Stepping into the Hall of Heroes, Thales immediately saw the large fireplace that had an indissoluble bond with him, as well as the black and ferocious spear on the gun rack above.
In the hall, there were already quite a number of Dragon Clouds City's vassals who were qualified to participate in the state affairs hearing.
Thales looked at the scene in the Hall of Heroes and frowned.
The layout of the hall had changed. Other than the archduke's seat in front of the fireplace, many seats had been placed on both sides of the oval stone hall. The sides faced the archduke, and the seats faced each other. Only the middle area was empty.
But even in such a solemn occasion, the Northlanders still showed their boorish and unrestrained side.
Obviously, some nobles were not satisfied with the position of the seats. After sitting down, they deliberately adjusted their seats, sometimes taking one or two steps, as if they wanted to compete with the arranged seats. From afar, the meeting hall, which was originally in the shape of a three-sided pocket, gradually became messy and scattered after the arrival of the vassals. In addition, the Northland nobles were either meeting their acquaintances or meeting for the first time. The entire hall seemed a little messy.
It reminded the prince of Eckstedt's banquet in the past.
But Thales noticed that the six seats closest to the archduke's left and right did not move at all. Even though the many vassals behind them were moving their seats, no one dared to cross or even touch those six seats.
Looking at those six seats, Thales, who had expected it, already knew what was going on.
Thales' arrival seemed to have startled quite a number of people, and the noise became much quieter. Many Northland nobles turned their heads and looked at the foreign prince, who had not appeared often for six years, with all sorts of gazes.
The prince lowered his head and deliberately avoided eye contact with these people. Under Lord Justin's lead, he came to an extremely remote seat, far away from the dense group of Northland nobles. Ralf stood against the wall behind him.
"Listen, just keep a low profile," Lord Justin said coldly. "If anything happens, I have already instructed the people around us. They know what to do —"
But the lord's words came to a halt.
With the sound of a chair being dragged on the floor, a young man unceremoniously moved his seat to Thales' side and sat down with a loud thud.
Thales was also startled.
"I've never liked Northlanders' meetings. Every meeting is like a quarrel between gorillas." A familiar voice came from beside him. It chattered endlessly and vividly. "You know, male gorillas in heat beating their chests and roaring at their rivals in love …"
While Thales was dumbfounded, Lord Justin's expression became very unpleasant.
"Viscount Ian Ronnie."
"As the envoy of the City of Faraway Prayers, your seat doesn't seem to be here."
Beside Thales, Ian, who was beating his chest like a gorilla, closed his mouth, which had formed an 'O' shape. He retracted his hands and nodded nonchalantly. "I know, my seat is over there …"
Thales turned to the other side of the hall, following the direction of his finger. The Raven of Death, Nate Monty, whom he had met a few days ago, sat boldly on the chair belonging to the City of Faraway Prayers' diplomat group. He laughed loudly.
Behind him, a group of nobles from the City of Faraway Prayers' diplomat group glared at him with ashen faces. They stared at their theoretical leader, Ian Ronnie, from afar.
"I promised to introduce him to a few beautiful widows who were 'bold and unrestrained' in Wind City, so Monty agreed to help me hold back those old men." Ian sighed. "But I didn't tell him that in Wind City, the people of West Billow actually have a different aesthetic standard from ours."
Thales sighed as well. He no longer wanted to ridicule this indecent heir of the City of Faraway Prayers anymore.
As the Prince of Constellation and the people from the City of Faraway Prayers took their seats, the hall regained the noises unique to Northland.
Then, a loud shout rang through the hall.
Thales recognized the voice. It was the herald's shout.
As he shouted, a few nobles, who were obviously of high status, entered the hall in a few short minutes, as if they had agreed on it beforehand. Some of them were fast, some of them were slow, some of them were early, and some of them were late.
"The Count of Phalen Castle, Shawlon Cotterson!" As the herald announced their names, the first man who walked in was about fifty years old. He was actually dressed in a military uniform. His eyes shone with a sharp light, and Thales could not help but frown.
