Heroic Spirit Palace, the archduchess' dining room.
"I need an explanation — about today's farce."
Saroma stared at the two people in front of her with an unpleasant expression. One of them had a calm expression, while the other had the ghost of a smile on his face.
"Or both of you can get out of Heroic Spirit Palace now and settle your own food and lodging — both of you."
The archduchess said coldly.
"Wow." The heir of the City of Faraway Prayers, Ian Roknee leaned against the back of the chair in his most comfortable position. He watched the angry archduchess with interest, then turned his head and asked Thales, who was deep in thought, "Is this what you meant by 'she's easy to talk to'?"
Thales took a deep breath.
'Hmm, maybe it's because … that's here.'
But before he could speak, Saroma's anger rose.
"You, respected Sir Ian Roknee," the archduchess said coldly, "I remember that you came to ask for help?"
"Uh-huh." Ian nodded briskly.
"Just because of your frivolous, boastful, pretentious, and boorish behavior? Saroma was merciless. "And the rare talent that humiliated and angered all of Dragon Clouds City the first time we met?"
"Also, tonight's welcome banquet has been canceled — because no one is willing to attend unless I agree to their challenge to a duel at the banquet."
"They're still quite enthusiastic. Look, fortunately I brought Monty." In the face of the archduchess who was accusing him of something, the frivolous viscount chuckled and snapped his fingers. "Problem solved."
Saroma's expression became even more unpleasant when she saw his frivolous attitude.
"Enthusiastic? Do you know how ugly the scene was after you left? Do you know how many nobles expressed their indignation to me? "
Thales swore that with his sensitive hearing, he heard the archduchess grinding her teeth behind her lips. "You should be glad that they dropped their weapons before entering the palace."
"Ah." Ian shrugged at Thales with a nonchalant expression. "Hypocritical, old-fashioned Northlanders.
"If you have this kind of energy, why don't you go to Black Sand Region and kill the king?"
Saroma was exasperated. She took a deep breath and glared at the nonchalant Ian.
"Oh, you also know that the envoy from Black Sand Region is in the city. They will know everything that happened today and report it back to Black Sand City and the king?"
"And do you know how many of Dragon Clouds City's vassals will change their attitude towards the City of Faraway Prayers and Black Sand Region because of your actions today?"
Ian's pupils shrank when he heard the name Black Sand Region.
He nodded slowly against the backrest.
"That's a problem."
He turned to Thales and focused his gaze. "But we will solve it, right?"
He clenched his fists and rested them on the dining table. From time to time, he cracked his knuckles. This was a habit he learned from the bald Archduke Lecco six years ago.
Saroma seemed to have had enough of arguing with the heir of the City of Faraway Prayers.
"Thales, you were the one who arranged this meeting." The archduchess pushed up her glasses and glared at Thales, who appeared calm and seemed to be deep in thought.
"Say something!"
He imitated Saroma's angry expression and deliberately put on a resentful gaze. He turned his head and mouthed silently while shaking his head at Thales. 'Say … something …'.
This made Saroma's anger soar to the peak.
"If the people from the City of Faraway Prayers who come to ask for help are like you, then you can now —"
"Saroma."
Thales said softly.
He raised his gaze and looked across the table at Lady Saroma, whose cheeks were puffed up because of anger.
"Calm down. You are an archduchess. There is no need to get angry so easily."
'Ah, this is the girl who rejected my impulsive suggestion a few days ago. She proposed to stay in Dragon Clouds City and face all the unknown dangers.
'That little rascal.
'He misses her, right?'
The corners of Thales' lips curled up slowly, and he subconsciously smiled.
Saroma, who was unable to suppress her anger, felt a little embarrassed by his stare.
She remembered the method Thales taught her to calm down and took a few deep breaths.
"I … I think …" The girl subconsciously averted her gaze and snorted. She glared fiercely at Ian, who was still smiling strangely, but her tone became much gentler. "Maybe we shouldn't waste any more time."
Ian raised his eyebrows. He looked at the calm Thales, and then at Saroma, who had turned her head away. A look of realization appeared on his face.
