Kingdom’s Bloodline

n eyebrow and spread out his arms.
”To call Lampard ’Your Majesty ’? ”

”That ’s why… ” Reybien Olsius stared at Thales.
This time, there was no hatred and hostility in his eyes, only solemnity.
”You came to me… even if their alliance is merely your speculation. ”

Thales gave a pained nod and sighed deeply.

”Yes.
Perhaps Lampard is still trying to contact King Nuven. ” Turning his neck, he rubbed his palms together in frustration.
”Perhaps they haven ’t joined forces yet.
Even if they have, this situation, to you, is not potentially irreversible.

”Nuven suspects that someone among you is the culprit for Moriah ’s death, and Lampard might become your king.
These are the losses you could face, Archduke Olsius.
However, you don ’t have to bear consequences that soon, so don ’t worry.

Thales lifted his chin, staring at Olsius solemnly.
”I, on the other hand… If things end up the way I suspect it will… Dragon Clouds City and Black Sand Region will seize control over all of Eckstedt.
War will be declared. ” With a hint of anxiety in his vacant voice, the prince continued, ”I, still being in Eckstedt, will become the first victim; I will meet my tragic fate before any of you do.

”This is why I came to you.
It ’s for my life. ” Thales glared at Lord Olsius who seemed stunned.
He said through clenched teeth, ”And for your future as well! ”

The two of them fell silent again.

The sounds of commotion and the crackling of the fire echoed in the background.

”Why me? ” Olsius said in a hoarse voice.
”Why not the others? Roknee? Poffret? They seem more reliable, don ’t they? ”

Thales stared at him, shaking his head lightly.
”Only yours and Trentida ’s territories are the closest to both Constellation and Black Sand Region.
You can ’t turn a blind eye to any matters involving them.

”As for Trentida, I don ’t trust him, ” the prince whispered.
”Hence, out of all the five archdukes, you, Reybien Olsius of Prestige Orchid, are most likely to side with me. ”

Olsius inhaled deeply and peered out of the window.

A moment later, the archduke turned around to face Thales with a sharp glare.
”At this point, just tell me what you plan to do. ”

Thales mentally snapped his fingers.

He smiled and said, ”We are still in King Nuven ’s palace.
There are very few chances to meet and talk.
You can verify the clues I had observed.
If you think that my speculation makes sense and agree that certain precautions must be made, I have struck a deal with Lord Shiles—he will provide me some intel.
Tonight ’s banquet will go on until the next morning, or even the next afternoon. ”

Archduke Olsius nodded.

”At four in the morning, the palace and city gates will open.
By then, the first group of guests will leave.
The guards will be as exhausted as they are.
You can evade them all and leave the banquet hall, ” Thales said cautiously.
”Meet me in the meeting hall.
I will leave the party at one point, too, and find an excuse to rest there.

”And then, we will come up with a plan—to keep me alive and jeopardize the alliance between Nuven and Lampard. ”

Olsius stared at him.

”I will consider it. ” The bearded archduke had a complicated expression.
”But, you know, ONLY consider it. ”

”Of course. ” Thales arched an eyebrow.
”It ’s up to you whether you come or not. ”

The archduke fell silent.
While Thales was feeling anxious, Olsius let out a chuckle.

”Little brat, you might be one of the very few smart people I ’ve met. ” The archduke shook his head.
”But I still don ’t like you one bit. ”

”No offense taken, ” Thales responded promptly with a smile.
”After all, Jadestar and Olsius are mortal enemies. ”

In the end, Olsius glanced at him with a complicated and cryptic expression.
Then, the archduke turned and left.

Wya came and stood before Thales as the latter stared after Olsius ’ silhouette until it disappeared around the corner, then Thales gave a sigh of relief.

The prince began to relax, his body went limp, and was held up gently by Wya.

”Your Highness, ” the attendant whispered, ”how did it go? ”

”He saw through my connection with Nuven right away. ” Shaken, Thales felt himself bathed in cold sweat.
”Luckily, I improvised a bit… ”

He looked up at Wya.
”What did Ralf say? ”

Hesitantly, Wya made a few hand gestures he himself did not even know the meaning of.

”Very well.
It means Marquis Shiles has held the third archduke up. ” Thales wiped the sweat from the back of his skull, shaking his head.
”Look, here is your reply, with these gestures… Get Putray to deliver the note.
The next target should be on his way.
Hopefully Shiles ’ acting is good enough to not raise Olsius ’ suspicion. ”

Several minutes later, Thales had recomposed himself, and now stood in another corridor.
He recalled the general temperament of his target, and made his decision.

