Loren Castle was a small, unknown place in Western Desert. It seemed to be a meticulously chosen place to stay.
Gilbert had left early. He seemed to be heading to the army to interact with the nobles in the regular army. Thales, on the other hand, left the carriage under the escort of the Royal Guards, who were led by Mallos. He entered the simple and crude castle that was comparable to a small house in Shield District.
He did not see any local nobles coming to greet him. There were only servants who trembled and lowered their heads in the distance. They handed over lights, water, and food, and the Royal Guards, who strictly separated the prince from other unrelated people, brought them to Thales' side.
Even the sentries outside the castle were taken over by the regular army of the Royal Family.
Even when Thales subconsciously smiled at a young servant girl who looked to be only eleven or twelve years old, who hurriedly brought food with a tray on her head, Mallos' figure would appear at the right time to block his line of sight politely and gently, but in a manner that left no room for doubt.
That was until the young servant girl fled the hall with a pale face under the fierce gazes of the Royal Guards in the hall.
Thales could not help but feel suffocated.
But since he had just arrived and was unfamiliar with them, Thales warned himself not to interfere with the Royal Guards' actions.
And when Thales walked into the hall of the castle, which was so simple that it was even a little crude, and to a certain extent, only had military functions, he sat down by the long table under Mallos' signal, and the suffocating feeling in his heart reached its peak.
"Same rules. Pick two people to taste the food first." Mallos did not remove his armor or his sword. He stood beside Thales, and his calm voice traveled through the hall.
"The duke will be allowed to eat half an hour later.
"During this period of time, the other people in the Vanguard Division will go and investigate the castle. The Defense Division will set up their defenses as usual. The Logistics Division will check the scullery. Everyone else, take your positions."
Mallos narrowed his eyes and stared in the direction where the young servant girl left.
"And I do not want to see anyone enter this hall without permission, even if it is a plump girl …
"Also, no matter where the duke goes, be it eating, bathing, going to the toilet, resting, or taking a stroll, ensure that there are at least two attendants by his side, and they can see the duke at all times. If anything happens, the three layers of security outside must be able to react immediately."
Thales could not help but frown.
Mallos' words seemed to be very authoritative. Among the twenty-four people standing on both sides of the long table, twenty-two of them accepted the order and left the hall.
Mallos, on the other hand, glanced at Thales. His gaze was calm and natural, but it seemed to contain some sort of power. It made the latter, who was so hungry that he could not even sit properly, sit up a little straighter.
"Take good care of the Duke."
The chestnut-haired watchman casually left these words behind and walked out of the hall.
The moment Mallos' heel left the door, Thales felt the air in the hall soften a little.
But good times did not last long. The last two people who were left behind walked forward without hesitation and took away the plates on Thales' table rudely.
Under Thales' terrified gaze, they carefully flipped through each dish (they even opened a pie made of unknown ingredients) and took a bite of each dish.
Thales stared blankly at the food that had been ravaged to the point where it had no part of its body left intact. He even had an illusion.
He had returned to Northland, to Dragon Clouds City, and to the Blood Court.
No, it's worse than that.
At least the Northlanders would not eat his food.
One of them stopped after taking a small taste. He immediately got up and went to stand guard at the door, but the other …
"Oh, no, this pie is made of pumpkin. It tastes awful."
The guard who stood closest to him grumbled in pain while he tore off another piece of pumpkin pie. He gave Thales a cool and sunny smile. "No, duke, you won't like this … I have to help you get rid of some, you're welcome …"
Thales watched as the pumpkin pie became fewer and fewer. He smiled awkwardly.
The knight who was biting into the pumpkin pie held the air and made a gesture of raising a glass. He nodded with a smile.
"Do not worry, Your Grace. This is just a routine inspection … Our regular soldiers are camped outside the castle. There is nothing that can threaten your safety."
As the knight spoke, he smiled even more brilliantly.
'You're making me even more uneasy …'
"No, no, Your Grace, you cannot eat yet. You have to wait for half an hour. If I don't die on the spot from foaming at the mouth, then you can start eating …" The knight held Thales' wrist gently and pushed him back in a gentle manner that allowed no argument.
