"Don't worry.
The archduchess' hearing will last until sunset. You can still make it if you go in the afternoon. I'll send someone to inform Viscount Leisdon. "
In the bedroom on the second floor, Thales glanced at the noon sun. He picked up a wet towel from the basin and wiped his face while he spoke to Putray, who was sitting behind him.
Putray watched the second prince's back, which was much wider and taller than six years ago. He touched the wrinkles on his face in silence and watched the flame in his pipe slowly extinguish.
'It's hard to imagine that this is the thin and weak boy who could not even ride a horse six years ago.
The boy who gritted his teeth and barged into Heroic Spirit Palace. '
Thales pressed the towel on his face and exhaled deeply. "Trust me, she is never in a good mood after every hearing. It's the same for Regent Lisban. If I were you, I wouldn't go looking for trouble so early."
Putray refilled his pipe and snorted softly. "I'm guessing that Archduchess Walton is still not on the list of Northlanders' recognition, right?"
Thales raised his eyebrows. "Recognition?"
He recalled what he had seen and heard in the past six years and could not help but shrug.
"Just persuading the direct vassals of Dragon Clouds City to salute the new archduchess at King Nuven's funeral almost exhausted all of Lisban's prestige as the prime minister of more than twenty years. And this was with five archdukes, including the king, endorsing her."
Thales recalled the extremely strange funeral. King Nuven, whose eyelids were covered with gold coins, lay quietly in the middle of the Hall of Heroes with his sword in his arms. The stitches on his neck were completely covered by his collar. The vassals slowly walked forward with shock and depression. They looked at the new young suzerain in disbelief, then looked at the livid Lisban in anger and puzzlement, as if the latter had betrayed them.
The prince snorted softly and threw the towel into the washbasin. He walked into a single cubicle and unbuttoned his inner shirt while he sighed. "As the Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City, you can imagine what kind of situation she has been in for the past six years."
Outside the cubicle, Putray stood up and nodded thoughtfully.
The former vice diplomat of Constellation walked to the window and glanced at the guards who could be seen everywhere in the backyard. "In comparison, as a hostage prince in the enemy's heartland … at least they value you."
"If you are referring to the densely packed palace guards and the Archduchess' Guards from the corridor to the top of the hall, and from the balcony to the courtyard …" Thales took off his inner shirt, and his fingers inadvertently touched the round burn scar on his chest. He could not help but recall a past memory.
He sighed as he picked up a new undershirt and put it on.
"Let me put it this way. After Nuven was assassinated six years ago, that dead-faced Nicholas became more and more neurotic. He wanted nothing more than to turn Heroic Spirit Palace into a prison where no one can enter or a military camp where they patrol day and night."
Thales put on his clothes and said helplessly, "No matter where I go, they will probably turn that place upside down three days in advance."
Putray glanced at the guards on duty in the corridor and nodded slightly. "I'm glad to hear that the Star Killer is so responsible."
"When you see his face, you won't think so. The people before you have suffered a lot from him." In the cubicle, Thales put on his smock and grabbed the complicated leather belt hanging on the wall. The dagger on the belt made him frown slightly again.
"It was Viscount Kenney's diplomat group. That time, Nicholas almost cut the horse into pieces and sewed it up before returning it to me."
Thales skillfully wrapped the belt around his waist and fastened the four buttons. Then, he sat down and put on his boots.
Putray turned around from the window and puffed out a smoke ring without any scruples.
The prince's desk was piled full of books. Some of them were half-opened, some had bookmarks in them, and there were also quite a number of notes.
Three sheathed swords were neatly placed on the sword rack by the side. Two shields were stacked next to the sword rack.
Putray curled up the corners of his mouth.
His gaze shifted to Thales' bed. The bedding and pillows on it were as clean as new.
'Probably because he changed them often …' Putray thought.
But his gaze shifted to the corner of the wall not far from the bed. A normal person might not have noticed it, but the sharp Putray noticed that this corner of the wall was brighter than the wall beside it.
It was just enough for a person to lie in the corner.
Putray narrowed his eyes.
A few seconds later, he sighed quietly.
"Your Highness." For some reason, Putray calmed down. His tone was serious. "How have you been over the past few years?"
The voice in the cubicle paused for a fraction of a second.
It was as if the person in the cubicle was thinking about the answer.
"Ha." The prince's exhalation was heard. He sounded indifferent. "A regular work and rest schedule, the magnificent scenery of Northland, a personal bodyguard, no need to worry about life-threatening dangers, no need to face old and cunning enemies …
"The only things I need to worry about are a little girl and her female officials, plus a dead face and an old regent …"
In the cubicle, Thales fastened his boots. His breathing slowed down, and his expression was still. "Why not?"
'Why not?'
Putray did not speak.
"But …"
A few seconds later, the fully dressed Thales pushed open the cubicle door and walked into the bedroom.
He raised his head and looked at Putray in front of the desk. He said sincerely, "I'm still very happy to see you, Putray.
"You don't see old friends every day in Dragon Clouds City."
'Especially those who have gone through hardships together.'
Thales added in his heart.
