"When Prince Soria fell into a pool of blood, his eyes …" Mirk rested his chin on his daughter's forehead, filled with grief. "I knew that we had committed an unforgivable sin … I could have stopped her …"
"Then why didn't you?" King Nuven raised his head. He gritted his teeth and interrupted the weeping man on the ground. "You just stood there and watched Soria being murdered by that woman?
"Or rather, you were hoping in your heart that Soria would disappear as soon as possible," King Nuven almost roared at the last sentence. "Hoping that the barrier between you and that woman would disappear?"
The administrator shuddered violently.
He looked at King Nuven with trembling, terrified eyes. At that moment, Thales truly felt the fear, sadness, and helplessness in Mirk's heart.
And the deepest despair and numbness.
And the fear of being exposed.
Mirk's expression gradually changed.
He slowly lowered his head, his face contorted hideously. Finally, he punched the ground beside him and shouted in grief and indignation.
"No!"
The administrator panted violently. His expression changed several times.
"I was going to turn myself in to you!" Mirk panted, his head almost touching the ground. "But Adele … Adele held a dagger to her neck and cried, forcing me to take them away … She didn't want to stay in this place anymore …
"But I couldn't … I knew I couldn't! I'm a Northlander, I'm a White Blade Guard, I'm Soria's brother and subordinate! "Mirk's sobs became more obvious." I couldn't!
"Forgive me, Adele …" Mirk trembled. He held his head and sobbed weakly on the ground like a child. "I couldn't!
"But you didn't say anything. You let Soria rot in lies and deceit." King Nuven's expression was numb. "You even brought this child — the sin of you and that woman back to my court!"
Mirk lowered his hands and looked at his daughter in despair. He stared at her motionless face.
"But …
"Alex." His voice trembled, as if his jaw was twitching. "Alex, she doesn't know anything!"
"She's innocent!"
Mirk cupped his daughter's face and closed his eyes in agony through his tears.
Little Rascal lowered her head in fear, but she felt Thales' hand tremble slightly.
She raised her head in fear and alarm. She saw the Prince of Constellation pursing his lips tightly and staring fixedly at King Nuven.
His gaze was cold and furious.
"Why, do you feel wronged?" King Nuven let out a sinister laugh that was a mixture of mockery and madness. "Do you feel pain? Do you feel like your whole world is collapsing? "
"Because I killed your daughter?"
Mirk inhaled sharply and stared into King Nuven's eyes.
Thales took a deep breath and quietly watched Mirk's movements.
"Remember this feeling well." King Nuven's voice was deep and heavy. There was a chill in it. "You deserve it."
Mirk hugged his daughter and gritted his teeth. His eyes were red with tears and agitation. He growled in pain.
"Coward, coward, if you feel indignant, come and avenge her!" King Nuven did not care about the enemy who was close at hand.
Mirk's knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists. He was like an enraged beast. His eyes were filled with hatred, pain, desperation, and madness; all kinds of emotions were intertwined.
Thales frowned when he heard this.
He looked out of the hall.
'Where are the White Blade Guards? 'What about Nicholas?
If Mirk really went berserk and assassinated the king …
'Damn it.'
Mirk stared at the king. His breathing became heavier and his fists began to tremble.
But the king looked at his administrator without fear. It was as if the person before him was not a powerful former White Blade Guard, but a weakling who was shackled and could not fight back.
"Come on, kill your king." A complicated look flashed across King Nuven's eyes. He snorted softly and said slowly, "Just like how you used your incompetence, cowardice, vacillation, and weakness back then …"
"Kill Soria."
At that moment, Mirk's expression trembled as if he was struck by lightning.
He opened his mouth slightly. His lips trembled as if he wanted to say something.
But Mirk slowly shut his mouth in the end.
His face was pale. His body swayed and he collapsed to the ground again.
He sobbed silently.
Little Rascal cried out in shock.
The king did not speak again.
Thales tried to regulate his breathing and control his emotions.
The Hall of Heroes today had shocked him too much.
For a moment, only Mirk's irregular sobs could be heard in the hall.
After a long time, King Nuven snorted with an indecipherable meaning.
"Get lost," the old king said tiredly. "Don't ever appear before me again."
Mirk looked up numbly.
"Byrne Mirk … Live on like this until you die." King Nuven raised his eyes. His gaze was dim and his eyebrows trembled slightly. "Live forever in guilt, regret, loneliness, and torment. Never be forgiven, never be at peace."
