As for what Zayen said …
'Caused by an accident.
'Forced by circumstances.
'Definitely not a personal grudge?'
Thales narrowed his eyes and looked at Zayen, who was trying his best to control himself, but the Duke of Western Desert's words rang in his mind.
"Before accepting their kindness, please remember: they are only against your father, not truly loyal to you."
"Oh, is that so?"
Thales said coldly.
"In that case, six years ago, you lent Vine Manor to Serena because of an 'accident'?"
"You were also 'forced by circumstances', so after putting on a good show, you let the Night Queen come after me?"
Zayen's expression immediately turned ugly.
"What a coincidence." Thales sat upright and sneered.
"Do you know what lesson Lady Serena, who came to me thanks to you, taught me?"
Zayen's gaze stopped in the air and trembled with his breathing.
"But this is what you said. Times have changed.
"We have to look forward."
But Thales shook his head slowly and enunciated each word.
"No, Your Grace, I reject your offer — because I don't believe you at all."
The two faced each other in silence, their postures normal and polite.
However, the atmosphere was so tense that no one could imagine it.
The Duke of Iris Flowers' brows struggled for a while. He seemed to be struggling to enunciate his words.
"I tried my best. I suggested it to you in a friendly manner. I even begged you, Thales, at least …"
But Thales did not care about the other party's acting. He interrupted him with a smile.
"Quick question and quick answer: Back then, why did I go to Eckstedt?"
Zayen looked up.
"For sightseeing? To broaden your horizons? To freeload? To find a wife? "
Thales shook his head.
"None of those … Oh, right, I remember now."
Thales' gaze sharpened and his tone tightened.
"Because a group of domestic vassals joined forces to kill the Eckstedt Diplomat Group, but they were used by someone else and incurred King Nuven's wrath.
"And we need a sucker to clean up the mess and clean up after them?"
Zayen did not speak.
"But why did they attack the Eckstedt Diplomat Group?"
Thales leaned forward towards the other party, his expression dark.
"Why would you do that?"
"Duke Zayen Covendier?"
Zayen's eyebrows twitched.
"You have been a prince for six years, and now you are the Duke of Star Lake. No matter how stupid the Northland barbarians are, they should have taught you that some things are beyond our control."
The Duke of Iris Flowers' gaze had turned completely cold, and his tone was no longer polite.
"What happened back then is a separate matter. It shouldn't have continued until now, and it shouldn't have implicated others."
One thing is another?
Thales smiled.
The prince's expression darkened, and his gaze turned cold.
"Tell me, Zayen, even now, have you ever thought …"
"Back then, if I had not appeared, or if I had simply died in the hands of the vampires or the Eckstedtians.
Thales gestured at the banquet hall with his chin.
"Then today, with this title, occupying this manor, sitting in this position, watching the endless stream of guests below …"
"Will it be you?"
Zayen looked up abruptly!
"Thales, this is the last time. Think carefully about your decision." The Duke of Iris Flowers gritted his teeth and hinted at a threat.
"I have given in enough, and my proposal is sincere enough.
"Don't force me to be your enemy. You won't think of that."
But Thales responded with a sneer.
"The last time? Give in? "
Thales shook his head.
"'If you don't cooperate with me, I will be your enemy.' You call this giving in?"
Zayen stared at him. The Duke of Iris Flowers with a friendly smile was long gone.
"I have never forced you, Zayen. Your so-called 'forced'," Thales said coldly, "is just a choice you made yourself because you could not withstand the outside world's wavering.
"On the contrary, from the past to the present, from the beginning to the end, you have been the one forcing me."
Thales' tone carried a warning.
"And everyone has to pay the price for their own choices."
At this moment, the two of them stared at each other, and the temperature seemed to drop to the extreme.
Zayen snorted angrily.
"When you were young, maybe you had no worries, no worries.
"But when you grow up, experience more, and have more, maybe you will understand that friends are much more important than enemies."
Zayen spoke softly.
"Better to die for a friend than to perish for an enemy."
But Thales laughed.
"Do you know, when I first arrived in Dragon Clouds City, that insufferably arrogant Nuven the Seventh also threatened me like this: either cooperate obediently, or die obediently."
Zayen's gaze shifted.
Thales' smile turned cold.
"Guess what happened to him that night?"
"Zayen Covendier, how much harder is your skull than his?"
