Kingdom’s Bloodline

"Are you sure I don't need to wear this? Ms. Ginny said, at the banquet..." In the room, Thales frowned, holding up a small lace vest, and asked Putilai.

And these are also the luggage that the mission has worked so hard to carry along with the flag, isn't it?

"This is in Exeter, in the Northland," the well-dressed Putillai looked at him disdainfully: "Even at banquets, they hate little boys and sissies the most... If you really want to put that thing on Come on—I think you'd be a serious contender for the Banquet Clown."

Thales stuck out his tongue and dropped his vest.

"Ah, you know," Ada, who was sitting by the window, came back to her senses and sighed regretfully, "A banquet without clowns is boring."

Nerves have been tense for nearly a month, leaving Thales with no time to care about other things. From the abandoned house to Red Square Street, from Mindis Hall to Fuxing Palace, and then from Broken Dragon Fortress to Dragon Clouds City, the new second prince was rushed into the noble carriage without even sleeping in his own bed, and put him in a The prince's shackles, facing a different kind of challenge he has never seen before.

So it wasn't until the servant and Michael came to remind them that Thales suddenly realized that he didn't have any experience and insight in attending noble banquets at all.

Facing swordsmen, blood races, and magicians, he didn't lose his composure, and suddenly became a little nervous.

"Don't worry," Putilei pointed out the Northland tobacco that he got from the servant disapprovingly, "Compared to the standards of the Stars and the Principality of Anrenzo, Exeter's banquet is simply a camp picnic for the chief soldiers—— If you know the style of Hamble and Suye, my God, their banquet etiquette is simply suffering."

"Etiquette, decoration, fashion, style, these efforts to distinguish identities, separate status and class, and classify people have never stopped," Thales tried his best to calm down the anxiety in his heart with small talk. Adjusting his shoes in front of the full-length mirror, he sighed, "After tonight is over, I must take a shower..."

"Let's think about tonight's business first." Puttilai seemed unaccustomed to the choking tobacco in the Northland. He coughed and said with difficulty: "Ahem, damn, what they sent is inferior goods—"

Puttilai's words seemed to have magical powers, making Thales suddenly forget that the banquet was imminent, and seriously think about the situation in front of him.

The door rang.

Rolf stepped on his increasingly proficient metal plate prosthesis and walked in. It seemed that this was the first time he had encountered such an occasion, and his face was a little pale when exposed outside the silver mask.

And Wyatt who came later appeared calmer, as if he had seen such a scene before.

"Your Highness," Thales' attendant nodded solemnly, "everything is ready."

Rolf beside him gestured:

[They are coming. 】

Thales nodded.

The second prince took a deep breath, and under Puttilai's bewildered expression, Huai Ya and his frowning brows, he gestured back:

[Let's go. 】

————

When the sun had not fully set, Exeter's welcome banquet had already begun.

Led by the king's officer Michael and a group of servants, Thales walked beside Putillai, followed by Rolf and Wyah... As for Ada, everyone agreed that she was not suitable for such an operation.

"I don't know your Highness's understanding of the banquet in the North, but I must remind you that the distinguished guests of the stars may not be used to our banquet," Lord Michael said blankly: "And tonight is quite special ..."

Thales responded with a friendly and understanding smile.

The group of them stepped on the rough floor tiles of the Palace of Heroes, and stepped up the stone steps.

"The feasting hall is the place where King Nakaru hosted the nine knights. It is said that the banquet for the heroes of the North lasted for three days and three nights, eating up almost all of their captures during the battle," Michael said respectfully for them. Introducing the place he was about to go to: "It is also in this place, amidst the cheers inside and outside the castle, Nakaru Ax was elected king."

Thales stepped on the last stone step,

Come to the sixth-floor corridor of the Palace of Heroes.

There were loud and noisy voices.

The ground on this floor is almost seven or eight meters high from the ceiling. There are a large number of braziers here, which are supported on shelves one by one, evenly filling the entire corridor, burning blazingly, illuminating the Palace of Heroes after the sun goes down. Like daytime.

Different from the corridors full of rooms on other floors, the corridor on this floor only has a thick wooden double door in the center. The servants who come and go come and go with happy faces, either carrying plates or holding wine barrels, coming in and out.

