Chapter 639: Outside the Chessboard

She was different.

Thales stared blankly at Miranda as she was now, and could not help thinking this.

From meeting her as a fellow prisoner in Dragon Clouds City's prison cell, to witnessing her move freely with sword in hand in the Hall of Heroes, Thales had known Miranda for a very long time.

Without question, the woman before him was a calm warrior, a powerful swordsman, a strong fighter, cautious and reliable, and also carried a little coldness that kept others at a distance.

Like a flower on a sheer snowy mountain cliff.

Worthy of being a descendant of the White Eagle, a blood descendant of Arunde.

But at this moment, this moment...

Thales looked at her back, and for the first time sensed the heat and vitality radiating from her blood, as well as an unprecedented pressure.

That was not something the Arunde Family of Cold Castle could teach her, nor the Tower of Eradication, and not even the Flower of the Fortress.

It was...

Thales closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and returned to reality.

"If that is the case, why did you not directly go to my father, to His Majesty, and make the same promise to him?"

Miranda's hand, which was adjusting the scabbard ring, could not help pausing.

Thales slowly opened his eyes.

"As long as, as long as you say to King Kessel the words you said to me, as long as you are willing to give up what your father and his generation were unwilling to give up..."

The Duke of Star Lake gritted his teeth.

"I believe that whether title or position, what I can give you in the future, the Iron Hand King can give you now."

And he would certainly be very willing to give it.

Thales picked up that ridiculous greeting letter, his gaze pressing.

"So why not?"

Miranda did not speak. She began adjusting her belt and scabbard ring again.

"Because you are the one who stormed the palace in rebellion."

Thales' expression moved.

"Cohen has always been slow, but the teachers at the tower all say that dull and stubborn as he is, he has a swordsman's intuition beyond expectation."

Miranda did not raise her head. She carefully adjusted the tightness of the sword belt and the height and angle of the hilt.

"And that idiot said that the reason he was willing to risk his life with you and force his way into the palace ban was because that day, in the Lower City, he saw your eyes."

Thales froze.

"What? What eyes?"

Miranda gave a light laugh.

"He said he believed you. He believed that at that time, you were charging toward an impossible goal like the holy knight Don Quixote."

Thales paused.

"Don... Don what?"

Miranda finished adjusting the sword belt and shrugged indifferently.

"I do not know. I have never heard of that knight either. But when Cohen said this, he had stayed awake all night and was dozing off while flipping through files. He probably confused it with a name from some case file."

At that moment, Thales' expression stiffened.

"But Cohen said that he believed what you wanted to do then was more correct and more important than loyalty to the king and serving the throne. So even if it meant storming Renaissance Palace, although he hesitated, he did not refuse."

"Just like back then in Dragon Clouds City."

Thales trembled slightly.

Miranda raised her head and looked directly into his eyes.

"Therefore, I knew that even after seven years, you are still different from your father."

"You do not approve of the king's methods, whether forcing my father into plotting rebellion, laying a heaven-shaking conspiracy soaked in blood debt in Dragon Clouds City, that ominous border conflict in the Western Desert a few months ago, or other dirty things I do not know."

The female swordsman looked earnestly at Thales.

"You, Thales Jadestar, want to become a different person."

At that moment, Thales felt his heart skip a beat.

Different?

[Thales, become a king... because I believe you will be better than them, better than the other kings.]

[You can prove that even within the shackles of power... there can be a different way to live.]

Thales looked at Miranda before him and subconsciously clenched his fists.

Fuck you, Quick Rope.

You bastard. A different way to live. Easy for you to say.

Thales breathed deeply.

He had tried. He had worked hard. He had tried to cast aside feelings and weakness and view Miranda only as an ordinary descendant of nobility, an ambitious vassal.

He had thought that way, he could drag her into the trap without being condemned.

But, but now, the current Miranda...

[At that time, the nobility of Jadestar will not save you, the vastness of Stars will not tolerate you, and even the dignity of a king will not protect you.]

Thales' gaze was bitter. The resolve he had originally made now actually began wavering again.

The duke had no choice but to take a deep breath and calm his irritated mood.

