Kingdom Bloodline

"Excuse me, how do I get to the Ancestral Rock? You mean that huge rock with so many names carved on it... Thank you. If I remember correctly, the Main Palace is in that direction too, right?"

Federico Kevindir politely and humbly inquired of the trembling maid before him, thanked her for directions amidst the guards' suspicious gazes, and turned from the outer castle courtyard toward the direction of Ancestral Rock.

too long.

Federico said to himself.

He walked steadily, his expression calm, and nodded nonchalantly to the guards and servants he encountered along the way.

He has been away from Kongming Palace for too long.

It's time to come back.

Federico paused, then slowly looked up: the magnificent ancestral rock of the Iris family appeared before him.

Behind him, the herald Tsifanov and the penitent Carpenter, who had been assigned by the prince to "protect" him, also stood still, silent and low-key, yet never leaving his side.

Federer's gaze swept over the names engraved on the rock, names that had shone brightly in history, finally settling on the upper left corner, on two names he knew all too well, one tall and one short, one large and one small:

[Lenser Kosa Fabrizio Kevindeer]

Uncle Lenster's name is at the top, in large silver gilt, to signify his duke status.

Sonna Matteo Fabrizio Kevindil

The father, Sona, was listed below him, in a slightly smaller font, and was considered a servant of the family.

Federico's gaze was somewhat lost.

Kosa and Matteo—he looked at Lenster and Sona's middle names.

Of course.

Federico raised his gaze and found the two wise brothers from the history of the Kevindir tribe among the earlier names on the rock:
The eleventh Duke of the South Bank, Corsa Kevindir, the "Stubborn Rock".

Lord of Windchime Town, Matteo Kevindir the Whale Hunter.

During the madness of the kingdom's "Twin Stars Standoff," the two brothers, despite their differing stances—one leaning towards the Twilight Party and the other towards the Dawn Party—remained steadfast in their loyalty to their family, cherished their brotherhood, and supported each other.

Even when surrounded and cut off from communication, even when captured and tortured by the enemy, even when driven to the brink of despair by the extreme stances of the Morning and Evening parties more than once, these brothers will never betray each other.

Especially his younger brother Matteo, who was willing to die to prevent the Iris family from splitting up, and to protect the Emerald City and the South Bank from disaster, becoming a role model for future generations of the Kevin Deer family.

So many years ago, "Goat Horn" Kirk chose these middle names for his two eldest grandsons, the brothers Lenster and Soner, with a clear intention.

Kosa and Matteo.

Federico turned his head to look at the newest and loneliest silver-plated name on the giant rock to the right of his uncle Lenster:
[Jann Kosa Lenster Kevindeer]

Federico remained expressionless, imagining the day when his smaller name would be engraved beneath it:

[Federico Matteo Sonna Kevindir.]

Indeed, many years later, Renster and Sonner, who had long since become dukes and viscounts, also gave their sons the same middle name for their cousins, Janne and Federico.

Kosa, and Matteo.

However, did Uncle Leinster and his father, or Jenn and his Fede, both generations... truly live up to the expectations of the Ram's Horn?

If you can't do that...

Federico stood there for a while, his expression complicated, before he started walking again, only when urged on by the Star Lake Guards behind him.

No.

He concluded: If it can't be done...

A drastic measure, like a warrior cutting off his own arm, is imperative.

Alone and alone, I will forge ahead without hesitation.

"You're early."

The voice from above startled Federico awake:

The highest-ranking and most powerful nobleman in the Sky Palace, Duke of Starlake, the second prince, and heir to the kingdom, Thales Starstar, was standing on the stone steps above, looking at the ancestral rock of Kevindir with his hands behind his back.

Clearly, he wasn't early enough.

It was even a bit late.

Federico said quietly.

"Your Highness, I am deeply honored that you have come from so far to greet me." He bowed respectfully.

Thales lowered his head, his deep gaze sweeping over Federico, and nodded:

"Come up."

coming.

Federico straightened his clothes and began his ascent around the giant rock, only to be stopped by the Star Lake Guards standing before the prince:

“Young Master Federico, please forgive me.”

“Of course, I understand.” Fede smiled slightly, raised his hands, and cooperated with the guards in front of him to search him.

“No need, Toledo, I trust him,” Prince Thales’ words came at just the right time.

“Of course, Your Highness,” the guard named Toledo stepped back and gave Fede an apologetic smile, “I apologize for the offense.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Fede shook his head and offered an understanding smile. “It’s my pleasure.”

And so, accompanied by two Star Lake Guardians behind him, he slowly walked toward Prince Thales.

He could have skipped the formalities and gone straight to the prince.

Federico listened to his own inner voice:
But guards will definitely come to stop them and signal for a body search.

He must be courteous and cooperative, and show obedience.

The prince will surely speak up to stop it, as a sign of trust.

The guard will certainly obey the order and step back to express his apology.

