Chapter 644: Kasha and Qina

My heart is cluttered, far less airy and bright than this palace.

It was said that these were the words left behind by the wise king Mindis the Third when he visited the South Coast and stayed in Jade City in the early sixth century of the Calendar of Eradication. Many years later, after the wise king passed away, out of respect, or flattery, the then Duke Federico Covendier, known as the "Parrot Duke," took the opportunity to rename the family's inherited Emerald Palace as Emerald Palace, forever commemorating the former king.

Thales was staying in the room where, supposedly, the wise king had once lodged. From the balcony, he could take in the southern cityscape of Jade City and even glimpse the faint outline of Archsea City at the far end of his vision. At night, when he slept, the entire palace was ethereal and quiet. Accompanied by the faint sound of distant waves from far away, it truly made one's heart feel open and refreshed.

Thales had stayed in Emerald Palace for two days.

Just as he had estimated, the past two days had been calm and peaceful. No more bad things had happened. He stayed comfortably, and his subordinates lived leisurely and at ease.

Zayen had remained secluded these few days. Aside from occasionally appearing out of courtesy, and aside from the times when he had no choice but to invite Thales along to share a table with local nobles who came to pay their respects, he had almost no interaction with the prince and showed no intention of sitting down with him for a proper, friendly talk. Whenever asked, the answer was, "His lordship is busy with official matters." Thales could understand this. Probably anyone who learned that his superior intended to move against him would become very busy.

As for daily living and food, Emerald Palace, or to be precise, Butler Ashford, treated them with meticulous care. Everything was perfect, thoughtful, and beyond criticism. Today there might be a luxurious banquet in Anlenzo style, tomorrow a distinctive roasted meal from the Land of Thorns. The Star Lake Guards, who were used to hard days, became much more spirited because of it and stood straighter when reporting to the prince and Mallos.

"We cannot continue like this."

In the dining room, Thales forked up a piece of roasted meat with excellent texture and flavor, bit down comfortably, and shook his fork solemnly.

"These... things are softening our will."

Sunset, it was too delicious.

"I agree, Your Highness," Doyle said, drinking a delicious sweet-sour beverage imported from the Tyron Federation and sighing toward the ceiling. "Fortunately, our will is firm and can withstand the test. Another cup."

"His Highness is right. We came here representing the royal family and Star Lake Castle. We absolutely did not come to sightsee, eat, drink, and enjoy ourselves. Why are you looking at me like that, Mute? I did not offend you today... Oh, you want this dish? Sorry, here, take it. What? It tastes better mixed like that?" This was Wya, who was drinking thick soup.

"It is more than that." As the only person not eating, Miranda calmly raised her fork, her gaze sharp. "Far more than that."

Thales wiped his mouth and pulled the dessert over.

"Oh, Mira, what insight do you have?"

Miranda stared fixedly at a slice of roasted meat on her fork.

"It is not only salt and pepper. They must have added other seasonings to create this flavor."

Sunset.

How are you like this too...

Thales sighed and slapped the table.

"You think so too, right?"

He felt as though he had found a true confidant.

"A moment of material desire leads to a lifetime wasted." Sitting at the end of the table, Glover said in a low voice, "We will pay the price for this."

"Then what is in your hand?" Doyle tore into a piece of meat of unknown origin.

Clang.

Expressionless, Glover tossed an oyster shell, now emptied of meat, into the basin beside him that was already full of empty oyster shells. He wiped his mouth.

"Preparing for tonight's watch."

"Yesterday afternoon was even better." Thales forked up a slice of cake and leaned elegantly back in his chair. "Oskerson and Paul were on duty and managed to get a meal of Anlenzo..."

The door was pushed open, and Mallos strode in.

Around the dining table came a chaotic burst of dropped knives and forks and moving chairs.

"Well," Thales hurriedly straightened up, struggled to swallow his food, and spoke unclearly, "Jade City's current political situation..."

But it was already too late.

"Your Highness." The Watchman examined each person who was flustered and trying to tidy themselves up. Behind him stood Komuto, his face full of, "He came too quickly, I really had no time to warn you." "I thought you summoned them here in order to... Guard Officer Doyle, do you like that dish that much?"

Doyle quietly put down his fork.

"Uh, yes. Sorry." Thales finally swallowed the food. "Thor, so we are going to..."

Going to what again?

