Palace of Heroes late at night, at the door of Thales’ bedroom.
Thales was speechless and looked at the people in front of him in utter embarrassment.
"How old are you? How old!" A quick and unpleasant female voice came from in front of him.
"On the first night here," the elf guard Ada looked at the helpless Thales and the timid little slicker behind him, and said sadly under the cloak: "You started taking girls into the bedroom?"
"It's hard for her to be alone..." Thales said aggrievedly.
"So I need your company?" Ada interrupted him with a bad expression.
Next to her, Rolf and Wyatt looked at each other, both looking at Thales with strange expressions.
"Ada, listen to me..." Thales subconsciously felt something was wrong.
"How old is she! Is she nine years old?" Ada shouted angrily, habitually raising her right fist and protruding one knuckle.
Thales was shocked. He raised his hands as fast as possible and protected his forehead.
"Boom!"
Thales held the right side of his forehead in pain - foul!
Ada's violent tremor actually came from the side!
Rolf and Wyatt looked at each other, pretending not to see the prince being violently assaulted.
Little Slippery looked worriedly at Thales, who was dizzy, covering his head and groaning.
"Mindis didn't touch a woman for the first time until she got married at the age of twenty-seven! Even the most lecherous and wanton Keira was still thirteen years old!" The angry elf guard shouted:
"At your age...you can't even reach the bed!"
Thales smiled awkwardly.
This is a bit exaggerated, sister.
Ada wanted to continue preaching, but was stopped by Putilai behind her.
"I think Your Highness has other reasons, right?" Xingchen's deputy envoy said calmly: "Let's all go back. I will communicate with Your Highness the rest of the matter."
After Putilai's repeated insistence, Ada left angrily and angrily, with a "you little bastard" look on her face before leaving, while Rolf and Wyatt still had that intriguing and strange look on their face.
Thales breathed a sigh of relief and sent the little slicker into the bedroom first.
"It seems that a lot of things happened?" Putilai sighed and looked at Thales who closed the door.
Thales's face darkened.
"That's it," Thales scratched his head, "That person is...well, that is..."
As the second prince spoke, he suddenly remembered the helpless eyes of Little Slippery and Alex's painful expression.
The two little girls met him in the library, but each experienced an unfortunate or lucky fate.
Thales' eyes darkened.
No.
The truth about Little Slippery’s identity...
It's not my place to say it.
In the end, the time traveler sighed in his heart and continued:
"That is Thelma Walton, granddaughter of King Nun."
Putilai's eyes moved and he said thoughtfully:
"I remember that you told me before that the king's granddaughter that I met in the library should be named Alex Walton?"
"Yes, Alex," Thales breathed out slowly: "That's her middle name."
From meeting the Black Prophet to scaring Ramon, his lies became more and more fluent.
He has a calm demeanor and an unchanging expression.
"I have a good relationship with her," Thales shrugged: "So she came to me..."
Having said this, Thales paused.
He suddenly realized that it was four or five o'clock in the morning!
And he had to hide what happened before and make up an excuse to let Lady Walton spend the night in his bedroom...
So difficult!
"That...she, here she comes," under Putilai's suspicious gaze, Thales showed a smile that was uglier than crying: "Um, come with me..."
Thales laughed along with him, hesitating and holding back a sentence in great pain:
"Together……"
"Discuss historical issues?"
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Thales had the urge to slap himself to death.
Facing Putilai's puzzled expression, Thales looked sad and smiled ugly: "You know... we met in the library..."
Thales felt that his face hurt from laughing, and he rubbed his hands guiltily.
"She's...very good at history..."
Putilai raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes filled with a strange meaning that Thales thought could be translated into a sentence:
You go ahead and make it up.
Thales looked at him awkwardly and guilty.
After a few seconds, Putilai slowly sighed.
"Well, as for why you abducted the king's granddaughter into the bedroom late at night and got the permission of King Nun," Putilai showed a meaningful smile: "I won't go into details."
Thales twitched his face and forced a smile to express his gratitude and understanding.
Then, Thales, who breathed a sigh of relief, began to talk about King Nun's proposal.
After listening to the prince's story, Putilai frowned deeply.
"So, King Nun has made up his mind to tie us into his chariot?"
"For him to continue Walton's reign?"
