Kingdom’s Bloodline

The round-faced girl with freckles held Thales's hand with one hand, and skillfully lifted up the skirt with the other hand, revealing a pair of rough and thick walking boots that were incompatible with the dress. She climbed up the steps, skillfully, Swift and dexterous.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Quiet, keep your eyes on the road. If you fall, you won't be compensated."

Thales had no choice but to follow Xi Lai and climb up the stone stairs to the third floor of the Sunset Temple.

Thales had mixed feelings about Kevin Deere's eldest lady who suddenly appeared last night, and he didn't even know how to treat her.

There is no doubt that Cecilia Kevin Deere is by no means as innocent as she appears in the portrait or as described by Jenn. At least her interest and skills in creating atmosphere, diverting attention, and pretending to be scary are all beyond the reach of others. , which can be called a masterpiece (Tiles was indignant about this).

Secondly, as Zhan En's sister, the secret identity she revealed is really shocking and unbelievable.

But considering the capabilities of the kingdom's secret science and King Kessel's confident victory, the fact that the noble daughter of the Iris family was incited to rebel by the Fuxing Palace does not seem so unacceptable.

What's more, when Thales remembered his official reason for coming to the Emerald City, he realized that the cause of all this was this girl.

But that's exactly the problem.

Thales calmed down and looked at the girl in front of him who was dragging him forward.

That night, King Kessel, who visited Star Lake Castle in person, once told him that the seemingly separate "covenant" between their father and son was destined to be a top secret that could not be disclosed to outsiders, and the secrets of the kingdom were also among them.

But last night, this aristocratic spy lady who had been instructed by King Kessel claimed to be from the kingdom's secret department, and she also knew the purpose of Thales coming to the Emerald City.

This can't help but make Thales suspicious:

What does she know?

What did King Kessel tell her?

How much does she know about her "covenant" with King Kessel?

To what extent can I trust her?

Will this endanger myself?

And there is one more thing. Thales couldn't help but feel depressed when he thought of this:

Thales, how do you know that King Kessel did not conceal, deceive or mislead you regarding the Emerald City or even the "covenant"?

For example...the existence of Hille Kevindir?

Or, in other words, how much more did he hide?

For the king, to what extent is the so-called top secret "not accessible to outsiders" true?

At that moment, the voice in my heart was full of vigilance, quietly reminding:

Maybe, maybe that was just a lie made by your father to make you feel at ease and obedient.

But he himself never cared.

Once it is profitable, once the situation calls for it, once there is a better reason, the Iron Fist King will sell you out without hesitation, no matter the cost.

Just like his attitude towards you in the past.

Or will it be the same in the future?

Thinking of this, Thales became more and more uneasy.

Not long after, they walked around a corridor and vaguely heard the sound of people outside the window.

"Ah, we're here!"

Hilley came to a door at the end of the corridor and turned the doorknob.

"Hey, it's locked."

Xi Lai took a step back, snorted coldly, reached out and pulled out a thin hairpin from his hair, and moved it towards the door lock.

Amidst the rustling sounds of machines, Thales' expression changed slightly:

"What are you doing?"

"Pick the lock."

"Prying locks in the temple? You are Kevin Dill, a young lady from the Duke's family!"

"Why, have you never seen a noble pick a lock?" Xi Lai didn't look back and just concentrated on dealing with the door lock.

Thales was stunned for a moment, then became angry:

"Actually, I've actually seen it... can you do this technique?"

Hilley waved his hand:

"Shut up and don't disturb me."

She pulled out her hairpin, took a deep breath, and waved her palm around the door lock.

"Everything is related to attention and misguidance," Hilley said to himself, looking focused, waving his palms faster and faster, "Yes, so I just need to guide the attention of the door lock, and take advantage of this If you don't pay attention to the lock, you can successfully open it..."

Wrong guidance...

If the lock is not noticed...

Thales looked strange:

"Well, maybe the secret to magic is this...but the secret to picking locks, are you sure it's also this?"

