs Council selected a list, including dozens of suitable noble ladies, examined them one by one, and conveyed the intention of marriage to their families, including Iris.”

"what?"

After escaping danger in the north and returning to the capital...

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

That means, that means...

"As far as I know, the Kevin Deere girls are reclusive, and their personalities and behavior are still under observation, which is why they weren't originally ranked high on that list. But now, they come in handy—"

"Wait!" Thales crossed his arms and stopped the king with a look of horror on his face.

"Wait, so before the royal banquet, even before I returned home, you told Jenn that the Restoration Palace was interested in his sister?"

Thales stared intently at King Kessel.

The king looked back at him, his eyes deep and blue.

“It wasn’t me, it was you who ‘told’ him. Don’t forget, Prince Thales is the rightful owner of the marriage; only in this way can we show sincerity.”

Sincerity...

Thales became increasingly dazed as he listened.

He looked at Miss Hilla on the desk.

The king seemed to think Thales wasn't bothering him enough: "And this isn't just a simple 'information,' it's a formal note between large families, especially since the marriage between the Star and Kevin Deer families has a long history. This is a very serious and sacred matter, and it cannot be treated with the slightest frivolity or disrespect."

No, no, no.

"Damn, I've seen a ghost."

The boy seemed to have figured something out, turned around, and leaned weakly against the desk.

"I, I understand..."

The king seemed unsurprised, calmly looking at his son.

Thales' breathing quickened.

With a look of sudden realization followed by disbelief, he said:
“I understand now. At the royal banquet, that's why Jenn facilitated Anker Barral's kidnapping and assassination…”

At the royal banquet, Jenn's words during their final private confrontation echoed in Thales' ears once more:

This is a warning. I came here on purpose, Thales, and to give you one last chance.

This is the last chance.

"I would rather die for a friend than for an enemy."

Thales clenched his fists and gritted his teeth:

"That night, the reason Jenn wanted to be the disruptive player, the reason he wanted to fan the flames, the reason he was so eager to cause trouble for me, drag me down, see me make a fool of myself, and ruin my reputation..."

I want you to know, Thales, I want to teach you: this is my response.

Thales rubbed his forehead in pain:
"And the reason he still hates me so much after I returned to China, the reason he suddenly became like a mad dog and bit me so relentlessly..."

[This is in response to your offense, rejection, and even threats against me six years later.]

"All of these attacks and framing that seem completely unreasonable to me are not because he's lost his mind, nor because he's some kind of domineering CEO, nor even because he dislikes me..."

Thales slapped his thigh in regret:

"It's because, in Janne's eyes, I'm the one who couldn't wait to send him a marriage proposal as soon as I returned to the country, to retaliate against him, threaten him, provoke him, offend him, and covet his sister!"

"Keep your hands to yourself, Your Highness."

Ah ah ah ah ah!
Having figured out the truth, Thales slammed his fist on the table in a fit of rage:

"Hold!"

Duke Starlake's indignant voice finally dissipated in the lounge.

The king's figure remained standing by the window, motionless.

"Wait, you already know all this, don't you?"

Thales, as if remembering something, glared at King Kessel:

"Jane started attacking me the moment we met at the royal banquet, and the reason I ended up having such a terrible time was because of this damned marriage partner you found for me?" The prince's questioning voice echoed in the lounge.

"It is only natural for parents to arrange marriages for their children," King Kessel said calmly, without any apology.

Yes, just like children arranging funerals for their parents.

Hearing the other party's flippant response, Thales felt a surge of anger:

"Then I really have to thank you for eight generations of your ancestors!"

The disgruntled boy swore without restraint, displaying none of the demeanor and manners expected of a duke.

The king gazed at him wistfully:
"You're so grateful for your father's kindness?"

It took Thales several seconds, with all his might, to vent the anger and resentment in his chest.

He forced a smile:
"Of course not, I was just too excited. Yes, I should have thanked you in another way. Let me think, yes, I've got it: coincidentally, the toilet brush in my bathroom is broken, Father."

The boy's smile grew increasingly exaggerated and glaring: "So thoughtful and considerate! With a head as hard as yours, would you be interested in taking over its job? It's very simple; all you need to do is crawl headfirst into the toilet and then rotate it up, down, left, and right!"

The king made a sound that was like a humming laugh, it was hard to tell whether he was expressing his dissatisfaction with the duke's attitude or genuinely applauding his humor.

Having figured out the cause and effect, Thales, filled with indignation, sighed and waved his hands:
"But why, why didn't anyone tell me about something as important as marriage?"

“Gilbert should have informed you on your first day back home and given you the final list of nominees,” the King said calmly. “Didn’t he?”

Thales sneered and waved his hand without thinking:

"Nonsense, if he had told me, would I have acted like this—"

At fourteen, by the standards of the imperial era, you are already a true adult, capable of wielding a sword in battle, marrying, and having children...

