"What do you mean by this?"
Count Hearst stared at the king with an unfriendly gaze.
He was not the only one. All the nobles in the hall were enraged by the king's provocation.
Except for a few.
Thales pressed down on his slightly trembling fists and stared at King Chapman's terrifying gaze.
'What is he trying to do?
Exposing Saroma's identity at this time … Does he not want to be king anymore? '
When he thought of this, Thales glared at King Chapman. His eyes were filled with warning.
King Chapman noticed Thales' gaze.
Before the angry or puzzled expressions of the nobles in the hall, the king snorted softly with an ambiguous meaning.
'No.'
When he saw this, the prince suddenly understood.
Thales saw King Chapman carefully scrutinize the few people at the top of Dragon Clouds City — Saroma, Lisban, Nazaire …
The king took in their expressions and revealed a mysterious smile.
'No, he doesn't look like he's going to fight to the death and injure both sides,' Thales thought to himself.
As he stared at Saroma, who was puzzled and nervous on the stairs, Thales suppressed his desire to speak and interrupt the king. His identity was sensitive to begin with. The more he said, the more mistakes he would make, and it would only attract unnecessary suspicion.
"Because the sixth person left is not an archduke …" King Chapman said coldly, but his words strangely stopped there.
In that second, everyone's face in the hall was reflected in the king's eyes.
A few seconds later, King Chapman showed a satisfied expression. He changed the topic at the perfect time.
"… but an archduchess."
Saroma frowned, not knowing how to react.
It felt like a person who was usually so serious that his jaw almost fell off suddenly trying to be humorous.
Thales' tensed heart relaxed, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
At that moment, the teenage prince swore that aside from himself, the Sin of Hell's River had given him extraordinary hearing ability. There were at least four breaths of different speeds that exhaled in a barely noticeable manner after the king's words.
Saroma, Lisban, Nicholas …
'Wait, who's the last one?'
But Thales' attention was immediately captured by another matter.
'Lampard isn't trying to fall out with me. He's testing all of Dragon Clouds City, and he's warning me.'
The disdainful snorts of the nobles rose in the hall, showing their displeasure at the king's senseless joke.
The archduchess stared at the king stiffly. Her lips trembled slightly, but she eventually fell silent.
"Archduke and Archduchess?"
"This joke is not funny." Count Lyner's expression was gloomy. "It only shows that our king lacks respect for Raikaru's bloodline."
"Be careful, Chapman." Regent Lisban had been wearing a cold expression just now. As the most suitable person to speak at this moment, he retorted rudely, "If you make too many jokes —"
"One day, you will die because of one of them."
King Chapman gently caressed the hilt of his sword by his side. He was clearly speaking to Saroma, but he cast a glance at Thales, whether intentionally or not, "Girl, as the first female suzerain in the history of Northland,
"You are stepping on a path that has never been seen before. Every word, action, and every move you make will shock Northland and Eckstedt."
Ian, who was immersed in his failure, couldn't help but raise his head. Many people frowned.
The king said faintly, "As the Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City, your marriage is different from that of an ordinary archduke's marriage. It involves the succession of many families and the balance of power in Eckstedt."
Thales looked at the king in puzzlement. But in just a few seconds, he figured out the king's intention.
The prince desperately hid his worry and tried his best to look at the archduchess with an indifferent expression.
Under the gazes of countless people, the king said meaningfully, "For example, this time, the Viscount of the City of Faraway Prayers came all the way here to propose marriage. This makes me very worried …
"What if you marry someone you shouldn't … This is a major event that can shake Eckstedt's foundation."
The six counts of Dragon Clouds City looked at each other worriedly.
Saroma inhaled slowly and spoke with a cold expression.
"I have already declined Sir Ian's request," the archduchess said coldly. "You can rest assured."
King Chapman sneered disapprovingly.
"I don't think you understand what I mean, girl.
"On my way here, I heard a lot of rumors." The king sneered and waved his hand in Thales' direction. "For example, how you protected this Prince of Constellation for six years, accompanied each other, helped each other …
"You lived and grew up under the same roof with him …
"You even ate together, attended classes together …"
The archduchess revealed a stunned expression.
Thales put on a stern expression and fixed his gaze on Saroma.
'Calm down, Saroma. You must calm down.
'Think about what I said.
Saroma! '
The next moment, the king narrowed his eyes and said softly, "You and him, you …
"Don't tell me you slept together?"
Once he said that, there was silence.
The archduchess' lips trembled slightly, but she could not say a word. She could only clench her teeth in embarrassment and anger.
Until —
"Lampard!"
As everyone's expressions changed drastically, the first to react was the former commander of the White Blade Guards, who was in charge of protecting the archduchess.