He must respond with a smile, showing gratitude and honor.

Only then can he go through the process of being searched, obeying, not being searched, following orders, and expressing gratitude, and truly move forward to reach the prince's side.

Federico stood beside the prince, gazing up at the Ancestral Rock with him.

Prince Thales showed no emotion, but simply waved his hand, signaling the Star Lake Guards and palace guards to stand further away, giving the two of them some private space.

Every step in this process seems superfluous: If the prince doesn't need it, why search him? If a search is required, why stop it? If the prince stopped it, why apologize? If it's not important, why be grateful for the honor?

But it is precisely this superfluity in every step.

This implies the necessity of this entire process.

It also fully reveals the indescribable power surging beneath it.

Some people—like King Lausanne II, a military man who occupies a gray area yet still tries to distinguish right from wrong—don't understand the underlying principles and always interpret the process as an external appearance, such as "preventing unscrupulous people," "avoiding danger to nobles," or "necessary regulations."

But he understands.

Federico stared silently at the ancestral rock.

He understood it long ago, in the basement of the vampire monsters, in the cabin of the ship crossing the End Sea, and even on the night his father died.

The existence of this process, like all other seemingly cumbersome and redundant etiquette, rules, and conventions, has its own extraordinary significance.

For example, what if someone tries to break this process...

"Your ancestral rock... I've heard that this place is haunted?"

Thales suddenly spoke, and what he said surprised Federico.

"Nonsense—who told you that?"

"Forget it, it's okay."

Thales looked at the giant rock covered with names, then at Federico's bewildered expression, and shook his head with mixed feelings.

Hilaire is lying again...

Thales' heart sank as he recalled the girl's ordeal.

“Perfect timing. Come with me, let’s go visit Hilai together.” Thales started walking and climbed the steps around the giant rock.

Federico's eyes flickered, and he followed side by side:

"Hilai? What happened to her?"

"After returning to the palace, he fell seriously ill and was bedridden, unconscious. It's unclear exactly what happened, but I have a feeling that you and Janine might know."

Under Thales' scrutinizing gaze, Federico remained silent for a long while before finally shaking his head.

"Please forgive me for not understanding."

Thales nodded and climbed the steps, seemingly unconcerned:

"It's nothing... Hilaire was attacked, and Losang II was rescued."

"Attack..."

Federico's expression changed slightly.

"What, didn't King Losang II come looking for you after he escaped? To get another list of murderers?"

“No, I have been in Kongming Palace these past few days, protected by the guards you dispatched,” Fede replied quickly. “Even if the assassin escapes from Hilaire, it won’t be easy for him to contact me. Of course, if you allow, I can try to contact King Losang II first; perhaps I can obtain relevant information—”

"Have you contacted the Royal Secret Service recently?" Thales interrupted him. "Or rather, would the Royal Secret Service contact King Losang II on its own initiative?"

Federico paused slightly.

"No, those people suspected of being from the Secret Service have always only contacted me through a single channel—just me."

Federico said seriously:
"If Your Highness suspects I am involved in this matter, you may send a team of royal experts to accompany me out of the palace, preferably with the help of the Emerald Legion. I know several of the assassin's hiding places, so let's take advantage of the daytime..."

I'm sorry, but at least in Emerald City, the royal family has no experts around me.

Thales silently observed the other party.

and……

Did he just sell out Lausanne II like that?

Or……

"If Your Highness still doesn't trust me, why not use me as bait..."

"I believe you."

Federico was taken aback.

“Yes, I just remembered,” the prince said, slapping his forehead in frustration, looking like he had a bad memory. “After King Losang II escaped, he was killed by a royal expert’s ‘earth-shattering sword’. His body is all dried up, so he probably can’t come looking for you.”

Federico was speechless upon hearing this.

Moreover, based on his understanding of that awkward killer, even if he were still alive, Federico would still be...

Thales chuckled to himself.

“So, King Lausanne II is long dead,” Federico said after a long silence, his voice tinged with resentment. “His Highness’s way of testing people is truly peculiar.”

Thales shrugged:

Welcome to Starlake Castle.

“Sorry?” Federico frowned again.

“I know,” Thales sighed, patting him on the shoulder. “You’re welcome.”

Federico took some time to adjust to the prince's seemingly casual yet subtly treacherous conversation, and took a deep breath:

"What about Jenn? With such a major event involving Hilly, what was his reaction?"

"We soon found out—it is said that he stayed by his sister's bedside all night, watching over her without sleeping."

“Truly heartfelt and deeply moving,” Federico scoffed, “if Hilla’s misfortune wasn’t due to him.”

Thales fell silent, offering no response to his sarcasm.

The two slowly ascended the steps, while Federico raised his gaze, scanning the names inscribed on the ancestral rock:

Traore Kevindeer, the "Fish Feeder".

