Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 651 The Mysterious City of Emeralds (Part 1)

In the year 127 of the End of the Era, Horace "Eight Fingers" emerged victorious from the competition with his brothers and was successfully crowned the sixth High King of the Stars, becoming Horace I.

Duke Cork Cavendish, the highly respected Prime Minister of the Kingdom and a long-time political rival of Eight Fingers, was furious upon learning that his daughter would be married off to the new king in the north. Already disliking the king, he stormed out and returned to the Emerald City, refusing to obey royal decrees. His courtiers advised him to prioritize state affairs, but Duke Cork declared in front of his ministers, "Losing two fingers won't stop me from eating."

Shortly after his coronation, he was met with opposition and ridicule from the prime minister. The eight-fingered king lost all his prestige and face, and was furious.

In response, Horace I personally led his army out of the city and announced that he would go south to "hunt": he advanced on all the roads, crossings and even sea routes leading to the Emerald City, and surrounded the Cavendil family. His ministers and princes advised him not to start a war, but the king claimed that he was not fighting a war, but was just "hunting an old boar".

When the news reached Emerald City, Prime Minister Cork first slammed his fist on the table in anger, then laughed three times, saying, "Only those who can't even hold the hilt of a sword are afraid of war." He immediately sent his eldest son with the family banner to various parts of the South Bank to recruit soldiers and prepare for war in full force, with a unified slogan:

Kevin Deer did not die because of the enemy.

The royal army received intelligence. King Eight Fingers, who was having a meal, remained calm. He finished his meal, read his books, discussed political affairs, and even tested the princes' studies before returning to his tent. Just as the ministers breathed a sigh of relief, a handwritten order was handed out from King Horace's tent: "The Commander of the Stars is here, summoning thousands of princes to come to the aid of the king and punish the rebels."

Horace I and Prime Minister Cork were both outstanding figures of their time, but equally proud and arrogant. As the conflict escalated, neither was willing to back down, and misunderstandings and resentment deepened.

When King Horace summoned the lords, Duke Cork immediately began preparing his army; when the Nine-Pointed Star's scouts advanced an inch, the Iris's scouts moved ten inches further out; when the king reviewed his troops in the wilderness, the prime minister rallied his troops beneath the city walls; when the Brilliant Star's army brought in several siege ladders, the Emerald City deployed an equal number of crossbows; when the royal army marched out in a massive hunt, Kevindale held a tournament of knights to publicly select generals…

After 128 years, the standoff between the two sides became increasingly tense, and the room for maneuver became increasingly narrow. The feudal lords who were forced to choose sides were all in danger and suffered greatly.

Following the split of the three kingdoms, the Star Kingdom once again teeters on the brink of division and civil war due to two outstanding figures at the pinnacle of power.

----

"Two idiots."

Thales snapped the sixth chapter of "The Enchanted City" shut:
"This is absolutely toxic."

Thales' itinerary for the past few days consisted of visiting the Emerald City under the guidance of Guardian Caquere—from the Craftsmen's Quarter to the Goldsmith's Quarter, from the Canal Quarter to the Glory Quarter, from observing the workshops and factories of various products to meeting with representatives of various guilds.

Just as he and Janne had agreed, their relationship remained outwardly strained, even hostile towards each other:
Two days ago, at a religious dinner in the Temple of the Setting Sun, a priest of the Temple of the Setting Sun implied to Thales that "only civilized and devout marriages will be blessed by the Goddess of the Setting Sun," and then began to speak at length about the barbaric and backward customs of the Exter faith. Meanwhile, Janne, sitting in the main seat, swirled his wine glass with a half-smile. In response, Thales asked in bewilderment, "Is Duke Janne, who is still unmarried, uncivilized or impious? Is Duke Falkenhaus of the Western Wilderness uncivilized or impious because he married a woman from the North?"