"And yet you are all here eating and drinking," Mallos said, his tone making everyone's heart tighten, "when I am not present."

No one spoke. The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

As the leader, Thales had no choice but to awkwardly offer a bowl of thick soup.

"Sorry?"

Mallos glanced sideways at him.

Thales swallowed and withdrew, finding no fun in it.

"Sorry."

But before his bowl withdrew halfway, Mallos took it. The latter snorted softly, sat down beside Thales, and conveniently picked up a spoon.

Damn.

If you wanted to eat, just say so.

"So, well, meeting."

Thales was just about to say something, but looking at everyone's hurried, distracted expressions, he felt something was missing.

He looked around and then suddenly took out a familiar little stuffed bear, placing it on the table.

Perhaps the little stuffed bear, gradually becoming a routine, had taken effect. Perhaps the sudden changes in expression were too vivid. Perhaps Mallos, who was currently trying hard to pick beans out of the soup, truly had enough deterrence. Of course, perhaps it was merely an illusion wrong beyond wrong. In any case, Thales felt everyone had become much more serious.

Perhaps the Star Lake Guards were not some elite force able to fight ten each, but after going through so many storms, there were always some people worthy of trust.

"We cannot continue like this."

Thales solemnly pointed at the soup in front of Mallos beside him.

"These things are softening our will."

Mallos, just about to drink the soup, tightened his expression and endured as he put down the spoon.

"I agree, Your Highness," Doyle said righteously while staring at the soup in Mallos's hand. "Fortunately, our will is firm and can withstand the test."

"Uh." Wya hesitated for a while and still could not think of anything. "His Highness is right. We came here representing the royal family and Star Lake Castle. We absolutely did not come to sightsee, eat, drink, and enjoy ourselves. Mu... Ralf, what do you think?"

Ralf had only just put on his mask and hidden his expression behind it. He nodded.

"It is more than that," Miranda said with a serious expression. "Far more than that."

"Yes, just as my grandfather said." Glover expressionlessly kicked the basin of oyster shells on the floor farther away. "Indulging in a moment of material desire leads to a lifetime wasted."

Thales looked around, exchanged gazes with everyone, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Very good, all of you."

Mallos did not speak. He slowly narrowed his eyes.

But behind him, Komuto revealed an expression of utter despair.

Old Kom sighed, looking as though he had given up on life.

"Actually, Your Highness, everyone, Lord Mallos listened outside the door for a while. A full two or three minutes. Then he came in."

In the next second, everyone around the dining table, Thales included, turned to stone.

Only the little stuffed bear opened its innocent eyes, as cute as ever.

"Gian," Mallos calmly called his subordinate's name without turning back, "tomorrow you are on outdoor duty. Three days in a row."

Komuto nodded lifelessly.

"Yes, sir."

The dining room fell into dead silence.

No one spoke.

It was as though even the tablecloth had been dyed gray.

Only the leisurely sound of Mallos drinking soup rang out, long and piercing, echoing in everyone's ears.

After a long while, Thales finally recovered from this luxurious, decadent life and spoke awkwardly.

"In short, we have just arrived and need intelligence about Jade City."

Only then did everyone wake up one by one and, under Mallos's silent but powerful deterrence, join the discussion.

"What kind of intelligence?" Doyle stared at his little bear. "Actually, Your Highness, may I ask what we came here to do? We said it was a marriage meeting, but I asked all over the castle, and no one knows where Lady Hilley is."

Miranda's gaze cooled.

"Fine. I will tell the truth."

Thales sighed.

"As I told others yesterday, what His Majesty wants is obvious. The marriage meeting and alliance are only means. He sent me here as a gesture, to show the entire kingdom his attitude and raise the royal family's political influence over the South Coast."

He looked at everyone.

That was not too wrong, right?

"What a pity." Wya immediately lost interest. "I thought we came here to do something big and demand justice from Duke Zayen, whether for seven years ago or two days ago."

Thales narrowed his eyes.

Also not wrong?

"I thought," Glover said in a low voice, "we came to fight the Covendier family to the death."

Thales swallowed.

Also not wrong?

"Of course, my father is not me. He probably neither understands nor cares about the grudges between Zayen and me," the prince took a deep breath. "So for me, besides needing to be extremely careful on this trip, I must also work hard to investigate this city and find opportunities, even bargaining chips, in preparation for hostile acts from Zayen."

