Kingdom’s Bloodline Chapter 9: Anxiety
Fuxing Palace.
Thyls' memory of this palace is vague.
A long, long time ago, for the beggars who were begging for life on the streets, the "King’s House" located at the end of the avenue a few blocks away was like an unreachable legend, mysterious and mysterious. Majestic, hazy and heavy.
They can only learn about the legendary palace that shares the title with the Fuxing King in the exaggerated and funny theatrical performances of the Temple of Mingye. It is (under the protection of Mingye) how extraordinary origins and countless experiences are. And stand unshakable.
Or the drunkards who have always drunk "I tell you, I know so-and-so, and he has a friend who works in the Fuxing Palace, that place is like this..." I understand it a little bit, and see the leopard.
Or, when going out begging, he timidly sticks his head out of the unfamiliar and tidy streets, and glances at the huge silhouette of the palace among the hurrying figures of pedestrians, leaving a breathless shock and immovable purpose Envy.
This feeling continued until six years ago.
Continue to the turning point of Thales' fate.
The Duke of Xinghu slowly closed his eyes.
But...
But even if he became a prince and became the nominal heir to this palace, Thales discovered that he still didn't understand Fuxing Palace.
Six years ago, when he first entered the Fuxing Palace, he was taken back into the palace wall after being assassinated and unconscious.
Six years ago, when he left the Fuxing Palace, he left the palace in a carriage while he was about to go north and was in a trance.
As for now...
With the guards on both sides keeping their eyes open, and surrounded by the guards in neat steps, Thales, who opened his eyes, came back to his senses and found that their group had already passed through the heavily guarded palace gate, and even went all the way. Cross the wide and flat ground of the palace wall and the inner hall, straight into the inner door of this mottled ancient temple.
It wasn't until they entered into the narrow and deep darkness without stopping, that the vast and high sky and the boundless horizon were locked together outside the heavy and old temple gate, Thales then woke up:
Six years later, when he personally stepped in here...
Without an accidental assassination, without going abroad as a quality...
He still couldn't see clearly...
The appearance of Fuxing Palace.
Leaving the street and the carpet, the touch under the boots began to become hard and crisp.
Step, step, step.
Footnotes sounded under Thales's feet, echoing in the quiet air, and then back to his ears.
In the sudden dim light, the young Duke of Xinghu took a deep breath, but his nose was cold and humid.
Stone.
Icy cold.
Rough.
It's dim.
And...silence.
This made the Duke who had gradually become accustomed to the dryness and scorching desert of the North instinctively uncomfortable.
In the dim stone corridor that was almost silent, they walked through the interior of the Fuxing Palace, passing through small halls one after another, and stepping up stone steps after another.
Sparse windows and lights are the only light source that can guide them.
Tyles suppressed his extra thoughts and raised his head in this historic but quiet and solemn palace, in this classically low-key but tasteful stone corridor, and looked at the back of Mallos ahead.
The watchman is expressionless, does not squint, and walks forward calmly and gracefully.
Gilbert is one step behind Thales, with a lighter footnote and steady pace.
The others behind Glover and Doyle didn't say a word, and seemed to disappear into the air.
It seems that they have become accustomed to this quaint palace with dark colors and suffocating air.
And Thales can only follow silently.
The group was not alone. They passed many guards standing guard, servants in a hurry, cautious officials, and nobles with good manners.
In the quiet air, these people didn't say a word, but seemed to have known it for a long time. They all stopped politely and stepped aside, silently but accurately bowed to the young people in the crowd.
The new Duke of Xinghu cleared his throat subconsciously and wanted to respond, but Gilbert beside him lightly pressed his arm and shook his head.
In the Fuxing Palace, the king prefers to be quiet.
Thyls was taken aback.
After understanding what, facing these people, Duke Xinghu could only nod his head and smile in response.
In the Palace of Heroes in Longxiao City, no matter where the prince of stars goes, the court guards of the northern people (especially the former blade guards) and the nobles of Exter always have hostile and vigilant eyes Staring at him, even after six years of relative baptism, those gazes have changed from "gritting his teeth" to "dismissing".
But in Fuxing Palace, it's different.