He was the brother-in-law and foster brother of the Prince of Far Sail, the youngest son of the family who rose to power through a counterattack, and the actual commander of the Battle of Borasco. One needs some historical knowledge to understand the chilling meaning behind his nickname.

"Wave Rider" Perry.

Born at sea, raised on adventure, diligent in exploration, and perished in the waves, Duke Kevin Deer, who once sailed to the ends of the earth, was a sea pioneer who brought the Hamburg bloodline and the Eastern wealth, including the eternal oil, into the Iris family genealogy.

Our family has a history of producing many outstanding individuals.

Of course, not all of them are heroes.

“So many names,” Thales noticed Federico’s gaze and slowed his pace. “Are the names carved on this giant rock those of the successive dukes who guarded the South Bank?”

“Those inscribed with silver or chromium alloy are the ones,” Federico said. “Some of the smaller, ordinary inscriptions are those of the family’s outstanding members, mostly brothers and sisters of the Duke’s generation, who were inscribed on the rock for their distinguished achievements or high regard.”

It turned out to be the case.

So on the giant rock, he could even see women's names.

Of course, most of them were Supreme Queens—Tails glanced at one of their names and instantly remembered her connection to the Starry Sky family tree:

Cecilia, the "mute queen".

As the wife of the King of Denggao, her nickname represented misfortune:
After the tragic incident of offering sacrifices to her son at a high place, this devout Queen of the South Bank never spoke a word to her husband again for the rest of her life.

When King Denggao passed away, she, as the Queen Mother, simply moved into the Star Lake Monastery. Thales seemed to have seen her tombstone in the cemetery of the monastery, but it is unknown whether the Queen Mother's ashes were buried there or were eventually sent back to the Palace of Restoration to be buried with King Denggao.

Thinking of this, Thales suddenly remembered Chaman Lumba, who was far away in Black Sand City, and his mother, who came from Dragon City and committed suicide because her two sons killed each other.

Because of her maternal clan, she lost one son forever and now has to face another son who is the murderer.

How desperate must she have been as a mother at that time?

“Have you heard?” Thales began quietly, “something big has happened in Emerald City.”

"event?"

Federico looked at the inscription on the giant rock:

"Your Highness, are you referring to the gathering of wise men by Vice High Priest Fibour of the Sunset Temple, who wish to enter the palace to pay homage to you? Of course, this matter has already spread far and wide—"

"No, I'm talking about the haunting of your ancestral rock, and how the 'Deadly Iris' appeared in the middle of the night to capture a substitute."

"A miracle—what?"

Federico was caught off guard, stopped in his tracks, and looked at him with a bewildered expression.

Thales waited patiently for a while, until he saw Federico still looking confused and waiting for an explanation, then he sighed heavily.

"Nonsense, of course it's the deputy high priest leading the crowd to stage a coup, what else could it be?"

The prince tapped on the ancestral rock and shook his head helplessly:
"Damn, don't you have any sense of humor at all?"

Federico realized what was happening and frowned deeply: "Forgive my ignorance, I didn't understand the joke..."

"Laugh, Fed, laugh."

Thales, his attempt at humor thwarted, sighed and climbed the steps with his head down.
Life is already heavy enough.

You have to laugh to make it feel lighter.

Federico finally managed to process the second prince's terrible sense of humor, forced a smile, and hurried to catch up.

Why is this prince talking so much nonsense today?

Is it because...the pressure is too much?

“Then, regarding the audience with the deputy high priest later… they will certainly press for the truth about the assassination of the Chadvi priest and demand an explanation from the Empty Palace,” Federico’s eyes flickered. “Has Your Highness decided how to respond?”

Thales' smile vanished instantly.

"Do you have any suggestions?" Thales casually remarked sarcastically. "How about we kidnap Janne and take him to court as well: 'Look, this is the guy who handled the case. Oh, and he's the one who killed the Duke. Let's just hang him and be done with it'—how about that?"

Very good.

Federico muttered to himself:
If the prince could really do it.

Unfortunately, he couldn't say that.

Instead, he had to carefully tame the indescribable power lurking behind the prince.

"I dare to say this: this is not a coincidence."

Thales gave a perfunctory "hmm" to indicate that he was listening.

“Your Highness had just reached a compromise with me and Jann to appease the entire city when Hilly’s friend was assassinated. Then Hilly himself was attacked and killed, and now the Temple of the Setting Sun has personally intervened, pointing the finger directly at Your Highness,” Federico analyzed. “Someone with ulterior motives is using the temple to incite the people of the city, while secretly targeting Hilly and trying to sow discord in the alliance we three have formed.”

“Very good, I’m glad to see you’re no longer insisting that ‘Jane must have done it, Your Highness, you should just kill him already.’” Thales said listlessly.

“But the consequences are equally serious,” Federico said calmly, ignoring the prince’s sarcasm. “Your Highness went to great lengths to force Janne and me to compromise in order to stabilize the people’s hearts and give Emerald City a breath of fresh air, but now all your efforts have been in vain.”