"The Count of Rubble Hill and Harting County, Holt Nazaire!" This was an old noble. He walked forward slowly with the help of his attendants, but the nobles beside him subconsciously made way for him.
"The Count of Wild Woodland, Stone Lyner!" Count Lyner did not seem to be much younger than Cotterson. He was dressed strictly, and his expression was stern. He looked steadily forward, as if he was ready to rush to the battlefield at any moment.
"The Count of Hunt and Origami County, Kahn Kerkogel!" This middle-aged guest was of medium stature. His expression was calm, and he walked slowly. He came alone without any attendants, as if he was not affected by external objects. But the most eye-catching thing was that his left sleeve was empty. This was a one-armed count.
"The Count of Flatiron County, Brooking Hearst!" This guest was the youngest. He was in his thirties, and he had a full beard with a golden luster. He wore a smile on his face, and his chiseled facial features left a deep impression on people.
The five men walked into the hall one after another. Under the watchful eyes of the nobles in the hall, they walked to the front of the stone hall and sat down without hesitation on the five seats closest to the archduke.
The discussions and noises in the hall immediately quieted down.
Ian whispered into Thales' ear, "They, along with Prime Minister Lisban, are the six most trusted and important counts of King Nuven when he was alive. It is said that the strength of each of these six families is comparable to that of a country, and they can summon more than twenty thousand warriors without hesitation to go to war, almost twice the number of the Walton Family."
"They seem to be experienced rulers," Thales said softly.
Ian shook his head. "King Nuven did not allow his subordinates to have people who held positions without doing anything, or those with low abilities. That's why the people you saw were all heroes who served under him for decades and helped him spread his fame in Dragon Clouds City and even in Eckstedt, unlike the people from the City of Faraway Prayers. Forget it, let's not talk about it. In short, this is one of King Nuven's legacies.
"It also made Dragon Clouds City the strongest and most terrifying force in Eckstedt." Thales observed the five counts seriously and added.
"That was in the past, when King Nuven was still around." Ian shook his head disapprovingly. "And now? Hmph. "
Thales nodded.
But then he heard the interaction between the five counts.
"How is your territory, Kahn?" Count Cotterson, who was dressed in martial attire, said in a voice that was as hard as iron, "Ever since His Majesty broke the neck of their previous archduke, the bastards in Beacon Illumination City no longer dare to provoke you, right?"
"Cut the crap." The one-armed Count Kahn Karkogel did not give Cotterson any face. His expression did not change, and he looked as if he was a thousand miles away from him. "We all know why we don't bother with small talk here."
Cotterson, who had asked for a snub, snorted coldly and turned his head away.
"The Soul Slayer Pike is still as sharp as before." Count Nazaire, who seemed to be the most senior among them, fixed his gaze on the Soul Slayer Pike behind the archduke's seat and sighed. "But the person sitting under it, the person we are loyal to, is no longer here."
These words caused the expressions of the five Earls to sink.
Nazaire shook his head. His gaze was melancholic. "When was the last time we gathered together?"
"Six years ago," Count Lyner, who was as stern as ice, answered coldly behind him. He shifted his seat forcefully, as if everything around him was an eyesore. "First it was Constellation, then the calamities, then the Dragon, and finally Black Sand Region … When we arrived with our men, there was only His Majesty's funeral left."
The five of them were silent for a moment.
"Hmph." Before Lyner could finish speaking, he shook his head coldly. "A ridiculous king selection. Five outsiders and Lisban decided who we would be conferred as kings, turning the most powerful Dragon Clouds City into the biggest joke in Eckstedt —"
"Lyner!" The golden-bearded Count Hearst interrupted him angrily. "For the sake of the Sunset Goddess!
"Save your grumbling!"
When Thales heard this, he could not help but feel a shadow cast over his heart.
'Saroma.
'What kind of vassals have you been facing for the past six years?'
Count Lyner snorted disdainfully and was about to speak.
"The Count of Eagle County and Bloodshed Land." The herald's voice rang again. "Regent of Dragon Clouds City, Ciel Lisban!"
Finally, Thales saw a familiar face.
