"Are you sure I don't need to wear this? Madam Jines said that during the banquet … "In the room, Thales frowned and held up a small embroidered vest as he asked Putray.
'And this is also the luggage that the diplomat group risked their lives to carry along with the flag, isn't it?'
"This is Eckstedt, in Northland." Putray, who was dressed neatly, looked at him in disdain. "Even at banquets, they hate pretty boys and sissies the most … If you really want to put that thing on, I think you will be the strongest contender for the position of banquet clown."
Thales stuck out his tongue and threw down the vest.
"Ah, you know." Sitting by the window, Aida snapped out of her daze and sighed with a regretful expression. "A banquet without a clown is very boring."
His nerves had been tense for almost a month, and Thales had no time to care about anything else. From the Abandoned House to Red Street Market, from Mindis Hall to Renaissance Palace, and then from Broken Dragon Fortress to Dragon Clouds City, the new second prince did not even have time to warm his own bed before he was hurriedly chased into a noble's carriage, put on the prince's shackles, and faced a different kind of challenge he had never experienced before.
So, when the servant and Mirk came to remind them, Thales suddenly realized that he did not have any experience and knowledge of attending a noble's banquet.
He had not lost his composure when he faced the Blade Soldiers, the Blood Clansmen, and the Mystics, but he suddenly became a little nervous.
"Don't worry." Putray nonchalantly lit the Northland tobacco he asked for from the servant. "Compared to the standards of Constellation and Anlenzo Dukedom, Eckstedt's banquet is like a military picnic for soldiers. If you have experienced Hanbol and Mane Nocturne's style, my God, their banquet etiquette is practically a torture."
"Etiquette, decorations, fashion, and style. These are the things that differentiate people's identities, statuses, and social classes. The effort to categorize people into different categories has never stopped." Thales tried his best to calm the anxiety in his heart with small talk. He squatted down and adjusted his shoes in front of a simple and crude dressing mirror. He sighed and said, "After tonight, I must take a bath …"
"Let's think about tonight's official business first." Putray seemed to be not used to the choking Northland tobacco. He coughed and said with difficulty, "Cough, cough, damn it, they sent us inferior goods —"
Putray's words seemed to have magic power. It made Thales immediately forget the awkwardness of the banquet and seriously think about the situation at hand.
There was a knock on the door.
Ralf stepped on the metal plate prosthesis that he was getting more and more familiar with as he walked in. It seemed to be his first time encountering such an occasion. His face, which was not covered by the silver mask, was a little pale.
Wya, on the other hand, was calmer, as if he had seen such a scene before.
Thales' attendant nodded solemnly. "Your Highness, everything is ready."
Beside him, Ralf gestured with his hands.
[They're here.]
Thales nodded.
The second prince took a deep breath. Under Putray's confused expression, Wya, and furrowed brows, he gestured back.
[Let's go.]
— —
Before the sun completely set, Eckstedt's welcome banquet had already begun.
Led by the king's administrator, Mirk, and a group of servants, Thales walked beside Putray. Ralf and Wya followed behind him … As for Aida, everyone agreed that she was not suitable to participate in such an operation.
"Your Highness, I don't know how you understand Northland's banquets, but I have to remind you that Constellation's distinguished guests may not be used to our banquets," Lord Mirk said expressionlessly. "And tonight is a little special …"
Thales responded with a friendly and understanding smile.
The group of them stepped on the rough tiles of Heroic Spirit Palace and walked up the stone steps.
"The banquet hall is where King Raikaru hosted the Nine Knights. It is said that the Northland Hero's banquet lasted for three days and three nights, and they ate almost all the spoils of war." Mirk introduced the place they were about to go to respectfully. "It was also here, amidst the cheers from both inside and outside the castle, that Raikaru Eckstedt was elected king."
Thales stepped on the last stone step and arrived at the corridor on the sixth floor of Heroic Spirit Palace.
Lively and noisy voices could be heard.
The floor on this floor was almost seven to eight meters high from the ceiling. There were many braziers here, and they were propped up on racks. They were evenly arranged throughout the entire corridor, burning fiercely. After the sun set, Heroic Spirit Palace was as bright as day.
Unlike the corridors on other floors, which were filled with rooms, there was only a thick wooden double door in the middle of the corridor. Servants came and went with happy faces, carrying plates or wine barrels as they went in and out.
