Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83 - Cry-Baby And Ugly-Faced Woman
Chapter 84 - The Situation Took A Turn For The Worst
Chapter 85 - The Blood Clan’S True Form (One)
Chapter 86 - Blood Clan'S True Form (Two)
Chapter 87 - Your Blood Is Quite Nutritious
Chapter 88 - Awakening (One)
Chapter 89 - Awakening (Two)
Chapter 90 - Awakening (Three)
Chapter 91 - Return
Chapter 92 - Sin Of Hell’S River
Chapter 93 - Don’T Do It, It’Ll Hurt
Chapter 94 - All The Blood In This World Belongs To Me
Chapter 95 - The Charm Of That Shield
Chapter 96 - I Definitely Will Not Let You Suffer
Chapter 97 - Our Inland Sea
Chapter 98 - Arracca Murkh
Chapter 99 - Uncertain Fate
Chapter 100 - Ramon (One)
Chapter 101 - Ramon (Two)
Chapter 102 - Eckstedt’S Welcoming Ceremony
Chapter 103 - Gamble (One)
Chapter 104 - Gamble (Two)
Chapter 105 - The Kingdom’S Wrath
Chapter 106 - The Failed Bet
Chapter 107 - Mystic Gun
Chapter 108 - Chapman Lampard
Chapter 109 - Remnants Of Magic
Chapter 110 - Paid Homage
Chapter 111 - Kaslan’S Tavern
Chapter 112
Chapter 113 - The Intersection Of Fate
Chapter 114 - The People In Hell (One)
Chapter 115 - The People In Hell (Two)
Chapter 116
Chapter 117 - Star Killer
Chapter 118 - The Unexpected Guests
Chapter 119 - A Marquis From Camus
Chapter 120 - Bait
Chapter 121 - Clue
Chapter 122 - Until Dawn Came (One)
Chapter 123 - Until Dawn Came (Two)
Chapter 124 - Queen Of The Sky
Chapter 125 - The Female Warrior
Chapter 126 - Heroic Spirit Palace
Chapter 127 - The Born King (One)
Chapter 128 - The Born King (Two)
Chapter 129 - A Duel
Chapter 130 - The King And His Archdukes
Chapter 131 - The Strange Swordsman
Chapter 132 - Who Are You?
Chapter 133 - Hunt And Chase
Chapter 134 - Little Rascal And Alex (One)
Chapter 135 - Little Rascal And Alex (Two)
Chapter 136 - Stabs
Chapter 137 - Kidnapping The Archduke?
Chapter 138 - Numb Hands
Chapter 139 - A Unique Welcome Banquet
Chapter 140 - The Red Witch
Chapter 141 - Reunion
Chapter 142 - Who’S There (One)
Chapter 143 - Who’S There (Two)
Chapter 144 - The Sword Of Baptism’S Death
Chapter 145 - The Wait
Chapter 146 - The Culprit
Chapter 147 - The Northland Road
Chapter 148
Chapter 149 - Not Even Worth Half A Penny!
Chapter 150 - The Beloved Former King, Nuven
Chapter 151 - Veteran
Chapter 152 - Shadow
Chapter 153 - Have A Drink
Chapter 154 - The Secret Of ‘Triumph’
Chapter 155 - A Bargaining Chip You Cannot Refuse
Chapter 156 - Horrifying
Chapter 157 - The Death Of Soria
Chapter 158 - Betrayal
Chapter 159 - The Fateful Night
Chapter 160 - The Invitation
Chapter 161 - The First Mystic Declaration
Chapter 162 - Letting Go Of A Suspicion
Chapter 163 - Monster And Monster
Chapter 164 - Chaos Begins
Chapter 165 - Just Speak
Chapter 166 - Surprise
Chapter 167 - Flee
Chapter 168 - The Tragic End Of Weaklings
Chapter 169 - Air And Blood
Chapter 170 - The Desperate Dash
Chapter 171 - The Outcome Of The Civil War
Chapter 172 - Elimination
Chapter 173 - The Blade Of Purification
Chapter 174 - The Truth About Elimination
Chapter 175 - Same Kind (One)
Chapter 176 - Same Kind (Two)
Chapter 177 - Sudden Entrance Into The Battlefield!