Thales took a deep breath, exchanged glances with his subordinates, and led by Michael, stepped into the banquet hall of the Palace of Heroes.

The noisy discussions, the clinking of wine glasses, the screeching of knives, and even the noise of arguing started to invade and torture his ears.

Thales raised his head and saw the hall clearly.

This is a ring-shaped hall, with the triangular flag of the dragon gun in the cloud hanging on the wall, burning braziers are lit in every corner, and there are several bright ceiling lights hanging on the ceiling (thank God, Thales I thought the only lighting fixtures in the Palace of Heroes were braziers), and servants appeared at the side door and barbecue grills from time to time, delivering waves of food and drinks to the venue.

The banquet hall is large enough to accommodate hundreds of people—and it is true now, at least one or two hundred people sit around a dozen or so parallel rectangular tables. Passage for servants and guests.

Thales frowned and looked around. In the far part of the hall, he couldn't see because of his height, and it was Puttilai who explained softly in his ear.

But the atmosphere in the arena was very lively.

Busy servants coming and going with plates, rude nobles arguing loudly at the table, and guests who have been drinking red-faced for some time, and lewd nobles laughing and touching from time to time Passing by the maid's ass, aroused a burst of yelling.

The five princes sat at the head of the five long tables with different expressions: the bearded Prince Olsius turned his wine glass absent-mindedly, surrounded by almost all families with round emblems in triangular sets. Knights or subordinate lords; the shaved head of the Grand Duke Trudida and the surrounding subjects laughed together, as if they were at ease in communication; the bald Grand Duke of Lecco sat with the Marquis of Shiles of the Commus Alliance , listened carefully to the latter's slow speech; the long-haired Grand Duke Ronnie still had a serious face, as if he had a cool aura, the long table he was sitting at was the most deserted, and no one dared to come forward to talk to him, only the servants and subordinates behind him Adding food or wine to him from time to time; the young Grand Duke Peifei raised his glass with a smile on his face, talking to the various nobles who sat around and didn't know whether they were their princes or their entourage. They nodded frequently, and then drank the wine in their glasses together.

There was a lot of toasting and drinking—it was a replica of the drinking and drinking between the villagers and soldiers in the Northland in Aikou Village.

If Thales hadn't raised his head, on the horizontal table at the end of the hall, he would have almost forgotten that Nun VII was surrounded by White Blade Guards and sitting silently drinking among several close courtiers. Those swords and swords lurking in the plot tonight are gone.

It is almost forgotten that these five Dali have a conspirator who is so bold as to murder the princes of the two countries.

"I don't know, so the banquet has already started." Thales turned his head and said helplessly.

"Most of the nobles have already taken their seats," Michael said calmly, "His Majesty Nun is waiting for your arrival."

Thales narrowed his eyes, finally took a look at Nun VII in the distance, and noticed that he still had a cold expression on his face.

The king seemed to have noticed his gaze, and his old but sharp eyes swept towards him.

"Then it's about to start." Puttilai mumbled intentionally or unintentionally behind him.

Thales sighed slightly in his heart.

A few seconds later, the waiter at the side announced his identity in a loud voice under Michael's signal:

"A distinguished guest from the Kingdom of Stars, His Royal Highness Prince Thales Canxing!"

The sound spread to every corner of the hall, and there was even an echo.

The noisy banquet suddenly fell silent.

At a dozen or so long tables, almost everyone stopped what they were doing—whether they were drinking, cutting meat, chatting, fighting or even molesting the maid, countless eyes were cast on them.

Even many servants, guards on guard, and even the White Blade Guard looked in this direction.

Thales recognized this feeling—the last time, it was at the state meeting in the Hall of Stars in Eternal Star City.

"Should I laugh at this time?" Thales's expression remained unchanged, his lips moved slightly, feeling the various gazes ranging from malicious and murderous intent to curiosity and friendliness: "It's better to put on a dead face, which is more in line with my identity as an enemy prince ?”

"Relax, relax, they started early, and they didn't even arrange the order of seating... You don't have to make a fuss and wait in full force." Puttilai looked at the anxious prince and sighed: "It doesn't matter what expression you have, you are just one side now. Banner called 'Star'."