Thales took a deep breath and exchanged glances with his subordinates. Under Mirk's lead, he stepped into the banquet hall of Heroic Spirit Palace.
Noisy discussions, the sound of wine glasses clinking, the sound of knives cutting flesh, and even the sound of a quarrel grew louder and began to assault and torment his ears.
Thales raised his head and took a good look at the hall.
It was a ring-shaped hall. The triangular flag with the symbol of the Cloud Dragon Spear hung on the wall. There were burning braziers in every corner, and several bright Everlasting Lamps hung from the ceiling (thank God, Thales thought that braziers were the only source of illumination in Heroic Spirit Palace). Servants appeared from the side door and the barbecue grill from time to time, sending waves of food and wine to the hall.
The banquet hall was large enough to accommodate hundreds of people — and it was now. At least one to two hundred people sat around a dozen parallel rectangular tables. These rectangular tables were perpendicular to the direction of the door, leaving a passage in the middle of the hall that was large enough for servants and guests to pass through.
Thales frowned and looked around. Due to his height, he could not see the farther parts of the hall. It was Putray who whispered into his ear.
But the atmosphere in the hall was very lively.
There were servants who were busy carrying plates, boorish nobles who argued loudly at the table until their faces were red, guests who had drunk until their ears were red, and lecherous nobles who used the excuse of being drunk to touch the buttocks of female servants who passed by from time to time, causing a commotion. The five archdukes each had different expressions on their faces.
He was absent-mindedly twirling the wine glass in his hand, surrounded by family knights or subordinate suzerains who wore the triangular emblem of a circle. Archduke Trentida, who had a pot cut, was laughing with his vassals around him, as if he was in his element in socializing. The bald Archduke Lecco and Marquis Shiles of the Camus Union sat together, listening attentively to the latter's slow speech. The long-haired Archduke Roknee still looked solemn, as if he had a cold halo around him. The long table he sat at was the most deserted. No one dared to approach him to talk to him. Only the servants and subordinates behind him served him food or wine from time to time. The young Archduke Poffret smiled and raised his wine glass. He spoke to the various nobles who sat around him, either their vassals or their attendants. The latter nodded frequently and downed the wine in their glasses in one gulp.
What a scene! It was practically a replica of the scene in Mountain Pass Village where the Northland villagers and soldiers drank and drank together.
If Thales had not raised his head to see Nuven the Seventh, who was surrounded by the White Blade Guards and was drinking quietly among a few close vassals, sitting at a higher horizontal table at the end of the hall, he would have almost forgotten about the shadows of swords and knives hidden in the conspiracy tonight.
He would also have almost forgotten that among the five archdukes, there was a bold conspirator who intended to murder the princes of two kingdoms.
Thales turned his head and said helplessly, "I didn't know. The banquet has already started."
"Most of the nobles have already taken their seats," Mirk said calmly. "King Nuven is waiting for your arrival."
Thales narrowed his eyes. He took great effort to glance at Nuven the Seventh, who was standing in the distance. He noticed that the king still had a cold expression on his face.
The king seemed to have noticed his gaze. His aged but sharp gaze swept towards Thales.
"Then it's about to start," Putray mumbled behind him, intentionally or otherwise.
Thales sighed softly in his heart.
A few seconds later, under Mirk's signal, an attendant at the side announced his identity in a loud voice.
"Distinguished guest from Constellation, Prince Thales Jadestar!"
His voice traveled to every corner of the hall, and there were even echoes.
The noisy banquet suddenly fell silent.
Almost everyone at the dozens of long tables stopped what they were doing. Whether it was drinking, cutting meat, chatting, fighting, or even flirting with maids, countless gazes were cast in his direction.
Even quite a number of servants, sentries, and even White Blade Guards looked in his direction.
Thales recognized this feeling. The last time he felt it was in Eternal Star City, during the National Conference in the Hall of Stars.
"Should I laugh at this time?" Thales' expression did not change as he felt the various gazes, ranging from malice, murderous intent, to curiosity and friendliness. His lips moved slightly. "Or should I put on a dead face, which is more in line with my identity as the prince of an enemy kingdom?"
"Relax, relax. They started the banquet early, and they didn't even arrange the seating order … You don't have to make a fuss and be ready for battle." Putray looked at the anxious prince and sighed. "It doesn't matter what kind of expression you have. You are now just a flag called 'Constellation'."