Thales could only withdraw his hand from the glass resentfully.
He recognized the golden-haired knight in front of him. He was Derek's distant relative, Doyle.
"So, erm, Mallos is your leader, and he has the highest rank?"
Thales, who was bored and waiting to test his poison, could only strike up a conversation.
"Do all of you have to listen to him?"
Doyle patted off the crumbs on his hands, raised his eyebrows, and nodded.
"Yes."
Doyle cast a glance at the door. When he saw that Mallos was completely gone, he started to smile. He walked to Thales' side and set up the cutlery for him.
"The Royal Guards have a strict and clear division of labor and system, including the hierarchy. They cannot be violated."
While Doyle spoke, his hands did not stop moving. Knives, forks, spoons, and different dishes were placed in an orderly manner. It was in line with the table etiquette Thales learned when he was young.
'Strict and clear …'
Thales looked at the golden-haired knight in front of him with great interest.
"So, what rank are you?"
Doyle tidied up a plate of vegetables and smiled.
"Take it easy, Your Highness. This is not that simple."
"Unlike the barbaric, crude, primitive Northland barbarians and their funny guards who change every time, the Royal Guards of Constellation have a long and glorious history. Their system can be traced back to the Emperor's Praetorian Guards during the Age of the Empire …"
Doyle raised his index finger at the fourteen-year-old prince. He smiled brightly, and he looked friendly as if he was telling Thales a story.
"As the sacred group that protects His Majesty by his side, the Emperor's Praetorian Guards are divided into six wings based on their different duties. Each wing has a chief and a second in charge."
'Six wings.'
Thales felt his spirits lift. He remembered the former Royal Guards he met in the underground prison.
"First, there is the supreme Command Wing."
Doyle's smile was warm. He used a knife and fork to separate two pieces of meat on the plate.
"This is the brain of the entire guard. The chief and second in charge are the captain and vice captain. They are in charge of the entire guard, and they have absolute authority. They only answer to His Majesty. Before he was sent to your side, Mallos was a member of the Command Wing. He passed orders and information between Captain Adrian and the people in charge of the other wings. Hmm, his rank is not high, but his function is not small.
"And after he was promoted to the role of watchman …"
Doyle shrugged in resignation.
"So, you are right. Regardless of whether it was before or after, we have to listen to him."
'Command Wing.
The captain and vice captain. '
Thales thought of Barney Junior's father, and he fell into deep thought.
"Then, there is the Defense Wing."
Doyle took a deep breath, flung his hair, and straightened his body. He looked as if he had suddenly become radiant.
"This is the main body of the Royal Guards, and it is also the one that the outside world sees the most. They are in charge of the personal protection of the nobles." He righteously pulled out two pieces of vegetables and placed them next to the meat.
"Ordinary heroes, great protectors. We use our bodies to ensure your safety, and we build up your glory with our passion."
Doyle's words made Thales a little confused.
When he saw the solemn and hopeful expression on Doyle's face, which made him look like he was preaching, Thales narrowed his eyes.
"So, you belong to the Defense Wing?"
Doyle raised his eyebrows and bowed in a dramatic manner.
"Yes!"
When he saw how proud Doyle looked, Thales nodded in realization.
'I understand now.'
"I am Danny Doyle." Doyle smiled and pressed against his chest.
"Your Grace, I am the most reliable one among the six protectors under you."
Thales blinked.
The blond Doyle blinked with his left eye, and he looked very elegant.
"Or to put it simply, everyone likes to call me Doyle."
Thales froze.
“D.D？”
The prince repeated with a strange expression.
"Don't tell me you have a sister called Doyle?"
Or a brother called Doyle?
Doyle was stunned.
“？”
Doyle rolled his eyes in puzzlement.
"Ahem, nothing …"
Thales coughed a few times and said seriously,
"It's just a Northland joke …"
"Oh …" Doyle looked enlightened, and his tone rose in response.
"So, Doyle." Thales stared in surprise at the plate in front of him, which was almost turned into a work of art.
"When you were little, did they call you — 'Little D.D.'?"
Doyle was stunned again.
"What?"