"You think I can ultimately bring you what you want?"

"No, you cannot," unexpectedly, Miranda shook her head. "This is a battle that belongs only to me. At most, you are only a stepping stone."

A stepping stone. Hmph.

Thales nodded sarcastically.

You really know how to talk.

"But compared with your father," the female swordsman said coldly, "perhaps this stone of yours is a little harder."

"By the way, your acting just now was terrible. 'My dear Mira, if you want to join the game, you must pay more'?"

"You cannot even pretend to be a lecher." At this point, Miranda said disdainfully, "Virgin."

But Thales had no interest in bickering with her.

At this moment, his mood was complicated, and he lowered his head gloomily.

"Mira," Thales said in a daze, "what have you encountered over these years?"

"What made you become who you are now?"

Miranda paused when she heard this.

"Many things."

She slowly spoke, countless scenes flashing through her eyes.

"So many that I am unwilling to count them."

But this was only for an instant. She quickly recovered her firmness and once more became that stubborn female swordsman.

"But when I look back on the past, I discover that everything began that night."

That night?

Thales thought of something and raised his head in surprise.

Miranda nodded lightly, confirming his question.

"The night of Dragon Clouds City."

Thales' eyes abruptly widened.

Dragon Blood.

"Whether the people we met that day," Miranda looked directly at him, "or the things we did."

"Also, do not call me Mira."

But Thales did not hear what she said afterward.

He merely stared blankly at Miranda.

Is there always such a moment in life, when you casually look back on the past and only then realize that a decision made back then to adapt to circumstances and respond randomly would bring such a major, far-reaching, even world-changing influence?

Without anyone noticing, the dark clouds blocking the sky had already scattered.

Star Lake once again became azure and clear, glittering with rippling light.

Who knew how long passed before Thales finally breathed out. With emotions that even he could not fully understand, perhaps bitterness, perhaps release, perhaps helplessness, he said:

"But you just said, Mira, that you wanted to make a transaction with me and leave only the most utilitarian part?"

Miranda thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Correct. I am taking the most utilitarian part of myself to exchange for the most idealistic part of you. Calculating it this way, you are the one who loses more."

"Now, aside from not calling me Mira anymore, do you have any other questions?"

But Thales only stared absently at her sword.

"Mira?"

Miranda sighed and was about to speak.

"On this trip to Jade City, the errand I am handling actually has another purpose, even ill intentions," Thales said in a trance.

Miranda froze, but still nodded.

"I know. Do not call me Mira..."

"I am going to deal with Zayen, stuff him headfirst into my toilet, and flush him into the moat."

Miranda frowned.

"I know. I said do not..."

"So, if you come with me, there is a very real possibility that you will have to do some, mm, not very glorious things."

"I know!"

Miranda could not help raising her volume, but in the end she could not help sighing.

"Stop calling... forget it. So, does this count as you agreeing?"

Thales slowly raised his head and released a haggard but relieved smile.

This somewhat surprised Miranda.

"I understand now, Mira. The question you asked as soon as you entered," the duke said softly.

Miranda froze.

"What question?"

The Duke of Star Lake also came to the window and stretched.

"About Rosanna Arunde. Her story. I just remembered it."

Miranda's eyes moved slightly.

Thales looked at the boundless Star Lake and sighed.

"In history, Rosanna the Arithmetician entered the Renaissance court and ultimately became the queen of the Wise King Mindis the Third. She managed the royal finances and even helped the newly established Finance and Taxation Office calculate income and expenditure, wrangling accounts with the Wise King's creditors. Because of this, people called her the Shrewd Queen, thereby creating an eternal tale of harmony between king and queen, each understanding the other."

Thales silently looked at the intoxicating scenery before him.

No wonder Gilbert always liked telling me these random things in class before. After all that, it was marriage urging.

"But that was not voluntary." The female swordsman's voice came.

Thales froze.

Miranda leaned on the windowsill with him and looked at the blue sky of the Central Territory.

"Ever since the young son was born, the old duke worried that his eldest daughter's status was too high, and her ability and personality too strong, which would give her future husband's family too many benefits. He also worried that she would resent losing inheritance rights and become harmful to her young brother and family in the future."

