Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 635 I Can't Do It
In the dead of night at Starlake Castle, Thales sat alone on the top observation deck of Jackal Tower, gazing down at the distant Starlake.

King Kessel and Captain Adrian returned to the capital that very night, leaving Sonia and her Star Guard behind, who turned the banquet hall of the main castle into chaos, only calming down in the early hours of the morning.

Marius and Granny Valencia were naturally in a state of panic, while the Duke of Starlake himself had long since returned to his bedroom, citing his inability to hold his liquor.

("Bullshit! I clearly saw him drinking juice!"—The Fortress Flower, drunkenly grabbing Marius's collar)

But only Thales himself knew that he would much rather get drunk and sleep soundly than welcome the king's visit.

Cats meowed from the distant rooftops, echoed by dogs barking on the ground, along with the faint chirping of cicadas. Under the moonlight, Xinghubao was full of wild charm and tranquility.

why?
Thales gazed at the shimmering waves on Star Lake, lost in thought.

Why now? Why Jenn? Why the South Coast Territory?
Thales lowered his head and pulled a heavily bandaged dagger from its sheath—after fleeing the desert, for various reasons, he had not removed it, but instead reinforced the disguise on the dagger to ensure its origins would not be revealed.

More importantly, why him?
Thales casually pulled out the bone ring "Gurtaksa" and attached the tip of his dagger.

The menacing bone ring and the sharp blade complement each other perfectly, appearing even more desolate under the moonlight.

What exactly did King Catherine V want him to do?
Why is the king so confident and so capricious?
How will Fuxing Palace proceed and handle the aftermath in order to ensure both effectiveness and avoid causing chaos?
What is his role, what should he do, and what can he do?
Countless questions and doubts flooded Thales' mind.

Not far away, there were flickering lights on the Xunying Tower. Thales knew that the patrol sentries were changing shifts. Judging from the figures, it was probably Vanguard Commander Supa Langlai leading a local squad of Radiant Star private soldiers.

The prince skillfully vaulted down from the watchtower, crouching low to avoid being seen, waiting for the shift to end—the patrols were more concerned with threats outside the castle, but if one of them turned around in the middle of the night and saw the Duke of Starlake's head in the center of the castle, it certainly wouldn't be a pleasant thing.

Thales leaned against the wall, his gaze fixed.

Well, at least he knows one thing.

That meant he had to obey the king's orders, go to the Emerald City, and participate—in whatever way—in this politically uncertain conspiracy.

Not only because he was bound by an oath, not only because he had a personal grudge against Janne, not only because this matter was inevitable.

More importantly, it was his choice, his right, his bargaining chip. It was a small amount of freedom that he had fought hard to win from the Iron Fist King's grasp, after experiencing painful lessons such as "Dragon Blood" and "Sand King," risking his future and his life.

This freedom may be little, but it is crucial.

As before, Thales knew nothing about the Palace of Restoration's plans, methods, processes, and details regarding their dealings with Jenn. He was excluded and could only act according to circumstances.

But unlike before, this time, Thales received clear orders, was given the answer in advance, and was even recognized as an independent third-party piece, no longer drifting aimlessly and confused in the kingdom's game.

Besides...

I don't care what you do, as long as you get it done.

Thales flicked his dagger, sending the bone ring "Covenant" soaring into the air, where he caught it.

And now, what he needs to do, what he can do...

“No, sir, I mean Lady Satherley, Lady Satherley, this won’t do, it can’t be, really, I, I can’t!” A flustered and anxious male voice faintly came from below the watchtower.

Thales' expression changed as he was practicing his skills.

"Oh, I see. So you're saying you look down on me?" A confident and assertive female voice followed, her words sharp and aggressive.

what?
Thales swallowed hard, entering a state of hellish senses.

"No, how could I dare... You are very capable, very elegant, very charming, but I, I belong to the royal guard..." The man became increasingly flustered.

Thales held his breath and tiptoed up to the other side of the observation deck, carefully peeking out with half his head to look down.

Just diagonally opposite, two stories below him, "Zombie" Grover leaned awkwardly and stiffly against the observation deck, with the sky high behind him.

Sonia Sathere—the famous Flower of the Fortress—stood before him, slightly drunk, with one hand on his shoulder, almost forcing Golov off the lookout tower.

"So that means I'm not good enough for your royal guard?" Sonia leaned forward, a cold glint in her hazy eyes.

