Thales stood awkwardly by the desk on the third floor and picked up a towel soaked in hot water from the tub.
He was still wearing sweat-stained and smelly training clothes, his skin was sticky and greasy, the scrapes and bruises were still faintly hot, and his body was still sore, making him very uncomfortable.
It's like I'm back in the days of beggars.
But Thales didn't speak.
He just wiped his face and neck quietly, with a little anticipation and nervousness, and from time to time looked at the sassy figure by the window with his arms folded and looking into the distance.
Jinni silently looked at the setting sun on the horizon, watching the servants in the courtyard busy lighting lamps, the expression on their side faces was calm and deep, thoughtful and reminiscing.
"You shouldn't have let them do that."
Jinni's voice was cold and powerful, with a hint of weathered determination.
Thales' arm, which was twisting the towel, suddenly stiffened.
"Just now, you shouldn't have let the guards be so presumptuous."
The palace lady slowly turned around, as tall and strong as she was six years ago, like a cedar in winter.
"Boy."
Her eyes were as sharp as before, and her tone was as stern as before, reminding Thales of their first meeting six years ago.
At that time, she folded her arms like this, looking at him quietly with an incomprehensible expression.
Six years later, Thales subconsciously wanted to turn his head to avoid the scrutiny from the enlightenment instructor.
"Maybe."
He said in a low voice, with a little helplessness and a slight fluctuation.
Thales picked up the towel in time, covered his sight, and pressed his dirty face and uncontrollable expression into the warm and soft fabric at the same time.
Jinni said nothing.
He put down the towel, tried to meet Jinni's eyes calmly, and tried to release his most natural and warm smile:
"Madam, nice...to see you again."
After six years.
Jinni did not answer immediately. She still stared at Thales silently, and her originally cold and stern eyes had a hint of indescribable meaning.
"very good."
A few seconds later, when the palace lady looked away, she took a deep breath, as if she wanted to restrain herself.
"Then, your etiquette class begins now."
Jinni's tone returned to calmness and strictness, and she walked away from the window.
Thales came back to his senses, and with the usual nervousness in front of the enlightenment instructor, he suppressed his physical fatigue and quickly threw down the towel.
"No need," Jinni stopped him from taking away the tub:
"Today, we will not be practicing table manners."
table manners.
Memories of the past came to Thales' mind, and he suppressed them forcefully.
The female officer sat down on the reception chair, ignoring the refreshments at hand, and glanced at Thales, who was looking a little embarrassed after training, with a soft look:
"The first class won't be very long either."
"And you obviously need to rest more now."
Thales was stunned for a few seconds, then nodded gratefully:
"Thank you, ma'am."
But Ji Ni’s expression immediately turned serious:
"Don't be too busy rejoicing. We will make up for the lost time in the next class."
At that moment, Thales seemed to have returned to six years ago, when he saw the strict and cold-hearted female officer Jinnie in the training ground and at the dinner table. She asked him to raise his shield and hold his knife and fork with a cold face.
The familiar feeling came to my mind again and I couldn't suppress it.
That scene seemed like it happened yesterday.
It's like he never left the country and went north, never returning for many years.
It's like the past six years was just a dream last night and never happened.
But when he woke up this morning, he was still sitting upright under Jin Ni's hands, listening attentively to his instructions.
Thales held back the throbbing in his eyes and chest, nodded, recalled the etiquette unique to the Kingdom of Stars, and sat down solemnly.
Jinni kept staring at him until Thales adjusted his state.
"In the imperial era thousands of years ago, the Supreme Emperor sent his personal guards to the princes to serve as knights."
Jinni went straight to the topic as always, but her eyes were still looking up and down Thales.
"After the End War, although the old tradition of knights was almost extinct, this practice was inherited by the star kings of the past generations: the royal guards were stationed beside adult princes - becoming their guards, attendants, and subordinates
, help, and even future vassals.”
Thales did not expect that Jinni would start talking about history as soon as she opened her mouth, but the young man immediately woke up:
She was not satisfied with her performance just now.
"And how to manage and use these subordinates with extraordinary significance and complex backgrounds to get along harmoniously with the royal guards and get along with each other."
"This is a required course for every prince throughout the ages."
A subordinate with extraordinary significance and complex background...
Thales lightly clenched his fist.
He thought of Marius's indifference, Doyle's frivolity, and Glover's coldness in Mindis Hall.
But the next second, he remembered Sak'el's silence under the Bone Cage, Barney's persistence, and Samir's extreme.
