"We can't defend this place."
Glover led his mount and stood in front of a wide and exquisite iron gate with two openings. He looked at the exquisite garden and the Dragon's Kiss fountain in the center before him. He sized up the three-story house with tall pillars in front of him with a solemn expression.
"Wh-What?" Beside him, Protector Doyle, who was checking his mount's teeth, asked in puzzlement.
Around them, the Royal Guards who were assigned to protect the prince followed the etiquette officer of the royal family and the administrative officer of the city hall. They entered the beautiful manor in an orderly manner and did the headache-inducing handover and propaganda with the local servants and guards — most of them were Jadestar Private Soldiers recruited from the outskirts of Central Territory.
"The layout of the complicated terrain, troublesome sentry posts, pointless decorations, and the Jadestar Private Army recruited from a foreign land." Vanguard Glover's gaze swept across the gate and walls to the backyard in the distance. The wariness in his eyes grew stronger.
"And a maze garden that is bigger than the Northern Territory."
In the bustling atmosphere, the vanguard looked around and handed his mount to a subordinate of the Vanguard Division. He frowned even more.
"Compared to the Northern Territory …" Doyle, who was beside him, said subconsciously. He immediately understood something and smiled brightly.
"Relax, Zombie. This is Mindis Hall, not Broken Dragon Fortress."
Doyle did not care about the vanguard's expression. He stuffed the reins into his other hand in an extremely natural manner. He watched as the vanguard pulled his mount away with a displeased expression that said, "Where did the people from the Defense Division go?" Then, he turned his head around in satisfaction.
"And we are not here to fight."
Glover snorted through his nose.
He looked at the road outside the iron gate and the house at the end of the garden. His tone was cold.
"The prince should be staying in Renaissance Palace."
The vanguard's words were drawn-out, and they seemed to have a profound meaning.
But Doyle clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"No, no, no. Although we were not familiar with each other before, I know that the Vanguard Division does not have many sentry posts …"
Glover pursed his lips.
"I'm not sure about Tormond Hall and the Silence Room where His Majesty and the Queen are …"
Doyle raised three fingers with a smug expression and snapped them down one by one.
"But the Ballard Room is very narrow, the Alain Court is a little too high and cold, and the Sumerian Hall is too dark and dark …"
"Trust me, compared to these famous grottos in Renaissance Palace," Doyle elegantly waved his hand at the exquisite garden in front of him.
"You'll like it better here."
Glover narrowed his eyes.
"At least, at least Mindis Hall has, has …"
Doyle paused for a moment. He pointed at the iron gate, the garden, the fountain, the avenue, the main hall, and finally pointed at the sun above his head. He smiled faintly.
"… There is light?"
Glover crossed his arms and looked elsewhere. He snorted in a way that made it seem as if he didn't know what was going on.
Obviously, he wasn't too satisfied.
"Besides, do you know how high its artistic value is?"
Doyle's eyes lit up, and his tone changed.
Glover furrowed his brows.
"Do you know its place in the history of architecture?"
The guard turned around and spread his arms, as if he wanted to hug the person in front of him.
"Let's not talk about the fact that this is the famous Virtuous King's temporary imperial residence … But look at the garden, look at the reliefs, look at the tiles! Let's not even talk about the many art treasures in the palace!
"Think about it, if we hold a banquet here, the ladies in the capital will definitely fight to be the first …"
Doyle turned around with a dance step. His face was full of sweetness.
Glover did not move. He only looked at Doyle with a disdainful expression.
"What's wrong?"
Doyle shrugged. He looked puzzled.
"Is it wrong to love art and love beauty?"
Glover looked away. He took a deep breath and exhaled stiffly through his nose.
The familiar sound of a carriage and shouts came from the distance. It seemed like a person was directing the transportation.
Doyle, who was immersed in art and beauty, had his expression change.
"Oh, no, that's Stone and Fuby …"
He immediately jumped to Glover's side. His expression was stern, and his body was straight. He extended his arm and pointed at Mindis Hall.