He yawned and struggled to get up from the back of the chair, as if he had exhausted his entire life's strength. He lazily picked up a piece of cheese from the table, and while chewing, he said to himself, "I knew I found the right person …"
Under Ian's sarcastic reminder, Thales snapped out of his daze.
The prince coughed and asked calmly, "Count Lisban didn't come?
Ciel said he wanted to appease the nobles. "
"Ciel said he's going to appease the nobles." Saroma shook her head. She was still immersed in her dissatisfaction. "He also said that he hopes that all of you can still appear so relaxed when you face the counts in the next hearing."
Thales' gaze froze.
Ian stopped chewing the cheese in his mouth.
"The next state affairs hearing …"
"So he understood," the prince said softly. "As expected of the Eye of the Dragon."
Saroma revealed a puzzled expression. "What?"
"Maybe Monty told him something." Ian started chewing the cheese again, but his brows were already furrowed. "That loudmouth, on the way here, he heard that I was going to propose."
Upon hearing the word 'propose', Saroma exhaled heavily. Her gaze became dangerous again.
"What are you two talking about?"
Thales did not speak, but his thoughts spun faster and faster.
Only Ian forcefully swallowed the cheese in his mouth, tilted his head, and smiled disapprovingly. "It seems that you are not as smart as you look, My Lady.
"As expected, beauty and wisdom are mutually —"
Before he could finish his sentence, he angered the archduchess again.
"And you are even more annoying than your nickname," Saroma said coldly.
Ian was slightly stunned at first, then he smiled and shrugged shamelessly. "It is my honor."
Thales sighed, determined not to remain silent anymore.
"Saroma." The prince sat upright and still, looking at the two of them seriously. "This is Ian Roknee, representing the City of Faraway Prayers."
Following his gaze, Saroma and Ian exchanged glances. One of them was vigilant, and the other did not think much of it.
"And he is here to propose to you."
Thales said flatly.
Saroma did not move.
But in the next second, the archduchess sneered.
"Is that so? Thank you for your introduction." Saroma stared at Thales with an unfriendly gaze. The accusation and anger in her eyes were practically overflowing.
She sized up Ian with a gaze that did not hide the disgust in her eyes. She said sarcastically, "At least he is about the same age, right?"
Thales did not speak.
The one who answered was Ian.
"See, she still doesn't understand." The heir of the City of Faraway Prayers did not even look at the cold-faced archduchess. He smiled contemptuously, shrugged, and said to Thales,
"My mother used to say that if a woman was in charge, she would —"
"I don't know what your mother said, Ian." Thales turned his head abruptly and interrupted him coldly.
Ian froze for a moment. His raised finger stopped in midair.
"To be honest, I don't care either." The Prince of Constellation's expression was solemn. "But if you still want to complete your mission this time, then show some respect. She is the Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City, and the key to this game."
He watched as Ian's playful gaze slowly faded away, and he said in a deep voice, "She is also my friend."
Ian was stunned.
"And you, Saroma." Thales stared into the archduchess' eyes seriously. "Please believe me, we are standing on the same side of the chessboard."
"This guy is like this. We have to get used to it slowly …"
Saroma snorted softly, as if she was still angry at Ian.
But she did not speak again.
Ian breathed softly and frowned, as if he had understood something. "Oh."
The next moment, Ian leaned back and moved closer to Thales' ear. He extended his hand to block the archduchess' line of sight and whispered, "Why, you haven't tamed her yet?"
This time, it was Thales' turn to be stunned.
The solemn expression on his face had yet to disappear. He asked in astonishment, "What?"
'Tamed?'
Ian sighed with regret, as if he was exasperated that Thales had failed to meet his expectations.
Saroma revealed a suspicious expression as she stared at the two men who were whispering to each other.
"You know, you are the one who helped her to her position." Ian suppressed his voice. His tone was full of annoyance and dissatisfaction. "And it has been six years, Your Highness! Even a princess of a country doesn't need to wait for so long, right? "
Thales blinked, as if he had understood a little.
"Men will more or less treat their first woman differently, but …" Ian pouted and put on a bitter expression, as if he had been through this before. He continued to speak with great bitterness and resentment, "Unless it's in bed, don't let her climb over your head …"
* Thud! *
A muffled sound was accompanied by Ian's pained grunt.
