Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 643 The Queen's City

Chapter 643 The Queen's City
"This is Emerald City?"

After setting up a temporary checkpoint with wooden fences, DD and Vanguard Officer Nate Neshti, leading their mounts, looked in astonishment at the surging crowd in front of the checkpoint and the seemingly endless rows of buildings behind it.

"Oh dear, there are so many people, we can't even get in by queuing up."

"Is Emerald City this lively? Or is there some kind of market sale?"

“No, it’s not a market, and there’s no big sale,” the guard officer from Kommuto squeezed through the crowd from the other side, trying to refuse the vendors trying to sell them trinkets. “But clearly, we’ve come at the wrong time again…”

"Do you see all these guards on the streets? There are more of them than beggars in the capital."

"His Highness Thales would probably be devastated if he saw this; he hates crowds..."

Hey everyone!

Wyatt Cassel—the real one—dodged a dusty carriage and came to their side, his face covered with a veil. “Good heavens, it was really difficult to squeeze through. His Highness has been waiting for too long. Lord Marius sent me to urge him on. What’s going on up ahead?”

Koumto nodded, and amidst the clamor of the crowd, he had to tighten his grip on his companions' shoulders and raise his voice in their ears:

“I’ve contacted the garrison commander here. He’s already sent a messenger with Zonevid to see Commander Marius! But with this crowd and the number of people, I doubt we’ll make it! He suggested that, for safety’s sake, we should wait outside the city until the crowd has thinned out and they’ve restored order before entering. Emerald City will send us food…”

The people of Star Lake Fortress were immediately dissatisfied.

"What a joke!"

"This is incredibly disrespectful!"

"After making us wait so long, if they're going to deliver food, they'd better have some of Emerald City's famous wines..."

"Are you kidding me? He just left His Highness waiting outside the city? We are the Royal Guard, led by the Central Command, representing the Palace of Restoration!"

"Why don't they close the road? Are these chaotic street vendors more important than a prince arriving?"

Wyatt sighed and stood on tiptoe to look at the dense crowd at the checkpoint:

"But the speed at which they're entering the city... are these people queuing? Why? Do they have to pay an entry tax?"

DD squinted his eyes:

"What? There's still an entry tax for cities these days?"

Kommut shook his head, led everyone away from the crowd, and headed towards the Duke's entourage:

"I've inquired about it. It's not a simple entry tax, but a guarantee fee: everyone entering Emerald City needs to register, clearly stating their guarantor and specific address, including the amount of property they're carrying. If you leave within the specified time, the city management office will refund the full amount. If you exceed the time limit, it will be deducted or even confiscated. If you violate any regulations, you'll have to pay back the fee..."

Everyone started complaining again.

"Isn't that still just collecting taxes? Won't this drive people away? What if no one wants to come to Emerald City in the future?"

"Do we need to register to go in? We're representing His Highness, representing the Royal Family!"

"According to the official who just greeted us, the late Duke established a rule that princes and commoners should be treated equally..."

"Damn, this old duke's really gone down the wrong path..."

"So he's 'deceased'..."

"Don't worry, we are VIPs. Filling out forms and paying fees are handled by dedicated staff at Emerald City. Your delicate hands won't have to do it..."

The three of them finally managed to squeeze out of the crowd, only to be met by a troupe of acrobats, who were making a great commotion with their music and dancing. They had no choice but to take a detour again.

"We happened to be there during the Jade Festival, so it was very lively."

Komto wiped the sweat from his face:

"Furthermore, with the news of Duke Xinghu's visit spreading... guests from the Seven Seas and Six Realms have been flocking to Emerald City around this time of year—see those? Those with dark skin are Red Earth people, and those with strange headdresses are almost certainly Hambur people, as well as the Karensa people from the Tyren Trade State, the Nieda people from the Ligur State, and steppe people from some unknown tribe. I just saw a caravan of merchants from the Far East, I don't know if they came from Suye or Cheng Kingdom."

Neshi shook his head and said, "The Great Cheng Khanate belongs to the Yan Hai Province, not the Far East..."

"Really? I seem to remember it being the province of Tuoluo?"

Kommuto shrugged indifferently: "It makes no difference to me..."

"There are ten countries in the Far East, and it might not be Su Ye, it could be the Kingdom of Kurola..."

"Curora is an ancient province name, isn't it...?"

DD clicked his tongue in disdain: "Ugh, who taught you all geography...?"

"An elf! I saw an elf! It's definitely a High Elf from the Eastern Continent, holy crap, that pointy chin..."

