A few seconds later …
"Ha! You underestimate the character of Northlanders, citizen of the Empire. "Archduke Olsius shook his head and sneered." You don't even know Nuven. When he was young … "
But Thales could hear the emotion in his words.
It was no longer as certain as before.
Instead, it was the kind of self-persuasion a wife would give when she first learned that her husband was having an affair. 'No, he's always been loyal.'
"Are you that confident in your king's character?" The second prince raised his head, his eyes burning.
"Stop trying to sow discord. You don't know Nuven." Olsius turned his head, his tone seemingly filled with resentment. "Our relationship is closer than you think."
"I heard that he might have been a good king when he was young, forthright and just, even willing to sacrifice his life to protect a nameless pawn," Thales said softly, unconcerned. "He is a Northlander, but before that, King Nuven was first and foremost a man. He will grow old."
Archduke Olsius fixed his gaze on him.
"This was told to me by one of Nuven's most trusted men. I met him in his tavern," the prince said with a smile. "The famous former commander of the White Blade Guards, Kaslan Lampard. I believe you know him better than I do, and I believe he knows your king better than you do.
"Old people always want to make arrangements for their deaths … By the way, this is what the Duke of the Northern Territory of Constellation said. He was in charge of Constellation's part of the assassination of Prince Moriah."
'Taken out of context.
'That's what it means.'
Thales sighed silently.
Archduke Olsius did not speak. He was expressionless.
"And you saw his performance in the Hall of Heroes." Thales' gaze was gloomy. "What do you expect a lonely old man who lost his only son and the last hope of his family to do?"
Silence.
Then, Olsius took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"It's just your conjecture." The bearded archduke's voice was low. "Everything is based on the absurd assumption that 'Nuven is rational enough to endure the pain of losing his son'."
Thales pouted.
Olsius' mind was still very clear.
But Thales curled the corner of his lips in his heart.
He heaved a sigh of relief.
'It's time.'
He wanted to add one last bargaining chip to the conversation.
Thales sighed. "If you want to wait until you have evidence, then wait until 'King Chapman' arrives."
Archduke Olsius' beard trembled slightly.
"Also, when we were in Constellation, the Eckstedt Special Envoy to our country, Baron Lasalle …" Thales lowered his gaze. "We overheard some messages in the courier house."
Olsius was puzzled. "Lampard's pawn?"
"It seems that Lampard was not the real mastermind behind King Nuven's son's murder." Thales nodded and flashed a mysterious smile. "Someone else murdered Prince Moriah."
It was a silence that lasted much longer than any that had preceded it.
Thales' gaze was fixed on Archduke Olsius, who was in front of him.
She watched his expression change from confusion to shock, and from shock to deep thought.
Could it be him?
Finally, Archduke Olsius heaved a long sigh of relief. "The news from Constellation is not …"
"The news from Constellation is what we want you to know!" Thales said flatly. "Accusing Black Sand Region's Lampard as the mastermind behind Prince Moriah's murder, thus making you turn against each other and kill each other.
"But we are not sure who the murderer is!
"Don't forget, the only clue that can solve the mystery of Prince Moriah's death is the confrontation between the suzerains of Constellation in the palace. We can't even confirm whether Black Sand Region is the culprit."
Archduke Olsius' pupils gradually contracted.
Obviously, this information was somewhat beyond his expectations.
"This is the Black Prophet Morat, a means of the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department." Thales shook his head helplessly. "In other words, the so-called feud between Walton and Lampard, Dragon Clouds City and Black Sand Region that you have always believed in might not exist at all … This means that if Lampard can convince King Nuven that he did not participate in Prince Moriah's death …"
Olsius stared at Thales in disbelief.
"Nuven Walton and Chapman Lampard." Thales shrugged and sighed. "They don't have any feud over the death of their son. They can totally form an alliance.
"On the contrary, Nuven will not trust you, because perhaps the real murderer …"
Thales recalled a little boy in a blue suit and glasses in an anime from his previous life. He pretended to touch the bridge of his nose, then narrowed his eyes and pointed at Olsius decisively!