Chapter 178 - True Form
Chapter 179 - Silence And Darkness
Chapter 180 - Knocking On The Door
Chapter 181 - Phantom
Chapter 182 - A Gentle Kiss
Chapter 183 - The Cost Of Victory
Chapter 184 - The Paradoxical Assassin
Chapter 185 - Thunder Rumbles In Winter
Chapter 186 - End Of Arc: A Good Name
Chapter 187 - The Night Ends, The Day Breaks
Chapter 188 - It Is You
Chapter 189 - Symphony Of Blood (One)
Chapter 190 - Symphony Of Blood (Part Two)
Chapter 191 - Stop Meddling Into The Matters Of Elders
Chapter 192 - Six-Fifty
Chapter 193 - Choose Who You Want To Become
Chapter 194 - Ice-Cold
Chapter 195 - Spirit Of The Contract
Chapter 196 - The Manipulator (One)
Chapter 197 - The Manipulator (Two)
Chapter 198 - Price
Chapter 199
Chapter 200 - Encounter
Chapter 201 - The Prince’S End
Chapter 202 - Really Bad Luck (One)
Chapter 203 - Really Bad Luck (Two)
Chapter 204 - Understanding
Chapter 205 - Execute On The Spot
Chapter 206 - Guest From Barren Bone
Chapter 207 - The Prince’S Doubts
Chapter 208 - The Black Prophet From The Other Side
Chapter 209 - Code Name: Dragon’S Blood
Chapter 210 - The Importance Of Dragon’S Blood
Chapter 211 - A Gamble In The Dark (One)
Chapter 212 - A Gamble In The Dark (Two)
Chapter 213 - The Curse Of The Witch
Chapter 214 - The Scorching Blade
Chapter 215 - Stall
Chapter 216 - The Latecomer
Chapter 217 - A Very Big Problem
Chapter 218 - The Blade And The Wing
Chapter 219 - Trust And Loyalty
Chapter 220 - Nicholas’ Bargaining Chip
Chapter 221 - Shelter
Chapter 222 - A Critical Decision
Chapter 223 - Failure
Chapter 224 - Little Rascal’S ‘Consolation’
Chapter 225 - Save This Country
Chapter 226 - King Slayer
Chapter 227 - Creating Trouble For Ourselves
Chapter 228 - The Strongest Chess Piece (One)
Chapter 229 - The Strongest Chess Piece (Two)
Chapter 230 - The Strongest Chess Piece. (Three)
Chapter 231 - Lampard’S Plan
Chapter 232 - The Archduke’S Fight
Chapter 233 - It Has Been A Long Time
Chapter 234 - A Great Threat
Chapter 235 - Contention
Chapter 236 - The Inextinguishable Starlight
Chapter 237 - The Virtuous King
Chapter 238 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (One)
Chapter 239 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (Two)
Chapter 240 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (Three)
Chapter 241 - Genuine Patrols
Chapter 242
Chapter 243 - Seize Control
Chapter 244 - Chad Vlad
Chapter 245 - Severing Souls With A Slash!
Chapter 246 - A Game Of Chess
Chapter 247 - A Chance Encounter
Chapter 248 - I Am Very Honored
Chapter 249 - When Swords Cross (One)
Chapter 250 - When Swords Cross (Two)
Chapter 251 - Arduous
Chapter 252 - I Am So Relieved
Chapter 253 - I Can Help You
Chapter 254 - The Black Knight’S Death
Chapter 255 - Changing Hands
Chapter 256 - Counter-Attack
Chapter 257 - Check
Chapter 258 - Checkmate
Chapter 259 - A Speculation
Chapter 260 - The Reason For Battle (One)
Chapter 261 - The Reason For Battle (Two)
Chapter 262 - Twist Of Fate
Chapter 263 - A Child Who’S Not Able To Drink Alcohol
Chapter 264 - You Northland Barbarians!
Chapter 265 - Two Minutes
Chapter 266 - What A Shame (One)
Chapter 267 - What A Shame (Two)
Chapter 268 - We Won
Chapter 269 - The Archduchess
Chapter 270 - The Blood-Stained Crown
Chapter 271 - The Day Before The Bitter Cold Winter
Chapter 272 - Yc
Chapter 273 - End Of Arc: The Destiny They Missed
Chapter 274 - The Quiet Prince
Chapter 275 - A Game Of Chess (One)
Chapter 276 - A Game Of Chess (Two)
Chapter 277 - First Lesson
Chapter 278 - The Truth Brothers
Chapter 279 - Traitors
Chapter 280 - Target
Chapter 281 - An Awkward Dinner
Chapter 282 - Upset
Chapter 283 - Riot
Chapter 284 - The Familiar Guest
Chapter 285 - The Honor And Humiliation Of The Great Dragon (One)
Chapter 286
Chapter 287 - The Mystery About Putray
Chapter 288 - The Dragon’S Blood Has Yet To Dry
Chapter 289 - Dragon Breaker (One)
Chapter 290 - Dragon Breaker (Two)
Chapter 291 - Meryl Hicks
Chapter 292 - The Boundaries Of Governance (One)
Chapter 293 - The Boundaries Of Governance (Two)
Chapter 294 - What Is Magic?
Chapter 295 - An Unforeseen Invitation
Chapter 296 - The Game In The Carriage
Chapter 297 - The Former King’S “Present”
Chapter 298 - The Prince’S Shackles
Chapter 299 - Friend And Foe
Chapter 300 - Victory And Defeat
Chapter 301 - A Duel
Chapter 302 - Not Too Bad?
Chapter 303 - Leave
Chapter 304 - A Storm Is Coming
Chapter 305 - The Creation Of The Two Empresses
Chapter 306 - Raven Of Death
Chapter 307 - Ian The Nuisance
Chapter 308 - Collusion
Chapter 309 - The Writers Of Legend (One)
Chapter 310 - The Writers Of Legend (Two)
Chapter 311 - The Day Of The State Affairs Hearing
Chapter 312 - The Hatred For Stealing His Sister
Chapter 313 - The Beginning
Chapter 314 - For Dragon Clouds City
Chapter 315 - The Archduchess And Her Vassals
Chapter 316 - Plan
Chapter 317 - A Romantic Story
Chapter 318 - Are All Of You Coming?
