Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 703 Half a sentence

On the main road of the Emerald City, Thales rode his horse, indifferently following beside the carriage that Hillay was riding in.

They were surrounded by the Star Lake Guard's heavy protection, with the Emerald Legion's knights on the outer edge, and the outermost layer was guards who had been assigned to duty. They were working hard to maintain the cordon, roaring and swinging their batons, shields, and even weapons to keep back the citizens on both sides of the street who were eager to catch a glimpse of the VIP or pointing and gossiping about Thales.

Well, although Caquerey's case has been making headlines, at least he wasn't pelted with eggs.

Not yet.

A few seconds later, Thales took a deep breath and turned to the car window:
"Why, Hilla? Was that...was that really necessary?"

“That way you’ll be able to listen to me properly,” a fair arm extended by the car window, though the silk gloves above the wrist seemed a bit excessive. “And, no need to thank me, unless you’d rather spend a day with Captain Seychelles, all lovey-dovey and miserable.”

"But what you just said, about us in the room... people, people will misunderstand!"

"Oh, you mean the birth control pills?" A round face appeared above the arm at the right moment, with a hint of mockery in its smile. "Don't worry, my brother is too busy taking care of himself to bother you."

“That’s not what I’m worried about! What I’m worried about is the power of public opinion, your reputation, the damage you will suffer, and what people will say about you…”

Thales couldn't continue, so he just sighed and stroked Jenny's mane.

The girl from the Kevin Deer family leaned against the car window, her makeup perfect and radiant. She blinked and looked at him meaningfully.

"That's strange, Thales, why are you always so worried about me?"

Thales frowned:
“I’m serious, Hilla, this isn’t some flirtatious joke between a man and a woman…”

“That’s not true at all,” Hilly’s expression suddenly changed, her voice turning cold. “I’m saying, you, Prince Thales, and perhaps my brother and others, why are you always so confident, so certain, that you think you have more right to worry about her than the person in question?”

Thales paused, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

“You should know that you are not the king—not yet.”

Hilly tilted his head and repeated his words:
"Why aren't you worried about yourself? Are you worried about what people will say? Are you worried about your reputation? Are you worried about what people will say about you?"

After a long pause, Thales hesitated for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

"Because, because I am a man."

Hilly raised an eyebrow, about to retort, but Thales interrupted her with a raised hand.

“I know this sounds unfair, Hilla, but for many people in the world, a romantic affair is just a badge of honor on my chest, a warrior’s scar, the more the better,” Thales tried to find a suitable metaphor, “but it is the noose around your neck, a festering sore, slow and insidious, fatal in an instant.”

Hilly was silent for a moment, then let out a cold laugh.

"A man's medals, is that it? Even if it's just aphrodisiacs and your 'impotence'?"

Aphrodisiacs...

Thales felt a pang of pain in his heart.

“Well, saying this might hurt the pride of men—some men,” the prince advised earnestly, while also healing himself, “but at the expense of the other side, to be precise, your reputation and even your life, just to hurt me, Hilla, is it worth it?”

"Were you hurt?"

"No! Because that's not true!" Thales shouted, spreading his arms wide in denial.

Sensing her master's unease, Jenny, the warhorse, pricked up her ears warily, whinnying anxiously, ready to pounce and break free at any moment.

Hilly curled the corners of her mouth, narrowed her eyes, and revealed a hint of mockery and smugness.

Thales immediately realized he had spoken too loudly. While reassuring Jenny, he nervously looked back.
Fortunately, everyone in the Star Lake Guard kept at least five meters away from him, and everyone walked steadily, seriously, without looking to the side or listening to the side—especially DD, you probably couldn't find a more dedicated moment in this guy's life.

“Well, I’m not immune either, it has had some influence,” Thales said sheepishly, withdrawing his hands. “But to be honest, this kind of rule that uses some primitive, narrow and boring standard to define a man’s value and build his self-esteem, and the trend of being afraid that others will say you’re not good enough, so you have to pretend to be good no matter what, is really, really, really stupid!”

Hilly clicked her tongue and shook her head: "You might be more convincing if you said that when you're forty."

Thales hesitated for a moment, then decided to return to the previous topic:
"In short, what I'm saying is that your actions just now were quite unwise and did you a disservice—"

“If I were truly as you say, Your Highness,” Hilla interrupted him coldly, “if I cared about gossip, about my ‘reputation,’ about what people would say about me, about what kind of damage I would suffer, I would have been strangled long ago, a walking corpse—that vicious noose woven over the years by balls, parties, banquets, the gazes of my peers, the whispers of ladies and socialites, and of course, the venomous whispers and notes of the Karabyan sisters.”