[Gilbert, regarding this, with the changing times and social progress, I believe we need to discuss it further.]

Thales seemed to remember something and paused in his speech.

[So, Your Highness, you've reached a certain age... You must know that you have a duty to ensure the continuation of the great kingdom's bloodline...]

[Cough! Cough cough cough—]

“Damn it, I remember now, that’s what he was trying to say,” Thales said blankly.
“From the first day until the day of the banquet, at least three times, but each time he tried to say it, I interrupted him, refused, and changed the subject…”

The king remained silent.

“Even on the day I fell out with you, the reason he used to smooth things over was the marriage,” Thales said, tearing at his hair in anguish. “Damn it, damn it, I should have known! That’s what he wanted to tell me!”

Gilbert, why are you so polite and courteous? Why do you give up every time I cough? Why can't you just be a little more annoying and nagging, at least finish nagging about it!
The king gave a soft hum, his tone intriguing:

"Then I guess you have no choice but to fill the toilet brush spot yourself?"

Thales let her hair down, glared at him fiercely, and then, resentfully, thought of someone else:

"Damn Jann Kevin Deer, all that 'warning' and 'response' nonsense, he's a duke, why can't he just say things clearly?"

Thales gritted his teeth.

Hey Thales, why are you writing to me wanting to marry my sister? Is it a threat?
No, Jenn, I didn't, I'm not, don't talk nonsense!

Oh, that's alright then. You keep eating. I'll go and deal with that brother who barged into the banquet with the sword.

—Isn't that all? Everyone's happy!
The gloom and silence in the lounge lasted for a while.

Finally, Prince Thales let out a weak sigh.

"Then, Your Majesty, are you sure?"

He said listlessly to the king:

“You are going to depose one of the kingdom’s six guardian dukes, the richest, youngest, and most popular one at that. If things go wrong along the way, for the sake of Sunset, even declaring war on the alliance of Exter and Cornmas at the same time would seem more rational than this.”

King Kessel didn't even turn his head:

“I thought you hated him and were happy to see Jann Kevin Deer fall.”

I hate him.

Thales' sarcastic hum:
"Believe me, in a different situation, I'd gladly replace the toilet brush in my castle with Little Flower. But to destroy him? Jann isn't someone to be trifled with, and he's already extremely wary of us, not to mention he hates me. One wrong step, and I'll be trapped in the Emerald City—"

"Tales Shining Star".

The king called out his full name in a cold tone, which made the boy tense.

"Should I remind you of our covenant?"

In that instant, Thales felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.

Thales straightened up, feeling that all his joints were incredibly stiff.

The bone ring on his lapel felt increasingly heavy.

Gortakssa.

“I will help you propel the kingdom forward, removing obstacles and breaking chains,” Thales said bitterly, “at all costs.”

At all costs.

“Very well, then just as we agreed, child, become my sword, to cut through thorns and brambles until the kingdom is at peace.”

The king's face appeared in the moonlight by the window:

"Unless you change your mind."

Regret.

Thales swallowed hard, feeling the front of his shirt become even heavier.

"So, Your Majesty, you want me to visit a noble lady of high status as if she were a potential fiancée, while secretly plotting to depose or even kill her brother. Fantastic, there's no more melodramatic love story than this."

He tried his best to make his tone sound light.

"Thales".

But His Majesty's tone completely shattered his feigned ease:

“From the moment you returned to China, this matter was destined and was bound to happen.”

"This was inevitable."

Thales opened his mouth, but said nothing.

He could only turn his head and look at the portrait on the desk.

The round-faced girl in the painting is surrounded by flowers, innocent and happy, as if there is no danger in her world.

It wasn't until a meow came from inside the castle, triggering a chorus of cats and a chorus of barks from the dogs, that Thales' thoughts were pulled back to reality.

"What are the specific plans?"

Thales exhaled, his tone becoming serious, less playful than before.

"What are the Kingdom's secret police planning? Coercion, bribery, assassination, poisoning, or will they just meet me and start hacking me to a pulp? Who will I be in contact with, and how will I proceed? Let me make it clear beforehand, even if it's just an act, I will never kiss Jann's ass."

But the king simply gazed at him silently.

"You'll see it when you get there."

Iron Fist King's answer made Thales frown.

“That answer won’t work. Our covenant states that you will respect my wishes, listen to my opinions, treat me with sincerity, without reservation, and without any deception.”

The boy repeatedly emphasized:

"any."

The king was silent for a few seconds, then let out a cold laugh.

"Child, why do you think I would wear the uniform of the Royal Guard to meet you in private?"

"Because the helmet looks cool?"

King Kessel ignored Thales's sarcasm. He approached Thales and stared into the boy's eyes:
"Our alliance is destined to be a top secret that cannot be told to outsiders, not even to the Kingdom's secret department."

