It was late at night, and the temperature was getting colder.
In the corridor outside Ballard, the royal guards arranged as few people as possible (for the sake of secrecy) and as many as possible (for the sake of abundance). They formed the most efficient and strictest defense and siege formation, filling every corner within sight.
The guards in the innermost circle maintained absolute silence and concentration as they waited for the enemy to arrive.
They were all experienced and capable elites transferred from the Six Wings. They stared at the door of the Imperial Conference Room as they pressed their hands on their weapons.
It was as if what was locked behind the door was the most mysterious, cruel, and terrifying beast in Renaissance Palace. It was grinding its teeth and claws, growling, and could break through the door at any time to devour people.
But they could not be timid, let alone retreat.
They were the Emperor's Praetorian Guards. They had an oath that they would guard this door until the Emperor's Order reappeared.
Or the Minister would rest.
Lights flickered in the corridor.
As time passed, anxiety spread in the air, and the fingers on the hilt of the swords became tighter and tighter.
But the heavy stone door remained motionless and silent.
In the face of countless increasingly sharp gazes, it was unperturbed. It fulfilled its duty and locked all the beasts behind it.
Just like the past six hundred years.
Six doctors who specialized in trauma first aid, toxicology, and pharmacology were urgently summoned by the court baron and ordered to wait outside. Confused, they were anxious but did not dare to ask questions. They could only force themselves to stay alert in the suffocating atmosphere and tremble in the endless speculation and prayers.
They were also waiting. Behind the third row of guards, a few nobles were calm and collected. They could even pace leisurely and talk in low voices.
But as time passed, their expressions remained the same. It was just that they paced faster and faster, and the intervals between conversations became shorter.
The air was dead, and the palace was dark.
Heralds and trusted servants kept their heads down. They kept appearing from corners, seeping into the crowd and disappearing again and again. They came and went without warning, and their tracks were fleeting. Only the whispers and shadows of ghosts could be heard in the ears of a few people and on the dimly lit walls.
Time was probably still moving forward, but it seemed to be moving slower and slower. It stopped moving forward and admired the changes it brought to its surroundings.
In the silence, the guards had never felt that their breathing was so heavy, to the extent that they could even raise two inches of dust in front of their noses.
They had never realized that their hearing was so sensitive. Just the sound of their bones rubbing against each other was enough to make the muscles of the soldiers two feet away tense up.
And their eyelids were so afraid of loneliness that they would bump up and down every once in a while to greet each other, for fear of being left alone.
As for their hearts, they were so strong and powerful.
As a result, when the heartbeats of hundreds of people in the palace gathered together and became faster and heavier, it felt as if a huge monster known as Renaissance Palace had just woken up from a long slumber and was slowly waking up.
And that stone door, which everyone stared at with rapt attention, was the ferocious eye that was about to open.
This made everyone tremble with fear.
What happened?
What would happen?
What if … what should they do?
Should I swing my sword?
Or should he back off?
The political knowledge gained from years of guarding the palace allowed the royal guards to force themselves to remain calm, but at the same time, they could not help but feel uneasy.
They wanted to turn their heads, look at each other, and exchange their emotions.
At the very least, they could find some comfort in the same doubts. They could get rid of their confusion and loneliness when they were led by their own kind.
But the guards' orders were clear.
"This sword will only be brandished for the Emperor's Edict. It will only be broken for the Emperor's Edict. There is no other use for it."
The habit that was engraved in their bones and formed through countless training sessions made them restrain themselves and remain vigilant.
This made them force themselves to get rid of all distracting thoughts and focus their gazes, which had become a little unfocused because of the long wait. They placed their gazes on the heavy stone door that they had guarded countless times but had never once made them this anxious or nervous …
* Boom! *
Everyone trembled at the same time!
The dark stone door, which seemed as if it would never open again, suddenly cracked open from the center.
* Boom … *
The huge beast opened its eyes.
That was everyone's first thought.
With a mechanical and unpleasant sound of friction, the stone door slowly opened to the two sides like a pitch-black eyelid.
A golden-red brilliance shone from the crack of the door. It was like the brilliance of a lamp, but also like the bright red of blood.
In just a few seconds, the stone door stopped.
It only opened a crack that allowed a single person to pass through. It shone with a golden-red brilliance, just like the half-opened eyes of a beast.
It looked like it was asleep, but not asleep, as if it was not awake.
