That night, under Jines' piercing gaze and merciless scolding, Thales finished a dinner with a lot of rules with much difficulty. He also had a boring etiquette class that he had to attend. After all, etiquette was a code of conduct, and also one of the standards to distinguish social classes. At least he could use the table knife and fork in accordance with the rules with his trembling hands.
However, Thales could feel the anger and dissatisfaction hidden in Jines' beautiful eyes. He vaguely knew that it was related to the history of Constellation that Gilbert was talking about in the afternoon.
'As long as Constellation exists, the Empire shall exist forever.'
Even for someone like Thales, who was not familiar with the legend of Tormond the First's founding, he could not help but feel his heart beat faster and his blood boil with passion.
Gilbert and the guards in the hall — Thales only found out later that they were all descendants of the Final Empire's remnant army — were such representatives.
However, Thales could keenly sense that Jines hated this sentence, and even the meaning behind it.
However, he did not dare to ask.
He did not know what attitude this female official, who claimed to be his father's lover, had towards him.
When Jines looked at him, Thales saw a flash of disgust in her eyes. He also saw her forcing herself to endure it, as well as her repeated hesitation when she approached him. However, he did not see a sincere smile on her face.
So, the entire etiquette class was unusually dull.
That was until Jines, with a burning gaze, broke the silence, contrary to Thales' expectations.
"You don't like these rules and etiquette, do you?" As she watched Thales bend his wrists with all his might to avoid exceeding the standard arm swings during a meal, Jines suddenly said coldly, "Your expression is even uglier than a horse that has just been shaved."
Thales was shocked by the sudden question. In a flurry, he tried his best to answer appropriately, "Erm, Madam Jines, I know that these are necessary. I am still trying my best to get used to —"
However, his words were interrupted by Jines again.
"Of course you must learn these etiquette," she said coldly, but her voice was filled with mockery and disdain.
"But it is best not to become their captive … Walking, sitting, or lying down in a so-called noble manner does not mean that you are really noble.
Similarly, bearing those glorious and proud histories does not mean that you are really — "
Jines did not continue. She subconsciously bit on the second half of her sentence.
Thales felt a chill in his heart.
'It seems like this lady has a different opinion about Gilbert's teaching method?'
"Madam Jines," he cautiously probed, "Gilbert's history lesson in the afternoon … you … you don't seem to be … not …"
"Hmph, what kind of joke is this? That is their great and ancient kingdom … How would I dare to have any opinions?" Jines snorted and denied Thales' words. However, the latter could clearly see the mockery and sarcasm in the female official's eyes.
Thales fixed his gaze on Jines, his father's lover.
"Madam Jines," Thales said carefully and softly, "You were not father's … female official from the beginning, right?"
Jines raised her eyebrows, and the beauty mole beside her lips trembled slightly.
"And you … don't like these etiquettes and rules either. You don't even like them." Thales hesitated for a moment, but when he looked at the knife and fork in his hand, he still asked, "You don't like this country?"
His voice fell.
Jines stared at Thales in a daze.
This child.
How sensitive.
Jines turned her head and looked at the gold and silver nine-pointed star symbol above the fireplace in the study room. She did not speak for a long time.
Just when Thales stuck out his tongue, thinking that he had asked the wrong question, and was about to lower his head and continue fighting with his knife and fork as if nothing had happened, Jines sighed. She stared at the knife and fork in Thales' hands in a daze.
She said softly, "I was born in Bajkovic City in Seude County. It is a small city near the sea in the eastern part of the kingdom. It is not a prosperous trading port, but it is self-sufficient by fishing. It is considered a good place in Constellation.
"The city master is my father. He is quite famous in the eastern counties. All this while, he has strictly trained us to obey the rules, conform to etiquettes, and become ladies. He hoped that one day, our family could also become a famous family with a long legacy. "
Thales' gaze became solemn. He quickly exercised his already stiff wrist while Jines was not paying attention.
"But I just had to be a rebellious daughter. I hated these rules and etiquettes since I was young.
"As a result, when I was sixteen years old and about to become an adult, I was a wild girl who did not even know how to dance in court. I ate crudely and talked impudently." Jines smiled bitterly under the lamp. She looked at the moon outside the window, but her tone was filled with nostalgia.
"Of course, my father would not let me do whatever I wanted. In short, those memories were not very pleasant. Things became a little awkward. My family wanted to take away my identity and right of inheritance, and sent me to the temple to be a priest."
Thales stuck out his tongue at a place where he could not see. He knew that the priests in the temple usually swore to remain unmarried and serve the gods for life.
At this stage, it was probably not as simple as "a little awkward".
Jines lowered her head slightly. Her gaze dimmed, but she immediately raised her head and flashed a happy smile.
"But at this time, a prince came to our castle as a guest."
'What?'
When he heard this, Thales, who was exercising his wrist, stopped.
'Prince?