The expressionless Mirk nodded at Thales and politely extended his right hand, gesturing for him to walk forward.
"Should I just walk forward like this? Or should I wait for someone to greet me at the back? " Thales ignored Mirk. Under the pressure of everyone's gazes, he frowned and asked Putray behind him in a low voice.
"If you were in Constellation, of course you would have to wait for the master to send someone to bring you to your seat, but this is Eckstedt." Putray frowned as he glanced at the messy hall. Many guests seemed to have given up on the temptation of curiosity, and had even started to tear into the food that was served. "Don't expect so much etiquette. Just walk to your seat without looking sideways. I guess it's the one beside King Nuven."
Thales put on a smile that was neither servile nor overbearing, and amiable, as he imagined a "prince" should have, and walked forward.
Unlike Constellation, which was particular about rules and etiquette, the banquet hall was not even carpeted. Stepping on the uneven floor tiles, he felt as if he had returned to the Abandoned House.
He walked past the long table. Whispers traveled into his ears. His good hearing showed its usefulness at this moment.
"That's the prince who is still wet behind the ears?"
"I heard that he was lost for many years …"
"Seven years old? Are you kidding me? "
"The Constellatiates make him sound like a god. You know, a genius … Hmph!"
"So, our army can't move because of this child?"
"Black Sand Region caused a ruckus at the border … The Kingdom's Wrath …"
"Lampard sent the army to send him here …"
"If we still have to fight this war, we will have to wait until spring …"
Thales walked forward without looking sideways, towards Nuven the Seventh, who was also staring at him with an unreadable gaze.
Finally, more and more nobles lost their curiosity and gave up on the idea of seeing the prince's face. They returned to the rhythm of the banquet.
The nobles of Northland were very different from their counterparts in Constellation. The latter always behaved elegantly in the Hall of Stars. Even the nobles from the countryside who sat at the outermost part of the hall had to try their best to act like civilized people, whether it was their behavior or their attire. This also made the three Northern Territory families led by Arunde, Friess, and Zemunto, as well as their subordinate nobles, stand out among the vassals of Constellation.
However, the group of Northland nobles in front of him might be different in terms of status and personality, but without exception, they all behaved like rough men. From the way they sat to the way they ate, from their appearance to their attire, even when they drank, they would purposely make a few gulps and let a few drops fall from the edge of their mouths. Then, they would slam the bottom of their glasses on the table, loudly reprimanding their opponents, or being reprimanded by their opponents.
Thales silently observed the behavior of this group of nobles as he moved between the long tables on both sides. He could not help but notice that other than the maids, there were almost no women in this banquet.
"Those who will appear here and at the back of the banquet hall are all low-ranking nobles, suzerains, meritorious knights, specially invited bureaucrats, and so on," Putray reminded him from behind. "The well-dressed one in front of you on your left is just a servant who delivers the food. The one in the corner to your right who is roasting meat on the stove may look like a servant, but he is actually the Gossamer Officer in charge of meat cooking. Usually, only the suzerains who are more trusted by the suzerains can hold this position."
"Asking a close vassal to roast meat … Gossamer Officer? Why? " Thales did not turn around. He asked in puzzlement, "Shouldn't it be something done by the kitchen? Or should I say, this is a kind of honor?"
"Hmph, my prince," Putray said indifferently without batting an eyelid. "Do you know how many assassinations and poisonings in the history of the Empire originated from that corner where meat was silently roasted?"
Thales shut his mouth and did not speak.
They walked past the middle of the long table. As expected, from this point onwards, the 'quality' of the Northland nobles seemed to have risen along with their status. The number of people in the banquet hall pointing at each other and gossiping decreased. But in Northland, the number of silent exchanges of gazes and whispers with unknown meanings increased exponentially.
"The empty space in the middle of the hall … If it were in Constellation or Anlenzo, it would be a dance floor and performance stage. But in Northland …" Putray walked past a few guests with unpleasant expressions. Ignoring the curses of a boorish noble beside him, he pointed at the circular empty space in the middle of the hall and twitched his cheeks. "Based on my experience, when you are drunk, you should not be surprised even if you see two rough men fighting to the death on it."
This was the first time Thales heard Putray use vulgar language. He furrowed his brows. "Is it really okay to use this kind of language in front of the prince?"
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Many years ago, I once saw a noble princess of Eckstedt standing on the street and cursing using words like 'f * ck'." Putray shook his head. "And, even as a prince, I see that you are still quite used to these words."