"Nonsense. Elves also dislike crowds. When the Holy Tree Kingdom visited Everstar City, their delegation always entered the city late at night, keeping a very low profile. You'd only find out when they left..."

"You didn't see any orcs, did you...?"

"Look at that Grand Canal, and those big ships on it. I bet it leads directly to Gonghai City and all the way to the End Sea!"

"Idiot, the boats on the canal will fall apart when they go out to sea!"

In the carriage separated by the Emerald City guards to the side of the road, Duke of Starlake, Thales Starstar, put down his book and took a deep breath.

Through the car window, aided by his hellish senses, he felt every breath of the city.

So, he arrived.

South Shore, the capital of the Kevin Deer family, the City of Crystals, the capital of wealth, and the Queen of the City—Emerald City.

Without a doubt, it is a completely different city from Yongxing City.

"I didn't see the city wall."

By the carriage window, Miranda, mounted on horseback, held her binoculars high, struggling to peer over the guards of the Emerald City.
"It's just people, houses, streets, bridges and trees, and bridges, houses, people, streets... and trees."

"Strange, I couldn't find it either—did they demolish the city wall?"

Golov, standing nearby, was also searching for traces of the city walls.

“No rush, you can’t see it from here,” Marius, the commander of the Star Lake Guard, said calmly as he sat on a baggage cart and read last month’s income and expenditure report. “You have to walk two blocks ahead to see it—and I doubt you’d recognize it even if you did, as several of the city gates have been converted into streets.”

"What? Emerald City is so big in area and radius that even the city walls can't contain it?"

Miranda lowered her binoculars and looked at the crowd before her with suspicion:

"How many people would that be?"

“It was better ten years ago,” Logistics Officer Stuart replied, squinting. “I guess it expanded much faster.”

"Wait a minute, if that's the case, the construction and upgrading of the city walls can't keep up with the expansion of the city blocks, then the city's defenses are practically useless!" Golov was equally surprised.

These words drew gasps of amazement from the Xinghu Guards on duty nearby.

"Then how do we defend against enemies? At least against bandits?"

"How did you survive that bloody year?"

"It seems the Bloody Year didn't reach Emerald City..."

"Help me remember, how long does it take to walk from south to north in Yongxing City?"

"I haven't been there, but it certainly hasn't been that long ago."

When was the last time you came here?

"When I was a child, it had been more than ten years, but back then..."

“I came here on business five years ago, but I traveled by sea. I was seasick the whole way and didn’t notice that I had crossed the Muhe River and reached the inland area in the blink of an eye.”

"Three or four years ago, my cousin got married. Damn it, he told me that his home was on the outskirts of the city. At the time, I looked around at the neighborhood and thought he was joking or being modest. Now, looking at it again, it's actually true? On the outskirts?"

"Now I understand why my neighbor's son would rather be a postman here than go back to the capital..."

Thales stretched, closed the book "The Enchanted City Chronicles," extinguished the sin of the River of Hell, and shut out the surrounding noise.

Now it seems that the scenery of Emerald City is indeed very different from that of Everstar City.

At least, it's quite suitable for sightseeing and broadening one's horizons.

Thales poked his head out of the carriage and waved to Rolf and Paul, who were standing at attention.

Of course, wouldn't it be great if he really was just here for tourism?
The boy looked at the bustling crowd crammed at the Emerald City checkpoint and thought somewhat dejectedly.

Or, a simple blind date would also be fine, right?
Well, it would be even better if the woman's brother wasn't Jann Kevin Deer.

“Since you’re going to meet your fiancée, you’d better make yourself look presentable,” Granny Valencia, who was in charge of his appearance before he left Starlake Castle, said worriedly. “Clothes, accessories, makeup, perfume, oh, don’t forget this, the collection of bard’s poems, it’s guaranteed to work every time.”

“I would rather take with me ‘The Successes and Failures of Oviedo’s Rule’.” At that time, Thales was wavering between lack of interest and unease, and upon hearing this, he only yawned.

“Ovido? A king of Allenby who was beheaded two hundred years ago cannot win you the heart of a girl.”

Granny Valencia sternly tugged at his collar and sighed, "Oh, Your Highness, you're such a worry. You're so young and you're already going... Does anyone in the group know anything about the etiquette of dating between young men and women? What if you don't know anything and impulsively offend the girl, or what if you end up in bed without knowing how to use protection—"

"Mommy!"

Thales interrupted her somewhat helplessly: "By the standards of the ancient empire, I am fourteen years old..."

“Don’t try to fool me with that,” Valencia clicked his tongue and shook his head. “You’re still just a kid, at the age where you’ve just learned to stare at girls—by the way, that girl from the Arund family, she’s been so proactive, do you have any feelings for her? Should I help you create an opportunity?”

