Two large bowls of hot broth were slammed onto the table by Gu.
Thales and Little Huatou, who were washing their faces in cold water on the side, raised their heads blankly and looked at the expressionless Gu.
The hunger that had been covered up by panic and fear suddenly returned to the second prince's stomach.
"I specially used eternal oil for heating - the smoke will dissipate indoors, and no one will find us," Gu said calmly. He sat down opposite the two of them, and raised his thick eyebrows on the right slightly, as if he had a hidden meaning.
: "Of course, it's not cheap, I can keep accounts."
Little Slippery's stomach rumbled just right.
The girl looked timidly at the boy beside her - Thales swallowed.
"What's wrong?"
Gu looked at the two stunned children, frowned, and said impatiently: "Are you still waiting for me to respectfully serve you napkins and wine, my distinguished young master and young lady?"
The voice fell.
Thales and Little Hua Tou looked at each other and winked at each other.
The next second, the two of them were like horses letting go of the reins. They both jumped on the chairs, picked up their respective broths, and started drinking.
"Don't worry," Gu looked at the two of them devouring their food and sighed:
"Let's talk about business after you've filled your stomachs."
In just a few minutes, the two extremely hungry children finished their respective broths, leaned on the stools, touched their swollen bellies, and gasped.
The little slipper also burped and lowered his head timidly.
Thales breathed out a sigh of satisfaction.
"So..." Gu put his right hand on the back of his left hand and tapped his fingers slowly like waves.
"I, we need help!" Before he could continue speaking, Thales raised his head and said urgently after taking a breath.
"Yeah, I can see that..." Gu looked at him with disdain in his eyes: "Tell me something I don't know."
Under Thales' gaze, Gu said indifferently:
"For example, on this chaotic night - it's early morning now, why are two children wandering around in the armor area that should have been evacuated long ago?"
"More embarrassed than a bereaved dog?"
Thales was slightly startled and said subconsciously: "We..."
But his words stopped suddenly, and the prince opened his mouth hesitantly, then closed it again.
His experience and intuition since he became a prince told him that telling everything you know may not necessarily bring you sincerity and understanding: look at Serena and Black Sword.
"We are in trouble," Thales took a deep breath and said seriously: "We need to go to the Palace of Heroes without attracting attention. Can you help us?"
"We'll pay you!"
Gu's fingers stopped moving. He clenched his hands and stared at Thales motionlessly.
The man's eyes were calm, like a calm lake, but it made Thales panic for no reason.
He had to sit up straight.
This Far Easterner...
Why do you feel so weird?
Just when Thales felt like he could no longer hold on, Gu finally spoke slowly:
"The Palace of Heroes?"
"Another drama of nobles fighting each other for power?"
Gu raised the corners of his mouth, revealing an intriguing sneer.
The Far Eastern man's black eyes were extremely deep, which made Thales unable to see his pupils clearly.
"Do you know how difficult it is to go from Kai District to the Palace of Heroes secretly? The distance, slope, city gates, road restrictions, and the martial law blockade from yesterday to now..."
Gu looked at Thales in the dim light:
"I can make room for you, but will I send you quietly to the Palace of Heroes and get involved in the political struggle of the upper-class nobles?"
The Far Eastern man shook his head, and the coldness in the corner of his eyes made Thales shudder: "Sorry, Kaslan's favor is not that great."
He refused.
Thales turned his head and glanced at Little Huitou worriedly.
They can't just stay here and wait for death.
Lumba's actions, Nunn's assassination, the accidents they encountered, these things are all needed...
"What about contact?"
Thales raised his head and said anxiously: "You can't send us there, but can you help us contact some people?"
Under Thales' worried gaze, Gu smiled.
"Although it's not easy, it's not impossible," Gu narrowed his eyes and said, "Who are you sending the message to?"
Thales's eyes lit up.
However, he opened his mouth, and as soon as the words reached his lips, he was interrupted by Gu.
"Choose carefully, child. Don't choose those people I have to stand at the gate of the Palace of Heroes and yell to reach you. Also," Gu Wei lowered his head. Due to the light, his eyes were shrouded in darkness, and he could only listen to him
He said with some deep meaning:
"If your situation is really dangerous, it's best to find someone who is trustworthy and unobtrusive. After all, I don't want to get into trouble."