"Quick, pretend that you're talking to me, discussing the defense of the sentry posts or the defense plan. Look very attentive and serious …"
Glover was confused.
"What?"
"This is the only way we won't be assigned to help with logistics." Doyle's expression did not change, but his lips moved slightly.
Glover still did not understand.
"But … Why me?"
"Because he never asks the vanguard to go!" Doyle said softly through gritted teeth.
Logistics Officer Stone and Flag Bearer Fuby brought a few subordinates and a few carriages while they were surrounded by a group of officials and Jadestar Private Soldiers. They left doubtful and puzzled gazes on Doyle, but when they saw Glover's stern expression, they got rid of their doubts and left.
It was only then that Doyle heaved a sigh of relief and relaxed.
Glover's gaze when he looked at him became even stranger.
But Doyle did not feel awkward at all. He naturally returned to his intoxicated state of admiring the scenery. His gaze shifted, and he saw the teenager who stood quietly in the gaps between the figures moving back and forth under the pillars of the house in the distance beside the cedar wood door.
Doyle narrowed his eyes and sized up the still and slightly lonely prince. The servants and guards around him seemed to have some sort of tacit understanding. They perfectly avoided the prince while they were busy with their work. The person closest to him was at least ten meters away.
But they would occasionally cast cautious glances at the teenager who did not say a word.
"I'll bet you, that kid just got spanked."
As if he was afraid that Doyle would not believe him, Doyle narrowed his eyes.
"Believe me, I know this feeling. He appears to be very calm now, but that is all an act …"
Doyle stared at the prince's back. His gaze was melancholic, and he seemed to be rather sentimental.
"But in the deepest part of his heart, he just wants to find a place where there is no one and cry to his heart's content …"
Doyle stared at the prince's back. His eyes were melancholic, and he was rather sentimental.
"But in the deepest part of his heart, he just wants to find a place where there is no one and cry to his heart's content …"
"This is not something you should comment on." The vanguard coughed sternly.
"Protector Doyle."
But Doyle snorted softly.
"Enough with that lousy sword in the morning … You are also very displeased, aren't you?" Doyle nudged Glover's arm. He did not care about Glover's unpleasant expression at all, and he seemed to be taking pleasure in Glover's misfortune.
"I'll bet everything I have with you. Our honorable Duke, I've finally seen someone with a heavier sword than him."
Glover did not answer. He only stared at the porch of Mindis Hall and frowned deeply.
Over there, Duke Thales stood quietly.
He only stared at the porch. He did not make a sound and did not move.
It was as if he was isolated from his surroundings.
"Are you there?"
Thales asked absentmindedly.
"Did you see it?"
As a response, a steady and calm voice came from behind him.
"Yes, I saw it."
But it was not the person Thales expected.
The teenager closed his eyes and sighed softly.
"The royal family's private soldiers and servants did a good job in maintaining the place. They saved us a lot of trouble.
"Once we complete the assessment and inspection, we can move in." Watchman Mallos walked forward and stood beside the duke. He looked at the main hall of the manor with him, and his words were thought-provoking.
"Congratulations, the new master of Mindis Hall."
'Mindis Hall.
'New master.'
Thales did not turn around.
The teenager only quietly sized up the familiar yet unfamiliar house in front of him, from the pillars to the door, from the carpet to the interior.
However, this time, the familiarity seemed to be greater than the unfamiliarity.
Mallos seemed to have sensed the atmosphere. He also remained silent and stood quietly with the prince.
The servants and guards were still busy. They came and went in a hurry, but they subconsciously stayed further away from them.
A few seconds later …
"You don't know."
Mallos frowned slightly.
Thales spoke slowly with an expressionless face.
"You didn't know beforehand that you would be stationed here, did you?
"Otherwise, you wouldn't have to wait until the very last moment to assess and inspect."
Mallos was slightly stunned.
But the Duke of Star Lake smiled.
"You weren't even prepared to become the Star Lake Guards." Thales lowered his head and looked a little lonely.