Count Lisban was still as steady and calm as ever. He stepped into the hall with an unquestionable expression.
Unlike before, the nobles quietened down the moment Regent Lisban entered the hall.
Only the five counts stared at him without showing any signs of weakness. Count Lyner even snorted softly.
Regent Lisban walked in front of the five counts with an indifferent expression. "Everyone, it is my honor to welcome you with your presence."
"It's not you, Ciel." Count Nazaire shook his head and flashed an unpleasant smile. "It's not you … We are here in response to the lord's summons."
Lisban turned his head and glanced at Nazaire.
"Of course," the regent said softly. He turned around and sat down on the seat closest to the archduke's seat.
As for the other four, they did not even look at Lisban.
It was as if he was not one of the six at all. He was not their companion.
Thales frowned as he watched the six counts interact.
"Ian."
The prince suddenly took a step towards the young Roknee and said softly,
"Tell me, in this matter, Dragon Clouds City is not your only hope."
Ian, who was waving at his diplomat group from afar, was slightly stunned.
He turned around with a puzzled expression. "What is it?"
Thales' expression was firm. "Tell me."
Ian frowned slightly, as if he had thought of something. "You don't seem to have much confidence in us?"
Thales shook his head. No emotion could be seen on his face. "Just tell me."
Ian narrowed his eyes.
"Of course not." In the end, the heir of the City of Faraway Prayers still snorted softly. "Dragon Clouds City is just one of them."
His expression darkened slightly. "At this time, my sister has probably already arrived at Defense City with a mission."
Thales pondered for a while.
"Defense City, Archduke Lecco."
He remembered the bald old archduke and the scene of him roaring in this hall six years ago. "Of course, twenty years ago, they were also among the reinforcements."
The prince raised his head with a worried expression. "But what you can think of, Lampard can also think of, just like how you came to Dragon Clouds City."
Ian whistled and waved his hand nonchalantly. "My sister will find a way. God knows how she'll use her big legs to tempt that old baldy to send his troops. Or maybe she'll use her mouth, who knows which one."
Thales frowned.
He noticed that Ian's gaze slowly froze in midair. He seemed to be deep in thought.
"You don't seem to like your sister very much?"
Ian snorted softly, as if he did not think much of it.
"Don't misunderstand, we used to be very close." Young Roknee looked at the stone carving of the Cloud Dragon Spear above his head and snorted. "But now, we're almost like mortal enemies."
His expression was sarcastic.
Thales raised his eyebrows. "Do you mind if I ask why?"
Ian did not speak. He only glanced at Thales with a complicated expression.
At this moment, an even louder shout than before came from the door.
"Raikaru and Chara's bloodline."
All the Northlanders in the hall turned their heads in unison!
With the sound of countless chairs crashing into each other, all the Northlanders stood up.
Even the six counts were no exception.
They all clenched their right fists solemnly and pressed them against their hearts.
"The heir of the Dragon Spear Family."
Ian let out a sigh and slowly stood up.
Under the urging of countless dissatisfied gazes, Thales quickly stood up as well.
"The ruler of Dragon Clouds City."
Amid the thunderous shouts, Thales saw a lithe figure through the gaps between the layers of shoulders. She walked over slowly with heavy footsteps.
'It's her.'
Accompanied by Nicholas, the girl he could not be more familiar with walked past the vassals on both sides of the hall and walked towards her seat.
That was the only seat.
The girl's expression was calm. Her posture was elegant and appropriate as she walked forward.
"You asked me why." Ian's voice traveled slowly into his ears. "Look, this is why."
The Prince of Constellation was instantly stunned. He turned his head.
"What?"
Ian curled his lips into a mocking smile.
"Six years ago.
"The first archduchess in Eckstedt's history succeeded the throne in this hall in Dragon Clouds City." Ian's gaze turned cold. He turned his head and glanced at the Soul Slayer Pike on the fireplace, then at the girl who walked slowly towards him from the center of the hall. There was a hint of melancholy in his voice.
"Since then …
"My dearest twin sister, the woman who was conceived in my mother's womb with me.
"She did not just see me as … her dearest brother."