Chapter 319 - Not According To Plan
Chapter 320 - Releasing In “Installments”
Chapter 321 - The Price Of Saying “No”
Chapter 322 - The Moral Of The Story
Chapter 323 - Good Morning
Chapter 324 - Returning The Favor
Chapter 325 - Send Reinforcements
Chapter 326 - Five Archdukes
Chapter 327 - The Prince’S Whereabouts
Chapter 328 - Just Like Chapman Lampard
Chapter 329 - The Final Journey
Chapter 330 - Assassinating Lampard?
Chapter 331 - Bumping Into A Ghost
Chapter 332 - Headquarters
Chapter 333 - Smooth-Sailing
Chapter 334
Chapter 335 - The Confusion While Going Back Home
Chapter 336 - The Veteran On The Wheelchair
Chapter 337 - Double The Amount?
Chapter 338 - The Point Of Contact
Chapter 339 - His/Her Eyes
Chapter 340 - The Magical Therren
Chapter 341 - You Son Of A *Censored*
Chapter 342 - Which Will You Choose?
Chapter 343 - Exterminate Them All
Chapter 344 - Black Track
Chapter 345 - Join Us
Chapter 346 - Silver Shadow
Chapter 347 - You Will Fail In The End
Chapter 348 - You Fell Into The Trap, Eh?
Chapter 349 - The War Of The Deceased Souls
Chapter 350 - Never Lost
Chapter 351 - The Pulse Of The Ground
Chapter 352 - God Knows
Chapter 353 - The First Rule
Chapter 354 - Pursuers
Chapter 355 - The Hardest Fight
Chapter 356 - Unique Only To One
Chapter 357 - Just Die Here
Chapter 358 - The Three-Second Fight
Chapter 359 - Surpassed Kaslan
Chapter 360 - The Raven And The Snow Blade (One)
Chapter 361 - The Raven And The Snow Blade (Two)
Chapter 362 - The Black Raven’S Eyes
Chapter 363 - Who Does Your Loyalty Belong To?
Chapter 364 - Turning Against One Another
Chapter 365 - Saber Or Crossbow?
Chapter 366 - Prince In The Desert
Chapter 367 - Sellsword
Chapter 368 - Dante’S Greatsword
Chapter 369 - Desert Threat
Chapter 370 - There’S Someone
Chapter 371 - Barren Bone People
Chapter 372 - Bloody Thorn Lizard
Chapter 373 - Young Cub
Chapter 374 - Foreign Blood
Chapter 375 - Coming-Of-Age Ceremony
Chapter 376 - Flag
Chapter 377 - The Destructive Army
Chapter 378 - Freaks
Chapter 379 - Welcome To Constellation (One)
Chapter 380 - Welcome To Constellation (Two)
Chapter 381 - Ghost Prince
Chapter 382 - My Home (One)
Chapter 383 - My Home (Two)
Chapter 384 - Age Of Mercenaries
Chapter 385 - Confrontation And Stalemate
Chapter 386 - Prince Versus Prince
Chapter 387 - So Many Tricks
Chapter 388 - You Have To Laugh
Chapter 389 - Shackles Of Power
Chapter 390 - Perhaps I Have
Chapter 391 - Happily Ever After
Chapter 392 - Technical Skill
Chapter 393 - Intention
Chapter 394 - New Guest
Chapter 395 - Shadows And Swords
Chapter 396 - The Dark Side
Chapter 397 - Emergency Mission
Chapter 398 - Alliance Of Traitors
Chapter 399 - The Mole
Chapter 400 - As Bad As Can Be
Chapter 401 - Affectionate And United
Chapter 402 - F*Ck You
Chapter 403 - H.N. Jadestar
Chapter 404 - Stupid Idea
Chapter 405 - Sinner
Chapter 406 - The Intruders
Chapter 407 - Head Towards Omniscience
Chapter 408 - Black Prison
Chapter 409 - Behind The Iron Curtain
Chapter 410 - Hallucination
Chapter 411 - Seven
Chapter 412 - People Whom History Has Forgotten
Chapter 413 - The Mourning Of The Guards
Chapter 414 - Where Is He?