The expressionless Michael nodded to Thales, and politely stretched out his right hand, signaling him to move forward.

"Should I just go straight ahead? Or stay behind and wait for someone to greet you?" Thales ignored Michael, frowning under the pressure of all eyes, and asked Putile behind him in a low voice.

"If you are in the stars, of course you have to wait for the master to send someone to take you to your seat, but this is Exeter," Puttilai frowned and glanced at the messy hall. Many guests seemed to have given up the temptation of curiosity, even Already started to bite the food that was served: "Don't expect so much etiquette - just walk to your seat without squinting, I guess it's the one next to King Nunn."

Thales showed an amiable and amiable smile that he imagined a "prince" should have, and walked forward.

Unlike Xingchen, who insisted on rules and etiquette in everything, there was not even a carpet in the feasting hall. He stepped on the uneven floor tiles, feeling like he had returned to an abandoned house.

He walked past the long table, whispering in his ears, and his good hearing showed its effectiveness at this time:

"Is that the brat prince?"

"I heard that it has been lost for many years..."

"Seven years old? Are you kidding me?"

"The people of Xingchen passed him on like a god, you know, a genius...huh!"

"So our army is immobilized because of this child?"

"Heisha leader made a mess at the border...the wrath of the kingdom..."

"Rumba sent troops to send him over..."

"If this battle is still going to be fought, it must wait until the beginning of spring..."

Thales went straight forward without looking sideways, towards Nun VII who was also staring at him with unknown eyes.

Finally, more and more nobles exhausted their curiosity, gave up the idea of ​​seeing the prince's face, and returned to the rhythm of the banquet.

The nobles in the Northland are very different from their counterparts in the stars. The latter always behave gracefully in the Hall of Stars. Even the rural nobles sitting on the outermost periphery must try their best to look like civilized people. Behavior and manners, or clothing decorations-this also makes the three northern families headed by Aarond, Forrest, and Zemuto and their subordinate nobles stand out among the vassals of the stars.

But the group of northern nobles in front of them may have different status and personalities, but without exception, they behave like rough men: from sitting posture to eating appearance, from appearance to clothing, even when drinking, they have to deliberately show off Grunt, drip a few more drops from the edge of the beard, and then slam the bottom of the cup onto the table, loudly scolding the opponent, or being scolded by the opponent.

While silently observing the behavior patterns of this group of nobles, Thales walked between the long tables on both sides. He couldn't help noticing that there were almost no female relatives in this banquet except for the maids.

"Will appear here, the people behind the banquet hall are all low-ranking nobles, lords and vassals, meritorious knights, specially invited bureaucrats, etc.," Puttilai reminded lightly behind him: "The one in front of you on the left is dressed The one who is good is the servant who delivers the food, and the one in the right rear corner who is grilling meat on the stove looks like a servant, but in fact is the goose officer in charge of cooking the meat, usually only the lord's more trusted vassal can be in charge."

"Let my close ministers go to barbecue—the goose officer? Why?" Thales didn't look back, he wondered: "Shouldn't it be something the back kitchen does, or is it a kind of honor?"

"Hmph, my prince," Puttilai said calmly, "Do you know that in the history of the empire, how many intentions of assassination and poisonous murder originated in that corner of the silent barbecue?"

Thales shut his mouth and did not speak.

They walked through the middle of the long table. Sure enough, from here on, the "quality" of the nobles in the North seems to have risen with the status. The whispered murmurs of unknown meaning rose straight up.

"The open space in the center of the hall...if it is placed in the stars or Anrenzo, it will be a dance floor and performance venue, but in the Northland," Puttilai walked past a few guests with bad faces, ignoring a rude nobleman beside him He cursed in a low voice, pointed to a circular space in the middle of the hall, and twitched his cheeks: "According to my experience, when the wine is full, don't be surprised even if you see two thick guys desperately trying to fuck each other on it."

Thales frowned when he heard Puttilai speak foul language for the first time: "Is it really good to use this language to the prince?"

"Do as the Romans do, many years ago I saw a noble princess of Exeter who stood on the street and cursed with words like '***." As a prince, you are quite used to these terms."