Thales fell silent upon hearing this, then spoke weakly:
“Hilai…”

"As you said, only when you conform to the values ​​others have given you and acknowledge the self-esteem they have built for you, will that 'primitive, narrow-minded, and boring' stuff become your badge of honor, like the proud feathers of a male peacock."

Hilly snorted:
"Similarly, if I don't care and don't follow these rules, this noose won't kill me."

Ok.

Thales sighed.

“The reason why a rule is a rule is not only because someone is willing to abide by it,” he said with a touch of emotion, looking at the dark clouds covering the sky and the increasingly gloomy horizon, “but also because it is imposed on those who are unwilling to abide by it, and the violators are punished.”

And the cost is heavy.

Hilly remained silent for a moment.

“Indeed, so I was forced to cut off my flesh to disinfect and remove the pustules in order to become clean and pure—at least until my father died and no one could take care of me anymore.”

She raised her gloved hand, a mocking look on her face:
"Look what I've gotten."

Thales sighed helplessly.

“Sometimes I really wonder if you’re really Jann’s sister, if you’re Kevin Deer,” the prince shook his head, “or if you’re some wild monkey that sprang from some rock, wielding a big club and causing havoc in the kingdom of God.”

"Does a female monkey also have a big stick?"

Thales's expression changed:
"This is not a pornographic joke!"

The atmosphere eased somewhat. Hilly clicked her tongue and shook her head, pointing into the distance:

"So, if you want to avoid both harm and punishment, besides not caring and not following the rules, you also need to know how to take advantage of those who care about and follow the rules."

"what?"

“A minute ago, the Seychelles knight, bearing the banner of the Duke of Iris, intercepted your party, acting as if he commanded the world, with even royalty daring not to disobey,” Hilley said, a smirk playing on his lips. “But now, as a master of the highest realm, he is respectful and trembling, consciously keeping a distance of a street, afraid that I might utter even a single extra word. Why?”

Thales frowned.

Hilly stared at him for a moment, then smiled slightly.

“Because people like Seychelles, who enjoy prestige and are obsessed with power, are too trusting of some ‘primitive, narrow-minded, and boring’ standard, and care too much about this rule of valuing others to build self-esteem,” Hilly said, his gaze sharp as he looked into the distance. “He is afraid of what people will say, afraid that if I say too much, it will not only affect myself, but also Kevin Deer’s reputation. He is afraid that when he returns to the Palace of the Void and faces Jann alone, he will leave his enraged master with a bad impression of ‘incompetence and ruining my reputation,’ which will affect his future military and political career.”

Hilly looked at Thales, then changed the subject:
"Of course, Seychelles might—though not much, but more or less—be afraid after he publicly pressed you about the fact that you're 'impotent' in bed..."

“That’s not true,” Thales added with a sullen face.

"...will leave a deep and lasting bad impression on the second prince and the future king regarding 'the things men care about most,' leading to permanent hatred and future retaliation."

Thales frowned upon hearing this and turned his head slightly:
At the front of the Emerald Legion's ranks, the Seychelles knight sensed Thales's gaze. He quickly turned around, sat upright on his horse, and became solemn and dignified.

It seems to have always been this way.

"And don't forget, there's another set of rules layered among these rules governing matters between men and women, which I can use to my advantage," Hilly said quietly.

"Another set?" Thales asked.

At this point, Cecilia smiled mysteriously, leaned out of the car window, and faced Thales on horseback.

“I am the daughter of former South Coast Guardian Duke Lenster Cavendir, and the sister of current Duke Jann Cavendir. I am of the Iris bloodline of the highest nobility, the one and only Princess of Emerald City. The wealth I can inherit and use is enough to buy a city, and the family tree I can connect with covers the entire kingdom. My value and significance in political marriages far exceed that of any woman in the Western Continent from eight to eighty years old west of Bloodgate Fortress.”

Her gaze was deep and her expression playful, making Thales feel somewhat awkward.

"So, yes, even if I've slept with a hundred men before marriage, even if I've miscarried fifty children on the delivery bed, even if I dance naked and seductively on the highest wall of Emerald City every day, even if I parade around with a sign hanging on my buttocks that says 'one copper coin per time,' as long as I am Cecilia Kevindir, then when I get married, I am destined to be pure, beautiful, virtuous, and a good wife, worthy of being recorded in the annals of history."

