Thales walked in the corridors of Heroic Spirit Palace, feeling gloomy.
Nicholas was a terrible liar.
He had concealed King Nuven's decision all those years ago, and even Moriah's matter.
Things were already very clear. The former White Blade Guards, Lisban, and the Secret Room held secrets that Thales and Saroma absolutely could not know. In other words, this secret would be detrimental to the latter two to a large extent.
Thales did not even have to verify whether the horrifying secret Lampard told him was true.
This was Thales' conclusion.
However …
On the way to the dining room, Thales could not help but clench his fists.
However, Dragon Clouds City was facing the most complicated and chaotic situation in six years.
The international situation was about to change, and it was testing the archduchess' choice.
The archdukes in the country were unpredictable, and they wanted to see Dragon Clouds City's stance.
The vassals in the territory were restless, and they coveted the archduchess' marriage and power.
King Nuven's gloominess filled the sky, shrouding the successor of the Dragon Spear Family.
And the most terrifying opponent, the current common-elected king of the Kingdom of the Great Dragon, Chapman Lampard, held a sharp blade in his hand in the dark, ready to seize all possible benefits in this storm that was about to erupt at any moment.
Saroma, a lonely and weak girl — Thales felt a faint pang in his heart when he thought of this — lived among them, and faced countless threats.
Thales had just proven to Saroma that they could not be trusted, be it the extraordinarily skilled Nicholas or the astute Lisban, who had always been by her side, that they could not be trusted.
Thales stood at the entrance of the dining room in a daze. He clenched his fists tightly in his palms, and they tightened.
All the peace over the past six years was an illusion, and all the leisure was an illusion. Behind Saroma's name, there was a high possibility that the former king's cruel and merciless deception was hidden.
Alex's twitching before she was poisoned appeared before his eyes again, and her face gradually losing its vitality.
As for Saroma, no, Little Rascal … This was not the life she wanted, but she was forced to face all of this. She was surrounded by enemies, helpless, and at a loss as to what to do in the fate that was forced upon her.
Most importantly, she lived in a cage made of lies and was completely unaware of the threat around her.
If I had not discovered this secret, this matter, would Saroma have lived on as an archduchess, oblivious to it, even muddle-headed, until the day the truth was cruelly stripped out under the sun?
'If that day comes, when the conflict in Dragon Clouds City erupts, when the king swings his sword, and when the secret of the bloodline is exposed …
How could she, a lonely and helpless girl, bear all of this?
Thales exhaled in pain. He felt dejected, and his thoughts were tired.
She had a chance to escape.
It was you, Thales. You were the one who asked her to become Selma Walton six years ago.
And now, you, a hostage who has no choice but to be ostracized, what can you do?
What can you do for her?
What kind of perspective and stance should you use to intervene in this internal struggle that only belongs to Eckstedt?
What to do?
What to do?
It had been six years, and they were still living under the shadow of the dragon's blood. It had been six years, and they still could not escape King Nuven's clutches. It had been six years, they …
"Prince Thales, do you need help?"
A cold and polite call startled Thales out of his own world.
"Madam Ginghes." Thales put away all the worries in his heart and tried his best to dispel the heavy feeling in his heart. He forced himself to look at Ginghes, who stood at the door of the dining room. "I'm sorry, but …"
Thales looked at the light shining from the dining room and vaguely saw the young girl's figure.
"Can you leave us alone for a while?"
Ginghes frowned and swept her gaze over the prince's entire body. There was suspicion in her eyes.
"Last time, it was because the lady was in a bad mood. We can understand that," the female official in charge of the archduchess' daily life said calmly, "But this time …
"I really need to talk to her alone."
Thales looked at the female official with the most sincere gaze imaginable. "Please, Madam Ginghes.
"This is very important.
"If you still care about the archduchess, if you know her current situation …"
Thales fixed his gaze on Ginghes with a solemn expression.
This time, the female official Ginghes stared at him for a long time.
It was as if she was observing an antique.