"He's among you!"
"The murderer also did something else." Before Thales finished speaking, he narrowed his eyes and threw out another piece of information. "And this was what King Nuven told me."
Archduke Olsius' pupils slowly narrowed.
"He is also the one who framed Lampard under Broken Dragon Fortress and used the Mystic Gun Unit to try and kill me."
Archduke Olsius' breathing became heavier.
Thales did not miss any of his expressions.
A few seconds later, the Archduke of Prestige Orchid lowered his head and chuckled.
Olsius' gaze was sharp. "If all this is true, then they might have formed an alliance. But these are all empty words from you. There is no evidence."
"Marquis Shiles." Thales expected Olsius' reaction. He was not flustered. "The city envoy from Camus Union talked to me quite well along the way.
"From his channels, I found out that on the night Nicholas arrived at Lampard's military camp to welcome me … he released three messenger ravens in the middle of the night.
"There is no harm in confirming with him … Breeding and selling messenger ravens is also one of the businesses that Good Flow City represents.
"They are only here to welcome an enemy country's envoy … Why did they contact Dragon Clouds City three times in Black Sand Region's camp?"
Olsius's face was as cold as ice.
Thales nodded at him. "At least, one of them is trying to contact the other party."
Archduke Olsius pressed his hand on the hilt of his sword and did not speak.
After a moment of silence, the archduke said calmly, "If Nuven wants to find an ally who can successfully choose his king for the sake of the Walton Family's future survival, then be it me or Roknee from the City of Faraway Prayers, we are both better choices than Black Sand Region."
"Besides, even if they secretly form an alliance, what can they do? Eckstedt isn't Constellation. We choose our own king! Do you think Nuven can appoint Lampard as his successor before he dies? "Olsius retorted firmly.
'Will it feel like an imperial appointment?' This sentence suddenly popped up in Thales' mind for no reason.
This made him burst into laughter.
"No!" Thales cut him off firmly. "Chapman Lampard of Black Sand Region has the greatest advantage to become the next king."
Olsius did not speak. He was waiting for the foreign prince's reply.
"Your Grace, why do you think that after what happened to Prince Moriah and the 'Fortress Treaty', war hasn't broken out between our two countries?" Thales asked flatly.
Olsius' gaze shifted slightly.
"You …" The archduke's gaze as he looked at Thales slowly changed. "You were sent to Eckstedt.
"Your father's oath to the throne used your safety to ensure that war would either not break out, or it would break out into an all-out war that could only be won with the entire strength of Eckstedt. The price would be heavy, and no archduke would be able to face it alone.
"And in order to contain Black Sand Region, King Nuven had to stand on the same side as the Jadestars to prevent war …"
Olsius' expression became more and more unpleasant.
Thales finally smiled.
"Yes, these two factors are the main reasons to prevent war from breaking out on Eckstedt's side. Once they all disappear …
"Once King Nuven is no longer afraid of the price of an all-out war, and no longer hesitates to mobilize all the archdukes in the country in the name of the common-elected king, eliminating every archduke's worry of 'facing the enemy alone'.
"Once King Nuven no longer has the need to contain Black Sand Region's expansion, and even needs to help them expand to ensure that they obtain a bargaining chip in the king selection …
"Lampard of Black Sand Region will undoubtedly be the biggest beneficiary of war … He is close to the Northern Territory of Constellation, and has Nuven's open and covert support …"
Olsius raised his head and stared at the ceiling. Thales could not see his expression clearly.
"Now you know why King Nuven came to you to discuss the matter of soldiers, and to test your attitude towards killing me?" Thales lowered his eyebrows.
The noise of the banquet continued to ring in his ears.
Archduke Olsius lowered his head.
The second prince chuckled softly.
Thales quirked his eyebrows and spread his hands. "I wonder if you are ready to address King Chapman as a respectful title?"