"Without a doubt," Jinni's words became more solemn:
"This is also part of royal etiquette."
Thales listened silently.
The palace lady's eyes were like daggers, slicing open Thales's heart:
"Remember, you are the Duke of Star Lake and the owner of Mindis Hall."
"He is their master."
Duke of Star Lake.
Mindis Hall’s...
Their……
Owner.
The young man's eyes flashed slightly.
"You are no longer an illegitimate son who needs to hide from others, but you are the official second prince and the heir to the kingdom."
Jinni's words were harsh.
illegitimate child.
The second prince.
Heir to the Kingdom.
"Is it?"
Thales spoke as if unintentionally, causing Jinni to choke on her words.
"That's right."
A few seconds later, Jinni's voice became much stronger, sounding a little dissatisfied with his reaction:
"As a Duke, you have to take the initiative and show them your majesty, toughness and severity."
"Let your subordinates know the consequences of disrespecting the prince."
Take the initiative…
Show your majesty...
"August, tough and stern?"
Thales murmured and repeated, forcing a smile.
The Duke exhaled slowly, and what he saw in front of him was the dark and deep Fuxing Palace.
And in the meeting hall, at the end of the deep corridor, is the high throne.
His shoulders relaxed.
"Maybe."
Thales tried his best to raise the corners of his mouth, appearing slightly silent.
"but……"
But that's really not my style.
no.
He did not continue speaking, but finished the sentence in his heart.
Jinnie frowned.
It seems that I didn't expect that a student I hadn't seen for many years would react like this.
The silence in the study lasted for a few seconds.
"The letter sent back from the north said that you have gone through many hardships and have an extraordinary character. No matter how fierce and tough the enemy is, you have no fear and are neither humble nor arrogant."
"Just like you would at a state meeting."
Jinni said coldly:
"Why are you so weak when facing your subordinate guards here?"
Thales was silent for a while.
"Because it's different."
The young man seemed to feel something and sighed softly:
"It's a conference in the country, but in the north, all I have to face is my opponent."
"And all I need to do is follow the teachings and raise the shield."
Raise your shield.
As if remembering something, Jinni was slightly absent-minded.
"But here..."
Thales pursed his lips and fell into deep thought, his face slightly solemn.
"I need to face more than just my guards."
Thales looked into the distance in ecstasy.
Jinni didn't speak, she just frowned and looked at Thales.
After a few seconds, she spoke slowly:
"Your guards, Marius and the others..."
But Thales interrupted her.
"Ma'am, please."
Thales closed his eyes and sighed loudly.
"Throughout this journey, Gilbert only said good things, Yodel always remained silent, and the others..."
Jinni was stunned for a moment.
Thales raised his head and showed an unnatural smile:
"But you, madam, you are the one who enlightened me on swordsmanship and etiquette, and more importantly, you are his..."
Thales didn't finish speaking, but Jinni vaguely felt something.
Duke Xinghu lowered his head:
"I thought you should be more honest than them."
Ji Ni repeated in shock:
"Candid?"
Thales nodded and looked at Jini:
"He doesn't like me."
Jinni was stunned.
Thales stated the facts calmly, as if it was the most ordinary truth:
"He didn't like me from the first moment."
"It's no secret."
The Duke chuckled emotionlessly.
"Even my guards know it."
"That's the reason."
At this moment, Thales's eyes were calm and he looked directly at the slightly surprised Jinni.
The latter wanted to say something, but failed in the end.
There was silence in the study for a long time.
The palace lady's expression was profound, her eyes flashed with an unknown light, and she glanced back and forth over Thales' body.
Finally, Jinni took a deep breath and spoke slowly:
"The angry sea is storming."
Thales didn't react and was confused for a while.
I saw Ji Ni stabilize her expression that changed several times, lowered her eyes, and said in a deep voice:
"What did Mallos say about the power of ending that you awakened?"
oh.
Raging sea and roaring waves.
Still immersed in the inexplicable emotion just now, Thales exhaled and adjusted himself back.
"I don't know," the Duke reluctantly shook his head and said honestly:
"This is also my first time listening to it."
But Jinni smiled.
"The finishing power of most knights in the kingdom is closely related to their personal experience, especially the teacher who taught them."
The palace female official said calmly:
"There is also a small group of people who are completely opposite: master and disciple are in conflict with each other."
Thales thought for a moment and thought that this had something in common with what Ricky said.