Thales nodded glumly.
"I will report it to the country," Putilai said thoughtfully: "From interests to positions, this matter involves too many things..."
"Also, the 'Shadow Shield', if they are also one of the people who assassinated me under the fortress," Thales thought of Perfitt in the duel, worried: "Although I know that because of the bloody year, they
Fight us till death - but according to Perfitt, do they have other purposes, or have they received commissions from other people?"
Putilai's face darkened.
Scenes from twelve years ago appeared before his eyes.
"It's really not that simple." Finally, in front of Thales, Putilai slowly shook his head: "According to what the Grand Duke said, they want to kill you in order to 'enter the Fuxing Palace'. I'm afraid it's not just
Just buying murder or hatred..."
"Especially after the Bloody Year, the Shield of Shadows has disappeared from the sphere of influence of the Kingdom of Stars and its allies for many years under heavy blows."
"But they didn't give up and chose to assassinate the last bloodline of Bright Star in Exeter..."
"Fuxing Palace... So is it about those things about seizing the throne again?" Thales scratched his head in frustration: "Do we have to find out again who is behind those assassins?"
Putilai stared at Thales's expression.
"No, let your father and the secret department worry about this matter. We will protect your safety." Deputy Ambassador Xingchen, who is good at observing words and expressions, showed a reassuring smile: "You have done enough tonight.
Good enough."
"The risk of war between Stars and Exeter...has disappeared, and Star Kingdom is safe."
Thales's heart moved, and he looked at Putilai.
"This is your achievement." The latter nodded slightly to him, his eyes full of encouragement and recognition: "I don't say much... Although I was full of prejudice against you before, you are indeed a competent Highness.
.”
With a complicated and sad expression, Putilai said slowly: "Not every prince can go far beyond the country's borders at this age to eliminate an inevitable military disaster for the country and its subjects."
Thales took a breath and slowly lowered his head.
yes.
At least.
The mission of this mission is completed.
Although the process was full of twists and turns, it was relatively safe.
"Thank you, Putilai," the prince raised his head and smiled, saying sincerely: "Thank you."
"Without you, without Ada, without Rolf and Wyatt...my journey would have ended in the birch forest of the stars."
"What's more, there is everything after arriving at Exeter and Longxiao City."
Putilai chuckled.
"That's our mission."
"And you made this mission smoother and had a happy ending," he nodded calmly and raised his eyebrows: "Gilbert will be very pleased to see you now - back then, young Midiel
The crown prince's mission to the north is nothing more than this."
Thales raised the corners of his mouth, thinking of the elegant middle-aged uncle, then the heroic Ms. Jini, and then...the taciturn Yodel.
And every bit of it in Mindis Hall.
"Get some rest early," Putilai pointed to the door: "If nothing happens, we will be able to return to China in a few weeks."
Thales nodded and opened the door.
"Also, the first batch of letter crows from the Star Kingdom have arrived," Putilai said with a smile: "One of them is written by Gilbert for you, and I put it on the desk."
Thales's heart moved.
"Thank you," he said with a smile after experiencing the ups and downs in the Hall of Heroes. "The letter from the 'Star Fox' is really exciting!"
Putilai shrugged and raised his eyebrows.
"And one more thing……"
Thales turned around strangely.
Putilai said hesitantly: "You know, your father was very romantic when he was young... he knew... and he became sensible very early..."
Thales narrowed his eyes, showing doubts.
Putilai opened his mouth, looked at Thales, and then at the door. Finally, he showed a worried expression and whispered:
"but……"
"After all, you are still too young and your body has not yet grown up..."
Thales' smile froze on his face.
Putilai blinked awkwardly: "Maybe we should wait a few more years?"
What answered him was Thales slamming the door mercilessly.
————
"Don't be afraid," Thales looked at the frightened little slicker in front of him and felt sympathy in his heart: "Here, they can't hurt you."
The little slipper hugged his knees as if he was unaware, and sat huddled on the ground beside the bed, leaning against the edge of the bed without saying a word.
Her eyes were fixed on the floor and her hands were holding the rough skirt.
This helpless scene reminded Thales of his past in the abandoned house - and those unfortunate beggars.
He couldn't help but sigh.
