Kingdom Bloodline

The Duke's study remained quiet for a very long time.

After hearing the prince's suggestion, the two Kevin Deer had different expressions and took a while to process it.

"So, after all that, we're still stuck in the same place," Federico spoke first, his expression complex, a half-smile playing on his lips. "He's completely innocent in the end, everything's normal, and he continues to be the Duke of the South Bank, whom he usurped?"

"Everything as usual?" Jann said dismissively.

"But you have become the new Viscount of Archsea City, Fede."

Thales raised his eyebrows and forced a smile:

"This is a huge step."

"Being under his control and obeying his orders, we might end up being killed by him in the end?" Fede raised his voice.

Before Thales could react, Jenn snorted coldly:
"So according to you, Fede was exonerated and returned home in glory, even becoming the second-in-command of Kongming Palace and a special agent in the capital, while I have to relinquish some power, tolerate my scheming cousin interfering with my rule and making things difficult for me at every turn, and perhaps in the end I will be usurped by him?"

Duke Iris sneered:

"Everyone is happy?"

Federico chimed in at the opportune moment, his face equally sarcastic:
"Let bygones be bygones?"

The two men each had their own focus, yet they both stared at Thales with chilling smiles, making the latter feel a chill run down his spine.

Back and forth, the sense of déjà vu reminded Thales of the Hall of Heroes many years ago, when he faced Chaman Lumba and the four Grand Dukes.

But compared to the entangled and privileged elites of Exeter, aren't you Kevin Deer family?
Thales sighed.

Thor is right, it seems to be more difficult than expected.

Hmm, a little bit.

Thales forced a smile, as if the conversation had gone smoothly:
"Very good, it seems you all understood. Before moving on to the next step, if you still have any questions about the details..."

“Your previous proposal was much better than this,” Jann’s smile vanished, leaving only a cold expression. “At least you promised to send him to the Bone Prison?”

“At least?” Federico frowned.

“But you disagreed and told me to wait a few more days until the situation in Emerald City got worse before coming back,” Thales shrugged. “So I waited.”

Jann sneered, ignoring the prince's sarcasm.

"So, you've completely taken control of the situation: debt, commerce, security, nobility, military funds, even gangs... You've solved all the problems in Emerald City, which is why you're so unscrupulous and reckless."

Jann looked at his cousin, whose face was tense:
"Whether for me or for him?"

Thales simply picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and remained calm and composed.

Damn, this is so bitter.

"As the saying goes, when irises are of one mind, their sharpness is unbreakable—well, in fact, the two of you in Emerald City don't need to like each other, or even cooperate; you just need to cooperate with me separately."

Thales continued to wear a fake smile.

In fact, perhaps the brothers' extremely poor relationship and deep-seated hatred were the greatest talisman they could leave for the future Emerald City.

And if they truly cooperate sincerely in the future...

Thales thought:
Emerald City may be about to face a major disaster.

Please forgive my dullness.

Federico spoke in a low voice:
"Your Highness, now that you have the situation under control and have no worries about the consequences, why not press on and achieve complete success?"

Thales frowned.

To achieve complete success...

The question is, what is the complete success?
Where is the full success?
Whose credit is it all?

“Your Highness, please reconsider: We have made so many efforts, Emerald City is already in our grasp, and our goal is about to be achieved. We only need to take the last step to deal with the culprit,” Fede looked up at Thales, trying his best to hide the dissatisfaction in his eyes and attempting to bargain. “At least send him to the Prison of Bones, or even put him under house arrest in the capital, as long as he is far away from Emerald City?”

Jann frowned slightly.

Federico was extremely serious:

“Otherwise, even if he agrees to His Highness's request, given Jann's ambition and management skills, he will only be in power for two years before all our previous efforts are wasted.”

Hmm, that makes sense.

Thales nodded slightly.

but……

"But you won't let that happen, right?"

Thales downplayed it:
“As Viscount of Gonghai City, Fede, promise me: you will do everything in your power and wholeheartedly serve the country to curb your cousin’s ambition.”

Federico gritted his teeth.

“All of the above conditions are negotiable, Thales, but you have to send this guy to the gallows or to jail.”

At this moment, Jenn spoke up, his words righteous and forceful:
"So that in the future, the bad apples of the major families will follow suit and usurp the position of family head, causing everyone in the Nineteen Stone Seats to feel insecure, making it difficult for you to subdue the Six Realms in the future."

