Eckstedt, Dragon Clouds City, Heroic Spirit Palace.
Nuven the Seventh's administrator, Lord Byrne Mirk, stood quietly in the corridor outside the Hall of Heroes. He stared at the falling snow outside the stone window, deep in thought.
The White Blade Guards stood guard around him, their gazes sharp.
Mirk could not remember how many times he had looked at the snowfall in Northland in his forty years of life.
The king's personal guard captain, the current leader of the White Blade Guards, Star Killer Nicholas walked from behind and stood beside him.
Lord Mirk did not turn around. "This year's Day before the Bitter Cold Winter will be unbearably cold."
"Yes, old friend." Nicholas looked at the snow outside the window, narrowed his eyes, and flashed a strange smile.
"Do you still remember the days when we first joined the White Blade Guards, when we were trained in the Bitter Cold Winter?"
"Of course." Lord Mirk, who had been an administrator for many years, recalled the past and smiled. "Kaslan was just like you now. Every day, he would pull a long face and train us until we were half dead … We called him 'Iceberg' behind his back. Even when we were sleep-talking at night, we would curse him to die early or not get a wife."
"Until his wife came to the camp to see him." Nicholas laughed. "Monty's eyes almost popped out of his head … God knows how 'Iceberg's' wife could be so beautiful. It's so unfair!"
Mirk's gaze drifted into the distance.
'Yes.'
He still remembered when he first joined the White Blade Guards more than twenty years ago. The famous commander of the "Earthshaker", Kaslan Lampard, used a leather whip to chase the group of "recruits" outside on the Bitter Cold Winter at four o 'clock in the morning. Even though those who could join the White Blade Guards were all tough men who had been through the frontlines.
"Do you think it's cold? The north wind and the bitter cold are the Master of Mountains' most generous gifts to the Northlanders! They make you stronger, harder, and more unstoppable! "That was what Kaslan had said at that time.
Mirk still remembered his old superior's huge body, which was comparable to that of a grizzly bear, and his frost-covered but fierce face. "Stop dawdling. Take off all your clothes and start running. There's hot water at the finish line. If you can't reach it in half an hour, you'll freeze to death on the road!"
When he thought of this, Mirk's gaze flickered and he asked Nicholas, "Are you guys still going on with the 'greeting gift'? All the new guards have to run around naked in the Day Before the Bitter Cold Winter? "
"Of course, we were f * cked up so badly in the past." Nicholas chuckled and said, "If we don't let the newbies experience it, wouldn't it be a pity?"
Mirk exchanged a smile with him.
At that time, among the White Blade Guards, the almost undefeatable legendary Kaslan was still in his prime. 'Blood Hammer' Dominic had not sacrificed his life in White Mountain. He always wore his signature hateful smile and helped them count laps. 'Inextinguishable Flame' Terende still carried his silver-and-black Motionless Bow on his back. His every move was majestic.
At that time, three of the future 'Five War Generals' were gathered here. Soray Nicholas was an arrogant soldier who disliked everyone. He had not earned his nickname 'Meteor' at the fortress, and no one believed that this troublemaker, who was always beaten up, could become Kaslan's successor in the future. Isaiah Solian, who was later nicknamed 'Prickly Wind', was named the 'Prince of the Guards' because he was picky about his meals every day. Seven years later, he would lead the legendary battle where he shone brilliantly in the Thirty-Eighth Sentry Ground. Probably no one would believe that the terrifying 'Raven of Death', Ned Monty, was a country crossbowman who was full of obscenities, had shifty eyes, and liked to nag about the size of girls' buttocks when he had nothing better to do.
They were all young and hot-blooded warriors, each more arrogant and impulsive than the other. Mirk could still remember how Nicholas was tied to a wooden stake in front of all the new guards because he did not listen to orders. Then, he was whipped by Kaslan with a barbed whip until his skin was torn and his flesh was torn. He had to bite a piece of wood and moan in pain.
Under Kaslan's cruel hands, they were forged into King Nuven's most reliable daggers and the sturdiest Dragon's Imperial Guards. They fought fiercely in the Glacial Defense Line of the Sentry Ground, in the Deep Valley Battlefield of White Mountain, in the complicated Golden Corridor, and in the tragic Broken Dragon Fortress. They left behind countless corpses of their comrades. They wept and mourned when they failed, sang war songs during fierce battles, and drank to their hearts' content when they won. In the end, their names were engraved on the platinum page of the 'Legend of the White Blade Guards', on the same page as the Northland heroes from the Ancient Empire.
'Those days were like a dream.'