Xi Lai turned around with a groan, his eyes dark and unkind:

"Are you doubting me?"

Thales thought of this girl's methods and quickly smiled:

"No! I just made a trivial suggestion..."

At this moment, the door lock clicked open.

Xi Lai's expression perked up and he quickly turned around:

"Look! Take advantage of the lock when it's not looking!"

Thales looked at the door that slowly opened, then looked at the hairpin still in Shilai's hand, frowned and said:

"Are you sure you opened it?"

At this moment, an old man wearing a priest's robe showed his head from behind the door and said cautiously:

"Who is Miss Healy?"

The old priest behind the door breathed a sigh of relief:

"Hey, I thought it was some daring little brat... um, is it you again, His Highness Thales?"

Thales looked at the priest Chadwei whom he had just met not long ago, and forced a smile out of embarrassment.

"It's you, Chad Wei," Heeley was not surprised, but looked astonished, "I remember at the door of the confessional, didn't I tell you to stay away?"

"Yes, yes, but..."

Chad Wei looked behind him and then at Xi Lai, the grievance in his eyes was extremely clear:

Isn't this far enough?

Thales followed his gaze and looked back, only to realize that behind the door was the rooftop of the temple.

Xi Lai opened the door and stepped forward with a matter-of-fact expression:

"Make room, go out, and do whatever you have to do."

Chad Wei's expression changed:

"But miss, there are only a few people here who can avoid class."

"Now go out," Heeley shrugged. "I will pretend that I don't know about your affair with Count Pintor and his mother."

Thales twitched the corner of his mouth, while Chad Wei's expression changed drastically:

"I, you, you can't do this..."

"Do you want me to tell you which room in the new suburb you have an affair with every Wednesday?"

The next second, Chad jumped out nimbly and disappeared from the eyes of the two people.

Thales then followed Xi Lai onto the rooftop, and then he was shocked:

Citizens crowded in the temple square below, lining up and divided into areas. Some people were listening to the sermons of several priests, and some were praying with the priests and receiving the Holy Communion.

"You have dedicated a lot this year, for yourself, for your family, and for the Emerald City and the Sunset Goddess." A priest closed his eyes and led everyone in prayer.

"Those who sincerely repent and behave accordingly," a priest stood on a high place and preached loudly, "the setting sun will forgive your sins!"

But no matter which one you choose, you will never forget to pick up the donation box.

"What is this?" Thales asked.

"Day of Common Prayer."

Hillai nonchalantly jumped up with his arms and sat on the edge of the rooftop. A pair of boots were dangling in the air, making Thales frown.

It seems she is not afraid of heights.

"While the great and the rich pray in temples and altars, in churches and missions, the citizens at large, I mean the poor and the common people, pray here."

"I see."

Hilley snorted softly:

"The Jade Festival is a carnival festival in the city, but unfortunately, the Sunset Temple believes that all carnivals, drinking, gluttony, games, drug abuse, enjoyment and even sexual intercourse are degenerate behaviors that violate the doctrine and are extremely harmful to one's body and soul. A manifestation of irresponsibility.”

After saying this, Hilley stretched his arms back, leaned his upper body back, and looked at Thales upside down:

"But here, in the Emerald City, custom and commandment strike a delicate and convenient balance."

Thales subconsciously covered his eyes and turned his head to hide, but Shilai did nothing:

"The temple hosts public prayers and the church is responsible for preaching. They will judge what you have done in the previous year. Of course, most of the time it depends on how much donation you gave. After that, your carnival in these seven days is a result of hard work and due diligence. The reward you deserve is natural and natural, and the goddess bless you. So after you finish the Holy Communion, listen to the sermon, and leave the temple, you can go out to drink and party happily without any burden. "

"Is it so convenient?"

"In order to be more realistic, it is more convenient to party for six days first, and then come drunkenly for public prayers on the evening of the seventh day after the celebration. It is also effective, but the donation may be doubled, but facts have proved that the last day's Donations are the biggest.”

