Kingdom’s Bloodline

ing to sow discord between us. ”

Olsius finished talking and prepared to leave.
Behind him, Thales clenched his fists slowly.

’Perhaps… I ’m really not… fit to be a prince, or even a king.
But… ’ Under Wya ’s bewildered stare, Thales laughed softly.
’At least, I want to be a survivor… and live on. ’

Then, Thales raised his head abruptly and glared at Archduke Olsius who did not walk far.

”You are wrong! ”

Olsius ’ footsteps stopped.

Thales ’ voice rang from behind him.
”It is precisely because King Nuven is still rational… that Chapman Lampard is destined to become the next king.
And my safety is not guaranteed like you said.
That is why we are having this conversation right now. ”

”This old verbal technique again? ” Olsius sighed.
”My hatred for you will only— ”

The second prince did not give him a chance to speak.

”The key doesn ’t lie in my verbal techniques, but in whether this benefits you. ” Thales ’ gaze became firm and steady again.
”And whether this benefits Prestige Orchid Region.
Listen to what I have to say…
and make your own decision. ”

Olsius furrowed his brows.

”Whatever I say next is for you, alone, to hear. ” Thales glanced at the two muscular and sharp-eyed subordinates behind Olsius, they were obviously extraordinarily skilled.

Archduke Olsius narrowed his eyes, as if in deep contemplation.

”Why? Are you afraid that you would be assassinated by a child? ” Thales chuckled and said, ”Or are you eager to go back earlier and drink a few more glasses of wine with your four good friends? ”

Staring at the foreign prince who appeared young but spoke maturely, Archduke Olsius found the situation strangely absurd.

A few seconds later, the archduke chuckled and ordered his followers to step back.

Thales heaved a silent sigh of relief.
Under his signal, his attendant, Wya, also nodded and left with a somber expression.

As the braziers in the corridor burned brightly, the two figures, one larger than the other, silently faced one another in the darkness.

”Go ahead and tell me.
Based on your theory, how would Lampard become king? ” Olsius did not look at Thales.
He nonchalantly extended his hands towards a brazier to warm his freezing hands.

With a cold expression, Thales went straight to the point.
”I was met with an assassin when I was right in front of Broken Dragon Fortress.
The culprit intended to frame Lampard for it. ”

Archduke Olsius pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows.
”I ’ve heard of it before.

”It ’s a pity he didn ’t succeed, though, ” Olsius continued contemptuously, ”whether it is killing you or shifting the blame to Lampard. ”

Paying no heed to Olsius ’ enmity, Thales continued speaking.
”This made Lampard realize that someone is scheming against him in the dark, and that his circumstances within the kingdom was not favorable. ”

”Lampard is a powerful man.
This is nothing to him. ” Archduke Olsius was poker-faced.

Thales continued to pay no heed to Olsius ’ words.
Like the robots in his past life, he stated the facts plainly without emotion.
”Because of that, Lampard brought up his intention to form an alliance with me, to fight together against our enemies.

”He provided me with all the resources I needed in Dragon Clouds City in exchange for help of one future king of Constellation. ”

At this moment, the corner of Olsius ’ lips curled up.
He slipped up and started laughing.

”For the promise of a seven-year-old brat who hasn ’t even ascended the throne.
Lampard must be an idiot to ally with you.
He only changed his stance at the last minute because he saw that there was no hope in attacking Constellation.
This can ’t make him king, either. ” The archduke flipped his hands over and warmed the back of them.

”Of course, ” said Thales coldly.

”That ’s all? ” Olsius snorted softly.
”How are you going to help him become king? Send out an announcement announce your support for him? ”

At that moment, Thales ’ expression suddenly changed.
”But this is not Lampard ’s plan! ” After adopting an even tone for more than ten seconds, he suddenly raised his voice.
”I am also not the one who can help him become king. ”

Olsius ’ eyes flickered.
He moved his gaze away from the brazier and stared at Thales.

”Of course he knows that I ’m not worth that much! Apart from being branded with the ’Constellation ’ symbol, I am completely worthless! ” Thales sighed.
”But trust me, I have met him once at his military camp—he is definitely not an idiot. ”

”Hmph, I know him better than you. ” Olsius clenched his fists above the brazier.
His tone was cold.
”Twelve years ago, he killed his elder brother by mercilessly nailing him to the ground in the arena.
I saw it with my own eyes. ”

Thales inhaled deeply and nodded.
”He only pretended to form an alliance with me.
In reality, I reckon he has other plans… And he is about to carry them out. ”

Olsius creased his brows again in deep thought.
He scrutinized Thales carefully.