Chapter 415 - Fall Out
Chapter 416 - Disaster Sword’S Battle
Chapter 417 - The Knight Of Judgment
Chapter 418 - A Different World
Chapter 419 - The Queen’S Dowry
Chapter 420 - The Greatest King
Chapter 421 - Knew Clearly
Chapter 422 - Nameless
Chapter 423 - Awaken
Chapter 424 - Loyalty
Chapter 425 - Peer
Chapter 426 - He Was Probably Old
Chapter 427 - A Stalemate
Chapter 428 - Dusk
Chapter 429 - The Man At The Proximal World
Chapter 430 - The Second Declaration Among Mystics
Chapter 431 - The Anchor Point
Chapter 432 - Taurus Mill
Chapter 433 - Decision
Chapter 434 - Correcting The Mistake
Chapter 435 - Malicious Flower, Malicious Fruit
Chapter 436 - Moriah Returns
Chapter 437 - Old Self
Chapter 438 - The Prince Is Not Here
Chapter 439 - Scheme Between The Thief And Bandit
Chapter 440 - Seven To Three
Chapter 441 - Missing One
Chapter 442 - Quick Wit
Chapter 443 - Not Just You
Chapter 444 - Someone Needs An Answer
Chapter 445 - A Forbidden Name
Chapter 446 - Three Calamity Allies
Chapter 447 - Enemy Of The World
Chapter 448 - 1 Vs 8
Chapter 449 - Chaos Of Armies
Chapter 450 - Two Hands
Chapter 451 - Xx Films
Chapter 452 - Fratricide
Chapter 453 - It Was Not A Coincidence
Chapter 454 - More Than Half
Chapter 455 - I Hated Him
Chapter 456 - Nothing At All
Chapter 457 - The Person Who Supported Him
Chapter 458 - Where The Sun Does Not Shine (One)
Chapter 459 - Where The Sun Does Not Shine (Two)
Chapter 460 - Rebirth (One)
Chapter 461 - Rebirth (Two)
Chapter 462 - Rebirth (Three)
Chapter 463 - Rebirth (Four)
Chapter 464 - Rebirth (Five)
Chapter 465 - Truth Swords
Chapter 466 - Beheaded
Chapter 467 - Revealed In Flames
Chapter 468 - The Silent Demon
Chapter 469 - So Naïve That You Are Adorable
Chapter 470 - The Fate Twins
Chapter 471 - The True Essence Of The Power Of Eradication
Chapter 472 - Leaving The Prison
Chapter 473 - I Am Not A Devil, After All
Chapter 474 - Much… Higher
Chapter 475 - The Warden
Chapter 476 - Life, Safety And Freedom
Chapter 477 - Something Lighter
Chapter 478 - Get Me Something To Eat And Drink
Chapter 479 - Exclusive Possession
Chapter 480 - Kill Them
Chapter 481 - A Different Way Of Living
Chapter 482 - Get Yourself A Girlfriend
Chapter 483 - Make Me Even More… Excited
Chapter 484 - You Are Good-Looking
Chapter 485 - Too High
Chapter 486 - You Are Good-Looking
Chapter 487 - Too High
Chapter 488 - That Night
Chapter 489 - Usurp Power
Chapter 490 - Do Something
Chapter 491 - Power Comes From Violence (One)
Chapter 492 - Power Comes From Violence (Two)
Chapter 493 - The Third Party
Chapter 494 - Destiny Is Like A Poem
Chapter 495 - Raven Leader
Chapter 496 - Never
Chapter 497 - His Majesty’S Blessing
Chapter 498 - Black Lion
Chapter 499 - I Have Come In Peace
Chapter 500 - End Of Arc: Duke
Chapter 501 - Everything Will Be Better
Chapter 502 - Six Divisions And Seven Attendants
Chapter 503 - Divided Western Desert
Chapter 504 - Only One Day Left
Chapter 505 - Protection
Chapter 506 - This Is Just The Beginning
Chapter 507 - Hometown
Chapter 508 - A Small Spark
Chapter 509 - Anxious
Chapter 510 - Fifteen Minutes
Chapter 511 - King In The Mist
Chapter 512 - Crazy
Chapter 513 - A Small Favor
Chapter 514 - Like A Fleeting Cloud
Chapter 515 - Timetable
Chapter 516 - Coincidence?
Chapter 517 - Went To High School
Chapter 518 - Discovered?
Chapter 519 - Let’S Fight
Chapter 520 - Not Just The Power Of Eradication
Chapter 521 - World Class Battle Worthy Of Being Written In Historical Poems
Chapter 522 - Continuous Fights
Chapter 523 - Mutant
Chapter 524 - Self-Reliant
Chapter 525 - Lustful Woman
Chapter 526 - Knowledge Of People
Chapter 527 - Holiness Exorcism
Chapter 528 - Fight Between The Eldest And Youngest
Chapter 529 - Privacy
Chapter 530 - Alien Star
Chapter 531 - Guest
Chapter 532 - The Young Kingdom
Chapter 533 - Calm On Iron Spikes
Chapter 534 - Sorry To Keep You Waiting
Chapter 535 - Polaris
Chapter 536 - Times Have Changed
Chapter 537 - Pretty Boy
Chapter 538 - Magnificent Scene Of Hell
Chapter 539 - Side Story 7: Joint Council
Chapter 540 - Never Kneel
Chapter 541 - A Piece Of Cake
Chapter 542 - Merciless
Chapter 543 - That Gaze
Chapter 544 - Watchmen’S Code
Chapter 545 - The End Of It
Chapter 546 - To Not Perish As Foes (One)
Chapter 547 - To Not Perish As Foes (Two)
Chapter 548 - To Not Perish As Foes (Three)
Chapter 549 - To Duke Thales
Chapter 550 - What Rationality
Chapter 551 - Better
Chapter 552 - Sacrificing A Pawn (One)
Chapter 553 - Sacrificing A Pawn (Two)
Chapter 554 - Sacrificing A Pawn (Three)
Chapter 555 - Unfulfilled
Chapter 556 - Chess Player
Chapter 557 - Relieved
Chapter 558 - Punishment
Chapter 559 - Eight Arteries
Chapter 560 - Imperial Style
Chapter 561 - Cannot Escape The Sheath
Chapter 562 - Want Everything
Chapter 563 - Cause And Effect
Chapter 564 - Blazing Blood
Chapter 565 - Of Course—Not
Chapter 566 - Crown Jewel Of The Kingdom
Chapter 567 - Head Over Heels
Chapter 568 - As Truthful As Possible
Chapter 569 - Hand In Marriage
Chapter 570 - What Do I Need You For
Chapter 571 - Defects
Chapter 572 - Heart Of The Guards
Chapter 573 - You’Re A Real Dog
Chapter 574 - Antecessors
Chapter 575 - The Years Have Caught On To Me
Chapter 576 - Shooting Yourself In The Foot
Chapter 577 - Lie
Chapter 578 - The Wine Merchant
Chapter 579 - Damn The Prince
Chapter 580 - The Prince Likes Them
Categories Genre: Action, All, Drama, Fantasy, Mature, Ongoing, Psychological, Seinen, Tragedy Status: Ongoing Alternative names: Wang Guo Xue Mai, 王国血脉, ______
Total Chapters in book: 580
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 580 Page No. 579 Page No. 578 Page No. 577 Page No. 576 Page No. 575 Page No. 574 Page No. 573 Page No. 572 Page No. 571 Page No. 570 Chapter 546 - To Not Perish As Foes (One)
Chapter 546: To Not Perish as Foes (One)
Translator:
EndlessFantasy Translation
Editor:
EndlessFantasy Translation
Indeed. It had been a long, long time since Thales thought about this name.