'Of course, there was also the young man who hid his identity and trained with them with a hearty smile. He once fought with me for a bowl of meat soup.
'That bastard.'
When he thought of this, Mirk could not help but smile softly. Then, his eyes dimmed.
Mirk sighed. 'And now, even my daughter is twenty years old.'
At this moment, Nicholas sighed. "It's time."
Mirk withdrew his thoughts from the deepest part of his heart. He turned around and bowed slightly to the two small figures beside him. "Please follow me, Lady Alex."
"It's four in the morning!" Alex Walton, who was wearing a thick robe, looked like a beautiful girl who had just been dragged out of bed. She rubbed her sleepy eyes with one hand and blew hot air in front of her mouth with the other. She said angrily, "Why can't we talk about it tomorrow morning?"
Lord Mirk looked at Alex and could not help but sigh in his heart.
'This girl has been spoiled too much.
So much so that her temper is like that of a merchant's daughter or a nouveau riche noble.
This is not a good thing, especially since she is the last direct descendant of the Walton Family, even though she is a girl. '
"I told you, this is His Majesty's order." Lord Mirk nodded slightly without any expression. "And please believe me when I say that what happens next is crucial to your future, my dear lady."
The king's granddaughter tilted her head and snorted coldly, expressing her indignation and anger at the moment.
Alex pulled her robe tighter and glanced behind her. Her childish voice was full of dissatisfaction. "But why did you bring her here? This lowly maid!"
Mirk frowned slightly.
Behind Alex, a thin girl with platinum hair and a pair of thick, black spectacles shivered in the cold night wind. She timidly took a step back.
"It's still His Majesty's order," Lord Mirk replied flatly. "We must obey."
Alex did not say another word. She glared at Little Rascal behind her, and the latter hugged her arms tightly, feeling wronged.
Mirk nodded and walked into the Hall of Heroes with the two little girls.
Alex yawned and held her head high. Little Rascal, on the other hand, cowered and followed behind her. Occasionally, she would take a small step back in fear when she saw a fierce-looking White Blade Guard.
At that moment, Nicholas, who was behind Mirk, suddenly called out to him.
"Byrne, do you remember when we raised our white blades and made our sacred vow to the 'Legend of the Book of Legends'?" Nicholas took a deep breath. His eyes were filled with nostalgia for the past. "The last few words?"
Mirk felt that Nicholas was a little strange today. He was not usually this nostalgic.
Mirk stared straight at Nicholas, trying to find something on his old friend's face.
"Of course." But the training back then had penetrated deep into his instincts. Mirk chuckled and then put on a serious expression. He enunciated each word clearly, "My blood is my oath, my body is my proof, my blade is my witness, my soul is my sacrifice …"
Nicholas' eyes flashed and he nodded. With a complicated expression, he said the next sentence together with Mirk, "Resist the powerful enemy, fight a hundred battles, until the last drop of blood is shed."
The expressions of the White Blade Guards beside them instantly became serious. They pressed their fists against their chests in unison.
"Defend life, fearlessly sacrifice, until the extinction of mankind."
Alex, who was waiting, rolled her eyes and exhaled impatiently.
Little Rascal, on the other hand, looked at the solemn faces of the White Blade Guards. Her eyes were filled with excitement.
"Protect the future, honor the faith, until the sun and moon dim."
"This is the New White Blade Oath," Little Rascal could not help but mutter, "In the year 1386 of the Empire Calendar, Cel Arunde found the 'Legend of the White Blade Guards'. He rebuilt the famous White Blade Guards, combining the ancient White Blade Oath with the Empire's knighthood oath —"
"Shut up, idiot!" Alex cut her off fiercely. "You're annoying."
Little Rascal's eyes reddened and she lowered her head.
Nicholas and Mirk looked at each other and recited the last sentence in unison.
"Pass on hope, shine with glory, until the eternal sleep of all things."
Both of them were silent for a while. They looked at each other and smiled.
Mirk nodded. He brought the two little girls into the Hall of Heroes.
The person he respected the most, Nuven the Seventh, who had just gone through a duel, was sitting on the steps at the edge of the hall.
Next to the king was the envoy of Constellation, the subject of much discussion among the vassals — the young and precocious Prince Thales Jadestar.
However, both of them were silent. They were not in a good mood, as if they had just had a rather unpleasant conversation.
Mirk brought the two puzzled girls to the king.
"Your Majesty." The administrator nodded at the king and stepped aside. "Lady Alex."
Thales looked up.
'What's going on?'