"Ah, as your Royal Highness, I am like the noble princes in many poems and legends." Thales looked at the several grand dukes who were already at the table in the distance, and covered it calmly: "Once upon a time To taste the hardships of the people is both virtuous and good."

Putilei snorted softly.

They finally reached the end of the long table.

Among the people closest to them, the highest ranked was the Grand Duke Aurelius.

"No music and bards, no clowns and burlesque shows, no pretty women, no maids with big breasts, no roasted pigs, no jousting of good men, no fun with the people in tents all over the city and beyond, Thales heard Grand Duke Olesi complaining displeasedly to the lords around him, then turned around, and shouted dissatisfiedly in the direction of King Nun:

"What kind of fucking party is this?"

Contrary to Thales' expectations, many northern nobles echoed in unison and protested in the direction of King Nun.

Like a vegetable market... Thales sighed, and suddenly remembered that he had given the same evaluation to the National Conference before, and couldn't help being taken aback.

But King Nuen just stared coldly at the chaotic nobles off the field, without any reaction.

A loud but eerie voice sounded from the other side of the long table, responding to Olsio:

"First of all, this is on the eve of the extreme cold. Except for lunatics like Lumbard, the entire Northland is saving food and clothing, and storing food for the winter. Secondly," Grand Duke Trudida squinted his eyes and stood up, watching from a distance. Looking at Prince Thales, who was fidgeting in the field:

"This dinner is to welcome that unpopular Star Prince!"

The nobles around him stood up one after another, booing to this side.

Everyone in Thales and Xingchen frowned almost at the same time.

"Finally, Lebion Aurelius, when you live in other people's castles and palaces, eat and drink his... hey, maybe fuck him," Grand Duke Trudida said to a *** *** The maid glanced at it and smiled amusedly: "Then it's best not to dictate the master's arrangements."

Some northern nobles laughed inexplicably.

Olsio shook his head disdainfully and sat back on the chair.

Thales finally came in front of King Nun and bowed slightly to him.

King Nun stared at him, his green eyes were full of complex emotions.

This made Thales extremely uneasy.

From the moment he stepped into Exeter, the Grand Duke of Lombard, the Viscount Cambida, and even the five grand dukes present, every lord he met was not a simple person, but Thales, who had experienced many storms, was able to calm down Face their hostility, intimidation, oppression and even murderous intent on the ground.

Because Thales clearly knew what they wanted.

Only the old king in front of him, the king who had already stood at the peak of Exeter's power, made him puzzled.

The strange emotions hidden in the eyes of the other party, the act of forcing him to cooperate with revenge, and the words and deeds in the conference hall all made Thales feel chills in his heart-even though the conversation between them was only a few words.

Unpredictable people are always scary.

In the meantime, King Nun slowly stood up and raised his hand towards the leader of the White Blade Guard behind him, Nikolai.

Nicolai nodded, and he walked up to Thales: "Please take a seat, your seat is at the end of His Majesty's left hand."

Thales turned his head and looked at the unoccupied seat at the end of the row of horizontal tables.

Although he is in the same row as the king, but... how far away from King Nun.

Almost the corner.

Putilai behind him sighed.

Thales shrugged and walked towards his seat indifferently.

Rolf and Wyah followed closely.

But before he could sit on his butt, a familiar yet unfamiliar old voice sounded in the hall:

"Everyone, raise your glasses!"

Thales turned his head in a daze, and Puttilai beside him remained unchanged, and handed him a glass of rye wine in an iron cup with great experience.

"Toast." The thin deputy envoy said calmly.

Thales turned his head, watched the King Nuen who had just lost his son leave his seat, raised his glass, and said loudly to the audience:

"Welcome our guests...the second prince from the Kingdom of Stars——Thales Canxing!"

The resurgent noise in the hall fell silent again.

I saw the old king slowly stepping out of his seat and walking towards the front of the hall.

Stepping dangerously like an old lion, stepping out of its territory and into the territory of other prides.

The five princes stared at him intently, toasting from a distance, with different expressions.

"May the north wind measure his courage, and the ice and snow wash away his perseverance!"

"Because of the reasons you all know, I can't welcome his arrival with joy." King Nun looked around, his expression firm but his words cold: "But he is already here!"