Shortly after their arrival, the guards at the Palace of the Star Lake stated that, for security reasons, unless the Duke of Star Lake was traveling, his entourage was not allowed to freely enter or leave the main palace. They were required to limit their outings and register their itineraries, and it would be best if they were accompanied by a personal escort. Thales understood this and then began a routine of accompanying his men in and out of the Palace of the Star Lake twenty times a day. The reasons ranged from "accompanying Miss Miranda for a walk," "the peculiar habit of the Glovy family of taking a walk before and after meals," "this meal will be eaten on foot," "Lord Marius wants to buy some local specialties," to "taking my men to see if there are any teddy bears for sale." The guards responsible for the Duke's security, including Officer Caquere and Lieutenant Cherkey, as well as the guards and the Emerald Legion, were constantly on the move, scouting ahead and arranging routes, and were extremely tired. Two days later, Butler Ashford came to Thales with a smile and told the Prince that his entourage and guards were free to leave the palace.

The wine merchant Dagory Moss, arrested on the first day by the Emerald Legion, escaped but remains imprisoned. Thales sent people to inquire about him, but the prison guards refused to budge or allow visits, insisting, "It's Lord Jann's order." Thales had previously hinted to Jann that to put on a good show for the Secret Service, it would be best to keep Dagory alive to prevent them from noticing anything amiss. However, Jann told him that given Dagory's past actions, the prison was safer for him than the outside world.

Time passed day by day, and guests from all seven seas gathered in the southern territory. The Emerald City became more and more lively, with crowds everywhere. Thales could no longer go out and could only listen to the news his subordinates had gathered each day, and then sit and wait to die amidst Marius's daily venomous taunts.

As for the long-haired, headless ghost he saw that day, it never appeared again. Full of doubts, Thales didn't want to go to Jann and make a fool of himself ("Oh? Perhaps it really is the spirit of the ancestor of the Ancestor Rock of Kevindale, wanting Your Highness to come down and keep you company? I happen to know a shortcut—do you see that tall watchtower?"—Tyles shook his head, imitating Jann's swishing of his wine glass in a cheeky manner), so he tried to ask the butler Ashford indirectly, but the latter always smiled and gave irrelevant answers ("Is that so? So there are no ghosts in the Palace of Restoration... How enviable, Your Highness...").

Until the Emerald Festival was just around the corner.

At this moment, Duke Xinghu was sitting in a lounge in Kongming Palace. He put down the book in his hand, straightened his new-style, well-tailored, light and comfortable banquet dress, and patted the nine-pointed star emblem on the cuff.

The Emerald City Tailors Guild sent Thales their best team of tailors, recommending seven different styles of banquet dresses. Compared to the Starry Sky Royal Family's personal tailor, Master Damon, whose legendary work was said to be worth eight months' salary for Maester Julio, their advantage lay not in luxury or craftsmanship, but in simplicity without sacrificing style, and understated yet distinctive designs, which greatly pleased Thales.

Good quality goods and high-quality products, why are they all in the Emerald City?

Big dog owner.

“Tonight’s occasion is quite important,” Marius said, dressed in a dark tuxedo almost identical to his usual guard uniform. “The Banquet of Contests is…”

"It's the traditional banquet held the night before Queen's Day, hosted by the Kevin Deer family at the Skylight Palace, to announce the start of the Emerald Festival and kick off a week-long carnival in the Emerald City. There are many important guests at the banquet, including dignitaries from various countries and representatives of various forces. It cannot be taken lightly—thank you for repeating it to me for the fifteenth time, Thor!"

“Yes,” Marius said, somewhat annoyed, as he looked Thales up and down, “you’re sure about these dresses…”

"It's free!"

Equally impeccably dressed, Kong Muto quickly followed: "The major owners of the tailors' guild are incredibly grateful for this opportunity, especially after learning that Young Master Huaiya's father is..."

"Hey, explain yourself!"

Standing in front of the mirror, Wyman, unable to conceal the single-edged sword under his coat despite his best efforts, turned around in displeasure:
Which Wyatt?

“Don’t worry, sir,” said the logistics officer, Stuart, sitting behind his desk, keeping accounts and beaming. “Since arriving in Emerald City, not only have our living costs dropped dramatically, but we’ve even had some income. Right now, the money in the account is enough to last us until we reach Starlake Castle, even if we have no one to entertain us on the way back. Your Highness, are you really not going to consider the marriage with Miss Kevin Deer?”