Miranda said softly:

"You mean finding a weakness that will give Zayen a great headache and be enough to make him compromise with you."

Thales snapped his fingers.

Not wrong.

These words left everyone silent for a while.

"Gladly." Doyle silently raised a cup of drink. "That duke is a complete bastard. Your Highness, are you really going to become brothers-in-law with someone like that?"

The prince scratched his head.

"Hm, about that..."

Thud.

Mallos put down the soup bowl and elegantly wiped his mouth, interrupting Thales at just the right time.

"I believe all of you can see," he reached out, naturally took the little bear in front of Thales, wiped the lint from it, and placed it in front of himself, "Jade City is an unusual city, very different from most places we have seen."

Thales stared blankly as the little stuffed bear was pulled to the Watchman's side. He wanted to say something, but no words came out.

"Doyle and Arunde." Mallos's expression was quite serious, and his words allowed no doubt. "Starting tomorrow, you will contact the great households of Jade City, from noble lords to local officials, from family banquets and gatherings to hunts and horse races. Your targets are the important people of this city and their families."

"Me?" Doyle, who had still been paying attention to the little bear, reacted with both surprise and joy.

"Me?" Miranda frowned.

"Yes, Arunde. You are the daughter of a Northland duke and also a favored person beside His Highness." Mallos nodded, as though it were perfectly ordinary. "South Coasters like holding banquets and balls. Remember to choose a beautiful gown. They will flock to you."

Miranda.

Ball.

Gown.

Everyone turned their heads in unison and looked at the person involved.

It is over, Thales thought. He covered his eyes with one hand, yet could not resist opening a curious gap between his fingers.

At that moment, Miranda Arunde, wearing black gloves, holding the Eagle翔 longsword beside her chair, sitting proudly in her seat, the female heir of the Northland, the capable subordinate of the Flower of the Fortress, the glorious descendant of the Snow Eagle, the proud chief of the Pegasus line, the Winterless Blade of Cold Castle, the long-sky falcon of Broken Dragon Fortress, opened her mouth wide in horror.

Several seconds later, she stood up abruptly, indignant and angry.

"A ball? Why? Should I feel honored?"

"No." Mallos sighed, looking quite troubled. "In fact, this is the hardest task. Only the most outstanding person can do it."

Miranda, who had been about to argue, instantly choked.

The most outstanding person. Doyle's eyes lit up at the words, and he unconsciously straightened his collar.

"But among His Highness's people, there truly is no one else capable enough to undertake it... of course, if you cannot go..."

Bang.

Miranda sat back down with a gloomy expression.

"I will go."

Thales closed the gap between his fingers.

Mallos continued:

"If possible, I would want to add Paul as well. The heir of Heroic Spirit Castle sounds decent, but that fellow joined us halfway, so I need to observe him further."

"I also joined halfway." Miranda looked lifeless, as though standing beside the Prison River.

"You did not, Miss Arunde. You fought side by side with us seven years ago," Wya encouraged her with effort. "Also, you are a genius of the Tower of Eradication and chief of the Pegasus line."

On the other side, Ralf and Glover snorted disdainfully at the same time.

But when they saw each other, they each turned away unhappily.

"I, I..."

The girl of House Arunde squeezed out a few words in a sorry state.

"I have been to balls in the Northland and the capital before, but they did not like me, and I did not like... perhaps..."

"Then fortunately, we are on the South Coast," Mallos decisively rejected her and sent the struggling Miranda back to the Prison River. "Bring out the skill you use on the battlefield and force them to like you."

"From the past to current news, from rumors to gossip, from economics to politics, His Highness needs to know every piece of intelligence that comes out of the noble houses."

"Uh, that is exactly what I meant." Thales coughed and fought to insert a sentence, showing his presence.

"What about me? What about me?" Doyle popped out from the side and asked expectantly.

"You, hm." Mallos frowned, seeming unable to find his tongue. "Help choose the gown."

After saying that, he left behind the heartbroken young man and the suffering young woman by the dining table and looked at Wya.

"Komuto, Young Master Caso." Mallos said steadily, "Based on your experience and background, I want you to enter all walks of life, from the warning hall to the notary hall, from the major guilds to foreign merchants, whether mid-level bureaucrats, grassroots clerks, farm landlords, handicraft owners, or propertied knights. His Highness needs to know the secrets of how this city operates."