Zayen did not speak.
But in the next second, the anger on his face melted like ice and snow, turning into a faint smile.
It was as if the elegant, civilized, gentle, and friendly Duke of Iris Flowers had returned.
But at that moment, Thales only felt a surge of coldness in his heart.
"Tell me, Your Highness."
Zayen's smile did not diminish as he enunciated each word.
"You went to the North and lived in peace for six years. Did you really become strong, fearless, and tough?"
Thales frowned.
"No, the truth is, you know it very well.
"In the past six years, you were alone in the enemy's country, but you were still able to return safely without fear. You were even able to gain today's glory, fame, and fortune because of the powerful backing you relied on — because of his supreme crown and scepter."
Thales' heart trembled.
Zayen's dangerous smile made Thales extremely uneasy.
"And now, as the heir to the kingdom, you have escaped danger, returned to the kingdom's shade, returned to the shadow of the throne, returned to the vision of royal power …"
The Duke of Iris Flowers chuckled.
"Guess, what that powerful backing gave you was still unreserved protection and support due to the situation between us and the enemy?
"And you, you can, dare to repeat the masterpiece that you relied on to become famous, like rejecting King Nuven, like confronting King Chapman head-on …
"Rejecting him, confronting him head-on?"
At that moment, it was as if some kind of power had tightly bound Thales from the inside out.
It made his chest feel heavy, and he could not move.
"The second prince? The Duke of Star Lake? The royal bloodline? Hah, you know it very well, and are even more afraid. "
Thales breathed with difficulty.
As if he could smell what Thales was feeling, Zayen's tone also began to tighten.
"Believe me, in Constellation, you can be hurt much more than in Eckstedt."
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"And the people who can hurt you are also much stronger than the archdukes in Northland."
Thales stared at him without saying a word.
"How does it feel, Your Highness? And when it happens to me? "
Duke Covendier clicked his tongue.
"This feeling of having your disguise and concealment torn apart, your vital parts pressed down, unprotected, and threatened?"
Thales used all his strength to resist the urge to turn his head away and fly into a rage out of humiliation.
"Threaten?" Thales knew that he could not show weakness, let alone reveal any clues. His tone was calm, "No, Your Grace.
"You know, you are not threatening me, but the Jadestar Royal Family, and my father."
Zayen chuckled.
"Then go tell him."
The smile in his eyes made Thales very uncomfortable.
"Tell him that the Duke of South Coast is not on good terms with you. When everyone loves you, fawns over you, and expects you … he dares to speak rudely and threaten you maliciously.
"Look at your father, look at our king, who loves his people like his own children. Is he inclined to stand up for his son to achieve you, love you, and guide you?
"Or is he more willing to see me as a good axe in this kingdom to beat you, threaten you, and suppress you?"
The chill in Thales' heart reached its peak.
It did not diminish at all.
It was an unbearable bone-chilling chill after his mask and disguise, armor and clothes were completely torn apart.
"As I said, this has nothing to do with our family. There is no need to get involved." Zayen shook his head gently.
"But you insist on being stubborn and stubborn."
Thales looked at him sharply.
"Then what can you do?"
The Duke of Star Lake gritted his teeth, but he knew that this counterattack was futile.
"Send another female vampire to kill me? Kill his heir?
"Let's see how my father will react?"
Zayen responded with a sneer.
"Didn't we try it once?" Zayen Covendier clicked his tongue.
"You're injured, and he benefits — isn't he quite satisfied with that?"
Thales held his breath.
"So, is this a declaration of war?" the prince said through gritted teeth.
Zayen stood up gently, still amiable and friendly.
"No, of course not."
Zayen replied with a beaming face, which then turned into a biting chill.
"Next time.
"And believe me, I can do far more than that."
Thales clenched his fists.
"Then, have a pleasant evening, Your Highness, Duke of Star Lake."
The Duke of Iris Flowers, Zayen Covendier bowed gracefully and made his final farewell sarcastically.
"May you rather die because of your friends …
"Than perish because of your enemies."
Thales looked at Zayen's receding figure and tried to return to being the qualified master of Mindis Hall.
But he found that it was not that easy.
Zayen Covendier.
What the hell is wrong with this guy?
At the banquet, following King Kessel's departure, elderly people such as Prime Minister Cullen also left. But most of the guests were still present, drinking and laughing without restraint.