Thales could only bury himself in his book and continue to sigh.

Of course, not everyone was reluctant to leave.

"So, you're finally leaving!"

In math class, Scholar Julio excitedly took Thales's workbook, then realized something was amiss and quickly feigned surprise: "Um, I mean, you're leaving already?"

Thales rolled his dead fish eyes:

"Scholar Julio, you seem quite happy?"

“Oh, not at all… cough cough. Emerald City has convenient transportation, thriving commerce, and gathers talents from all directions and seas. Its ideas are vibrant, its culture is prosperous, and its academic atmosphere is thriving. It enjoys a great reputation in the kingdom,” Julio adjusted his glasses, his whole demeanor changing. “But no matter what, Your Highness is a student taught by the highly respected masters and scholars of the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences. Your knowledge and experience are no less than others. During this southern tour, you must constantly think about learning and make progress every day. Do not tarnish the prestige of the students of Eternal Star.”

"It's too long, I can't understand it."

"Um, just remember to do your homework."

"And what about you, Scholar? The account books for the remaining two farms..."

"I'm working on it! I'll be able to finish the calculations in another week—wait a minute, I'm the teacher here!"

"A week is too long, let's do three days."

"Ah! Well... let's make a deal, Your Highness, six days? Or five days would be fine too?"

"In fact, Your Excellency, I have just written a request to His Majesty for a raise for you..."

"I'll send the ledgers over tomorrow!"

The Grand Secretary of Bonne brought Thales a large collection of books, including the narrative poem "The Wind-blown Iris," the story collection "The Enchanted City," the historical record "The Southern Expedition," the novel "The Voyages of the Far Seas," the research paper "Lapis Lazuli and Seals: The Guarantor Tradition and the Origin of the Commercial Notary System of the Emerald City Mining Guild," and the hymn to the Temple of the Setting Sun, "Emerald at Dusk."

"Emerald City? Emerald City is great!"

The gleaming-scalp scholar shakily pulled out the last book:

"The world is vast, with diverse landscapes; the scenery is like this, and so are the people."

Thales took the book from the scholar Bona, and his expression changed as soon as he saw the cover:
"The Enchanting Chronicles of the Witch Queen?"

The prince instinctively hid the book:

"Is this something I can look at?"

"of course not."

Scholar Bona blinked his cloudy little eyes:

"So, don't just read aloud in front of everyone in Emerald City when you're bored, especially the third act, 'A Young Girl's Dream Broken by a Marriage Contract,' which contains some descriptions that, well, are not very dignified."

"But aside from that, I dare say it is a rare and excellent play, comparable to 'The Iron Thorn's Romantic History,' 'Lassie Anrenzo in the Wind,' and 'Black Eyes and His Lovers,' and it is particularly helpful in understanding the significance of this mission—ah, youth, youth is gone forever."

Thales swallowed hard, then bowed and thanked him with mixed feelings.

On the other hand, Wyatt went home and brought Thales a stack of documents, all of which contained information about the Emerald City. The headers of each page were carefully cut off to prevent people from recognizing the source, but this did not prevent Thales from recognizing the faint imprint left on the bottom page—the trace of Gilbert's signature.

Faced with such a stack of documents, Thales remained silent for a long time.

"If you have the chance, please thank your father for me."

“Yes,” Wyman replied respectfully, but murmured at the end, “if there is an opportunity.”

If there is a chance.

Thales glanced at Wyman, but ultimately said nothing.

Of course, compared to these teachers, Thales' other approachable, erudite, respected, and secret teacher, whose identity was not to be revealed, was a completely different story.

"You really won't come to Emerald City with me?"

“As far as I know, you’re not going there to hone your magical abilities,” the air mage said, moving the chess pieces in front of him with elegant composure (through his eyes) in his study one afternoon, “but to work for others and continue the childish and ridiculous political games of mortals.”

On the other side of the chessboard, Thales cleared his throat: "To be precise, it's a blind date."

And—to overthrow the South Bank regime.

"And I have absolutely no interest in that, and I am also keen on your attempt to use me as a trump card."

"What if... I die there?"

"In the last two hundred years, Emerald City has had no known legendary anti-magic forces."

"That's hard to say. Emerald City is surrounded by rivers and seaports, and has abundant mineral resources. It's not only one of the major cities in the Western Continent, but also one of the important crossroads between the two continents, attracting countless forces. Who knows, maybe one day, a legendary anti-magic weapon will appear?"

"As a mage, I should definitely not go."