Nicholas could no longer care about being addressed as king. He could no longer suppress his hatred for Lampard and lost his composure as he shouted angrily, "You shameless coward! Your impudence on the day of the state affairs hearing ends here. My brothers and I are very happy to — "
But he was stopped by Lisban, who had a cold expression on his face.
"Calm down." The regent suppressed his anger. "Any act of anger is meaningless."
Not only that, the hall, which had been slightly quiet, exploded again.
"What did you say?"
"Duel with him, my lords!"
"Bullsh * t! Can the king do whatever he wants?! "
Under countless people's strange gazes, Thales tried his best to maintain an unchanging expression. His hands under his sleeves grabbed his knees tightly, his knuckles protruding.
Among the suzerains of Dragon Clouds City, Count Hearst's golden beard trembled violently as he panted. He could no longer hold it in.
"In the name of the Count of Flatiron County, Brookin Hearst," Hearst leaped up from his chair in rage and stared at Lampard with eyes full of hatred, "For the honor of the ladies, Chapman Lampard, I issue you a sacred duel challenge!"
He swung his arm, pointed it at the king's nose, and cursed, "Let blood wash away the humiliation you have brought us, kinslayer!"
This sentence made the people in the hall, who were burning with anger, even more so!
Lampard's words had probably angered the crowd. Even the Archduchess' Guards glared at him with hatred. They had no intention of protecting the king.
Kroesch's expression froze. She dutifully pressed down on her weapon and stood in front of King Chapman.
Viscount Kentvida also frowned and was about to step forward, but she pushed him back.
But King Chapman only snorted loudly.
It was as if there was nothing in front of him.
The king simply swung his left arm and pointed it at the agitated Hearst from afar!
It was as if he was going to answer the latter's challenge!
The noisy crowd in the hall instantly fell silent.
However, in the next second, the king gently retracted his arm, pushed Kroesch aside, and pushed her sword back into its sheath, which had been drawn a few inches.
"In the name of the Common-Elected King of Eckstedt and Archduke of Black Sand Region, Chapman Lampard," the king stared coldly at the trembling Hearst. His tone was steady and unhurried. "With the power of the king, I reject your meaningless challenge, Hearst."
Only then did he put down his arm and look at the archduchess again without any nervousness.
"Ah!"
The furious Hearst roared indignantly, "You despicable coward!"
"Be at ease, Hearst."
Count Nazaire snorted coldly. He patted Hearst's shoulder and pushed the livid Hearst back.
"Your Majesty, because of your rude words and actions," the old Nazaire also stared at the king in a hostile manner, "In the next year, Rubble Hill and Harting County will impose heavy taxes on the merchant groups and farmers heading towards Black Sand Region as a form of protest."
King Chapman's relaxed attitude finally changed a little.
The light in his eyes flickered. His gaze on Nazaire clearly became hostile, and the slight curl of his upper lip indicated his current mood.
Thales lowered his head and smiled at an angle that no one else could see.
'Yes, I can feel it.'
Even though the anger is directed at the king …
But more doubts, worries, dissatisfaction, wariness, and hatred … are directed at him.
"This so-called king is becoming more and more unscrupulous … Count Karkogel, your territory is the closest," Count Cotterson whispered to his colleague with a frosty expression. "I'm thinking, if the king were to meet with an accident on his way back from the city …"
"Calm down." Although the one-armed count's eyes were filled with resentment, he still shook his head. "If the king dies within the jurisdiction of Dragon Clouds City, no matter who did it …
"The unlucky ones will be Dragon Clouds City."
Next to him, Count Lyner nodded.
"Do you think the other archdukes will be filled with joy and gratitude for our righteous act?"
Count Lyner stared at King Chapman. There was a deep chill in his eyes. "I swear to you, they will mourn the king's misfortune while discussing how to seize the opportunity to slaughter Dragon Clouds City.
"After Black Sand Region, it will be our turn."
Lisban remained the calmest in the chaos in the hall. He patted Saroma's arm gently. "My Lady."
The archduchess took a deep breath and managed to suppress her emotions with great difficulty under the regent's cold gaze. "Your words just now are enough to bring about generations of hatred between the Walton Family and the Lampard Family, Your Majesty."
King Chapman shrugged.
"Look at your vassals' reactions. This is what I am worried about. Sometimes, a marriage between two people is enough to destroy two countries." The king looked around and said slowly, "Some things have serious consequences, and they must be stopped before they happen."
He turned around and his gaze became stern. "Otherwise, with the age of all of you here … I am afraid that many years later, Dragon Clouds City, and even all of Eckstedt, may not have the ability to stop a Supreme King of Constellation from assuming the position of Dragon Clouds City's regent."
These words made many of the vassals' breathing become heavier.
Thales snorted coldly and rudely, attracting a few hostile gazes.
This was the condition King Nuven gave him back then.
But now, it was being used as a means and a bargaining chip by Lampard.