"This is your punishment … for Soria."
Mirk chuckled like a maniac. He looked down at his daughter and suddenly started sobbing again.
"Get lost!" In the next second, King Nuven roared angrily. "Take your sins with you … and get lost!"
Little Rascal shuddered again. If not for Thales' support, she would have collapsed to the ground.
Mirk stared at King Nuven with lifeless eyes. After a few seconds, he subconsciously hugged Alex's body and slowly stood up.
He turned away insensibly.
"The child you are hugging is a disgrace to the Walton Family. She is the symbol of a traitor." The king stared at his back. His gaze was terrifying. "She cannot be buried. She cannot taint my land …
"If I find out that you have buried her anywhere in Eckstedt … Even if only ashes remain, I will send people to dig her up and feed her to the wild dogs!" King Nuven coldly finished his sentence.
Hearing this cruel decision, Thales sighed and looked at King Nuven with a frown.
Mirk shuddered as he hugged his daughter.
But he gritted his teeth and walked forward step by step …
He walked forward with difficulty.
"Lady Alex …" Little Rascal sniffled and instinctively wanted to follow, but Thales pulled her back.
"No, don't." Thales shook his head and whispered, "It's all over.
"Your lady."
Little Rascal shuddered and looked at Thales helplessly and aggrievedly.
Thales just stared at Mirk's back quietly and did not move an inch.
Nicholas appeared at the entrance of the hall and looked at Mirk with a complicated expression.
But Mirk only lowered his head and stared at his daughter. His face was ashen, and he turned a blind eye to everything around him.
Then, Nicholas' voice came slowly.
"My blood is my oath, my body is my proof, my blade is my witness, my soul is my sacrifice …"
Mirk looked up abruptly and came back to his senses.
He stopped and stared at Nicholas in a daze as he listened to the Star Killer recite the rest of his words.
"Resist the powerful enemy, fight a hundred battles, until blood is shed.
"Defend life, fearlessly sacrifice, until the extinction of mankind.
"Protect the future, honor the faith, until the sun and moon dim.
"Pass on hope, shine with glory, until all things rest forever."
Mirk closed his eyes in pain. Tears flowed out again.
"Rest in peace, my sworn brother." Nicholas finished reciting the oath. His gaze was subtle and he looked at Mirk with a pained expression.
"Your story ends here in the 'Legend of the Book of Legends'."
Mirk took a deep breath and smiled with tears in his eyes.
He walked forward numbly.
He brushed shoulders with his old superior.
"Don't forget His Majesty's words." Without turning his head, Nicholas said calmly to Mirk, who was behind him, "If we find out that you dared to bury her in the country …"
Mirk chuckled in a daze.
In the next second, Mirk walked out of the Hall of Heroes with the girl's body in his arms as if he was unconscious. His face was dazed and his eyes were unfocused.
He walked out of the place he swore to guard.
Thales watched Mirk's figure disappear at the entrance.
Then, the Prince of Constellation panted softly and turned around to ask the question he had been suppressing for a long time.
"Why?"
King Nuven raised his gloomy gaze.
"Alex … is just a little girl who knows nothing." Thales left Little Rascal's side and walked towards King Nuven. With an unpleasant expression, he said, "Whether it's Soria or Adele, what does these things have to do with her? She doesn't even know anything. "
King Nuven snorted.
"Send her away, isolate her … You obviously have a better way!" Thales controlled his breathing.
"Ah, I've discovered another characteristic of you." King Nuven chuckled coldly. His tone was mournful and silent. "Overflowing with an unnecessary sense of justice … Who taught you these things?"
"This has nothing to do with justice." Thales clenched his fists. In his mind, the children in the Abandoned House, their ragged clothes, sallow faces, and emaciated faces appeared. "She is just an innocent child."
'They did not deserve such a fate.'
"Every day she's alive is an insult to the Walton Family and a threat to our cooperation," King Nuven replied quietly. "This is a necessary and the best choice."
Thales snorted coldly. "You can find a thousand reasons to justify your actions." Thales snorted coldly. "Political needs, benefits, secrecy, revenge, punishment, impulsiveness, you can even say that you were forced by your position, that you had no choice and that it was the best choice …
"But none of these can justify or justify your actions." Thales stared at King Nuven and gritted his teeth. "You poisoned an innocent twelve-year-old girl and ended her future, Nuven Walton."