"Ah, as your prince, I am just like the noble princes in many poems and legends." Thales looked at the few archdukes who were already seated in the distance. Without batting an eyelid, he glossed over Putray's words. "I have experienced the sufferings of the people. I am virtuous and good."
Putray snorted softly in a noncommittal manner.
They finally arrived at the end of the long table.
Among the people closest to them, the one with the highest status was Archduke Olsius.
Thales heard Archduke Olsius grumble to the suzerains beside him. He then turned around and shouted in King Nuven's direction, "There is no music, no bards, no clowns, no burlesque, no beautiful women, no maids with big breasts, no roast pigs, no duels between good men, no merry people in tents all over the city," Thales heard Archduke Olsius grumbling to the suzerains beside him.
"What kind of f * cking banquet is this?"
Out of Thales' expectations, many Northland nobles echoed in unison. They protested in King Nuven's direction like a tidal wave.
'It's like a market …' Thales sighed. He suddenly remembered that he had given the National Conference the same comment. He could not help but be stunned.
However, King Nuven only stared coldly at the chaotic nobles below him. He did not react.
A loud but enigmatic voice echoed from the other long table, replying to Olsius, "That's right."
"First of all, this is the eve of the Day Before the Bitter Cold Winter. Aside from lunatics like Lampard, the entire Northland is scrimping and storing up food to get through the winter. Secondly …" Archduke Trentida narrowed his eyes and stood up. He stared at the restless Prince Thales from afar.
"This banquet is to welcome the unpopular Prince of Constellation!"
The nobles around him stood up one after another and jeered at him.
Thales and the people of Constellation frowned almost at the same time.
"Lastly, Reybien Olsius, when you live in other people's castles and palaces, eat his food, drink his water … Hehe, maybe even f * ck him." Archduke Trentida cast a glance at a female servant who was dressed in a brothel and flashed an amused smile. "Then it's best not to criticize your master's arrangements.
Some Northland nobles let out unintelligible laughter.
Olsius shook his head in disdain and sat back in his chair.
Thales finally arrived in front of King Nuven and bowed slightly to him.
King Nuven stared at him. His emerald eyes were filled with complicated emotions.
This made Thales extremely uneasy.
From the moment he stepped into Eckstedt, Archduke Lampard, Viscount Kentvida, and even the five archdukes present, every suzerain he met was not a simple character. However, Thales, who had been through many trials and tribulations, could now calmly face their hostility, coercion, oppression, and even killing intent.
Because Thales knew exactly what they wanted.
Only this old king in front of him, this king who stood at the peak of Eckstedt's power, was something he could not figure out.
The strange emotions hidden in the other party's eyes, his act of forcing him to cooperate with his revenge, and his words and actions in the meeting hall all made Thales feel a chill down his spine. Even though they had only exchanged a few words.
Unpredictable people were always scary.
King Nuven slowly stood up and gestured to Nicholas, the leader of the White Blade Guards behind him.
Nicholas nodded and walked to Thales. "Please take a seat. Your seat is at the end of His Majesty's left-hand side."
Thales turned his head and looked at the seat at the end of the row of horizontal tables that no one cared about.
Although it was in the same row as the king, it was really far from King Nuven.
It was almost in the corner.
Behind him, Putray sighed.
Thales shrugged and walked to his seat indifferently.
Ralf and Wya followed closely behind him.
However, before he could warm his seat, a familiar yet unfamiliar old voice rang in the hall.
"Everyone, raise your glasses!"
Thales turned his head in a daze. Beside him, Putray did not change his expression and passed him a cup of rye wine made of iron in a very experienced manner.
"A toast," the thin vice diplomat said flatly.
Thales turned his head and watched as King Nuven, who had just lost his son, left his seat. He raised his wine cup high and said loudly to everyone,
"Let us welcome our guest … the Second Prince of Constellation, Thales Jadestar!"
The noise in the hall, which had risen again, fell silent again.
The old king slowly walked out of his seat and walked to the front of the hall.
Like an old lion taking dangerous steps, he walked out of his territory and stepped into the territory of another pride.
The five archdukes stared at him without blinking and raised their glasses from afar. Their expressions were different.
"May the northern wind test his courage, and the ice and snow wash away his perseverance!"
King Nuven looked around. His expression was firm and his words were cold. "Because of a reason that you all know, I cannot welcome his arrival happily. But he is already here!"