Hearing footsteps behind him, he took a deep breath and turned around.

Accompanied by Wya, he flashed the most dazzling smile at the person who approached them.

”Your Grace! My Lord! Do you know who would be the next Common-Elected King of Eckstedt? ”

In the next second, the Archduke of Reformation Tower, Porpheus Trentida, the man with the bowl cut, stood firmly before Thales.
He scowled at Thales with a face full of doubt.

…

Ten minutes to four in the morning.
Heroic Spirit Palace, meeting hall.

Thales sat at the long table where King Nuven was yesterday.
Staring at the empty stone hall, he felt a little unsettled.
There was only one thing he feared more than darkness and loneliness—the anxiety and uncertainty of the unknown.

The contents in the braziers behind him burned and crackled without care in regards to all the things around them.
He placed his hand on the long table and sighed.

’Who will show up later? ’

His conversations with all five archdukes had finally come to an end, amid all his panic and fear.

The first was Olsius of Prestige Orchid, the one who made him nervous the most, on whom he had spent more time on, and who almost found out about his connection with King Nuven, putting him at risk of ruining their scheme.

Trentida of Reformation Tower appeared skeptical, but their conversation was relatively brief compared to the former.
Trentida fully comprehended what Thales meant soon enough.
His gaze was brimming with skepticism, though it was unknown whether it was directed towards him or Nuven.

The two archdukes from the southern territories were not the most difficult people to deal with.

Archduke Lecco of Defense City to the north was the third one.
This bald old man, however, was the hardest.
Every now and then, his seemingly old and inane gaze flickered with sparks of acuity—he snorted at Thales and remained doubtful until the end.
Thales, with a forced smile on his face, had to spend about twenty minutes on their conversation.

Compared to that, his talk with Archduke Roknee of Faraway Prayers City in the west ended rather quickly.
The long-haired archduke stayed silent the entire time, and responded with only frequents nods or head shakes.
Seeing him, Thales could not help but feel that to Roknee, it did not matter to him whoever it was that becomes king.

The last person was the Archduke of Beacon Illumination City, the brown-haired Conkray Poffret.
He was the friendliest of all archdukes, and the one most alarmed by Thales.
When he left the hall in a daze, Thales even had to offer a word of comfort—that none of the things he said had happened… yet.

’But… ’ In his hand, Thales squeezed the pocket watch Putray gave him.
The cold metallic feel made him tense.
’Who could it be? Who would show up tonight? Who is the person who hired the Disaster Swordsmen to assassinate Moriah, and then tried to eliminate me? ’

’Perhaps… no one would bother to show up? If I can ’t find the culprit… ’ Thales chuckled helplessly to himself.
’Hopefully King Nuven will kick the bucket tonight. ’

At that moment, the sound of footsteps appeared from outside the stone hall.

*Thud… thud…*

Thales was alarmed.
He sat up and straightened his back.

The footsteps were heavy and rhythmic, echoing one after another, stomping on the stone brick floor.

As they advanced, a shadow was cast into the stone hall.
It seemed to belong to an especially tall person… who finally strode into the meeting hall.

Illuminated by the firelight, Thales discerned the figure ’s long hair and incredibly stony expression.
His robe was embroidered with the image of a scroll.

The second prince was startled.
It was the one person, of all the archdukes, he did not expect.
The flames in the braziers continued to burn.

The man stopped before him.
”I am here, ” he said faintly.

Thales hopped down from his chair, frowning.

He still remembered how this man refused to follow King Nuven ’s order to kill the Prince of Constellation in a duel.
His reason being that child-killing was a disgrace to his honor.
But right now, he stood here in front of Thales.

”Good day to you… ” The Prince of Constellation paused, staring at the tall, large man with an almond-shaped face before him, and sighed in disappointment.

”Eckstedt ’s Archduke of Faraway Prayers City, Kulgon Roknee. ”

Translator ’s Note

[1] ”The bespectacled child detective in a blue suit ” is the protagonist of a Japanese anime, Detective Conan, whose signature posture was adjusting his glasses while identifying the perpetrator of the crime by pointing at them.

[2] ”Can this be an order made by the authorities? ”: In October 2000, a question was asked by a Hong Kong reporter regarding Beijing ’s alleged attempt to ensure the reappointment of the then Chief Executive of Hong Kong.
It was directed at Jiang Zemin, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.
Said utterance became part of the Moha Culture internet meme when said reporter was berated by Jiang for asking so.