He stared in surprise at the brown-haired, blue-eyed Alex, and Little Rascal, who did not even dare to breathe loudly behind her. They seemed to be frightened by the situation in front of them.
Alex sensed his gaze. The teenage girl glared back at the Prince of Constellation rudely, causing Thales to frown slightly.
'This is …
'My future wife?'
Thales, who was still disturbed by the secret just now, could not help but turn his head away and sigh.
This action made Alex pout in dissatisfaction.
"Grandpa, what's wrong?" Alex Walton, the only remaining direct female descendant of the Archduke of Dragon Clouds City, pouted and said to the indifferent King Nuven, "I'm very tired now …"
Little Rascal hid behind Alex. She poked her head out and carefully and curiously looked at Thales, whose eyes were gloomy.
'That boy … What's wrong with him?
Is he unhappy? '
Nuven the Seventh did not answer his granddaughter. He only scooped up another goblet of wine from the wine barrel beside him and took a sip.
"Mirk," the old king's aged voice rang, "my granddaughter will marry this boy.
"As a former White Blade Guard and my administrator, what would you have done?"
Mirk frowned slightly.
Even though he had expected it, when he heard it for real …
"What?!"
Miss Walton cried out in surprise.
Alex's small eyes widened even more than her mouth. She sized up Thales in disbelief. "Grandpa, you want me to marry … this … this …"
"You want him to be my husband?" Alex's breathing quickened. She looked at the listless Thales — the boy she met in the library in the afternoon and even lectured her on the spot. She felt a surge of grievance.
"He's skinny and small, and he's not even as tall as me!" Alex turned her head angrily and said to her grandfather in a hurry, "Let Little Rascal marry him!"
Behind her, Little Rascal's face turned pale and she shivered again.
"Come on, Miss Alex." Thales, who was in a terrible mood, did not have the energy to maintain his relationship with a teenage girl. Without raising his head, he said flatly, "Marrying you is not something to be happy about."
Alex was stunned, then her anger turned to anger. "You —"
But at that moment, Mirk's voice interrupted Alex, who was about to lose her temper.
"Although the honorable Prince Thales is from Constellation, if this is your wish," Lord Mirk bowed his head respectfully and reminded Alex without batting an eyelid, "I will be loyal to him, just like I am to Miss Alex."
King Nuven stared at him for a full three seconds.
"That's right." King Nuven turned his head and said to Thales, "I believe you have met him. This is Byrne Mirk. When he was still a White Blade Guard, he was Soria's most trusted subordinate."
'Soria?'
Thales' expression changed.
'King Nuven's eldest son?'
He raised his head and looked at Mirk. Mirk also turned his head and nodded at him respectfully.
Alex, who was panting with rage, wanted to say something, but Mirk's stern gaze forced her to swallow her words.
'It seems like this bad-tempered young lady is quite obedient to her father's old subordinate,' Thales thought to himself.
"Then, to thank you for your help, and to prove that there is no longer any enmity or conflict between us, according to Northland's custom, take a sip from my cup. Jadestar and Walton, we are friends from now on." King Nuven narrowed his eyes, raised his wine cup, and placed it in front of Thales.
Thales frowned and looked at the old king with a puzzled expression.
'What is he trying to do?
'Reaffirm my identity to Alex and Mirk? 'Or our relationship?
Is this necessary? '
The Prince of Constellation thought for a few seconds and sighed. "You know, Lampard of Black Sand Region did the same thing. He pushed a cup of wine in front of me and invited me to form an alliance with him, but I refused."
"A wise choice," King Nuven said with an amused expression. "What about now?"
Under King Nuven's threatening gaze, Thales pursed his lips.
"Shouldn't you wait until tomorrow, release the messenger crow, and wait for my father's reply?" Thales asked tentatively. "If my father has other opinions …"
"That is between your father and me." King Nuven's resolute gaze proved that he was serious and serious. "But you are you, Thales, not Kessel Jadestar's son, or the Second Prince of Constellation. This has nothing to do with whether you will marry my granddaughter, or whether Jadestar will form an alliance with the Walton Family.
"I am only asking about your attitude, Thales." The old king raised his wine cup, his gaze burning. "Are you willing to dissolve the enmity between me and the Walton Family?
"Just you."
Thales' heart skipped a beat.
He suddenly realized that this was the first time someone had asked 'Thales' such a formal question ever since he became a prince.
Not any ancient or important title with the word 'Thales' in it.
Thales stared at King Nuven.
In the end, the Prince of Constellation sighed.
"Of course." Thales quietly took the king's wine cup with both hands and stared at the half-filled rye wine inside.