”So tell me, brat. ” Olsius sighed as well.
He impatiently said, ”Very well, you have successfully piqued my attention. ”

Thales froze.

’This line… I think I ’ve heard it somewhere? Whatever, it ’s not important. ’

Thales sucked in a deep breath.

”Nuven, ” he spoke calmly, carefully, and slowly.
”Chapman Lampard wants to work together with King Nuven…
To form an alliance with Walton, the Dragon Spear Family, and Dragon Clouds City. ”

A few seconds passed…

”Hahahahaha! ” Olsius burst into unbridled laughter.
He tilted his head with a nonchalant expression.

Thales silently watched him.

Olsius put his hands down and clasped them together.
His gaze was gloomy and cold.
”This is your guess? I thought that you were only good at using petty little tricks, I had no idea that you are also good at creating them! ”

”I saw this with my own eyes, Lampard was trying to contact Dragon Clouds City, ” Thales replied coldly.

”Impossible! ” Olsius stopped smiling and resolutely said, ”Lampard is suspected to be Prince Moriah ’s murderer.
That is a blood feud; King Nuven will not work with him. ”

Thales soon caught up with Olsius ’ line of argument.
He refuted with a cold gaze.
”Why do we avenge our blood relatives ’ deaths? So that justice will prevail? No.

”It is so that the same kind of harm will not come to our families again.
To give our enemies the sternest warning and to ensure the continuation and prosperity of our families. ”

Olsius frowned.

”To achieve this aim, everything else can be forfeited. ” Thales nodded slowly.
”Including hatred and honor. ”

Watching the archduke ’s extremely doubtful expression, the second prince said plainly, ”King Nuven is still rational.
This is what you said.
The Walton Family had lost their last direct descendant.
However, it has not perished yet, neither will King Nuven let it perish. ”

Olsius was shaking his head.
”Lampard was the one who acted first and targeted Dragon Clouds City.
He even killed King Nuven ’s only heir.
The trust is already broken.
Even if he wants an ally, it will never be King Nuven.
Lampard will not invite trouble for himself. ”

Thales calmly refuted the archduke ’s words.
”You said just now that you know Lampard better than I do.
You would know whether he has the courage to risk reconciling with his enemies for the sake of his own benefit.
Do not forget that a few years ago, with a hood over his head, Constellation ’s Duke of Northern Territory, Val Arunde, formed an alliance with Lampard.
The Arunde Family and the Lampard Family were enemies for generations. ”

Archduke Olsius inhaled deeply.

”Besides, you saw through our acts, didn ’t you? ” Thales could see from Olsius ’ eyes that he was wavering, so he continued to throw out the bait he had prepared.

”Why did you think that Lampard dispatched his troops to escort me to Dragon Clouds City in such a dignified manner? Did you think that King Nuven really ordered the White Blade Guards to depart early and ’kidnap ’ me to Dragon Clouds City out of rage and fury? ”

Olsius was slightly stunned.

”That was indeed an act! ” Thales tightened his face and spoke quickly so that he sounded more hurried and agitated.
”For all of you to see! To see how the king ’s rage burns…
Therefore, deluding all of you and masking his deepest desires.

”But it is not for preventing war between Constellation and the Dragon, not for preventing the Archduke of Black Sand and other southern regions from benefitting from the war, either.
It is for the sake of the alliance between Dragon Clouds City and Black Sand Region. ”

Archduke Olsius pursed his lips and exhaled deeply, as if in deep contemplation.

”These past few days, God knows what Nicholas of Dragon Clouds City and Kentvida of Black Sand Region were talking about behind closed doors! ” Thales sighed and said, ”We could only see the tension between them when they are out in public.

”But I can roughly guess. ” Thales ’ tone became steady once more while Olsius ’ gaze became deeper.

”The Walton Family is already doomed to go downhill. ” The second prince sighed softly.
”Once King Nuven passes away, and the next king selection has passed, the Walton Family might even face total annihilation.

”So, he must place his bet on a powerful archduke, on a future king.
Even if this person is suspected to have murdered his son. ”

Olsius turned and gazed at the moon outside.
Thales slowly drew his lips together.
He waited for Olsius ’ reply.
This was the archduke ’s battle.
Thales had done all he could.

Translator ’s Note:

1.
Sid Meier ’s Civilization VI : A game created by Firaxis Games.