Due to the departure of the elders, the banquet hall became even noisier. The laughter and shouts became crazier and more unbridled.
The people from the Flag Bearer Division urged Duke Arunde to leave, but the latter dilly-dallied, obviously not very cooperative.
Most of the Seven Jadestar Attendants remained in place, seemingly determined to show their attitude towards the Duke of Star Lake.
The only thing that made Thales happy was that because the revelry in the banquet hall had reached a new stage, no one came to disturb His Highness.
Mallos finally had a chance to report to him.
"You and Duke Covendier seemed to have a good chat?"
Thales snorted softly and tried to suppress his emotions.
"Very good.
"We're old acquaintances, old friends."
Old enough to explode at the slightest provocation.
Mallos looked at Zayen's receding figure thoughtfully.
"Then, Your Highness, if you have any questions, you might as well consult your police officer friend."
Police officer friend …
Thales was stunned.
"What?"
"You mean — Cohen?"
Mallos nodded.
"The Karabeyan family of Walla Hill has always been a pillar of South Coast. They've been on good terms with the Covendier family of Jade City for generations. I know them very well.
"Especially," Mallos looked at the expressionless Thales, then at the Duke of Iris Flowers in the distance.
"Ease the enmity and mediate the peace.
"Of course, when I said 'consult', I meant to contact Police Officer Cohen Karabeyan's father and consult him again."
'Not that big blockhead.'
'Ease the enmity …'
Thales was shocked.
He quickly pinched his face to make sure he did not show any hatred or anger.
"Is it that obvious?"
"No, you've done very well. You've improved since the last time," Mallos said calmly, confirming that his senses were still sharp.
"It's just that you know, I'm more sensitive to the emotions and atmosphere around me."
Thales sighed.
"Alright, speaking of which … where's the assassin?"
Mallos was silent for a while.
"We're fully prepared and have been waiting for him to reveal himself."
The watchman was still unperturbed, but Thales, who had been with him for a long time, could sense that Mallos was not too happy.
"But, until His Majesty left …"
Mallos said calmly,
"To be honest, if he didn't show up, even I would have started to wonder if I was being overly anxious."
"Oh? That's a rare display of self-awareness, Mallos. "
Both of them turned around at the same time. Vice-captain Vogel walked up with a frown and bowed to Thales.
"Your Highness, although His Majesty has left, I've been instructed to stay with some men until the end of the banquet to ensure your safety."
Thales forced a smile.
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me." Vogel looked at Mallos with displeasure.
"I have to thank someone for his selfless advice and diligence."
Mallos was expressionless.
Both Glover and Doyle returned, but their report was still that everything was normal.
"Maybe he gave up after His Majesty left."
Thales rubbed his forehead tiredly. From Saroma to Zayen, his head was now packed to the brim. He did not feel like talking about the assassin at all.
"It's okay, it's a good thing.
"Or he's still waiting, including for His Majesty to leave." Mallos looked around the banquet, seemingly dissatisfied.
"And now is the perfect time to strike."
Vogel snorted sarcastically through his nose.
Thales could only fake a helpless smile.
"After His Majesty leaves … So you mean, he's here to kill me?
"Or, one of the dukes present?"
Mallos did not answer.
Thales looked forward to it with all his heart.
For example, the one with the surname Covendier?
On the other side, Duke Zayen returned to his seat. He greeted everyone with a warm and amiable smile.
As always, he was impressive.
His old butler, Ashford, poured a glass of wine for his master without a word.
It was Zayen who spoke first.
"Ashford, when you go back, check the library in the house — I mean, the banned books, no matter how old they are."
Ashford nodded expressionlessly.
"What do you want to check?"
"A wizard," Zayen said calmly.
"His name is Hegel."
Ashford frowned slightly but did not say anything.
Wizard.
Magic.
Zayen was secretly disdainful.
Damn the Jadestar Royal Family.
They really dared to teach their children everything.
Zayen thought as he looked at the Duke of Star Lake.
Coincidentally, Thales was also looking at the Duke of Iris Flowers at the same time.
Their gazes met in the air. One was friendly, the other indifferent.
But equally complicated.
Both of them felt suffocated.
As if they had a tacit understanding, they smiled at each other and nodded at the same time.
And that mysterious assassin.
Struck at that moment.
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