Chapter 651: Butcher's Knife

The departure of the two vampire guests made many people relax, and also made Thales breathe a sigh of relief. At least the Secret Intelligence Department had not set their sights on these strange races. Otherwise, "Vampires Attack Strife Banquet, Emerald Palace Suffers Terrifying Massacre," that news would make one frown just from the headline.

But the problem was...

Thales examined the guests from various countries coming and going. The king's goal was to end Zayen's ducal career and destroy the foundation of the Covendier family. But the South Coast was so large, and Jade City so complicated. What could ruining one banquet accomplish?

But this thought did not let him relax. Instead, it made the prince even more uneasy.

Correct.

The voice in his heart told him: He must have other methods.

The damage they could cause would be far beyond what this banquet could provide.

"I heard that His Highness Thales is wise beyond his years and elegant in bearing. Meeting you today, it is indeed so..."

"Our merchant association has excellent cooperation with like-minded friends in the Central Territory. They supply materials, we process them. I wonder whether Your Highness would be interested..."

"I heard Your Highness came seeking a good match. I wonder how you and Lady Hilley are getting along?"

After Zayen, the banquet host, left, Thales, alone, quickly became the new focus of guests from all sides. Those who came to talk with him included envoys from foreign lands, local great clans and wealthy merchants, vassals and high officials under Jade City...

Thales had no choice but to pray that Zayen hurry back to his seat. At least the head of the Covendier family could share most of the firepower, and those who wished to approach the prince would restrain themselves and not dare act too obviously.

No. What kind of joke was that?

The Duke of Star Lake shook his head as soon as he thought of this. Had Little Flower not already brought him enough trouble?

Among the people who came to visit Thales, there were even honored guests from the kingdom's thirteen great houses.

Earl Aitchison Lacia and his eldest son set out from the Marshland, representing the Lacia family, whose crest was the "four-winged giant lizard," to visit Prince Thales. But father and son were both dull in temperament and clumsy with words. Aside from greetings, most of their replies were no more than three words, making the conversation difficult to continue and the scene extremely awkward. So when an impassioned banquet tune sounded and drowned out their voices, all three sighed in relief at the same time.

Earl Noah Havia of Saltwall Harbor in the East Sea Territory first congratulated the prince on receiving Star Lake Castle, then mentioned his own family's connection to Star Lake. Four centuries ago, his ancestor had been a small attendant to the "High-Climbing King" while he was still at Star Lake Castle. Later, he entered the Royal Guards and supported the Sunset Church and Prince Tomond "Thorn-Cutter" during the religious war after the passing of Eran the First, the "Ritual Doctrine Strife." It was said that Havia shot an arrow from a thousand paces away, killing the false temple priest in the enemy formation who claimed to be Sunset's incarnation. This won from Thorn-Cutter a famous saying that shook Stars: "This bow shoots the sun." Only after the war was he ennobled as earl, passing down the illustrious reputation of the "Sun-Shooting Bow."

The Earl of Evergreen Island, Bruce Shukadel, who had come from Blade Fief, invited Thales to visit Evergreen Island when he had time. Although the sea route was distant, the earl's younger sister, the wife of the late Third Prince Bancroft, had been widowed on the island for nearly twenty years. If a younger relative from her husband's family could visit, she would certainly be very happy.

By comparison, the others in the Star Lake Guards gradually entered their roles. Even Miranda broke away from the noblewomen and began dealing with a group of men competing to offer attention.

Glover came once to report that everything at the banquet was normal. Ralf in another corner also signed "nothing much" to him. Doyle was like a fish in water at this banquet, and was said to have already gathered a group of people and begun telling "a few stories of Prince Thales sacrificing himself for family and country." The most frightening thing Thales could imagine was probably that the people of Star Lake Castle would tire themselves out dealing with this revelry and fail to get out of bed the next day.

Unfortunately, he alone had not come to enjoy the banquet.

Depose the duke.

Destroy Zayen.

Thinking of these two goals, Thales frowned tightly.

The Secret Intelligence Department had not yet acted. Or perhaps they had already acted and he did not know. But no matter how things developed, Thales's goal would not change.