"Just to punish her father for his mistakes." Thales showed disgust. "Do you feel happy? Do you feel avenged? "
"Hah, sometimes you are more mature than the most cunning nobleman." King Nuven snickered. There was a mocking expression on his face. "Sometimes you are more naive than the stupidest fool."
Thales ignored his snicker.
The Prince of Constellation lowered his head and clenched his fists. "I used to see a person who vented his anger on a child. He could not face his own failure and shame, so he vented his anger and hatred on a child who had nothing to do with him."
"You are no better than that kind of coward." Thales panted, recalling the feeling of his right hand piercing through flesh. "Do you want to know what happened to him?"
King Nuven's gaze turned cold.
"Don't forget." The old king straightened his back and snorted coldly. "If it were not for the girl's birth and the sins hidden behind her, we would not have gone south to Constellation — and you would not be standing here."
"Go to hell, Nuven," Thales said bluntly. "We understand each other. Put away your pointless lies.
"Under those circumstances, whether there was an assassination or not, whether Prince Soria was dead or not, Eckstedt would have invaded. It was just a matter of time."
"So you are pitying her?" King Nuven laughed coldly in a low voice. "As I said, you better get used to this kind of life as soon as possible, little prince … just like how your enemies will not show mercy to you just because you are an innocent seven-year-old child."
Thales looked at him, suddenly burst into laughter and shook his head.
"Kaslan may be wrong. It is not that you have changed, nor is it that you are old," Thales said mockingly. "It is just that you have always been like this.
"Soria, Moriah, Poffret, Mirk — do you know why they had that kind of tragedy?"
King Nuven furrowed his brows.
Thales said coldly, "If the Walton Family has been using such methods and methods to govern your country and treat your vassals and subordinates for the past few decades or even a hundred years, then don't expect them to repay you with loyalty and integrity."
"Your sons … The reason why they died like that was all because of a father like you."
Thales finished what he wanted to say and stared at the king before him.
He actually felt at ease.
He did not feel the slightest bit guilty of blaming and offending the common-elected king of Eckstedt.
King Nuven fixed his gaze on him and did not speak for a long time.
Then, the old king's expression became serious. He stared straight at Thales with a complicated gaze.
"You think this is cruel, don't you?" the king said softly. "You haven't seen anything crueler."
Thales frowned slightly.
"You," King Nuven said slowly with the majesty of a king, "come before me."
Thales took a deep breath.
'Damn old man.
What is he going to do now? '
He slowly raised his head and looked straight at King Nuven. He lifted his leg and took a step forward.
But he did not even take a step forward.
"It's not you." The king's gaze, which was as sharp as a sword, went past the Prince of Constellation and shot coldly behind him.
King Nuven said coldly, "I said …
"It's that child."
Thales was stunned.
His pupils shrank abruptly!
Thales turned his head in a daze and stared at Little Rascal behind him.
Little Rascal, who had been holding her breath and not daring to breathe loudly, suddenly realized something.
She shuddered.
Little Rascal glanced at the king in disbelief, then looked at Thales as if asking for help.
She seemed to have never experienced such a scene before. She was extremely flustered, terrified, and on the verge of tears.
"Don't make me say it a third time." King Nuven stared at her with a cold expression.
Little Rascal trembled all over. She did not dare to raise her head.
However, her many years of experience still made her walk towards the king with trembling, fearful steps.
Thales stared at everything in front of him, puzzled.
Little Rascal stood in front of King Nuven. She stared at the ground and trembled.
"Ever since Soria was assassinated, I've been keeping Alex under tight protection," the old king said flatly. "Most people don't even know Alex's name. They only know that she exists.
"Fortunately, not many people know this secret, this truth." King Nuven's gaze was terrifying. His tone was firm.
"From the scullery to the bedroom, from the guards to the maids, everyone who knows Alex has been eliminated on your way here.
"There's only one left."
Little Rascal trembled violently!
Tears slid down her cheeks. "No, I didn't see anything, I don't know anything …"
King Nuven lowered his head and raised his right hand. He stared at the black ring on his finger with a subtle gaze.
Thales' breathing instantly quickened.
He vaguely knew what the old king wanted to do.
Thales hurriedly strode towards King Nuven. "Hey! You — "
But Thales did not take more than two steps before his shoulder was firmly gripped by a strong hand from behind.
Pain shot through his shoulder.
"Stay here." Nicholas the Star Killer coldly restrained him from behind. "Don't cause trouble, little prince."
Thales immediately felt that half of his body could not move.
"No, you saw the scene just now. That secret, didn't you?" King Nuven slowly said to Little Rascal in his old and deep voice.