Just when Thales was thinking about whether he could get out of the Emerald City alive if the girl slipped and fell, and whether the Star Kingdom could avoid the juncture of civil war, he suddenly discovered that Shilai's weird action was not to scare him again. Instead, he had to reach for something on the ground and lift it up.

"Is this...a hookah?" Thales frowned and looked at the raised pipe.

"Hey, that's good knowledge."

"No way, in the Sunset Temple?"

"Chadwe is a long-time smoker. He has a full set of tools." Healy took out the tools skillfully without looking at him. "I only need to bring the cigarette holder and tobacco leaves. Haha, here are the remaining tobacco leaves he smoked." , It’s a good product imported from Tuoluo.”

"Forget it Zhan...why are you so skilled?"

"Who do you think taught my brother to smoke?"

Thales had no choice but to shut up.

Hilley quickly lit the hookah:

"Want a bite?"

Thales smiled and waved his hands, thanking him.

"I remembered," Thales looked at the hookah and said suddenly, "I met the Chadwei priest. At a dinner party a few days ago, he said, 'Only civilized and pious marriages , will be blessed by the sunset goddess', and then hinted that I was uncivilized and unpious. "

"My brother must have ordered him to do it," Shilay took a small sip from his cigarette. Amidst the smoke, he looked elegant and mysterious. "When I was a child, I almost had to be sent away because of a little joke I made with the Karabyan sisters. Go to the temple to receive instruction, learn etiquette, and improve your education.”

"Little joke?" Thales looked suspicious.

"At that time, it was Chad who spoke up and helped me get through."

"Oh, you speak upright and get away with it..." Thales looked strange, "Don't you think there's something wrong with this sentence?"

The sun was shining brightly. Heilai exhaled a puff of smoke, stretched his arms up to the sky, and stretched out comfortably on the rooftop: "It was also from that time that I discovered that although the old guy was not religious, he had a good taste in tobacco."

This scene would have been beautiful if she hadn't been holding a hookah pipe in her hand.

No, in fact, holding a hookah pipe and filling it with smoke doesn't look very elegant, right?

Thales shook his head, waved his hands to disperse the smell of smoke, sat on the floor, and returned to reality:

"Did you learn how to smoke from Chad Wei?"

"You insulted me, Your Highness, do you still need to learn this thing?"

"..."

"In addition, Chadvi also has a believer who is a street magician, so he can make himself look full of miracles and shine during sacrifices and sermons. Of course, I have benefited a lot."

gain much……

Thinking of what he had experienced yesterday, Thales swallowed.

"Okay, let's get started." Heilai leaned on the rooftop, basking in the sun and lazily. "If you have anything to ask, now is the time."

"Just, right here?"

Thales took a step forward, looked at the crowd below, and said sarcastically:

"It's great. There are at least 10,000 people down there. You can see us when you look up!"

"Not that much, eight thousand at most."

Does it matter?

Thales resisted the desire to complain:

"Why don't you go to the confessional room just now, it's more private..."

"Only those who look at the knights and look stupid will think that the spies are meeting in an airtight and dark place, thinking that it is the safest and no one will see it," Hilley said disdainfully, "If you want to talk about things in private, it is best to Talking about nothing in public, just like this."

But she took a puff of cigarette and frowned:

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I understand it wrong? Then you want to find a dark, narrow and unknown corner, and do something with me that, um, cannot be done in broad daylight?"

Thales' expression changed, remembering the Karabiyan twins:

"Ahem, madam, please respect yourself."

"Very good!"

Xi Lai's eyes lit up as he was lying on his back: "A small space with darkness and oppression can enhance the atmosphere of terror! It's perfect for 'Ghosts Crying Through Walls'!"

Ghosts cry across the wall...

Thales' smile disappeared instantly:

"You're right, it's good to be here."

Xi Lai looked at him, as if she had seen through something. She smiled mysteriously and looked outside the temple.

Looking at the strange girl lying flat in front of him, Thales's brows only grew tighter and tighter.

"To be honest, Ms. Kevin Deal, I've been thinking about your role since last night until now."