Thales furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head.
"It's nothing. I often tell boring jokes about the Northland barbarians. You'll get used to it.
"Continue."
Doyle blinked as if he understood what Thales said.
"That's why I was talking about … Oh, yes, the other part of the Royal Guards. The guards who often appear in bardic poems are cute and charming villains, but they have the right to make decisions during wartime: the Vanguard Division."
'Vanguard Division.'
Thales remembered the stubborn Barney Junior and the neurotic Canon in the dungeon.
Thales arched his eyebrows.
"So, why are the Vanguard Division the villains?"
Doyle cleared his throat and began to arrange the soup bowls and cups.
"Let me put it this way. The duty of the Defense Division is very important, and we cannot easily leave the nobles' side. We also have a lot of time to appear in public, and there are many things that are inconvenient for us to do."
Doyle suddenly stopped talking, and his tone turned cold.
"So, sometimes, when you find someone an eyesore and want his head, or when you fancy a girl, but she is not willing, and other trivial things like that …"
Doyle stopped what he was doing, and his expression turned cold.
"At that time, you can let the lackeys in the Vanguard Division run errands."
'Find someone an eyesore?
Fancy a girl?
A trifling matter?
Run errands?
What? '
Thales stared at him with a strange expression and asked in return,
"Really?"
Doyle continued to stare at him sternly.
Two seconds later, Doyle suddenly snickered, waved his hand, and shook his head.
"Of course I'm joking!
Even though the bards often exaggerate the nobles' personal guards as thugs for nouveau riche, under normal circumstances, why would the Vanguard Division do such senseless things … "
When he said this, Doyle's expression froze.
"You understand," he said coldly.
He drew closer to the prince, and a profound and mysterious smile appeared on his face.
"First, general, situation."
Thales did not know whether he should laugh or cry at his behavior.
"But you said that they have the right to make decisions during wartime …"
Doyle waved his hand.
"Oh, that is not important …"
Doyle cleared his throat again, grabbed the table knife, and began to tidy up the pumpkin pie that had been tested for poison and left in a mess. There was only half a pumpkin pie left.
"Then, it is time for the Discipline Division, which has the least number of people but the highest status."
'Discipline Division.'
Thales remembered the former Chief Penal Officer of the Royal Guards, Luton Beldin, and nodded.
"For example, if you want us to 'run errands' like what I said, but unfortunately, we are caught and caught red-handed." Doyle's gaze focused.
"Then, the Discipline Division will have to take the field.
"So … no one in the guards likes them."
Doyle turned to Thales with a warning look.
"I believe it is the same for you. It is said that they are also in charge of carrying out the punishment of the members of the royal family."
Doyle put down the table knife. At some point in time, the pumpkin pie, which had only half a piece left, was cut into six slices and placed in a circle around the plate. It looked exquisite, beautiful, neat, and symmetrical.
Thales was incredibly shocked.
Doyle shook his head, and as if he was performing a magic trick, the solemn expression on his face was completely gone.
"Next is the Logistics Division. Just like what you said, it is the most boring part of the six divisions. There are even quite a number of part-time workers in there."
Doyle smiled and moved all the extra and messy leftovers from the main plate into an empty plate. He raised his hand and tossed them into the depths of the unlit fireplace. A clear sound rose.
"To be honest, even now, I do not know why they want to keep this division. What I mean is, if you work for His Majesty, who cares if your room costs six copper coins or six silver coins a night?"
'Logistics Division.
'Yes, His Majesty cares.'
Thales thought quietly.
Doyle exhaled.
"Finally, there is the worst. The Flag Bearer Division, whose rank is unknown, and which is outside the five divisions."
'Flag Bearer Division.'
Thales thought of the former flag bearer Samel, who had already sided with the Disaster Swords in the underground prison.
Thales asked curiously, "The worst?"
Doyle snorted coldly.
"It is said that every flag bearer has a small notebook in their bosom. Their usual duty is to spy on us and then report to the higher-ups."
Thales widened his eyes.
"Higher-Ups?"
Doyle flipped his wrist and fished out a tablecloth from somewhere.
Thales felt his vision blur, and the tablecloth was wrapped around his chest.