It was as if the huge beast was immersed in a nightmare.
Cold wind assaulted them from behind the door. The Royal Guards in the first row were extremely vigilant. They took a step back together!
"This door of Renaissance Palace … Hmm, it's quite heavy."
The huge black beast in front of them opened its deep and ominous mouth, and its voice was deep and mocking.
"But it doesn't move."
An even darker black figure peeked out from the narrow beast's eyes. He pressed against the stone door on both sides, panted, and sneered softly.
"What do you think?"
The Royal Guards instinctively stretched out their hands and moved. They unsheathed their weapons and formed a formation!
As he watched this scene, the black figure in the middle of the door was silent for a while before he sighed.
"Alright." The black figure turned his body sideways and squeezed through the narrow crack of the door. "If you don't want to help, then forget it.
I'll … do it myself. "
The black figure gritted his teeth. His face contorted as he forced his way through the crack of Ballard Room's door. Only then did the light illuminate his face. Prince Thales came to the corridor with a pale face and looked at the surging heads in front of him. Everyone looked at him as if they were facing a great enemy.
'Wow.
I'll believe it even if you say that they're here to hunt dragons. '
The exhausted teenager turned his head to look at Ballard Room, then at the Royal Guards in front of him. He felt a little resigned.
He walked out of the treacherous and dangerous hall …
He walked into the heavily guarded encirclement …
'This scene seems familiar?'
After sizing up the prince's body, the guards in the first row only stayed silent for a moment before they pressed their swords together and moved forward!
"Steady!"
Chief Guard Captain Adrian's voice rang. He pushed through the crowd and patted his overly nervous subordinates from time to time to make them relax.
"It's okay. Relax, relax. It's over."
Adrian's voice seemed to have a soothing power. Wherever he went, the blades of the swords would be lowered.
"Your Highness, it's only been fifteen minutes!"
The captain welcomed Thales in a relaxed manner. As he spoke, he looked at Ballard Room through the crack of the door. "I was just about to go in for dessert …"
"There's no need, Lord Adrian. Mealtime is over."
Thales exhaled and placed his hand on Adrian's shoulder without hesitation. He moved sideways and squeezed his way through the stiff postures of the people around him. He squeezed into the Royal Guards' lockdown formation.
Adrian saw the situation through the crack of the door. He frowned and turned his head around.
"Then all of you …"
"Don't worry." Thales waved his hand nonchalantly.
"In case you're curious …"
In the face of the guards who remained vigilant and suspicious, he took a deep breath, placed his palms by his mouth, and roared at the ceiling.
"The … King … is … Not … Dead!"
Thales used the Sin of Hell's River. This time, his voice was like thunder, and it could be heard clearly in the entire corridor.
The lights flashed, and there was a commotion in the crowd.
Thales patted the two Royal Guards in front of him, who looked shocked. He pushed them away tiredly, and did not forget to add something that made the people around him change their expressions again.
"He's not dead yet."
Adrian frowned. He glanced at Thales' back, but still turned his head around. He signaled his subordinates to open the stone door and enter Ballard Room to ask for the king's permission.
"Your Majesty …"
On the other side, Thales squeezed past the surprised or nervous people. He did not care whether they were servants, doctors, guards, or guards.
He said loudly without any scruples, "If you're waiting for the king to give the order to capture or release me, don't even think about it!
He doesn't dare to capture me, because I have something on him! "
The crowd's surprise and commotion grew louder.
"He can't release me, either, because he's the king."
Thales squeezed past the third row of guards, and was gratified to see that they had begun to consciously make way for him.
"So, please, everyone, be kind and understand the king's difficulties!"
"Just … pretend that you didn't see me?"
The guards were in disbelief. They either exchanged glances or asked for help from their superiors. But the Chief Guard Captain was still in Ballard Room, and their efforts were naturally futile.
"Excuse me, excuse me!"
Thales walked forward under countless people's surprised and wary gazes. As he cleared the clouds and saw the sun, he spoke listlessly.
"The event is over. I have to catch the subway home. I still have to go to school and work tomorrow …"
But just as he was lamenting why this group of sweaty and smelly men did not know how to make way for him, Adrian walked out of Ballard Room and solemnly ordered,
"Royal Guards, everyone present today, report to your immediate superiors. Return to your posts and stay overnight to work overtime!"
The guards were stunned, and there was another wave of commotion.
Adrian glanced at Thales from afar and said with a complicated expression,
"We still have … paperwork."