"I understand," Healy exhaled another puff of smoke. "A good performance always makes the audience toss and turn, stay up all night, scratch their hearts and livers, and never forget it for a long time."

"After frightening the audience and letting them experience a period of sensory stimulation, we need to give them a period of relaxation to understand and digest the last feeling, applaud and cheer for the performance, and create an atmosphere for the next climax."

But Thales ignored her nonsense and went straight to the topic:

"My father, besides those few secret codes, what else did he tell you?"

"Are you talking about the parts you should know, or the parts you don't need to know?"

Thales was startled:

"Is there anything else I don't need to know?"

Is the second prince, heir to the kingdom, and secret collaborator of the king really just a decoration?

Hilley shrugged noncommittally.

"Okay," Thales cleared his throat and put down his unhappy mood, "Then what if I ask you about the former part that I should know?"

"The stars are revived, the royal power is exalted, the Emerald City and even the South Coast Territory will soon return to the royal rule and obey the king's rule," Hilley answered simply, "and we will be witnesses of this history. Of course, if things are not harmonious, we will will be a participant.”

Witnesses of history.

participants.

"I don't understand," Thales crossed his arms, "Why would he tell you this? The sister of the first target of this trip?"

Hilley turned sideways and shook the pipe at Thales.

"Yeah, just like I didn't understand at first," the girl exhaled two streams of white smoke from her nose, "Why would Your Majesty tell you this? There are people who are clearly against him in the kingdom?"

Thales shook his head: "This is different."

"But I can understand it," Hilley replied quickly, "because in this mission, His Majesty needs special forces. There are some things that the Kingdom's secret department cannot do, and it is best not to know."

Raiders.

It is impossible to know the secrets of the kingdom, and it is best not to know...

Thales frowned slightly.

"Okay, it's my turn," Hilley rolled his eyes, "What did my brother say to you in that suspicious and soundproof little confession room?"

"He said," Tails said, cheering up, "he didn't kill Dagory Moss."

"The wine merchant who followed you into town?"

"Yes," Thales stared at the other party carefully, trying to figure out the clues from the girl's face, "So, was he killed by the Kingdom's secret department?"

But Hilley shook his head.

"have no idea."

"What?"

Thales looked questioning:

"Don't be kidding me. As soon as your front leg appeared and you warned me, "Someone else will do it for you," Moss, your back leg, died. How can there be such a coincidence in the world?"

"I told you, we have a one-way communication. How can I possibly know what the Kingdom's Secret Department is doing?"

"No, it's such a big thing, even if it's just a single line of contact...how could you not know about it?"

"You are the second prince, don't you know that too?"

"I'm not from the occult!"

"I'm not a member of the occult either."

"Then you can contact me. What can you say?" Thales reacted, a little surprised.

"I said, I want to help," Heeley shook his head indifferently, "But unfortunately, I am not from the Kingdom's Secret Department, and I have no way to contact them, so I can't confirm."

Thales was startled again when he heard this and asked:

"What? What did you just say you weren't?"

Hilley shrugged.

Thales was extremely confused:

"But last night, didn't you say..."

"What did you say?"

"Do you remember your last words?"

Xi Lai couldn't help but wonder and thought for a while:

"Oh, you mean 'Kingdom Secret Service, hello'?"

Thales raised his eyebrows:

"right?"

"Oh, that sentence."

Xi Lai's expression remained normal, as if this was just a small matter:

"It's used to adjust the atmosphere when saying goodbye."

Adjust the atmosphere...

The rooftop was quiet for a long time, and for a while the only sounds in the square could be heard.

After a few seconds, Thales activated the Sin of Hell River and tried his best to maintain a smile:

"What? Atmosphere?"

You just explained the suspicious issue that kept me awake all night by just "adjusting the atmosphere"?

"But don't you think that farewell line is cool and interesting? It just brings the suspenseful atmosphere to a climax."

Hilley took a puff of cigarette and pulled out a ghost face mask under his sleeve:

"The greatest reward for a magician is to enjoy the incredible expressions of the audience after performing a trick."