"And you're also one of the few who knows of Alex's existence."
Little Rascal watched Thales' fate with tears streaming down her cheeks. She then looked at King Nuven's expression and trembled in fear.
"I beg you, Your Majesty," she cried. "I'll be good. I'll stay in the castle. I won't say anything …"
King Nuven continued to rub the 'Triumph' on his finger and chuckled.
Thales gritted his teeth and stared at the little girl before King Nuven.
'No.'
Damn it.
Thales shot a hateful glance at Nicholas, then at King Nuven.
"Guess." The next moment, King Nuven sneered and gripped Little Rascal's hand tightly. "What will happen to you?"
"Nuven!" Thales struggled with all his might, but under the suppression of the leader of the White Blade Guards, his resistance was futile.
King Nuven's expression was cold. He pulled Little Rascal's hand to his right hand.
'No.'
Little Rascal was so frightened that she was about to cry. "No … No …"
Thales clenched his teeth and drew JC's dagger from his waist. He swung it at the Star Killer at a strange angle.
The fourth offensive style of the Northland Military Sword Style.
The Ambush Style.
Then …
Thales opened his mouth in shock.
He saw King Nuven stretch out his right hand and place the ring on Little Rascal's palm.
Little Rascal stared at her palm in a daze. She stared at the black gemstone ring with a silver ring on it.
"This is the token passed down through the generations in the Walton Family, 'Triumph'," King Nuven said calmly and coldly.
"From now on, you are the last descendant of the Walton Family.
"I am the granddaughter of Nuven Walton, the Common-Elected King of Eckstedt and the Archduke of Dragon Clouds City.
"I am the only daughter of Prince Soria Walton and Marquis Gloucester of Vine City, Adele Walton."
Thales and Little Rascal stared blankly at King Nuven.
"Saroma Alex Soria Walton," King Nuven said softly. "This is your name."
Little Rascal gasped subconsciously. Her face was ghastly pale.
A few seconds later, she finally realized what King Nuven meant.
The bespectacled girl trembled as she held 'Triumph' in her hands. She took a step back in fear.
Nicholas let go of Thales and the dagger that was aimed at him. He snorted coldly.
But Thales had no time to care about his attitude.
He got up from the ground and looked at King Nuven in shock. He then looked at the absent-minded Little Rascal, who was frightened and helpless.
"You must forget everything in the past, whether it is your birth or the girl you served." King Nuven continued with his emotionless but forceful words.
"You will listen to my orders and become a lady of the Walton Family.
"You will marry that boy in exchange for Jadestar's support and protection of the Walton Family, as well as the connection between the two families.
"You must revere him, listen to him, serve him, assist him in the name of Saroma Walton, support him, support him."
Little Rascal glanced at Thales, trembling. Her eyes behind her glasses were watery. "No …"
But King Nuven interrupted her pleas.
"Remember your first middle name, Alex. It will forever remind you of your true identity …"
"It will remind you of the night that changed your fate.
"But this is also a warning." King Nuven's eyes flashed. "If you do anything that threatens the interests of Jadestar and the Walton Family, that boy can reveal your identity at any time … A Bloodline Ritual can destroy everything. Trust me, you won't like that."
Little Rascal was petrified. She was so terrified that she forgot to breathe. Only when she was exhausted did she inhale a mouthful of air.
"And you, Thales." King Nuven turned his head and looked at the Prince of Constellation. His expression was solemn. "Today, I will expose the family's biggest secret, the most terrifying past, before you.
"'Triumph' is only the first lock. This is the second lock. Now, you can take over the Walton Family without worry.
"Our alliance is still in effect."
Thales shuddered.
He looked at Little Rascal.
"Whether it is for your own interests or your ridiculous pity, you have to protect her and her identity." King Nuven's voice suddenly became tired and hoarse. "Just like how you protect the Waltons."
Little Rascal snapped out of her daze. She stared at the ring in her palm and began to tremble.
"No, I beg you, Your Majesty …" Little Rascal cried out in fear. "I'm scared … I don't know anything … I can't …
"I'm not asking for your opinion!" King Nuven turned his head abruptly and looked at Little Rascal, causing her to stop talking. The king's eyes flashed fiercely. "Do you understand?"
Little Rascal was so scared that even her glasses were crooked. She could only nod mechanically.
King Nuven smiled faintly.
Thales watched the scene in a daze. His heart was filled with a myriad of emotions.