After hearing Gu's words, Thales was stunned.
The first thing he thought of just now was Putilai.
Ada said that the deputy envoy mobilized people to look for him, so maybe he could send people...
No.
The prince shook his head inwardly.
Thales didn't know how tight Lomba's control in Longxiao City was, but if the situation was really as bad as expected, then the Star Mission headed by Putilai would definitely become the focus of Lomba's attention.
Especially now that the disaster is raging and various districts are under martial law, they will be very conspicuous. Even if they find this place, the chance of being intercepted by the enemy on the way is very high.
In the same way, the same goes for people who are loyal to King Nun - such as Nicolai.
He needs another candidate.
Thales frowned: a person he could trust, a suitable person who had a secret agreement with him and the King of Nunn, but was neutral on the surface, so he was not eye-catching.
It's best to have some means and ways to prevent you from feeling powerless after getting the news.
Thales' pupils gradually focused.
"Actually," Thales took a deep breath and looked at Gu: "I happen to have such a candidate, and he has a wide range of information channels - you definitely have a way to contact him."
Gu's eyes stayed on him.
After a full five seconds, the Far Easterner nodded slowly.
Thales breathed a sigh of relief.
A few minutes later, Gu put on his cloak and stood at the door.
"I don't know how long I will be there. After all, it takes time to find a way out - maybe dozens of minutes, maybe longer," the Far Eastern man said seriously: "Before that, stay well and don't touch the things in my shop."
Thales could only nod to show his understanding.
Gu watched for a few minutes by the wooden window. After confirming the situation, he put his hand on the doorknob.
"Mr. Gu," the light diffused into the butcher shop, and when he was about to go out, Thales suddenly said: "Thank you."
Gu showed a strange expression and looked back at him.
The Far Eastern man nodded with a half-smile.
But Gu's last salutation before going out made Thales shocked.
"Please wait patiently," Gu turned around and said faintly:
"Your Highness the Prince."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu closed the small door, leaving the butcher shop in darkness again.
Only Thales was left, stunned on the spot.
His Highness the Prince turned his head and looked at each other with the little naughty boy at the table.
So, he already knew my identity?
That's why I never asked.
Looking at the small door behind which Gu disappeared, Thales covered his forehead and sighed in pain.
Does a sloppy kid running around in the street stand out?
Aixida, Heijian, Gu...why do you feel like everyone knows him at first sight?
Thales turned around, looked at the chopping boards and boning knives around him, and shrugged helplessly and frustratedly.
He climbed onto the chair next to the dining table with difficulty, picked up his wooden cup, and took a sip of water.
From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the little naughty boy beside him.
The girl was seen staring blankly at the table with no expression on her face.
Thales sighed silently in his heart.
"Get some sleep," Thales put down the water glass and said, "You must be very tired."
"ah?"
Little Hua Tou woke up from his trance as if suddenly awakened, and stared at Thales blankly.
Thales pursed his lips and shook his head helplessly.
"You need to rest, we may have to rush on our way soon." Looking at the absent-minded girl, Thales said in the gentlest tone possible.
However, the little slipper just looked at him blankly.
"Tiles," the little girl said in despair, "I feel like I'm in a dream."
Little Huantou lowered his head: "A nightmare, an endless nightmare."
Thales' breathing suddenly stopped.
The little slipper's voice was a bit whiny: "First it's Miss Alex, then it's the monsters in Longxiao City, and now it's His Majesty Nunn..."
The girl's eyes behind her glasses were suddenly filled with crystal clear light.
"When will all this...end?"
Thales closed his eyes, feeling unspeakably depressed and sad in his heart.
She is just a child.
Not a few years older than Colia, Ryan, and Cindy.
She was forced to witness it all.
"Soon."
Thales heard himself saying erratically: "Soon, all this will be over... everything will be fine..."
However, in his own heart, a dark voice said another sentence for him.
No.
From the moment you become Walton, all of this...
It will never end.
He heard himself say against his will: "When you and we return to the Walton family and those who are loyal to Walton, we will be safe. No matter what the purpose is, they will definitely protect the blood of the Dragonlance family..."
The little slipper trembled when he heard this.
Her crying voice became more and more obvious: "Tiles, I, I don't want to be, become Thelma, I am not Walton...I, I can't do what His Majesty Nunn said..."