Thales's heart sank.

"With this case out, all parties are bound to be alarmed and uncertain, and the Queen's City is once again in a state of panic: no matter who the mastermind is or what their purpose is, since even the transcendent Sunset Temple has been affected, who will be the next scapegoat? Whose business? Whose manor? Whose life and wealth will be lost?"

Federico looked at the various names of his ancestors on the rock, dating from different eras, and sighed:
When will this power struggle among the big shots finally end?

Thales paused in his steps.

"When will this end...?"

Thales said quietly:

“I never expected to hear these words from you, Crimson Iris.”

Upon hearing this new nickname he had acquired among the people, Federico's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Thales's gaze swept over a name inscribed on the rock:
Federico the Parrot

To repay the wise ruler's trust and grace, the person who named Kongming Palace and his three good-for-nothing children worked diligently, but unfortunately, they were unlucky and one careless move almost caused the entire Emerald City to be destroyed overnight, leaving countless people with broken homes and dead.

As a consequence, the parrot king was almost forced to atone with his death, and ultimately abdicated in disgrace, living in seclusion in the deep palace until his death in melancholy.

Of course, Kevin Deer has a long history, and not every generation can be outstanding.

Most people are actually just average.

That's all I can do.

"Tell me, when you set off from the Eastern Continent to return home for revenge and to reclaim your throne, did you ever consider the cost of this journey?"

Thales looked at Federico's name on the giant rock and felt a pang of sympathy:
"I mean, the price that the entire Emerald City, and even the entire South Bank Territory, will have to pay?"

Federico's expression instantly darkened.

cost?

Perhaps he should ask the innocent victims, including his father, who were purged, persecuted, and silenced by Janne and his cronies eleven years ago.

Why didn't anyone dare to question the new Duke back then: What price did Emerald City pay?
"Don't misunderstand, I just felt compelled to speak."

Thales turned around, saw his expression, and smiled to smooth things over:
“We went to great lengths to negotiate and mediate, and finally managed to balance the interests and calm the situation, but in the end there were still ‘people with ulterior motives’ who couldn’t stand to see Emerald City in peace.”

Federico took a deep breath: "Your Highness..."

"The history of stars has never been without bloodshed."

Thales recalled the cataclysmic events of the Night of Dragonblood, his desperate escape and all-or-nothing gamble that day, and the utter destruction of the Dragonsreach Shield District, and couldn't help but feel sorrow:
"Tell me, are these rare days of peace truly worthless to some people?"

Federico remained silent for a long while, his gaze also fixed on the name of the parrot on the rock.

“Perhaps it’s not that I can’t stand seeing Emerald City peaceful,” Fede said quietly, “but that I can’t stand seeing Emerald City ‘like this’ peaceful.”

"Oh?"

Thales pondered his words and stopped walking.

"You mean, the current 'stability' achieved through the concessions and collective compromises of the three of us is making certain 'opportunistic' people unhappy?"

Federico's eyes sharpened:
"Exactly. Therefore, when Vice High Priest Fiebel brings his entourage to the audience later, His Highness, facing the expectations of the entire city, should respond impartially and directly, explaining the advantages and disadvantages and reasoning with them, so as to deter the villains behind the scenes."

Thales frowned.

Behind-the-scenes villains.

I'm afraid it's not that small.

"Your Highness might as well take this opportunity to tell the whole city: it's not that you don't want peace, but that 'those with ulterior motives' are relentless and unwilling to let things be peaceful."

Thales scoffed and continued climbing the stairs:
"Someone with a purpose... very good, is it you, or Jenn? Or perhaps it's myself?"

“None of them,” Federico replied calmly, “but there are always people who are, there are always people who ‘must’ be.”

Thales suddenly looked up.

"You should know that no matter how much the three of us act in a relaxed and cheerful manner, showing that the situation has been resolved peacefully and implying that no one will be held accountable, there will always be people in Emerald City who are unwilling and resentful."

Federico's deliberately slanted emphasis on pronunciation caught Thales's eye.

"Because it is clear to everyone that after this incident, Emerald City and even the South Bank Territory will inevitably face a major upheaval."

"A major change... "It's not a major change," Thales said somewhat awkwardly, recalling the terms he had agreed upon with the two Kevin Deer. "At most, it's a minor change."

It's just a matter of adding a viscount and a few more reforms.

If things really change drastically...

Then he wouldn't even need to go through any three-way compromise; he could just beat Janin into a patricide, shove him headfirst into the toilet, and flush him away. Wouldn't that be perfect?
It's possible that if things go wrong, it could drag Kevin Deer and even Emerald City down with it.

Incidentally, he splashed himself, and even the kingdom, with blood.

Maybe.

Thales' inner voice carefully considered:

Perhaps that's what the "well-intentioned" person is thinking.

Especially those who feel that peaceful days are worthless compared to their goals and interests.

