In the hall, as the Grand Duchess sat down, more than twenty nobles in the audience also sat down.

Thanks to the Grand Duke, Thales received a lot of aristocratic education with Northland characteristics during his six years as a hostage. Compared with the faded knowledge that Gilbert taught in a hurried month, he

On the contrary, I am familiar with Exeter's glorious history.

For example, Longxiao City’s political hearing day.

It originated ninety years ago, from the Grand Duke and the 43rd co-king of Longxiao City, the grandfather of Nun VI, the late king Nun VII, and the founder of the heyday of the Walton family's throne monopoly for three consecutive generations.

, a king worth remembering.

The Dragon Kingdom under his rule had several battles with the Star Kingdom after the death of the "Wise Lord" on the border. Facing the three major families of Arend in the north, Zemuto in the Watch City, and the Fores family in the Solitary Old Tower,

This king never failed, pushing the southern border of Exeter to the Broken Dragon Fortress, turning the East and West Great Taiga into the exclusive land of the Northlanders; he fostered the new Free Alliance in several wars

, facing the sudden rise of the Conmas Alliance, he used a strong and powerful hand to curb their expansion momentum and firmly controlled the eastern end of the Golden Corridor; he even renovated the Quegur Glacier defense line and moved the glacier

The orcs were once again driven north of the 38th Watch Point.

Internally, starting from the powerful Nun VI, the vassals of Longxiao City regularly send greetings to the Grand Duke, and reporting has become a routine: the vassals show their loyalty to the Grand Duke and report the situation of the territory.

In order to obtain the permission and support of the Grand Duke on important matters, the Grand Duke would show his majesty and generosity on this occasion, listen to the general information of his vassals, and maintain and strengthen the relationship between the monarch and his ministers. This is the Day of Listening to Government.

It is also proof of the expansion of Longxiao City's dominance, Thales thought.

but now……

The Grand Duchess's voice sounded clearly in the hall, bringing him back from his thoughts.

"Risban, Kierkegaard, Nagel, Hurst, Linner, Curtson," facing so many people, Selma still called her out one by one according to their seats, even though her face was pale.

Every lord of the vassal families under his banner nodded slightly when called: "Banner, Hudson..."

Thelma called out the names of nearly twenty families in one breath, including two families with the same name, which had to be distinguished by geographical location.

Almost every nobleman who had a seat nodded respectfully or at least with a respectful look on his face.

If this was in the Kingdom of Stars... Thales couldn't help but think of the grand occasion of the Kingdom Council. He thought of the six wealthy families, the thirteen noble families, and the direct vassals of Canxing himself. He just called out the names of these families...

The prince sighed.

God, I hope they have a roster.

"Welcome, everyone." Under the sharp gazes of the northern nobles, Thelma took a deep breath, looked at Lisban, and said slowly: "Once again, on this glorious day of administration, Longxiao City

All the major families gathered together, because of your arrival, the Dragon Spear in the Cloud is even sharper. With your loyalty, the Walton family will be stronger."

The crisp female voice echoed in the stone hall, faded and disappeared.

Just as the Grand Duchess finished speaking, almost all the vassals solemnly raised their right fists and banged their chests three times in a row, as if they had made an appointment!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As a response to the feudal lord.

The dull sound resonated with each other in the hall, and it seemed that the entire Palace of Heroes was shaking.

"Look, you understand what I mean," said Ian next to him with a bored look of "I told you so". He made a gesture of tapping his chest and whispered in Thales's ear: "Gorilla..."

Thales raised his eyebrows.

Thelma remained motionless amid the knocking sounds, but Thales, who was extremely familiar with her, could feel that underneath the girl's composure, there was a tension and anxiety hidden.

"This is how the day of regency begins," the Grand Duchess cleared her throat: "Ciel?"

The Earl of Lisban, who was sitting on her left, bowed slightly in his seat and turned to look at the audience.

The five earls at the front finally laid their eyes on the regent, but Thales noticed that those eyes were not as friendly as imagined.

Six years ago, at the funeral of King Nun... what was the attitude of these five crucial people?

Thales recalled.

"As a matter of practice," Regent Lisban's steady and gentle voice rang out in the hall, just like it had sounded countless times for King Nunn at the royal council in the past thirty years or so, "My lords, if you have anything you would like to ask Madam

Did you ask for instructions?"

No one spoke.

As far as Thales could see, the two dozen vassals were not even whispering.