All the nobles present listened quietly to their king's speech.

Many eyes cast towards Thales' corner.

"Then don't let anyone doubt the enthusiasm of the Northlanders and the tenacity of the Exeters—even if they are life and death enemies!" King Nunn knocked on the wine glass, with a majesty on his wrinkled face, his tone The boldness of youth can be seen faintly:

"Even if we are going to fight to the death tomorrow, we must first let us fulfill our traditions!"

Under the eyes of everyone, King Nun raised his wine glass and roared, "For Exeter!"

At that moment, everyone in the hall raised their glasses and roared:

"For Exeter!"

King Nuen's eyes were sharp, he spoke again, and yelled a second time: "For the Northland!"

The roar of the guests solemnly responded to him: "For the Northland!"

The raging roar filled the entire hall like thunder, deafening.

The next moment, King Nun moved swiftly and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.

Following his movements, all the nobles in the hall turned serious and began to drink. For a while, only countless grunts were heard in the banquet hall.

Thales frowned. He held the heavy iron wine glass in both hands, and under the gaze of many eyes behind him, he reluctantly took a sip.

After King Nun finished drinking, he turned around with an angry face, and slammed the bottom of the wine glass on the long table hard!

"Boom!"

The nobles in the hall also agreed, and they all placed their wine glasses heavily on the table in front of them.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"...

King Nun raised his head again, and under the eyes of all eyes in the hall, he shouted:

"come!"

"Eat! Drink! Hit! Fuck! Do whatever you want!"

In that second, Thales was really stunned.

What the hell... what kind of toast?

With a frenzied expression on his face, Nun VII yelled at all the guests in his lingua franca with a Northland accent, "Until you lie down, roll, limp, and crawl, with a thick and old voice, Be carried out of my palace!"

"Bastards!"

A second later, the guests in the hall erupted with the same fanatical response, echoing in the entire banquet hall like a tide!

Many Northlanders waved their fists and howled like wild animals, expressing their support for the king's banquet.

The guests restarted the banquet with a lot of wine and wine.

The entire hall instantly returned to chaos, noise, and excitement, and the voices were even louder than before!

"A distinctive toast," Puttilai whispered in Thales' ear, "Northern characteristics."

"You don't need to remind me of this," Thales rolled his eyes, showing a helpless expression: "I can see it."

At this moment, King Nun, who was returning to his seat, suddenly turned his head and gave Thales a meaningful look.

Thales' heart trembled.

He read the message from the King's gaze.

He also knew that the other party definitely didn't want him to enjoy the banquet.

But before he could turn his head to discuss with his subordinates, an unexpected guest came to his seat first to visit the second prince of Xingchen.

Thales was stunned.

Standing in front of him was a... kind old woman in a red robe.

"Good night, Your Highness Thales," the other party narrowed his eyes, his voice was very gentle, and his smile was full of reassuring warmth: "My name is Kashan."

Thales showed a friendly smile for some reason.

But before he could answer, Puttilai next to him spoke out first: "Do you have anything special?"

At that moment, Thales noticed that Puttilai beside him had a very bad complexion, and even stiffened his body, staring at the old woman in front of him.

The attendant Huai Ya behind him also stagnated for breathing.

Thales had a question: They seem to know this old woman named Cashan?

Puttilai hadn't finished speaking, his face was pale, and he opened his mouth as if he was struggling to breathe: "Respect..."

"Your Excellency the Scarlet Witch?"

Scarlet Witch?

Thales looked at the kind old woman in front of him suspiciously.

witch?

What the hell?

"Oh, it's just caused by some missing relatives. I really want to ask His Highness." The kindly Kashan narrowed her eyes and shook her head slightly, as if a little embarrassed: "How is my son doing in Xingchen?"

son?

Thales was stunned again.

"Uh," the second prince responded with a perfect smile he learned from a certain young duke, "Who is your son?"

Kashan, known as the Scarlet Witch, smiled gently:

"Ah! Look at my memory, I forgot to mention it."

"My son, his star name is..."

In the next second, under Thales' unclear gaze, this kind-hearted Granny Kashan seemed to be afraid of the cold, and kept rubbing her hands...

Spit out a name that instantly changed his expression:

"Yordle Gato."