Her choice of words made Thales frown repeatedly.

“And if I were just a deformed girl born to a poor farmer,” Hilly stared at her gloves, her gaze lost in thought, “even if I started reciting the Sunset Bible from the womb, served the Sunset Goddess, and wore a chastity belt my whole life, I would still be destined to be dirty, depraved, lowly, ignored, and despised.”

"So why should I care?"

Thales felt sorry for her when he saw her like this, but he ultimately refrained from offering any words of comfort.

He gritted his teeth and forced a smile:
"Alright, the doubts are resolved."

Hilly looked up and saw Thales clicking his tongue and shaking his head, a look of both regret and helplessness on his face.
“You are indeed Jann’s sister, no, in some ways you might be even more ‘Kevindil’ than him.”

"The part about wielding a big stick?"

"No—can't you watch your words?"

"This is not a pornographic joke, don't get the wrong idea."

"Don't imitate me!"

After their exchange, the two fell silent for a while, each lost in thought as the group moved forward.

A few minutes later, Hilly glanced tentatively at Thales:
"So... does that mean we've made up?"

Have you finally managed to appease him?
"no!"

Thales' expression changed upon hearing this:
"No, uh, no, what I mean is, we never 'fought' or 'made up,' we just, just..."

"So you're finally willing to talk to me properly?" Hilly looked at him with sparkling eyes.

Finally, Thales sighed helplessly.

"Okay, I, I um... I just..."

“I’m sorry.” Hilly’s mood changed.

Thales' expression shifted slightly, showing a hint of surprise.

She...apologized?

She actually apologized?

Did I mishear? Or is there a problem with the world's design?

“I…I’m so sorry. I know what happened yesterday put a lot of pressure on you, especially…” Hilly’s voice trembled slightly, but she still tried to keep her eyes on Thales. “You have every reason to avoid me.”

Thales sensed the inner conflict in the other person, and he subconsciously denied it:

"No, I'm not avoiding it, I just..."

Thales did not finish his sentence.

I just need time to prepare to face you.

And your chaotic, ruthless 'friend' who seizes any weakness and launches a brutal attack until a living person is torn apart from the inside out, from soul to bone.

The faces of Selma and Coria flashed through his mind one after the other, causing him to subconsciously tug at his collar to make it easier to breathe.

“In comparison, it’s even more surprising that you were able to remain clear-headed and speak rationally and calmly after facing the Soul Bone Jacques,” Hillay said in a low voice.

Hearing that name, Thales felt another wave of unease.

"And what about you? How long has it been? How did you encounter it? And how did you get to know it..."

Thales looked at Hilly's expression and understood what was going on.

You won't answer me, will you?

“I will, I promise,” Hilly took a deep breath and looked intently into Thales’ eyes, “when the time is right.”

Thales stared back at her silently for a full three seconds.

“Of course.” Thales snapped out of his reverie and looked ahead.

When the time is right.

"But is it your last resort? Because the consequences of summoning it are quite severe and uncontrollable, like drinking poison to quench thirst?"

"More or less." Hilly shrank back into the shadows of the carriage.

Thales remained silent for a few seconds.

“I understand,” the boy said, rubbing the scar on his left palm. “I know that feeling.”

"Is that so? I have my doubts." She chuckled softly, her emotions unreadable.

Does your brother know about this?

Hilly fell silent for a long while before her voice finally drifted out from the carriage:

Can you keep this a secret?

Thales stared at the dark carriage and hesitated for a long time.

Could Hilly's situation be used as leverage to blackmail Jenn?

For example, "Miss Kevin Deer resorts to evil spirits and conspires with demons"?
How can I force him to back down and accept my terms?
After all, Jenn cherishes his sister the most, doesn't he?

Perhaps, before the Secret Service actually makes its move, he will have one last chance to get involved and interfere in the situation in Emerald City.
Thales took a deep breath.

He gazed wistfully at Hilly's carriage.

A few seconds later, he finally sighed.

No.

Thales shook his head inwardly in denial:

He had already tried that approach.

Kevin Deer will not die because of the enemy—his clash with Jann this morning has proven that the Duke of the South Shore is not one to back down to force. Such aggressive tactics will not only fail to achieve their purpose, but may even backfire and result in more harm than good.