"Your vassals might be ashamed to speak up, but as an elder who personally watched you ascend to the archduke's throne, I can no longer pretend to be refined and polite." King Chapman stared at Saroma, who was so angry that she could not speak. "As a king, I must act while I still have some power, and my words still have some effect …" Saroma was so angry that she could not even speak.
Saroma took a deep breath. "You mean …"
"Saroma Walton." A fierce glare flashed in the king's eyes. "In the name of the common-elected king, I hereby order you to hand over Thales Jadestar to me.
"For Eckstedt, and for your Dragon Clouds City."
The hall became silent again.
Saroma stared at the king with widened eyes.
King Chapman raised his head and said softly, "So, what is your answer?"
'My answer?'
The archduchess sensed that everyone's gazes were directed at her.
But unlike before, this time, their gazes … were exceptionally different.
Saroma furrowed her eyebrows tightly. She bit her lower lip and exchanged a few glances with Lisban.
She could only feel the burning sensation on her face getting stronger.
But she did not dare to meet the teenager's gaze.
She did not dare.
At this moment, a long sigh suddenly rose from the crowd.
"You're such a busybody, Chapman."
Under everyone's gaze, Thales stood up slowly. With weariness and exhaustion, he yawned. "You think I'll like … this lady?"
He stared at the people in the hall with a disdainful expression and gestured rudely at the archduchess with his chin.
This immediately attracted a few Northlanders' passionate greetings to their Jadestar ancestors.
The archduchess was slightly startled when she saw Thales stand up.
'What … is he going to do again?'
"Don't you think things are messy enough, young prince?!" In a terrible mood, Nicholas clenched his fists in exasperation. "Be a good boy and shut up!"
But Thales only gave him a nonchalant glance.
This made the Star Killer even angrier.
"You like her? Not necessarily. "King Chapman stared at Thales with interest." But if you like Dragon Clouds City and use her to your … "
Thales raised his eyebrows and put on an expression that suggested he did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"Hahahaha." He laughed helplessly. "Hey, Saroma, if that's the case …
"You like me, don't you?"
Saroma stared at Thales' teasing expression in disbelief. She parted her lips, but did not know what to say.
She had a premonition of what Thales was going to do.
Under the gazes of all the nobles in the hall, the girl felt her face burn.
"Are you going to ask me to be your husband?" Thales seemed to be amused by his own words. He even ignored the angry glares and curses of the nobles in the hall. He crossed his arms and chuckled as his shoulders twitched.
Saroma knew that her expression at the moment was definitely unpleasant.
He was definitely acting.
'Yes.
'I know …
'It's for …
'For …'
But at that moment, the girl felt waves of indescribable discomfort.
"Hahahahaha …"
As his laughter continued, the Northlanders looked at the prince with increasingly terrifying gazes.
It was probably already very difficult for anyone to tell who was the most unpopular person in the Hall of Heroes at that moment, Thales or Lampard.
"Dragon Clouds City protected you for six years, so-called 'prince'." Count Hearst took a deep breath. His eyes were burning. "This is your repayment?"
Thales stopped laughing.
"Protection?" The prince ruminated on this word, and his expression slowly changed. "How dare you say that. My greatest enemy in the six years I've been here …
"Isn't it you Northlanders who use me as a bargaining chip?"
Saroma's breath froze for a moment.
But the prince's words immediately changed. He put on that disdainful and sarcastic expression again. "But since your archduchess has taken a liking to me, hahaha … perhaps I have a way to 'repay' her? Hahaha … "
Everyone in the hall stared at Thales with cold expressions.
Nicholas was so angry that his entire body trembled. The red flush on his face did not fade.
The archduchess pursed her lips. Her expression was mournful as she ignored the countless gazes directed at her both openly and secretly.
'This is your determination?
Your backup plan?
'You want me to choose the path most suitable for the archduchess. Is this what you mean?'
On the other hand, King Chapman's expression as he stared at the prince became more and more amused.
Only Nazaire sighed softly. Lisban, who was sitting opposite him, saw it. He only frowned and shook his head.
"I understand." Saroma raised her head and straightened her face. With great difficulty, she said, "Prince Thales, you want to go to Black Sand Region, don't you?"
Thales stopped laughing.
"Why?" The prince's expression returned to normal. He sighed softly and said provocatively, "You can't bear to part with me?"
Saroma shuddered slightly.
"Bah!" Count Hearst turned his head away. He seemed to be disdainful of even cursing.
The young girl closed her eyes. Her expression was one of struggle.
"My Lady, as long as you say it," Cotterson said angrily, "We should still be able to make it if we keep one of his hands."
Karkogel snorted coldly. "Shame."
Count Lyner shook his head coldly. "You, little brat, I don't care what you and the kinslayer did behind my back in a pathetic —"
At this moment …
"Enough, everyone!"
The archduchess abruptly spoke and interrupted the conversation.