Wya nodded at first, then became unhappy.

"Can you not call me young master?"

"No. In fact, you must grow used to such a title. To many people of ordinary birth who struggle upward, you are a young master," Mallos said disapprovingly. "More importantly, you are a young master within their reach."

"You mean, as a model of striving, the reachable Earl Gilbert Caso?" Wya understood something and gritted his teeth.

Everyone frowned in unison.

"No," Mallos responded lightly. "Facing them, you cannot be only Wya, nor can you be only Caso."

"You must be Wya Caso."

Wya's expression changed.

"Yes, Thor is right. This is very..."

Thales cleared his throat and wanted to insert himself, but Mallos had already turned to the next pair.

"Glover, and Mute. I know your name is Ralf, so do not blow my soup."

Thales withdrew unhappily into his seat.

"I want the two of you to go deep into the streets and markets, infiltrate the lower levels, contact those who live less than human lives, and look at the unofficial things, if you understand what I mean." The Watchman narrowed his eyes, his tone chilling. "If necessary, even if you have to use both hands to dig, scrape, and claw through the gutters, hidden channels, and cesspits of this city, you will dig out its darkest, filthiest, most disgusting, and most shameful secrets for me. Do not panic. That was rhetoric. It was not literal."

Mallos's expression was gloomy.

"Most of the time."

Glover and Ralf stood up angrily at the same time.

"Me?" Glover gritted his teeth. "Me, and this Mu... Ralf?"

"Hu!" Ralf's gaze cooled, and the curtains behind him shook wildly, forming different hand gestures.

"Very good. Likes it. Can do." Doyle worked hard to read the other's sign language and laughed. "He looks very excited!"

Thales, who understood the sign language, wanted to speak but stopped.

Glover and Ralf exchanged one glance, then angrily turned their heads away.

"I, sir, I cannot! How am I supposed to talk with him? Exchange glances?"

"No need to talk," Mallos shook his head. "The rules in places like that are hidden deeper. The moment you open your mouths, you will ruin things."

Glover froze.

"If you absolutely must communicate, he is literate."

Ralf snorted unhappily and made several more gestures.

"Then how are they supposed to gather intelligence?" Thales finally translated the sign language before Doyle could.

"That will depend on your creativity. But I have great confidence in you," Mallos changed his tone. "Of course, if you are willing to go to balls and exchange with Arunde..."

The gloomy Miranda's eyes lit up.

In the next second, Glover and Ralf sat down at lightning speed, pushing the poor girl who had found a chance to crawl out of the Prison River back in again.

They looked at each other and turned away unhappily for the third time.

"For the specific details, I will discuss them with the banner officer. His Highness and I will regularly listen to your reports. As for the others," Mallos nodded, "we have other arrangements."

"Yes."

Everyone answered listlessly.

"Right, uh, yes, that is it." Thales felt he needed to say something and unconsciously stood up. "Everyone, hm, do your best."

"Yes."

Everyone answered as though life had lost meaning.

Seeing their appearance so full of enthusiasm, Thales could not help scratching his head.

"Right, what about me?"

Thales looked toward the Watchman.

"You, Your Highness, you..." Mallos frowned. "Hm..."

Thales looked at him expectantly.

After thinking for a long while, Mallos sighed and returned the little stuffed bear on the dining table to the prince.

"Please enjoy your meal."

------

Thales walked down from the main palace in a huff, heading toward the outer castle.

The main palace of Emerald Palace was built with a rare huge rock as its foundation. The mountain had been carved and stone cut around it, then carefully built upward in layers. After generations, even dozens of generations, of expansion and improvement, the current main palace of Emerald Palace was already the absolute highest point in Jade City. Guarded by the outer castle, it rose with three towers and extended four square viewing platforms, like the legendary divine messenger with four wings on its back and eyes in all directions, sitting on the central slope of the city and watching travelers from the Seven Seas and eight directions.

The main palace's colors were primarily soft and simple emerald green, matched in different functional areas with the three colors of the Covendier family crest, creating a unique character. The furnishings and supplies inside the palace, from outside to inside, from host to guest, from daily living to banquets, included many foreign objects from the four corners and Seven Seas. Their styles and forms differed greatly, yet they were surprisingly harmonious together, neither abrupt nor cluttered. Instead, they displayed Jade City's abundance of goods and prosperous trade.