It can't be that melodramatic plot that I think it is, right? '
Jines continued.
"He heard my story, but he just laughed."
"His Highness publicly pardoned me of my crimes and promised me that I would not have to follow the rules and etiquettes that normal noble girls must follow. But the prerequisite was that, after I became an adult, I had to find a way to earn a living on my own outside of my identity as a noble girl. "
'This … is indeed melodramatic?'
However, Thales also had some doubts in his heart. 'Doesn't that prince's way of doing things and thinking … how should I put it, erm, a little too advanced?'
However, Jines seemed to be talking to herself. The corners of her lips curled up slightly without her realizing it. She did not pay any attention to Thales' reaction.
"So, I walked out of my family's castle and followed the prince to the capital.
"From reading the court newspaper for His Highness every day, to being a laborious clerk in a warehouse, to being a scribe who earned one copper coin per page, to being a police station secretary, and finally to becoming a Level Five Police Officer … My life completely changed because of him."
Thales was stunned for a moment. In his impression, Jines was a standard noble. He never thought that she had such a colorful past.
"However, after moving around for many years, I still became a female official in the end." Jines shook her head in a self-deprecating manner.
"Look at me. A disgrace to nobles who hated etiquettes and rules. But now, here I am, teaching the heir of the kingdom, teaching him the etiquettes that I hated the most in the past."
After Jines finished speaking, her gaze returned to the dining table and she stared at Thales. His knife fell to the ground again.
Thales let out an awkward chuckle.
He asked a question that even he found to be a little melodramatic.
"That kind prince is Kai … is my father?"
'Your father?'
Jines' gaze became a little blurry in that instant.
However, Thales did not get the answer he expected.
The female official turned her head around gently. There was a complicated and indecipherable look on her face.
"No, it's not him," Jines said softly.
"Even now, I still remember the smile on His Highness' face when he pardoned me, a girl who was shackled, dirty, crying and throwing a tantrum.
"That warm, accepting, and sunny smile. It was as if he was experiencing all the beauty in this world at every moment. No matter how ugly and dirty it was, it would not move him.
"Your father, Kessel, was just a foppish prince who was famous for being arrogant and presumptuous in the capital. His face was filled with a naughty smile that would cause ladies to panic. He did not have this kind of reassuring smile."
Thales looked at Jines in surprise.
'King Kessel … Arrogant, presumptuous, foppish prince?'
He saw Jines' gaze flicker, as if it contained endless sentiments and sighs. Then, she slowly spat out each word.
"That day, the one who came to our castle was the late king's eldest son.
"King Kessel's eldest brother, Midier Jadestar, the former crown prince."
—
"So, we thought that the Corleone Family had come to help us as promised. The so-called three elites …" Duke Zayen furrowed his brows and put down a letter with the emblem of a black fang as wax. He crossed his arms under the Tricolor Iris Flower.
"They were merely losers in the family's internal strife.
"They used the Corleone Family's name, used our invitation, borrowed our long-distance voyage ship, and relied on our special customs clearance to use us, the Covendier Family, like fools. They sailed across the Sea of Eradication, escaped from the Hill of Pain, and hid in Eternal Star City. They stayed in our manor for so long, and even took away a lot of blood …
"Is that so?"
The two supreme class knights standing in front of his study table, Lord Cassain and Lord Seychelles, did not say anything. They only stared at the middle-aged bald man between them, who was sweating profusely and kneeling on the floor, with complicated expressions.
Cassain remembered that the bald middle-aged man was a fellow member of the Tower of Eradication who came under the old duke's command with him and served Covendier's Tricolor Iris Flowers.
Unfortunately, the middle-aged man was not skilled enough and was heavily injured in a battle. From then on, he could only handle civil affairs. But even so, the old duke still pitied his situation and trusted him to manage the long-distance voyage.
'What was his name again?' Cassain tried hard to search his memory, but he could not remember it.
The kneeling middle-aged man's head was almost touching the ground as he stuttered, "Yes … Yes … They showed the Sacred Blood Emblem that only the Corleone Family's direct descendants have. That golden-haired one also threatened us with a terrible attitude …"
"They also had your … your handwritten letter …"
"Enough." Duke Zayen sighed and rubbed the space between his eyebrows. Beside him, Butler Ashford immediately took the opportunity to pour a glass of fine wine from Sera Dukedom.
Zayen forced a helpless smile. "This matter is not your fault. You may leave. Remember to be more careful next time."
The middle-aged bald man felt as if he had been pardoned. He kept nodding and apologizing. Under Seychelles' urging, he only left the study while trembling.
"He was once a talent, but he is useless now," Zayen said with a pained expression and raised his wine glass. "Immediately send him to the Eastern Peninsula again. Get rid of him on the high seas. "
"Don't do anything within the borders and territorial waters. I do not want to commit murder."
Hearing this, Cassain's heart skipped a beat.