"Therefore, he gave Rosanna two choices."

Miranda's voice was distant.

"Either marry a low-born knight from a poor family with a large dowry, weakening the threat from her future husband's family; or directly abandon her surname and inheritance rights and leave Cold Castle, depriving her of the possibility of interfering in the family through blood."

Thales was shocked.

Was there such a section in the records about the Shrewd Queen?

There was sorrow in Miranda's eyes.

"Strong by nature, Rosanna chose the second path. Only then did the later story happen. She did not become queen because she was born an Arunde. Rather, because she became queen, the Arunde Family suddenly remembered her, scrambled to add her back to the family tree, and announced to the world: the new queen's surname was Arunde."

Thales listened to this story in astonishment.

"I... I did not know there was such a section."

Miranda nodded.

"The White Eagle has always been proud of unity and rare internal strife. But... this less-than-glorious history was recorded only in the writing of the Sunset priest who secretly witnessed this agreement at the time, hidden deep in the Sunset Temple's restricted section, unknown to outsiders for a long time."

Or rather, throughout history, how much of the Arunde Family's praised "family unity" was formed under this kind of "planning ahead," like that old duke exiling close kin and suppressing children to avoid fratricide?

Thales' eyes turned, and he clapped his hands.

"No wonder. No wonder during the Wise King's reign, the Arunde Family, as the first family of the Northland, was suppressed so miserably by Renaissance Palace and the imperial conference, and was even made a typical example of the Wise King's reforms."

Damn it. Gilbert had even analyzed a huge pile of dignified topics for him about the "power balance between relatives by marriage and court officials," and the related papers stacked together were a full three feet thick.

Miranda smiled indifferently.

"Just like this, the first Duchess of the Northland did not appear. In her place was the Shrewd Queen. That was the story the world could accept: a loving father and filial daughter, friendly brothers, a strong husband's family, happiness and beauty."

The female swordsman crossed her arms. "But I feel that compared with 'Queen Rosanna' in that eternal tale..."

Thales took up the words.

"'Duchess Rosanna' would be more suitable for bards to sing in all directions?"

Miranda looked at him and did not speak.

"But are you ready?" the prince asked softly.

In the next second, Thales reached out without warning, toward Miranda's waist.

The female swordsman's gaze sharpened, and she instantly acted, firmly pressing down on Thales' left hand.

But she immediately frowned. Thales' extended palm was pressed on the hilt of the sword at her waist.

Thales gave her an apologetic smile.

She watched Thales warily, but still slowly released her hand.

Only then did Thales slowly raise his hand and draw Eagle Soars from her scabbard.

"I think this story of your ancestor, no, Rosanna was a queen, so she is also my ancestor, tells us that unlike Eckstedt, compared to the northerners who lacked experience, were caught off guard, and could only grit their teeth and accept a female archduchess, the people of Stars have precedent. They are used to it, and they know how to deal with such situations."

The blade of Eagle Soars rubbed against the leather and gradually revealed itself.

It was the same as seven years ago, radiating cold light.

And different from seven years ago, weathered by frost and wind.

Thales looked at the blade and slowly said:

"Just look at Duchess Leanna of Blade Fief. Compared with directly and loudly opposing, they know better how, within the current rules and system, to gently and politely..."

"Tear you apart."

The prince sighed.

"One must know that even the North Conqueror Queen who ascended the supreme throne three hundred years ago did not end too well."

Clap.

Just as the blade had been drawn out by one third, Miranda pressed down on Thales' hand again, slowly exerting strength and unquestionably sending Eagle Soars back into the scabbard.

"That is because she was not strong enough."

Thales raised his brows.

"Not strong enough? Queen Elika marched six times to seize Cold Castle by force and beat Eckstedt into heavy defeat."

Miranda narrowed her eyes.

"At least not strong enough to make those who opposed her lower their heads, such as her younger brother."

With a soft sound, Eagle Soars fully entered the scabbard. Thales could only sigh and release his hand.

Miranda shook her head at him.