Thyls could feel that whether servants or guards, nobles or officials, they all have an extraordinary interest and curiosity about the new duke, but when they passed by the young man, they looked at the duke with respect and caution. , Polite and restrained.
When the Duke looked back at them, the latter often immediately bowed his head or turned his eyes away, looked away, and shot elsewhere.
One touch to break, click to stop.
It is quite deliberate.
It's like...like a peek hiding in a corner.
I was afraid of waking up.
Plus the sense of death and solemnity created and maintained carefully...
The Duke of Xinghu couldn't help taking another breath and exhaling slowly.
For some reason, Thales always felt that the discomfort brought to him by these cautious, polite and restrained eyes in the Fuxing Palace was no less than the unconcealed and hostile gaze of the northern people in the Palace of Valor. .
He felt irritability.
There was even a moment when the teenager wanted to get the royal guards around him closer.
Tighten him tighter.
Block those eyes.
It's best to... keep everything apart and airtight.
It's like...the thick city wall between Fuxing Palace and the city.
The journey that was almost deadly quiet ended soon.
When they went up another step and came to a large hallway, several figures suddenly appeared in front of a stone door directly in front.
Mallos' footsteps stopped first.
Tels, who followed him, took one more step, and then subconsciously retracted.
But he quickly noticed that, except for Gilbert, who was still smiling, the guards behind him, including Doyle and Glover, all stood up and looked more solemn, as if they were taut. Stringed lute.
The figures in front of Shimen have similar outfits and equipment with the style of Mallos and others, but they only wear light leather armor that is convenient for indoor movement, but their faces are serious and their eyes are majestic, and they do not want to follow the prince’s **** team. We say hello.
When Thales began to guess the identity of this group of people, a person walked out of the strange figure, leaning on the long sword at his waist, and approached them.
This is a middle-aged man with both majesty and vicissitudes. He is in his fifties. His figure is slightly cumbersome, but his back is capable and tall, and his beard and hair are mixed with gray and white, but he is well organized, and his eye corners are wrinkled. But a pair of piercing eyes.
His dress is obviously different from the others, his equipment is exquisite and meticulous, but his steps are extremely steady.
The middle-aged man with gray beard stopped, but he didn't even look at Thales.
He just looked straight at the leader Mallos and spoke slowly:
"Who is coming?"
The words are serious and the tone is cold.
Tales was taken aback, and once again confirmed that this was the Fuxing Palace where his father lived.
And he really...returned to his home?
But none of the others, including Gilbert, showed a different color. Instead, they waited quietly and solemnly, holding their breath and not letting out a breath.
As if it was a big event.
I saw Mallos step forward blankly, his tone indifferent:
"Tormond Mallos."
"The watchman of the royal guard, in the name of the king, escorted the Duke of Xinghu back."
The middle-aged guard in his fifties took a look at Mallos and nodded.
In Thales’ curious eyes, Mallos finished his answer faintly, but instead looked at the middle-aged guard in front of him with compelling eyes:
"Who is the questioner?"
The middle-aged man was silent for a while. He still didn't look at Thales, and his right hand was still on the sword at his waist.
I saw the other party stepping forward with a serious attitude.
"Fabio Adrian."
The middle-aged man named Adrian whispered:
"The chief commander of the Royal Guard, in the name of the king, welcomes the return of the Duke of Xinghu."
Thyls swears that he can feel that Doyle is breathing in depressively behind him.
The Royal Guard.
Chief...Commander?
Thyls recalled the pass of the "Six Guards", and Mallos was also silent for a while before he nodded to Adrian, who had a gray beard but described sternly.
The next second, Adrian turned his head, and for the first time looked at Thales, who was shorter than Mallos.
I don't know if it was affected by the atmosphere or the other person's gaze is under pressure. The Duke of Xinghu subconsciously raised his chest and abdomen, accepting the opponent's gaze.
But like everyone else, Adrian's gaze is only a touch, and the latter turns to Mallos again.
"Knight of Mallos, you have fulfilled your duties."
Adrian said indifferently:
"Will your mission end?"
Be dedicated to your duties...
The mission can end...
Thyls was stunned, thinking of something in a daze.