Serena Corleone.
He even had to admit that many times he deliberately locked it in the depths of his memory.
Was unwilling to think about it, had detested thinking about it.
But when he did think about it again, he could still feel the uneasiness that originated from the depths of his heart.
‘Betrayal is the true essence of an alliance.’
As the memory became clearer, and just as that face was about to reappear in his mind, Thales looked up abruptly and focused his attention directly in front of him.
“What do you want?” The prince looked at Zayen skeptically. “Why did you mention her?”
In the middle of the hall, the knighting ceremony was still underway. From time to time, a noble would walk up the steps and kneel before the king’s seat.
The Duke of Iris Flowers smiled slightly and raised his glass to the young man. “This, Your Highness, you can take it as a… banquet gift from me.”
Thales kept still, his gaze cold.
Zayen waited for a good while but there was no intent on the part of the youth to raise his glass back in response.
He brushed it off, smiled and put down his glass.
But he suddenly frowned and looked around. “Is it my illusion, or is your security more anxious and tighter than usual?”
“What, do they suspect I will harm the prince?”
Thales tensed up but remained unfazed. “My personal guard captain is diligent and strict with his men.”
Thales smiled towards Mallos and Glover, repeatedly signaling them to take it easy.
The Duke of Star Lake turned around; his eyes lit up.
“As for suspecting you… Well, you can’t really blame them,”
“You know, that gift you gave me six years ago, I have yet to fully digest it.”
Zayen smiled. “Then you need this gift even more—it will help you digest the last one.”
“How?” Thales sneered sarcastically.
With feelings unfathomable to outsiders, they stared at each other in silence for a few seconds.
Finally, Thales asked calmly, “So, Serena, where is she?”
Zayen smiled.
He raised his hand gracefully, called a waiter over and ordered a portion of beef as Thales looked on disgruntledly. Amidst the soft clanking of cutlery against dishware, he started to speak at a leisurely pace, “Since she caused us huge losses six years ago, that ruthless Machiavellian from Night Kingdom has been recuperating in Constellation for some time.”
As if this was an ordinary casual conversation.
Thales contemplated for a while.
“She has guts.
“After causing so much trouble, offending so many people,” Thales recalled her threats and harm caused towards him and scoffed, “she dares stay in Constellation?”
But then Thales paused.
He looked up and stared fixedly at Zayen in disbelief.
Zayen picked up a piece of beef and smiled back at him.
Thales began to comprehend.
“You.”
With slight surprise, Thales frowned and continued, “My guess is, when your relationship with the Corleone family fell apart, that ugly-faced woman—I mean, Serena Corleone who had betrayed and left her family became your natural ally?”
Zayen had two pieces and stopped. He maintained his smile as he wiped the corners of his lips with a tablecloth.
“After Lady Serena was driven away by you, I did, uh, provide her shelter.”
Sure enough.
The astonishment gradually receded from Thales’ face.
“I remember someone telling me that.” The youth looked at him in disdain, “If you share a boat with a jackal and wolf, you will run the risk of having your boat overturned.”
In that moment, Zayen’s expression froze a little.
“Particularly before you get all lovey-dovey and emotionally entangled with Serena Corleone.” Half sincere, half sarcastic, Thales scoffed. “Trust me, I speak from experience.”
Zayen was silent for a while.
But in a fraction of a second, the Duke of Iris Flowers looked up and responded with a decent smile.
“Yes, very true,” he nodded politely, “I discovered that myself later,”
There was a slight chill in Zayen’s eyes. “Especially after she broke free from her shackles, drained a few of my men and left me without saying goodbye.”
Broke free from her shackles…
It dawned on Thales. “Looks like the shelter you provided wasn’t very good.”
But since it was Serena, to have put shackles on her…
Yes, young Zayen.
The prince gave him a thumbs up in his heart:
Well done.
Inside the hall, the knighting ceremony finally came to a close.
Music could again be heard as the performers returned to the stage. Liveliness and noise became the main theme of the banquet again. Perhaps due to the passage of time, the guests started to get drunk and, either gathering their friends or already in small groups, they became less and less inhibited.
Thales even noticed many male and female guests disappear from the same spot one after another, and did not return even after much later.