Thales didn't speak, he just clenched his fists and looked at the ground.
"Really," the little slipper sniffed, his eyes turned red, "I'm just a little maid picked from a pile of orphans, not...not Miss Walton."
Thales remained silent.
"And, I'm a girl."
"This is the Northland. Never in history... No matter the nobles or commoners, they will not allow me to allow a girl to become a Grand Duke." Little Slippery took off his glasses and shook his head in pain:
"Just let me go. I can't do what His Majesty said. With you... I will mess up. I don't understand anything!"
Looking at the sobbing little Huitou, Thales slowly raised his head:
"Can."
Little Huantou's sobs suddenly stopped.
"What?" She raised her head and asked doubtfully, still crying.
Thales said calmly: "You can go."
The little slippery boy was stunned.
"King Nun has passed away, and Nicolai's life and death are unknown. As for Michael..." Thales looked at her calmly, jumped off the chair, and stepped forward: "Now, no one will force you to become Thelma.
·Walton.”
Thales slowly approached.
The little slipper shrank back the chair in surprise.
"You still have a chance to stay away from all this: Longxiao City is in chaos, and a missing maid will not attract attention," Thales continued, facing the suspicious gaze of Little Slippery: "Not to mention there are so many things happening in the Palace of Heroes.
…”
The little slipper sniffed sharply.
"Really?"
The girl's voice was filled with a hint of surprise, but this surprise immediately turned into panic and timidity: "But... why did you..."
Thales stopped and stood a few steps away from her chair.
He loosened his clenched fists, looked directly into the girl's green eyes, and raised the corners of his mouth.
"Because you are you."
"Maybe sometimes there is very little room, but everyone can and should choose who they are..."
Thales closed his eyes gently and quickly opened them again.
"You will become who you choose to be."
At that moment, his mind flashed through Asheida's question to him, the story Ms. Jinni told him, Yodel's confession in the realm of shadows, and Gilbert's stand among the three kings.
The excited expression in front of the portrait, and the lonely figure of Kessel in the Bright Star Tomb.
He was thinking a lot and continued rather unconsciously:
"Although, we are always forced by life, by others, by society, and by the power everywhere to become...the person they want you to be."
The little slipper looked at Thales blankly, and looked at this strange boy with a bitter smile.
The wiped girl blinked her eyes and asked subconsciously: "For example... becoming a prince?"
Thales' eyes narrowed.
He looked at the little slippery head quietly and sighed silently: "Yes."
"Like a prince."
"So, if you want to escape, want to give up, want to stay away, I won't stop you - I will even help you."
The little slippery man seemed to be frightened. She looked at Thales motionlessly.
The second prince sighed.
Kessel's words rang in his ears:
Starting from being named the Brilliant Star, fighting for the stars, dying for the stars, and... living for the stars.
His eyes refocused and went straight into Little Slippery's eyes.
"But before that, have you figured out who you are and who you want to be?"
The little slipper's eyes widened slightly: "What?"
Thales shook his head, ignored her doubts, and continued on his own:
"Are you a naughty boy? Are you a maid who writes homework for you? Are you a book lover in the library? Are you Thelma Walton? Are you the unlucky guy who was innocently involved in all this?"
The little slipper froze on the spot, his breathing slowly becoming disordered.
"In the eyes of Alex, you are her humble maid. In the eyes of King Nun, you are the last son of the Walton family. In the eyes of the Sky Queen, you are a person who wears her glasses without knowing it."
"Interesting girl," Thales said calmly: "But in your own eyes?"
"Who are you?" he asked the question when they first met.
The little slicker's eyes became more and more confused.
"Choosing to become a naughty boy because of temporary fear or past habits, choosing to become a Walton daughter because of temporary vanity, or choosing to escape from all of this because of temporary pressure - in my opinion, these are the differences between
There is essentially no difference, neither is what you really want, you are forced to become someone you are completely unprepared to be."
In an instant, silence and stillness enveloped the small butcher shop.
Little Slippery sat on the chair blankly, looking at Thales standing in front of him.
His eyes were full of confusion and fear.
"What about you?" A few seconds later, Little Slippery looked like a person struggling out of the water, raising his head blankly, trying to find a life-saving straw: "Who do you think I am? Shouldn't I be a little maid?