All the nobles in the hall listened quietly to their king's speech.
Many gazes were cast towards Thales' corner.
"Then do not let anyone doubt the passion of the Northlanders and the tenacity of the Eckstedtians — even if they are mortal enemies!" King Nuven knocked on his wine cup. His wrinkled face revealed a dignified expression. His tone was still as forthright as when he was young.
"Even if we have to fight to the death tomorrow, we must first fulfill our tradition!"
Under everyone's gaze, King Nuven shook his wine cup and roared, "For Eckstedt!"
At that moment, everyone in the hall raised their cups and roared in unison.
"For Eckstedt!"
King Nuven's gaze was sharp. He opened his mouth again and roared for the second time, "For Northland!"
The guests responded to him with a solemn roar, "For Northland!"
The surging roar filled the entire hall like thunder. It was deafening.
In the next moment, King Nuven moved swiftly and downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.
Following his action, the nobles in the hall became solemn and opened their mouths to drink. For a moment, only the sound of gulping could be heard in the banquet hall.
Thales frowned. He held the heavy iron wine cup with both hands and took a sip reluctantly under the watchful eyes of many behind him.
After King Nuven finished his wine, he turned around angrily and slammed the bottom of his wine cup on the long table.
* Thud! *
The nobles in the hall also slammed their wine cups on the table in front of them in unison.
* Thud! Thud! Thud! …
King Nuven raised his head again. Under the various gazes in the hall, he roared.
"Come on!
"Eat! Drink! Fight! F * ck! Do whatever you want! "
In that second, Thales was completely stunned.
'What kind of … toast is this?'
Nuven the Seventh's face was filled with fanaticism. With a deep and old voice, he shouted at all the guests in the hall in the common language, which was filled with a Northland accent, "Until all of you are lying, rolling, limp, crawling, and being carried out of my palace!
"Bastards!"
After a second, the guests in the hall responded with the same fanaticism. Their voices reverberated throughout the banquet hall like a tidal wave!
Many Northlanders waved their fists and howled like wild beasts, expressing their support for the king's banquet.
The guests resumed the banquet, where they drank and drank to their hearts' content.
The entire hall was instantly restored to chaos, noise, and liveliness. The noise was even louder than before!
"A distinctive toast," Putray whispered in Thales' ear. "A Northland specialty."
"I don't need you to remind me of that." Thales rolled his eyes and revealed a helpless expression. "I can tell."
At this moment, King Nuven, who had returned to his seat, suddenly turned his head and gave Thales a profound look.
Thales felt a chill in his heart.
He read the message from the king's gaze.
He also knew that the king did not want him to enjoy the banquet.
But before he could turn around and discuss with his subordinates, an unexpected guest came to his seat and paid a visit to the Second Prince of Constellation.
Thales was stunned.
Standing in front of him was a kind old woman dressed in a red robe.
"Good night, Your Highness." The woman narrowed her eyes. Her voice was very gentle, and her smile was filled with a reassuring warmth. "My name is Calshan."
For some reason, Thales flashed a friendly smile.
But before he could answer, Putray, who was beside him, spoke first, "May I ask if there is anything special?"
At that moment, Thales noticed that Putray's expression was extremely pale. His body had even stiffened as he stared fixedly at the old woman in front of him.
Wya, the attendant behind him, also held his breath.
Thales had a question. 'They seem to know this … old woman named Calshan?'
Before Putray finished speaking, his face was pale, and he seemed to have difficulty breathing. He opened his mouth and said, "Your Highness …
"The Red Witch?"
'The Red Witch?'
Thales stared at the kind old woman in front of him, puzzled.
'Witch?
What the hell? '
"Oh, it's just that I miss my family. I especially wanted to ask Your Highness." The kind Calshan narrowed her eyes and shook her head slightly. She seemed a little embarrassed. "How is my son doing in Constellation?"
'Son?'
Thales was startled again.
"Erm." The second prince responded faintly with the perfect smile he learned from a certain young duke, "May I ask who your son is?"
Calshan, who was known as the Red Witch, smiled gently.
"Ah! Look at my memory, I forgot to mention it.
"My son, his name in Constellation is …"
In the next second, under Thales' puzzled gaze, this kind Granny Calshan seemed to be afraid of the cold. She kept rubbing her hands …
She uttered a name that instantly changed his expression.
"Yodel …"
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