Thales was taken aback by what he heard.

The Duke of the South Bank snorted:
"As for the Viscount of Gonghai City, you just need someone to keep an eye on me anyway, so I can let whoever I want be, even the Black Prophet."

This……

“Then you probably won’t live past tomorrow morning,” Thales replied with a sigh.

"It's better than dying with regrets one day," Jenn said softly.

“Your Highness does not mean the Black Prophet,” Federico said expressionlessly.

“That’s not what I meant either,” Jenn said coldly.

The two Kevin Deer exchanged a glance, a look that was both deeply hostile and cautious.

Like two swordsmen dueling, testing each other with their footsteps.

It would be better if Thales wasn't in the middle.

Ok.

Thales rubbed his scalp; the scar from the cut Sacel had made was still clearly tactile.

“But if you agree to my conditions,” Thales probed, “no matter what happens in the future, you will at least be able to get out of your current predicament, regain your freedom and even your position, and act independently, no longer just prisoners waiting anxiously.”

“But that’s not freedom.” Federico shook his head.

Jann gave a soft snort.

“By agreeing to this condition, he and I are both imprisoned here in Emerald City, just like the location of our room: watching and guarding against each other, becoming each other’s cage.”

Jan chuckled, picked up his teacup, and said sarcastically:

"This new tea is indeed delicious."

“I never thought I’d agree with you one day,” Fede said coldly, raising his teacup in a gesture of respect, “my dear cousin.”

Okay, although this terrible idea was indeed inspired by Marius's accommodation plan for the two Kevin Deer...

Thales gave a helpless twitch of his lips.

“To be honest, you two are quite in sync right now,” the second prince, who was mediating, sighed. “Don’t you really want to consider working together? You two would make a great pair.”

“I understand Your Highness’s good intentions, but reality cannot always be perfect.” Federico remained respectful.

“He won’t let me go,” Jann said succinctly.

“Just as he wouldn’t tolerate me either,” Federico said with equal conviction.

Oh no, this déjà vu is happening again.

Thales closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

How did he manage to convince those Northerners who only knew how to fight and kill?

Anyone who disobeys will be crushed to death with magical power.

Jenn glanced at his cousin and dismissively summarized:

“If we do as you say, Thales, then one of us will die someday… or get into trouble at the hands of the other.”

“That’s easy,” Thales forced a genuine smile. “Whoever gets hurt first, I’ll kill the rest.”

The smiles of both Kevin Deer vanished simultaneously.

The tea in my hand suddenly doesn't smell so good anymore.

The entire study fell silent.

Only Thales remained smiling, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the two irises, one in red and one in black:

That's fair, right?
After the joke was over, Thales still sighed.

“Listen, I’m trying my best to save both of you,” he said wearily, “but do you really have to kill each other to be satisfied?”

“He’s only being held accountable for his crimes,” Jann said coldly. “Don’t forget how many lives he’s killed since he returned to Emerald City.”

“Everyone deserves what they got,” Fed retorted. “They were all involved in the old case and are paying for the injustice and torture my father suffered at your hands.”

Thales started rubbing his scalp again.

He leaned back in the luxurious leather armchair reserved for dukes, muttering to himself:
"Fine, I might as well kill both of you at the same time and let Hilaire take the throne as the Duchess of the South Bank..."

Jenn frowned and warned:
"Thales!"

Thales snorted coldly: "Or I'll send you both to the Bone Prison and lock you in a single cell..."

Federico glanced at the two men, his eyes flickering:
“If this is because of Cecilia, Your Highness, because you couldn’t bear to see her disappointed, then please forgive my bluntness…”

Thales's eyes flickered.

“Given the current situation, only if Jenn is gone—of course, that was his own fault and has nothing to do with you,” Fede said softly, “that you and she may be able to get married without any obstacles.”

what?
Thales froze instantly.

Jenn shuddered at first, then slowly turned his head:

"What did you say?"

no……

Thales was completely bewildered:
Did they all misunderstand something?
“And we can do that: I guarantee she will hate me, not Your Highness.”

Federico nodded respectfully, completely ignoring his cousin's sharp gaze that seemed to want to rip him open.

"At that time, I will sincerely wish you well—something that Jenn could never do in his entire life."

Jenn's gaze became even more terrifying.

Thales felt a throbbing pain in his head.

This topic is taking a turn for the worse.