Overall, compared with the heavy solemnity of Renaissance Palace, the rough dominance of Heroic Spirit Palace, and the quieter, more natural Star Lake Castle, Emerald Palace was elegant and fresh while also bright and novel. Even Duke Thales himself, who had traveled far and seen much, praised it endlessly.

"Filthy rich."

Thales glared unhappily at the portrait of some unknown Duke of the South Coast and its pure gold frame, leaving his evaluation.

"Ball. Dance steps." Miranda, accompanying him at the side, looked dark and muttered mysterious words others could not understand. "Gown. Hairstyle. Makeup..."

There was no saving her.

Thales glanced at her and sighed helplessly.

"Your Highness!" Miranda trembled all over, her face full of pleading. "Can you..."

Her appearance made Thales feel sympathetic and extremely unwilling to refuse, so he hesitated for a long while.

"No."

Heart aching, the prince walked forward on his own, letting Miranda return to her muttering state.

At that moment:

"Oh my, dear, dear! Look what I found." This was a somewhat flamboyant voice.

"What, what? You found... oh, Sunset, hee hee..." This was a slightly languid voice.

Thales, who had been lowering his head in thought, was startled and only then looked up.

On the stairs ahead of him appeared two girls in dresses, arm in arm. One was on the left, one on the right. One dress was purple, the other pale yellow. They were only in their teens. They were originally beautiful and lovable, but their eyes burned bright and their laughter was sharp.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk." The girl in the orchid-purple dress opened her mouth lazily.

"Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo." The girl in the goose-yellow dress spoke flamboyantly.

Thales looked at them in confusion.

They spoke one after another, one drawing in and one letting out, one singing and one responding. Connected together, it was surprisingly coordinated, like a single person speaking.

"A cute lost noble boy." The girl in the orchid-purple dress smiled charmingly, yet gave Thales the feeling of a leopard creeping close, eyeing him like prey. "Opening those pitiful big eyes, not knowing why, not understanding what is going on, even looking a little nervous as he stares at us!"

"As though thinking in his heart, ah, who are these two, why are they here, why did I run into them, and of course, most importantly, why are they so adorable?" The girl in the goose-yellow dress smiled adorably. The instant she took over the words, it was like a wolf showing its fangs and claws.

Luxurious clothing. Extraordinary bearing.

Thales frowned. Nobles with status.

"Uh, ladies, I apologize for disturbing you." Thales suddenly had a bad feeling. "I am only looking for the way to Ancestor Rock, then out to the outer castle..."

But the moment his words fell, the two girls lifted their skirts and walked gracefully before him.

"A boy, in Emerald Palace, living alone."

"A boy, in the main palace, walking alone."

The two girls circled Thales once, exchanged a glance, and revealed mysterious smiles.

"Aha? The emblem on his clothes?" The girl in purple narrowed her eyes.

"Aha! Nine-pointed star!" The girl in yellow raised her brows.

The two girls hugged each other in surprise, looked at one another, and both revealed evil smiles.

"We hit the jackpot!"

Thales felt his scalp tighten as he watched. He quietly turned to leave.

But in the next second, the two girls appeared instantly on either side of him, one left and one right. Ignoring whether their posture was proper, they clung hard to both his arms.

"Move aside. He is mine!" The girl in purple clung to Thales's left arm and looked at the other proudly.

"Why? First come, first served!" The girl in yellow locked onto the youth's right arm, her gaze provocative, refusing to yield.

"I was born first! Me first!"

"I am the younger sister! Priority!"

"For your first night, I helped you fool the governess!"

"For your first love, I helped you hide it from Father!"

"That flirtatious look of yours secretly lured three knights into killing one another. I know!"

"That hypocritical look of yours tricked four families back and forth into turning against each other. I know too!"

When their gazes met in the air, Thales's Sin of Hell's River actually felt a faint dangerous stir.

The girl in purple snorted disdainfully.

"So what?"

The girl in yellow lifted her chin, unwilling to show weakness.

"So what?"

Seeing them ready to clash, as though they would not rest unless they divided Thales and devoured him, Thales froze.

No, wait.

Putting aside their inexplicable quarrel and "division" for now...

Thales instinctively wanted to struggle free, but the two girls were surprisingly strong, and their technique was clever. It was difficult to break away.

"Hey! I said, can you first let me..."

But the two girls' gazes changed.

