Saroma stared at him with a slightly misty gaze.
"But they didn't do anything wrong, did they?" She snorted and shook her head. She raised her right hand and looked at the Triumph ring on her thumb. "I didn't —"
"Little Rascal!"
Thales once again used that name from a long time ago and fiercely interrupted her.
The girl raised her head in a daze.
"Don't, Saroma.
Even if you can't choose who you want to be …
"But at least, don't become who they want you to be."
Thales stared at her. "Please, don't become that."
But Saroma was only slightly startled. She shook her head mockingly. "It's useless. As the Archduchess of Northland, my future has already been decided … even if it's not this time."
She said disappointedly, "I've thought about it. I'll marry a local noble, give birth to a male heir, and then be politely sent to a secluded place until I'm old …"
* Slap! *
A crisp sound rang.
Saroma stared at the second prince in a daze.
She watched as he grabbed her right hand.
"Little Rascal!"
Thales stared at her seriously and moved Triumph to the center of their line of sight.
"Even if you're a woman, you can still live a very exciting life! I know of a woman like that. "
"Ah, the female official Jines Bajkovic who taught you swordsmanship and etiquette." Saroma shook her head and laughed. "I've heard you say it a thousand times — the legendary woman who broke away from the shackles of her family and stood alone in the capital. She's good with table knives and longswords. But she's special, and she's not a suzerain — "
"No, not her."
Thales spoke decisively and stopped Saroma from speaking.
"I'm talking about another young girl."
Saroma was slightly startled.
Her wrist, which Thales was holding, trembled slightly.
"You mean … a young girl?"
"Yes." Thales nodded firmly. "She's also the last orphan of a great family. She survived the chaos of war and riots, inherited the title at the age of three, and led a region."
Saroma did not refute him. Instead, she looked at the prince with a puzzled and inquiring gaze.
Thales took a deep breath and recalled the autumn and winter six years ago. "When I first met her, she was about the same age as you are now. She was fifteen or sixteen years old. She was inexperienced, young, and even a little immature."
"But at that time, she was already an important person who could take charge. I still remember the scene when she crossed the entire Hall of Stars and faced the country's emperor, ministers, and people with sonorous and forceful words."
Thales said absentmindedly, "And when she walked into the hall valiantly in that casual purplish-black hunting suit, the crowd in the entire hall automatically retreated to make way for her.
"At that time, there were also people who mocked her, looked down on her, despised her, and looked down on her. 'How can Constellation be ruled by ignorant women and children?'
"As for that girl, she just walked over slowly with a cold face and small steps, elegant and aloof. She didn't care about what she wanted to say, whether it was ridicule or condemnation, whether it was support or opposition."
"Even the two powerful counts could only walk behind her. One of them looked murderous, and the other looked noble. But they could not outshine her brilliance. Instead, they were suppressed by her aura to the point that they could barely be seen."
"When she waved her long sleeves and spoke in a cold voice, it was as if everyone present had become her foil, be it the king or the duke, the nobles or the commoners."
Saroma listened to his narration and was slightly surprised. "You're talking about …"
"Constellation, the Guardian of Blade Edge Hill.
"The Duchess, Lyanna Tabark."
"The Duchess, Lyanna Tabark."
The prince narrowed his eyes. "As far as I know, she is still an unmarried woman. Under the emblem of the Blood Moon, she single-handedly supports the Tabark Family of the Six Great Clans, protects and rules Blade Edge Hill."
Thales turned his head abruptly and looked at the stunned Saroma.
"If she can do it, so can you.
"One day, you will also be able to stand at the top of Dragon Clouds City with your own strength, without relying on anyone else, and win everyone's respect!"
Thales inhaled and fixed his gaze on the girl's face. "One day, you will be able to tell the vassals of Dragon Clouds City in a dignified manner that the person who rules them …
"… is an archduchess."
Saroma stared at Thales. After being stunned for a while, she smiled helplessly.
"It's too difficult," the girl said with a sigh. "I can't do it …"
Thales shook his head and said with determination, "It's not difficult. What's really difficult is that you think you can't do it. That's why your vassals feel that Dragon Clouds City under your rule is not stable."
Saroma blinked and stared at the prince with a softer and brighter gaze.