"So …" Reybien Olsius stared straight at Thales. But this time, the disgust and hatred in his eyes faded away, and he became exceptionally serious.
"You came to me … even if their alliance is only based on your suspicions."
Thales nodded painfully and sighed heavily.
"Yes, perhaps Lampard is still trying to contact King Nuven." He exercised his neck and rubbed his hands in frustration. "Perhaps they have not come together yet. Even if they have really formed an alliance, you still have room for reconciliation.
"Nuven suspects that you are the murderers of Moriah, and Lampard may become king. These are your losses, Archduke Olsius …
"But these consequences will not appear so soon, so you do not have to worry.
"But I am different." Thales raised his head and looked at Olsius solemnly.
"Once things change as I imagine them to be … Dragon Clouds City and Black Sand Region will kidnap all of Eckstedt and start a war," the second prince said in a nonchalant but slightly anxious tone.
"Then I, who is still on a diplomatic mission in Eckstedt, will be the first to suffer. I will face the judgment of fate earlier than any of you.
"This is why I came to you.
"For my life." Thales stared at Archduke Olsius, whose face was stiff. He gritted his teeth and said, "And for your future!"
Both of them fell into silence again.
The noise and the crackling of the braziers traveled into their ears.
"Why did you come to me?" Olsius asked in a hoarse voice. "And not the others? Roknee? Poffret? Perhaps they are more reliable? "
Thales stared at him and nodded slightly. "Only your and Trentida's territories are bordered by Constellation and close to Black Sand Region … You cannot turn a blind eye to Black Sand Region's rise and Constellation's affairs."
"As for Trentida? I don't believe in his treachery. "
The Prince of Constellation said softly, "Among all the archdukes, you, Reybien Olsius of Prestige Orchid Region, are the most likely to stand with me."
Olsius took a deep breath and looked out the window.
The next moment …
"Since we've said this much," Archduke Olsius turned to him abruptly. His gaze was sharp.
"What else do you plan to do? Say it all at once."
Thales snapped his fingers in his heart.
He smiled on the surface. "We are still in King Nuven's palace. There are not many opportunities for us to meet and communicate."
"After you have confirmed the details I have told you, if you think that my words are reasonable and that there is a need to take some precautions," Thales said faintly, "I have bribed Marquis Shiles with a promise. He will provide me with information, and tonight's banquet will last until tomorrow morning or even noon."
Archduke Olsius nodded.
"At four o 'clock in the morning, the gates of the palace and Dragon Clouds City will open. At that time, the first wave of guests will leave. The guards will be as tired as they are. You will avoid their eyes and ears and leave the banquet hall," Thales said cautiously.
"Come to the meeting hall and find me. I will leave midway and find an excuse to rest there.
"Over there … we will finalize a plan — a plan that will not only save my life, but also make Nuven and Lampard's alliance go bankrupt."
Olsius stared at him steadily.
"I will consider it." The bearded archduke's expression was complicated. "But you know, it's just a consideration."
"Of course." Thales raised his eyebrows. "It's up to you whether you want to come or not."
The archduke fell silent.
Just as Thales was feeling uneasy, Olsius suddenly chuckled.
"Brat, perhaps you really are a rare intelligent person." The archduke shook his head. "But I still don't like you."
"It's okay." Thales reacted quickly and said with a smile, "After all, we — Jadestar and Olsius are mortal enemies."
Olsius glanced at him one last time. His gaze was complicated and subtle.
The archduke turned and left.
Wya came in front of Thales.
Thales watched Olsius' back disappear around the corner and exhaled abruptly.
His entire body relaxed and his entire body went limp. Wya gently held him up.
"Your Highness," the attendant said softly, "How was it?"
"He saw through my relationship with Nuven from the beginning." Thales felt his body drenched in cold sweat and said with lingering fear, "Fortunately, I adapted to the situation …"
He raised his head and looked at Wya.
"What did Ralf say?"
Wya hesitated and made a few gestures that he himself did not understand.