"Um, what if what appears is the rare, perfect anti-magic weapon that you, respected teacher, guessed?"

"Then I'll trouble Your Highness to go ahead and gather intelligence for me?"

"...What if I die in a political conspiracy, or at the hands of ordinary people?"

“That’s what you deserve,” Ashida said mercilessly as she devoured Thales’s knight. “It’s the inevitable consequence of your long-term narrow-mindedness, your obsession with worldly power and position, and your procrastination, laziness, and lack of interest in magical arts.”

Thales remained silent for a long time.

"So you just won't go, huh?"

"I can go, and maybe I can even look after you..."

"That's right! Teachers and students helping each other, teaching and learning complement each other—"

"As long as you are willing to abandon everything you have now and embark on the path of magic power completely."

Thales smirked and pointed a finger at his king, who had been pushed to the ground.

"Excuse me, please rest."

Aishida suddenly looked up:
"Remember, even in a crisis, never reveal your 'magic trick' abilities."

Magic tricks.

Thales' eyes darted around:
Even if I'm about to die?

The mage remained unmoved: "As you said, Emerald City is located on a major sea route, a melting pot of all sorts of people. It's hard to guarantee that our enemies won't have their eyes and ears. If those two bitches find out, you'll die too, and it's very likely that I'll be implicated as well."

Thales couldn't help but purse his lips.

Ashida said calmly, "Well then, good luck, you fool who insists on getting involved in this mess."

Seeing that there was no hope of getting help, Thales sighed in disappointment.

But before get out of class ended, the boy couldn't help but speak up.

"In any case, Mr. Sakun, I still want to thank you before I leave."

Aishida paused for a moment:
"for what?"

Thales rubbed the king piece in his hand and remained silent for a while.

"So that I can spend these few hours setting aside my identity, letting go of my concerns, and speaking freely for a while."

The mage did not answer.

He gazed at Thales with a wistful look, his thoughts unknown.

The study became quiet.

Thales didn't expect a reply. He shook his head self-deprecatingly, stood up, and walked towards the door: "Well then, get out of class is over."

Very ironic.

But it's also frustrating.

And that is his life.

From that night on Red Street, from the moment he entered Fuxing Palace.

"child."

Just as the Duke's hand touched the doorknob, Ashida suddenly called out to him.

"If you are ever in mortal danger, forget what I said."

forget……

Thales frowned and turned around: the mage's voice was surprisingly... ethereal.

Ashida was silent for a moment, her eyes flashing blue from an angle Thales couldn't see: "If you're going to die, then go all out, do your best, and perform the most spectacular magic trick of your life."

Thales paused.

The most amazing magic trick?
At that moment, his throat tightened, and his feelings became complicated.

Presumably, we've known each other for so many years.

There was still some teacher-student relationship between them, more or less?
Aishida's figure slowly faded: "Know that as long as you die from the loss of control of magical energy first, the Twin Emperors will not be able to find you."

Thales' smile froze, and when he came to his senses, the room was already empty.

Screw teacher-student relationships.

As for the Starlake Guard, although some had a vague idea that the trip wouldn't be as easy as it seemed, most were still quite excited ("I never want to stay in this godforsaken place again!"—Neshi's heartfelt exclamation before he was punished to clean up bird droppings in the crow cage), especially after hearing that the Duke was going to visit Miss Kevindale.

"In short, our schedule is very tight on this trip to the Emerald City, and we must make sure to catch the city's 'Queen's Day' events..."

Not long ago, Thales was sitting at the head of the long table in the Hall of Ascent, addressing the guards and servants of Starlake Castle, but many eyes were still fixed on Miranda beside Thales.

"Queen's Day? You mean the Emerald Festival?" Neshi, sitting at the long table, was overjoyed. "That famous carnival in the kingdom, where you drink to your heart's content for seven days straight?"

The guards sitting on both sides of the long table erupted in an uproar.

Marius frowned, while Thales gritted his teeth.

“Yes, the Emerald Festival. But literally, it is still ‘Queen’s Day,’ a tradition passed down to commemorate the Queen’s grace, just as we commemorate Revival Day and King’s Day here, while the Western Wilderness celebrates the Chasing of Saints Day…”

But before he could finish speaking, he was drowned out by the jubilant crowd.

"So you really intend to marry the daughter of the Kevin Deer family?"

"So, the castle is about to welcome a mistress?"

Thales had to cough and painstakingly explain, "Attention, attention! Visiting the Iris family at Kongming Palace is indeed the important matter of this trip, but it would be impolite to hastily discuss the marriage of an unmarried lady..."

