He felt that a hole appeared in the void beneath his feet.
A growing hole.
Until he fell into it.
Inextricable.
He subconsciously raised his legs to get out of that terrible hole, but he received a call.
"Your Highness."
Thales woke up suddenly.
Only then did he realize that he was lying across the seat, with his right leg firmly pressed against the car.
And there was no hollow beneath his feet.
Not to mention falling.
In his ears, there were only the rumble of horse hooves, the slow sound of wheels, the low voices of people, and...
"Sorry for disturbing your sleep."
In the shaking carriage, Gilbert's gentle voice slowly calmed his panic:
"Did you have a good rest last night?"
Thales sat up straight, took a deep breath, and rubbed his face.
"No, I just..."
...It’s just that I haven’t slept so peacefully in a long time.
Thales buried his face in his hands and said silently.
A second later, the prince raised his head from his hands and smiled kindly:
"...Just taking a nap."
Gilbert looked at him seriously for a long time before smiling:
"Your Highness."
"Ahead is Yongxing City."
Yongxing City.
For a moment, this phrase seemed to have extraordinary magic power, sweeping away Thales' fatigue and sleepiness.
"What?"
Thales turned his head in surprise.
"So fast?"
The young man dragged his somewhat numb body, tried his best to move to the side of the car, and opened the window.
"We have only been in the Central District for a few days..."
Thales' words stopped abruptly.
As the carriage passed up a hill, he saw the shadowy cavalry outside the window.
Under the bright sunshine, the fields are vast, the roads are flat, and the villages are in order.
It looks like a colorful ribbon mixed between the blue sky and black soil.
On both sides of the Chidao, more and more people are approaching:
Busy merchants, farmers on the road, officials speeding by, and carriages of all kinds, fast or slow, in order, they stayed aside the road under the strong orders of the standing army and stayed outside the temporary cordon set up by the soldiers.
They all looked at the astonishing fleet of vehicles with curious and surprised eyes.
"Probably a dignitary from a certain family..."
"Oh, there are so many bodyguards clearing the way. Maybe they are some great count from out of town."
"Do you think the carriage contained people or things? I guess it was some expensive urinals..."
The vague discussion reached the young man's ears vaguely.
But none of this can compare to the focus of Thales's gaze.
That is a city.
From the distant view, the towering gray brick city wall stands like a towering tree. The protruding sentry towers and battlements are jagged, giving it a unique scenery. The star-blue flag at the head of the city flutters in the wind like rolling waves.
It is not as majestic and majestic as Longxiao City, not as solid and tough as Broken Dragon Fortress, and not as chaotic and free as Blade Tooth Camp.
but……
He didn't know why, such a well-organized, ordinary-looking city attracted his attention so much at this moment.
Yongxing City.
Thales was a little crazy looking at it.
"You don't have to be nervous."
Gilbert seemed to understand the boy's complicated emotions, and he said calmly:
"You're home, that's all."
Thales still couldn't look away from the city in the distance, and he could only hear him saying in a trance:
"I know."
I know.
Gilbert didn't say anything, he just looked at the prince's gaffe with a smile.
"If you want, Your Highness..."
Gilbert gave an encouraging look.
"Then go out and see for yourself."
See for yourself…
He is strange yet familiar...
home.
Thales slowly woke up, and his eyes gradually became firm.
Gilbert said with a smile:
"I think it's time for Yongxing City and the entire kingdom to meet their heir after six years of absence."
After six years of separation...
Thales' gaze passed through the soldiers, through passers-by, through the fields, and finally through the distant city wall and the clouds in the sky.
"Of course, Gilbert."
Thales looked back with a complicated expression:
"certainly."
Facing the rare look from the prince, the Foreign Minister remained silent for a few seconds.
Then, Gilbert gently pushed the window open, knocked on the car, and poked his head slightly.
"Lord Mallos, could you please slow down and raise the nine-pointed star flag? It may be time for His Royal Highness to appear in public."
Count Casso's shout caused the horses' hooves and wheels outside the carriage to change their speed and trajectory at the same time. The royal guards surrounding the prince's carriage took action and quickly gave way to a formation, revealing the watchman Marius approaching on horseback.
"Let His Highness see his Yongxing City..."
Gilbert's words continued, but...
"I'm very sorry."
"no."
Marius's voice moved from far to near like a horse's hooves, his tone was gentle and polite, but he refused simply.
There is absolutely no room for negotiation.
Gilbert was stunned for a moment, as if he didn't expect that his proposal would be rejected.