"Very good. In that case, Marquis Shiles has stalled the third archduke." Thales wiped the sweat from the back of his head and shook his head. "Give him this and this gesture …
"Let Putray pass the note. The next target is about to begin … Hopefully, Shiles' acting skills are good enough to not arouse Olsius' suspicion."
A few minutes later, Thales straightened himself and stood in another corridor.
He recalled the next person's personality.
Then, he made up his mind.
Footsteps came from behind him.
The next moment, Thales took a deep breath and turned around.
Accompanied by Wya, he flashed the brightest smile at the person who was walking towards him from afar.
"Your Honorable Highness!
"You know …
"Who will be the next common-elected king of Eckstedt?"
The next second, the Archduke of Reformation Tower, Porpheus Trentida, who had a bowl cut on his face, stood in front of Thales with a frown on his face.
— — —
Three fifty in the morning.
Heroic Spirit Palace, the meeting hall.
Thales sat at the long table where King Nuven sat in the same hall as yesterday. Looking at the empty stone hall, he felt a little creeped out.
There was only one thing that could overshadow his fear of darkness and loneliness.
That was apprehension and panic towards the unknown.
Only the few braziers behind him continued to crackle and burn on their own.
He placed his hands on the long table and sighed.
'Who will come?'
His conversation with the five archdukes finally ended in trepidation.
Olsius of Prestige Orchid Region was the first. It made him especially nervous and took a long time. He almost failed due to his relationship with Nuven being exposed.
Trentida of Reformation Tower seemed cunning and suspicious, but their conversation was much faster than the former's. Trentida quickly understood what Thales meant, and his gaze revealed deep suspicion — it was unclear whether it was directed at Nuven or Thales.
These two southern archdukes were not the most difficult.
Archduke Lecco of Defense City in the North was the third person. However, this old baldy was the most difficult to deal with. His seemingly senile and muddle-headed eyes occasionally flashed with a hint of shrewdness, but he scoffed at Thales' words until the very end. Thales put on a smile and spent a total of twenty minutes to complete their conversation.
The conversation with Archduke Roknee of the City of Faraway Prayers in the West was the fastest to end. The long-haired archduke was taciturn. He nodded and shook his head more than he breathed, causing Thales to doubt the effectiveness of the conversation. Judging by his demeanor, Thales suspected that he did not care who became king.
The last one was the young Archduke of Beacon Illumination City. The brown-haired young man, Conkray Poffret, was the friendliest. He was also the most shocked by Thales' words. Even when he left, he still looked dazed and in disbelief. Thales had to comfort him. 'It hasn't happened yet.
'It's just that …' Thales squeezed the pocket watch that Putray had handed to him. The cold metallic touch made his heart tighten.
'Who could it be?
'Who … Who could it be?
'Who is the mastermind who hired the Disaster Swords to murder Moriah and then assassinate me?
'Or … no one appears at all?
'If I really can't find the murderer …' Thales laughed bitterly.
'I hope King Nuven dies tonight.'
At this moment …
* Thud … thud … *
Footsteps came from outside the stone hall.
Thales was shocked!
He sat up straight.
It was a series of heavy and rhythmic footsteps.
Step by step, the person walked over on the stone bricks.
As the footsteps slowly approached …
A figure was projected into the stone hall.
The person seemed to be especially tall.
The person finally walked into the meeting hall.
Under the light from the brazier, Thales saw the person's shoulder-length hair and his unusually serious expression.
There was a picture of an ancient book embroidered on his robe.
The second prince was stunned.
This was the person he had least expected.
The brazier was still burning fiercely.
The man stopped in front of him.
"I'm here," he said faintly.
Thales jumped down from his chair and frowned.
He still remembered that this serious man had refused King Nuven's order to kill the Prince of Constellation in a duel in this stone hall.
The reason was that it would "simply tarnish my honor".
And now, he was standing in front of him.
"Hello." The Second Prince of Constellation paused for a moment. He looked at the tall, slender man and sighed in disappointment.
"The Archduke of the City of Faraway Prayers of Eckstedt."
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