Under Mirk's cautious gaze, Alex's angry little face, and Little Rascal's curious and nervous gaze, the old king smiled.
Thales closed his eyes and took a small sip.
He thought that he already had an idea of the alcoholic beverages in this world. Jala's Sunset Pub's kitchen often served different types of alcohol, and Thales did not miss the opportunity to poke around and dig around. However, it was only when the alcohol flowed down his throat and into his stomach that he realized that even in this world, alcohol was not the same as alcohol.
At least, the rye wine that was exclusively served to the King of Eckstedt was really …
"Cough, cough, cough …" Thales smashed the wine cup on the stairs and began to cough violently.
The pungent, mellow smell of alcohol surged up, passing through his throat, mouth, nose, and straight to his brain.
In his previous life in the memory fragments, he was the type who would collapse the moment he touched alcohol. Thales did not know if this body in this world would be better, but at least he knew that he was definitely not suited for rye wine.
"Cough, cough …" Thales coughed so hard that his face turned red and tears came out.
"Hahaha." Nuven looked at him and laughed heartily. "Maybe we should start with something lighter."
Thales felt his face burn.
"It's okay … Kaslan told me." Thales finally composed himself. He looked at the wine cup with a bitter face, snorted, and shook his head. "Children who don't drink won't grow up."
Mirk's expression changed.
'Kaslan?'
Hearing the name, King Nuven's smile suddenly froze.
Little Rascal seemed to have heard the name before. Her eyes behind her glasses lit up and she stared at Thales in high spirits.
The king's expression was subtle. He looked at Thales with a strange gaze. "Kaslan?
The old man who sells wine in Black Sand Region? "
The smell of alcohol slowly left Thales' mouth and nose. He chuckled guiltily.
'Did I say something wrong?'
"Err …" Under King Nuven's gaze, he stuttered, "I heard from Putray that he used to be the captain of your personal guards and the former commander of the White Blade Guards."
King Nuven's gaze stopped on his face, making the latter feel rather awkward.
Until the king's voice rang again.
"The best in the history of Eckstedt." King Nuven sighed. "Although it's not fair to Nicholas to say that."
Lord Mirk, who was standing at the side, nodded slightly. At the same time, he gave Alex, who was about to burst into tears and was about to explode, a warning look in his eyes.
King Nuven muttered, "Kaslan, you met him … Did he mention me to you?"
"Yes." Thales smiled sheepishly and nodded. "Kaslan said that you used to be a good king."
Nuven the Seventh was slightly stunned, but he immediately slapped his thigh and laughed out loud. "Hahahahaha!"
"'Used to'?" King Nuven quickly grasped the keyword. He laughed without hesitation. "That's a good word!"
Thales was stunned. He shrugged helplessly.
The king's laughter echoed in the empty hall.
Mirk lowered his head slightly.
King Nuven stopped laughing. He exhaled, as if reminiscing about the past.
"Tell me, that old man … What did he say about me?" King Nuven snorted and asked.
Thales carefully observed King Nuven's expression. "He said that you are also human. You will also grow old. There will come a day when you will be bewitched by slander and beauty, and be controlled by desires and impulses."
The smile on the king's face disappeared.
His eyes flickered a few times, and his expression was uncertain.
It caused Thales' mood to fluctuate.
Finally, King Nuven let out a long sigh. "I can't say that he was wrong."
The hall returned to silence.
"Now, Thales, why don't you treat our beautiful lady to a drink?" King Nuven suddenly spoke. He raised the goblet and handed it to Thales, then nodded slightly in Alex's direction. "In view of your future relationship."
Thales, who took the goblet, was slightly stunned.
'What's going on?
'Asking the arrogant young lady to … drink?'
Lord Mirk, who was watching from the side, was also puzzled.
"Huh?" Alex's expression changed. She looked at Thales in horror, then at the iron goblet. Then, she shook her head firmly. "No, Grandpa, I don't want to …"
King Nuven looked at her quietly, his eyes cold.
Alex seemed to be frightened by the old king's gaze. Her voice slowly weakened.
However, the king's granddaughter did not seem to want to give up. She frowned, and suddenly, her eyes brightened. She turned around and pulled Little Rascal over. "Her! Let her drink! After all, she's my maid! "
The unprepared Little Rascal was suddenly pulled out by Alex. The bespectacled little girl looked at King Nuven in horror, then at Thales. She was about to cry. "I … That … No …"
Thales narrowed his eyes, watching everything unfold in confusion.
At this moment, Mirk's voice rang out.