What's more, the person she used to threaten him was Jenn's most precious younger sister, whom he couldn't afford to touch.

Yes, it was like this several years ago: Jenn was even willing to destroy his alliance with the Corleone family and the Night Kingdom to get rid of him, just because...

Nonsense.

A voice rose in his heart, mocking him mercilessly: This is just you making excuses for your weakness, Thales Star.

That's just self-deception.

Thales trembled slightly.

Why all the hesitation and calculation? There's only one reason you don't want to do this, and don't want to use her as a bargaining chip:
You can't bear it.

You couldn't bear to see that girl's life shattered once again.

I couldn't bear to see the shock in her eyes when she was betrayed.

Thales closed his eyes.

Like those people whose lives have been shattered countless times because of your every move. The voice deep inside him was naked and cold, leaving him powerless to refute it.

Kolia, Selma, Naki and Nai in the Bone Prison... countless figures flashed before his eyes in that instant.

And because of your weakness this time, your reluctance this time, perhaps more people's lives will be shattered?
Have you forgotten why you came here?
Remember? What goes around comes around. Karma's a bitch, and you're here to depose the Duke and destroy James…

His thoughts raced, and Thales suddenly opened his eyes!

“Of course, I’ll keep it a secret,” he forced a smile, facing the dark carriage. “We all have our own secrets.”

Several seconds later, Hillary's voice came from the carriage, her emotions complex:
"Thank you."

An awkward silence fell between the two.

Thales took a deep breath and turned around: Cassandra, dressed in slovenly clothes and looking disheveled, walked along the road with his head down, completely inconspicuous, clutching his sword.

"And what about this uncle who uses a sword?"

“After what happened yesterday, I’ve decided to hire a bodyguard,” Hilly raised her voice, slowly composing herself, “so that I won’t be chased all over the streets.”

"He can make the Seychelles wary, so he can't be some nobody. I guess he's from Emerald City, one of Janne's subordinates?"

Thales unconsciously assessed Jann's power in the Emerald City, and wondered how he would protect himself if Jann decided to eliminate him...

“He used to be, and he was a famous knight of the Emerald City,” Hilla said. “But he retired several years ago. Despite his current appearance, he still has family titles and lands, so he doesn’t have to worry about food or clothing.”

"Since you have no worries about food and clothing, there's no need for you to become a mercenary for some young lady who rarely comes home, right?"

"Unfortunately, Cassandra owes me a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

Are you going to marry me?

“Oh, is that so—what?” Thales, immersed in complex emotions, was startled.

He looked up and suddenly saw the young lady's face reappear by the car window, smiling.

“Since you’re not planning to marry me,” Hilly’s smile carried a hint of sarcasm, as she must have noticed his distraction, “then why are you asking about my debt situation?”

“You—never mind,” Thales said irritably.

Damn.

He was even plotting how to use her, how to betray her, but how could this little girl be so...

“Don’t worry, before my mother passed away, she left a will for Jann. As Kevin Deer’s daughter, what can I inherit? Even if it’s just my mother’s dowry… well, anyway, I’m richer than you.” Hilly said this while resting her chin on her hand, looking up at the sky, and shaking her head.

Do you want to marry me?

"What? You little brat—" Hilla was taken aback, then her expression turned angry.

But she reacted in a second and sneered:
“Oh, I see. Not bad, Thales Star. Good counterattack.”

“Yeah, since you’re not going to marry me,” Thales smirked, his tone sarcastic, “why are you showing off your dowry in front of me?”

The two old rivals exchanged a glance, one sneering and the other disdainful, as if they were dueling from a distance, neither willing to give way.

But only Thales knew how heavy his heart was.

As the carriage moved forward, the flow of people increased.

“You know what happened this morning, right? Your local tour guide…” Hilly hesitated, then stopped herself.

“Of course, the beheading of Officer Caquere and his public display, another life lost to politics,” Thales sighed, looking troubled. “And then there were rumors that I did it.”

“That’s right. I have a bad feeling. We should get on high alert and take action,” Hillay said, unusually worried. “A huge wave is coming to Emerald City. The tide is about to rise, and no one can escape unscathed.”

“Yes, that’s what I thought too, and I even tried to turn the tide,” Thales shook his head, frustrated and wanting to blame others. “But as for that big shot, who knows? Maybe he’s thinking of facing the challenge head-on and riding the wave, who knows?”

