"Your Majesty's order has been officially issued."
Gilbert, who was sitting across from him, was all smiles. He raised his tea cup and took a sip:
"Now, the news of your return and knighthood has spread throughout Yongxing City. In a few days, the entire Central Territory and even the whole country will know about it."
In the living room, Thales - as the host rather than the guest - smiled helplessly.
With the laziness of getting up in the morning, the young man stood up and walked slowly to the window.
The morning light shines through the window screen, illuminating the low-key but neat living room.
Thales opened the window, and fresh air came to his face.
And a sudden and harsh noise.
"Yes," the newly promoted Duke of Star Lake leaned against the window and yawned, pressing his waist:
"I can feel it from here."
The Mindis Hall under the window was not peaceful.
The garden and the road outside the iron gate have long been filled with carriages of all kinds, not counting the many visitors who come on foot or on horseback, a considerable number of whom are richly dressed and have obvious badges.
Outside the iron gate, the royal guards and the private soldiers of Bright Star went all out and were very busy: explaining and discouraging at the same time.
Thales leaned close to the window, the sins of the prison river surged into his ears, and he probably caught some scattered words.
"I'm sorry, Lord, Mindis Hall will not welcome guests this month," the stiff and serious voice of Pioneer Officer Grover came from in front of the iron gate:
"Only His Majesty's special warrant can pass..."
Immediately, another slightly excited voice overwhelmed Glover.
"No, no, no, Luke, I have been classmates with you for four years but never got to know each other well, so it doesn't matter who you are... What, you just came to see the scenery? That's enough for you! Look at the scenery for two days in a row.
It’s only eight hours, do you think I’m an idiot?”
It's Doyle.
At this moment, he was standing in front of an innocent-looking nobleman, angrily waving to the Mindis Hall behind him:
"It's so noisy every day, it's so noisy every day, I don't need it... Prince, doesn't he need to rest?"
Thales couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
Another decent and gentle voice broke into his ears:
"...Then this is the honorary Viscount of Kema," this is Marius, who smiles calmly on the outside, but in reality is far away from others. He is facing another nobleman who is not easy to deal with:
"Why don't you go find the heir to the Karabyan family you mentioned and ask him what's the secret to being able to make an exception and meet with the Duke?"
"Oh, it turns out that your family is a royal merchant, and you have three beautiful daughters ranging from nine to nineteen years old, who are likely to become princes and concubines! Disrespectful, then maybe as the future prince, you will be able to
Have you received His Majesty's order? If you come to visit me then, I will definitely line up to clear the way to welcome you."
"Well, the Mallos family is very grateful for your care. It's really sad that I can't buy your goods..."
"Thank you for greeting my parents and family, although they are no longer alive..."
"Well, on behalf of all my living female relatives, I would like to thank you for the greetings from you and the organ below you..."
"Okay, Your Excellency Viscount, I will definitely take the message to my family's ancestral cemetery and let my ancestors know..."
"But before that, for the safety of Duke Xinghu, I will temporarily detain you to the security hall..."
"Why? Because I suspect that you are secretly hiding weapons and intending to do evil to the Duke... Where are the weapons? Look, the gems on your ring are too bright, which is harmful to the Duke's eyes..."
"Then I suggest you complain directly to His Majesty or Lord Adrian about my service attitude..."
"How long will it take? Don't worry, there are only two and a half months left before the Duke's welcome banquet. After that, your plan will be ineffective, and then the royal guards will formally file a case of 'assassination of the royal family' against you..."
Hearing this, Thales sighed, closed the window, and no longer listened to the frantic self-defense of the pot-bellied Viscount Kema: "I'm not talking nonsense", and no longer cared about what he said.
Face fled back to his carriage in horror.
This is the third day since he returned to the capital and entered the Mindis Hall.
From the next day onwards, the Mindis Hall was bustling with visitors.
It was so noisy that the Star Lake Guards could not rest.
"You shouldn't have met the Karabiyan heir a few days ago, even if he was your old friend," Gilbert put down the teacup and sighed:
"Now, many nobles, officials, and reputable people in the royal capital are all imitating the same example and seeking connections to get in."
"Yes, yes, I understand," Thales sat back in his seat and said in a daze:
"This is the price."
He underestimated the impact and shock of his return to China.
The prince attracted more than just visitors.
Obviously, Duke Xinghu's move in not only awakened the usually quiet Mindis Hall, but in three days, the improvement of the mansion's standards also affected the entire Yongxing City:
The city hall issued six emergency orders to redevelop green plants, install lights, and clean up all the road intersections in Duixing District (that the prince could see) and decorate them magnificently. Not a single refugee or beggar was allowed to enter.
It cannot be seen that the city appearance has been greatly improved, to some extent, it is even better than Dongcheng District where the nobles gather.
The Police Department has rescheduled its patrol schedule and manpower arrangements. The Muixing District and the three police departments in the two districts immediately adjacent to it (which were originally at odds with each other) are united and friendly, and cooperate sincerely. Countless police officers are rushing to do their best, and groups of security teams are forming.