Golov trembled slightly.

"No, sir! I mean I have a duty to perform; I must protect His Highness..."

"Don't worry about that! I guarantee His Highness Thales won't object, and might even help me—if you're willing." Sonia shook her head, revealing a wicked smile.

Thales frowned deeply, while Golover's expression froze as he shook his head desperately.

Seeing that the man would rather die than submit, Sonia, her eyes glazed, remained silent for a moment, then understood what was happening. She rhythmically patted Golov's chest:

"Aha, I get it. You feel like you're not good enough, hehe... lacking experience in various aspects?"

Golov blushed.

“No—” He initially denied it outright, but then realized this was a weak point and quickly admitted, “I mean, yes, Commander Satherley, I, um, I can’t! I’ve never… uh, I’m inexperienced in this area, even if I… I definitely couldn’t hold on, I wouldn’t last long…”

But Sonia stepped forward, almost pressing her entire body against Golov, and slapped his shoulders with both hands!

"Don't worry, I'll teach you!"

The fortress flower's eyes shone brightly, the curve of her lips widened, and her tone became increasingly strange:
"And it's from the very beginning, a personal demonstration, step by step, teaching you every single step, oh..."

Thales, who was eavesdropping upstairs, had several changes of expression—was this something he should be listening to?

Glov could no longer bear it; he shoved Sonia away and turned to break free.

"No, we can't do this, Lady, sir, this is against the rules... Oh, I have duty tonight, how about we talk another time..."

But he hadn't taken two steps when Fortress Flower's arm pressed against the wall, blocking his way: "But I want you, really, really want you."

"I want it now."

Golov swallowed hard, his breathing quickening.

Sonia, reeking of alcohol and with glazed eyes, swayed as she approached Golov.
"I know you want it too, right?"

"And I happen to be the commander of the Dragon Slayer Fortress, bearing the heavy responsibility of protecting the country. In other words, it's not just me personally, but the entire kingdom—that wants you."

The Fortress Flower, with an unyielding smile, cornered Golov step by step, his ever-present face now filled with terror.

"Are you really, really not going to reconsider?"

Holy crap.

Thales, who had been eavesdropping on all of this, rubbed his face.

What the hell is going on?

With mixed feelings, the prince crouched down below the watchtower, making sure they couldn't see him, and then forced the (extremely unwilling) sin of the River of Hell to rise into his throat and mouth, adjusting the frequency.

A few seconds later, he pinched his nose, took a deep breath, and spoke:
"Meow, meow—"

The call pierced through the obstruction, echoing back and forth, as if right next to one's ear.

Fortress Flower and Golov were both startled, and the two abruptly separated, looking around.

"Meow—" Thales continued to imitate the black cat that dared to speak harshly to Granny Valencia, drawing out the tone perfectly, pretending to be a cat that was sleeping soundly here, protesting against being disturbed by humans.

Having finally shaken off his terror, Golov immediately became serious, as if remembering something:
"Ah, it's that damned black cat. It must have gone to the Duke's room again to steal food—and peek at confidential documents. This, this is an emergency, extremely dangerous. I, I must go and protect Duke Thales's room..."

Sonia seemed to have regained some of her senses and stared at him in disbelief.

Golov coughed and straightened his clothes. "Um, Commander Satherley, Lady, I appreciate your kind offer, but, no, I'm sorry, I can't, I can't... I have to go on duty. If you need me, I can recommend some other brothers in the guard to replace you, for example, there's a fine young man in the Guard Wing..."

The fortress flower narrowed her eyes, clearly extremely dissatisfied.

Golov didn't dare to utter a sound.

"Meow—" came the third meow from above, each one more urgent than the last.

Finally, Sonia let out a long sigh.

"Sigh, whatever, you can't force a relationship."

The zombie breathed a sigh of relief.

“Don’t worry, we…” Sonia patted Golov’s chest muscles, curled the corners of her lips into a knowing smile, and winked meaningfully:
"There's plenty of time in the future."

Glov was pale. He turned and ran up the corridor as if his life depended on it, then rushed down the stairs without looking back.

"What a pity," Sonia said, looking at his disheveled figure with obvious regret. "Tsk tsk tsk, what a fine young man."

Very good, mission accomplished.