I saw Mallos answer calmly but solemnly:
"Adrian Knight, I am dedicated to my duty."
The watchman squinted his eyes:
"However, my sword is not broken."
Hearing the answer from the other party, Adrian nodded to him, his eyes softer and no longer sharp:
"Your mission is not over yet."
Malos also slightly nodded and raised the corners of his mouth slightly:
"My mission is not over yet."
Thyls frowned, more and more recognizing his memory.
Sure enough, the conversation in front of me...
Full of the sense of ritual he is familiar with.
The air was still quiet, and the atmosphere was serious. The Duke had to cast a suspicious look at Gilbert, but the latter just signaled to him to be safe.
Finally, Adrian smiled.
The middle-aged commander took off his gloves and reached out to Mallos:
"Well, welcome back to the team, Cavaliers."
Malos also showed a long-lost, simple but restrained smile, took off his gloves, stepped forward and held Adrian's right hand:
"Captain."
Adrian smiled and nodded, shouting out the name of Mallos:
"Tormond."
While Thales was speculating whether this was the tradition of the Royal Guard, Adrian let go of Mallos' hand and coughed:
"Okay, the task is over, relax."
The next second, Thales heard the royal guards behind him sigh, as if they sighed and relaxed.
It's like ending a leadership meeting that must be motionless and listened carefully throughout.
I saw Adrian walk up and smile at Gilbert:
"Earl Caso."
Gilbert also showed a smile and stepped forward to shake hands with him happily:
"Lord Adrian."
Lord Adrian laughed:
"It seems that I was right. You really were refreshed when you returned."
"Thanks to you, Lord."
Gilbert, who had finished his greeting, turned around and looked at Thales.
"Welcome to the Chamber, Lord Duke."
The foreign secretary proudly gestured towards the stone gate behind Adrian:
"This is where your majesty usually receives envoys and foreign ministers."
Looking at the doubt on the Duke’s face, Gilbert added:
"This is an important place for state affairs. You are the Duke of Xinghu, and you will be familiar with it in the future."
Thyls responded politely while looking at the stone gate.
The Chamber.
Interview with envoys and foreign ministers...
Wait.
Thyls froze suddenly.
He looked at the stone gate guarded by Adrian's guard, remembering something, and recognizing something.
"I remember."
"The Chamber."
"I've been here," Thales said blankly:
"Come here once."
This gave Gilbert a pause.
But Thales knows that the chamber in the Fuxing Palace...
He did come.
Thyls looked at the stone gate in a daze, imagining the scene after it opened.
Yes.
This is it.
Six years ago, it was here that he saw the arrogant Exeter envoy brazenly threatening, forcing King Kessel to make a difficult choice between war and cede.
Six years ago, it was here that he saw the Duke of Allende hysterically venting his resentment and unwillingness, telling him about the political conspiracy that he would affect the two major countries and want to turn things around.
Six years ago, it was here...
Thyls thought dreamily.
Here, he saw Kessel V wielding the scepter with unparalleled majesty and unquestionable dignity. Amidst a nervous and confounded breath, he determined the second prince of the Star Kingdom. For the next six years...
Fate.
"Oh? Oh, I have a bad memory." Gilbert seemed to think of something too, his face darkened, and he closed the subject in a little embarrassment.
On the other side, Adrian coughed slightly, interrupting Gilbert's conversation with the Duke.
I saw Lord Adrian turned around and patted Mallos' arm:
"Weah and Gatan are waiting for you in the guard room, you know... paperwork."
Malós puts away his smile, frowning slightly.
Adrian nodded to him, urging slightly:
"Go ahead."
But the watchman turned his head and looked in the direction of Thales, his eyes unclear.
The Duke of Xinghu was not aware of it, so he could only show a decent smile.
Adrian looked at the Lord Duke with Mallos.
The middle-aged man seemed to understand something, he smiled and motioned to Mallos:
"Leave it to me."
"And Count Caso."
Malles turned his head and looked at Adrian both shallowly and deeply.
"Okay," the watchman said calmly:
"Then I'm leaving."
Under Adrian's encouraging gaze and Thales's suspicious gaze, Mallos turned away without hesitation and walked towards another exit of the gallery.
