Kingdom’s Bloodline

ibly be Eckstedt ’s Royal Palace, the palace gates slowly opened.

A group of Northlanders filed out from the palace gates.
Their attires were magnificent and neat, but they were still fully armed.

Thales involuntarily tensed up in secret.

As expected, a loud and clear voice rose up from the group of people.

”In the name of the Common-Elected King of Eckstedt, King Nuven Walton the Seventh…

”I hereby welcome our foreign guests under the king ’s order. ”

A cold-looking, muscular man with a buzzcut pursed his lips at Thales and squinted his eyes to scrutinize him for a few seconds.

”The King looks forward to your arrival, ” he faintly said, ”Prince of Constellation. ”

Thales clenched his fists tightly.

’Here it comes. ’

Nicholas guffawed and walked forward to embrace the person who led the group.

”Dear head of the guards, did you complete the mission, my friend? ” the man asked in a soft voice that seemed to imply a deep meaning.

”Of course, ” Nicholas also implied something different when he said, ”The Prince of Constellation whom we wanted is already here. ”

Thales furrowed his brows as he watched the communication between the two of them.

Then, the leading man with a buzzcut approached Thales and bowed before him.

”Welcome to Eckstedt, and her most resplendent and splendid pearl—Dragon Clouds City, Prince Thales from Constellation. ”

Thales recalled Gilbert ’s teachings and Putray ’s advice on the journey here, so he immediately returned the greeting with a smile.

’He seems like some bureaucrat, but his physique seems more like a warrior. ’ Thales thought.

’Or should I say, almost all Northland men look like warriors? ’

”I am Lord Byrne Mirk. ” The Northlander with the buzzcut was about forty or fifty years old.
He was dressed in a thick robe and he had a serious expression on his face.
”Before I got my title, I was once a member of the White Blade Guards.
I am currently King Nuven ’s administrator and I am in charge of arranging all matters regarding your reception in Dragon Clouds City. ”

”Thank you for your reception, Lord Mirk. ” Thales nodded and secretly confirmed his own judgement.

”Allow me to introduce you to this place as this is your first time here. ” Mirk turned around with a serious expression and raised his hand to gesture towards the majestic palace.
”This has been the residence of the suzerains in Northland from the ancient times until today; from the ramshackle building on the mountain during the era of the feudal kings, to the stone fortress during the age of the Empire, and finally to the majestic palace it is today.

”For a few thousand years, it witnessed the history of Northland and the emergence of Eckstedt.
It also saw the children of Northern Wind and Dragon prosper, flourish and grow endlessly. ”

Mirk then solemnly said the following words: ”Heroic Spirit Palace. ”

’Heroic Spirit Palace?

’Is the meaning of its name…

’Really suitable for a living suzerain to reside in it? ’

Thales was momentarily stunned, and then he slowly raised his head.

It was a huge palace.
Simple in style, but it had heavy colors.
Its layout was imposing, but the design was crude.
It was built according to the mountain, nonetheless counting from the inner city ground he stepped on, the palace was still almost eight or nine-storeys in height.
Its building materials were also quite unique.
They included huge trees, rough stones, hides and metals, so much so that much of the area was finished with a crude polish.

The typical Northland style—vigorous and powerful, bold and unruly.

Before the huge palace gates were ten corridor pillars, which were over ten meters in height.
They were basically supporting the towering palace roof.
The corridor pillars were engraved with stories of Northland heroes of past dynasties.
The engravings were simple, but bold.

Along the road from the inner city to the palace gates were eight furnaces.
They were a few meters tall and they were still burning even in broad daylight.
It seemed like they illuminated the small plaza in front of the palace gate all day long.

Their surrounding was filled with the tall, fierce-looking White Blade Guards and Dragon Clouds City ’s guards.
Different from Constellation ’s guards who were orderly and strictly distributed, the standing position of Eckstedt ’s guards appeared to be scattered.
They did not seem to have discipline in terms of patrolling.
But under Aida ’s reminder, Thales discovered that they were only ’lax ’ when it came to defenses in the outer layer.
Defenses were tight in the inner layer and they left absolutely no blind spots.

Compared to Constellation ’s Renaissance Palace, which had a rather creative appearance (it looked like half a pyramid), Dragon Clouds City ’s royal palace seemed more like a majestic palace from a story; from its architectural style to the allocation of personnel inside.

The Red Dragon Flag with a black base was fluttering high above the palace.

Below the fluttering flag, there was another flag: a dragon spear that pierced out from the clouds—Walton ’s emblem.
It was the flag of Cloud Dragon Spear.

Red and black, coupled with natural snowfall.
In that moment, Thales felt like there were no other palaces more suitable for heroic spirits to return to.

Thales shook his head.
’The Heroic Spirits Palace is truly worthy of its name.

’As for the suzerains, archdukes and the king who live here… ’

Right at this very moment, Thales ’ gaze was suddenly averted by something on the highest part of the palace.
He could not help lifting his head up.

A stone bridge extended from the highest level of the palace, high up in the air to another mountain peak.

Thales ’ gaze was fixed upon it.

It was that stone bridge.

The stone bridge that led to the Cliff of the Sky—the royal pavilion of the ’Queen of the Sky ’.

Only then did he notice a huge statue standing at the starting point of the stone bridge.
Probably due to his field of view, the statue was not obvious from afar.

It was a huge, black stone statue of a male warrior.