Having neither offended the Fortress Flower nor failed to rescue his subordinates, Thales was quite satisfied with his handling of the situation, and even the gloom surrounding the King's visit had lessened considerably.

Based on past experience, Thales pinched his nose and called out twice more as a way to end the conversation and confuse the audience, so as not to seem too suspicious.

What I need to do now is sneak away...

The next second, Thales turned around and met a pair of green eyes.

He was stunned.

It was a black cat.

It stood elegantly and proudly on the observation deck, eyeing the Duke of Starlake, who was pinching his nose and huddled in the corner, with suspicion.

Hey, this cat looks familiar.

Thales was extremely embarrassed. In order not to expose himself, he could only continue to pinch his nose and give it a friendly meow.
"Meow?"

The black cat blinked and suddenly realized.

It blew its whiskers, gave him a disdainful look, and walked away with an elegant and disdainful gait, wagging its tail.

Looking at the other person's arrogant backside, Thales' face darkened.

What's wrong? Haven't you ever seen a prince meow like a cat before?
A dead cat stealing food.

Thinking of this, a disgruntled Thales pinched his nose and roared angrily at the black cat in a show of defiance:

"Meow!"

The black cat ignored it completely, simply wagged its tail, and disappeared around the corner with elegant cat steps.

Tch, dead cat.

Thales cursed silently, but the next second, the light on the observation deck dimmed, as if something had blocked the moonlight.

Duke Starlake froze, stiffly raising his head.

Under the moonlight, Sonia Satherley somehow crossed the height of three stories and squatted on the observation deck above Thales' head, looking down at him in a daze—the Duke of Starlake, who was huddled in the corner, pinching his nose and gritting his teeth.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the two of them, one tall and one short, one above and one below, stared at each other in silence.

Thales could swear to the Night that, in that instant, all he wanted was to jump off the tower and end it all.

After an unknown amount of time, Sonia tilted her head and squinted her eyes:

"Hi?"

The boy was startled, then released his nose and chuckled:
"What a coincidence, hehe, Sonia, can't sleep either?"

Sonia didn't speak, but her gaze grew increasingly complicated.

"Ah, the scenery here is quite nice, isn't it?"

Sonia still didn't answer, but her brows furrowed more and more.

"Ok."

Thales let out a painful sigh, stood up, and abandoned the idea of ​​getting away with it:

“I’m very sorry, but Golov said he doesn’t want to.”

Sonia then snorted and landed next to Thales, sitting against the wall and muttering resentfully:
That's because he hasn't tried it.

The Fortress Flower pulled a bag of tobacco and a piece of paper from her bosom and deftly rolled up a cigarette.

Thank goodness, she didn't ask about the cat meowing.

“Okay, even if you’re right,” Thales said, trying to forget the awkwardness, “he still has to agree to try it.”

“He’ll agree soon. He doesn’t know what I can give him. It’s something he’ll never forget…” Sonia put the rolled cigarette in her mouth, pouting, her tone quite unwilling.

"Are we really going to discuss this topic here?" Feeling that the topic was becoming increasingly offensive, Thales had to interrupt her with a pained expression.

“Okay, it’s not really appropriate to do it in front of you,” Sonia said, a cigarette dangling from her lips. She pulled out a crystal flint and tried to start a fire, “but in your position, you’ll have to go through this sooner or later—”

"stop!"

Thales cut off the conversation, turned away with a bitter face.

Why is he saying all this to her here? He clearly has a ton of other things to do!
Correct.

A voice echoed in his heart: a whole lot of things to do.

This includes the legendary anti-magic forces.

Thales paused in his tracks.

He turned to look at Sonia, and the image that flashed through his mind was of her holding up her shield, subduing Giza on the ground, and watching the latter turn to ashes.

Perhaps this is a breakthrough point, a way to get some information out of them.

But—a stern voice inside reminded me—be careful, don't forget what Ashida said, if the Magic Queen knew or even realized you were investigating the secrets of the legendary anti-magic forces…

Thales clenched his fist.

He needed to be cautious, natural, and smooth, subtly and indirectly inquiring about the legendary anti-magic weaponry without arousing suspicion...

"You didn't bring that shield?"

The fortress flower struggled to strike the flint, not yet realizing what was happening:

"What? Oh, that thing, it's been returned to the Palace of Resurgence, we'll retrieve it later."

Thales frowned.

Well, it turns out the Supreme Shield isn't there.