"Lady Alex!"
The king's administrator looked at Alex sternly. His eyes were filled with undeniable anger. "Stop fooling around!"
Alex's voice suddenly faltered. She seemed to shrink back in fear.
"That's your grandfather, your king — it's his order!" Mirk unceremoniously pulled Alex away. "Go, listen to his orders, whether it's the wine …
"Or your marriage."
Under Mirk's stern lecture and King Nuven's urging gaze, Alex took a step forward, feeling wronged.
She reluctantly took Thales' wine goblet. With reddened eyes, she glared at the innocent Thales, then looked at King Nuven pitifully, but the latter did not say anything.
Thales spread his hands, indicating that he was powerless.
Left with no other choice, Alex pouted, painfully and angrily gulped down a mouthful of wine.
Alex angrily threw the goblet down and glared at Thales. A few seconds later, she coughed from the spiciness.
The king chuckled.
"Mirk, this reminds me of Soria's alcohol tolerance." King Nuven laughed heartily. "I once heard from Kaslan that when he was training in the White Blade Guards, he knocked out a large group of people."
"Yes." Mirk also laughed and nodded. "Prince Soria is … very forthright and a great drinker."
"Yes, I remember. You have a good relationship with him?" King Nuven raised his head and looked at Mirk with nostalgia in his eyes.
"We got to know each other when you asked him to conceal his identity and train in the White Blade Guards." Mirk smiled and nodded. "He's not just a prince, he's also my comrade and friend. I still remember his hearty laughter."
King Nuven's lips curled up.
Thales ignored Alex's dissatisfied gaze. He watched as the king and his vassal reminisced about the past eldest son of the king, Soria Walton. He began to wonder, 'Should I leave?'
"Yes, he's a guy who likes to laugh. He's just like me."
King Nuven sighed. "It's a pity that he married a wife who wore a sad face all day long. I still remember that every time they dined in front of me, they did not even look at each other."
"Madam Adele came from Vine City in the southwest of Camus Union. The climate there is warm and humid. She was also the daughter of a marquis and wasn't used to the harsh life in Northland." Lord Mirk glanced at Alex and sighed. "Lady Alex obviously inherited many of her mother's traits."
Alex pouted for the third time.
King Nuven snorted.
"Thales." Just as Thales was about to leave, King Nuven suddenly raised his head and stared at him coldly. "I told you before, my eldest son didn't die in an accident. He died in an assassination."
Mirk's expression changed slightly.
'Soria?'
He looked at Thales and then at King Nuven. He seemed to want to say something but stopped himself.
The old king's next words made Mirk's face turn pale.
"Tell him, Mirk," King Nuven said flatly, "how did my son, Soria, die."
Thales held his breath and looked at Mirk. A new doubt emerged in his mind.
'Something's not right.
'The king's eldest son? Why did he mention something that happened so many years ago?
'Also, King Nuven's change of topic is a little unnatural. Did he purposely bring this up?'
Alex seemed to know the seriousness of the topic. She quieted down and looked slightly fearful.
"Your Majesty," Lord Mirk objected with an unpleasant expression, "With Prince Thales' status —"
But King Nuven interrupted him.
"Tell him! He needs to know. "The old king grabbed the wine glass on the floor and said coldly," From the process to the outcome. "
Mirk stared blankly at King Nuven. The latter's expression had become very serious and scary.
Sensing that the atmosphere was not right, Alex lowered her head and took a step back, bumping into Little Rascal.
"What's wrong?" Thales carefully controlled his tone. "Your Majesty, you just said that it was an assassin from Constellation, right?"
Mirk was stunned. He didn't expect Thales to already know.
King Nuven cast a stern glance at Mirk.
Thales rolled his eyes and observed the situation. He regretted not fleeing earlier.
It seemed like the atmosphere wasn't too good.
The administrator let out a sigh and finally said,
"It was at the turn of autumn and winter twelve years ago."
A thought struck Thales. 'Twelve years ago?'
Wouldn't that be …
"Prince Soria brought Lady Adele and Lady Alex, who is less than a year old, out to Dragon Clouds City to hunt."
"Since I was originally in charge of Prince Soria's safety, Nicholas assigned me to bring a team of White Blade Guards to protect them." Mirk lowered his eyelids. His voice was deep and pained, as though he was recalling that period of his life. "But the accident still happened."
Thales did not say a word and listened quietly.
"I don't know if it was a coincidence, but Harold Lampard, the eldest son of the previous Archduke of Black Sand Region, was a guest in Dragon Clouds City at that time. He actually went to the same place to hunt." When Mirk said this, he let out a breath, but his voice began to tremble slightly.