Surprisingly, the Duke of South Shore, who usually explodes at the mention of his sister, did not lose his temper. He simply took a deep breath and calmly replied to Fede.

“Don’t involve her, cousin,” Jan said slowly. “She wasn’t even old enough to understand when our family was in trouble.”

But Federico showed no mercy whatsoever:
"Is she not old enough, or do you just think she isn't?"

Jann's brow twitched.

"Can't you see it, my dear cousin? Fate has decreed that no matter what you do, no matter how much you want to, you cannot stop Hillary from getting close to the person she loves."

Thales felt a little embarrassed upon hearing this and was about to retort, but then he felt that doing so would only make things more awkward.

So I had no choice but to keep quiet.

Federer continued relentlessly:
"And nothing can stop her from living the life she deserves, a life free from the burdens of her family."

Jenn suddenly swayed.

Federico laughed as he spoke:
"So your existence is an obstacle, Janne, and will only bring pain and struggle to our little sister."

Thales, who had finally gotten over his awkwardness, frowned upon hearing this.

Jenn's eyes had never looked so terrifying.

He stared intently at Federico, his breathing quickening, his entire body trembling visibly.

"She is not your sister."

“So you only allow her to belong to you?” Federico clicked his tongue. “How pathological.”

“Morbid?” Jann gritted his teeth and said with difficulty, “The person who said that has lived underground with vampires for eleven years.”

But the other Kevin Deer was not to be outdone, and even went a step further:
"Excuse my bluntness, cousin, if you truly care about your sister, you should have died sooner."

"enough!"

Thales had to interrupt the two who were starting to attack each other.

He frowned, paused for a moment, and couldn't help but feel sorry for the exploitation and offense that Hilly had suffered in the conversation between Jann and Federico.

Her brothers, who shared the same surname and blood... whether they loved her or hated her, were all creatures driven by power.

He suddenly felt annoyed.

He no longer wanted to care about the grudges between the two of them.

Regardless of who cares more about whose sister, or who actually killed whose father.

It's the same anyway.

Trivial, childish, boring.

But you have important matters to attend to, Thales.

It concerns matters of national importance and the livelihood of all people.

A cold voice inside him said: It would be better to resort to more powerful and realistic means.

Thales's face turned cold.

"Neither you nor he will die."

The two turned their heads at the same time, looking at Thales with disbelief written all over their faces.

“Okay, I know my handling of the situation has left you all dissatisfied, even upset,” Thales said, shifting his strategy as he moved away from his chair. “But believe me, you couldn’t have gotten a more satisfactory result.”

Neither of the two Kevin Deer reacted.

Thales turned to one of them.

Having more means caring more about the one.

“That’s right, Jenn, I can do as you wish: execute Fede, let you offer the terms to return to the dukedom, cover up the charade, and let you continue to skillfully maneuver and remain unscathed amidst all the peace and applause…”

Thales' tone tightened:
"But that's destined to be the last time I help you. Whether I want to or not, next time, I definitely won't be able to help you achieve a 'happy ending' like this time, patiently helping Emerald City 'take control of the situation'..."

He paused:
"...Let alone helping Hillary."

Jenn's eyes flickered.

Thales said calmly:

Even if you want to, you are powerless.

Jann remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Thales ignored him and turned to another one.

Having lost more, one cares less about the one who has lost more.

"And you, Fede, forgive my bluntness, but it is precisely because someone wants to bring down the powerful Duke of Iris that you, as an exiled nobleman—that's a nice way of putting it, but a more realistic term is 'fallen'—have the opportunity to return home and seek justice."

Federico's expression changed.

Thales squinted:
"If Jenn just dies like that, gone, no more... do you really think you'll be the ultimate winner?"

Federico's eyelids twitched.

"Believe me, it will be far more difficult for me to help you then than it is for me to help Jenn now."

Federer gritted his teeth and snorted:

“I don’t care—I came here prepared.”

“Because you had nothing before,” Thales said expressionlessly, “but that was before, Viscount Federico.”

Upon hearing this title, Fede's expression changed.

“A great man of the kingdom once gave me a piece of advice, which I now pass on to you.”

Thales said calmly:

He said, "Since it's been given to you, hold on tight to it, hold on tight to your sword."

Thales squinted:

"Don't lose it."

Federico fell into deep thought upon hearing this, his breathing quickened, and his expression became conflicted.

Thales closed his eyes and gently rubbed the side of his forehead.

Very good, Thales.