"Higher-Ups."
Doyle walked to the prince's side and adjusted the place where the tablecloth overlapped with his collar.
"They are like the Secret Intelligence Department of the guards. They are sinister, cunning, and do not have good intentions …"
Doyle said in a half-serious, half-joking manner.
'The Secret Intelligence Department of the guards.
'Is that so?'
Thales recalled the different group of Royal Guards in the underground prison.
"So, these are the Six Praetorian Divisions."
Doyle walked to Thales, and as if he was welcoming a guest, he swung his arm.
The prince was surprised to find that the dishes and cutlery on the table had been arranged in an orderly manner. The dishes on the plate were arranged in a unique aesthetic manner (it did not look like they had been tested for poison at all). Even the tablecloth on his body and his collar were neatly arranged, and the angle was just right.
It was to the point that if he moved even an inch, he would destroy the beauty of the place.
"And His Majesty values your guards very much. Basically, among the twenty-five people by your side, there are people from the Six Praetorian Divisions."
Doyle ignored Thales' expression, which showed that he was worried about where he should start eating, and started listing with his fingers.
"Lord Gray Parsons. Aside from Mallos, he is the highest-ranking person by your side. He is the second penal officer of the Punishment Division. Just like his commanding officer, he is basically the type that everyone is afraid of.
"Durward Stone, the master of the Logistics Division. Don't be fooled by the smile on his face. He is actually full of evil tricks. If he wants to mess with you during your meals …"
Doyle sighed and shrugged with a chuckle.
"And you met Caleb Glover yesterday. He is the brown-haired man behind Mallos. He usually doesn't speak, but when he does, he even dares to talk back to the Count of Wing Fort."
'You are one of them, right?'
Thales thought in his heart.
Doyle did not notice Thales' expression.
"Glover is one of the vanguards. By the way, that man has facial paralysis. He doesn't cry or smile. We call him 'Zombie' in private."
"I heard that Zombie's grandfather once served in the Royal Guards, and he was quite a high-ranking official."
Doyle blinked.
"So, he has been influenced since he was young, and he knows a lot about the ways of the Royal Guards. He even knows the secrets of the old guards from many years ago."
This phrase attracted Thales' attention.
"The old guards?" the prince asked.
"Yes." Doyle glanced at the table. When he found that there was nothing that could be adjusted, he looked away in disappointment.
"Eighteen years ago, the Royal Guards during the Bloody Year."
Thales tensed up.
"Even though the old people in the palace are unwilling to talk about what happened in the past, and even if I ask, they will not talk about it. It is almost a taboo …"
Thales' expression darkened.
"Is that so?"
However, Doyle raised his head and spoke with a sentimental tone.
"But it is said that during the decades that the late King Aydi ruled, the legendary old Royal Guards reached their peak in terms of both quantity and quality."
Thales' attention was drawn to him.
"Forget about everything else, in terms of individual strength alone, they have more supreme class elites than the guards of any other era."
When he said this, Doyle's eyes shone, and he sounded as if he was singing a bardic poem.
"Some people do not move, but attack like lightning. They do not need a second strike to subdue their enemies.
"Some people travel thousands of miles like wolves. They are cunning and unpredictable. They kill their enemies in broad daylight without leaving a trace.
"Some people have a knife in their hands. They are decapitated, and they fight for three nights without moving an inch.
"Some people raise their arms and draw their bows from thousands of steps away. They die under their arrows, and they cannot miss their targets."
Doyle exhaled, and he looked forward.
"The most ridiculous thing is that it is said that there was even someone in the guards of that era who could fight against a hundred people alone. He could fight against a large number of people alone. Even if he fought against a large army, there was nothing he could do."
Doyle's tone became gentler.
'Fight against a hundred people alone. Even if he fought against a large number of people alone …
Even if he fought against a large number of people alone … '
Thales remembered the mighty and lonely figure who swayed. He was dazed for a moment.
"Is that so?"
A thought appeared in Thales' eyes.
"Then, what about the guards now?"
"Now?"
Doyle blinked, and the corners of his lips curled up.