“Of course,” Federico immediately changed his words and tone according to the prince’s words, “and those who will suffer the most in the ‘minor change’ will undoubtedly be those who have made a fortune in the Emerald City by taking advantage of their established advantages.”

Previously, they had made a fortune thanks to Emerald City, becoming huge beneficiaries.
Wouldn't that be... um?

Thales suddenly sensed something was wrong, stopped and looked at the other person.

"Therefore, these people have joined forces to incite unrest through conspiracies, such as sending assassins to cause trouble at the temple, or plotting to murder the Duke's sister, in order to undermine His Highness's prestige and sow discord among the three of us, fearing that Emerald City would not be in chaos."

Federico spoke slowly, word by word:
"And they will pay the price,"

Thales looked at the other person with surprise.

"This is the answer the vice-high priests will receive: His Highness will respond with thunder and lightning, making an example of them."

This Federico...

Could it be that he has Aaron's bloodline?
“I spoke too soon,” Thales frowned and clicked his tongue, his emotions complicated. “You’re no longer in a hurry to take the opportunity to kill Jenn. Instead, you’re thinking about how to take down his power and kill his supporters.”

It's about digging up Jenn's roots.

"Your Highness is too kind; I dare not accept such praise."

"You dare to say such a thing when you don't deserve it?"

Federico remained silent for a long while.

"I cannot deny the benefits I gained from doing this, nor can I deny that I may have had ulterior motives when I made my suggestions."

“But if the future of Emerald City is truly as Your Highness foresees, and after the ‘minor change’ it is under the control of Janne, with me overseeing it from the sidelines,” Federico changed the subject, “then there are some things we must plan ahead for, especially before your glorious return leaves the triangle incomplete and Emerald City falls into imbalance again.”

Thales couldn't help but recall the words of the barber Balta:
[...Only when the calamity truly arrives, destroying, annihilating, and reshaping, forcing everyone on this land, especially those who have benefited most from the rise of Emerald City, to change and achieve a new balance...can the problems of Emerald City be truly resolved.]

Before that, all attempts at remediation were merely adding fuel to the fire, not only futile but also presumptuous.

"Do you know what this means for Emerald City?"

Thales's expression was grave:
“You know, in order to reach a compromise, I used both threats and inducements, and it was not easy to win them over and appease them—especially Jenn’s supporters…”

“So this is where Jenn comes in handy and shows his abilities,” Federico said coldly. “If I remember correctly, he was one of the three who swore an oath.”

Thales looked up and stared at him in disbelief.

“His sister is injured and bedridden,” Thales sighed. “I thought you would at least let your cousin off the hook for one more day.”

"That's why he might compromise for his sister: the sooner he accepts, the safer Hillary will be."

Thales paused in his steps.

He put his hands behind his back, looked up, and gazed at the names on the rock, recalling what he had learned in history class:

Turnbull, nicknamed "The Landlubber," was a suspicious and ambitious man who enjoyed immense success in his early years but became arrogant and self-destructive, ultimately trapping himself in his own downfall. His life was manipulated and controlled by the Iron-Thorned Queen Dowager, and he eventually died in a foolish and ridiculous internal strife.

Queen Priscilla, the widow of King Regret, is a legendary woman who, with the king's unborn child, became embroiled in the royal family's "blood debt struggle": she first married King Regret for the sake of her family's interests, then remarried to her "creditor" for the safety of her young son, and finally remarried to the "surviving king" for the sake of the kingdom's overall situation.

A contemporary proverb goes, "The king may be changed, but the queen remains forever." Having endured humiliation and been crowned queen three times, she was less a bride to the king and more a bride to the kingdom.

(Of course, in the writings of bards and novelists, the friendship, feuds, and even secret feelings between Priscilla and Princess Elise, who married into the Emerald City, are undoubtedly more captivating. Some later works featuring them as protagonists were even unable to be published.)
"Golden Duke" Ballard, as the younger brother of "Queen Everlasting," lived under his sister's protection. Despite being a royal son-in-law, he was blind to the ways of the world. He first offended Erika, the conqueror of the north, and then angered the Red King. On the way to the guillotine, he was finally pardoned by the newly crowned wise king, but he went insane after that.

(As for why he had this nickname, one story is that he unearthed a crystal mine in Emerald City when he was young, making him incredibly wealthy. Another story is that when he was being led to the guillotine by the royal guards and the executioner was reading his charges, he... lost control of his bladder in front of everyone.)
"So this is your suggestion: find a political enemy to take the blame and make an example of them? Do you think that will satisfy the Sunset Deputy High Priest who came to question us? And put the people of Emerald City at ease?" Thales frowned.

"Given the current situation, whether they are satisfied or at ease is secondary. What truly matters," Federico said coldly, "is that only then can those with ulterior motives be satisfied."

In that instant, Thales felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head.

He resisted the urge to reach for the bone ring in his pocket.

"Federalo, do you really have no way to contact the Royal Secret Service?"