However, the people of Xinghubao were in high spirits:
"Isn't it too early to get married now? After all, you're only fourteen, and the world is still so exciting... or is it too late?"

"Hey Lao Kong, you don't understand. How can you know how wonderful the outside world is if you don't get married and find a wife first?"

"I heard Kevin Deer is rolling in money, and his dowry must be huge, right? Does this mean we're finally rich?"

"Then I propose we renovate the toilets and sewers..."

"Is that all you care about? You should worry more about whether some southern kid from Emerald City will come and steal your job..."

"That's exactly what I need, to retire early..."

Amidst the cacophony of voices from the people of Starlake Castle, Thales finally lost his temper.

The next second, he pulled out a palm-sized teddy bear and slammed it onto the long table.

Miranda frowned.

Amid DD's painful whimpers, everyone stared intently at the teddy bear, only then remembering the cruelty and ruthlessness in Duke Starlake's character.

The area around the long table fell silent.

"very good."

Thales looked around and nodded in satisfaction.

Sure enough, I'm just too approachable.

These guys won't learn their lesson unless you teach them a harsh lesson.

"I think you all know that Emerald City has a pleasant climate and thriving commerce. It is the second largest city in the kingdom after the capital. However, for some reasons that I cannot say directly, but you probably know, the relationship between Duke Janne and me is, well, complicated."

The crowd remained silent, but their eyes were fixed on the little bear.

Duke Xinghu cleared his throat, straightened the slightly crooked bear, and made sure everyone could see its full appearance:

"Therefore, we are not going on vacation. In addition, it is a celebration with guests from all over the world. From travel security to social affairs, our work will not be easy."

With teary eyes, DD bit her lower lip:

"If that's the case, why should we go?"

Paul, who was sitting in the corner, suddenly spoke up:
That's precisely why we're going.

Another round of whispers broke out on both sides of the long table. Words like "political marriage," "appeasement," "disrupt the event," and "steal his sister and make her his brother-in-law" slipped into the Duke's ears amidst the murmurs.

Marius, who was standing by, could not stand it any longer and snatched the bear away, depriving the Duke of his right to speak:
"In short, the schedule and route have been set, and communication with Kongming Palace has been completed. We must arrive in Emerald City no later than four days before 'Queen's Day,' and ideally, check into Kongming Palace on that day. Emerald City will arrange our affairs, but this is a matter of great importance. The guards must not relax their vigilance at any time or in any place. If I find out that any of you have made a mistake..."

Those whose attention had wandered were somewhat taken aback, until Marius issued a disapproving warning:
"Did you hear that?"

The crowd reacted immediately, responding in unison, their voices echoing throughout the castle, their morale soaring.

Marius then snorted coldly and threw the teddy bear back to the Duke, who was feeling aggrieved at his failed reprimand.

And so, the Duke of Starlake's caravan set off for Emerald City one autumn day. They left Starlake Castle, took the route through the town of Struggle, crossed the River Shepherd, and then turned southeast onto the southern branch of the Avenue of Grace, passing through many places along the way: Swanshire, Mirror River, Witland, the Walla Corridor, Fanglands, the Forest...

The further they went, the more humid and warm the climate became, the more frequent the river crossings became, the wild forests and wastelands gradually disappeared, and the terrain and roads became more regular and flat. Even the wild grass on both sides of the road grew much softer. During the harvest season, people came and went in the wheat fields, farms and ranches were busy, the workshops in the towns were diverse, and all kinds of merchants and traders were bustling about. Messengers and postmen ran back and forth between castles and villages. As Thales looked around, he felt that this was the "peaceful kingdom" described in the official documents of the stars.

The journey was relatively peaceful. Most town officials and nobles, upon learning of the Duke of Starlake's passage, dispatched envoys to wait along the way, clearing the path and even sending guards and patrols to keep out unauthorized personnel. If darkness fell or heavy rain fell, they provided lodging and supplies without fail. However, while treating them with courtesy, most people also maintained a serious attitude, even keeping their distance, which left Thales deeply disappointed.

It's as if there's an unseen hand driving everything behind this journey.

Thus, without realizing it, the Duke and his entourage entered the South Bank Territory and arrived at Emerald City.

Thales' thoughts returned to the present, back to the carriage outside Emerald City.

“Look at that fool, just walking down the street with a bag of gold on his back. I bet if he were in Yongxing City, he would be gone by nightfall.”

"If we were in the downtown area, we wouldn't even have to wait until dark."

The chatter of DD and Neshi reached his ears, and Thales shook his head with a smile, but his smile quickly disappeared.

After all, he didn't come here for tourism, right?
Thales' eyes sharpened.