“That would require me to be able to see her first—and, no, I’m not even considering it,” Thales said irritably.

“The Battle of the Peaks, the Battle of the Peaks,” DD frowned as he adjusted his boots. “These South Shore people, how come they all have such strange names—hey, Zombie, why are you still in your uniform?”

“Because I’m not going to a banquet,” said Grover, standing at the door, coldly.

“Queen’s Day is significant, as it commemorates Regina, the first queen of the Kevindale family,” said Oscar Elson, a second-class vanguard officer raised in the South Bank Territory. “The seven-day celebration is traditionally a reenactment of different parts of the grand wedding from centuries ago, with the Battle of the Swords being the first part: the banquet where the prince first met Regina’s father, a banquet fraught with tension…”

“I don’t understand,” Neshi’s voice came from the other side of the room, “Why doesn’t the first part start with the prince and Regina, instead of starting with two men?”

“Because it commemorates a wedding, a marriage alliance,” Paul said, walking in from outside, impeccably dressed and dignified, “not love—the people of the Empty Palace are urging you on, Your Highness.”

Are they different?

“Of course they’re different,” DD said lazily. “In love, there can be girls, but in arranged marriage, there can only be men.”

“Oh, I think I understand now. That means,” Neshi suddenly realized, drawing inferences from the previous statement, “that our Highness was actually married not to Miss Hilla, but to Duke Jann?”

Kommuto, who was drinking tea, spat it out.

DD was stunned. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he wisely lowered his head.

The room was deathly silent; no one dared to look at Duke Thales's expression.

Neshi, who had finally come to her senses, was left standing there filled with regret and trepidation.

“Everyone, the old rules apply: abstain from alcohol and fast,” Marius finally broke the awkward silence, but his order was met with a chorus of disappointed sighs. “Be careful, this is not the capital, and there is no royal guard to quickly support us.”

"Yeah, it's like they took good care of us last time..." Doyle muttered unhappily.

“I’ve seen the guest list for the Contest of Kings. It includes domestic lords, foreign princes, and even forces from beyond the coastline. I think they all have their own purposes; they’re not just here for tourism in Emerald City,” Marius explained in a deep voice.

“I know they came because of your reputation,” Wyatt scoffed, “to see His Highness.”

“That’s not all,” Paul added. “For many powers, Emerald City is an ideal, efficient, and safe neutral negotiating ground.”

“Especially during the Emerald Festival, when all parties gather here,” a young lady in formal attire entered the room, explaining to everyone, “you can discuss anything face-to-face without waiting for the ravens to fly over and back.”

Everyone was stunned for a moment, exchanging glances: How did they let a stranger in?

The girl in front of me wore delicate makeup and had her hair styled in an elegant updo, which made her neck appear long and graceful. Two carefully styled curls fell from her sides, adding to her charm. The dark silk she wore reflected a shimmering light, and with her tall figure and dignified demeanor, she was stunning at first sight.

“Madam,” DD was the first to react, and he politely stepped forward and bowed, “this is His Highness Thales’ lounge, you must have come to the wrong place…”

Boom!
DD was stunned: a long sword was being held in a black-gloved hand, the hilt pressed against his chest.

"Stop playing!"

The aloof beauty before him nudged him back with the hilt of her sword, saying unhappily:
"We're here to work."

Everyone was stunned again.

Only Thales, after examining the familiar-looking sword, instantly realized what it was and exclaimed:
"Mira?"

What the hell!

Everyone in the room shuddered!
"Your Highness," the pretty woman's gaze turned cold, revealing a faint murderous aura that seemed incongruous with her luxurious attire, "Do you have any orders?"

The beautiful young woman before him—the banquet version of Miranda—sheathed her eagle-like sword, which twirled on her black gloves, but ultimately could not find the familiar sword strap and hook. The girl from the Arendt family could only frown and hold the sword in her hand for the time being.