Thales watched with satisfaction as the guards who filled the corridor finally dispersed. Many of them could not help but look at Thales before they left. Their gazes were as if they were looking at a monster, and their gazes were filled with surprise, wariness, and doubt.
"Your Highness, I'm glad you're safe."
Thales stopped in his tracks and looked at the nobles in luxurious clothes in front of him.
"Sir Cullen, Prime Minister," the prince heaved a long sigh as he looked at the old duke, who was smiling from ear to ear, and the ministers around him, who had complicated expressions on their faces and were hesitant to speak.
"And you, Advisor Solder, Chief Kirkirk, Viscount Kenney …"
"Have you been standing guard here?"
"Of course not!"
Prime Minister Cullen looked elated. He happily patted his bulging belly.
"I just came after eating!"
("I wanted to slip away, but this bunch … wouldn't let me …" — Kirkirk, who was muttering in frustration.)
"After all …"
The prime minister rolled his eyes and gestured towards Ballard Room.
"The meeting isn't over yet."
Thales nodded. His gaze swept past the prime minister to the other ministers behind him.
He noticed that Gilbert was not among them.
"So, it's over now," the teenager said calmly.
But Advisor Solder, who had been watching him, had the wrong impression:
The prince's words left no room for doubt.
"Your Highness," Kenney, the Minister of Trade who had been watching Ballard Room hesitantly said, "You and His Majesty, he …"
"Nothing. I got bored, so I picked a fight with him," Thales said nonchalantly, his face beaming.
"That's all."
'Got bored, so I picked a fight with him …'
The ministers looked at each other and saw the confusion in each other's eyes.
"About what?"
Viscount Kenney, the Minister of Trade, pressed.
"Your marriage?"
Thales snorted softly.
"Yes, I guess he won't force me to marry someone I don't like anymore."
Military Advisor Solder grew even more puzzled at these words. Compared to that morning, this teenager who had just walked out of Ballard Room felt unfamiliar to him.
Apart from those who stayed behind to keep watch, the surrounding royal guards gradually dispersed, casting glances at this group of central high-ranking officials from time to time.
"I see," Viscount Kenney persisted.
"Then may I be so bold as to ask, the candidate you rejected, which family's young mistress is from?"
Thales exhaled, feeling inexplicably irritated.
"Who cares whose family it is." Fortunately, the smiling Duke Cullen interjected in time and personally took over the topic that the already exhausted Thales was extremely annoyed about.
"Then I'm sure you won't mind considering my granddaughters?"
Thales smiled perfunctorily. Seeing that most of the people around him had dispersed, he did not intend to waste any more time.
"His Majesty has said that today's Imperial Conference shall end here. If it's time to disperse, so be it."
As soon as he said this, everyone was surprised.
"That's great!"
The drowsy Kirkirk suddenly opened his eyes. He snapped his fingers happily and said gratefully, "I knew it!"
Advisor Solder frowned.
"But we still have business —"
"I know," Thales interrupted him with a wave of his hand and said impatiently,
"There's still business to discuss, right?"
Thales looked towards Ballard Room, at the faintly discernible figure, and sneered.
"About substitute service, tax payment, Western Desert, the expansion of the regular army, the reduction of conscripts, and so on …"
He spoke carelessly and without bothering to conceal his volume. This caused the expressions of all the officials, including Solder, to change drastically!
"Your Highness, be careful with your words!"
The military advisor interrupted Thales and looked around nervously.
"This is, this is …"
Thales slapped his forehead, as if suddenly enlightened.
"Oh, right, this is a secret of the kingdom." The prince turned his head lazily and said loudly to the few royal guards who were still present,
"That's a secret of the kingdom. Everyone, you didn't hear anything! Didn't hear anything! Did you hear anything? You didn't hear anything! "
The guards turned around in bewilderment, not understanding what was going on.
Aware of the pros and cons, the officials looked at each other with ashen faces.
Solder was even more astonished.
"Aiyaya, you might not believe this," Prime Minister Cullen interrupted the conversation at the right time. He was in high spirits.
"This time, the chef from Renaissance Palace has surprisingly made a new dish!"
After working hard for so long, Thales, who just wanted to find a flat ground to lie down on, no longer wanted to feign civility with him.
He faked a smile and said, "Very well, good night."
Without looking at the Duke of Eastern Sea's expression, he turned and left.
