Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 65 Lyanna Tebak
"No (Nay)!"

"Who wants to see a chaotic star system? Vote 'Yes'!" said Kushner.

"no!"

"no!"

Sorel of Cliffland and Count Dastan both followed suit.

Val Arend frowned:

"I don't know how this will help with the war that's just around the corner..."

“Lord Val,” Kusd said calmly.

"The entire Cliffland army has come out to support the North. The promise remains valid. The Cliffland borders the North and will never stand by and watch our friends fall into the flames of war—you know, we are the closest, and sending troops to support them is more effective than the royal family."

"But I am very worried that the future of Xingchen will be ruined by an illegitimate son who is feared by the new ministers and also fears the ministers."

Kusder's single eye stared intently at Val, his expression serious.

Val remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a sigh.

The iron-willed warrior lord said forlornly, "This is for the North, for Arend."

Where no one could see, King Catherine V gripped his scepter tighter and tighter.

"No," the Duke of the North said dejectedly.

Count Zemuto and Count Fores also sighed deeply: "No." "No."

"Six people objected."

Duke Cullen said expressionlessly.

Ginny looked at the Duke of the North in disbelief.

Thales closed his eyes helplessly.

"Earl Tarun!"

“I know your territory is near the Central Territory and has good relations with the royal family,” Kusder said calmly to Earl Burn Tarren, one of the sixteen, whose name was represented by the pentagram. “We dukes are indeed not very suitable to inherit the throne.”

“But you are different! The pentagram is a branch of the nine-pointed star in history,” Kusder raised his hand, his words full of seduction: “If the king does not have a designated heir, you must be on the list of candidates.”

All eyes were on Earl Talen.

Burn Taren broke out in a cold sweat as he looked at King Catherine V, but the latter merely returned his gaze with a cold stare.

"Of course, as a strong contender for the throne, wouldn't the child think you were also involved in those so-called conspiracies?" Kusder laughed.

Thales was about to speak in his haste, but the king stopped him in his tracks.
“Bourne, just follow your heart,” King Catherine V said solemnly, closing his eyes. “A pentagram is not a nine-pointed star.”

Burn Taron hesitated, took a deep breath, and finally said dejectedly:
"The Taren family... abstains!"

Many lords frowned again.

Kusder gave a silent smile.

The Taren of the Pentagram is the only noble family among the thirteen that is not located near the territories of the six great families. They are a royal family in the central territory, which is close to the royal family, and have always been a strong supporter of the Star.

But they are now...

Just now.

"It's (Aye)!"

Everyone looked on in surprise, only to see that the one who spoke was none other than Jann Kevin Deer, who had been silent for a long time!
He was the first person to approve of Thales.

The Iris Duke, who ruled the South Bank Territory, coldly stared at the astonished, then grim-faced, Kusder.

Thales stared at him blankly, but he made no attempt to look back at Thales.

Count Kalabian and Count Lacia nodded and stepped forward together: "Yes." "Yes!"

“It seems your strategy is still effective,” Gilbert whispered to Thales. “In this situation, you have still secured valuable support for us.”

Duke Falkenhaus of the Western Wilderness suddenly rang out with a sharp laugh: "Ha ha, I vote 'yes'!"

"No!" "No!" Kloma and Bozdorf's voices followed.

Amidst the confusion of many, Kusder angrily cried out, "Old bones! Why..."

"Why are my votes different from those of Count Cloma and Count Bozdorf?" Falkenhaus interrupted him, laughing, "Oh dear, I'm not their lord, I can't rule them, isn't that perfectly normal?"

He stared at the other dukes with a mocking look: "After all, the thirteen noble families are not our six great families' 'guardian dogs'!"

Many counts blushed and turned their heads away.

But many royalists sighed and lowered their heads after counting the votes.

"Eight people voted against, four voted in favor, and one abstained."

Duke Cullen said tremblingly, "There are sixteen people present. Since the opposition has reached half, it seems there is no need to continue."

Gilbert sighed softly.

Upon hearing the result, Thales could only manage a wry smile.

Was I still too naive?