"Is it."
so.
Angry sea and stormy waves...
"So, Northlanders, they taught you a lot?"
Jinni looked at him and said intentionally or unintentionally.
Northlanders.
Thales thought of his life in Exeter and unconsciously raised the corners of his mouth:
"That's right."
But when Thales raised his head again, he suddenly discovered something was wrong.
It's Jinnie.
I don’t know when, but Jinni’s stern eyes softened.
She looked at Thales quietly, with indescribable emotions in her eyes.
It left Thales at a loss.
His first teacher's lips were trembling, and he hesitated to speak several times.
"Boy."
Finally, Jinni spoke.
This time, her voice was no longer cold and tough, but soft and hoarse:
"You... lost weight in the north."
Taylor was stunned for a moment.
Jinni stared at him and showed a smile that Thales rarely saw.
"right."
Her smile was quiet and elegant, but with a hint of indescribable sadness.
This made Thales' thinking stop.
In the days after returning home, Yodel, Cohen, Gilbert, and many old acquaintances all expressed excitement and emotion after seeing him.
You have grown taller.
grown up.
Mature.
Becoming...more like someone.
but……
you lost weight.
This was the first time Thales heard such a comment.
The young man looked at Jinnie blankly.
And Jinni just looked back at him quietly, with a sad smile in the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
At that moment, it was like there was some kind of power that filled his chest.
Thales had no choice but to turn his head, blinking at an angle that Jinni couldn't see. At the same time, he squeezed out a smile and spoke to divert his attention:
"Well, um, ah, these past few months have been a bit rough..."
But Jinni didn't listen to what he said, nor did she pay attention to Thales' slightly changed voice.
For the first time, the female palace official picked up the tea cup at her side with an elegant and dignified posture.
"you know."
Jinni’s voice was still soft and sad:
"A long time ago, your grandfather didn't like him very much either."
Thales' figure froze.
grandfather?
He turned around mechanically and looked at Jinnie.
At this moment, the palace lady was sitting peacefully on a chair, stroking the tea cup in her hand, but there was a trace of sadness that Thales had never seen before in her eyebrows and lips.
"It is said that after the late queen passed away and the eldest son of the king left the palace, he was not popular in the entire Fuxing Palace for a long time."
Jinni looked at the reflection in the teacup in her hand longingly:
"The servants were so 'careless' that they forgot his meals and oil, and the royal guards often ignored his whereabouts and safety."
Thales was stunned.
He suddenly remembered that scene many years ago:
In the tomb, the figure holding the scepter whispered to him.
"He said that during those years, when he was a teenager, he was sneaking around in the palace and living like a mouse."
Jinni said softly:
"Self-reliance."
Thales was shocked.
Sneaking here and there...
Self-reliance…
Live like... a mouse...
The boy subconsciously grasped the arm of the chair.
It's like holding onto a hole in the wall of an abandoned house.
Jinni raised her head:
"But this does not prevent him from growing up with a bad smile and a lively attitude amidst the discrimination, neglect, contempt and abuse of the entire kingdom."
"until now."
Jinni looked at Thales quietly.
Thales stared at the floor blankly.
After a few seconds, Thales came back to his senses and took a deep breath.
"Thank you, ma'am."
The boy smiled again:
"I see."
Jinni raised the corners of her mouth, trying to pull out a smile that she was usually not good at, but after a moment, she realized something and put down her tea cup, and she frowned unnaturally.
"So boy, I mean, you are too thin, look at others beating you up..."
Jinni noticed that her words were trembling, so she took a few deep breaths and paused at an angle invisible to Thales.
"Remember to eat more."
Jinni hesitated for a while and then added:
"Also, go to bed early."
But this time, Thales was not brought into the same atmosphere by her serious tone. The Duke smiled:
"Of course, ma'am."
"certainly."
A few seconds later, Jinni turned her head again, her expression and tone slowly changed back to cold and stern, sounding nonchalant:
"Speaking of which, boy, how well do you know your Guard?"
Thales raised his eyes and adjusted his mood.
"not much?"
Jinni pulled her lips and was silent for a while.
"listen."
"After the Year of Blood, in order to eradicate the threat, your father went too far in the liquidation and involved too many people."
Thales's face changed.
In the dungeon, the angry expression of Marina, the Sword of Disaster, flashed before his eyes.
Ji Ni said seriously:
"So, inside and outside Yongxing City, along with the threats, there is also trust."
Thales frowned.