"Ah, sister, is this not the Highness we have longed for day and night?"

"Yes, sister. It is exactly the one who has haunted our souls and dreams!"

Familiar and terrifying voices sounded one after another, and Thales instinctively shuddered.

No.

A charming voice rang out behind him on the left.

"Last time we parted too hurriedly..."

Another voice came from the right, full of aggression.

"This time we meet again, amid the banquet!"

No, no, no, no. Thales painfully rubbed his face.

He had to admit, at this moment, he truly missed Duke Zayen, who had left his seat.

What exactly are you doing?

Come back quickly!

"Your Highness, why have you come so late?"

One girl, beautiful in appearance and light in figure, settled on Thales's left side with a swaying waist and a smiling face.

"Leaving us sisters lonely for a time?"

The other girl had a cold, glamorous makeup and a sharp hairstyle. She appeared at his right side with a whoosh, her gaze pressing.

Thales rubbed his face hard and rubbed out a universal guest-receiving smile.

"Hi, Kasha, Qina!"

He forced a smile.

"You are both so beautiful today! I can hardly move my eyes away!"

Kasha and Qina, dressed grandly, one on the left and one on the right, both flashed their eyes.

They clung to Thales's shoulders, leaned backward, and leaned together behind the prince to whisper.

"He said we are beautiful?"

"Can he say something we do not know?"

"He said he cannot move his eyes away?"

"Because he has not even looked!"

"Um," Thales had no choice but to speak. "You know I can hear you, right?"

But the twin sisters ignored him and continued whispering behind him.

"Ew, hypocritical!"

"Heh. Men..."

"Then what do we do?"

"Glare at him!"

As soon as they finished speaking, the two girls instantly slid in front of Thales and sat side by side, casting him gazes that appeared reproachful and helpless, but were actually fierce and coercive.

"Fine." Thales had no choice but to raise his hands in surrender. "I mean, Kasha, this dress is excellent. It makes your figure graceful. Qina, that hairstyle is impressive, and this... war makeup?"

The two girls chuckled. Each lifted a hand fan and covered the lower half of her face. Kasha's fan had her side portrait painted on it, with the words "Wisdom on the left, and Kasha happens to be on the left." Qina's had "Longsword to the right, but Qina never goes right."

In addition, the same line of small words was written at the bottom of both fans:

Older brother is a fool, foolish all the way to Grandma's house.

Seeing this, Thales's brow twitched hard.

"The cute and lovely Highness is being perfunctory." Kasha's eyes above the fan blinked.

"And panicking, uneasy, scared!" Qina laughed from behind the fan.

"Actually, he does not need to be afraid."

"Because we do not intend to do anything to him."

"But if we really were to do something?"

"Ah, no, sister. There are too many people here..."

"Hehe, I know what you are thinking, you little bad thing..."

"But just thinking about it is exciting..."

Thales came back to himself, his expression strange.

But the two girls hid behind their fans and chattered without restraint, as though the fans could isolate everything.

"Ah, no, it would break him..."

"Would he be broken, or would you be broken?"

"Eeeh, hateful!"

"You are the hateful one!"

Kasha and Qina suddenly sensed something. They both lowered their fans and shot sharp gazes straight ahead.

"Dear Your Highness!"

"Where are you going?"

Thales, who was tiptoeing away and preparing to slip off, stiffened.

Kasha smiled and leaned over.

"Do you have the heart to turn away like this?"

Qina approached with a cold smile.

"Are you so willful as to turn your head?"

"Just wearing clothes we purchased..."

"Leaving us behind without looking back and walking forward?"

"Ew! No manners!"

"No conscience!"

Thales, head aching, hurriedly denied:

"No, I was only... wait, what clothes did you say?"

The prince's expression changed greatly.

"That's right!" Kasha covered her mouth and laughed.

"He knows!" Qina's brows filled with joy.

"Do you like the combinations we selected for you?"

"Seven whole sets!"

Thales hurriedly lowered his head and examined his clothes.

"What? Wait, but wasn't this found by Komuto through the Tailors' Guild..."

Kasha clasped his wrist and blinked.

"Exactly so!"

Qina clung to his shoulder and licked her lips.