"I have to become Miss Walton, right?" Little Slippery noticed his arrival and said in despair: "It's like a dream..."
"Perhaps," Thales whispered, "No one can change King Nunn's will."
The little slipper's head trembled, his eyes turned red, and he hugged his shoulders helplessly.
At that moment, Thales felt deeply sad.
This girl was dragged into their dangerous game by the tide of fate.
He hesitated for a moment and then said:
"But that's not necessarily a bad thing..."
But the little slipper just lowered his head and began to mutter to himself:
"In the year 1090 of the Imperial Calendar, the heir to Duke Faret of the province of Tatoris Mingus was suspected of having improper blood. The law enforcers of the empire burned him to death in the capital of triumph... In the year of the End Calendar, in the year 552 of the End Calendar, Camus'
Marquis of Libra City, Grenfell was found to be an imposter. He was hung in the center of the city square in a four-horse carriage..."
Thales felt his scalp numb when he heard it.
"Stop!" he shouted: "Now is not the time to use your memory!"
The little slipper stopped his voice, looked at him aggrievedly and pitifully, and was about to cry.
"Want to hear a secret?" Thales sighed: "A secret that no one knows."
Little Hua Tou's expression slowly changed. She blinked and looked at him in surprise.
"You won't see it in any books - The Secret History of the Prince of Stars." Thales sat down in front of her and shrugged.
Little Huantou's eyes lit up, he adjusted his glasses and nodded.
"You know," Thales recalled the past more than a month ago and chuckled: "When I first became a prince, I was just like you, always on guard."
"Become a prince?" Little Huitou asked strangely: "Aren't you born a prince?"
"No, I was born..." Thales hesitated for a moment and said, "An illegitimate child living outside the home - until he was brought back to the palace."
The little slippery man showed a surprised expression of "oh".
"When they took me back," Thales smiled helplessly, "Everything was very unfamiliar."
"The feeling of food in my mouth is very strange, because I am used to eating black bread - in winter, that stuff is so hard that it can be used to kill people..." Thales raised his eyebrows:
"Also, this is the first time I drank a smelly liquid... Well, maybe except for the smell, do you know what smelly water feels like..."
The little slippery one chuckled.
"The clothes I wore were too slippery and soft, and they always made me feel like I was naked, so I added three more buttons to the belt hoop. Although it hurt to walk, it always felt safer and more practical.
——Oh, by the way, I didn’t even know how to put on pants on the first night..." Thales thought of the ridiculous history and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.
The little Hua Tou was so absorbed in listening that he gradually forgot the tears on his face.
"I have never walked on such a flat and smooth black stone ground. In the past, it was either a dirt road, a dirt road, or a brick road... When I saw that the floor in the study was actually made of wood..."
"Every night, lying on such a soft bed was a kind of torture. I felt almost suffocated under the quilt, so I could only run underground, hide in the corner, and sleep with my clothes on..."
Thales shook his head.
Little Huantou looked at him sympathetically, blinked his eyes, and nodded.
"But I always couldn't sleep well. On the contrary, when I was on a mission to Exeter, I slept better when I was camping in the wild..."
"Gilbert was very strict and the courses were very intense. He asked me to write two hundred words a day... On the twentieth day, he went so far as to force me to write a poem in the ancient imperial language..."
"The first time I rode in a carriage, I had to hold on to the door handles on both sides to prevent myself from falling..."
As he talked, Thales himself was entranced, and Little Slippery also listened attentively and echoed him from time to time.
When he told the story of being thrown by the same pony fifty-eight times, Thales suddenly realized:
Little Huantou was already leaning on the bed, his head tilted to his right shoulder, and he fell asleep.
Her glasses were tilted to one side and her head rested on the edge of the soft bed.
A pair of small hands were pressed against the chest by the bent knees, and the whole body was rising and falling heavily with the breathing.
The little girl's long platinum hair fell down smoothly, and a few strands of hair fell into her mouth, causing her to smash her mouth from time to time even in her deep sleep.
Thales looked at her sleeping soundly, smiled, and slowly shook his head.
He carefully pushed aside her long hair and pulled the few strands of hair out of Little Slippery's mouth.
Then he pulled down a corner of the cup and covered the little slipper's body.
Thales stood up and sighed slightly.