"That assassin … … is among Harold's entourage."
Thales narrowed his eyes.
"The assassin snuck under Lady Adele's carriage and waited for Prince Soria to return after his conversation with Harold. Then …"
Mirk clenched his fists and exhaled through gritted teeth.
King Nuven was silent. He sat on the stairs without any expression on his face. His gaze was numb.
"I shot a signal arrow to ask for help." Thales could tell that the day Mirk went through must have been very painful and difficult. The latter closed his eyes and his face twitched. "Nicholas intercepted the assassin on the way … but he still managed to escape in the end."
"Prince Soria was severely injured and lost too much blood. He died on the spot … To protect Lady Alex, Lady Adele also …"
When he said this, Mirk closed his eyes in agony. "I couldn't protect them …"
Alex lowered her head and stared at the ground in a daze. Behind her, Little Rascal did not even dare to breathe loudly.
A few seconds later, Lord Mirk finally recovered. He gulped and said mournfully, "Although there is no evidence, the Secret Room is very sure after their investigation …
"That assassin came from Constellation, and was even directly under the orders of the palace."
Thales furrowed his brows.
'No way.
'The assassination twelve years ago?
'But wasn't Constellation going through the Bloody Year at that time?'
His train of thought was interrupted.
King Nuven raised his head slightly. His tone was heavy and sorrowful.
"Thales, twelve years ago …
"There was a reason why we sent troops south to Constellation."
— —
Constellation, Eternal Star City, an unknown underground place.
* Clang! *
The sharp metallic sound of an iron gate being violently pulled echoed clearly in this dark place.
Two torches soaked in Eternal Oil were lit. Two men dressed in guard uniforms appeared in a dark corridor.
The torches lit up the cells with thick iron bars on their left and right sides.
Following the noise and the light, there was a commotion in the cells.
"Damn it! Don't you have any sense of time?! " In one of the cells, a well-groomed but shabbily dressed man, suspected to be a nobleman, seemed to have just been woken up. He was lying on his bed and yelled with sleepy eyes, "It's definitely early morning or late at night! If this was in the past, in the Department of Foreign Affairs … "
The two guards holding the torches ignored him, as if they were already used to it.
They respectfully moved to the sides and made way for a sturdy figure in the middle.
"Your Majesty, King Aydi! You're finally here! " This was an unkempt old man with disheveled hair and a perplexed and fanatical expression. Stimulated by the light, he pounced forward and shook the iron bars with all his might. He roared madly, "Please consider my words! Even if you don't think for yourself, what about Prince Midier? Are you willing to hand him a Constellation riddled with holes? "
Under the direction of the sturdy figure, the two guards looked at each other, walked in front, and began to lead the way.
The prisoners on both sides woke up one after another. They behaved differently, but most of them were either acting abnormally or screaming madly.
"You're all going to die, hahaha." This was an old prisoner lying on the ground. He roared madly, "Even if you're from the royal family, you're all going to die … How dare you, how dare you … haha …"
The three figures ignored him and continued to move forward.
"Look who we've welcomed." A rather imposing, middle-aged prisoner leaned against the bars and squinted at the light. He seemed to be very clear-headed. "Isn't this the fifth prince, the disgrace of the royal family … Why aren't you working hard on a woman's belly, working hard for your pitiful bloodline? Why are you here in the cold wind?"
"It wasn't me, it really wasn't me!" A prisoner hugged his head and wailed, "I didn't even touch Prince Bancroft's wine glass! No! It's all Jenkins' fault, he's the one who poisoned me! "
"Norfolk, yes, Norfolk." This was a prisoner with his back facing the corridor. He could be seen carving something on the wall as he muttered to himself, "I know that he's planning something behind Duke John and Count Karabeyan's back … Maybe it's related to the rebel army. I've suspected him for a long time, but that hateful woman, Sonia Sasere …"
The three of them continued to move forward.
"Hey! Brat! " A prisoner with a scar on his face pounced on the bars when he saw who it was and shouted, "How's the situation at the Western Frontlines now? Did we regain Blade Fangs Dune after you conquered the Desert God's Altar? What about the orcs? What about the Eight Great Tribes under the Dragon Skeleton Throne? Tell me! Tell me! "
The well-built figure turned a deaf ear to the voices on both sides and moved forward.
Two guards with calm expressions brought him to the next area. There were no prison cells with transparent bars here. Instead, there were sealed cells sealed off by thick, heavy iron doors. There was only one opening on each iron door, and it was the only connection between the sealed cells and the outside world.