"I don't know what happened, Your Highness." Finally, the cold and rational female official spoke softly with her usual business-like tone, "But the lady, she —"
The female official suddenly stopped talking.
In the next second, Ginghes did something the prince thought she would never do.
She sighed.
For the first time, Thales saw fatigue in the well-maintained female official's eyes and wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
"She's just a little girl."
Thales lowered his head and nodded slightly. "I know, so —"
"But she's not just a little girl," Ginghes interrupted him in a manner that brooked no argument. "She's also the ruler of Dragon Clouds City."
Thales raised his head and looked at her strangely. He felt that the female official was a little different today.
"Most of the time, it's because of Your Highness' constant concern, consideration, and companionship that the lady feels that she's safe and lets down her worries and wariness.
"As a friend, you take care of her and worry for her." The female official's tone was no longer as stern as before. Instead, it was filled with resignation and sentimentality. "This is her fortune."
Ginghes' next sentence had another meaning.
"But the problem is, she's not safe.
She shouldn't feel that way either. "
Thales stared at Ginghes and was momentarily speechless.
"We'll leave now, Prince Thales." The female official's expression returned to being old-fashioned, as though the sensual feeling earlier was just an illusion. She bowed slightly. "I wish you and the lady a pleasant meal."
The prince frowned. He suddenly realized that there was another side to the dutiful but serious female official he had known before.
"Also, the lady is not in a good mood. Today, she …" Madam Ginghes lowered her voice and said in an extremely obscure manner.
"You know, it's been another month since you were kicked in the knee."
'Another month?'
Thales was slightly stunned.
By the time he realized what she meant, Ginghes had already turned and left.
"It's because of Your Highness' constant concern, consideration, and companionship that the lady feels that she's safe …"
The second prince watched her leave with the two female servants with complicated emotions. He lowered his head and hesitated for a moment. He took a deep breath and tried hard to adjust his emotions before he stepped into the archduchess' dining room.
Saroma sat quietly at the dining table. She looked lonely under the lights on both sides.
"Wow, lettuce." Thales sat opposite the archduchess. He looked at the food on the dining table and smiled. "I haven't eaten for a while."
As expected, the table was filled with bland foods like vegetables and fruits. Even the broth was piping hot. This was a rare sight. Under Nicholas' threat, it was nothing new for the chefs in the kitchen to make a dish turn cold after checking it repeatedly for a few times.
'This is the archduchess' monthly recipe. '
Saroma raised her head under the lights. The prince could not help but notice that she was a little tired.
'So, is it because of her physiology, or …'
"Hey." The archduchess stared at him with a gaze that the prince rarely saw. The latter could not read the meaning behind it. "Thales."
Her voice did not seem to carry much emotion.
"You said that you have something important to tell me today?"
Thales exhaled. The troubles he faced earlier seemed to have instantly returned to his mind.
"Yes, I, erm …"
Thales took a deep breath. The words were at the tip of his tongue, but he was tongue-tied.
He stared at Saroma, whose face was slightly gloomy. He maintained the most basic polite smile, but suddenly did not know what to say.
'Saroma, you are actually facing an extremely terrible situation and are not safe.
Even if you survive this storm, the forced marriage of the vassals, and the fight between Roknee and the king, you are still in a difficult situation.
'Because the people you think you can trust are actually lying to you?
You are alone and helpless, you are in danger, and even your biggest secret is in someone's hands? '
"Hmm?" Saroma's gaze fell on his lips. There was a slight puzzlement in her eyes.
But Thales furrowed his eyebrows tightly. He slowly clenched his fists under the table. He was still smiling, but he was struggling in his heart. He did not know where to start.
'Should I tell her the truth? 'Nicholas and Lisban are not loyal to her, at least not faithfully?
'Perhaps they are hatching a scheme that King Nuven set up.' Are you just a puppet at their mercy?
'Isn't this exactly what Lampard wants? 'He wants to use me to destroy the internal harmony in Dragon Clouds City and the relationship between the lord and the vassals?