"I have a question," the prince said thoughtfully. "If I truly said just now that only if you married me and became my queen would I accept you and be willing to help you take back the Northland..."

Miranda thought briefly.

"Are you trying to say that only if I recommended myself for your bed and made you happy fucking me would you help me take back the Northland?"

Mira, Star Lake Castle is not Broken Dragon Fortress. When we have time, we need to talk about your word choice in front of a prince.

Thales sighed.

"What if that were the case?"

Miranda gave a cold laugh.

"If you truly did that, it would prove your character, and also prove Cohen was wrong. Then whether I submitted to your father or surrendered to you would be the same."

She said unconcernedly, "So, I would first break your legs, then carry the grievance of being 'almost forcibly seized by the prince' to Renaissance Palace."

Thales frowned.

"To ask my father to uphold justice?"

The female swordsman shook her head.

"No. I would prove to him and the kingdom that after this matter, I am hostile toward the prince and cannot live under the same sky as you. Therefore, in the confrontation between the two Jadestars, I must stand on the king's side. Then, following the momentum, I would propose the same conditions to your father: I offer him the Northland, and he grants me the ducal seat. I can still get what I want."

Thales revealed a look of disbelief.

"As I said," Miranda shook her head. "No matter what, I must find my own way out."

It would just be missing one stepping stone.

Thales swallowed.

Sure enough.

Control the lower half of your body, and happiness follows for the latter half of your life.

"Then, Lady Miranda Arunde."

Thales sighed, turned around, and said seriously:

"Are you willing to be my wife?"

Miranda froze when she heard this, but she looked at him for a long time and understood something.

"No, I am not."

Thales nodded.

"Then, are you willing to be my queen?"

"No, I am not willing either."

Thales and she looked at each other.

"Since that is the case, Miranda Arunde, are you willing to be my knight?"

In Star Lake Castle's study, the young man and female swordsman silently faced each other.

After a moment, Miranda smiled.

She stepped back and faced Thales.

"I am willing, Your Highness."

Thales narrowed his eyes. "Even if I might order you to do unpleasant things, for example, swing your sword at Raphael?"

Miranda was silent for an instant.

"Raphael is very important to me, Your Highness."

Thales lightly laughed and shook his head, waving a hand.

"I know, Mira. So I was only jok..."

"But he is not the entirety of my life."

Miranda interrupted him, her gaze sharp.

"Far from it."

This was beyond Thales' expectation. He looked at the female swordsman before him with no small surprise.

"So, Your Highness, if he obstructs your road, obstructs our road, I will be sad."

At that moment, Broken Dragon Fortress' Winterless Sword reached for the hilt at her waist, killing intent overflowing.

"But I will absolutely not hesitate."

Thales immediately grew solemn.

He gazed at her for a very, very long time.

Miranda Arunde.

What was she?

A sharp sword?

Yes, but not entirely.

A chess piece?

Perhaps, but there were deviations.

A bargaining chip?

Possibly, but was it light or heavy?

What do you say, King Kessel?

Thales gripped the bone ring in his clothes.

She has gathered under my banner, just as we planned.

But not as we imagined, for power, at least not power as we understand it.

No matter how one looks at it, she does not seem to be an existence on your chessboard or under your rules.

Thales curled the corner of his mouth.

Because she is a person.

A damned person... outside the chessboard.

What do you say, Father?

His thoughts flashed like lightning. In the next second, Thales smiled faintly.

"Then, Mira, welcome to Star Lake Castle."

Although we will soon set out on a journey.

Miranda smiled as well.

"Wait."

She shook her head, drew Eagle Soars from her waist, and pressed it against her palm. "Ancient Northland rite."

Thales froze, then sighed.

He drew the JC dagger from behind his waist and likewise pressed it against his palm, only feeling a familiar headache before his eyes. "A palm oath as covenant?"

"Worthy of being the prince returned from the north." Miranda's eyes brightened. "You have quite a lot of knowledge."

More than quite a lot.

Thales helplessly thought.

More than you can imagine.

In the next second, the two exerted strength at the same time, feeling the pain between palm and blade.

"So, Thales Jadestar, from today onward, I pledge loyalty to you and serve you."