Thales was stunned.
* Thud, thud, thud … *
Through the crowd, the young archduchess' footsteps continued.
She endured the unscrupulous gazes of countless men. She swept past countless men's overt or covert discussions. She walked past the coarse floor tiles of Heroic Spirit Palace, which had a long history, and entered the meeting hall that only male nobles had the right to enter for centuries.
Step by step, she walked towards her seat.
There was a moment when Thales wished he did not have nimble hearing or clear vision.
For he saw that all the men in the hall, young and old, high and low, from front to back, from top to bottom, were scrutinizing the Grand Duchess's figure without scruple, gazing at her face.
He even heard them laughing, teasing, and obscene comments about the archduchess' figure, face, and even her …
An inexplicable anger surged in his heart, causing Thales to clench his fists subconsciously.
He clenched his fists tighter and tighter.
But the girl still moved forward.
* Thud, thud, thud … *
Her footsteps made crisp sounds as she stepped on the centuries-old floor tiles of Heroic Spirit Palace.
The floor tiles of Heroic Spirit Palace were still as sturdy and indestructible as they had been for years.
But the girl still moved forward.
* Thud, thud, thud … *
Her boots continued to hit the floor tiles. Even though the floor tiles had never been broken or shaken, she did not stop.
She did not retreat either.
"You know, from then on, my sister's eyes shone with a dangerous light." Ian's voice continued to travel into Thales' ears. The heir of the City of Faraway Prayers' eyes shone with a dangerous light. "That pair of beautiful eyes no longer stared at makeup and clothes, dowries and money, but at the handsome young men who might become her dependents and homes in the future. She stared at the things that women are born to care about."
"Instead, she looked at my father.
"She looked at me."
Thales did not speak.
The girl's figure was light, and her expression was calm. But her footsteps were still heavy.
It was as if she was carrying a heavy burden.
"You changed the rules, Thales." Ian spoke at a steady pace, but it was filled with melancholy that could not be dispelled. "You and Lampard."
There was an unsettling look in his eyes as he stared at Thales. "It was you.
"You took my sister away from me."
The girl finally walked up the steps that belonged to the archduchess.
Nicholas stood still on the first step of the stairs. As her most important bodyguard, he had to stop here. He could not take another step forward.
The girl could only walk up the steps alone.
She walked up to her seat.
She was alone.
As the girl walked up to her seat, the herald's deliberately prolonged call came to an end. "Archduchess …"
"Saroma Walton!"
Under countless people's gazes, Saroma slowly sat down. She could not hide the paleness on her face.
All the vassals of Dragon Clouds City under the steps lowered their heads and bowed.
They showed their respect to their lords.
But Thales heard it.
With the help of the Sin of Hell's River, he heard it clearly.
The vigorous and powerful pulses in the archduchess' chest traveled into his ears continuously.
It was Saroma's heartbeat.
It was lively and powerful.
Even the messy sounds of the people sitting down in the hall could not cover it.
Thales heaved a long sigh.
"I see." Thales sat down on his seat and looked at Ian, who was beside him. He seemed to be deep in thought. "For the crisis of the Alliance of Freedom, you came to Dragon Clouds City, and your sister went to Defense City … If you fail —"
"No," Ian interrupted him coldly.
The heir of the City of Faraway Prayers had a fire in his eyes that Thales could not ignore.
"The one who will fail will only be her.
It can only be her. "
Thales turned his head and looked at Ian.
The second prince nodded slowly. There was a profound meaning in his words. "Just now, you said that I took your sister away."
Ian frowned.
Thales heaved a long sigh and slowly clenched his fists. "You're right.
"I took her away." Thales took a deep breath and looked at the archduchess on the archduchess' throne, at the archduchess who was forcing herself to remain calm as she looked at everyone. "She is indeed 'your' sister."
Thales smiled.
He turned his head to look at the archduchess, who was about to speak, leaving Ian with a doubtful expression.
Just now, when Saroma slowly walked to her seat, and when Ian told that story with hatred, Thales suddenly came to a realization.
So, six years ago, he still had Lampard.
What they did in this hall.
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