'But … does Dragon Clouds City still have a so-called' harmony '?
If she does not know and is kept in the dark, will she be hurt even more when the secret is revealed? '
"What's wrong with you?"
Saroma looked at his silent expression and asked softly.
"Are you troubled by something?"
Finally, Thales unclenched his fists and exhaled.
"It's the same as usual. You know, outdoor class, and I got beaten up by Nicholas." The prince turned his smile into a self-deprecating one.
"Maybe I should try using lime powder next time."
Based on usual practice, Saroma should frown and size up his wound, then smile in response to the prince's teasing.
But today …
"No." Saroma stared at him and shook her head firmly. "It's not because of this."
Thales was slightly surprised. He cast her a questioning look.
"I can feel it.
"Is it because of something else?" Saroma asked keenly. "What are you trying to tell me?"
The second prince stared at the serious archduchess and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Listen to me, Little Rascal." In the end, Thales calmed down and put away his fake smile. He asked in a rather heavy and tired voice, "You've been an archduchess for six years.
"That's not a short time."
Saroma stared at him. The girl turned her head to the side. Under the light, her expression could not be seen.
She nodded.
"But during these six years …" Thales watched the girl sit on the hard and wide chair. He remembered how she sat alone in the Hall of Heroes and felt a little sorry for her.
"Do you feel tired, annoyed, depressed?"
The girl seemed to be a little surprised. She raised her head. "What?"
Thales sighed and braced himself to say, "What I mean is, ever since you took the position of archduchess, you've been forced to bear the vassals' gazes, the people's suspicions, countless affairs, and schemes. The archdukes are eyeing you covetously, the king harbors ill intentions, even Nicholas and Lisban … "
As he spoke, Thales could not help but lower his head, feeling a little dejected.
"I know you actually don't want all of this." He felt a little guilty. "Moreover … you had the chance to leave that year, to leave that piercing chair."
At this moment …
"I was very afraid."
Thales raised his head. "Hmm?"
"At that time, when you wanted to return to Heroic Spirit Palace and wanted me to become Saroma to save this country, I was very afraid." Under the illumination of the light, Saroma forced herself to smile.
"I was thinking that at that time, if you wanted to go back and face the archdukes, you might not be able to come back.
"And I wasn't prepared to be an archduchess at all."
The girl sat at the other end of the dining table. Her slightly red face reflected the light, which did not seem to fit in with the solemn decorations around her.
"But at that time, you didn't hesitate. You said that with two countries and so many people's fates on your shoulders, you can't just walk away and leave behind a sea of fire."
Thales stared at her silently.
He pressed his fists against his knees.
"Because you weren't afraid.
So I thought: I can't be afraid either. "
The corners of Saroma's lips curled up slightly. She seemed to be a little surprised and delighted. "And you said, you said that you would always be with me and protect me … Just like that time in the Hall of Heroes, when you took me away from His Majesty without hesitation, and for the past six years, when you, Ciel and the others have been protecting me …
"I know that no matter what happens …"
When he heard this, Thales could no longer hold it in. He raised his head abruptly.
"But I can't!"
The archduchess widened her eyes in shock and stared at the emotional prince in confusion.
"I can't protect you."
"You are the Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City in a game of chess that ordinary people cannot imagine, and I am just a powerless prince." Thales remembered Lisban's meticulous rhetoric, remembered Nicholas' gaze that was trying to hide something, and remembered the omnipresent vigilance and strict supervision in Heroic Spirit Palace. He gritted his teeth and said, "You are the Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City.
He gritted his teeth and said, "We face too many threats, too many dangers, and too many problems.
"Lampard, Roknee, the counts of Dragon Clouds City, and …"
Thales took a deep breath and struggled to say, "You know, I don't have the ability to protect you at all."
Saroma stared at him in a daze. Her lips trembled slightly.
Thales recalled Ginghes' hint and could not help but add, "I can't protect you forever either, and even Lisban and the others …"
The archduchess cut him off.
"Black Sand Region's suggestion."
Thales paused.