The heir of the City of Faraway Prayers' face was contorted. He hugged his stomach and sat back on his chair. His face was filled with the pain of betrayal.
After Ian and Thales, Saroma was also stunned.
She looked at them in confusion. "You …"
"He had some stomach pain, but he's fine now." Without changing his expression, Thales retracted his elbow. He did not even look at Ian, who was pale and drenched in cold sweat. "Let's get back to business."
"Saroma," the prince took a deep breath and leaned closer to the table. He said seriously, "You have to know that even though it's a proposal, it's impossible for him to succeed."
Saroma's gaze flickered.
"There is only one direct ruler left in Dragon Clouds City. In a situation where there is no external force or pressure, it is impossible for you to marry an outsider with considerable power." Thales exerted a little force in his palm and shook off the suggestion Nuven gave him in his mind. "Internally or externally, logically or emotionally, it is impossible for you to form a marriage alliance with an outsider who has considerable power.
"For the vassals of Dragon Clouds City, this is tantamount to attracting a terrifying foreign enemy out of nowhere and taking away power from them. For the archdukes of Eckstedt, this means that the next heir of Dragon Clouds City and the City of Faraway Prayers is likely to merge the two into one. This is tantamount to an imbalance in the balance of power in the ten territories."
Thales looked at the archduchess sincerely. "And the City of Faraway Prayers is not strong enough to ignore or even suppress these objections. Whether it is the vassals, the archdukes, or even the king, none of them will allow you to marry."
As she listened to the prince's words, Saroma's mind wandered for a moment.
"So, an outsider's proposal …" Saroma stared at Thales.
Saroma fixed her gaze on Thales. "They won't allow it, will they?"
"Will they?"
Thales felt very uncomfortable under her stare, so he quickly averted his gaze.
"So, he sent word that he came here to propose to me, to …"
Ian, who was stroking his stomach with a displeased expression, snorted coldly. "Of course, it is to lure out the Prince of Constellation, who rarely shows himself, but plays an important role in Dragon Clouds City's politics. If you want to win over the archduchess, you have to start with Thales Jadestar."
'Huh?'
Thales froze for a moment.
The archduchess blushed, which was a rare sight.
Once he understood, Thales' expression immediately darkened. "Is this how the rumors are spreading outside?"
"At least that's what Black Sand Region does, isn't it?" Ian sighed and said in a joking manner.
"What did the king give you in order to win you over? Twenty virgins? "
Thales automatically ignored Ian's joking tone. His nerves tensed up in an instant.
'What did he give me?'
It was as if King Chapman's victory was within his grasp and he had him firmly in his palm appeared before his eyes again.
Thales resisted the urge to look at Saroma.
'Damn it.
I can't let my guard down against this seemingly frivolous young master. '
"Why?" the second prince asked in return without batting an eyelid, "Are you going to be generous and say, 'I'll give you double'?"
Ian flashed an indecipherable smile.
"I'd be happy to." Ian shook his head with his usual expression before he slowly added the last sentence, "I'll be happy to.
He then added slowly, "If they give you a slap."
The Prince of Constellation responded with a cold snort in annoyance.
But when he thought of Lampard's words, his heart turned cold.
'Although it's not a slap.
But it's almost there. '
Saroma sighed softly. "Let's get back to the main topic … So, the marriage proposal is just an excuse?"
"It's not just an excuse — it can also explain a lot of things." The smiling Ian had an understanding look on his face. He clicked his tongue at Thales and moved his hands in an exaggerated manner. "Look, the moment we mention the archduchess' marriage, with a bang, a living Prince Thales appears."
Thales rubbed his forehead and exhaled in pain.
"How old are you this year, Ian?"
"Nineteen." Ian's smile remained. "I'm just one year older than the archduchess."
'No, four years older.'
Thales quietly added. He exchanged a glance with Saroma in tacit understanding.
"Is that so?" the prince said faintly, "I feel like you've just turned nine."