"Because the title of the Duke of Star Lake was decided on the spot after you departed, and it was conferred in a hurry."
'Because … a sword.'
Mallos paused for a few seconds. He furrowed his eyebrows slightly, and no one knew what he was thinking.
Thales sighed.
"Similarly, you weren't prepared to come to … Mindis Hall."
Mallos seemed to have heard something from the duke's seemingly disorderly words. He wanted to say something, but stopped himself.
But Thales took a deep breath. When he turned his head around, he had already put on a smile.
"By the way, when you set up your defenses, don't forget to prepare silver weapons. There might even be weapons that have been blessed."
'Silver weapons …'
The change in topic caught the watchman off guard.
"Why?"
Thales snorted. He took a few steps back and looked at the roof and balcony of Mindis Hall.
"To guard against uninvited guests."
Under Mallos' puzzled gaze, the prince's tone was filled with faint nostalgia.
"Such as … vampires?"
Mallos was stunned again. He was confused.
But Thales did not explain further.
He only sighed again, raised his head, and sized up the pillar in a daze.
"It looks even smaller," the teenager said subconsciously.
"I remember that the pillar here used to be very tall."
Mallos' gaze moved, and he stared deeply at the prince.
With a little perplexed, Thales walked through the porch and vaguely saw three large portraits on the wall under the chandelier, facing the door.
And the three people in the portrait.
One had his back to the setting sun. He held a spear and rode a horse. He was as heroic as ever.
One stood deep in the forest. He held a sword and a shield in his hand. He was as determined as ever.
One sat quietly in the room. He held a staff and flipped through a book. He was as benevolent as ever.
As he stared at the three people in the portrait, Thales' gaze became a little unfocused.
He subconsciously raised his right hand and pressed it against his chest.
A certain part of his skin seemed to still be aching.
"You are also revisiting an old place," Mallos followed behind him, and his tone was indifferent. "When we saw Renaissance Palace, you did not have this expression."
'Renaissance Palace.'
Thales snorted.
"The first time I entered Renaissance Palace, I was seriously injured by an assassin. I was unconscious, and I was carried in."
Mallos narrowed his eyes.
The prince's expression was slightly mocking.
"Revisiting an old place? What kind of expression did you expect me to have?"
But Mallos' answer exceeded his expectations.
"Smile."
Thales frowned.
"What?"
Mallos took a step forward and stood with him in front of the cedar wood door. He stared at the portraits of the three kings on the wall in the hall.
"You need to smile.
"Then they will not have to suspect that your father does not like you." Mallos narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Or the other way around."
Thales was stunned for a moment before he was stunned.
"Them?"
Mallos remained indifferent. He nodded and did not even look at the duke.
"The Royal Guards are all elites. They have a keen sense of smell."
Thales instinctively turned around.
Around him, the Royal Guards were still busy with their own tasks. They were either commanding the logistics, handing over tasks to the servants, or assigning tasks …
Nothing strange could be seen.
Thales was silent for a while before he suddenly chuckled.
"Did you know?
"I have a friend who also advised me to smile."
Mallos looked at the prince. The latter took a deep breath and looked at the sky in the distance. He sounded sentimental.
"Because life is heavy enough as it is.
You have to smile to make it lighter. "
The teenager was a little dazed, as if he was looking at the yellow sand again.
"Then, does it?"
Mallos stared at Thales, who was feeling sentimental for some reason, and suddenly said,
"After you finish laughing?"
Thales snapped out of his daze and shook his head.
"I don't know." The teenager's smile was a little strained.
"I hope so."
The prince turned around and was about to walk into the porch.
"This place, this manor," Mallos spoke again, causing Thales to slow down.
"Do you know why it is named this way?"
'This place?
Why is it named this way? '
Thales stopped walking and glanced at his surroundings.
The prince gestured at the portrait on the rightmost side of the wall opposite him.
"Him?"
In the portrait, a middle-aged man with graying hair was smiling at him in a friendly manner.