Wow.

Thales blinked: I didn't expect this girl to look so beautiful when she dressed up.

"I know it looks bad."

Miranda tugged uncomfortably at her gemstone earrings:

"Yes, I shortened the hem of my long, floor-length earrings for easier movement, but damn it, I still can't run. Ugh, these earrings are so cumbersome; those two little devils must be playing a trick on me. Oh well, I'll go change them now—"

Everyone immediately realized what was happening and hurriedly waved their hands and shook their heads.

"No no no!"

"No need to change it!"

"This is good!"

"Fantastic!" "Perfectly suits the style of the Aarond family!"

"I won't disgrace His Highness!"

"Well enough."

"..."

Amid the shouts and commotion of the crowd, Rolf scoffed dismissively and lowered his head to adjust his mask.

Under Miranda's suspicious gaze, everyone in the room subconsciously began to straighten their clothes, or sit up straight, or adopt a solemn demeanor.

It's as if they've all grown up in the blink of an eye.

“Tsk tsk tsk,” Stoddart’s logistics officer said, sitting at the table and writing in the ledger. “Ha, men.”

Golov, without saying a word, turned and left.

"Where are you going, zombie?" DD asked, puzzled.

Without turning his head, Golov squeezed out a few words in a muffled voice:
"Change into your formal attire."

But Thales frowned as he looked at Miranda.

"But Mira, how are you going to carry a sword in all that?"

Miranda sighed:
"I know, I wanted to wear an outfit that allowed me to carry a weapon, even just a knife, but they told me they didn't have any..."

“It’s alright, ma’am,” DD suddenly appeared in front of her, looking sincere. “I can help you with your sword all night.”

Miranda instinctively took a step back, holding the eagle to her chest, and looked at him with a strange expression.

“Me too!” Neshi’s eyes lit up and he squeezed in.

“Um, isn’t what you’re doing a bit…” Wyman frowned.

“I’ll do it,” Golov’s voice came from the locker room, hesitantly. “I mean, I’ll stand in the corner tonight.”

“You don’t have to take on the responsibility of protecting me, madam, because a bunch of nobles will be swarming around you, and you won’t have a free hand. But if you insist,” Paul Bozdorf straightened his collar expressionlessly and extended his right hand, “my status allows me to stand closer to you.”

"Madam, I can stay by your side for the rest of the night..."

"The lady is right, it is our duty to protect His Highness..."

“Strange,” Stoddart added in a somber tone, “Why doesn’t anyone usually offer to help carry the sword, or even just the luggage?”

This……

Unable to bear the sight of the room filled with peacocks displaying their plumage, Thales sighed and shook his head: "Men."

"Silence," Marius tried to order the crowd away, but to little avail. "If necessary, it doesn't matter who takes the sword..."

Amidst the chaos and noise, Miranda's expression grew increasingly grim.

A few seconds later, she suddenly stepped forward, silencing everyone.

Countless eyes turned to her expectantly.

“Commander Marius,” Miranda approached the Watchman unexpectedly, twirling the eagle on her glove before presenting it to him, “could you please keep this safe for me?”

Amidst incredulous stares, Marius looked back at her in surprise.

"I...I can designate one person from the team to help..."

“But I’ve heard that you have a great deal of knowledge about how to use swords, including sharp blades, is that right?” Miranda stood before Marius, her gaze intense, her radiance shining even brighter.

Huh? How do I use a sharp blade?
Marius was taken aback again.

“It’s alright,” Marius coughed, somewhat bewildered, amidst the complicated gazes of the room, and accepted the Eagle Soar. “I know a little, I know a little.”

Miranda watched him take the longsword, her gaze shifting slightly.

“Then I entrust Eagle Soaring to you for safekeeping, Tormond Marius,” Miranda said, looking at him as if he were prey. “I hope that one day I can learn from you.”

Despite the envious gazes from everyone in the room, Marius felt that something was off.

He realized what was happening and looked at his subordinates.

Thales, who was at the back, naturally raised his book to firmly cover his face.