"Ah, in view of your glorious deeds when you were seven or eight years old," Ian knocked on the table, picked up another piece of buttered bread, bit into it, and said with a muffled voice, "Umm, I'll take this as a compliment."
Thales exhaled.
He gradually grasped the way to converse with the Viscount of Dual Wind City.
Thales' thoughts raced as he recalled the conversation just now.
From the moment he saw Saroma, Ian deliberately showed disdain for the archduchess, but unknowingly asked about the archduchess' relationship with the vassals of Dragon Clouds City, and probed about her control over the territory.
He deliberately made the situation go out of control, but in truth, he looked at Thales many times. Perhaps he was observing when Thales would speak up to mediate, and from there, observe his influence on the archduchess. He also indirectly probed about his actual relationship with the archduchess.
Twice. Both times, he tested Black Sand Region's attitude towards Thales, and Thales' attitude towards Black Sand Region.
Thales secretly raised his guard in his heart.
'Ian Roknee.
'A seemingly frivolous, unruly, flamboyant, and presumptuous noble young master.
But in truth, he hid the sharpest blade in his seemingly joking words.
'This' nuisance '.
But for now, this is not a bad thing. '
Thales cleared his throat. "Back to the topic at hand. Ian specifically told me that he wants to propose to you."
Saroma's expression was still unpleasant, but she had already begun to listen to Thales' words.
"But as I said, a proposal is an impossible task. I guess he has other matters that he wants to discuss with me and you outside of normal diplomatic channels, in a reliable and trustworthy private setting.
"So I went to Heroic Spirit Palace in advance."
Saroma looked at Ian with a doubtful expression.
Ian blinked and swallowed his buttered bread.
"After we met, he told me that the City of Faraway Prayers is different from the other Northland archdukes. Their position is special, their politics are special, and any assistance from the interior of Eckstedt is of great significance to them."
Not only that, but he also constantly hinted to himself that as the future heir of the City of Faraway Prayers, he was like the Prince of Constellation, a foreigner who was forced to live among the Northlanders.
Thales sighed. "And he also hinted to me that he knows that the reason Dragon Clouds City sends troops to assist the City of Faraway Prayers is none other than the conflict between the vassals and the archduchess — starting from your marriage."
At that moment, Saroma's gaze was fixed on Ian.
"Trust me." The viscount snorted softly and disapprovingly. "When it comes to the struggle between the archdukes and their vassals …"
His gaze became fierce. "In all of Eckstedt, I'm afraid that there is no place more affected than the Roknee Family in the City of Faraway Prayers."
Saroma looked at Thales thoughtfully, and then at Ian.
"So … what do you want?" the archduchess asked faintly after she calmed down.
Ian smiled.
"He has a suggestion." Thales stared at Saroma with spirited eyes.
"An unusual way to solve the crisis."
The archduchess bit her lower lip lightly, seemingly more interested in the food on the table.
But Thales knew that she was thinking.
"This is why we don't have time to waste on those boring and unnecessary ceremonies and banquets." The cynical look on Ian's face disappeared. He became solemn and no longer paid attention to the food on the table. "This matter requires us to discuss in secret, make a joint decision, and plan ahead. And we are pressed for time.
"I apologize to you, Your Grace. Everything that happened in the afternoon until just now was just a superficial test," Ian enunciated his words firmly. "Please believe that the City of Faraway Prayers is not just a supplicant who came to beg for help. In fact, I came with sincerity, and I also know your current difficulties and predicament. The City of Faraway Prayers will use our method to solve your problem in exchange for your promise and assistance.
"And what I need is just a little bit of your trust."
No one spoke.
The lights in the dining room flickered slightly, casting the shadows of the three people in the room.
They looked like a small boat drifting along the waves.
Saroma looked at Thales sternly.
At that moment, for some reason, Thales remembered the scene of them fleeing for their lives in Dragon Clouds City six years ago.
The Prince of Constellation nodded at her.
Finally, the archduchess turned her head around. She was serious and calm.
"And what is your method to help me 'solve my problem'?"
Ian Roknee of the City of Faraway Prayers grinned. He nodded slightly at Thales.
In the next second, he looked at Saroma gently and spoke softly. He uttered those familiar words again.
"Propose."
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