“You mean my brother?” Hilly rolled his eyes. “Okay, what’s going on between you and Jenn this morning?”

"Go ask him, you're his good sister."

“Yes, I asked him, and he told me to ask you!” Hilla said sarcastically. “He used even more vicious words than you: ‘Go ask him, since you’re his little girlfriend after all.’”

"What? Wow, Jenn actually did this, cough cough..."

Thales couldn't help but laugh, but he quickly composed himself halfway through and said sternly, "Uh, that's so vicious."

Hilly's eyes flashed sharply:
"I saw you smirking."

"I, I didn't."

"Are you feeling smug?"

"Really not!"

boom!
Hilly slapped the carriage, startling Thales on horseback outside the window!
"What exactly did you and he talk about this morning?" Hilly asked, enunciating each word clearly, her gaze sinister.

"I--"

"If you keep playing dumb with me, I swear, no matter how many people are watching, I will definitely—"

The familiar sentence structure sent a shiver down Thales' spine; he had a bad feeling!

“Because of what happened yesterday, Jann has figured out my identity.”

Before the other party could finish their threat, Thales confessed, concisely and clearly, hitting the nail on the head:

"We couldn't reach an agreement and broke up, so from now on, we'll go our separate ways and rely on our own abilities. That's it."

Hilly was stunned.

Whew—Tales breathed a sigh of relief. Well, at least he didn't get "aphrodisiac" from her again.

But he was surprised to find that this interruption made him feel much better.

“Nonsense,” Hilly said, staring blankly into the dark corner of the carriage. “It’s not about yesterday at all.”

"I'm not lying to you, if you don't believe me..."

"It's everything!"

Thales was stunned.

Hilly turned her head, her expression serious:
“You and him, from the moment you came to Emerald City, no, perhaps from the moment you were born, have distrusted each other in everything. You entered the chessboard as adversaries, so naturally you can only decide the winner before leaving.”

She angrily pounded her fist on the carriage:
"Damn it, I should have realized it sooner or later that you two were going to break up—I overestimated you, both Jenn's foresight and your magnanimity."

amount……

Thales looked puzzled, unsure whether to echo the former or to seriously protest the latter.

“That makes a lot of sense,” the prince decided to skip the topic. “So, the Emerald City is now in grave danger, but there’s nothing we can do…”

“Enough, let’s move on!” Hilly shook his head, resolutely interrupting him. “Now, tell me, Thales Star, do you still want to complete the mission in Emerald City?”

Turn the page?

Thales looked at her suspiciously.

The other person's eyes were intense, half expectant, half...threatening.

“Not in His Majesty’s way, not in the way of rivers of blood and countless deaths, but in your way,” Hilla pressed on firmly, “our way.”

Our way?
Thales let out a long sigh.

Fortunately, the other person can't read minds, otherwise I would have just been thinking about how to use her to threaten and break the deadlock...

“Hilal, it’s not a question of whether I want to or not,” Thales shook his head in denial. “Jann and I have already laid our cards on the table. He saw through my disguise, so he won’t back down and he won’t trust me anymore.”

Ha, as if he ever believed me.

“But I’m not asking him, I’m asking you,” Hilly said seriously. “Please, Thales, Little Flower is short-sighted and ignorant, but you are the Second Prince and Duke of Starlake. Shouldn’t you be more sensible than him?”

Little flowers?
Thales looked at him strangely, but then he realized: how was he supposed to answer that?

Oops.

Why do I feel like I've fallen into this girl's trap again?

“Wait, I used that trick a long time ago… You didn’t just say or plan to say the same thing to Jenn,” Thales said suspiciously. “Like, ‘Come on, Jenn, the kid is narrow-minded and ignorant, but you’re the Lord of Emerald City and the Duke of South Bank, you should know better than him, right?’”

Hillay's expression froze.

"Of course not!" she said righteously, her face full of injustice. "What kind of person do you take me for!"

Yeah, she didn't say "little brat".

Thales felt a little uncomfortable under her righteous gaze, and he avoided her eyes.
"No, you don't understand. Your brother is the Lord of Emerald City, the one who holds the initiative. If he is determined to 'not die for the enemy' and goes down a dark path, then no matter how anxious others are, it's useless. The calamity of Emerald City is already destined and inevitable. All we can do is try to stop the losses and clean up the mess."