"Your Grace," he could not help but say, "If you let him stay, I'm sure he will only be more dedicated in the future …"
Cassain did not notice the secret signal that Seychelles gave him.
"Forget about the usual matters, but I do not want to make any mistakes when it comes to such a crucial secret matter." Duke Zayen sighed. "He made a mistake once. There is already a grudge and a shadow in his heart. Especially, his doubts about his future will only deepen with time.
"And he knows about our contact with the Corleone Family. This is related to that plan.
"All of you know how important that plan is."
Cassain finally noticed Seychelles' secret signal. So, he lowered his head and did not speak again.
"The next time we set sail, get someone new." Duke Zayen took a sip of wine in disappointment. "When Father was still around, they were far less lax in their work."
Ashford replied calmly, "Loyalty and caution both require time to settle."
Zayen shook his head and sighed. "Unfortunately, what we lack the most is time. That matter is within a month, and our men cannot participate in it. It's best that nothing goes wrong."
Seychelles nodded slightly. "Sir, please do not worry. The mercenaries we hired at such a high price will have enough chances to assassinate His Majesty."
Lord Cassain trembled slightly. He did not know why his colleague was so bold and reckless.
Zayen paused for a moment. After a while, he shifted his gaze to Seychelles.
"Do not speak nonsense," the young duke said coldly.
Seychelles lowered his head and apologized, but he was secretly sneering.
'It seems like the duke is not dissatisfied.'
"All of you should depart. The Cullen Family and Nanchester Family will send people over. Do not clash with them at this juncture."
Zayen's gaze was cold as he cautiously said to Cassain and Seychelles, "When those mercenaries succeed, get rid of the people who did it."
Cassain was shocked. He raised his head in disbelief. "Sir! Get rid of those people? Didn't we hire them under another name? They, some of them are from the Tower of Eradication — "
Zayen suddenly looked at him!
His gaze was as sharp as a sword.
Cassain's throat trembled. This supreme class knight could not say the rest of his words.
"Then persuade your friend to go back," Zayen said calmly. But Ashford knew that this was a sign of his dissatisfaction. "Send someone who is not your friend."
Seychelles abruptly tugged at the back of Cassain's clothes, causing the latter's words to be stuck in his throat.
"As you wish, sir." The astute Seychelles nodded. He pulled the ashen-faced Cassain and left after receiving the order.
Zayen slowly exhaled and calmed himself down. He looked at the portrait of the old duke in the distance.
"Cassain is old."
He said plainly.
"After this, send him back to Jadeite City or to his own territory."
Ashford's expression was calm as he nodded slightly.
"As for the matter regarding the Corleone refugees, Ashford, you will personally handle it. Start with the investigation of the cavaliers who suddenly broke into Vine Manor that night." Zayen spilled the red wine at the bottom of his glass. His gaze was cold. "Contact the Corleone Family. Write a letter directly to the Night Queen herself. Tell Katerina what happened here. Find the opportunity to increase our bargaining chips."
Ashford nodded. "As you wish."
"I remember that Mindis Hall's probing was handed over to Blood Bottle Gang. Or did you not find Nikolay? "Zayen narrowed his eyes and looked at Ashford.
"No, sir." Ashford bowed slightly. "Blood Bottle Gang is now leaderless and in chaos. There are rumors that he went abroad to search for the Blood Mystic."
'Blood Mystic?'
Zayen shut his eyes tightly and exhaled through his nose.
His upbringing compelled him, with all his might, to swallow the ungraceful words he so desperately wanted to say.
Duke Zayen opened his eyes. There was no emotion in his pupils. He put down his wine glass and said, "If there is no other way, then we will directly send our men to take control of Blood Bottle Gang.
Within these two months, I want to control all the rumors and news from civilians to soldiers, nobles to merchants in Blood Bottle Gang's territory. "
Ashford nodded slightly.
"The messenger sent to Eckstedt should also return. Let's see if the Archduke of Black Sand Region is willing to seize this opportunity." Zayen leaned back into the comfortable recliner and narrowed his eyes.
'Just wait, father.
Tricolor Iris Flowers will soon advance further.
'If everything goes well.
'Let me tell you something.'
Swordless had a bad habit. He liked to upload chapters first, then carefully browse through them in the reader's interface over and over again (this is more efficient. I can't see anything on the page at all). He would review and revise them. Sometimes, he would even make major revisions.
So, when you see a new update, look at the time first. If it is an update within twenty minutes, then Swordless is most likely still holding his notebook and revising it. He will only make the overall revision in the background after a while. 'Don't rush. Wait a while. After half an hour, look again. By then, it will be the final version.
So, at this time, just smile.
'Don't rush. What if you read a draft chapter and are poisoned to death by typos and bad logic? Wouldn't that be Swordless' fault? '
'Advertise the book group again: 397147168. Currently, there are only four people. It feels so miserable.'
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