Thales also frowned.
Fortunately, the Foreign Secretary only paused for a few seconds, and then continued to reach out of the car and tried to make another effort.
"Okay, Lord Mallos, I understand your work, but we neither need to stop nor deviate from the route, but His Highness needs to enter the main road when..."
But what greeted him was still Marius' polite reply:
"I can't allow it."
Thales had a meal.
Gilbert also froze slightly:
"Lord?"
Mallos's face appeared outside the car window, and he looked at Thales in the car.
"I believe you understand the sensation caused by the prince's return to the country better than I do. Those nobles of the Western Wilderness are a lesson learned..."
"I can even imagine what kind of crowds and chaos we would face if the Duke showed up publicly, from civilians watching the excitement to nobles trying to find out the news... It would be too troublesome for us. For safety reasons , I don’t think it’s appropriate for the Duke to show up, but should stay in the carriage until he enters the Fuxing Palace.”
The watchman's smile remained unchanged. He looked at the curious civilians on both sides of the avenue and rejected him in a friendly tone:
"And we don't need to make a big show of it to attract more attention."
For safety reasons.
Hearing the polite but decisive refusal from the other party, Thales frowned slightly.
"Lord Marius, if you are considering safety, we have already arrived at the royal capital, and we have you and even a standing army behind us. I believe you will be sure to guarantee His Highness..." Gilbert spoke softly, but was interrupted by Mallos.
"No, no, no, don't overestimate us, Earl, we have neither the wrath of the kingdom nor the flower of the fortress." Mallos' smile remained the same, but it was not very pleasing to Thales' eyes:
"If we really have to face a flood of people, the best we can do is...50-50."
Gilbert was speechless for a moment.
Everyone in the royal guard looked at each other.
And Mallos was still smiling.
The prince's mood became a little dull.
Gilbert felt the tense atmosphere.
"I appreciate the caution and concern of the Royal Guards, but should we consider more beyond that?"
Earl Castle sat upright, supported his cane, and showed his professional negotiation attitude:
"Whether he is His Highness the Prince or the Duke of Xinghu, on the first day of his return, he should appear in public, at least for a few seconds, so that everyone can see him returning from the city and let the news spread."
The cunning fox of the stars narrowed his eyes:
"And this is for the royal family, for His Majesty's rule and interests."
"Lord Marius?"
Listening to the other party's legitimate and noble reasons, Marius lowered his head on the mount and was silent for a while.
But just when Thales thought he was about to compromise...
"Hahaha... maybe I didn't express myself clearly, maybe you were just joking."
Mallos raised his head, his smile became more sincere, but his eyes were calm and indifferent.
"However, it is my mission to safely escort the prince back to the Renaissance Palace, Count Casso." Mallos bent the muscles on both sides of his lips, but there was no smile in his eyes:
"Nothing else."
The nails, neither hard nor soft, made Gilbert frown.
Sensing Mallos's lack of cooperation in this matter, Thales glanced at the (relatively speaking) small carriage where he had been staying for a long time, feeling the numbness on his buttocks from being shaken by the carriage, and then looked at the vast scenery outside the window.
As well as that famous hometown city, he felt a little depressed in silence.
"We should have discussed this, my lord."
Gilbert's tone became a little stiff:
"You and I both have our own missions, and we try not to embarrass each other - before this, we worked well together, didn't we."
Staring at Gilbert's eyes, Mallos also smiled.
He was silent for only a few seconds.
"I'm sorry that my mission conflicts with yours," Mallos' expression remained gentle and polite:
"But all I can do is 'sorry'."
"Count Castle."
He nodded respectfully at the end.
Gilbert's expression was a little ugly.
Although every sentence starts with a polite and humble apology, but...
Thales listened to the other party's consistent rejection, looked at the slightly unhappy Gilbert, and glanced at the royal guards surrounding him tightly surrounding him.
He suddenly thought of Longxiao City, the Palace of Heroes, and the Blood Courtyard.
There, Nicolai's men did the same thing, blocking every entrance and exit.
Thinking this way, the discomfort in the prince's heart reached its peak.
"My Lord..." Gilbert sighed.
"The Duke will stay in the carriage, which will save us a lot of trouble." The watchman smiled as brightly as before and interrupted Gilbert:
"This is enough."
After hearing this, Thales, who couldn't listen anymore, couldn't help but interject:
"So, because you think it's troublesome, you'd rather trap me in the carriage?"