King Kessel was back in his seat, but the queen had long departed. He seemed a little lonely.
The king glanced over towards Thales for a second before looking away.
The royal guards beside him looked stern as usual, but Thales, who knew what was going on, could clearly feel their extreme relief.
The assassin did not appear.
It was good news.
And bad news.
Zayen raised his glass a little with a subtle look in his eyes, pulling Thales back to the conversation at hand.
“The Eastern Peninsula sea route is lucrative.” The Duke of Iris Flowers lightly sniffed the aroma of his wine. “Ever since the misfortune six years ago, the Covendier family has been looking for an opportunity to restore relations with the Corleone family and get back on good terms with each other,”
“So I’m thinking, the wanted family criminal they are after, could be a breakthrough.”
Thales raised his eyebrows.
“Get back on good terms? After you attempt to have the Night Queen murder the Prince of Constellation on your behalf?”
The prince spoke the truth without any psychological burden, his tone sarcastic. “I’m afraid it won’t be that easy.”
“I’ll still have to try.” Zayen smiled again, perfectly elegant.
“Let us rather die as friends than perish as foes.”
Thales shook his head in disapproval.
But there was a small voice in his heart that said:
No.
If the Covendier family really managed to capture that ugly old witch and send her to her sister as a gift…
Thales retracted his gaze from Zayen and frowned.
They might really have a chance at reconciliation.
Fortunately, Serena broke free from her shackles and was not caught by Zayen.
Yes, ugly-faced woman.
Thales secretly nodded in approval of his rival:
Well done.
The prince put a piece of lettuce into his mouth as he pondered this. “But you mentioned that you have the latest news on her?”
Zayen nodded. “Anyway, after that, we paid special attention to Lady Serena’s whereabouts,”
“For the past six years, the exact whereabouts of this exiled dignitary of Night Kingdom has been unclear. She seems to have been everywhere from Revol City to Sanlast. Until a few days ago, she was seen in the Alliance of Freedom.”
Allian…
Thales froze for a moment before immediately looking up.
“Where?”
Zayen smiled.
“That’s right. The Alliance of Freedom that has fallen on hard times is doing everything possible to survive. Disregarding dignity and price, they are desperately asking those with ambition to join their righteous struggle, irrespective of their origins or past,”
“From criminals to mercenaries, from ruffians to thugs, they take anyone, they want everyone, in order to resist the unjust aggression from Eckstedt,”
“And Lady Serena is one of them. She has also been honored as an important guest.”
The ugly-faced woman is at…the Alliance of Freedom?
Aiding the fight against Eckstedt?
The news that Gilbert delivered, about Eckstedt’s defeat and the uncertain fate of their commander-in-chief, flashed across his mind.
Saroma’s face, brave and persevering, appeared before his eyes as well.
But what came after was an image which became clearer and clearer; which encompassed solemnity and loveliness, glamor and cruelty; two faces, one large, the other small—the image of Serena Corleone.
Thales’ heart sank and he felt chaotic inside.
‘No way?
‘Is it you again, old witch?’
There was an odd sensation on his neck, his wrist, and every part of him that had been bitten by the Blood Clan.
“Of course, this matter involves Eckstedt, so perhaps you have a better understanding of it than me. What do you think?” Zayen took a sip of wine.
Thales stared at Zayen’s wine glass and shook his head in disdain.
“It would be like drinking poison to quench thirst.
“But whatever that old witch is involved in, it won’t be anything good.”
Zayen raised his eyebrows; he did not deny this.
Thales was lost in thought, Zayen did not speak. Both of them sat across from each other in silence for a while.
Until Thales snapped out of it. “That’s it? Nothing else?”
Zayen looked up at him. “That’s it.”
Thales pursed his lips and nodded, intending to send off his guest. “If that’s the case…”
At this moment, Zayen raised an arm and pointed at a noble in the crowd whose nose was red from drinking, but was in high spirits and being congratulated by everyone.
“Look, that’s the Rorchenanter family. After two generations, they have finally become hereditary vassals.”
Zayen’s tone was drawn-out. “But who knows how long that will last?”
Thales furrowed his brows slightly, thinking about what Zayen meant to say.
But in the next moment, the Duke of Iris Flowers’ words took him by surprise.
“Thales,” Zayen was still looking at Lord Rorchenanter in the crowd with a profound gaze, as he said softly, “Do you know how the relationship between the supreme ruler and his vassals came about?”
Thales was startled.
This was the first time tonight that Zayen referred to Thales directly by name, without any titles.
The prince appraised him bemusedly.
The Guardian Duke of the South Coast seemed to be lost in thought as he continued distractedly, “When humans had just stepped out of the Uncivilized Period, before the empire was born and when multiple kings ruled, the world was not peaceful,”
“In an era of war and turmoil, the weak affiliated themselves with and pledged allegiance to kings with power, military, and territory for protection.”
“And in return, the protected had to lead their family and friends to work the king’s land to generate produce, providing labor in exchange for protection.”
Zayen turned his attention to the groups of guests that approached the king.
“The Ancient Chauvinistic Country, Northland, Rock Ridge, Rudoll, Faraway Mountain, Sorenlan…all the ancient kingdoms of humans were established this way, with no exceptions,”
Zayen narrowed his eyes and looked at King Kessel in the distance.
“Security is the obligation of the king, and the right of the vassal.”