"Not wrong at all!"

"But behind Jade City's Tailors' Guild, whether the Weavers and Dyers' Guild or the Ready-Made Clothing Association..."

"They all have Karabeyan shares, or cooperate closely with Vola Fief!"

Karabeyan shares?

Then that meant, we...

Thales understood something, and his face turned deathly pale.

"And it is not only this one," Kasha said happily. "There are also your guards!"

"And your subordinates!"

"Business is booming!" Kasha snapped her fingers.

Qina smiled evilly.

"Wealth flows in!"

"No, no, no." Thales was shocked. He tugged futilely at his clothes. "This must be a misunderstanding..."

"No misunderstanding, Your Highness!"

"Fair prices, custom ready-made clothes!"

"Full materials, honest to old and young!"

Kasha and Qina clung to his arms, smiling like flowers, and spoke in unison:

"In total, you owe us two hundred and twenty-four gold coins!"

Two hundred and twenty-four...

Gold coins...

At that moment, Thales felt as though a basin of cold water had been poured over him, chilling him from head to foot.

In the next second, Kasha's gaze was shrewd, while Qina's eyes were full of greed.

"When will Your Highness settle the bill?"

"Thank you for your patronage!"

"How would you like to pay?"

"Of course, not paying is fine too!"

"As long as... hee hee hee..."

"Ah, sister, you are thinking bad thoughts again..."

Thales mechanically turned his head left and right. Mallos, Glover, Doyle, Komuto, Paul... every one of them was dressed sharply and looked presentable.

I knew it. How could there be such a good thing?

No, but...

"But wasn't this free sponsorship?" Thales gritted his teeth.

"Ya, did I hear wrong? Free?" Kasha looked at him in surprise.

"Your Highness, you, you intend to wear away the finished clothes we worked so hard to make just like this?" Qina looked on the verge of tears.

"And even say that we gave them for free?"

"Wuwu, so sad. But, but we, the Karabeyans, are only small earls..."

"Our land is little, our people weak, our strength thin..."

"And the lord's heir is a fool..."

"Facing the royal family, what can we do?"

"Everyone will surely think this way..."

The more Thales listened, the more his head hurt.

"No, I am not forcibly taking your clothes... only trying them on..."

But Qina did not listen to him at all.

"But sister, what you just said: His Highness forcibly took our clothes?"

Kasha's eyes lit up.

"Eh? Took our clothes... ah, that will create misunderstanding!"

"Correct! Then he will not be able to defend himself. Better change it to 'forcibly stripped'..."

"Ah, sister, we truly are geniuses. Spread it, spread it..."

Thales felt his vision go dark.

No. This could not continue.

He crossed his arms and waved with all his might.

"No! In fact, I lowered my noble dignity and was willing to wear your products!"

As soon as these words came out, the two sisters' expressions changed.

Thales breathed and gritted his teeth.

"After today, your merchant association will become famous as the formalwear tailors of the Duke of Star Lake. You are the ones who profit!"

Thales stared fiercely at the two.

Kasha and Qina exchanged a glance. Their upper bodies did not move, but they strangely slid back two steps and began whispering again in a way Thales could hear.

"Ya, bad, sister. He saw through it!"

"Not good, sister. He has a brain!"

"Correct!" Thales finally recovered some confidence. "So, if I say that the prince hates these clothes and feels uncomfortable wearing them..."

"Then your business..." Thales sneered. "Heh, heh, heh!"

The twins changed color suddenly.

"Ah, he is very cunning!"

"And very sinister!"

"So it is... you who owe me money!"

Thales raised his brows and exhaled, sending out his palm fiercely.

"Two hundred and twenty-four gold coins. Thank you for your patronage!"

In the next second, Kasha and Qina again looked tearful and pitiful.

"But we are very poor!"

"We have no money!"

Thales's heart choked.

No, no, no. This was the demon twins' usual trick. He had fallen for it once, and he absolutely would not be fooled.

"Vola Fief is small and poor..."

"The lord's heir is also not very bright..."

"And now we owe Your Highness money!"

"Such a large sum!"

Kasha trembled as she said:

"And you are forcing us to repay!"