The warrior looked heroic as well as majestic and he was holding an extremely long spear in his hands.
The warrior with a robust build was neatly dressed in armor and appeared imposing when he looked down upon the Heroic Spirit Palace from its higher ground.

Thales thought to himself, ’Surely, from that angle, he can take in the whole scene of Dragon Clouds City at once. ’

Lord Mirk who was in charge of the reception was very patient.
All the while, he silently waited for the foreign prince until he noticed Thales ’ gaze.

”That is the stone bridge that leads to the Cliff of the Sky and above it is the statue of Raikaru the First.
It was built after Raikaru passed away more than six hundred years ago. ” Mirk lifted his head and introduced the statue seriously.
”It was just renovated a week ago. ”

Thales expression then became intense.

’That is… ’ he stared at the stone statue of the brave man.

’The hero of the human race during the Battle of Eradication…

’He is one of the people who defeated the calamity and the Mystics.

’The founder and first king of Eckstedt.

’Raikaru Eckstedt? ’

The statue of the warrior was covered in snow.
His motion of holding the spear was full of strength and it gave out a sense of building that was brimming with tension.

Surely for the past six hundred years, Raikaru overlooked his people, his land as well as his nation with a firm expression and a deep gaze?

Thales nodded lightly in response to Mirk.

A cloud floated by and the direction of the sun ’s ray changed a little.

From afar, the expression of the Eckstedtian hero seemed to change from that of determination to grief.

Thales narrowed his eyes and secretly sighed in admiration of the sculptor ’s craftsmanship six hundred years ago.

’It was just renovated a week ago.
Was it done to welcome me?

’That is unlikely.

’Maybe the Eckstedtians are still waiting for the Great Dragon Queen of legend, who disappeared without a trace after the Battle of Eradication? Are they waiting for her to come back and visit her husband ’s statue?

’Are they waiting for her to pay a visit to this nation that still keeps her portrait on the flag? Or perhaps, for her to watch over the Western Peninsular ’s Blade, which she left behind together with Raikaru? ’

”There is a room already prepared for you in the Heroic Spirit Palace.
This will temporarily be your accommodation during your time in Dragon Clouds City. ” Mirk gestured towards the palace gate to indicate Thales to move forward.

Thales gave him a smile.
”Of course, I thank you for King Nuven ’s reception. ”

”For now, please come with me. ” The man with the buzzcut had on the same expression, but what he said made the hearts of everyone from the Constellation Diplomat Group sink.

”King Nuven and five archdukes are currently in the Hall of Heroes, waiting for your arrival. ”

Thales exchanged glances with Putray.

It was about to begin.

However, just as Thales, Putray and Aida prepared to take a step forward, Mirk raised his hand lightly and stopped the slim vice diplomat.

”The prince ’s attendants, please follow my subordinate and proceed towards your rooms in advance, ” Mirk said in a soft voice.

”I do not understand. ” Putray stopped in his tracks and calmly looked at Mirk.
”I am the prince ’s assistant for this trip and I have to remain by his side. ”

”I understand your obligation… ” Mirk was expressionless as he slowly said, ”but there is a limitation to this invitation.

”This is a respectable and distinguished conversation from suzerain to suzerain, royal family to royal family.

”Jadestar to Walton and the Five Great Clans.
The king and the five archdukes only wish to see the prince himself just as the prince will also only see the king and the five archdukes.

”Hence, please attend the meeting by yourself, Prince of Constellation. ”

Thales ’ expression changed.

’Face Nuven the Seventh and the five archdukes… alone? ’

Putray said faintly, ”As far as I know, this is not the usual etiquette for relations between our two countries. ”

Even though they had already reached a preliminary agreement with King Nuven…

They could never risk the prince ’s safety…

Constellation had learned enough from this aspect.

”This is a very critical period. ” Mirk shook his head.

”You want us to hand over the only heir of Constellation, give up on protecting him and place him isolated and helpless under your control? ” Putray cleverly pointed out the most crucial point.

Behind Thales, Aida, Wya, Ralf and the rest started to become anxious.
They unconsciously reached for the weapons within their reach.

On the other hand, Nicholas raised his hand slightly and the White Blade Guards surrounded them.

The Star Killer was becoming increasingly paler.
”Just as you ’ve said before, you still do not have many choices.
Am I right, young prince? ”

Thales narrowed his eyes.

”Please believe me.
This is necessary. ” Mirk stared at Thales with a burning gaze.
”Also, speaking of being isolated and helpless, pardon me for speaking bluntly…

”The moment you all walked into Eckstedt ’s border…

”Were you not already isolated and helpless? ”

Thales sighed softly.

Putray did not say another word.

This made the prince realize that this hunting partnership between him and Nuven had already started.

’Alright.

’King Nuven, who is reportedly very ”cruel ”, eh? ’

Thales secretly smiled in a tranquil and calm manner.

’Let us wait and see. ’

Under Putray ’s ashened face and Mirk ’s changing expression, Thales suppressed the uneasy feeling in his heart and smiled.

”Very well, I cannot wait to meet King Nuven. ”

Thales turned around and looked at the people who went on the journey with him.

He nodded and said, ”Do not worry.

”I will be back soon. ”

After he finished talking, Thales took a step forward.
His small figure walked towards Heroic Spirit Palace, which had a totally different style.
Yet, it was as serene and tranquil as Renaissance Palace.