Working back and forth and patrolling day and night, this awkward and nearly forgotten area has been transformed into a paradise on earth where no one picks up any items on the road or closes the door at night.
The chief garrison officer of Yongxing City hurriedly increased the city defense team on the city wall on the side of the Evening Star District (even though the Evening Star District is thousands of miles away from the city wall) to ensure that "no Xiaoxiao can get past us and threaten the prince." He also specifically requested
After obtaining the warrant, the standing army was transferred from outside the city and a special route was set up to clear the way for the supply and logistics transportation of Mindis Hall - according to a certain soldier, "Even the prince's poop transported out is not allowed to be defiled!"
Thales pressed his forehead listlessly.
Gilbert smiled helplessly:
"I can already imagine when I go home... I've probably never been so 'welcome' in my life."
"As His Majesty's most trusted minister, you are already very popular," Thales breathed out:
"And believe me, the Exeters will welcome you more than the Starmen."
Gilbert nodded suddenly.
In the past few days, if you didn't look at the large number of speculators who stretched their necks outside the wall, eager to try their luck to meet the prince, the days in Mindis Hall were quite peaceful.
Sleep until wake up, breakfast, free time, lunch, sleep until wake up, free time, dinner, free time, sleep until wake up.
Oh, by the way, you are basically not allowed to go outdoors for free activities because you have to avoid the paparazzi—ahem, he means to avoid those fanatical speculators who want to see the prince.
Although the pace of life is similar to that in Longxiao City, but...
There is no intrigue, no anxiety, no constant pressure, no thrill of survival, no crazy journey of thousands of miles of escape.
No one disturbs, no one interferes, no one cares.
He really has some...
Not used to it.
Thales picked up the teacup and moistened his throat with satisfaction.
Compared with six years ago when he lived here as a guest and everything had to go through Gilbert, six years later, it is still beneficial for him to become the owner of this place.
At least he can directly give orders to the people around him (such as "Give me a harder mattress"), and his words will be obeyed - at least on the surface.
This life is indeed...
Thales slowly leaned back and sincerely let out a cry (praise) (sigh) unique to a rice insect:
It's decadent.
So much so that he almost forgot about the things in Fuxing Palace...
that person.
"So, Gilbert, what are our plans for today?"
Thales pointed at the table dullly:
"Why did you bring a lot of...paper?"
Gilbert, who looked at the Duke lovingly, turned around as if he suddenly remembered, moved a stack of papers on the table to his lap, and at the same time took out a pair of glasses.
"Sorry, I'm old and my eyesight is a bit hard to use..."
The middle-aged foreign minister said sheepishly.
His glasses are very special. They are a pair of hand-held folding glasses. They have no frame, but a special handle on the right side of the frame.
"By the way, the gift you requested for the Grand Duchess was ordered from the same handmade mirror shop..."
As Gilbert spoke, he raised his glasses to cover his eyes and began to flip through the papers on his knees.
"I don't know what you think, but after all, they specialize in custom-made glasses for scholars and old men like me. The color design is neither fancy nor trendy. It probably won't please young girls. You didn't
I was thinking of sending something else..." There was something in the foreign minister's words, but Thales, who had already experienced many battles, had a normal expression and turned a deaf ear to it.
"So, first of all..."
Not sure whether it was because the prince showed no reaction or because he finally found the target on the paper, Gilbert sighed slightly and said:
"Your welcome banquet is initially scheduled for more than two months."
"The newly promoted Duke of Star Lake will be formally introduced to the entire kingdom - at least the entire Yongxing City."
The Foreign Secretary still lowered his head, but his eyes glanced over his glasses and looked at Thales.
Introduced to...the whole kingdom.
Thales was in a nervous mood.
He took a deep breath and sat up straight in his chair.
The laziness and comfort of the past few days were suddenly gone.
It's time too.
He sighed and told himself.
Wake up, Thales.
Except for the noble lord of the shovel...
Where are the happy rice bugs in the world?
Thales cheered up:
"And these two months?"
Gilbert raised his eyes from the paper:
"It's your time to rest, adapt, and adjust."
"so long?"
Gilbert shook his head and denied:
"No, not at all. In fact, it's a little too short."
"After all, you have been in the Northland for six years," the Foreign Minister looked at Thales, looking at his habitual posture, which seemed to be undisciplined, but in fact he sat with his elbows propped up, ready to roll to the ground at any time, and his unavoidable posture.
, with sharp and direct eyes, including the uniform that is convenient for movement but not very solemn, he frowned imperceptibly:
"From conversation, behavior, habits to etiquette, knowledge, we have too many things to correct..."
This time it was Thales' turn to frown:
"Correction?"
"Conversation, manners, habits?"
Gilbert realized that he had made a mistake.
"Sorry, no disrespect, but what I mean is, we have too many things to prepare..."