Even for the Kingdom's Secret Service.

Thales' eyes flickered:
"So, Your Majesty, in their eyes, we are still a father and son with differing opinions and a strained relationship? But that is no reason for you to hide your plans from me and remain silent."

But the king shook his head:
"Our sworn plan is to gradually turn against each other and use that as a means to win. We should distance ourselves from each other rather than know each other inside and out. If you knew all the details of the operation, your behavior in Emerald City would be different, and you might be discovered. As you said, Janne is already very wary of us."

Thales frowned:
"So, just like before, I can't command or cooperate with the Secret Service, and I don't even know what their operations are? How am I supposed to complete the mission then?"

King Kessel turned around.

"Don't worry, you don't need to be the main character in this operation. All you need to do is act as a third party in Emerald City, as an impartial weight on the scales, listen, observe, witness, and go with the flow."

All he needs to do is listen, observe, witness, and go with the flow.

Thales frowned: And that means a lot.

It should be noted that Janne, as the Guardian Duke, has been deeply rooted in the South Coast Territory for many years, and his power is unfathomable, while Thales, he doesn't have to do anything at all.
The king slightly curled his lips and lowered his voice:
"The rest will be taken care of by others."

Others.

Is he referring to the Kingdom's Secret Service, or something else...?

Thales' expression remained unchanged:
"But what if I do what I did before, and end up making things worse, getting in their way, and ruining your plans?"

The king's expression shifted, and he glanced at him.

"That's why I'm here. I'm here to tell you what the ultimate goal is: as long as it's accomplished, I don't care what you do, whether you satisfy the Secret Service or they satisfy you."

what?
Thales was a little confused.

They don't care what I do, they don't care whether I satisfy the secret service...

"But in that case—"

"Isn't this exactly what you wanted, and what you fought for by breaking into the palace last time?"

The Iron-Fisted King didn't give him a chance to ask further questions. He leaned down, placed his hand on Thales' shoulder, and said with a strange tone, "I didn't give you a specific plan or rules, which gives you the power to exercise discretion and make decisions on the spot outside the framework."

Discretionary power.

Make a decision on the spot.

Thales was stunned.

Really?

The troublesome prince, who was always accused of "ruining my good deeds" and "sabotaging my plans," was a little unaccustomed to it for a moment.

The sounds of the banquet coming from the corridor outside gradually subsided. Thales guessed that the Fortress Flower had probably drunk everyone under the table.

The king was clearly unwilling to delay any longer. He picked up the royal guard's helmet and carefully fastened it over his head.

Like a true guardian.

"You are free to do this according to your own preferences and standards. Just like if you don't like the brutality of 'Operation Sand King,' then influence it, reverse it, without considering whose wishes you're fulfilling or whose plans you're ruining, as long as..."

At this point, Kaiser V paused for a moment.

Thales took a deep breath and picked up where he left off:
"As long as you achieve your goal: depose Jenn?"

The king removed his helmet and nodded:

"And don't expose yourself."

He sent me to Emerald City and told me the ultimate goal, but he didn't tell me the secret plan and details. He just told me to adapt to the situation and go with the flow.

that……

"Then lend me Yodl."

“Such a big matter, I will need his help,” Thales said calmly, looking into the eyes behind the king’s helmet. “Anyway, Ada is back, she can protect you.”

Yodl.

King Kessel was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head and chuckled softly.

"This is only the first time, child, the first test since the establishment of our covenant, and I have not yet seen its results."

Thales gritted his teeth.

"Cooperation requires trust, and trust needs to be earned."

King Kessel rejected him outright and turned away without hesitation.

From his gait to his posture, in an instant, he transformed from a king into a guard.

Even your closest family members probably wouldn't recognize you.

Thales sorted out his chaotic thoughts and instinctively called out to Kassel:

"That's it? Nothing else?"

The king paused for a moment.

"Let me think... Oh, yes."

Kaiser turned around, his face hidden behind his helmet:
"Remember, when you're with that girl, remember to show your gentleness, politeness, respect, sincerity, and thoughtfulness—like a real man."

The next second, the king's tone suddenly turned cold:
"To comfort her..."

"The pain of losing a brother."

King Kessel pushed open the door and stepped into the corridor.

Thales was left alone, staring blankly as his figure disappeared.

Marius entered from outside, ignoring the unfamiliar guard who had just left the room.

“Your Highness, if you are not feeling well,” the Watchman said calmly, “we can end the banquet early.”

Thales snapped out of his daze.

He touched the pocket on his front of his shirt and glanced at the girl in the painting again.

“No, no need,” the prince said calmly, though a hint of worry lingered in his eyes. “This is just the beginning.”

Night had fallen when Sonia's hearty laughter echoed again from outside the corridor, mingling with the endless meows of cats inside and outside the castle.

The former was completely satisfied.

The latter is eerie and desolate.

(End of this chapter)