Security.
Thales suddenly remembered the vows made by King Chapman in Heroic Spirit Palace when he was crowned.
‘As a Northlander, I will undertake the heavy responsibilities as king to this kingdom, to stand at the forefront of the kingdom with my wisdom and breadth of mind.’
As king to this kingdom.
Stand at the forefront of the kingdom…
Really?
Thales recalled the day Chapman put on the blood-stained crown and looked down at the adoring crowd.
“Labor, conversely, is the obligation of the vassal, and the right of the king.”
Zayen smiled faintly, slightly aloof.
“See, the essence of the ruler-vassal hierarchy is really just a transaction.
“I give you labor, you grant me protection.”
He stared towards the lower tiers of the banquet hall at the drunk and merry guests.
“If a vassal is unable to provide labor, military service, and taxes, then the king has a right to expel the vassal and recover his land,”
He turned around again to look towards the highest tier at Kessel the Fifth, who looked down indifferently.
“If a king can no longer defend against foreign invasions and ensure security, the vassal has the right to abandon the king and seek another master,”
Thales frowned hard.
He finally knew what Zayen was getting at.
Zayen turned around and stared quietly at the prince.
“This right is a prerogative and a convention.”
Thales had an illusion that: the initially friendly and approachable Duke of South Coast seemed to be exhibiting his prowess.
“Vassals and their supreme ruler, suzerains and their subjects, all are such. This is the cornerstone of our rule, a contract, and more so, a covenant.”
Zayen went on softly, “Binary, reciprocal, synergistic, two sides of a balance, two ends of a path.
“But when the balance tilts.
“You need to add weight to one side for it to return to a state of balance.”
Zayen stared fixedly at Thales. His tone and gaze were calm, but for some reason, Thales felt firmly locked in.
The prince looked at the lively banquet hall and listened to the extravagant music as he slowly inhaled.
“I can’t say you’re wrong.”
Thales turned around to look at Zayen and said solemnly, “At least, not entirely.”
Zayen looked at him for a few seconds before chuckling, but it was unclear if it was the joke or Thales that amused him.
Duke Covendier of exacting comportment and good reputation turned around and raised his wine glass, his attitude gradually becoming casual and slack.
“Interestingly, compared to us, many places in the east, from Hanbol to Mane et Nox, from Liegdern Union to the Daesong Khanate, have all-powerful rulers that are autocratic and dictatorial.
“God-like.”
He took a few sips of wine and ended faintly, “Surpassing empires.”
Thales exhaled. “I remember now. You mentioned before that you had traveled across the Eastern Peninsula.”
That’s right, he’s a returtle
1
.
Zayen scoffed a little and swirled his wine glass.
At the sight of Zayen’s unusually casual demeanor, Thales raised his eyebrows. “So?”
Zayen’s eyes were blazing as he continued, “From what I have seen and heard, the people there are simple and kind, but apathetic and forbearing. From the highest to lowest levels of society, they fear and revere the supreme power, and even worship and admire it,”
“From before birth to after death they believe that the king that rules over them is eminently sacred. They believe that compliance with ancestral traditions is extremely vital, and that as subjects, they have the obligation to grin and bear it for life—or rather, the honor?”
Zayen’s fingers wrapped tightly around the wine glass.
“Amongst them, the paramount virtue is wishing that the superior monarch is righteous and benevolent, hoping that the bureaucrats who govern the land are equitable. When the king acts unconscionably, his ministers would risk death in remonstrating him, moving him so deeply that he has a change of heart—their books are filled with such stories, as an exemplary model.
“Someone told me that this is their history and tradition. That which is determined by their nature and habit is naturally justified. Even though I think that most of the time, it is merely helpless self-deception.”
Thales did not speak.
Zayen turned around.
This time, he left his distant memory and soberly looked at Prince Thales before him.
“During my travels, I couldn’t help but think that in such a place, once the king’s perversion reaches its peak, and once the corruption of the government is at an extreme, would the grievance of the subjects and servants then be unreasonable due to tradition, and thereby be weak and innocuous?”
His tone turned cold. “Or become more violent and bloody due to prolonged suppression without release, thereby burning all bridges?”
Thales was stunned.
In that moment, he felt as though he had been transported back to Ghost Prince Tower, and the person in front of him was the repulsive Fakenhaz.
‘The horse will not submit to the lash, nor will the coachman give up on lashing it.’
“Is that better than us?”
“Or worse?”
Zayen stared fixedly at him, as if pressing for an answer from the prince.
“Us and them.
“Which is more in line with the future of the world?”
Thales was silent for a long while.
During this period, he even forgot that he was still at the banquet, that the king was still present, that his faithful subordinates were still working diligently to find a possible assassin, and that miles away, the girl he had been through life and death with was possibly held captive.
Zayen just waited for him quietly, his gaze profound but his intentions vague.
Finally, Thales took a deep breath and slowly started speaking.
“I don’t think we are qualified, nor is it necessary, to judge and compare.
“Let alone determine for the future.”
Zayen frowned, seemingly disappointed.
But Thales raised his head and looked at the crowd coming and going like a blur in the banquet hall and continued solemnly, “But I believe that everything happens for a reason.
“I believe that, the only constant is change.
“I believe that, to each their own.”
Zayen’s frown deepened.