Why was Ashida in such a hurry to hide away?
Sonia was still trying to light her cigarette, her tone nonchalant: "You know, weapons need to be polished and maintained, and legendary anti-magic weapons are even more delicate."

Even legendary anti-magic weapons require maintenance, more so than ordinary weapons.

Thales nodded.

He was about to ask more.

Snapped!
As the flames lit up, the Fortress Flower finally lit a cigarette in her mouth. She took a deep drag, looking completely absorbed, and slowly exhaled a few seconds later.

Thales had to frantically wave his hands to disperse the smoke. Sonia glanced sideways at the prince:
"Want a bite?"

Thales, who was suffocating from the smoke, shook his head skillfully:

"Children shouldn't..."

Halfway through his sentence, Thales recalled the "glorious history" of the Imperials reaching adulthood at fourteen, and reluctantly changed his tune:
"As far as I know, it's bad for the throat and lungs. Smoking too much affects breathing, and smoking too much can shorten your lifespan."

"Affects breathing, lifespan?" Fortress Flower sneered.

"Child, do you know what the deadliest weapon on the battlefield is?"

"Magic Gun?"

“nah,” Fortress Flower said, puffing on a cigarette and looking up at the sky, her drunkenness lessening, “not a knife, not a sword, but a hammer and a spear.”

"Especially when thousands of people are crammed together, fighting for their lives, whether you take one more breath or one less breath, whether you live to be eighty or fifty, doesn't really make much difference."

Thales recalled the breakout battle he had experienced beneath the fortress, the deafening roars of battle, and the scattered limbs and broken bodies. He frowned and quickened his movements to clear away the smoke.

“And when a spear, with a ‘whoosh’ like this, pierces your chest,” Sonia turned her head, swiftly poking Thales’ chest with two fingers:
"There's not much difference between a healthy lung and a black lung."

Fuck!
The pain in his chest made Thales grimace, forcing him to step back a few inches to avoid further physical contact with her.

The Flower of the Fortress chuckled as she looked at him.

“But if such a cheap puff of smoke,” Sonia took a deep drag, her gaze fixed on the distant Star Lake, “can make hundreds or thousands of soldiers forget their fear, pain, despair, and death, and boost their morale and unity amidst their foul-mouthed trash talk, thus reducing the possibility of a rout and collapse.”

Sonia looked at Thales and leisurely exhaled a thick cloud of smoke:

"Then maybe, just maybe, we can win a battle and hold a fortress."

cough!cough!cough!
Thales choked and coughed repeatedly.

"Thank you, I'll remember," the prince said, painfully covering his nose. "Don't smoke unless there's a war!"

Sonia burst into a hearty laugh.

Amidst the swirling smoke, the two, each lost in their own thoughts, fell silent, and the castle's watchtower was utterly desolate at night.

not enough.

Thales reminded himself: he needed a better entry point; he needed to know more.

"Speaking of combat and lifespan, how long have you been fighting with that shield?"

Sonia put down her cigarette and stared straight at him.

Feeling a little uneasy under her gaze, Thales quickly tried to smooth things over:
"I've heard that legendary anti-magic weapons can shorten the user's lifespan? I remember you used it quite a bit to save me back then..."

The Fortress Flower stared at him for a long time, then chuckled.

“That’s true,” Sonia shook her head, “but don’t worry, the thing in my hand doesn’t like me and won’t cooperate with me to release its power, so it can’t hurt me.”

"Oh, then I'm relieved—what?"

Thales turned around in surprise: "It... doesn't like you?"

“Yeah, I’m baffled too, right?” Sonia took a drag of her cigarette, feeling indignant. “What’s wrong with this world? A broken shield has the right to say it doesn’t like me.”

No, that's not the point. The point is...

“No, no, I mean, it, it? It’s…alive?” Thales exclaimed in surprise.

"I guess so, but not entirely. It can't speak, but I can sense its... how do I put it, its emotions?"

Sonia picked her ear: "It is said that they are only connected with a few masters, and only at that time can they exert their greatest effect—of course, it is said that the greater the effect, the greater the price."

Heart to heart…

Maximum efficacy...

Thales frowned, recalling the Blade of Purification from long ago, that small red sword with a remarkable history.