For some reason, King Catherine V remained expressionless at this moment, which only made one marvel at his composure as the supreme king.

In a corner not far away, Morat chuckled softly, and the leader of the Secret Service whispered, "It seems that although that child's performance was brilliant, we still need to use the backup plan. Are you ready?"

Raphael tightened his gloves and said cheerfully, "Although it was a bit unexpected, everything went perfectly."

"Now that the outcome is decided, everyone, please put away your guilt!" Kusder smiled, looking at the lords with their varied expressions, and said:

“Personally, this is for your family; publicly,” Kusder glanced contemptuously at the clenching-teeth Ginny and the ashen-faced Thales.

"The stars cannot be ruled by ignorant women and children!"

Just then, a clear, melodious young female voice came from the distance of the hall!

"Ignorant women and children?"

A commotion erupted in the crowd!
The nobles on the terrace all turned around, and after seeing who it was, they began to whisper among themselves.

"However, I am ignorant."

The clear, cold female voice seemed to possess a magical power, able to penetrate the crowd.

"Also young and naive."

Thales curiously poked his head out.

"And it was a woman!"

The crowd parted under the guards' reprimands.

From the crowd emerged a girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old, with chestnut-brown hair and a delicate face that still retained a hint of youthfulness. At this moment, however, the girl's face was filled with a cold, stern expression as she stared intently at the people on the terrace.

She wore a dark black cloak and leather boots with spurs, her purple and black hunting attire making her stand out.

A brooch was pinned to her left shoulder, which appeared to be a blood-red crescent moon.

But for some reason, Thales always felt that the chestnut-haired girl's cold and stern demeanor seemed to be something she was trying hard to put on.

The crowd's chatter grew louder.

Many lords saw the blood-red crescent moon and whispered among themselves, while the dukes all frowned.

Behind the chestnut-haired girl followed two nobles: one was a middle-aged man with flaxen hair and a smile on his lips, his clothes embroidered with a golden sunflower; the other was a middle-aged man with long hair and a gloomy look, his cuffs adorned with a large fish with three tails, its mouth gaping open menacingly, revealing a dense array of sharp teeth.

"But it is I, the ignorant woman and child you speak of,"

The girl walked up to the astonished Kusd, raised her head arrogantly, and looked aggressively at the one-eyed man who was a head taller than her.

"In Blade's Edge Territory, which rules the Star Kingdom!"

The chestnut-haired girl's voice turned cold: "Do you have any objections, Duke of Southrest, whom I am meeting for the first time?"

“You are… Bloodmoon, House Tebak,” Kusd stared at her incredulously, his single eye shifting between light and shadow: “Duchess of Blade's Edge?”

The chestnut-haired girl ignored him and walked straight to the king, kneeling down on one knee.

“Lyanna Tebak.” Kessel sighed, a look of nostalgia on his face as he extended his right hand:

"The last time I saw you was probably twelve years ago. You were only three years old then. I remember Sonia bringing John's body back to Eternal Star, holding you in her arms, and telling me with tears in her eyes, 'This is the next Duchess of Tebak.'"

Duchess Lyanna Tebak—the stern-faced young woman—took a light kiss on the king's ring and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, I will never forget the kindness you have shown to Her Excellency the Flower of the Fortress, and to the late Duke of Starlake!"

"Is this the only surviving orphan of the Tebak family that Duke Starlake rescued from the rebels during the Bloody Year?" Duke Val looked at the resolute girl, who was even younger than his own daughter, and sighed, "The southwest is far away and the journey is arduous. I thought you wouldn't make it."

Is this girl the only survivor of the Tebak family after they were all slaughtered by the rebels in the six southwestern cities during the bloody year?
Val glanced at Kessel and sighed: "They really are like the Star Family."

"It took some time to gather the vassals. And the recruitment of soldiers as well," Lyanna bowed respectfully to Ironhawk. "Please rest assured, when the kingdom is in trouble, Tebak will do everything in his power, regardless of sacrifice, reward, or loss!"

Upon hearing this, some counts secretly glanced at Kusder, who gave a soft snort and turned his head away.