?”
"you?"
Thales smiled.
He shook his head: "You are unlucky and you are the unlucky guy who got involved in these troubles with me."
Little Hua Tou's eyes darkened, he lowered his head and pouted.
Thales looked into her eyes and exhaled softly:
"But you are also a brave and strong girl. You have gone through nightmares and hell with me, and you have persisted until now."
Thales showed a smile that was both bitter and gratifying.
"If you become the Grand Duke - in my opinion, whether it is King Nun or the Grand Duke of Lomba, you will be much better than them."
Little Huantou raised her head again, her eyes flashed with surprise and amazement.
"In my opinion, you are not unprepared to become Walton."
Under the little slippery gaze, Thales continued:
"You have been reading in Nekaru's library for many years. You know the books in it by heart, and you are familiar with historical allusions. You completed Alex's homework, maybe even more competent than her, and..."
Thales was in a trance as he thought about what happened yesterday, as if it had been several years ago, and the pictures in his memory had turned yellow.
"In the face of such a monster, even in the most desperate times, when I was in the most danger, you never left me - even if the final outcome may be a painful death."
The prince looked into the little slippery eyes.
The little Huantou pursed his lips and wiped away the tears on his face.
"Let me tell you another secret." Thales said.
The little slippery one blinked.
In front of Thales' eyes, a strong and muscular figure appeared, as well as a pair of compelling sky-blue eyes.
"When I became a prince, my...father also asked me a similar question," Thales' eyes wandered, and his thoughts were no longer in this butcher shop, but drifted to the distant Eternal Star City:
"'Are you ready?' - that's what he asked."
He chuckled unconsciously.
"How do you answer?" Little Huitou asked expectantly.
Thales turned his eyes and looked back at her: "I said, 'No'."
"Then," the girl's eyes lit up: "How did your father react?"
Thales looked into Little Slippery's eyes quietly, motionless.
Until the latter tilted his head in embarrassment.
A few seconds later.
Thales sighed:
"He said, 'It doesn't matter.'"
"Because, 'Fate will prepare you.'"
"That's what he told me."
The little slippery man was stunned.
Thales exhaled a breath from his nose, as if he had just removed the biggest shackles.
The prince showed what he thought was the most confident smile.
"So, don't be anxious, don't panic, you have many choices," Thales gently held Little Slippery's hand and said sincerely: "When we escape from here, choose wisely who you are and what you want.
The person you have become - whether you want to leave or stay, I will not stop you."
The little slipper looked at him blankly.
"Before this, you don't have to think about anything. You are just a loyal partner who will survive with me," Thales stared at her steadily:
"This is enough."
Little Huitou looked at him in surprise.
It was like meeting him for the first time.
The little slipper twitched his nose and said with some vague understanding: "Okay."
Thales raised his eyebrows: "Now, go get some sleep, we need physical strength and energy."
The little slipper nodded obediently.
Thales sighed.
Finally she was comforted.
Thales turned around and climbed onto his chair.
Gu's chair is a little soft - I don't know what kind of wood it is made of.
"Tiles," Little Slippery said in a low voice from behind, "Thank you."
Taylor paused.
"No," he lowered his head, feeling a little disappointed: "I was the one who got you involved."
Otherwise, she would still be a little maid sitting in the library reading, only having to worry about Alex.
Is not it.
The two children lay back on their respective chairs and closed their eyes in peace for the time being.
"Tales," in the darkness with his eyes closed, Little Slippery's timid voice came again: "Are you really only seven years old?"
"Why do you know so much?"
Thales, who was adjusting his lying position, smiled when he heard this.
He opened his eyes and saw Little Slider lying on his side on a chair with his eyes closed.
This reminded Thales of the latter sleeping soundly beside the bed in his room.
"Who knows," he gently slid off the chair and walked to the corner, "Maybe, I am already thirty-seven years old."
As usual, Thales lay down in the corner against the wall, resting his head on his hands, feeling the double protection of the ground and the wall, feeling much more at ease: "It just doesn't look old."
Next to him came the laughter of the little naughty boy.
Thales also laughed.
Choose for yourself, choose the person you want to be - he was repeating this to himself in his heart, while thinking of what he said to the magician before Asheida left.