"And now, most of the people in the guards were reorganized after the Bloody Year. You know, the people's lives were poor. The nobles and commoners did not have a good time, and the supra class talents trained in the battlefield and the army had long since been taken away by the three new commanders who rose to power.
"I've heard that the current Chief Vanguard, Staley, is in the supreme boundary, but he doesn't have any famous battle records … That's because the thing about the supreme boundary, unless you've truly fought against another supreme boundary, others will only admit that you're also in the supreme boundary.
Doyle shrugged. The yearning in his eyes turned into regret.
"What a pity.
I really wish that I was born in that era. It would be great if I could see the unprecedentedly powerful guards. "
But Doyle immediately shook his head.
"No, actually, there is nothing to be pitiful about. After all, that was a humiliating group of guards."
Thales' eyes sparkled.
"Humiliating? What do you mean? "
Doyle sighed softly.
"Don't you know? During the Bloody Year, they did not protect the guards well. They did not dispatch them well, and they were at a loss. In the end, they lost Renaissance Palace.
"They also personally buried … the best era of the Royal Guards."
'Did not protect the guards well, did not dispatch them well …'
Thales subconsciously clenched his fists.
"It is said that …" Doyle's expression was complicated, and no one knew whether it was disdain or resignation.
"It's just a rumor. Some of the guards even colluded with the enemy."
Colluding with the enemy.
Thales clenched his fists tighter and tighter.
"Watchman."
Doyle was stunned.
"What?"
Thales raised his head and asked seriously,
"You just said that Mallos was promoted to watchman from the Command Division a year ago."
"Which branch of Six-Winged does he belong to?"
"What are the specific duties?"
When he encountered this question, Doyle was also stunned for a moment.
"Watchman?"
He frowned.
"To be honest, during my first eight years in the guards, I didn't even know that this position existed until Mallos was promoted."
"But the team had a guess. You know, a watcher, a watcher, so we guessed that this is a character that stays in the dark and watches secretly …"
When he said this, Doyle's gaze shifted, and there was a teasing tone in his voice, "For example, when nobles go to Red Street Market in private, and it is not convenient for them to bring along guards, the watchman secretly follows them and waits by their bedside …"
Thales was originally listening very seriously until he felt that something was off.
When he saw Thales' expression, Doyle raised his eyebrows.
"By the way, Your Grace, you are still young this year, but do you know Red Street Market?"
'Red Street Market?'
Without waiting for Thales to answer, Doyle raised his index finger and chuckled.
"Oh, I can tell that you have never been there!
"It's okay, when I am free, I will bring you there to play —"
At this moment …
"Doyle."
It was a clear and loud voice.
In that second, Doyle stopped talking perfectly, turned around, smiled, and bowed. He did it all in one go.
"Oh, look who's here, Lord Mallos! Hey, and you, Zombie … I mean Vanguard Glover! "
Doyle spread his arms with a passionate expression and looked at the third person without any awkwardness.
"Welcome, Count Caso!"
As expected, Watchman Mallos and Vanguard Glover appeared at the entrance. Gilbert followed behind them and looked at Thales and Mallos with a smile.
Thales only responded with an awkward smile.
Mallos put on a perfect and indifferent smile.
"Doyle, I heard that you are very interested in Red Street Market?"
"Oh, you are talking about this …"
Doyle looked as if he had just remembered it. He said in realization, "I'm not sure.
He said with a look of realization, "Of course, I am spreading some knowledge to Duke Thales that he should know."
'Knowledge?'
Thales sighed and turned his head away quietly.
"Knowledge?" As expected, Lord Mallos narrowed his eyes. Glover, who was beside him, snorted rudely.
"Yes."
Doyle turned to Thales without any shame.
"Geographical knowledge."
"Regarding the administrative division of Eternal Star City, Your Grace, we have just talked about it. Red Street Market is next to Linhe Street, separating Western District and Lower City District …"
Mallos and Glover looked at each other. One of them smiled faintly, and the other was disdainful.
Thales could only look at Doyle in amazement. Endless admiration surged in his heart.
A few minutes later, Thales finally picked up his knife and fork and was able to eat. Mallos and the others left quietly, leaving only Gilbert to look at the prince with a gratified expression.