Doyle and Glover, the nearest to him, were equally startled, and followed the others subconsciously.
But Mallos immediately stopped:
"It's not you."
Malos, who turned his head, frowned and looked at Doyle and Glover who stopped in doubt:
"You stay."
"Yes, sir." Glover nodded without hesitation, and walked back behind Thales.
Doyle blinked, only then was the flag officer Fubby pulled back into the queue.
Commander Adrian who watched this scene smiled.
Malles nodded to him, looked at Thales again, and Shi Shiran left.
Gilbert cleared his throat, kind and gentle.
"His Royal Highness, allow me to introduce to you, the captain of the Royal Guard, the chief commander, and also the head of the Fuxing Palace and the safety of His Majesty, Lord Fabio Adrian, who was born in the Seven Stars The head of the'servant', the Adrian family of Swan County, the central leader..."
Adrian turned around and bowed respectfully to Thales.
Thyls nodded at him flattered in return, feeling stunned.
Sure enough.
Fabio Adrian.
He is... the highest commander of the entire royal guard at the Fuxing Palace.
Including all the ‘six wings’... the captain of the guard.
And one of the seven servants of the star.
"Introduce greetings and stay in the future."
While Thales was thinking, Adrian caught the gap in Gilbert's words and interrupted decently and promptly:
"Your Highness, Earl."
"Your Majesty is in the Chamber."
Adrian motioned to the Shimen behind him:
"Or don't let him wait for a long time?"
Your Majesty.
At that moment, Thales felt his blood coagulate.
"Your Majesty is here... Has he finished today's prince's meeting?" Gilbert was suddenly excited.
"No."
Adrian responded politely:
"In fact, Your Majesty ended the meeting early."
"He was questioning the letter crow from the Western Wilderness yesterday."
Your Majesty.
Thyls breathed in a trance.
He suddenly understood that from the moment he stepped into the Fuxing Palace, or even Wing Star City, the discomfort that has always tortured him, and where the lingering strangeness came from Of it.
Not the environment and decoration of Fuxing Palace.
Not the noisy and old things of Yongxing City.
but...
Thyls' fist tightened spontaneously.
"Of course," Gilbert looked at Thales excitedly:
"Your Majesty is also looking forward to this moment."
Adrian did not answer, but made a "please" gesture to Thales and Gilbert and walked to the stone gate of the chamber.
Your Majesty.
Thyls felt his steps move forward, following Adrian.
Gilbert's pace followed, keeping pace.
One before, one after.
Let him...
There is nowhere to escape.
Standing in front of the stone gate, the royal guards who do not know which wing they belonged to bowed together, and opened the stone gate respectfully and professionally.
Exposing the endless depth inside.
There are only few lights, reflecting the way forward.
Adrian stepped aside and gestured gracefully to the Duke of Xinghu to please.
It's no longer one after the other.
But Thales found that he would rather the other person walk in front of him.
But...
So Thales saw again, his steps lifted, fell, lifted again, and fell again.
Until he passed Adrian's side, until he stepped through the thick stone gate, until he stepped into the endless depth.
"It's not you!"
Adrian's voice suddenly tightened, becoming severe and cold, contrary to his kindness to the prince and earl.
Tyles stopped subconsciously.
But he soon realized that Adrian was not talking to him.
"You stay."
The captain of the guard's voice was very deep.
But there is something unquestionable.
"Yes...yes, Ai, Ed...sir, sir." A few seconds later, Doyle's nervous and trembling response came from behind.
Amid the low friction, the heavy stone door separating the gallery and the chamber slowly closed.
Shut out Doyle's mumbling.
Behind them, Adrian and Gilbert's footsteps slowly approached.
As if urging something.
A puff of air rose from Thales' chest and pressed out through his nose and mouth.
He found that he started to move forward again.
As it was six years ago, the chamber was long and deep. Seen from the entrance on one side, the end at the other end shrank into a small spot.
Unclear.
Once upon a time, on both sides of the chamber were densely packed courtiers, listening to the negotiations between the stars and the dragon.
The difference from six years ago is that there are fewer lights in the chamber and the light-transmitting windows are closed a lot.