He picked up a half-sword from the sword rack, tested its weight, and put it into his belt.
"I want to say the same to you, Your Highness." Putray flashed a smile. "But you know, I'm not used to sentimental conversations."
Thales snorted when he heard this.
"So, where have you been for the past six years?" The young prince stood in front of the dressing mirror and casually tugged at his collar. "At that time, I thought you would stay in Dragon Clouds City with me as Gilbert's designated instructor."
Putray bit his pipe and snorted softly with a crooked mouth.
"Speaking of instructors, I heard that you brought a lot of trouble to the instructors in Dragon Clouds City?" he said faintly, as if he did not hear Thales' question.
Thales blinked and did not continue to ask about his whereabouts for the past six years.
"First of all, I'm not very used to the way many people teach me, and I'm a straightforward person." He shook his hair and felt that it was about time. "Secondly, I don't think that's the kind of education an archduke should have …"
Thales' voice subconsciously became softer.
Putray spat out his pipe. "What?"
The young prince shook his head and cleared his mind of the past few lectures. "Nothing. Just take it that I don't like the look of them."
Putray looked at him and chuckled.
"Regarding your education, the country is also very troubled," the thin lord said faintly. "So, I specially invited a teacher for you this time."
"You invited a teacher?" Thales furrowed his brows slightly. "I thought you wanted to teach me personally?"
"I will only teach you to be a gloomy prince full of schemes." Putray laughed. "At most, I will teach you to sing a few colorful bardic poems. Gilbert will probably kill me."
Thales followed him and laughed dryly. Then, his face darkened.
"You should know that King Chapman does not allow Constellatiates to come and teach me."
Thales sighed slightly. "He refuses to let any Constellatiate interfere with the Prince of Constellation's education."
The prince remembered the scene where he received the education of Northland nobles with that girl.
The Eckstedtians taught him the common language with a Northland accent and even the language of orcs. They also taught him the history and traditions of Northland, the importance of the Thirty-Eighth Sentry Ground and the dangers of Broken Dragon Fortress. But they did not teach him the language of the Ancient Empire, the history of the Empire, the past of Constellation, or even the language of elves and the rhetoric of the nobles. Gilbert taught him everything in Mindis Hall.
Thales shook his head in resignation.
Fortunately, it was quite convenient to practice the Northland Military Sword Style with the swift and fierce Northland warriors.
"Please do not worry.
"That scholar comes from Anlenzo Dukedom's Dragon Kiss Academy. He is highly respected and has a reputation far and wide." Putray seemed to have predicted what he was going to say. He blew out another smoke ring nonchalantly. "He will arrive a few days later and will teach you and the archduchess at the same time. Regent Lisban will only be pleasantly surprised by his arrival."
Thales paused for a moment. There was puzzlement in his eyes. "Dragon Kiss Academy? Highly respected? "
Putray extended his pipe and nonchalantly smashed it on the windowsill under the prince's furrowed brows, which could kill a mosquito.
"When he was young, he was once my tutor and Gilbert's tutor," Putray said sentimentally. "Gilbert and I spent a lot of effort to convince him."
'Putray and Gilbert's … tutor?'
Thales remembered the former Foreign Affairs Minister whom he had not seen for many years. His curiosity grew.
"Who is he?"
"You will know," Putray said calmly. "Before that, please forgive me for keeping some surprises for you."
'Surprises?'
Thales raised his eyebrows in a direction he could not see.
"So, Putray."
The second prince narrowed his eyes.
"You came here this time to solve the problem of my education?"
Putray snorted softly with a playful expression. He changed the topic slightly. "Yes. Otherwise, in six years, the heir to Constellation will almost become a Northlander."
Thales rolled his eyes in resignation.
But in the next moment, a strange light suddenly shone in Putray's eyes.
"Prince Thales." Putray tapped his pipe with a profound expression. "Have you been homesick for the past six years?"
Thales was stunned.
'Home.
'Abandoned House, Sunset Pub, Jala.'
When he thought of 'home', these were the first words that popped into his mind.
'Perhaps … there's also Gilbert, Jines, and Yodel?'
Thales crossed his arms and sighed.
"I don't know." He forced a smile. "I haven't been in Constellation for a long time. My impression of it is very shallow."
Putray stared at him quietly. He did not say a word.
Thales, who was originally a little sad, became a little puzzled by Putray's stare.
"Very good." Putray's gaze was profound as he stared into Thales' eyes. "Then it's time to strengthen it."
Thales was stunned.
A few seconds later, the prince, who understood something, sighed.
"The Secret Intelligence Department?" Thales lowered his head and asked softly.
Putray whistled softly. "What else could it be?"
The prince's expression froze.
After a while, Thales snorted with the ghost of a smile. His face was downcast.
"I really don't know if I should be happy or sad."
Thales took a deep breath and stood up abruptly. He grabbed a book on the desk. "Let's go!"
Putray was shocked. "Huh? Where are we going? "
"Ah, didn't I tell you?" The prince turned his head and revealed his white teeth. "I'm used to going out of the palace to play chess once a month."
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