Thales said softly:

Even if they contact you directly?

“I swear on my father’s honor that I have not been in contact with them for many days and have no connection with this matter.”

Thales raised his eyes:
"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Federico stated unequivocally:

“But it’s not just me who’s sure, Your Highness is too: you must be sure, and you can only be sure—even the Emerald City must be sure.”

The blood-red iris slowly raised its head:
"The mastermind behind the Temple Assassin case, and even the attack on Hillay that has not yet been reported, is a supporter of Jenn. It can only be a supporter of Jenn, it must be a supporter of Jenn."

What a huge pot!

Thales said in a deep voice:

Even if they aren't actually...?

"I know that Your Highness has superb skills and would not stoop to framing and slander, so I have also thought of a way to achieve the best of both worlds."

"Oh?" Thales' eyes lit up.

“As long as they are the masterminds first,” Federico said methodically, “whether they are the masterminds or not, and who among them is the mastermind, can be decided flexibly and at Your Highness’s discretion afterward.”

Federico deliberately emphasized the last few words, which made Thales's brow twitch.

“Now, Your Highness only needs to make a show of force, while the specific damage and targets are controllable,” Federico said confidently. “I believe that in the face of disaster, as long as the situation is made clear, there are plenty of smart people among both the old guard in Emerald City and Jann’s supporters. As for those who are not so smart, I also believe that with Your Highness’s shrewdness and skillful handling of the situation between me and Jann, you will be able to keep the future damage within an acceptable range.”

Thales' eyes flickered: "You mean..."

As if that wasn't enough, Federer took a step forward and lowered his voice:

"And I've heard that while you were busy mediating, whether it was Kalabyan of the Vora Territory, Lasia of the Zedi, or any other Tom, Dick, or Harry... they all showed you a lot of disrespect, even disobeying you in name only? I think that's because you're new here and don't want to use your status to intimidate people, so you don't yet have the leverage to subdue them and fully control Emerald City and even the South Bank Territory—'for now'."

After hearing this series of words, Thales couldn't help but turn and stare at Federico again.

He realized one thing again:
The thin, wiry man before me was a true descendant of Kevin Deer.

“And Your Highness, don’t forget what we’re here for, or what ‘people with good intentions’ can do,” Federico said worriedly. “I know Your Highness has other ideas, but for now, only by doing this, by using a roundabout approach to show our attitude and stance, can we prevent similar accidents from happening again, and only then can your idea of ​​mediating the situation and reducing the cost to Emerald City have any hope of being achieved.”

Thales fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

What are we here for?

Depose the Duke, destroy Jenn.

"But what if doing that doesn't work?"

The prince strode forward, and Federico followed methodically.

"This is better than nothing..."

“Do you think that someone would go to such lengths, targeting Hillay, causing trouble at the temple, and even killing my men?” Thales suddenly looked up. “Would they still allow us to maintain the original plan and allow you and Jann to coexist in the ‘Triangular Balance’?”

Thales stared at Federico until the latter politely looked away:

"Fed, do you really not know what they want, what they will bring, and what price they are willing to pay?"

Or perhaps he actually knew.

A voice deep within Thales sighed:

Maybe he just doesn't care.

Perhaps he wanted to see the alliance break down and the balance broken under external forces.

Federico lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.

When he raised his head again, his words were cold and ruthless:
“I know what Your Highness is doubting, I understand what Your Highness is worried about, I know what Your Highness is concerned about, and I even have a vague idea of ​​what Your Highness is hesitating about, what you are dissatisfied with, or even what you are angry about.”

Thales clenched his fist:
"I am calm and not angry."

Faced with the situation, there are others who are not calm.

“But Thales,” the exiled son of Kevin Deer, who had been living in exile for many years, said firmly, addressing the prince by his first name in a rare and impolite manner, “whether it is you or me, we can only talk about resistance if we first have weapons in hand and bargaining chips in our hands.”

But Thales frowned:
"So, according to this logic, unarmed people have no right to resist and should just accept their fate."

“It is precisely because we are unarmed that we must seek weapons,” Federico calmly retorted. “Otherwise, even if we resist, we will only be left with a defeat that will be ridiculed.”

Especially when there is overwhelming power and no respite.

"You mean, resistance is only meaningful when you can win?"

“I didn’t say that. But it’s true, things will fall into place when the time is right,” Federico said sincerely, using subtle language, “especially when time and the future are on your side.”

Thales frowned deeply, unable to relax for a long time.

“I know these words will disappoint you,” Federico said quietly, “but Your Highness, perhaps it is time for you to make a choice…”

select.

What choice?

Thales didn't answer, but turned to look at the other side of the giant rock, trying to escape from the suffocating pressure.

Just then, the prince stopped in his tracks.

He suddenly realized that, without their knowledge, they had reached the center of the giant rock.

Above that is the main palace.

Below that is the outer fortress.