"I still remember the Little Rascal who risked her life to drag me out of the hands of the calamities …
"I also remember the Little Rascal who crawled out of the fireplace and anxiously memorized her lines to help me out of trouble …
"At that time, the girl did not hesitate to say, 'It's too difficult.'"
Saroma did not say anything. She only watched Thales hold her hand in silence.
"Saroma, remember this: choose who you want to be.
"If you don't want to be a vase that is manipulated by others and traded casually …"
The prince squeezed her hand tightly. His tone was unquestionable. "Then don't act like a vase!"
Saroma stared at the prince in a daze.
A few seconds later, her originally misty and unfocused gaze became focused again.
"If you don't want to marry a man who is old enough to be your father and live on your belly …" Thales' gaze became fierce.
Thales' gaze turned fierce. "Then reject them!"
"Let's think of a way together. Of course, I think Lisban will help you.
"As long as you say that you don't want to.
"Then you don't have to marry them."
The two of them stared at each other and remained silent for a long time.
Thales did not turn his gaze away.
Saroma's eyes flickered. She seemed to be a little touched and a little panicked.
Finally, Saroma looked at the prince with a determined expression and took a deep breath.
"Thales." Saroma cleared her throat.
"I …"
She seemed to be a little hesitant.
Thales responded with an encouraging gaze.
But the hesitation only lasted for three seconds. The girl gritted her teeth and tensed up.
"Thales." Saroma raised her head. Her gaze was serious. "I don't …
Don't want to marry Count Hearst. "
Thales exhaled and nodded heavily. "Yes!
I don't want to marry Count Nazaire's son either. "
"Yes!
I don't like them. "Saroma's words slowly became smoother from the stiffness in the beginning." I don't want to marry anyone else either. "
Thales stared at her.
"Very well." The prince raised his eyebrows. "You won't marry them."
Thales shrugged. "Because I don't like them either."
The two of them stared at each other. A few seconds later, they snorted and laughed together.
'Phew.'
Thales sighed slightly in his heart. 'Now, Putray is going to nag me with an expression that says "I knew it would be like this" again.
'I have to think of a reason to convince him. If the archduchess doesn't marry, it will be more beneficial for us …
'And …
'I have to find time to talk to Lisban these few days.
'About Dragon Clouds City.
'And the archduchess.'
While laughing, Thales pretended that nothing had happened and let go of the other party's hand.
In the library, a maid frowned.
"With all due respect, Ginghes, I know that the lady's mental state has not been very good lately … but their behavior is still a little too intimate.
"For the archduchess' sake, we should intervene." The maid turned to Ginghes, the female officer, and said tactfully, "She needs us now."
Ginghes, the female officer, still had that old-fashioned expression on her face. She quietly watched the teenage prince and the young archduchess giggle in the distance.
"Believe me, for the archduchess' sake …" Ginghes turned her stern gaze and shook her head. "What she needs the most right now is —"
"Not us."
Suddenly, Saroma spoke again.
"Thales."
But this time, she tilted her head slightly. Her expression was a little cunning. "If I am willing to marry them, marry the vassals of Dragon Clouds City … would you still say these words?
Would you still stop me from marrying them? "
Thales heard something and was momentarily stunned.
He shrugged. "Of course."
The young lady smiled faintly.
"Didn't you stand up for me on the day of the state affairs hearing?" Thales scratched his head again. "The friendship between friends is mutual, and it cannot be bought with money."
Saroma's gaze lowered slightly.
Thales scratched his head and awkwardly searched for an excuse. "You know, if you get a local husband in Dragon Clouds City out of nowhere, then maybe my good days will come to an end … Of course, I have to try my best to stop it."
"Oh, I see." The young lady's voice became gloomy again.
"Right, Thales."
Thales blinked, looking puzzled.
Saroma raised her head.
The archduchess narrowed her eyes in a thought-provoking manner and asked, "Lyanna, is she beautiful?"
Thales' eyelids twitched again.
"I don't really remember."
The prince exhaled and twitched the corners of his mouth. "The atmosphere at that time was too tense. I only remember that my legs kept trembling."
Saroma burst into laughter.
Thales also chuckled a few times.
"But …"
His memory immediately returned to six years ago.
'Lyanna.
Six years ago, she was fifteen years old.
Now, she should be in the prime of her youth, like a blooming flower.