"Since that is the case, with profit hard to distinguish and reason hard to divide..." The girl in purple gritted her teeth, looking pained.

"With blood ties hard to break and affection hard to lessen..." The girl in yellow sighed.

"Then let us follow the usual custom..."

"According to the past..."

In the next second, the two girls' expressions changed, and they became overjoyed together.

"Share him!"

Share? No, wait...

Thales had just wanted to speak when he discovered he had been drowned by a barrage of words.

"Pleasure cooperating, sister?"

"Loving each other, sister!"

The two girls faced each other arm in arm, smiling brightly. Where was the tearful look from just now?

"Now, it is time to divide the spoils. Sister, what do you want?"

The girl in purple stuck to Thales's arm again like a shadow. Not allowing him to resist, she touched the prince's face and talked to herself.

"Lips? Eyes? Nose? Cheeks? Collarbone? Fingers? Hm, so hard to choose."

"Hey! You cannot do this..." Thales was greatly alarmed.

"Ah, sister, you really do not know how to choose," the girl in yellow also stuck close, but her gaze burned, and her palm went straight for Thales's chest. "First look at the core muscles. Oh, he has trained. There is shape, and strength too. Chest, abdomen, thighs!"

The two girls exchanged a glance, their expressions pleasantly surprised.

Like opening a favorite gift.

"No, why do you talk like this, one after another, and never stop..."

Thales struggled out as properly as he could and had just opened his mouth when he was interrupted again.

"Found sword calluses. He practices swordsmanship, and really practices! Not a false show!" The girl in purple held one of Thales's palms and became very excited.

"There are scars on the palm too! Wow, handsome cutting wound! Returning from a hundred battles, only for the beloved to remain!" The girl in yellow stroked the prince's other palm, her face full of deep feeling.

"Wow! Delicious?"

"Delicious?"

The two girls released Thales, held each other before him, and excitedly waved their fists.

"Delicious!"

"Hey!"

Thales, feeling as though his head was being numbed by the noise, could no longer endure.

"Can you two quiet down a little?"

As soon as he said this, the surroundings became quiet.

But only briefly.

"Hm, a little temper?"

"He has some. Maybe quite hard."

"Tsk, tsk, is that a good thing?"

"Of course. It is like riding a horse. What is the point if it is soft and limp?"

Thales could not listen anymore and roared:

"Hey!"

The two girls were startled and turned to look at him together.

One looked pitiful.

The other looked on the verge of tears.

Uh...

Thales froze, a little embarrassed.

"Sorry, I did not mean to shout at you..."

But the moment his words left his mouth, the two girls instantly changed faces.

"Eh, he is also soft-hearted! Interesting!"

"Soft, soft, easy to fool!"

"I really want to bully him!"

"I want to see him wronged and teary!"

"Needs coaxing!"

"Needs pampering!"

The two girls smiled, held each other's hands, and swayed happily.

Thales listened with his mouth open.

These two... what strange things were they?

He took a deep breath.

"In fact, ladies, I am..."

In the next second, as usual, before he could speak, the two girls' eyes both lit up.

"We know!"

"We know!"

"About who you are?"

"Who you are!"

Under Thales's dizzy feeling, one left and one right, they spoke while walking, circling Thales back and forth like dancers.

"The kingdom's hope! Jadestar's future!"

"The hero's hostage, the merciful prince!"

The girl in purple leaned on his shoulder, charming and tempting.

"Some say you are wanton and fickle, desiring every one you see!"

The girl in yellow held his arm, obedient and adorable.

"Some say you are devoted in love, choosing only one once you decide!"

"Some say you are sincere and benevolent, making everyone compete to love you!"

"Some say you are unbearably false, deceiving the kingdom into revolving around you!"

Thales felt he was about to faint.

"You are?"

"You are..."

The two girls separated with a swish and exchanged positions in perfect understanding, one smiling confidently and the other with a crafty gaze. They spoke in unison:

"Thales Jadestar!"

Hoo.

Calm.

Calm.

Who exactly were these two...

Thales took a deep breath and finally recovered during this pause in the artificial noise.

"Yes, I am... no, I mean, I am only Thales. I do not have that many adjectives in front..."

Unfortunately, the play of these two uninvited pretty guests was clearly not over.

They stuck to Thales's two sides again. One after another, competing in beauty like an angry contest, they rushed to recite his identities.

"Prince of Stars!"