“But you’re the one who doesn’t understand,” Hilla denied. “Is Emerald City beyond saving? Don’t forget, His Majesty has given you the power of discretion and on-the-spot decision-making. Accept it, and use it well! Even if it’s fate, even if it’s the trend of the times!”

Discretionary decision-making, on-the-spot decision-making...

Thales felt an increasing heaviness on his shoulders as he thought of Kessel V.

How to weigh the options? How to make a decision?

Thales shook his head and said, "Don't be naive, Hilla. In my experience, politics can't be turned around with just a few slogans..."

"Then just use half a sentence."

Thales paused in his speech.

Hilly took a deep breath, leaned out of the car window, and looked at him with utmost seriousness:
"Do you know your Starry Sky royal family's famous tribal motto?"

"Yes?"

"Someone once told me: what's really important is never the second half of the sentence."

Thales was taken aback by what he heard.

The second half? That is...

“So, Thales, don’t give up, try again, ‘discretion’ and ‘reflexes’,” Hilly stared at him intently, leaving him nowhere to hide, “Discretion is valuable when fate dictates, but flexibility is meaningful when the tide is against you.”

Thales frowned as he looked at Hilly.

"Don't forget, you are the famous North Star, the young hero who fought against King Nunn or King Chaman, and who traversed the barbaric and dangerous Exter, turning the tide of battle!"

Hilly's eyes were firm.

Please.

Don't just listen to official propaganda.

Thales sighed:
"First of all, I've never dueled with them. On the contrary, most of the time in the North, I was the one who got fucked and made to cry for my mother by those two shameless bastards, beaten until I was sore as to wet myself, and made to run around in circles..."

"Like yesterday?"

Thales looked up and saw that Hilly had a smile on her lips and an interesting look in her eyes.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that the young lady in front of him was serious.

She wouldn't allow herself to say no.

“Yes,” Thales couldn’t help but laugh, then shook his head helplessly, “just like yesterday.”

The two smiled at each other.

The march of the procession gradually slowed down.

The venue for the election of generals, or rather, the arena resembling a cage, came into view of the two men.

“Okay, I’ll do as you say, try one more time. I’ll talk to Jenn again,” Thales said, his smile fading. “But let me make this clear, this is the last time, once he…”

“Thank you, Thales,” Hilly’s eyes lit up as she quickly interrupted him, grateful but also trying to prevent him from reneging on his terms. “As for Jenn and Emerald City, leave them to me.”

For some reason, Thales seemed to have returned to the past, but not because of Lausanne II's supernatural abilities, nor because of Jacques's tricks.

"Give it to you?" Thales couldn't help but laugh. "Who do you think you are?"

Hilla smiled too.

“I am Cecilia Kevindeer,” she said, her smile self-reflective and radiant, “the savior of the Emerald City.”

Thales trembled slightly.

In that instant, he didn't feel like he was in the misty, unpredictable Emerald City, but rather like he was in the perilous and doomed Dragon Sky City.

Looking at Hilly, whose eyes were gleaming, he felt as if he were seeing another version of himself.

Thales remained silent for a long while.

"No, you are not."

Hilly's eyes flickered.

“Cecilia Kevindir, she was just a lady of political marriage, even if no one west of Bloodgate Fortress could compare,” Thales sighed, “but you, you are Hilla.”

Hilly was taken aback.

Thales looked at the setting sun on the horizon and sighed:

"The Unexpected Great Magician - Hilly Wyana".

Hilly's expression changed: "What kind of name is that?"

"How should I know you took it!"

But Thales soon realized he had been too optimistic.

Because when they arrived at the venue and saw Duke Jann, whose face was contorted with anger (because Thales and Hilly were together), Miss Cecilia's first words made her brother turn pale with rage.

“Listen, Jen, I know you’ve turned Emerald City into a complete mess, so listen carefully to what the kid and I are about to say. No interrupting, no arguing, and no leaving…”

In front of everyone, dressed in her finest attire, Hilaire, bright and cheerful, rushed over and clung to her brother's arm, just like every adorable little sister in the world's ideal, uttering the most touching words in the gentlest voice:
"And if you dare to give me the cold shoulder again, even the slightest bit, I swear, no matter how many people are watching, I'll tear off this dress right now, grab only a tricolor iris badge, and storm into the center of the election hall..."

Under the incredulous and horrified gazes of Thales and Jann, Hilly smiled sweetly and gently, a rare sight for her:
"Dance a striptease."

(End of this chapter)