The two guards brought the newcomer to the innermost room. One of them knocked on the iron door forcefully.
* Bang! Bang! Bang! *
The other guard looked at the well-built newcomer. The latter nodded slightly.
So, the guard grabbed the iron bolt on the iron door that controlled the opening and pulled open a hole that was only the size of half a person's face.
The prison cell was dark.
There was also a frightening silence.
It lasted for a long time.
Then, a boorish voice slowly traveled into his ears from the dark prison cell.
"What a surprise.
"What brought the great Iron Hand King to a traitorous duke?"
The two guards bowed slightly. After inserting the torches into the groove on the wall behind them, they left respectfully.
Under the illumination of the fire, a haggard face with a scruffy beard appeared at the opening on the iron door.
The prisoner in this cell was the current Duke of the Northern Territory, 'Iron Eagle' Val Arunde. He stared sharply at the person outside the door.
Outside the door, the Supreme King of Constellation, Kessel the Fifth, sat down gently on a chair that had been prepared outside the cell.
"I want to talk to you about what happened in the past," Kessel said softly with an expressionless face, "During the Bloody Year, the fall of the Northern Territory."
Val's expression changed. He disappeared behind the iron door.
Then, his suppressed laughter came from the cell.
Under the flickering light of the fire, Kessel was silent and did not speak.
"There is nothing to talk about," the Duke of the Northern Territory said coldly after he had had his fill of laughter, "When the war was at its most intense, I was not even in the Northern Territory. My father, brothers, wife, and sister were the ones who faced the war.
"If you want to talk, go talk to them in Hell's River."
Kessel quietly looked at the bottomless darkness behind the opening and exhaled softly.
"What I want to tell you is the real cause of the war." Kessel the Fifth's voice was as powerful as before, but there was a hint of sorrow and depression in it. "Eckstedt's invasion."
There was a moment of silence behind the iron door.
"What do you mean?" Val's voice traveled slowly.
"The rebellion that year was terrible. The entire Blade Edge Hill and half of South Coast Hill … plus the Barren Bone Tribe and orcs in Western Desert Hill, one-third of Constellation's land was burning in the flames of war," Kessel said calmly, as if he was describing something that could not be more normal.
"And after the rebels turned against us … we did not even have a ready-made army.
"So, your uncle was sent to recruit new soldiers." Val snorted coldly behind the iron door. "Starlight Brigade."
Kessel nodded, even though he knew that Val could not see him.
"Eckstedt saw an opportunity. Nuven the Seventh frequently contacted the archdukes. The Great Dragon of the North's invasion was almost a foregone conclusion. They set a schedule for recruiting troops, and they would head south to Constellation at the beginning of spring next year."
For a few seconds, both of them did not speak.
But the Duke of the Northern Territory soon noticed that something was wrong.
"Wait, did you say the beginning of spring next year?" Val's tone changed.
"Impossible, Eckstedt clearly invaded that year's winter!"
This time, the silence lasted for a long time.
Kessel heaved a deep sigh.
"Yes, that was their original plan." The king spoke in the dullest and most indistinct voice from the bottom of his throat. "Because of an accident, they brought forward the invasion schedule."
Val's face reappeared behind the opening.
His face was ice-cold as he stared fixedly at Kessel outside the prison cell.
He realized that there was something strange about this place.
"What accident?" the Duke of the Northern Territory asked anxiously, "Why did Eckstedt bring forward the invasion schedule?"
King Kessel stared at the ground and did not move.
"Answer me." Val gritted his teeth.
"Answer me, Kai!"
Kessel inhaled deeply and raised his eyes to look at his former close friend.
"When we received the intelligence from Northland, the entire court was terrified. The rebel army, the Barren Bone Tribe, and Eckstedt — Constellation was powerless to fight on all three fronts," Kessel said slowly.
"So, our court came up with a plan.
"To delay Eckstedt's invasion schedule."
A chill that he had never felt before struck Val's heart.
"Delay?" the duke asked subconsciously.
Kessel nodded expressionlessly and said, "Provoke a conflict between Dragon Clouds City and Black Sand Region so that they will be too busy with their own affairs to invade."
* Bang! *
Val suddenly pounced and grabbed the two bars of the opening. He gritted his teeth and stared fixedly at Kessel. "How?"
"Constellation sent out assassins and mobilized all their manpower to target the two heirs of Dragon Clouds City and Black Sand Region, Soria Walton and Harold Lampard." Kessel's voice became increasingly hoarse, as though a force was devouring the strength in his strong body.