Miranda glanced at the others' disappointed expressions, then suddenly smiled broadly, as if spring had returned to the earth: "I know what you're thinking."

"And that's why I hate wearing this stuff."

Her expression suddenly turned cold:
"What, have you never seen a woman before?"

Everyone was startled, but Miranda had already turned and strode away from the room decisively: "Don't forget the time!"

“Um…” DD wanted to explain further, but he immediately froze.

He wasn't the only one; the others were the same.

As Miranda turned around, a hideous scar was clearly visible on her smooth shoulder.

It seeps out from under the light silk, cuts through the skin, crosses the shoulders, reaches the back of the neck, and then climbs up like a centipede, straight into the hair, even taking away a small patch of hair and exposing the scalp.

Miranda disappeared from sight.

But the appearance of that scar was like a heavy hammer blow, shattering the intoxicating dream of spring and destroying all imagined beauty, making it completely out of place with the beautiful and elegant dress.

“It’s the weapons of the Northmen,” Marius’s voice brought everyone back to their senses, “that leave these scars.”

He lowered his head, gripped the eagle in his hand, and his eyes were no longer the same.

"I guess that's not the only one."

Everyone in the room regained their energy and began to do their jobs; no one continued chatting idly.

“Wow,” Wyman sighed, “how did she survive?”

“You know that thing,” Doyle shrugged sheepishly, “I have one too.”

Behind the crowd, Thales lowered his eyes and reopened "The Jade City Chronicle".

----

Just as King Horace and Chief Cork were locked in a fierce standoff, the royal family and the Iris were on the verge of war, and the kingdom was in dire straits, a young man set out alone into the precarious Emerald City.

He cleverly joined the Kevin Deer family's jousting tournament, then fought his way through the competition until the finals when he narrowly lost to the Duke's eldest son. In doing so, he earned the respect of his opponent and joined the ranks of "Keven Deer who would not die for his enemies" alongside many other knights.

When Duke Cork asked him what reward he desired at the banquet, the young man dropped his pretense, revealed his family crest, and shocked everyone present—the Third Prince, Hyman Star, had come to the Emerald City to plead with Duke Cork and His Majesty the King to reconcile and return to their former friendship.

Prince Hyman was handsome, articulate, and possessed exceptional skill and courage. With the Duke's endorsement as the eldest son, he was highly regarded by the Duke of Cork. However, the proud and stubborn Prime Minister was unwilling to yield to a mere youth, remaining unyielding in his words until Hyman, who had initially been courteous, abandoned his smile, adopted royal decorum, and unleashed a threat identical to his father's:

Just as the banquet was about to begin, his men had already kidnapped Duke Kirk's beloved daughter, Regina. If the Duke did not comply, Kevin Deer's daughter would be beheaded.

Duke Cork and his son were furious, as were the knights of the South Bank. The Duke's eldest son personally captured the despicable man who had disgraced the prince and forced him to reveal Miss Regina's hiding place.

But when the Duke and his knights, anxious to save their daughter, arrived at the place, they found Miss Regina standing perfectly fine in front of the house. She opened the door with a smile, and out came a grumpy, awkward old man with only eight fingers, wearing a crown.

Amidst shock and astonishment, and the urging of Prince Hyman and Miss Regina, the Supreme King of the Stars, Horace I, the "Eight-Fingered," reluctantly and awkwardly told Duke Cork:

He felt that being missing two fingers would make eating somewhat, perhaps, maybe, possibly, occasionally, vaguely, or even slightly...inconvenient.

Looking at His Majesty the King standing before him with a pout, and then at Prince Hyman, whose face was bruised and swollen, and his daughter, who was full of anger and resentment, Duke Cork realized what was happening and was deeply moved.

He dropped his sword and confessed his guilt, saying, "I'm even dumber than an old wild boar." He then helped the king onto his mount, ordered the soldiers to lay down their weapons, opened the city gates wide, and welcomed the supreme king into the Emerald City with the highest honors.

Thus, the kingdom pulled back from the brink, and a crisis that could have had disastrous consequences was averted.

(End of this chapter)