A low voice of approval rose in his heart:
You've got it.

From this position, by plucking the silk threads in his hands, he played a melody that struck at the very weak points of both sides.

Even if not...

Thales opened one eye.

Observing their reactions can also yield a lot of information. Let's continue to unravel the next thread.

Until the dial is made...

The entire net.

"What about you?"

Federico's sudden question snapped Thales out of his reverie and back to his senses.

“Since you know that Jenn is going to be overthrown, and that I am not the winner,” Federer’s expression was very strange, a half-smile, a kind of madness born of relief, “yet Your Highness, you still act so casually and rashly, going against him in private…”

He looked at Thales:

Will he be satisfied?

he.

Thales frowned deeply.

The boy looked at Federico, whose face was cold and sinister, and flicked his fingers, trying to pry the threads on the other's body, but felt the entire net trembling.

"That's my business."

The moment he opened his mouth, he felt a thread in the pocket containing the "Gurtaksa" being tugged.

Ignoring his inner discomfort, Thales spoke slowly:
“I haven’t known you for long, Fed, but I thought that after all this time we’ve dealt with each other, you should understand something…”

"Don't mention 'him' in front of him."

Jenn sighed, omitting the second half of Thales's sentence:
"This is based on my experience, cousin."

Federico glanced at Jenn, then at Thales, took a deep breath, and his attitude became resolute:

“I said, as long as I can get revenge, as long as justice is restored, as long as I find the truth, as long as Jenn pays the price, I don’t care who the winner is, whether it’s me or someone else…”

You can't win!

Thales suddenly shouted loudly, startling the two of them, who looked at each other in surprise.

The prince immediately realized his lapse in composure. He had to take a deep breath, take a sip of tea to remind himself, and then return to his normal tone:
"Just like he can't win either."

Thales' eyes were burning:
“Even if I didn’t interfere, even if I let you kill Jann and make you the regent of Kongming Palace and even the Duke of South Bank, even if South Bank Territory is directly under the jurisdiction of the royal family from tomorrow onwards… he still can’t win.”

Federico and Jann both frowned.

"Because he was high above, he thought that as long as he sat in the capital and made strategic decisions, and with some coercion and enticement, Emerald City would obediently fall into his trap and receive a fortune every year. He thought that as long as he violently and forcefully struck the tree trunk, Emerald City, this money tree, would obediently drop money."

Thales gritted his teeth:
“But he has never set foot here, never seen this place with his own eyes like I have, never seen the different kinds of people in Emerald City, every corner inside and out—even though I haven’t seen enough.”

Far from enough.

"Because he is like you, thinking that he has experienced destruction and injustice, tragedy and pain, so he has the right to be indifferent, the right to only know how to take and not how to give. But he does not understand and has no chance to understand: he has to reach out to protect the branches, water and fertilize them before the tree can bear fruit."

Thales recalled what he had seen and heard in Emerald City these past few days, and remembered what Jan had told him: the six generations of Kevin Deer had gone through more than a hundred years of hardship to bring the Iris Flower from the highest link in Emerald City to the lowest link, and then back to the highest link.

"So he can't win."

Thales said absentmindedly:

"And when he reached for the money, he found the tree branch withered and dead, and he had to admit that he couldn't win..."

He turned to Federico, whose face was pale:

"Between you sitting on the duke's throne and the withered, decaying Emerald City, which do you think he would care about more?"

Federico frowned and swallowed hard.

His lips moved, but he ultimately did not answer.

Thales chuckled and nodded:
"You're right: He doesn't care."

Thales sighed and slumped back into his chair.

"Please reconsider my proposal."

Neither of the two Kevin Deer spoke.

Not bad.

A voice from Thales' heart said to him:
As a strong person, it's a good tactic to reveal your difficulties and pain at the right time, and in turn, achieve a surprising victory; however, one must be careful...

"I see."

Federico interrupted his thoughts, feeling both incredulous and disappointed:
"It turns out that the most conservative, passive, and unambitious person in this city is far from being Jenn."

Thales snorted softly:
"Whatever you say."

That's basically the situation.

Now we're just looking at the two of them...

"Can't you tell, Fed?"

After remaining silent for a while, Jenn suddenly spoke, not to Thales, but to his sworn brother.

“Our beloved prince is doing what he has always been best at, or perhaps the only thing he is best at…”

Jann glanced at Thales with a mixture of disdain and complexity:
"To smooth things over."