But Mallos shook his head.
"No."
The watchman crossed his arms. There was a hint of respect in his eyes as he stared at the hall.
"Although Mindis the Third had indeed lived here more than a hundred years ago, and most people thought that it was him … But, no, Mindis Hall was not named after the Virtuous King."
'Not the Virtuous King's name?'
This piqued the teenager's interest.
"Very good." Thales turned his head around with great interest.
"Please enlighten me, my … personal guard captain?"
Mallos did not care about the faint strangeness in Thales' tone. He turned around and looked in the direction of Renaissance Palace. His gaze was profound.
"Year 333 of the Calendar of Eradication, the twenty-second Supreme King was crowned. His name appeared for the first time in the genealogy of Constellation's kings."
Thales raised his eyebrows. 'What … number? Twenty-two?
That's … '
"This king was young, but he was weak and sickly. He had to move out of the palace and look for a place to recuperate. He entrusted the affairs of the country to his uncle and the Imperial Conference."
Mallos' words were very calm, just like his indifferent expression. The story he told was not necessarily delightful.
"In just one year, the young king unfortunately died of illness. He did not even leave behind an heir."
The watchman stepped on the floor tiles under his feet.
"From then on, the manor in the suburbs where he died was named after him to commemorate him."
Mallos looked at the prince indifferently.
'Entrusted affairs of the country to his uncle, left the palace to recuperate …
'Nephew died young, left his name to commemorate …'
The story was very short. It did not even have a plot, and it was not very auspicious.
The charm behind it was even a little … indescribable.
But Thales still showed an expression that said, "I see."
"So, um, the manor in the suburbs." Thales pointed at his surroundings and tried hard to continue the conversation.
"You call Twilight District 'suburbs'?"
Mallos frowned slightly. He was obviously not satisfied with the prince's attitude of focusing on the main point, "It used to be.
"I call this' city expansion '."
Thales raised his eyebrows.
"Oh.
"However, three and a half centuries have passed. When we stand here and mention the original master of Mindis Hall," the watchman snorted softly and looked at Thales with a rather meaningful gaze.
"Even the direct descendants of Jadestar have long since forgotten about the 'Fog King'."
Thales was a little awkward.
"I, uh …"
But he quickly noticed the title Mallos mentioned.
"Fog King?"
Mallos nodded.
He extended his hand and knocked on the expensive cedar wood door. His tone was deep.
"Regardless of whether he was alive or after, Mindis the First, who died young, was known as the 'Fog King'.
"When he was alive, his rule was like fog. It seemed tangible, but in reality, it was intangible.
"After his death, his story was like fog. It came and went in a hurry and disappeared quietly."
Suddenly, Mallos' gaze became sharp.
"No one remembers.
"No one cares."
Thales subconsciously shuddered.
"So, take care of yourself, especially when the entire Royal Guards are around."
Mallos' gaze was focused on Thales again. It made the latter, who was originally a little depressed and lonely, quiver.
"No matter what you went through …"
The watchman's tone became cold.
"You must know that among the many inconspicuous and forgotten masters of Mindis Hall, you are not the only one who is sick and miserable."
'Sick and miserable.'
Thales subconsciously gulped and rubbed his face.
"But just like the Fog King …"
The watchman snorted coldly.
"No one will remember."
Mallos looked in the direction of Renaissance Palace. His gaze was unfocused.
"And no one will care."
There was silence.
It had to be said that at that moment, Thales, who had his worries and problems pointed out, felt a little awkward.
After a while, the young Duke of Star Lake forced himself to laugh dryly.
"Thank you for your … encouragement.
"Lord Mallos."
Even though it was not very inspiring.
But the watchman did not respond to his gratitude. He only cast him a faint glance.
"Once the room upstairs is ready, I will inform you."
"Your Grace."
Once Mallos finished speaking, he strode into Mindis Hall.
Thales looked at his back, and while he felt awkward, he seemed to be deep in thought.
"That uncle."