"Alright." The old king sighed and said slowly, "Thales, you already know everything you need to know …"
King Nuven lifted his gaze. His tone was extremely tired. "Go back to your room."
Thales panted and clenched his fists.
He glanced at Little Rascal again, at her helpless and pitiful gaze.
Then, he gritted his teeth and turned to leave.
Behind Thales, King Nuven said to Little Rascal in a low voice, "And you, from tonight onwards, you will sleep in Alex's bedroom …"
Thales clenched his teeth tighter and tighter. Little Rascal screamed behind him.
"If you ever feel bored, think about today. Think about the previous owner of your bed …"
Thales' breathing gradually quickened. He could imagine Little Rascal's expression at that moment.
"Think about Alex's fate. Think about how she convulsed in agony before she died …"
Thales gently closed his eyes. His footsteps became slower and slower. Little Rascal's sobs came from behind him.
"Think about the people who died because of this, and think about how lucky you are …"
Thales stopped and took a deep breath.
"The servants and kitchen have all been cleaned out, but you'll soon have new servants. You'd better act properly …"
"Enough!"
Under everyone's astonished gaze, the Prince of Constellation turned around and glared angrily at King Nuven and the sobbing Little Rascal.
Thales gritted his teeth and strode forward, grabbing Little Rascal's wrist.
Then, without giving her a chance to speak, he pulled her to his side.
He could feel that Little Rascal's wrist was still trembling.
"Don't be impatient, Thales." King Nuven waved at Nicholas, who was about to step forward, and said slowly, "You will have plenty of time to spend with your fiancée in the future."
"That's it." Thales stared coldly at King Nuven. "Tonight, she has to stay with me!"
After saying this, he dragged Little Rascal out of the hall with a solemn expression.
Little Rascal pressed down on her glasses, which were about to fall off. She allowed Thales to drag her, occasionally looking back in fear.
"Thales," King Nuven said flatly behind him, "Where are you taking my granddaughter?"
"She can't stay with you anyway!" Thales said rudely as he walked, "A bunch of lunatics!"
King Nuven's laughter came from behind him, but it only made Thales more annoyed and confused.
"Thales Jadestar." The king's laughter came from behind him. "First night …
"Be nicer to your fiancée!"
Thales did not look back. He dragged Little Rascal out of the hall, ignoring the White Blade Guards' frowning expressions.
He just walked forward resolutely.
When Little Rascal recovered from her stupor and fear, she spoke quietly.
"Um …" Little Rascal tugged at his clothes timidly. "You are …"
"My name is Thales," Thales said coldly.
"Miss Alex, is she really …" Little Rascal sniffled and said pitifully, "Really … dead?"
"Yes," Thales answered firmly with a straight face, "she's dead — poisoned to death."
Little Rascal shuddered violently.
Thales furrowed his brows.
"Poisoned to death …" Little Rascal's gaze was unfocused as she started to mumble to herself.
"In the year 207 of the Empire Calendar, Duke Shkeachi killed the Fourth Knight with a poisonous arrow … In the year 489 of the Empire Calendar, Count Cate Nante and Princess Lesley were both poisoned to death on their wedding day … In the year 721 of the Empire Calendar, Emperor Aydi the Third fell into a coma … In the year 1171 of the Empire Calendar, the 'Emperor of Poison' poisoned Suzerain Reddy Zodra to death on the negotiation table … In the year 218 of the Calendar of Eradication, Archduke Lloyd Olsius was poisoned to death by the 'Mourning Archduke' … In the year 359 of the Calendar of Eradication, 'Beautiful Archduke' Lacey Anlenzo died from a cup of flower tea. In the year 660 of the Calendar of Eradication, the Crown Prince of Constellation was poisoned by Blue Vine Grass …"
"Enough!" Thales roared resolutely and interrupted her murmurs. "Don't think about this anymore!"
Little Rascal came back to her senses.
Thales pulled her along and continued walking forward.
"Um, we should go back …" Little Rascal said hesitantly.
"You can't go back," Thales cut her off firmly and shook his head.
"According to Nuven, a bunch of people just died there. It's definitely not suitable for you to stay."
Little Rascal shuddered slightly.
Thales sighed in his heart as he walked.
"But, I'm afraid that we …" Little Rascal said hesitantly again.
"You don't have to be afraid. There's no bastard like Nuven here," Thales said quietly. "But I can only protect you for a while …"
"No, I mean …" Little Rascal said softly with a sobbing tone.
"We went the wrong way …"
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