"No, the meeting is not over." Behind him, Advisor Solder tried his best to stop the officials who were about to leave.
"Everyone, with all due respect, today's Imperial Conference is of utmost importance. The kingdom is now at a critical juncture. The enemy has already struck, we have to respond …"
Thales stopped in his tracks.
"Oh, he also wanted me to bring a message to you, my lords."
Thales turned around and pointed his thumb in the direction of Ballard Room. He was all smiles.
"The Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department acted in time.
"That letter … is safe."
As soon as he said this, the officials were taken aback.
"Letter?" Viscount Kenney recalled and asked suspiciously.
"Oh, you mean the letter that just arrived today —"
Advisor Solder said in surprise, "An-it's safe?"
"What do you mean?"
The Chief of Finance, Kirkirk, rolled his eyes and said without hesitation:
"You mean, the person who deliberately leaked Covendier's letter has been caught?"
The officials shuddered in unison.
"Kirkirk!"
"Sorry, I spoke too quickly," Kirkirk said nonchalantly as he turned around, "But this person from the Secret Intelligence Department said they couldn't …"
The chief's expression changed. He turned around and looked around.
"That's strange, where's that Scarface? I remember he was here just a moment ago! Where is he? "
"The letter has been recovered. That means," Viscount Kenney said solemnly,
"We still have room to maneuver, as long as we pretend that letter doesn't exist?"
Thales watched the officials go back and forth with cold eyes.
It was strange.
This morning, he had never felt this way when he was listening to the briefing in the Imperial Conference Room.
It was strange, cold, indifferent, and boring, as if there was a thick curtain separating them …
Interest in chess.
Yes, interest in chess.
Just like … the feeling when he used his mystic energy.
Thales' heart sank.
Amidst the bustling debate among the officials, Duke Cullen was the only one who stayed out of it. He smiled with narrowed eyes.
"Ah, that's good.
"Given the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department's capabilities, they naturally won't tolerate any mischief."
Advisor Solder gritted his teeth in disbelief and was about to walk towards Ballard Room.
"No, that's impossible. I'm going to see His Majesty …"
But Thales raised his arm gently and blocked his way.
"Please don't, Sir Solder.
"I tore that letter in front of him just ten minutes ago," the prince said casually.
"His Majesty is in a fit of anger right now."
Thales' words, which were as light as a mosquito, silenced all the ministers.
They looked at the young man in surprise.
"What?"
Solder turned around in shock and disbelief.
"Letter, y-you?"
Thales lowered his arm and nodded expressionlessly.
"Believe me, you don't want to see him now, much less mention this to him."
Solder's breathing quickened and his face flushed. He was silent for a second, then rushed towards Thales.
"You —"
"Soldiers! Take it easy! Take it easy! " Kirkirk, who had a hunch, grabbed Solder's waist from the side and used all his strength to stop him from moving forward, "Calm down, that's the prince, the prince! Aiya, it doesn't matter if the letter is gone, we're not going to use it anyway. Besides, it's not like it was leaked, we don't have to worry, what's the rush … "
The other officials came to their senses and hurriedly surrounded Solder to dissuade him.
Thales watched the scene coldly.
The prime minister smiled and hummed a tune.
But Advisor Solder was still struggling and extremely angry.
"No, you don't understand, you don't understand! Do you know that, that is — "
"That's right," Thales replied calmly.
"That was paid for with my life — Covendier's letter of surrender."
Solder was taken aback and stopped.
"Oh, by the way, the next time you want to mobilize the regular army, or check other people's accounts, or something like that," Thales turned around slowly and smiled at the military advisor and the Chief of Finance, who were hugging each other.
"Tell me first, okay?"
He spread his hands helplessly.
"Otherwise, I'll have to do it again."
The military advisor choked, closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.
The officials looked at each other.
"Aiya, be more careful. Look, at your age, you're prone to diarrhea after eating a new dish," the Duke of Eastern Sea reached out to comfort him.
"Duke Thales, Your Highness," Solder finally calmed down. He looked puzzled and pained.
"What happened?"
Thales shrugged.
"Nothing much, His Majesty changed his mind, that's all."
"But it shouldn't be like this," Solder gritted his teeth.
"What did you do in the middle?"
'What did I do?'
Thales' gaze froze.
"I just saved your lives."
He looked at every official in front of him, his expression calm and unperturbed.
"You're welcome, my lords."