“And I further believe that, regardless of time, place, situation and character,” Thales looked at him with a resolute gaze, “history itself will choose the future that suits you best.”
Zayen contemplated for a moment then broke into a smile.
“History?
“You speak as if it is an autonomous living being.”
Thales raised his eyebrows. “Is it not?”
Zayen seemed puzzled.
But Thales merely picked up a piece of lettuce and scrutinized it.
“The Uncivilized Period is over, and the era of multiple kings and Empire Calendar have long been history.”
He continued distractedly, “As the number of vassals increased and the governed territory expanded, basic government affairs gradually become more complex. No matter how powerful a king is, there will be aspects beyond his reach; he cannot be all things to all people.”
Thales suddenly thought of King Nuven.
But not the imposing and vicious Born King.
Instead, it was the ruined and desolate old man that sat with him on the steps with wine in hand after the duel.
“So for many issues on the land, vassals had to put down their hoes and make their own decisions,”
Thales went on softly, “And after the death of a vassal, the kings had no time and energy to reclaim every little piece of land and appoint another vassal,”
The prince looked up, slowly turning somber.
“So, the lands that were originally entrusted to the vassals gradually became hereditary, passing down from generation to generation. It gradually became tradition that matters on feudal land were decided solely by them.”
“Property on feudal land consequently became the private property of suzerains, and unable to be easily expropriated by the monarch nor taken by others.”
Thales looked towards the Duke of Iris Flowers.
“Thus, suzerains such as yourself shift slowly into the spotlight and become protagonists of history, competing ambitiously, forging ahead and opening up new horizons.”
“As a result, the kingdom developed, with civilization expanding through a trickle-down effect, benefiting the regime.”
Thales concluded solemnly, “Thereby creating the Constellation of today.”
Zayen’s expression turned solemn too.
But unbeknownst to the Duke of South Coast, at that moment, it was not Constellation that Thales was thinking of.
He thought of Eckstedt.
If Raikaru the Hero did not divide the right to rule the kingdom between the other nine skilled but ambitious knights under his flag, letting them raise flags of their own and set out on expeditions to expand his territory in all directions and spread the reputation of the Northland…
Would the kingdom of Eckstedt have such a vast territory and impressive reputation?
More so, would there be a kingdom?
Zayen scoffed softly.
“Interesting. So do you think that the autonomy, self-governance, independence, and self-reliance of us vassals is natural and inherently justified?”
He looked at Thales with interest.
Thales snapped out of his daze and smiled.
“I’m not done.”
“When the private ownership of feudal land became consensus, the rights of vassals reached its peak,” Thales elaborated.
“The most extreme of them could even stand up against kings.”
The scene when King Chapman was crowned appeared again before his eyes. the kinslayer king stood tall and proud, his gaze ice-cold but a fire blazed within.
The Dragon Scale Crown sat firmly on his head.
But…
Thales looked up and lightly pursed his lips.
In that scene, quietly standing before Chapman Lampard was not the then King Nuven.
Instead, it was that which stood towering atop the peak of Dragon Clouds Mountain, which survived thousands of years of wind and rain, the serene and majestic…
Heroic Spirit Palace.
Thales felt his breathing stagger.
In front of it, the once immensely terrifying King Chapman cut a lonely and gaunt figure and seemed insignificant.
Thales gritted his teeth. “But exactly because of this ever-growing trend, authority gradually disintegrated, tradition is gradually shifted. Feudal land was no longer an inflexible entrustment property in the hands of the king. It was liberated, turning into a deed for land, circulating and transforming through different hands, impacting the livelihoods of countless people that have settled on it, instigating endless conflicts around power and interests.
“So the vassals each harbored private ambitions, the people chose their masters, suzerains warred against each other, territories changed hands and boundaries shifted easily. That’s how all this came about.”
Flashing before his eyes were Archduke Poffret whose neck was broken in duel and King Nuven’s decapitated head in a pool of blood.
And Chapman Lampard’s bright cold eyes.
“When the territorial conflicts increase in number and intensity, when the boundary between king and vassals gradually blur, when the contract of security for labor gradually lapses, when the last bit of integrity of tradition disappears, the kingdom that rests on such land will be on the brink of crisis,”
He took a deep breath and continued, “And with that, the traditions and institutions that were originally established for security that you mentioned earlier will become too much of a good thing that it implodes on itself…
“…ending the provided security.”
In his mind’s eye, Thales silently looked at that terrifying king who was facing Heroic Spirit Palace alone.
His strides were persistent and unwavering, with no trace of weakness.
But, dear Chapman Lampard.
What you have to face is…
But in the next moment, Thales was shocked!
For a split second, the scene before him changed.
The shadow in front of him was no longer King Chapman.
But instead a youth that he has never met but was extremely familiar with.
The youth stood upright and tall, but was all alone.
Thales froze.
He saw the shining silver crown on the youth’s head, embellished with the Nine-Pointed Star Emblem.
And ahead of the youth…
It took Thales some effort to shift his gaze.
He saw, towering over the youth…
A colossal and imposing, tranquil but deathly still, vast but heavy, magnificent but cumbersome—black pyramid.
Thales stopped breathing for a little.
Forbearing and isolated under the stars, firmly rooted before the setting sun, sturdy and unyielding in the storm…
It was Renaissance Palace.
Total Chapters in book: 580
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
______