"Duke of Star Lake!"

"North Star!"

"The Archduchess's Little Star!"

"Beneath the skirt's..."

"Stop!"

Seeing that things were about to go bad, Thales waved violently and stirred the Sin of Hell's River.

"That is enough!"

The two girls looked at him in surprise.

The world became quiet.

Perhaps the Sin of Hell's River finally took effect. The girls did not speak again.

Thales, who was almost driven mad, finally had the strength to organize his thoughts and ask the question circling in his mind.

"First question. In Emerald Palace, who are you? Why are you here?"

The two girls glanced at him reproachfully, then innocently looked at each other.

"Those are two questions."

"Two. That's right, sister."

"Our mathematics was not wasted?"

"Our cheating in arithmetic was not wasted!"

Here they came again.

Thales painfully held his head. Could they not leave only one person to speak?

The two girls chuckled and turned around.

"But we are generous."

"We are simple and honest."

The girl in purple narrowed her eyes.

"We are kind."

The girl in yellow's smile widened.

"We are willing to satisfy you."

"No matter what you want."

"Even if what you want is very bad."

The two looked at each other and covered their mouths while laughing.

"Very bad!"

"Especially to you!"

"Especially to you!"

"Enough!" Thales, nearly dying, raised a trembling hand. "Are you going to answer who you are or not?"

In the next second, the two girls cried out together and suddenly separated.

"Among the cliffs of the Navora Corridor..." The girl in purple walked behind Thales, giggling as she reached out and brushed through his hair.

"Within the crevices of Twin Tower Strange Rock..." The girl in yellow came before him, her gaze intimidating as she hooked his chin.

"There lived a group of imperial remnants, surviving in that age of frequent disasters."

"They were loyal!"

"They were stubborn!"

"They struggled to survive!"

"They fought to endure!"

"Only waiting for Ludor's glory to reappear!"

"Hoping for Prince Tomond's return!"

"In the final battle, they made achievements!"

"When Stars was founded, they planned the world!"

What, what, and what?

Thales, still unable to get used to their speaking style, was dizzy from listening.

"Thousands of years passed, and their leaders were passed down through generations."

The girl in purple's eyes lit up.

"Their glory shone brighter!"

The girl in yellow looked heroic and imposing.

"Their clan language never changed!"

In the next second, they stood together again and spoke in one voice:

"Wisdom on the left!"

"Longsword to the right!"

"Kasha Qina!"

They exchanged smiling glances and separated left and right.

"One left and one right!"

Wait.

Thales, whose head was swelling from listening, struggled to find the light of order within evil chaos and felt somewhat puzzled.

Wisdom, longsword...

That sounded familiar.

"The demon twins of Vola Fief!"

Demon what?

"The terrifying sister flowers of the Twin Tower Longsword!"

Terrifying what?

The girl in orchid-purple smiled mysteriously and slyly.

"Kasha Karabeyan!"

The girl in goose-yellow stood arrogantly and flamboyantly.

"Qina Karabeyan!"

The two smiled together and looked toward Thales, shouting:

"Appearing before you on the stage of history!"

What, what, what?

Thales narrowed his eyes.

"This is a Temple of the Night play, right? The lines sound a little familiar!"

In the next instant, Kasha and Qina's eyes lit up, and they looked at each other.

"Ah, he watches plays?"

"He watches plays?"

"He actually watches plays?"

"He actually watches plays!"

The two looked at each other and smiled triumphantly, turning toward Thales.

"What kind of plays do you like, Your Highness?" Kasha blinked.

"Romance? Court? History? War? Politics?" Qina licked her lips.

"Please not religious morality plays!"

"But it does not matter!"

"Married life is long..."

"We can slowly cultivate it. We will definitely have..."

The two stuck to Thales's arms again, full of energy.

"Similar interests!"

Hm?

They seemed to have just said...

Thales took several full seconds before he reacted in great alarm.

"Ahhh! You are from Vola Fief's Karabeyan family! You are the sha..."

The two girls, Kasha and Qina, blinked their star-like eyes, nodded together, and looked expectant.

Thales used all his strength to bite the words "giant fools" dead in his mouth.

With a strange and complicated feeling, the Duke of Star Lake squeezed out a smile and straightened the clothes that had almost been pulled open.

"Uh, it is an honor to meet you, respected Lady Karabeyan and... Lady Karabeyan?"