“Like that broken shield in my hand,” Sonia continued with a sneer, “it was always something I did reluctantly, acting like I was the boss. Later on, well, I got tired of it. It’s not as good as the long-handled sword I captured outside.”

Thales fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

"However, there must be a reason why you were granted the Supreme Shield; the kingdom must have high hopes for you," he said cautiously.

“That’s not true,” Sonia waved her hand, the smoke thickening. “During the Bloody Year, its master died, and most of the top-tier warriors who were suited for it also died. They had no choice. At that time, I was about to go north to fight, so I just took the place without really knowing what was going on. When I first got it, the broken shield was black and rough. I smashed it with a hammer for half the night before I could make sure it wasn’t a fake.”

No wonder the Supreme Shield doesn't like you.

Thales remained silent for a moment, then finally couldn't help but ask:

"Do you remember who its previous owner was?"

Sonia rubbed her nose.

"Baron Quentin told me that he was not well known by name, but I heard that he was a royal guard, a fairly high-ranking one."

He was a royal guard during his lifetime...

Thales fell silent.

“By the way, don’t tell anyone else,” Sonia squinted. “The Black Prophet specifically instructed us that the Legendary Anti-Magic Armed Forces are a kingdom secret, very important and very sensitive. If anyone tries to find out, remember to tell him immediately.”

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

“Damn, I knew it,” the prince said calmly. “No wonder he wouldn’t tell me anything.”

Fortress Flower laughed and said, "Believe me, you're not the first. You'll get used to it."

"So, everything's fine up north?" Thales changed the subject to avoid suspicion: "Dragon Fortress, the border, Rumba?"

When asked about her old profession, Sonia nodded and stood up.

She climbed onto the observation deck and carefully examined everything inside Star Lake Castle, as if she didn't want to miss a single blade of grass or tree, and even wanted to examine the cat on the roof closely.

"Thanks to you, son, the Yankees have been much more well-behaved these past few years, busy fighting their own people, whether in Black Sand Territory or Wilan Territory. Besides, with the busy farming season approaching, fields, farms, towns, workshops, and markets are all short of manpower. Forget about fighting, even the bandits who cross the border to rob are too busy."

Thanks to him.

These words brought Thales back to six years ago, to the days when he left Dragonstalker Fortress and headed north.

Vampires, blood magic masters, the Black Sand Army's encirclement, his battle with Rumba beneath the fortress—scenes from the past flashed before his eyes, crystal clear. Thales looked at Sonia before him, a touch of warmth appearing in his eyes.

"Of course, but who knows what will happen in a few days," Fortress Flower said with a cigarette dangling from her lips, "so I'm taking advantage of this time to go back home and enjoy my vacation."

Upon hearing this, Thales was moved:
"Going back to your hometown? Are you a local?"

Sonia shifted her attention away from an old tree in the distance:

"Of course, when my parents were alive, they were farmers in the nearby farmland—look, that's the way, just over two hills."

Sonia enthusiastically pointed out the direction to Thales:

"When I reached the age where I could wield a pitchfork, I enlisted and became a guard here."

Sonia, the famous Flower of the Fortress, was born into a peasant family.

Thales's mind raced, and he realized:

“I know you are a former subordinate of Duke John. So, you started as a guard at Starlake Castle?”

Sonia flicked off the ash from her cigarette and looked at the main castle of Starlake Castle with a deep gaze.

“There,” Sonia pointed down in the moonlight, “there used to be three trees there, and I often rested there when my shift changed.”

Thales followed her finger and looked—there was a field that Sister Valencia had ordered to be cultivated.

A lump formed in the boy's throat.

Tree……

“And that place used to be part of the garden,” Sonia’s voice was somewhat ethereal. “John liked to walk there alone, to meditate, rain or shine, he said it helped him think.”

Thales looked at the area—now fenced off and home to many dogs.

garden……

Thales clenched his fists instinctively.

"Sonia..."

"It's not just your castle, child."

Sonia stared blankly at the location of Xunying Studio, her voice drawn out:

“Many people used to consider this place as their home—for many, many years, it was their home.”

Family.

Thales remained silent for a long time.

When he turned back to look at the field, he had a different feeling.

"I'm sorry." He suddenly didn't want to ask her about the Supreme Shield anymore.

He told himself that there would be a chance.

not now.

That shouldn't be the case.

Sonia remained silent for a moment, the cigarette glowing and dimming intermittently.