The prince unconsciously raised his voice:
"I thought Your Majesty asked you to escort me, not to imprison me?"
The sound of hoofbeats from the surrounding mounts changed a bit.
The prince's loud words were obviously unusual, and several members of the Royal Guards—or Star Lake Guards—caught up nervously, including Doyle and Glover, whom Thales had gradually become familiar with.
Gilbert also changed his color slightly.
Mallos finally shifted his focus to Thales.
Thales frowned and seemed to want an explanation.
But Mallos only paused for a moment and then smiled:
"I'm sorry to make you feel this way, Your Majesty."
"After meeting His Majesty, you can protest to him at any time and suggest that he remove me from my position."
Thales was stunned.
Marius looked at Thales gently, shrugged, and said softly:
"But before that, in accordance with tradition and rules, as the watchman of the royal guard and the head of your personal guard..."
"I'm afraid my consideration and judgment of your personal safety takes precedence over your personal preferences."
"The responsibility lies with Wanwang Haihan."
At that moment, the air inside and outside the carriage seemed to freeze.
Thales' expression was stiff.
Marius looked as usual.
Among the surrounding royal guards, Doyle and Glover looked at each other. Several of them looked surprised, but they did not dare to say anything.
For some reason, Thales remembered Roman's "Don't teach me how to do my job" look when he was still in the Blade Fang Camp.
Just when Gilbert was about to say something to soothe his cheeks, Thales closed his eyes tightly and opened them again.
"You are the royal guards or my personal guards."
Thales spoke slowly:
"You should obey my orders."
But Mallos just shook his shoulders:
"You are the prince of the stars and the duke of the kingdom."
The watchman was still respectful, but his words showed no sign of weakness:
"You should also respect His Majesty's appointment."
His eyes reflected a profound light:
"Especially on your first day back."
Thales's face darkened.
"You mean..."
The prince stared at Marius closely and said every word:
"Is this an order from His Majesty?"
At that moment, Gilbert's color suddenly changed.
"No," the watchman said calmly on his horse:
"Just the way I carry out my orders."
The way to execute the command.
Thales' eyes changed.
Doyle, who was listening nervously, suddenly felt that the surrounding air seemed to have become thicker.
"Lord Marius."
Under the gaze of everyone, the prince faced the watchman without giving in and spoke softly:
"I want you to stop the carriage, now."
But Mallos just sneered:
"I'm very huggy..."
"Lord!" Gilbert, who sensed something was wrong, shouted and interrupted Marius.
The Foreign Secretary immediately turned to Thales, who had a cold face, and said warmly:
"Your Highness, you have been traveling a lot today. Maybe you really need to rest... I believe Lord Marius also wants to protect you..."
But Thales interrupted him.
"Protect me," the prince said as if he had just been dipped in ice water:
"Like six years ago?"
Gilbert was speechless for a moment.
The eyes of Thales and Mallos met in the air, one was cold and sharp, the other was indifferent.
Doyle, who was watching, suddenly had a premonition that something bad was going to happen.
"Gilbert, tell me," the prince said softly:
"Is the personal guard of every Duke of Star Lake - such as John - composed of the royal guard directly drawn by the king and posted personally?"
Gilbert froze.
Mallos also narrowed his eyes slightly.
The surrounding Star Lake Guards looked at each other with different expressions.
A few seconds later, Gilbert coughed, seemingly embarrassed:
"That's because you have been away from home for too long, there is a lack of available manpower around you, and His Majesty is worried..."
Thales didn't hear the rest of his words.
He just stared at Marius closely.
Like staring at another person.
"I understand." The prince said softly.
"continue."
Mallos' expression paused:
"What."
Thales stared at him:
"Keep smiling, Lord Marius."
Under the puzzled looks of the surrounding royal guards, Thales snorted coldly:
"Because if you don't smile..."
"Then you will look like a dead person."
Mallos was startled.
Gilbert looked at Thales worriedly:
"Your Highness..."
But Thales ignored Gilbert's words and just looked at Marius, who looked confused.
Marius frowned slightly, ignored him, turned his horse's head and ordered:
"Return to the previous formation..."
But this time, the prince spoke before him.
"So, the watchman of the Royal Guard, the Royal Knight, and the captain of my Star Lake Guard, Lord Tormund Mallos!"
The watchman's eyes froze.
Thales raised his voice so that the surrounding royal guards could hear clearly:
"To thank you for your hard work and dedication in escorting me back to the royal capital..."
As soon as this statement came out, all the guard members became confused.