Thales didn't know what an expression of disbelief was.

He only felt that his brow was twitching at the moment.

"If we had to do it again..."

The round-faced girl sat up and looked coldly.

I saw her approaching Thales, her expression indifferent but her eyes deep:

"Your Majesty, you are blessed with unparalleled grace and grace. Quintana, who comes from the distant mountains and lands, sends my regards to Your Highness."

Thales took a deep breath.

That means……

Xi Lai put away her expression and lay back on the stage, but then she was startled when she thought of something.

"Wait, so," the girl frowned and turned back, "you don't really think that I am a member of the secret department just because of this line, do you?"

yes.

if not?

"No way, how is that possible?" Thales coughed and tried to show off his calm and disapproving expression, "I have long seen that you are not from the Kingdom's Secret Department. I was just testing you just now to see what you are doing. Can you tell me the truth with just one sentence?"

"real?"

"real!"

"Oh, please," Shilai looked at him pitifully and shook his head, "We are the ones who are designated by His Majesty to make 'snap-shot decisions'. In this case, of course we are the only ones who mess up the situation of the Secret Department. How can we let the Secret Department interfere?" Our game?"

"I know!"

"do not go."

"Why don't you go?" Thales was still in an angry mood.

"Don't try to find or contact the kingdom's secret department." At that moment, Shilai's voice was ethereal, drifting away with the smoke. "My brother not only rules this city, he also controls it, owns it, and dominates it. It's up to you." Unimaginable extent.”

Own it, dominate it...

Thales' expression changed slightly.

"But at the battle banquet," he asked tentatively, "Zhan was very uneasy. He was frightened all night, wary of the king's next move..."

"It is better to die because of friends than to die because of enemies."

Hilley interrupted.

The girl turned to Thales. At this moment, she no longer smoked and her eyes were sharp:

"Do you think you are my brother's friend or his enemy?"

"And my brother thinks you are his friend or his enemy?"

Thales was stunned.

He was about to speak, but Xilai interrupted him again:

"To sum up, which side of him do you think he will let you see?"

Thales's expression disappeared, and he fell into deep contemplation.

Hilley looked at Thales with a deep look:

"If you try to contact the secret department, it's okay if you don't succeed. If you succeed, there is a risk of exposing each other and bringing catastrophe to their actions."

Hilley turned back:

"And I don't need to remind you: the Secret Service of the Kingdom is not even supposed to know that we exist."

Thales got out of his complicated thoughts and took a deep breath.

"In that case, what role should I play here?"

"That's the part where His Majesty said, 'You don't need to know.'" Healey shrugged.

"Ha, thank you," Thales said sarcastically, "Thank you for telling me that 'I am not my father's favorite child'."

"Think about it, everyone has their own role to play in this mission, even me," Hilley snorted, "Just like His Majesty must have told you, there are certain things that only the prince deserves to know, and The part I don't have to know, right?"

There are certain things that only a prince deserves to know...

Thales forced out a smile that showed he had a chance of winning:

"right."

wrong.

He didn't even say a damn to me.

"So, we're even, are you happy?"

Thank you, not at all.

But the next moment, Thales' eyes changed.

"Then why?"

He stared at Hilley, who was lying comfortably on his back and was about to take a puff of cigarette: "As Kevin Dill, why do you side with the king and fight against your brother?"

Hilley's hand holding the pipe paused.

"Skip this question," the girl said expressionlessly, "change it to another one."

Thales narrowed his eyes.

"So, do you know, once our mission is completed, what fate will be faced by your brother, Jann Kelvindill?"

Hilley's eyes froze.

"You broke the rules."

"What?"

Hilley turned to him with cold eyes:

"I believe that you violated His Majesty's instructions and talked about my 'no need to know' part."

His Majesty's instructions...

Thales frowned.

"That means you actually know, right?"

He asked: "Then, why?"

Hilley frowned:

"You're asking the question you just skipped again."

On the rooftop of the temple, the boy and the girl looked at each other and faced each other silently.