Qina covered her face, sad and wronged.

"So domineering, allowing no dispute!"

Thales's head hurt again.

"Uh, actually, it is not that serious." The prince rubbed his hands. "How about this? Forget these clothes. Tomorrow I will have them sent back..."

But in the next second, Kasha's words changed.

"So, Your Highness, we cannot repay..."

Qina revealed her eyes through her fingers.

"Then we can only, only use other repayment methods..."

Hm? Not right.

Thales's eyelid jumped.

"Your Highness, for a business debt, can affection be used as repayment?"

"Cough, cough. Abbreviated as... affection payment?"

In one second, Kasha and Qina both changed faces, their eyes shining as they looked at him with expectation.

"Love payment?"

"Or flesh payment?"

"If that truly will not do, we can suffer a little loss... marriage payment?"

Thales stared back at them blankly.

No, wait. This...

"Hee hee, look at his face. I really want to bite it..."

"Do not laugh. Be serious. We must be reserved!"

At that moment, a valiant and powerful voice suddenly sounded, like a hero descending from the heavens.

"Hey, Your Highness! You are here!"

In that instant, Kasha and Qina's expressions changed greatly.

Two hands in black gloves accurately appeared from behind the two sisters and pressed down on their shoulders.

"And you two. Good." Miranda's smiling face appeared above Kasha and Qina, then forced open a gap downward and squeezed between the two sisters. "Misses Karabeyan!"

Thales was both surprised and delighted. He hurriedly reached out, with the bearing of the Renaissance King seeing Nakaru in the Battle of the Cold Wind.

"Ah! Mira!"

His beloved Mira!

On this side, Kasha and Qina trembled all over, their faces full of terror.

"Fierce woman!"

"Iron maiden!"

"Reserve governess!"

"Run!"

In the next second, the two sisters turned in perfect understanding and tried to flee.

But Miranda, dressed in grand formalwear, held their shoulders without allowing resistance and turned the trembling sisters back.

"So, Your Highness, you two cute little sisters, what were you talking about?" The Winterless Blade of Broken Dragon Fortress bent down and asked with a smile.

"Wuwu!"

"Ya!"

"Ah!"

"Wah!"

Kasha and Qina bit their lips, looking as though they were about to cry, but could not escape Miranda's restraint.

"Cough, cough. Well, Mira..."

Looking at the trembling sisters, Thales felt his spine had straightened a great deal.

"They said we owe them two hundred and twenty-four gold coins."

Miranda said, "Oh," and looked down with interest.

Kasha and Qina's faces changed.

"No, no, Your Highness!"

"That is promotion you did for us!"

"We owe you!"

"It is our honor!"

They smiled apologetically and explained, glancing toward Miranda in terror from time to time.

"Then they also said," Thales coughed, high-spirited, "that they would use other ways to repay, such as..."

Miranda said, "Mm," her eyes growing even more interested.

"Not at all, Your Highness!"

"Our friendship is so good, we can wipe the slate clean!"

"The Karabeyan family has a thin foundation and cannot endure turbulence..."

"And the heir is also an idiot..."

"Mm, mm. Although I do not have much objection to the last sentence." Mira smiled incomparably brightly. In Thales's eyes, she looked reliable and steady, making him feel greatly reassured. "But since the debt dispute is so complicated, why don't we talk about it? You know, a conversation between girls?"

As she spoke, she hugged the two girls intimately, allowing no resistance.

"Your Highness, do you mind?"

Thales felt as though he had received amnesty and immediately moved aside.

"Of course not."

Kasha and Qina looked at Thales in disbelief.

"Oh, heartless Highness!"

"How can you bear to send us..."

"Into a pit of fire..."

"Onto a mountain of blades!"

Thales's head hurt again. How could this still become singing?

"Is this abusive love?"

"Is this heartbreak?"

"But we will only love you more!"

"Until you carry us into your... mmp!"

"Mmmph!"

"Mmmph mmmph mmmph!"

Fortunately, Miranda moved cleanly and unquestionably, covering their mouths and winking at Thales.

Thales did not dare remain any longer. He found the opening and slipped out of the main banquet hall.