"Our oath is eternal. Even if we are struck by swords and axes, and our blood is spilled everywhere, the Blood Moon will forever stand on the side of the Nine-Pointed Star family!"

King Catherine V looked at the determined-looking young woman, nodded slowly, and then watched as the two nobles behind her stepped forward, knelt down, and kissed their rings.

“Shukader, and Gison,” Kessel said calmly, “I hope you will support each other and cooperate seamlessly in the Southwest, and that the tragedy of the Bloody Year will never be repeated.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Bruce Schukardel, in the prime of his life, smiled cautiously, “though the sunflower hangs alone overseas, it is forever bound to the stars.”

“The piranhas will devour any enemy that hinders the Blood Moon or the Nine-Pointed Star,” Gunther Gison said coldly, glancing around, “whether they come from within the country or from abroad.”

"Oh my, as expected of the Starry Sky Supreme Decree!" Falkenhausen's sarcastic and unpleasant laughter, accompanied by his applause, rang out again at the opportune moment: "The six great families and thirteen noble clans have gathered in the capital!"

"A magnificent sight I haven't seen in twelve years!"

Cyril's sharp laughter continued: "It would be better if there were no war with Exter... Of course, without the war, we probably wouldn't be here!"

No one paid him any attention; everyone was calculating the impact the sudden arrival of the three major families in the Southwest Blade Territory, and their stance, would have on the situation.

Kusder's expression changed drastically. He looked at Duke Kulen, his eyes full of urging.

But the elderly Duke of the East Sea didn't even look at him, and said tremblingly, "Perfect, this... Duchess Leanna..."

But he was quickly interrupted by the girl with a cold expression.

"Stop talking nonsense! Grandpa, it's our first time meeting. I'm afraid if you keep going, you'll have an asthma attack."

Duke Cullen was taken aback, his mouth agape, unsure how to react.

Lord of Blade's Lair, Duchess of Blade's Edgelands, Lyanna Tebakley landed and turned around—Tales!

Huh?
Thales quickly coughed and gave a friendly smile.

Lyanna's sharp gaze swept up and down, and Thales noticed that she had a pair of blue eyes.

He unconsciously straightened his chest, stood up straighter, and then, as he prepared to bow...

"It's alright, you're not too bad-looking." Lyanna nodded indifferently and snorted.

"He's just a bit thinner, has a more cheeky expression, and is a bit shorter."

His expression... was a bit too smug?

and also……

This……

Thales stood there dumbfounded, his hand raised halfway to salute, then reluctantly withdrew.

He exchanged a glance with Duke Cullen in front of him, and saw a mutual understanding in each other's eyes.

"Regarding whether he can become a prince," Lyanna turned and looked firmly at all the nobles, speaking loudly:
“I, Duchess Tebak, vote ‘Yes’!”

Before anyone could react, Count Schukardel and Count Gison stepped forward, one chuckling and the other glaring menacingly at the crowd, and spoke in unison:
"Yes!"

Gilbert's hand on Thales' shoulder tightened unintentionally in his excitement.

But Thales had no time to care.

His heart started pounding again.

She agrees?

Another uproar erupted in the hall!
The Star Plaza was once again filled with deafening noise.

Duke Cullen sighed:

"So, eight people voted against, seven voted in favor, and one abstained."

"Moreover, because of the presence of Tebak, Schukardel, and the Gison family, all nineteen members of the High Council are present, so so far, neither the opposition nor the support has exceeded half."

"Only Harvia and Earl Amond of the East Sea are left, along with this old fat man like me."

Kusder clenched his fists, his heart sinking.

Damn.

That little bitch-ruling Tebak, the nouveau riche Schokardel, and the mad dog-like Gison.

Were they the king's hidden agents, prepared long ago?

Impossible, in such a short time...

Fortunately, Kulen and the two major families of Donghai under his influence are still on our "rising star's" side... Their opposition means the boy has no right to inherit, allowing us to plan for the future...

While Kushder was lost in thought, the Duke of Cullen made his decision.

(End of this chapter)