"And don't forget that for twelve years, your father had no heir."
"This not only weakened his prestige and aroused the ambitions of the dukes, but also undermined the traditional supporters of the royal family - the Central Territory, the vassals directly under the Canxing family headed by the Seven Stars - their confidence in the king.
."
Thales subconsciously added:
"And loyalty?"
Jinni glanced at him, noncommittal.
"During those twelve years, your father had to promote and reuse many new people - such as three handsome men, such as Gilbert, whom you are familiar with, and such as Earl Godwin, Viscount Conney, Baron Garth, and Juke.
Man, Thordor Red...they have become the main force of the current royal party and consolidated his rule."
"But in contrast, under his rule, and under the dissatisfaction of other guardian dukes, traditional royal vassals like the Seven Shining Stars have fallen into trough and silence, and have gradually drifted away from the Fuxing Palace."
Seven Servants of the Bright Star...
Thales thought about Gilbert's explanation and pondered.
Jinni said solemnly:
"until……"
Thales raised his head and frowned:
"I?"
Jinni was silent for a while, then nodded:
"Thanks to you, thanks to the re-establishment of the genealogy of the Bright Star royal family, the seven servants of the Bright Star, who have been alienated, silent and distant in the past six years, have gradually shown their goodwill to the Nine-Pointed Star again."
But Ji Ni’s expression turned serious immediately:
"But they're still waiting and watching."
"And you can't win their recognition just based on your title and pedigree."
"Your father cannot, with just one heir, erase their grievances after the Year of Blood and win back their trust."
Thales thought of Doyle and Glover.
"Is it."
Jinni sighed:
"Your Star Lake Guard is just one example."
Thales said nothing.
Jinni stared at him silently and said softly:
"Soon, it will be the day when you will make your official appearance at the banquet in front of all the nobles of the royal capital."
I saw the lady’s eyes become sharp:
"Caution, boy."
Jinni's tone made Thales nervous:
"You're like me, below them."
"But like your father, he is higher than them."
"And you came back from the north, away from them."
Three consecutive sentences made Thales think deeply and also aroused his vigilance:
"And this means that from the inside out, in the final analysis..."
Jinni said firmly:
"It's not them."
Not them.
Thales opened his mouth to speak, but finally closed his mouth.
"It took me nearly thirty years to figure this out."
A rare vicissitude appeared in Ji Ni's eyes:
"I wish you could be shorter."
Thales breathed out.
"The banquet, okay."
"so?"
The boy scratched his chin with a headache:
"Can they still eat me?"
Jinni closed her eyes and shook her head.
"No."
But when the female officer opened her eyes, there was a sharper edge inside:
"But they will tear you apart."
Upon hearing this metaphorical description, Tails was stunned for a moment.
"But... I am the king's son and the heir to the kingdom?"
"That's right."
Jinni looked alert and dignified:
"So they'll be gentle and polite - tear you apart."
Thales nodded in understanding.
"Then what should I do?"
Jinni was silent for a while.
"You know, kid, you knew it six years ago."
Thales' expression changed.
"Raise your shield."
I saw Jinni looking straight at him, just like when she taught him swordsmanship many years ago: "Never let go."
"Until you die."
"Until the enemy is dead."
Thales fell silent again.
This time, he thought of something more.
"What about my father?"
The young man said quietly:
"Is he too?"
Jinni's arm trembled.
The way she looked at Thales changed.
It was as if she had turned back into the Jenny Bakvi who would ask him, "Have you lost weight?"
After a few seconds, Jinni sighed softly.
"Boy, do you know where this place is?"
Thales knew that the question was a bit sharp, so he smiled helplessly and said:
"Um, study room?"
Jinni looked at him again.
Thales had no choice but to put away the smile that he thought was humorous, and said sarcastically:
"Mindis Hall."
"A royal treasure, a wise king's palace, a great art estate."
And one of his childhoods that was so familiar to him.
"Oh, and also, three hundred years ago, its first owner was the 'King of the Mist', Mindis I, who unfortunately died young."
Thales tried to make his tone sound more humorous, but for some reason, he always failed.
Jinni looked at him quietly.
"Yes, but more than that."
more than?
Thales raised his eyebrows.
"Eighteen years ago."
Jinni's expression changed.
The female officer's eyes were vague, as if she was looking at the scenery in the fog:
"This is the residence chosen by the Star Crown Prince, your uncle, and the First Prince Midir Bright Star after he came of age."