“No, thank you.” Sonia shook her head, dispelling the gloom, and transformed back into the cheerful flower of the fortress:
“Every year I come back to rest for a few days, mooch a meal at old Codero’s estate, cause some trouble and get into a fight or something, but this year, since you’ve repaired the castle…”

The next second, Sonia revealed a smug smile:

“Then I won’t have to worry about old Codero’s attitude—ever since I was five, when my mother rejected his marriage proposal and I made his son cry, he’s had a problem with me. You really don’t want a bite?”

Thales stared at the cigarette butt Sonia offered him, then smiled and shook his head.

“Well then, welcome home,” Thales said, trying to shake off his earlier sadness. “You and your people can stay as long as you like; all expenses, including food and lodging, will be covered.”

"All-inclusive?" Fortress Flower looked incredulous. "I overheard an old man from the guards making sarcastic remarks today, saying how comfortable it is for us to eat and stay for free."

“You must be talking about the Second Chief of Logistics, Deward Stoddard,” Thales said, looking troubled as he recalled something. “And I assure you, you didn’t just overhear it by chance; that old geezer is wicked.”

But his eyes soon lit up.

"But it doesn't matter. I believe my father can pay for entertaining the renowned Kingdom's general and war heroine, Lady Sonia Sathere."

No, it must be reported to him.

Otherwise, Thales swore that at the next Royal Council meeting, he would lie in Ballard's Room and not get up.

Sonia exhaled a puff of smoke and snorted.

"Has His Majesty returned?"

“Yes—” Thales immediately realized something was wrong as soon as he said it, and frowned as he looked at her.

The fortress flower grinned.

“Kid, I’m a soldier, and unfortunately, a commander. If I didn’t even know who was in the marching column, Duanlong Fortress would have been destroyed a thousand times over.”

really.

She was aware of the king's visit.

Thales's gaze towards her changed; it lost its previous lightness and gained a touch of heaviness.

Was she really just going back to her hometown to enjoy a vacation?

Was this planned? Did the royal guards use the pretext of escorting the kingdom's renowned general back to his hometown to bring the king here?
Was this at King Kessel's behest? Or did he allow it? What does his action signify? What is he trying to imply to himself? And what does Sonia's presence here signify?
A flood of thoughts rushed through his mind, and in that instant, Thales suddenly lost interest in talking to Sonia.

Those days six years ago, when they ate and lived together in the fortress, no longer seemed so clear.

Only the bone ring in his pocket, the "covenant," felt increasingly heavy.

Sonia seemed to sense something and glanced at Thales.

"May I ask what His Majesty wanted to see you about?" Fortress Flower asked casually, the cigarette in her hand already half-burned and gradually dimming.

She seemed unaware.

Or is she just pretending not to know?
Sonia Sathere, she was indeed the one who saved you from your predicament six years ago, but don't forget—a voice rose from the depths of your heart, cautiously reminding Thales—she is also one of the three commanders of the kingdom, the head of the kingdom's standing army.

It is the king's sword.

Thales swallowed hard.

What did the king say to Sonia? What did he instruct her to do? What impact would this have on him?
What should he say, and what shouldn't he say?
The person I'm going to meet my fiancée.

I'm going to destroy the Duke who guards the South Bank.

What should he say?
“A business trip,” Thales said, his expression unchanged, his gaze piercing through the smoke. “I have to go out and take care of something.”

"A business trip? I guess you wouldn't be heading north to revisit the Broken Dragon Fortress?"

Thales hesitated for a moment.

"Don't worry, don't be nervous, I'm not interested in what you're going to do." Sonia smiled easily, seemingly seeing through Thales's thoughts.

She took a deep drag on her cigarette before reluctantly tossing it away.

"It's just the same old internal strife, either extortion or power grabs, which I can't handle."

Same old thing.

Thales let out a breath.

He thought of the dragon's blood, of the Sand King, and of the mission the king had given him.

King Kessel was constantly caught up in the turbulent politics of the kingdom, manipulating the winds and clouds, but the flower of the fortress before him, his sword, his general, and his true kingdom's fortress, appeared so cheerful, spirited, and magnanimous.

How did she do that? A voice inside him asked.

This made Thales feel a little inexplicably jealous.

“Yes, the same old thing,” the young duke snorted, his words filled with indescribable complex emotions, “I can’t do it either.”

(End of this chapter)