Thales froze involuntarily as he held up his teacup.

what?
Even Federico frowned as he looked at his cousin.

“Not just between the two of us Kevin Deer,” Jann sneered, “but also between him and his father, and perhaps even between himself and Hilly.”

Thales looked grim.

“Avoiding conflict, neither letting either side win, nor letting His Majesty win, nor even letting ourselves win,” Jenn’s all-knowing gaze sent a chill down Thales’s spine, “and naturally no one ‘loses’.”

The Duke of the South Bank turned to Federico, but seemed not to be looking at him, but at something behind him.

"There were no gamblers who, blinded by greed, overturned the table or brandished knives."

Jenn scoffed dismissively:

"And then there's the Western Wilderness, and even Exter from years ago. Heaven knows how many 'crises' he solved in the past by using this muddling-and-smooth approach, thinking he had cleverly and self-deceivingly resolved, while also sowing the seeds of even worse hidden dangers and bringing about countless future disasters..."

Damn little flower.

Thales stared intently at him, his eyes filled with hostility.

But despite his cursing, he couldn't help but recall what the barber shop owner, Balta, had said:
Before that, all attempts at salvage were merely adding fuel to the fire, not only futile but also presumptuous...

Despite thinking this way, Thales still wouldn't let it go:

“At least you’re still sitting comfortably in the Empty Palace, Jan, instead of turning head down into a brush to scrub my toilet.”

Jenn frowned: "What?"

Thales turned to another person, trying to convince himself to get through this first hurdle:
"And you, Fede, know when to quit while you're ahead: the Viscount's mansion and the damp dungeon are not hard to choose between."

Federico frowned deeply.

"In comparison, I think none of you would want to be defeated and die at the hands of the other side, would you?"

Thales took a deep breath, trying not to think about the deeper meaning in Jan's words:

"I would rather die for a friend than for an enemy."

Neither of the Kevin Deer were pleased to be lectured in their own family language.

“My conditions may be harsh for the two of you, but please remember that if someone else were sitting here, the conditions would be even harsher.”

Thales gritted his teeth:
"I'm tired. I've explained everything clearly; whether you understand it or not is your problem."

The prince clearly intended to dismiss them, which made both Kevin Deer frown.

“Whatever your response,” Thales continued, “I will announce the result of the noble arbitration at the final banquet of the Emerald Festival.”

Thales stood up, and Janne and Federico were compelled to do so as well—whether out of manners or status.

"If either of you changes your mind before then, please come directly to me."

Thales headed for the door—but after taking two steps, he instinctively stopped, then awkwardly remembered:
Now, he, Thales Star, the acting regent of the Emerald City, is the master here.

He shouldn't be the one to leave.

Thales had his back to the two of them, looking dejected.

Oops.

Duke Xinghu was understandably embarrassed, but he quickly recovered, adjusted his expression, and turned to face the guests with composure, extending his arm in a gesture of farewell towards the door:
"But please remember: no matter how much capital you have or how much you spend, those who arrive first always get a discount."

Jan and Federico exchanged a glance.

"As for those who can't get a discount... well, it's not a question of whether there's a discount, but whether there's any stock available."

The two remained silent for a while as the acting regent smiled and saw them off.

Just as Federico was about to bow and leave, Janne suddenly spoke up.

"You need us."

Thales' smile remained unchanged:
"Please forgive me?"

Jann raised his head and looked firmly at Thales.

“You need the Emerald City, Thales,” he asserted, “just as you need the Westerlands.”

Amidst the puzzled looks of Thales and Federico, Jan continued coldly:

“You need us, Kevin Deer, to live, to suffer, to have a profitable but ‘unfinished’ Emerald City continue to struggle, to resist, to exist between you and His Majesty, so that you will have the confidence and leverage to return to the Palace of Restoration and face him in the future.”

Thales' expression changed slightly, while Federico seemed to be deep in thought.

Jenn pointed at Federico:
"That's why you need to play both sides between us, for us to live in Emerald City while hating and tolerating each other."

Thales frowned and pondered for a while.

"I must say, Jan, I admire your imagination and conspiracy theories, including your preconceived notion that everyone is a machine of profit and a creature of power, but don't go too far..."

But Jenn interrupted him with a cold laugh:
"how long?"

how long?

Thales looked puzzled.

"A gambler hasn't lost yet, so he hasn't flipped the table. But he hasn't won either, so he won't leave."