It's more dim.
Now, the platforms on both sides are empty, and the needle can be heard.
But as the pace progressed, Thales quickly saw it.
At the other end of the line of sight, the lonely mountain protrudes above the ground and falls on several steps...
The throne.
Tyles' breathing slowly tightened.
A strong but lonely figure appears in the throne above the steps.
The figure hangs its head deeply, hooks its back, and occupies the throne.
His right elbow is on the arm of the seat, and his right hand is attached to the scepter, standing in front of his knee.
His forehead rested against the back of his hand, soaking in the shadows, not seeing his face.
Tyles stopped.
He stared blankly at the figure he hadn't seen for six years.
Emotions are difficult to distinguish.
The prince’s pause made Gilbert have to stop likewise, but the Foreign Secretary quickly reacted. He raised his voice and enthusiastically said to the figure above the throne:
"Your Majesty, I am honored to bring you the new Duke of Xinghu, your..."
Boom!
The bottom of the scepter lightly beat the ground once, and the dull sound echoed in the discussion hall.
It also choked Gilbert's words.
Soon, a heavy, thick, and majestic voice that had appeared in Thales’ Dream, sounded like a thunder from the throne, echoing throughout the hall:
"Gilbert..."
The voice on the throne paused:
"Thank you."
Compared to six years ago, this voice looks dull, long, and bleak.
There seems to be unspeakable fatigue.
Thyls listened to the other party in a daze, his eyes locked tightly on the figure.
Gilbert frowned and took a deep breath:
"His Royal Highness is struggling all the way, Your Majesty, he is on his way from Longxiao City to the desert..."
But he was interrupted again by the sound echoing in the hall from the throne:
"My friend."
"I said," the voice on the throne was calm at first, but gradually became firm and short: "Thank you."
"I will find you later."
Gilbert was stunned.
However, Captain Adrian's guard understood the king's meaning.
Adrian stretched out his arm to the hall door behind him, and gestured politely to Gilbert:
"Earl Caso?"
Gilbert looked at the shadow on the throne, then gave Thales a worried look.
But he didn't say anything after all, but after giving the Duke of Xinghu an encouraging look, he bowed and turned angrily.
Thyls smiled and nodded, but suddenly realized that the foreign secretary was so old.
"So are you."
The voice on the throne rang again:
"Yordel."
Thyls is an exciting spirit.
Gilbert's footsteps also paused, but he resumed his rhythm and moved away slowly.
Nothing happened around.
As if Lord Adrian hadn't heard this, he accompanied Gilbert to leave.
But Thales knew that there was something different in the surrounding air.
This makes him especially frightened.
The sound of footsteps gets farther and farther and smaller, and finally disappears at the end of the hall with the sound of the opening and closing of the stone gate.
Leave only the shadows on Thales and the throne, facing each other silently in a deadly hall.
"Come here."
The teenager shivered slightly.
Thyls is also considered to be well-informed, from **** battlefields to insidious schemes.
For some reason, when he heard this, he still clenched his fist involuntarily.
Tyles raised his head, staring at the figure on the throne, and slowly moved forward to the distance where he could see the steps of the throne.
But before his eyes, the figure on the throne was still blurred, flashing back and forth in the unextinguishable light behind him.
"Closer."
The shadow on the throne slightly increased the volume.
The boy was silent for a while, then moved again.
This time, he walked close enough to even see the boots at the bottom of the scepter under the throne.
"Closer."
The voice on the throne seemed a little impatient. He prolonged the tone, and the flame of the lamp shook slightly.
Thyls took a deep breath.
So, the next moment, the prince resolutely lifted his steps and continued forward.
Until he saw that the shadow on the throne was also moving slowly.
Thyls froze.
Under the dim light, the thirty-ninth generation of the Highest King of Stars and King of Iron Fist, Kessel Canxing V, who seemed to be more than six years old, raised his eyes from the scepter and looked at the prince.
Thyls had to look up at him, and his breathing began to speed up involuntarily.
Uncontrollable.
With those eyes that have seen him many times in dreams, but can always wake him up, a title blurted out of Thales’s mouth:
"Your Majesty."