At the center of the ancestral rock, an enormous name is engraved, impossible to ignore.

"Is he the only one who carved it here?"

Thales suddenly spoke, interrupting Federer:
"Didn't the first Duke of Leinster have any brothers or sisters?"

Federico turned his head and looked at the name in the center of the giant rock, his expression changing slightly.

Lenster Peritius Terentz Kevindil.

Deadly Iris.

The legendary first Duke who guarded the South Bank.

The last loyalist of the Empire, the last secret agent of the Secret Army, a participant in the final war, the cunning strategist of the Restoration King, the founder of the Kingdom's Secret Service, and the creator of the Kevin Deer family's legacy.

Clearly, his name had been etched on the giant rock for so long that even the alumina alloy had faded and turned black, requiring skilled craftsmen to repair it regularly.

“Yes,” Federico said quietly.

After all, like many ancient surnames that have survived to this day, Kevindir had another spelling in the Imperial Age: Clementius.

"But clearly, none of them were worthy of the approval of the First Ancestor and his descendants, and were qualified to have their names engraved in stone."

“So the Deadly Iris is all alone here,” Thales remarked. “It’s a bit lonely.”

"not necessarily."

Thales turned around.

"In that earth-shaking era, compared to blood relatives of the same surname, the King of Restoration and his five other comrades-in-arms were perhaps more like true brothers and sisters to the First Ancestor."

Federico was implying something:
"The Star Kingdom is the family they all belong to, making them no longer alone."

Thales was silent for a moment, then smiled.

“Did you know that the Shining Star Chamber beneath the Palace of Restoration is also very interesting? Next to the urns of the kings of each generation, there are also urns containing the ashes of their closest relatives—except for the King of Restoration.”

Duke of Starlake sighed:
"He was not cremated, but buried according to the ancient imperial rites, lying alone in the coffin, accompanied only by a seven-star crown and perhaps two gold coins covering his eyes."

Lonely.

That's not surprising.

After all, Tormund I's half-brothers and sisters who shared the same father and the rightful imperial blood, including the last crown prince, probably all perished at sea along with the final imperial capital.

As a "bastard," the King of Restoration inherited only one thing from his emperor father, who was "possessing the wealth of the seven seas and ruling the world."

Only the seven stars in the sky.

"And the kingdom."

"Hmm?" Thales turned his gaze.

“Like the first ancestor of Lenster, His Majesty the King of Restoration is not alone,” Federico said, his gaze resolute as he looked at the name of his first ancestor. “When he closes his eyes in eternal sleep, what surrounds and accompanies him through the long night is the great kingdom he painstakingly built through hardships and overcoming countless difficulties…”

He looked at Thales:

"...This is the day for you and me, and for countless people across the stars."

That wouldn't be companionship, but rather being buried alive with someone.

Thales swallowed his untimely retort.

“I don’t know why, Federico, but I feel like you’re acting a little different than usual,” he quickened his pace as they continued up the steps. “Has something changed?”

Federico's gaze sharpened.

"Yes, after that day, especially after negotiating with His Highness and Jann, I thought about it all night and realized something."

"That is?"

“Take the temple assassination case as an example. No matter who did it or why, we don’t need to and can’t dwell on it anymore.”

Federico stared intently at Thales:
"Since it has already happened, we must go with the flow, follow its course, deal with its challenges as they arise, mitigate its risks, and seize its opportunities."

Thales continued walking, remaining silent for a moment:

"Are you sure you didn't contact the Kingdom's Secret Service?"

"I swore an oath."

“Your Highness, if this is truly troubling you,” Federico said in a deep voice, “why not go directly to Xinyong Star City and seek… advice?”

Thales clenched his fist and looked up again.

"Ah, I know this person."

Thales frowned as he looked at the new name that had appeared on the giant rock:
"'Wild Boar' Cork. He once held immense power, even launching a rebellion that forced King Eight Fingers to admit his mistake. It is said that he also slapped Hyman I hard, yet he still lived out his days peacefully and died a natural death."

Federico nodded:
"Yes. But Duke Cork's peaceful death was not without reason..."

But beneath the Duke of Cork's silver-plated name, Thales unsurprisingly saw a woman's name:
Regina Kevindeer.

The Emerald Queen.

The protagonist of Chapter Six of The Jade City Mystery.

"...He may seem stubborn and domineering, but he is actually flexible, adaptable, and knows when to back down. Just look at how he managed to marry his daughter to Prince Hyman..." Federico continued.

Thales, however, seemed lost in thought.

Regina.

How did this woman, who lived countless generations ago, manage to do it?
How did she, with her frail body, step onto the stage, enter the game, fight against her family, cooperate with her sworn enemies, resist the darkest and deepest desires and ambitions in the hearts of those in power, mediate with all sides, and help millions of people in the kingdom extinguish the flames of war and create peace?

Behind that legendary story, what price did she pay to achieve all of this?
Thales continued on his way and soon saw another name he had seen in a book before:

"Goat Horn" Kirk.