That girl who left a deep impression on people. '
"The moment Lyanna opened her mouth to speak, when her gaze was as sharp as a blade, and when she stood up to the dukes without showing any weakness …" Thales was lost in thought as he pictured the heroic young duchess in his mind. "Even when she faced the Eckstedt envoy and forcefully ridiculed Lampard …"
Saroma widened her eyes and looked at the prince's response.
"I realized that the words' beautiful ',' beautiful ',' pleasant ',' unparalleled ', and other words used to describe a beauty were no longer sufficient to describe her.
"Lyanna at that moment."
Thales closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Just like a magnificent diamond that reflects the sunlight." The prince recalled the past in Renaissance Palace and sincerely praised the heroic Duchess of Blade Edge Hill. He exhaled and said, "Dazzling, dazzling, and dazzling.
It's unforgettable at first sight. "
At this moment …
* Thud! *
Thales felt a pain in his chest as a muffled sound rang out. With a contorted face, he opened his eyes and looked at a book that was thrown at his chest.
"A new book that arrived today." Saroma also held a book in her hand and said coldly, "I flipped through it and found some places that you might be interested in.
"I flipped through it and found some places that you might be interested in.
Hurry up and read it. You've wasted too much time. "
"Weren't we having a good chat just now?" Thales rubbed his chest in pain. He had just realized what mistake he had made, but he was still indignant. He was about to refute, "But you can't —"
"Shut up and read the book!"
The archduchess put on a stern face and said fiercely,
"Don't waste time. I still have class later!"
Thales exhaled and rolled his eyes the moment Saroma lowered her head.
'Fierce woman.'
With a bitter expression, the prince lowered his head and straightened his sitting posture. He flipped open the bookmarked 'Against the Heavens' in his bosom.
'What book is this?'
"An evaluation of the Draconic language?"
Thales flipped open the bookmarked page and was immediately attracted by the title of the chapter.
The prince's expression became solemn.
Following his habit, he began to study the book in a low voice.
"'The structure of the Great Dragon's throat is extremely unique. Hence, the pronunciation of the Draconic language is also extremely complicated, to the point that it cannot be recorded without musical instruments …
"The recorded Draconic language can only represent a part of the syllables. In the mouth of the Great Dragon, most of these Draconic words have another way of pronouncing and pronouncing that we cannot imagine …"
'Draconic language.'
Thales' six years in the library was certainly not just for the sake of finding peace and quiet.
More importantly …
The prince recalled that night, the huge figure that rose from the flames, and the various mysteries about him. His mood became increasingly heavy.
It had been six years. He had been beating around the bush with Saroma and found many documents. They had learned the names of at least fifteen Great Dragons in history.
However, among the fifteen names with different characteristics, the one he was looking for was not among them …
"Apart from a few races, such as the elves whose singing is comparable to that of a lark, most races cannot rely on their voices to directly communicate and converse with the Great Dragon." Thales read the paragraph he drew and frowned. "No wonder the Queen of the Sky wanted to communicate with us like that. It turns out that we can't speak the Draconic language …"
'Damn it.
'So …
'As long as the name is pronounced in the Draconic language, it cannot be pronounced in the common language, or even by humans?
'If that's the case …'
"Not there!"
Saroma's voice traveled to his ears. She seemed rather impatient. "Flip to the second bookmark!"
Thales, who had mixed feelings, raised his head in annoyance. "How would I know if you don't tell me …"
However, the moment he saw the fierce look in Saroma's eyes, he shrank back with a whoosh.
The prince obediently flipped to the second bookmark.
"'The ancient elves were one of the few races in history who could fight against the Great Dragons without falling into a disadvantageous position. In the Dragon-Slaying War (This name comes from the historical records of the ancient elves. The author believes that the Great Dragons must have had another name similar to the' Hunting for Long Ears' game), the ancient elven kingdom hunted and killed at least six famous Great Dragons. Hence, they are also the race that knows the Great Dragons the most. In fact, a lot of the author's information came from the generosity of a friend in White Mountain … '"
Thales narrowed his eyes.
'Six?
'Could it be that Saroma wants to show me the list of the six dead Great Dragons?'
Saroma knew that he had always been interested in the Great Dragons, and often looked up the names of the Great Dragons …
But she might not know that the Great Dragon he was looking for had lived until now, at least fourteen years ago, until he was born in this world.
And it, no, her name was …
"… The warriors who killed the Great Dragons were usually divided into several groups and worked together.