He came to take and to destroy.

The prince lowered his head and opened the information about the Emerald City that Wyatt had brought.

To understand Emerald City, one must first understand the Kevin Deer family.

The Star Kingdom has had thirty-nine Supreme Kings (not counting those who actually ascended the throne but were disqualified by royal historians or temple priests for various reasons), and its history records no fewer than fifty Queens. Among them, a full thirteen were from the Kevindir family and its branches in the Emerald City.

As for the countless noble ladies who married into wealthy and powerful families and became mistresses of the household, this fact earned Emerald City the reputation of "Queen's City" early on. The saying "Queen of the Stars, Emerald of the Crown" also meant that the Iris family could not shake off the label of being related to the king and his maternal uncle for a considerable period of time.

Well, Thales turned the page and thought that there was a reason why he came here for a blind date, at least he was very traditional.

However, thirteen queens is far too many.

There is only one explanation: Kevin Deer's dowry—both material and political—was too lavish.

Thinking of this, Thales couldn't help but glance at the portrait of Miss Kevin Deer.

Conversely, it was not uncommon for royal princesses to marry into the Emerald City: the wife of the fourth Duke of Iris was Princess Celia, the youngest daughter of John the Black Eyes I, and Catherine the Far Sail II even married his sister (in fact, he also married his three daughters to seven different dukes) into the Emerald City, gaining the full support of the South Coast Territory. With the help of the fleets of Kevindale and Cullen, they won the historic Battle of Borasco, burying the Hambul dynasty's fleet to the bottom of the sea and thwarting the ambitions of the "Boundless Cadillacs" on the other side of the End Sea.

Sea route, navy.

Thales took some notes. For a long time, the kingdom's maritime presence had relied on the three major families of the East Sea Territory, who faced the gateway to the End of the Sea. As a result, Duke Cullen also firmly held the position of prime minister. King Kessel could not possibly not want to change this situation. However, after the Bloody Years, the development of the kingdom's navy was far behind that of the standing army on land. After all, the former required twice the cost of the latter.

Clearly, the South Bank Territory is the second option.

But is that all?

Thales turned the page again.

In fact, 250 years ago, at the end of a legendary court intrigue in astronomical history—a three-generation-long "blood feud"—a Duke of Kelvindil had claimed the throne for his princess wife—the daughter of the "moneylender" Mindis II—competing with his brother-in-law, the "surviving king" Elan III, for the Nine Star Crown. Of course, what happened next is a favorite subject for playwrights, novelists, and bards: Elan III's eldest daughter, then Lady Erica, later Queen Erica the Conqueror of the North, led mercenaries to besiege the Emerald City ("I have heard that the south bank is in turmoil, with bandits coveting the royal family; I have come to quell the bandits for my aunt."), frightening away her aunt and uncle's ambitions and helping her father, Elan III, ascend the throne.

In the Starry Sky lineage, the most recent Iris Queen dates back nearly sixty years to Bella Kevendil, the second wife of the taciturn Sumerian IV. She is also related to Starlake Castle: she was the mother of the former Duke John of Starlake.

Historical records state that Queen Bella was beautiful, dignified, and exceptionally talented, making her a renowned lady of high birth in the kingdom. However, after marrying into the royal family, her flamboyant and extravagant personality led to a poor reputation among the people. Her several lavish flower banquets earned her the vicious nickname "Witch Queen." Clearly, these were malicious slanders with ulterior motives, closely related to the triangular political struggle at the royal council that year involving Duke Tebak, the military advisor; Earl Armand, the treasurer; and Duke Kevindale, the prime minister of the kingdom.

Thales rubbed his chin and began reading Gilbert's notes.

Undoubtedly, the Kevin Deer family's influence on the kingdom's politics and even the royal genealogy reached its peak, but something clearly happened in between, causing the Star and the Iris to gradually drift apart and lose their blood ties over the sixty years following the "Silent Ones".

Thinking of this, Thales recalled the story the Duke of the Western Wilderness had told him about the witch queen Bella's attempt to depose the eldest son and install a younger one, and he couldn't help but drift into a daze.

He turned to the next page.

However, whatever the reason, half a century of estrangement was quite detrimental to both the influence of the Star Kingdom and the status of the Kingdom of Kelvindil. Therefore, it was only natural that King Eddy II would strengthen ties with Duke Lenster Kelvindil during the middle of his reign. The late king first appointed Duke Lenster as Minister of Commerce, stationed in the capital to serve the king, and then promoted a group of talented young men from the South Coast to serve in the capital, including the later Earl of Vola, Turami Kalabyan, Earl of Zedi, Aichison Lacia, and Viscount of Archsea City, Sona Kelvindil.