But after a few seconds, Thales smiled.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I was just thinking," Thales shook his head and lamented, "If Zhan knew that the biggest enemy in the Emerald City comes from his side, from his closest relatives..."

Xi Lai's face turned cold.

"Don't worry, he is not you. Even if you find out the truth in the end, you won't cry."

Thales' expression changed slightly: "What does 'he is not me' mean?"

Xi Lai snorted, and the freckles on his face moved slightly.

"With my brother's temperament, he would just grit his teeth, wipe a tear from an invisible corner, and then raise his head in the next second and squeeze out a smile: 'Great, sister, you are worthy of our Kevin Dill. , always loyal to the emperor and patriotic, never falling behind others!'"

Hilley turned to Thales:

"Then, he will be respectful and obedient on the surface, but secretly he will continue to think of ways to cause damage and cause trouble in his best way. Why are you looking at me like this?"

"Although your description is strange," Thales narrowed his eyes, "but my intuition tells me that what you said may be right."

Hilley and Thales looked at each other, and after a few seconds, she smiled.

"I know what you want to ask, Your Highness."

Hilley sneered:

"Yes, that's right, I know, I know what fate my brother will eventually face in the current situation."

The next second, Xi Lai looked determined:

"That's why I do it."

"Because it's the only way to save him."

This time it was Thales' turn to change his expression:

"Save him? Are you doing this to save Zhan En?"

The round-faced girl nodded.

"I'm not an idiot, Your Highness, and neither is my brother," she looked at the sky, the pipe in her hand not moving for a long time, "but when faced with the same thing, many people have different choices."

"It's like His Majesty has given you the power of discretion." Above the Sunset Temple, Hilley looked at the sun obscured by clouds in ecstasy. "And I, as long as I complete the mission and goal given to me by Your Majesty, I can achieve my goal under this premise." , try your best to reverse my brother’s fate.”

Thales frowned:

"Is that so?"

"if not?"

"I, I thought..." Thales hesitated, but Miranda's appearance appeared in front of his eyes.

"Do you think I want to become a duke and steal his seat?"

Xi Lai raised his eyebrows and sneered disdainfully:

"Don't be ridiculous. Once you sit in that seat, you will no longer be a human being."

Thales' heart moved.

"It makes sense," the prince sighed, "however, it is precisely those who are still human who envy those who are no longer human."

"That makes sense," Heeley nodded in agreement, "It's a pity that not many listeners."

"In that case, why don't you try talking to Zhan?"

Thales couldn't help but said:

"With your help, we can work together to negotiate terms with him and settle this matter honorably."

There is no need to cause a bloody storm, Thales said in his heart.

"Decent?"

Hilley shook his head.

"Don't look at him pretending to be gentle and rational," the girl put down the pipe and pulled out an exotic-style pendant from her collar in a daze. Several golden threads were spirally entangled with a red gem, "But in his heart, Zhan is a A guy who is so stubborn and obnoxious that he will never give up until the end.”

Don't give up until the end.

Hearing this, Thales fell into deep thought.

Hilley looked at the slowly rotating pendant:

"What's more, in his eyes, I'm just a little girl who doesn't understand anything, right?"

"That's why you came to me," Thales suddenly realized, "report your identity to increase your confidence and achieve what you want."

Xi Lai held the pendant in his hand with sharp eyes.

"So, can you help me?"

She jumped up to Thales and slowly stretched out her right hand:

"That way, I can help you and we can help each other."

Thales lowered his head, looked at the girl's outstretched palm, and frowned.

"Okay, at most, one more thing," Xi Lai sighed and took back his palm, "As long as you help me, I won't scare you anymore, how about that?"

Thales looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"Why are you laughing again?"

Thales shook his head and looked at the sky as the sun broke out of the clouds, illuminating him so much that he had to squint his eyes:

"I think Zhan probably thinks that he has been protecting you all along."

Xi Lai's expression changed.

"Yes," she lowered her head and put the pendant into her collar, "just like all self-righteous brothers."