I hope she can have a good and peaceful sleep again.
Before actually becoming a Walton.
Thinking of this, Thales turned around in a depressed mood.
He came to the desk, climbed up on the chair with all his strength, and picked up the volume of Gilbert's letters on the table.
Thales looked at the familiar handwriting on the letter, shook his head nostalgically, and then unfolded the letter.
That's a text message.
[Dear Your Highness:
I hope you have arrived at Longxiao City safely.
We learned about what happened to you on the road - Ms. Ji Ni was very worried about your safety and repeatedly asked me to inquire about your health.
Also allow me to express my concerns and concerns for you.
Your Majesty has notified the lords along the way in the Northern Territory and the Central Territory, as well as the two commanders of Broken Dragon Fortress. They will send patrols and troops to ensure that the road to the birch forest is safe when you return.
The information and affairs related to the Blood Magician have been fully handed over to the Kingdom Secret Service. Lord Morat personally assured me that they will handle it well.
In the name of the Kingdom, His Majesty officially sent a cross-sea letter to the Kingdom of Night a few days ago, but has not yet received a reply from the Queen of Night.
In addition, after an in-depth discussion with His Majesty, Duke Jenn Kelvindir recently generously donated a highly productive bitumen deposit to the royal family, increased the share of eternal oil transported to the Central Territory, and agreed to move the South Coast Territory to the north.
The jurisdiction of the three baronies was transferred to the royal family - His Majesty often told me that this is all due to Your Highness (Seeing this, Thales curled his lips).
His Majesty has already commended Baron Alaka Mu and Lady Sonia Satherley, and once again sent a number of additional troops to Broken Dragon Fortress to urge the nobles in the north and urge the two commanders to give the Black Sand Territory what it deserves.
Pressure - as a gesture of solidarity with you and as a protest against the disrespectful actions of the Grand Duke of Lombard.
Allow me to once again express my concern about the accident you encountered in front of the fortress, as well as my relief and joy - after learning that you are safe and sound.
Despite this, I fully understand that it will be difficult for Your Highness to enter Exeter, and the real tests and difficulties are about to come.
In this regard, as a former Foreign Secretary, I must remind you of three crucial points:
First, Exeter’s political system is completely different from ours. In addition to his status as a king, King Nunn is also the Grand Duke of Longxiao City and the master of the Walton family. Exeter’s interests
His interests are completely different from those of Walton - please pay special attention to this.
Secondly, although the Grand Dukes of Exeter are powerful and have sufficient military power, the relationship between the Grand Dukes is quite complicated. From real interests to past history, they are entangled, and the divisions are even worse among the stars. We
I believe this is something you can take advantage of. For example, facing the stars and facing Longxiao City, the three Southern Grand Dukes have completely different interests, and the attitudes and interests of the three of them are different, so you might as well do it here
I humbly ask Lord Putilai Nimman for advice.
Third, no matter what difficulties you face, please always firmly believe that you are the only heir to the throne of the stars and a descendant of Tormund and even the imperial family. Based on this, please do not worry about your safety. At the same time, please believe that King Nun
His interests and positions at that time were similar to ours, and no one in the North could match him in terms of reputation or strength, so trying our best to win over him and using him is our best strategy. Channeling his hatred towards Lumba is the best way to do it.
.In order to quell the scourge of war, you might as well turn the conflict between the stars and the dragon into the conflict between the king and the princes within Exeter. This is my suggestion.
The above are some of my experiences for your reference, so that you can discuss the response plan with Putilai. But I know that real politics and diplomacy always swing back and forth between plans and accidents. Therefore, it is important to grasp the situation of things.
Essentially, adapting to circumstances is the truly wise approach - just like your performance in the Hall of Stars, and I have full confidence in you.
Another point is that the Sunset Bar that you asked me to send people to search for in the Black Street of Xiacheng District has changed its owner a few days ago. The female bartender and those children you mentioned seem to be missing.
It is suspected that they have fled away to avoid disaster.
The specific situation may only be known with the help of personnel from the secret department - after all, it is not suitable for us to blatantly go to Xiacheng District to search in the name of the royal family. This will make many interested people guess your past, which will be detrimental to them.
But please don't worry. Our people have received information that a girl who is very similar to the female bartender you mentioned visited the Xicheng District Police Department not long ago. I believe they will be found soon.