As soon as the words were exported, Thales subconsciously added:
"Father, father?"
The man on the throne supported his chin, frowning slightly.
He lost weight.
This is Thales' first feeling.
Although the figure under the opponent's leather robe is still strong, although the scepter in the opponent's hand is still stable, although the pair of eyes still exudes a faint cold light.
But he can tell:
King Kessel's face is much thinner, his eyes are slightly sunken, and his cheekbones are slightly shrunken.
And more wrinkles have already climbed onto the king's face.
The knuckles of the opponent holding the scepter are more protruding, looking a bit sharp.
Compared with six years ago, the only thing that hasn't changed or even passed is probably the silence, dullness, and suffocation that the other party exudes, but the uneasy feeling like the eve of the storm.
The silence seemed to last for a long time, but Thales just stared at the king quietly, feeling that he could not look away.
Finally, the king's expression moved:
"Anxiety."
The voice is as before, calm and heavy.
It is especially obvious in the empty and long conference hall.
Thyls came back to his senses and cleared his throat:
"Sorry?"
King Kessel after six years snorted softly.
"How do you feel now."
The king said slowly:
"Anxiety."
Anxious?
Thyls frowned, but I don’t know why:
"I..."
But the king said to himself, regardless of the doubts of the young man:
"Anxious, very strange."
"It is neither panic nor panic-these feelings often spring up when you are caught off guard, leaving you at a loss but also powerless."
The boy's breathing was stagnant.
King Kessel’s voice echoed in the hall, feeling like oppression from all directions, without gaps:
"For example, you are about to face a certain big test, accept a certain judgment, and do a certain important thing..."
"For another example, you are about to become the heir of an ancient kingdom, carrying a heavier and more tiring burden than ever before."
The king snorted again, as if the whole hall was shaking:
"However, you know that you are not qualified at all, you know that you cannot bear it, and you know that you are doomed to fail."
"At that moment, you were extremely afraid, didn't want to face, just wanted to escape, desperate."
"This feeling is panic and panic."
In response to those eyes that seemed to see through something, Thales managed to maintain a decent expression and posture.
He felt that the motion of raising his head was getting tired.
But as if there was some power supporting him, he didn't look away, or just bowed his head.
King Kessel breathed out slowly:
"But once there is a moment..."
"Before the final moment, there was an opportunity, a method, and a turning point."
"It makes you feel that the situation seems to have a glimmer of hope, that the consequences may come later, and that the trial will probably be carried out for a moment."
"And you can delay for a while, without facing the ending that you fear most."
King Kessel's chin lifted from the back of his right hand, revealing the faint blue light of the Star Staff.
"For example, you can face the test a few days later, bear the judgment a few weeks later, and accept your inevitable... identity in a few years."
Thyls stared at the king’s calm face, listening to his profound words:
"At that moment, that was simply redemption."
"It's luck, numbness, ecstasy and relief after a catastrophe."
"It makes you feel that ‘the ending is still far away’ and that ‘I’m still saved’."
Hearing this, the boy trembled.
"But when all this is over, when the probation period given to you by God is over," the king chuckled, his eyes deep, but his face remained expressionless:
"These illusions that make you feel relieved."
"They will... all disappear."
Tyles listened blankly, his palms cold.
Above the throne, the Supreme King slowly straightened up, and under the dim light, it seemed as if a dark cloud passed over his head:
"The fluke that escaped a catastrophe will come back in front of you again, plus the regret and anxiety of ‘I knew this’~IndoMTL.com~self-blame and panic."
"In the end, it turned into a knowing, but irresistible..."
"Anxiety."
Thyls and the king looked at each other, only feeling that there was an inexplicable hollow in his heart.
No way to fill up.
And Kessel coldly rubbed the scepter in his hand, staring at the weird blue light from its top:
"It is this annoying anxiety that will make you understand in the pain of scratching your head and fidgeting that the escape, fluke, procrastination, and illusion of the original six years are actually meaningless."
Six years.
Tyles breathed in a trance, listening to the king's words:
"It's like a **** but useless whip, forcing you to face it, facing those you knew a long time ago, that will come, but in the end there is nothing..."
"Fate."