They just focused their countless sharp gazes on Lisban, as if they wanted to separate the old earl, especially the five most powerful vassals.

Thales couldn't help but clenched his fists.

Lisban looked around the audience, but still no vassal answered.

It's like it's planned.

His face gradually became ugly.

"Politeness is dead," Ian's annoying voice quietly reached Thales's ears, with a hint of schadenfreude: "I guess no one wants to say 'hello' to the Grand Duchess."

In the silence where one could hear the drop of a needle, Ian's words were a bit harsh.

Many people from the North turned to look at him with cold eyes.

Ian showed an expression like he had been caught doing something bad and smiled apologetically at them.

This is the first time that Thales has participated in the political hearing in six years, and it is also the first time that he has seen the attitude of the lords of Longxiao City towards the lord. Looking at Thelma who was trying to keep her composure on the stage, Thales only felt that

It hurts inside.

In the six years since he stepped into the Hall of Stars and became the second prince of the Kingdom of Stars, his journey has been very difficult.

But at this moment, all the hardships I thought were compared with her, Selma, and the first female Grand Duchess of Exeter...

"Very good. It seems that everyone is fine. There is no bad news," Lisban said coldly. He bowed slightly to Thelma who came up and said, "Ma'am."

All eyes focused on Lisban turned to the Grand Duchess.

Thales looked at the lonely Thelma with pity: the girl cleared her throat unnaturally and subconsciously avoided the gazes of the vassals.

"Everyone... ahem... everyone, I know you don't like nonsense," Thelma's voice was a little fast and shaky: "So I'll get straight to the point..."

Compared to the silence when Lisban opened her mouth, the moment the Grand Duchess spoke, many vassals lowered their heads and whispered.

"This is a good sign. At least the Grand Duchess has the ability to ease the atmosphere." Ian said sarcastically in a low voice.

Thales sighed.

The words of the Grand Duchess continued:

"I believe you all know that last month, the king's envoy came from Heisha, and a few days ago, the envoy from Qiyuan City also visited Longxiao City..."

Someone interrupted her.

"Are you talking about that farce-like audience, Madam?" Sitting third to the left of the Grand Duchess, the Count of Firenberg in military uniform, Curterson said coldly: "Of course, it was very entertaining and majestic.

Longxiao City was fucked around by a young boy."

Earl Curtson's words were very rude. Many people laughed lowly, but more people snorted coldly.

Thelma's face turned even paler.

Thales frowned lightly, and turned his head to the culprit, His Excellency the Viscount of Wind City, who smiled unconsciously and seemed to find this very entertaining.

"Is that funny?" Thales' gaze shot towards him like a sharp sword.

After seeing Thales' unhappy look, Ian realized something and instantly stopped his smile. He coughed in a seemingly serious tone: "Sorry."

"Longxiao City is facing a choice," the Grand Duchess continued her previous words after adjusting her breathing: "And I respect the lords who have served under my grandfather for many years, so we will be here, on the most important day of hearing.

, discuss our options together.”

Just when Thales thought that the vassals were going to be silent again, unexpectedly, a clear male voice rang out.

"We respect you, madam, just as we respect your grandfather," the Earl who spoke sat second to the lower right of Thelma. There was a rare kindness and respect in his tone, and his golden beard followed.

The words rise and fall: "So we are here, Iron County responds to your call."

Earl Hester from Iron County looked at the Grand Duchess gently and said this.

As if she had found a savior, Thelma smiled and looked at the person who spoke with gratitude: "Thank you, Earl Hester."

Hester, who is in his thirties, shook his golden beard, smiled and nodded.

Thales frowned. He looked at the enthusiastic Hester and moved his butt unnaturally.

This damn chair is so hard to sit on.

"God, Thales, did you see the way he looked at that girl?" Ian's words interrupted at an inappropriate time: "I bet that every time he looks for a woman, he imagines her as..."

Thales, who was in a bad mood, turned around abruptly.

"Will you die if you don't speak?" the prince replied coldly.

Ian quickly raised his hands, stuck out his tongue innocently, then opened his mouth, maintained a smile, and mouthed silently: Yes.

Thales was so angry that he didn't want to deal with him anymore.

Earl Hester's words seemed to start the conversation among the vassals: Curtson, who had just spoken sarcastically, touched his chin and snorted softly.

"The same goes for Fierenborg," Curterson said slowly: "But I noticed that we are not the only ones who responded to the call..."
To be continued...