Don't miss out on your homework while you're at Exeter. I'm going to test your sonnets when you come back.
In addition, Ms. Jinni said that you should continue to practice swordsmanship and not relax. She will give you real sword training after you return (Tiles sighed helplessly).
As a royal guard, Miss Ada's loyalty and strength are unquestionable, but after all, she is not perfect, and there are still some things that are not considered well. (Seeing this, Thales couldn't help rolling his eyes and thinking for Kilber.
I admire your unique tactful tone), and I hope you can take good care of yourself while other attendants make up for the shortcomings.
Allow me to once again express my concern and longing for you, and wish you all the best in the future.
His Majesty is very concerned about your safety and the success of your journey. He missed you very much during the days when you left (Tales is sure that this sentence was added by Gilbert later).
————————Your loyal friend and subordinate, Gilbert Castle
——————————December 27, 672 in the End Calendar, in Yongxing City
Also: Jodel seems to have asked me to send you my greetings with this letter - I hope I understood him correctly.】
Thales put down the letter, and the image of Gilbert holding a cane and bowing in a top hat appeared in front of his eyes, as well as his lively, respectful and decent teaching appearance, and he couldn't help but grin.
He reread Gilbert's three suggestions about Exeter in the letter and shook his head slightly: Gilbert probably didn't know yet that they had completed their mission on the first day they arrived at Longxiao City.
At the same time, Thales couldn't help but worry about the disappearance of the people in the Sunset Bar - Yara, Cindy, Ryan and Coria. But after all, Gilbert mentioned that Yara had appeared. Since Yara was safe,
Then those beggars should be fine too.
What's more, the Brotherhood has experienced such a big event as the Battle of Red Square Street, so it shouldn't have the energy to take care of a few beggars.
He exhaled, thinking of his past as a beggar, and thinking of everyone in the sixth house, he was filled with emotion.
Fate is unpredictable, isn't it?
Just like the little slippery man who fell asleep behind him.
Thinking of this, Thales couldn't help but stretch out and let out a contented groan - this trip to Exeter, apart from all the weird things, everything went smoothly.
Behind me came the little slippery murmur in his sleep.
The remaining days in Exeter should be much easier.
Thinking this, Thales happily rolled up the letter paper.
At this moment, Thales was stunned.
He found a second letter where the letter originally belonged - he probably didn't notice it just now because his attention was attracted by Gilbert's letter.
No, Thales picked up the thin dark blue double-layered cardboard and frowned: This is not a letter.
It's an invitation.
strangeness.
Thales looked at the blue invitation in confusion and scratched his head.
There were only four words written on the cover of the invitation: "To my dear friend", written in beautiful classical cursive calligraphy - this reminded him of the scene between Tormund and Naykar in Nekaru's library.
The treaty of Karou is equally beautiful in its cursive script.
Thales frowned slightly, looking at this strange invitation with some hesitation.
but.
Even if you have passed through the difficulties like tonight, what else do you need to be afraid of?
Thales shook his head mockingly and opened the invitation without hesitation.
What strikes the eye is another beautiful general text in cursive calligraphy.
[Dear Thales:
We haven't seen each other for a long time and I miss you very much.
Especially after I have gone through so much trouble to find your whereabouts and learned that you have recovered your identity, while I miss you, I am also sincerely happy for you. I hope you can stay safe during your time as a prince.
, learn enough, good enough, broad enough, and profound enough knowledge.
After all, both Canxing and Carother are great names.
Our last encounter was so hasty and short that I didn't have time to say many things I wanted to tell you - there are simply no words to express my regret for this.
This also reminds me of our common, agile, masked friend. I am glad that he did not come to the North with you, so I can send you this invitation. Of course, I miss him very much.
.
As I write this, I really can’t wait to meet you, so I take the liberty to send you an invitation to meet you next time.
The location is up to you.
As for the time, how about setting it fifteen minutes after you open the invitation?
I wish you a good mood.
Looking forward to our upcoming meeting.
Also: Referring to your complaint at Hongfang Street last time, I specially prepared the invitation this time. I used a star blue cover design that matches your family. I hope it will suit your liking.
——————I met you on Hongfang Street, a long-lost old friend,