They were usually equipped with a machete that was sharp enough to cut through metal, similar to the ones used by the Elven Imperial Guards. They also had a mithril shield that had a melting point that was high enough to insulate temperature. They were equipped with both offense and defense. The author suspects that this was the origin of human swordsmanship. At the very least, the Northland Military Swordsmanship should have borrowed the tactics of the Great Dragons in terms of spirit and equipment. Wizard J.L. Mindis, the Northern Ancient History Expert in the Ascetic Tower and the author of 'The Legend of the Iron Blood King', Wizard J.L. Mindis, holds the same view. However, Master Rhymer, the Alchemy Tower's weapons technology expert believes that the Northland Military Swordsmanship was mainly influenced by the Ancient Beasts' personality fighting skills on the battlefield.
"Snipers, this unit is responsible for long-range attacks and restraints. They are equipped with a variety of special arrows that can affect the Great Dragon, and they hold a foldable, long-range sniper bow that can quickly attack and suppress fast-moving targets in the air, ranging from the dragon's eyes to the dragon's armpit. Even today, the Wanderer Elven settlement in the Empire's Green Heart Province still retains this bow-making technology, and it even influenced Green Heart Province to become the Empire's top archer production area. The saying 'Northland is tough, West Billows is ruthless, and Green Hills produces strong bows' has spread far and wide. The Romete Family's Gray Hood Archer Unit is a terrifying existence that can take a person's life from hundreds of steps away. I believe that this has something to do with the Ancient Elven Kingdom's dragon hunting skills (although the Gray Hoods refuse to admit it) …"
Thales was puzzled. The more he read, the more confused he became.
'What are these?
How do they hunt the Great Dragon? '
"Obliterators. These elves, who have the least number of people, have the most dangerous tasks. They have to get close to the Great Dragon's fatal weakness in battle, and strive to injure or even kill the enemy in one strike. "The Obliterators are usually the most outstanding scouts and vanguards. They go into battle lightly and sneak up on the enemy. They only have the most inconspicuous but most expensive short sword in their hands. It can be said to be priceless. It is said that this kind of dagger was forged with special and secret materials and methods. It can pierce through dragon scales without any hindrance, but what the author can't understand is, even if it is so sharp, how can such a short weapon pose a fatal threat to the huge body of a giant dragon … "
"According to the author's research, this legendary weapon is known as the 'Dragon Breaker'. There are very few of them in history, and only the most powerful Obliterators are qualified to wield them. It is said that it is a weapon with magic power. Every time a Great Dragon is injured or killed, the blade of the sword will accumulate the power of the hunter, and become 'more powerful, sharper, bizarre, deadly, and full of vitality'. These are the original words in the ancient elven literature, but the author still has doubts about the translation of the last word …"
When Thales read up to this point, he raised his head to look at Saroma from time to time. However, the other party's angry gaze made him have no choice but to lower his head again and again.
The prince could only sigh deeply.
'Alright.'
He flipped a page.
In the next second, Thales shuddered!
"Did you see that?" Saroma sighed.
"I'm also very surprised."
Thales raised his head in a daze. The large book opened to one of the pages, and on it was a simple sketch of a weapon.
He touched the drawing and instantly knew what Saroma wanted him to see.
"This is …" Thales said in a daze.
"Yes." Saroma nodded solemnly. "According to the records, this is an elite weapon that only the ancient elves' Obliterator Army possess.
"'Dragon Breaker'."
"More than three hundred years ago, the King of the Oath Keepers, Midier the Fourth, built the sturdy fortress at the border between the two countries. It was named after this."
Thales lowered his head in a daze and looked at the weapon sketch drawn in the book in disbelief.
It was a short sword with a strange weight ball and a gem embedded in the center of the crossguard. The handguard was curved in a reverse arc towards the blade.
Even though it was not painted, he could still recognize it.
'Dragon … Breaker?'
In Thales' nearly fourteen years of this life, he had seen a short sword of this style once.
No, he had not only seen it before.
Six years ago, Thales had held a short sword of the same specifications with his own hands.
It was a short sword that was as red as blood.
It woke up like a warrior who had been asleep for a long time and shone in his hands.
The short sword seemed to have a mind of its own.
It transmitted vague syllables and words and called him …
'Blood brother.
?
? I'm so tired. Sleep. '
?
????
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