The Foreign Secretary glanced at Thales and said in a respectful tone:
"With all due respect, although there was a stunning appearance at the State Council meeting that year, it was six years ago after all."
"For six years, no one knew anything about you except for sporadic news."
"Now, they only know that Prince Thales has just returned from the rude, wild, dangerous and cold Northland. He grew up under the influence and education of those unreasonable northern men and the Exeter people."
Gilbert performed a standard etiquette and said sincerely:
"And what we need to show them..."
Thales leaned back on his chair and pressed his head helplessly.
"I see."
"You can tell me directly," the young Duke of Star Lake sighed deeply:
"Everyone in the kingdom from top to bottom is wondering whether the second prince may have been distorted by the barbaric and perverted Yankees, whose personality was ruined, his brain was blinded, and his sexual orientation was changed..."
"After all, in their eyes, the Exeter people are all illiterate, so they may even wonder whether the heir who returns from the kingdom may only look like a prince of the stars on the outside, but inside he is a rude illiterate from the North?"
After speaking in one breath, Thales exhaled in displeasure.
I've been trapped for six years, six years.
Are you satisfied?
Okay, Charmaine.
You can barely count as a winner.
Taylor thought boringly.
"I didn't say that," Gilbert smiled happily, but then his face turned serious:
"But sexuality...you're kidding, right?"
Thales was too lazy to finish this little joke and just said to himself:
"And what you have to do is to make me more local, more decent, more acceptable, and more...'star' before I make my debut?"
"Not entirely, Your Highness."
Gilbert seemingly let go of the "joke" that was not very reassuring, and smiled again:
"In fact, your trip to the North is one of your most dazzling experiences, just like the legendary journey of a mercenary: strange and mysterious, attracting awe and wonder from those who don't know it."
Those who don’t know…
Thales laughed at himself in his mind.
But when the other party mentioned mercenaries, he suddenly thought of Quick Rope, and then the mysterious and terrifying Ricky.
"So we might as well preserve some of the imprint that Longxiao City left for you..."
Thales came back to his senses:
"brand?"
Gilbert smiled and nodded:
"Let others know that Duke Thales has the advantages of being on both sides of the national border: you are the only one in this era who is inherited by the empire and stars, tempered by the north wind and the dragon, and can be inspired by the Renaissance Palace.
Even the ministers can survive in the desperate situation of the Palace of Heroes..."
"The proud son of heaven."
The air was quiet for a second.
In front of the foreign minister with burning eyes, Thales lowered his head and subconsciously rubbed his face.
Damn it.
As expected of a diplomat.
Compared to "packaging country bumpkin Taylor", this is quite true...
beautiful?
The skill of Xingchen Fox has not diminished - Thales sighed.
A few polite and harmless words dispelled the unhappiness in his heart.
In this regard, he was very different from the gloomy little old man in Putilai who talked and spoiled everyone.
Perhaps this is why, among the two people who worked together in the Foreign Affairs Department, one of them rose to the top, became a close confidant of the king, and became famous in the Western Continent.
The other person is running around, working hard all day long, and no matter how many achievements he has made, no one knows about him.
Thales thought silently.
"Well, if I'm really illiterate, Gilbert..."
A few seconds later, Thales adjusted his emotions and replied with the same smile:
"Then you started literacy at the age of fourteen. Isn't it a little late?"
"Others may not understand, Your Highness, but I am your full-time teacher," Gilbert said with emotion when talking about the past:
"It's just six years of recess."
He winked at Thales:
"So, do you remember how a sonnet is written?"
Tails and Gilbert chuckled at the same time.
But unexpectedly, while smiling, Gilbert suddenly spoke.
"So, it's just a six-year break."
His voice deepened:
"Your Highness."
"Six years."
Thales put away his smile and looked at the Foreign Minister strangely.
"Don't be discouraged, kid," Gilbert said slowly without looking at him:
"To know."
"Sometimes, dads make mistakes."
Thales was stunned.
"Give him time, Your Highness," Gilbert said quietly:
"Give him time."
He choked up slightly.
The temperature and light in the reception room seemed to sink at that moment.
Thales was silent and thinking deeply.
Gilbert didn't speak either.
The two just sat facing each other in silence.
It took quite a while.
Finally, Thales took a deep breath and smiled.
"Gilbert," the prince said seriously, looking at this middle-aged man who once taught him to read step by step, who was once young and vigorous, but now has gray hair and is showing signs of fatigue:
"Thank you."
Gilbert forced a smile and restrained his emotions.
"for what?"
Thales lowered his head and raised the corners of his mouth after a while:
"For...everything."
silence.
For a while there was only a faint noise outside the window.
"No, Your Highness."
"everything……"
Gilbert sighed:
"All for you."
Thales said nothing.
"Your Highness," Gilbert glanced at the familiar Mindis Hall before him, and finally showed a haggard but relaxed smile:
"Welcome home."
At that moment, a warm current that originated from six years ago surged in the prince's heart.
Sweep away the gloom of the past.
It's like the estrangement when we first returned to the stars...