It is said that this duke was indecisive and fickle, indulging in material desires and pleasures, yet he had many talented subordinates and frequently encountered influential people throughout his life (especially his aunt, the more famous old woman Mela), leading to endless debate among scholars throughout history:

How did such a foolish and incompetent ruler, who would have been devoured in a chaotic world, manage to lay the foundation for the prosperity and well-being of Emerald City today?

“You know, I sometimes think: the family line continues unbroken, but there is only one ancestral rock.”

Thales suddenly spoke, interrupting Federer with a sigh:
"What will happen if one day this giant rock is covered with names?"

Federico paused for a moment.

He gave Thales a deep look, then looked at the ancestral rock covered with names.

“Your Highness, please look: that is Matteo Kevindir, the fourth Duke of the South Bank.”

Federico pointed diagonally upwards:
"As the son-in-law of John Blackeye, he reclaimed and built fortresses, towns, and cities on the southern shore mudflats after the Great Rift, especially in the final battle. He was known as the 'Sea Archer' and was the one who truly laid the foundation for the basic territory of the southern shore."

Those who entwine the sea.

Thales had an idea.

“Like everyone else,” Federico said quietly, “once it’s full, I’ll find a new one.”

Continue engraving names.

"What if it's not enough for a full moment?" Thales remarked.

"Please forgive me?" Federico was taken aback.

Thales sighed:
"The world is ever-changing, and dynasties rise and fall. Let alone whether your family's ancestral rock will be fully engraved, even the Shining Star Tomb of the Restoration Palace may not live to see the day when it is filled with the family's ashes."

I don't know about the others, but the coffins of the emperors of the empire are, well, in the end, in the sea.

Thales curled his lip.

Perhaps... only the merfolk living in the sea can see it.

“That makes sense… but at this moment, Jen is the one in charge of the family,” Federico said, narrowing his eyes meaningfully. “What to do when the ancestral rock carvings are full, and what to do when they are not… that’s a problem only he has the right to worry about.”

Thales remained silent for a long time.

Whether Jenn is worried about the ancestral rock being covered in carvings, they may not know.

However, it was clear that when they arrived at Hilla's bedroom, the current Duke of the South Bank had other worries to worry about.

"Thales, cousin, you've finally arrived..."

Thales and Federico stood at the bedroom door, looking at Hilly lying on the bed, still unconscious, with mixed feelings.

Jann Kevin Deer stood up at her bedside, his voice hoarse.

The moment they saw each other clearly, Thales and Federico were both stunned, incredulous.

“Jan, you…”

"Cousin..."

The once spirited young duke now had sunken eyes, a withered appearance, an unshaven beard, and looked as haggard as a skeleton.

"I guess you've already discussed it..."

Jann looked at them through his bloodshot eyes and let out a miserable laugh that sounded like a broken bellows:

"How are you going to sell me?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sebastian IX held a banquet at the High Palace, where wine was drunk, music was played, and the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely.

Sometimes, illegitimate children would come to court and behave inappropriately, so the crown prince would intervene.

The Emperor was displeased and questioned him by name. He said that his mother had been convicted of a crime and died of illness. He dared to inform his father and asked for leniency in burying her.

The emperor, drunk, clapped his hands and laughed:

"Though I possess the seven seas and rule the universe, I have nothing to leave to my lowly and illegitimate son. Considering your mother's minor troubles, I bestow upon you the seven stars in the sky. Go quickly! Be careful not to speak recklessly of your imperial lineage and tarnish my royal heritage."

Everyone around laughed, and the banquet continued as before.

The illegitimate son defied the emperor and presumptuously entered the palace, causing a great uproar. Guards entered the palace, but only the crown prince spoke gently and dismissed the weapons.

The next day, the emperor rose and heard that his illegitimate son had fled during the night, and was known at the time as the "Seven Star Emperor's Son".

The emperor was furious and executed over a hundred palace women, prison guards, and imperial guards. He also launched a massive search of the capital region, but to no avail.

If someone offers advice to the emperor but it is not accepted, and the advice is offered again, the person will be punished.

The divination and shaman performed a ritual, and the prophecy stated:
"A wicked child carrying seven stars may become a thief; if not dealt with, there will be trouble."

He then dispatched secret troops to search the entire territory.

The proclamation reached the northern regions, Shawan, and Green Heart, where traces of the wicked son were found. People from the three provinces and villages vied to hide him, but to no avail.

Before long, the matter was exposed, and the people of the clan and village were evacuated for several miles along the river.

The three provinces then joined the rebels.

The emperor fell ill from worry and said:

"Indeed! I regret not having met this fiend in the first place, then how could I have bestowed upon him the Seven Stars!"

—Excerpt from Ludwig Anlossous Unelopes's *The Last Emperor of the Final Empire: Chapter Thirteen* (End of Chapter)