In return, Duke Lenster and the Iris family reciprocated the favor. They first dredged and even reopened the canals connecting the River Shepherd to reconnect the long-declining trade between the Central Territory and the South Bank Territory—this spurred the development of ports around Emerald City and greatly benefited the logistics of the army during the Blood Year. During the Blood Year, the Iris family spared no effort in providing the Palace of Restoration with a steady stream of money, provisions, and soldiers. In fact, the renowned Starshine Legion was able to be established despite the nation's dire treasury thanks in no small part to Duke Lenster's support and the contributions of soldiers from the South Bank Territory.

Furthermore, the late King Eddie II was keen on touring the kingdom and inspecting its territories. This served both to maintain relationships with powerful families across the land in a private capacity and to allow the increasingly traditional Central Circuit Court to travel throughout the country, investigate cases, adjudicate disputes, disseminate royal authority, and reaffirm the kingdom's regulations. Among these destinations, the Emerald City, with its beautiful scenery and pleasant climate, was one of Eddie II's favorite places to visit. The late king would often stay there for weeks, even convening royal councils to govern on the spot. The accompanying officials and nobles were full of praise for the Queen's City. Even the third prince, Bancroft, arranged his marriage during one of these tours, marrying a princess from the south.

In the bloody years that followed, the kingdom was scarred across the land, except for the area surrounding Emerald City, which remained untouched by the ravages of war. Although less than three-tenths of the soldiers who had fought abroad survived, the war had absorbed a large influx of refugees and wealth. Furthermore, Duke Lenster implemented a policy of recuperation and restoration, exempting his vassals from military service and taxes while actively rebuilding post-war order within his territory. As a result, the South Bank Territory recovered rapidly after the war. Emerald City quickly became the second largest city in the Star Kingdom after Everstar City (Gilbert repeatedly urged the Tax Bureau and the Household Registration Office to recalculate the population and economic situation of the South Bank Territory, but to no avail). It transformed from the historical "Queen's City" into a de facto "Queen within a City," and the Kevindir family flourished for a time, until the Iris Flower Disaster struck—

"His Highness will definitely accept it!"

A commotion, incongruous with the crowd, arose outside the carriage, including the neighing of horses and the shouts of the Star Lake Guards. Thales, interrupted from reading and taking notes, frowned and looked up.

"Please inform them, sir, that this is just a small token of my appreciation, a little something to help your brothers quench their thirst..."

The commotion outside the carriage grew louder and louder, and the Star Lake Guards were clearly getting nervous. Thales sensed through his Hell Senses that his carriage was now completely surrounded.

Okay, if they really want an assassin to come and kill someone right now, it's not impossible, he's used to it anyway, it's just...

Thales closed the file with a sigh.

Can I finish reading this first?

"What's going on outside?" Thales didn't stick his head out of the window ("Whatever happens outside the carriage, the last thing you should do is peek out—if I were the assassin, I would be happy to take the kill at this moment." — Marius, who had pushed Thales' head back out of the carriage window countless times), but asked cautiously.

A few seconds later, Miranda and Glov's faces appeared outside the car window.

"Some commoner who caught up from behind somehow figured out who we were and slipped back into the Emerald City guards' cordon," Golov said somewhat embarrassedly, feeling guilty for revealing their presence. "He's right behind us now, shamelessly trying to offer Your Highness a gift."

Miranda picked up the conversation:
"Lord Marius is having his men check his entourage one by one, but in my opinion, they are not assassins, at least not him."

A commoner, who recognized me?
“Refuse the gift, persuade him to go back, but reassure him and don’t reveal too much,” Thales said, shaking his head. “Also, tell Marius to be careful when he interrogates us. We should keep a low profile until we reach the Palace of the Void.”

Giving gifts?

Hey, I'm new here and have a deep-seated grudge. Who knows what kind of "gift" Jenn has prepared for me?

“Of course, Your Highness.” Golov nodded and left.

The commotion outside the carriage continued, but Thales quickly picked up on the logistics officer Stoddart's formulaic tone from his hellish senses:
“Thank you very much for your kindness, sir. We have already informed His Highness of your intentions, and he is very grateful. However, it is a pity that we cannot drink due to official duties, and His Highness is also not a drinker. But please do not be discouraged…”

I don't like drinking alcohol.

Thales frowned, as if remembering something.

"Miranda? Jia Lun?"

“Well, you guys should just accept the wine,” Thales sighed to them. “Just don’t drink it, and don’t be too enthusiastic.”