Jenn's enunciation was clear and each sentence was startling:
"But how long can a gambling game where you can't lose money but also can't win money last? How long can the customers endure it without giving up the game, or even..."

He looked at Thales with ill intent:
"Change the dealer?"

Thales' face darkened.

"One game? Two games? Ten games? Forever?"

Federico glanced at Thales, then at Jann, his mind racing.

“From what I understand them, Thales, a gambler rarely flips the table when he loses money,” Jenn said coldly, “but he often fights desperately for poverty.”

Thales did not speak.

The Duke of the South Bank did not rise from his seat; instead, he sat down as comfortably as if he were the host.

"Unless someone makes up their mind..."

Jenn's eyes were sharp:
"End the betting game."

After he finished speaking, the study was completely silent.

After a while, Thales took a deep breath.

And in front of him, in the unseen air, the entire net covering him was trembling uncontrollably.

It pulls countless threads, taut inch by inch.

“Let’s gamble less, Janne,” Thales retorted with difficulty, recalling his childhood experiences at the Black Gold Casino in the capital. “From what I understand them, it’s not terrible for someone to lose money gambling.”

He looked up at Jenn:
"The scariest thing is that he actually won the bet."

Jan turned his head and stared coldly at him.

"Because if you lose, you lose, but once you win, you can't help it. You can't help but keep gambling, betting on the next round, and the next, and the next."

"Thales said softly."

“Until he bets chips he can’t afford to lose himself,” the prince said, looking at the two men before him, his smile gone, “he can only drag others, countless people, innocent people, people who aren’t even in the game, into it to lose for him.”

Janne and Federico pondered this statement deeply.

Thales raised his arm again to see the guest off:
"You should go back to your rooms now. Please remember: I will only wait until the celebration banquet."

Federico glanced at Jenn, who was sitting in his seat, showing no intention of leaving.

"Well."

Jenn spoke softly, but what he said made both of them pause in surprise:
"I agreed."

accepted?
he……

Thales paused for a moment before slowly raising his head. Under the clear, cold gaze of Jann and the incredulous look of Federico, he confirmed his hearing.

"I can't hear you," he whispered.

Jann gave a cold laugh.

“I said, Thales, I accept all of your terms, whatever you want, damn it, disgusting stuff.”

Jenn pointed to another Kevin Deer, straightened his posture, and became extremely serious:
"Including letting this bastard live in the South Bank Territory, or even in my Empty Palace—and add one more thing: guarantee Hilai's absolute safety."

Federico's expression changed!
"Oh, really?"

Thales lowered his arm, which was used to see the guest out.

Do I look like I'm joking?

Federico finally snapped out of his shock and couldn't help but exclaim, "Your Highness!"

But Thales stopped him, quickly walked back to his seat, and sat down with interest.

"Continue?" Thales picked up his teacup.

Under Federico's incredulous gaze, Janne smiled.

"And you, Thales, take this awkward and struggling Emerald City as a gift, and even more so as a gamble, and go to the Palace of Restoration to deliver it."

Thales' smile vanished.

"Just remember, if you can't end the game..."

Jenn's eyes were sharp:
"Then it's best not to lose the bet."

He sneered repeatedly:
"Otherwise, as you said..."

Thales' breath hitched, and he had to swallow hard.

Jan said softly:
"You alone can't possibly afford to pay the compensation."

In that instant, Thales felt the study become somewhat stuffy.

Narrow and cramped.

Suffocating.

As if caught in a trap.

Jann let out a sigh of relief and took a sip of mate tea.

It goes down smoothly.

I felt no discomfort whatsoever.

"No!"

Federico realized what was happening and instinctively denied it.

He protested indignantly to Thales:

"No, Your Highness, Jann would never make a choice that is harmful and without benefit. His agreeing so readily must be suspicious. You cannot—"

“You’re right, Fed!”

Before Thales could reply, Jenn interrupted him, setting down his teacup with a somewhat intimidating smile:

"I placed my bet."

Thales remained expressionless.

Federico's fingers trembled.

Place a bet?

What bet should we place?

Whose bet should we place?

"But believe me, cousin, it's definitely not going to be that easy."

Jann smiled and gestured towards Federico's teacup:

"Your turn, Fede. Want some tea?"

Thales remained silent.

This time, it was Federico's turn to turn around.

He was breathless, staring at his cousin in disbelief. (End of Chapter)