Miranda put down Eagle Soars and solemnly extended her hand. Blood flowed from her palm.

"In return, you will fully support the legitimacy of my inheritance, and if necessary, personally step forward and announce to the kingdom that the lord of the Northland you recognize is only one person..."

Thales breathed out and likewise extended a hand full of crimson, taking up her words.

"Duchess Miranda Arunde."

With a slap, their palms firmly clasped.

"So, from today onward, I..."

Halfway through his words, Thales suddenly remembered that unpleasant memory of Kortaksa.

He could not help sighing.

"You have already said what I wanted to say. As for what I did not say..."

Blood flowed down their wrists.

Thales listlessly nudged his mouth.

"There, it is all in the blood."

Miranda frowned, but still unhappily shook his hand, completing the oath.

But once his thoughts rose, Thales could not help asking:

"Are there restrictive measures? For example, swearing a poisonous oath, laying a curse, something like that. What if someone betrays the agreement?"

Miranda disdainfully shook her head and tightened her hand.

"I will break the agreement in only one situation."

"When you are not strong enough."

Damn, that hurts a bit.

Thales looked at her suspiciously.

"Do not misunderstand. Although we have reached an oath, Your Highness, if you fail to reach my expectations, or even drag me down," Miranda uncharacteristically winked with ill intentions, "I will abandon you without hesitation."

Thales' smile was somewhat stiff.

How heartwarming.

The prince's eyes turned.

"Then what if I betray you?"

In the next second, Miranda yanked her hand back, and Thales could not help being pulled forward by her.

The prince barely managed to stand steady and was about to complain, but discovered that Miranda was now right before his eyes.

Their distance was so close they could almost kiss. Thales could even see the female swordsman's eyelashes, and also the determination hidden behind those eyes.

"Your eyes. They are gray. Very rare," Miranda carefully observed him and said faintly.

Thales' expression was strange.

"Are they? Uh, your eyes are also very beaut..."

But Miranda's voice quickly became cold.

"Remember, you are of Jadestar blood, and I am a descendant of Arunde."

"Unfortunately, betrayal is destined to be part of our lives."

Miranda's gaze turned cold.

"Just like revenge."

Thales stiffened.

"So, little brat..."

In the next second, the fierceness on Miranda's face vanished.

Replacing it was an unprecedented bright smile, yet one that made chill rise in a person's heart.

Before turning to leave, she smiled and pinched Thales' frozen cheek.

"Be good. Do not be naughty."

----

Under Thales' dumbfounded and furious expression ("I am your master! You must have a subordinate's attitude, understand? Star Lake Castle is not outside the law!"), Doyle walked into the study and watched in surprise as Miranda left with a smile on her face.

Could, could it be...

"Wow, Your Highness!"

Doyle understood something. His face filled with delighted surprise, and he clicked his tongue again and again.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. Congratulations!"

Thales looked at him suspiciously.

"What is it? Congratulations for what?"

"Nothing, nothing. Just, heh heh..."

In the next second, Doyle secretly pointed at Miranda's back, proudly stuck up his thumb, and revealed an evil smile that said everything without words.

"Awesome!!!"

At that moment, Doyle's smile was so brilliant, so dazzling, so sincere.

So much so that he did not notice that His Highness Thales' expression had, without anyone noticing, become more and more terrifying.

"Doyle, I heard Commander Sonia say that you encountered her during your patrol before?"

"Huh? Oh, yes! Your Highness, the Flower of the Fortress, ah, heh. At that time, she was discussing some academic topics with Zombie. You understand, 'academic' topics! Do not worry, I did not disturb them, heh heh heh. After all, it counts as an important diplomatic victory for Star Lake Castle..."

"..."

That night, Star Lake Castle was not peaceful.

It was said that His Grace the duke, who had always had a good temper, flew into thunderous rage. He rarely personally instructed Punishment Officer Patterson to swiftly and strictly carry out, against First Vanguard Officer Danny Doyle of the Guards, abbreviated Doyle, the most terrifying, vile, and inhumane cruel punishment since the establishment of the Star Lake Guards:

Confiscating the little cloth bear by his bedside.