Saroma's voice echoed in the hall and spread.
The silence lasted for a while.
Then, the female voice rang out again in a low and clear voice.
"Then, I wish you a smooth journey, Prince Thales."
Saroma opened her eyes. Her expression was cold.
At this moment, the Saroma in Thales' eyes finally put away that hesitant and mournful look on her face.
Thales' tense nerves slowly relaxed at this moment.
'Very well, Saroma.' He sighed in his heart. 'Choosing the path that suits the archduchess the most is the right choice.'
"He's yours." The archduchess' voice became firm, just like when she was forced into marriage by her vassals.
"King Chapman."
No one spoke.
It seemed that the opinions of the suzerains of Dragon Clouds City were unprecedentedly unanimous when it came to this decision.
King Chapman raised his eyebrows slightly. He took a deep breath and snorted softly.
"Very well."
The king's gaze had regained the awe-inspiring look he had when he first arrived in the hall.
The archduchess pressed down on the armrest tightly and said firmly, "With him in your hands, please ensure that Constellation will not bring unnecessary losses to our expedition to the west."
"It's my duty." King Chapman shook his head in disdain. He fearlessly responded to the pairs of malicious gazes. "Of course."
Thales stood where he was and looked at the indifferent archduchess from afar. The corners of his lips curled up.
At that moment, Thales' gaze met the archduchess'.
One was calm and relieved, while the other was indifferent and cold.
"Next time, if you have any plans to get married, please be sure to inform us in advance, the king and the archdukes, so that we can take a look at it for you," King Chapman said in satisfaction. "After all, if your marriage is done hastily like this time, I can't guarantee what kind of chaotic abyss the kingdom will descend into because of this."
Lisban said solemnly, "Dragon Clouds City's own matters do not require Black Sand Region to worry about it.
"The archdukes' attention is not up to you to decide." The king shook his head. "If you still care about Dragon Clouds City, remember this."
The archduchess raised her head and glanced at him coldly.
King Chapman frowned slightly.
"The state affairs hearing is almost over. We will choose another day to discuss the matter of the expedition to the west," the archduchess said quietly. "Your Majesty, you don't have to stay here anymore."
The vassals looked at each other and exchanged their complicated emotions.
King Chapman narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Listen, girl," the king said meaningfully, "as I said, as a person who has never been seen before in history, you are walking on a path that has never been seen before."
"This path is difficult to tread. Obstacles and dangers are everywhere, and there will always be people who don't like new changes. So, I advise you to stay away from those people. Their creed runs counter to your existence, and in the end, they will part ways with you."
These words made many of the nobles of Dragon Clouds City uncomfortable.
Saroma's expression was unpleasant. "Is that so?"
"But there is a first time for everything." The archduchess swept her gaze over the people in the hall. She hesitated for a moment before she spoke.
After a moment of hesitation, she said, "Four hundred years ago, when Queen Erica ascended the throne of Constellation, no one expected that a kingdom ruled by a woman would have the ability to take away our Cold Castle.
"Three hundred years ago, when Lacey Anlenzo became the Countess of Long Chant City, no one believed that the beautiful Archduchess would be able to build the first duchy in Dragon-Kissed Land.
"Forty years ago, when Empress Dowager Yao Hua became Regent of Su Ye, no one could foresee that she would one day become King Yao."
The people in the hall listened quietly to the archduchess' words.
"Such things happened in Constellation, in Su Ye, and even in Anlenzo Duchy …" Saroma's voice was very soft, but there was an indescribable force in her words. "As for Northland … I believe that the people will eventually get used to it."
Thales noticed that behind the king, Kroesch was staring at the surprised and bewildered archduchess on the stage with a complicated expression.
King Chapman seemed a little surprised.
But a few seconds later, he nodded and revealed a satisfied expression. "I will remember today."
"Of course." Saroma nodded and avoided Thales' gaze. She said in a low voice, "Just like how Dragon Clouds City will also remember today."
The vassals furrowed their brows. The feelings in their hearts were indescribable.
In the next moment, the archduchess slowly stood up.
"Everyone, let's call it a day."
With different expressions and breaths, more than twenty vassals of Dragon Clouds City also stood up. With complicated emotions, they looked at the archduchess on the stage, then at King Chapman and Thales.
'Today …'
The archduchess lowered her voice and sighed softly. "Meeting adjourned."
The vassals raised their right fists respectfully and hit their chests together.
* Thud! *
But this time, compared to the start of the meeting, this dull thud was unprecedentedly uniform, as if it was made by a single person.
The door opened. The vassals bowed and left one after another.
King Chapman, who stood in the middle of the hall, ignored the gazes the vassals cast on him before they left. Thales, on the other hand, lowered his head and looked at the floor, completely unbothered.
'It's over.
'At least …
'This round …
'Ended.'
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