"What?"
The girl pursed her lips. Her face turned pale, and her smile slowly disappeared.
She forced a smile and muttered, "Ciel told me in the afternoon that you went to meet the people from Black Sand Region. So this is … this is what you came to me to talk about today."
Thales immediately felt a headache coming on.
"I just …" The prince sighed. "Listen, Lampard may indeed want to rope you in through me, but I still …"
"Thales," the girl's voice was very low and intermittent. "You want to go home, don't you?"
The archduchess' expression reminded Thales of two years ago. At that time, when she read the tragic bardic poem 'Jasmine's Battle Flag', the indomitable Jasmine eventually died in battle in the rain, she probably had the same expression on her face.
"This is the condition the king gave you, to let you return to the kingdom?" Without waiting for Thales to answer, Saroma sneered. "And you feel bored, tired, and tired. You don't want to play games with an ignorant and boring girl anymore, so you specifically came to tell me that you can no longer protect me."
She laughed self-deprecatingly. "This is what you meant by 'important'?"
Thales' breath froze.
"That's true. A silly, stupid, and eccentric little girl." Saroma lowered her head. "It's very annoying, isn't it?"
Thales pressed his forehead in pain. "No, Saroma, no, it's not like that. Listen to me, what I want to tell you is …
"You miss home, don't you?" However, the girl did not seem to be listening to him at all. She spoke as if she was talking to herself, "If you have the chance, will you leave this place without hesitation, leave Dragon Clouds City, leave everything behind, and go home?"
Thales was stunned.
Putray had asked him the same question before.
At that time, his answer was …
"I …" Thales uttered a word, but he gritted his teeth.
He really wanted to say no, that he did not miss home, and use a lie to temporarily comfort her.
But …
Thales took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He could only answer cautiously, "You know, as long as you're here, Saroma, I won't leave so easily."
The girl raised her head slightly.
There was silence.
"I'm sorry, I'm not in a good mood today." A few seconds later, Saroma seemed to have recovered a little. The girl shook her head and forced a smile. "I'm not questioning you. Ciel and the others must be very displeased with you. I'm just … sorry."
She apologized and turned her head away.
"You've been imprisoned here for a whole six years. You're far away from your family and friends, and you're also facing many dangers. The king, the archdukes, the vassals, the Northlanders — the people of Dragon Clouds City aren't good to you either." Saroma shook her head in a self-deprecating manner. "Of course you want to go home.
"I have no right to criticize your thoughts."
She hung her head dejectedly.
Thales stared at the archduchess in front of him and suddenly realized that in the six years since she became the archduchess, it was as if she was stepping on thorns all the time. She was constantly in fear, struggling to survive, and never once had she felt safe and comfortable.
The prince's heart sank.
'No.
'She's a prisoner.
'It's not just me.
'And I want to tell her that the road ahead of her will only be more difficult, more dangerous, more …'
Suddenly, an impulse and emotion sprouted from the bottom of his heart.
At that moment, the muscles on Thales' arms tightened slightly.
He slowly puffed out his chest and raised his head.
"Saroma, let me ask you."
The prince stared at the gloomy girl and spoke in the most solemn tone.
"If you have a chance — I mean, 'if' you have a chance …
"Are you willing to leave?"
One second.
Two seconds.
"What? Me? "
The girl's eyes were slightly red. She raised her head like a startled rabbit. "Leave?"
"Yes, that's right." Thales nodded vigorously and looked straight into Saroma's eyes. "Let's leave this city together, leave this country, leave these troubles, leave these dangers, leave these boring traps, and leave the fate that King Nuven imposed on you!" Thales nodded forcefully and looked straight into Saroma's eyes.
At that moment, Saroma was completely stunned.
"Leave … W-go where?"
The Second Prince of Constellation stood up from his seat. He rested his arms on the table and stared at her with a sharp gaze. His expression was solemn.
"Se-no, Little Rascal, I'll ask you one more time.
"Are you willing to leave everything behind and return to Constellation with me?"
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