Glov nodded without hesitation, but Miranda paused for a moment:
"Can I ask why?"

Thales remained silent for a moment.

"Because... as the Duke of Starlake, I cannot be averse to drinking."

Miranda's eyes flickered, but she said nothing.

"Wait, what's that person's name?"

Grover was taken aback and was about to go back to ask for her name when Miranda calmly spoke up:
“Moss, Your Highness. His name is Dagory Moss, and he appears to be here for the Emerald Festival.”

Dagory Moss.

In that instant, Thales' smile vanished.

“Dagori Moss,” the Duke of Starlake murmured, his gaze growing colder, “do you think he might have been brought from the central government, and happen to be a patriotic, loyal, and employee-friendly wine merchant who unfortunately went bankrupt?”

Grover frowned, about to ask for clarification, when Miranda raised an eyebrow: "I don't know if he is loyal to the country and considerate of his employees, nor do I know if he has suffered losses or gone bankrupt, but he did introduce himself as an honorary director of the Central Territory Wine Merchants Association."

Grover's one-night stand:
"Your Highness, do you know him?"

Thales stared blankly out the window.

"No, I don't know him."

But then he changed the subject:
“We’ve kept a low profile the whole way. How do you think he figured out who we were and then took the initiative to come find us?”

Golov paused for a moment upon hearing this.

"My oversight, Your Highness. It must be that I made the formation too obvious these past few days."

Thales smiled and shook his head.

"No, believe me, it wasn't your oversight—but why not drink the wine if there is?"

Miranda and Glov exchanged a glance.

Thales put away his books and documents, opened the door and stepped down from the carriage: "Go and invite this Mr. Morse to come see me."

Miranda stared at him:
"Can I ask why again?"

Thales looked up, his smile bright:
"Because I can't wait."

----

"Breaking news: He's here."

In a dark room shrouded by thick curtains, a figure holding a candle pushed open the door, his voice low and deep:

"The number two important figure has arrived in Emerald City."

The candlelight cast a dim glow, illuminating a dining table in the room.

"finally!"

A dark figure slumped over the dining table struggled to sit up, stretched, and rubbed the sword in his hand: "It's been so many days, I can't wait any longer!"

“The second most important person,” a third voice rang out from the end of the table, “what does he have?”

The candlelight flickered, and the room was deathly silent.

"everything."

The fourth dark figure, seated at the head of the table, raised its head and spoke softly, as if in a dream:

"Fame, power, status, subordinates—he had it all."

The shadowy figure stroking the sword and the last shadowy figure both fell silent.

"The number two person traveled light and simply."

The shadowy figure holding the candle by the door spoke calmly:
"But the forces around them are not to be underestimated. They are heavily guarded, leaving no room for error, and are all highly skilled members of the Royal Guard in the Palace of Restoration, sharp-witted, and unfathomable."

The sword-wielding figure and the last figure in the shadows exchanged a glance.

"Royal Guard?"

A fifth voice, cold and hoarse, rang out from the corner of the room, accompanied by the rattling of chains.

The sound sent shivers down everyone's spine in the room.

"I remember."

Amid the rustling of chains, a pair of eerily glowing eyes emerged from the darkness, emitting a sinister laugh:

"I killed one a long time ago."

The people in the room seemed to be wary of his voice, and no one answered for a long time after he finished speaking.

After a long while, the person holding the candle cautiously spoke:
"Fortunately, we did not find any trace of the experts at the extreme level. It is clear that Fortress Flower is not in the group, nor is Kingdom's Wrath."

"Lucky?"

The person in the corner chuckled coldly, making a metallic clanging sound.

"Still a pity?"

Everyone in the room resisted the urge to look towards the corner.

"In short, we still need to proceed with caution. After all, they are the royal family of Shining Star, and we can't be too careful," the person holding the candle said in a low voice.

"Hahahaha, Number Two... Look at how terrified you all are. What, is it harder than being Number One?" A sinister laugh echoed from the corner again.
"Or perhaps I should kill you all first, to prevent things from going wrong?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.

Until the head of the table, that dreamlike voice came:

"Shh..."

"Listen."

"Did you hear that?"

The others were all taken aback.

The dark figure at the head of the table tilted his head, pressed his palm to his ear, and listened intently with his eyes closed in the candlelight:

"The city is whispering."

"She opened her arms, admonishing everyone who came here."

"Whisper?" the dark figure in the corner said disdainfully, causing a commotion. "Could it be—to fuck all of you?"

The other three frowned.

Only the shadowy figure in the main seat remained oblivious, continuing to immerse himself in his own world.