"That assassin should have pushed the blame for the death of one of the heirs onto the other party, creating a rift between Dragon Clouds City and Black Sand Region that could never be mended."
Hearing this, Val's breathing became heavier.
"But an accident happened.
"Because of some reason, that assassin was exposed," Kessel said slowly, "And Soria, Nuven's eldest son, died."
Val leaned against the iron door with his back, his expression indiscernible.
"Even though there was no evidence left, Nuven knew that we were the ones who did it." Kessel closed his eyes. "What's worse is that this also exposed our true strength. It told them that we were powerless to resist the northern army."
"You know what happened next." Kessel slowly opened his eyes. His voice was filled with exhaustion. "Eckstedt brought forward the schedule. They chose winter, the most unfavorable time for the transportation of supplies, to send their troops south.
"Horace brought a small number of troops, met up with Nanchester, and headed towards Broken Dragon Fortress. On the second day after his death, John took down Zodra City, the last stronghold of the rebel army … Ten days later, the fortress fell.
"At the beginning of spring after the new year, the Eckstedtians used the fortress as their base and flooded the lands of the Northern Territory like a tide."
There was another long silence.
It was so long that even the light from the fire began to dim.
Then, the Duke of the Northern Territory broke the silence.
"Hahahaha …" Val let out a sorrowful laugh.
"The assassination plan that was supposed to delay Eckstedt's attack instead facilitated and brought forward their invasion schedule?
"Hahahahaha!"
Kessel did not speak. He only listened to the duke's laughter quietly.
The duke finally stopped laughing.
"Who?" a faint voice asked.
"Who?!"
Val gripped the metal door and gritted his teeth in grief. "Who came up with this damned plan?!"
King Kessel looked at Val, at his expression that was a mixture of sorrow, pain, anger, hatred, and shock.
The king shook his head.
"Father had no choice.
"Starlight Brigade suffered a series of defeats at first. John retreated step by step, from Jade City to the Land of Tusks, then all the way out of Walla Passage. The rebel army even penetrated deep into Eternal Star City.
"No one expected that John would be able to achieve such a great victory in such a short period of time.
"At that time, the entire palace was shrouded in the shadow of the kingdom's demise." Kessel took a deep breath. "That's why that assassination happened."
Val's expression slowly froze, but his hand, which was holding the cell door, kept trembling.
"If, if there was no such plan, no assassination …" the Duke of the Northern Territory subconsciously murmured.
Kessel pressed his hands on his knees and lowered his head slightly. "Yes."
Kessel's face was slightly contorted. He tried his best to control his neck and nodded while trembling slightly. "If Eckstedt had waited until the beginning of spring to attack, John's Starlight Brigade would have been able to head north in time to support your father and the fortress.
"Broken Dragon Fortress would not have been breached.
"And neither would Cold Castle or … fall into the enemy's hands.
"The Northern Territory would not have had such a tragedy."
Val slid down behind the metal door dejectedly.
* Bang! *
The muffled sound of two knees hitting the ground came from behind the metal door.
And the Duke of the Northern Territory's suppressed, pained growl.
"You mean …" Val said hoarsely, "You, your father, those bastards at the Imperial Conference, their stupid plan … caused the deaths of thousands of people in the Northern Territory?
"Haha … We always thought that Nuven seized the right opportunity to invade and took down the fortress … In the end, hahaha …"
Kessel did not answer. He only waited quietly.
The flickering firelight illuminated the side of his face. The King of Constellation's eyes were filled with numbness.
After a long while …
"What about that stupid assassin? That guy who failed in his assassination and exposed himself? " Val's sorrowful voice, which had slightly changed its tone, came from behind the metal door. There was deep hatred in his words. "Didn't you dig out his heart?"
Kessel the Fifth turned his head and stared at the empty space.
It was as if someone was standing there.
There was silence.
For a moment, there was only Val Arunde's low and suppressed sobs in the air.
Kessel's gaze was filled with complicated and indecipherable emotions.
"Yes."
After an unknown amount of time, the Supreme King of Constellation, Kessel the Fifth, stared at the empty space and slowly said with an emotion that was difficult for ordinary people to understand, "For that failed assassination with grave consequences, that assassin is paying the price.
"He is forever imprisoned behind a cursed mask, never to see the light of day."
The king stared at the empty space. His voice was extremely quiet. "In endless loneliness and boundless darkness, he has tasted pain and suffered all kinds of torture.
"With the rest of his lowly life …
"For that tragic war …"
"For the countless dead souls he owes …
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