Solder looked at him in disbelief, while Qiu Kirk frowned deeply. Some did not understand, while others were deep in thought.
Prime Minister Cullen, however, laughed. His plump abdomen dropped and he bowed.
"I am eternally grateful for your saving grace."
Thales ignored him.
"And the right question should be, Sir Solder." The prince looked indifferently at the trembling military advisor.
"You and His Majesty, and perhaps that Scarface.
"What did you do?"
With that, Thales did not linger any longer and left.
Behind him, Solder stared at Thales' back with a solemn gaze.
But as Thales walked along the brightly lit corridor, his thoughts drifted back to what had happened earlier.
— —
"I know what you want to do."
The king's voice rang out in Ballard Room. It was less sharp than before, but more hoarse and deep.
"You want to be the kingdom's chariot."
King Kessel said calmly,
"Restrain the galloping warhorse, and fasten the heavy chariot."
Warhorse, chariot.
Standing in front of the council table, Thales was dazed for a moment.
"A fierce horse will not yield to an iron whip, and the driver will not give up whipping."
"You think you're protecting the chariot." The king shook his head.
"But by doing so, you're slowing down the warhorse and interfering with the chariot."
So, he knew.
Thales told himself.
Of course, he knew.
He always knew.
He just … didn't care.
"As you say, Your Majesty," Thales composed himself and slowly sat down.
"I wander on the top of a cliff, but dream of the heavens."
The Iron Hand King snorted with a half-smile.
"This road is treacherous. If you take the wrong step …"
"I understand."
Thales quickly replied to him, "Yes.
"If people find out that I'm the king's spy, I will be regarded by thousands of vassals as a traitor to the noble camp. I will be condemned by thousands and despised by tens of thousands."
The king nodded with a solemn expression.
"They will hate you more than they hate me."
Thales rubbed his spoon and was silent for a moment.
"Then we better not mess up."
The king shook his head slowly.
"Messing up is just the best outcome.
"But if you act too well, hide your abilities, convince everyone, and successfully become the savior of the vassals, the hope of the vassals …"
King Kessel sized Thales up. His tone was cold.
"Those who are deceived by you and support you will gather into a rolling wave. They will use their reputation, stance, camp, interests, connections, situation, and everything else to force you to move forward. You will not be allowed to defend yourself, you will not be able to control it, and you will not be allowed to regret it.
"They will love you more than they hate me."
Thales' smile slowly disappeared.
The king's words became flat.
"When that time comes, you will have no choice. Even if you want to get off the chariot halfway, it will be too late."
Fakenhaz's words rang in his ears again.
"You have to know that when your vassals and subordinates are enraged and the will of the people is high, you will have no other choice but to go with the flow."
Thales wanted to say something but stopped.
"And on the other hand …"
King Kessel looked at the door with a complicated expression.
"When you raise the war flag of rebellion against royal power, far more than just the feudal lords will unite.
"Under Renaissance Palace, the growing king's partisans, the ambitious new nobles, the opportunists who change their direction when the wind blows, and the people who once showed goodwill to you and treated you with friendliness will treat you as their political enemy and an unfilial son. In fact, they will not hesitate to make things difficult for you so that they can raise their status."
Thales gritted his teeth.
Gilbert, Putray, Solder, Kirkirk, Viscount Kenney … Many faces flashed before Thales' eyes.
There were even a few seconds when the purple mask flashed before his eyes.
"From that moment on, the title of heir will no longer protect you. On the contrary, it will magnify the fear and scrutiny you face, and increase the price and pain you have to pay — in the eyes of many, the day of the new king's coronation will be the day of disaster."
King Kessel narrowed his eyes.
"They will hate you more than they love me."
Thales did not speak.
He looked around and exhaled heavily.
The night breeze caressed the windowsill. Their figures intertwined with the lights.
Ballard Room was cold and quiet at night. The portraits of several famous ministers of the past on the wall — "Wise Minister" Halva, "Oracle" London, "Hyena" Amber Tabark, "Lumberjack" Parramatta — silently watched the conversation between the father and son, flickering in the light.
This made Thales ponder: In history, were the predecessors who guided the country in this meeting room, and the decisions they made, as cold and cruel as this heavy palace?
"Then I can only pray," Thales said absentmindedly.
King Kessel did not say a word and only stared at the prince quietly.
A few seconds later, Thales looked back at the king with a tranquil smile, "Pray that they …
"Are not true love?"
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