The teenager suddenly spoke.
Under the portrait of the King of Renaissance, Mallos' back froze for a moment.
"The Fog King's … uncle who took over the kingdom's affairs."
Thales' eyes burned.
"After Mindis the First died of illness, did he inherit the throne?"
The watchman's back remained still for a few seconds.
"Of course."
Mallos turned his head around. His expression was profound.
"Sumer Jadestar, who took over the kingdom's affairs, eventually inherited the throne from his nephew who died young and did not have an heir.
"He was the 'Jackal' Sumer the Third in history."
Thales exhaled, and he came to a realization.
But Mallos had not finished speaking.
"With …
The body of the Duke of Star Lake. "
Thales was shocked.
But before he could ask, the watchman left without turning his head back.
He disappeared up the stairs.
Thales was left alone to ponder over the meaning of this story.
A few seconds later, the prince smiled in a relieved manner.
'Interesting.
'Regardless of whether it's the master of Mindis Hall or the Duke of Star Lake, the stories of his predecessors, they're all so …
Thought-provoking. '
Thales glanced in the direction where Mallos disappeared one last time, turned around, left the porch, and walked towards the garden. While he waited, he put on a smile and sized up the busy crowd around him.
He suddenly noticed that among the servants and private soldiers who came and went, there were two figures who stood out from the crowd. One of them was relaxed, and the other was standing by the pool with a slightly stern expression. They were discussing something in a serious manner.
Thales recognized the two people, so he slowly walked towards them.
"You didn't want to come, did you?"
Doyle looked at the few maids in the distance and narrowed his eyes beside the fountain.
"You know, the Glover Family is the best of the Seven Jadestar Attendants. They are the backbone of the king's party. They have been trusted for generations, and they hold great power."
Beside him, Glover furrowed his eyebrows tightly.
"Your father is the predecessor of Kirkirk Mann, and your elder brother is in the Department of Finance. He has a bright future ahead of him."
Doyle's attention was still on the maids, and he did not even look at Glover. He narrated while he sighed emotionally.
"His Majesty is also eager to improve, and he is in the prime of his life.
"But you are here, and you're involved in this unlucky mess."
Doyle turned his head around and stared at Glover curiously.
"Why?"
But this time, he seemed to have kicked an iron plate.
Glover also turned his head around and stared coldly at Doyle.
It was as if he was staring at a piece of rotten meat on a butcher's stand.
The silence lasted for a long time.
After a while, Doyle, who did not get any response, could only smile awkwardly and turn his head around.
"Alright, it's fine if you don't want to talk about it.
But I'm different. "
Doyle showed a perfect smile to a maid who finally could not stand his gaze anymore and peeked at him.
"During the years when our family was prosperous, Doyle was too close to the old nobles, and their relationship was complicated … So much so that for three generations after that, there was no one who could be put in an important position by Renaissance Palace."
Glover did not say anything, but he looked away.
Doyle stared at the maid who turned her head around with a flushed face. His gaze was a little frozen.
"They were worried that if this continued, our family's position among the Seven Jadestar Jadestar would be lost sooner or later, just like Tardin, Beldin, and …"
Doyle paused for a moment and gestured at the direction of Mindis Hall with his head.
He sighed and said, "Mallos."
Glover did not say anything, as if he did not hear him.
"So, I was forced to come here."
Doyle quirked an eyebrow.
"My father had a beautiful dream. From the king's personal guard to the prince's personal guard, perhaps in the end, he would become the king's personal guard, and in the end …"
Doyle's expression became a little gloomy.
"Of course, that was just … a beautiful dream."
Glover's eyes sparkled a little.
"After all, we are no longer in the era where we rely on the size of our fiefdoms to make a living." Doyle exhaled softly. His expression was resigned, and his tone was profound.
"And we are neither the Six Great Clans nor the Thirteen Distinguished Families."
Doyle said airily in front of Glover, who did not move an inch.
"We are just … Jadestar's attendants."
()
Stealing Fragrance
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