"I am glad to see that you have a pleasant conversation with Danny, Your Grace."
Thales smiled helplessly. He mercilessly chopped down with his knife and destroyed the main course, which had been placed so perfectly that it could be considered an art.
"I do not have any other choice, do I?"
Gilbert laughed heartily.
"Relax, Your Highness.
Regardless of whether it is Mallos, Glover, or Doyle, they are all from the Seven Jadestar Attendants. They are not ordinary local nobles. Your father trusts them. "
Thales picked up a piece of meat with his fork and hummed.
"Seven Jadestar Attendants?"
Gilbert nodded.
"During the Battle of Eradication, the King of Renaissance had seven squires by his side. The bards called them the Seven Jadestar Attendants."
The Foreign Affairs Minister once again adopted the tone of someone narrating a story. Even though it was not as captivating as Putray's, it was straightforward, direct, and simple.
"After the country was built, they settled down in Central Territory and were conferred titles ranging from counts to viscounts. They became direct vassals in the king's territory, and their families also became a powerful ally of the Jadestar Royal Family.
"It has been six hundred years. Even though things have changed with the passage of time and the members have changed, the vassals who are the closest to Jadestar are still called the Seven Jadestar Attendants based on habit in every era, even though there are times when the number of vassals exceeds or falls short of this number.
"Aside from the Six Great Clans and the Thirteen Distinguished Families, the Seven Jadestar Attendants are also frequent visitors of the Royal Guards. This has been the case for the past hundred years."
'Over the past hundred years …'
Thales mulled over this word.
"What about a hundred years ago?"
Gilbert's gaze shifted.
Thales bit into a piece of steak.
"The Duke of Western Desert once told me that he had an uncle who served in the Royal Guards a long time ago. He even helped my grandfather ascend the throne."
Thales swallowed and stared at the steak that had been cut into pieces in front of him.
"So, Gilbert."
When did the people from the Six Great Clans and the Thirteen Distinguished Families gradually disappear from the king's most trusted personal guards and the Royal Guards? "
— — —
At the porch beyond the hall.
"How is it?"
The watchman, Mallos, strolled forward with his hands behind his back. Doyle followed behind him slowly.
Doyle shook his head. His expression was calm.
"I do not know.
He is not as amazing a genius as people make him out to be. To a certain extent, he is still a little … dumb? "
Mallos snorted through his nose.
"Stupid?"
What do you mean? "
Doyle cast a glance behind him and tugged at the corners of his lips.
"He is gullible and unguarded.
"I just casually said a few words to reminisce about the past, and our Duke of Star Lake …"
He shrugged and smiled faintly.
"Just now, in just a short while, I almost touched his entire body. And the dagger in his bosom could not protect him at all. I could break his neck in a few seconds. "
"I find it strange. How did he survive in the hands of the Northland barbarians who fought each other?"
Mallos' expression did not change. He hummed in acknowledgment.
"Really?"
Doyle exhaled and narrowed his eyes.
"Let me put it this way. If that was a princess …"
There was a teasing look in his eyes.
"Then by now … she would be lying in my bosom with a red face and meowing like a cat."
Mallos frowned.
Doyle remembered something and giggled. "Of course, if he is really a girl, then his personality is quite cute."
Mallos exhaled.
"You just refuse to stop, do you?
"Is there any innocent girl in the capital who has not been harmed by you?"
Doyle whistled and rolled his eyes.
"Hmm, there are still a few."
The corners of Mallos' lips curled up.
"Return to your post." The watchman's expression became indifferent again, and his tone became stern.
"Also, stop playing around. You are protecting —"
Doyle raised his hand.
"Of course, of course. Don't worry." The blond guard giggled and turned to leave.
"I know. I know how important he is.
Regardless of whether it is to the royal family or to us. "
Mallos stopped moving.
He turned around and looked at Doyle's back as he walked away.
"No."
Mallos' expression did not change, but he shook his head slowly and whispered,
"About him.
You don't know anything. "
The watchman snorted softly. There was a faint hint of disapproval in his tone.
"Young D.D."
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