At that moment, Thales, running toward freedom, was indescribably moved.

If he became king in the future, his first order would be to ennoble Miranda.

All of Cold Castle and the Northland would be hers.

Black Sand Territory too.

She could marry as many men as she wanted.

Women too.

Thales slipped all the way to a viewing platform with fewer guests. Looking down at Jade City, its ten thousand lights lit, fully prepared and only waiting to celebrate Queen's Day, he finally caught his breath.

"You ran too fast. Take smaller steps and act more natural, or the guests will still notice."

Thales turned back in surprise.

"Little Flo... Zayen?"

Under the moonlight, the young master of the Covendier family, Duke of the South Coast, lord of Jade City, and organizer of the Strife Banquet, Zayen Covendier, was leaning in a corner of the viewing platform and looking at him with disdain.

"Oh, you are here too, being lazy?"

Thales suddenly felt he was not so alone. At least there was another person here. Hm?

Zayen still had that disdainful expression he always showed before him, but at this moment, the young duke held a soft tube. One end was connected to an expensive bottle, and the other to a glass mouthpiece.

Zayen bit one end of the glass mouthpiece, inhaled deeply, and then began exhaling clouds of smoke.

"Are you... smoking?"

"Hookah." Zayen looked at Jade City below the viewing platform and waved the glass pipe connected to the tube at him. "Never seen it?"

Thales smelled a sweet smoke and hurriedly waved his hand while stepping back.

"No. Children, cough, princes cannot smoke..."

"Do not flatter yourself. These tobacco leaves were imported from Hanbul, and I had no intention of giving you any."

Thales froze, his small face darkening.

If he pushed him down from here now... would the mission be complete?

Thales thought fiercely, glancing at the viewing platform's railing and protective net, then looking at the height below.

But you cannot clean up the aftermath, a voice in his heart reminded him.

You came for what this person, Zayen Covendier, represents, not the person himself.

Thales could only regretfully abandon the thought.

Zayen suddenly said:

"They will fight."

"Ah?"

Thales froze.

"What will fight?"

Zayen pointed at the main banquet hall, where two foreign men were debating loudly.

"Those two men belong to two tribes on the prairie. One is the son of Tuda Khan, and the other is the grandson of Boga Khan. They are introducing the Seli Great Prairie of the Eastern Continent, but one says it is called Giseli, while the other says Duseli."

Thales narrowed his eyes.

"Is there a problem?"

"A problem?"

Zayen looked as though he had heard something funny.

"The name of that prairie has history. The ancient orcs called it Sediyala, meaning 'boundless green grass.' The ancient elves called it Duvali, meaning 'withered land.' Only after the empire conquered it was it collectively called the Seli Prairie.

"After the Battle of Eradication, tribes that restored ancient beliefs called it Giseli, meaning 'Heavenly Father's Prairie.' Tribes influenced by the Sunlight Temple called it Duseli, 'Prairie of God.'

"And the different name represents your stance."

Zayen narrowed his eyes.

"A stance enough to fight those who differ to the death."

Thales frowned.

"Pity," the prince said. "They do not have the courage, or at least the intention, of the Feast Fief vampires."

"It has nothing to do with that." Zayen shook his head. "The tribes on the prairie compete with each other. They are destined to oppose one another. The name is only an excuse that happens to trigger disagreement."

"As for the vampires, the Holier clan is only one branch among Feast Fief's upper six. The struggle for power on the Night Council has never stopped. Do you think every bloodsucker in Feast Fief is a pacifist?"

"Immortal Council," Thales corrected.

Zayen glanced at him, neither refuting nor confirming it.

He only lowered his head and took another puff from the hookah.

"Tell me, the hostile relationship we displayed during this time should not be doubted by anyone, correct?" Amid drifting clouds, there was something unusual in the Duke of the South Coast's tone.

Thales lifted his gaze.

"From that wine merchant to Emerald Palace's entry restrictions, then food, clothing, and daily needs, rumors in the city, and your people scouting Jade City while mine made difficulties for you everywhere. We are like two mad dogs, tearing at each other wherever possible."

"I think so," the prince nodded. "Practically real enough to fool the truth."

Or rather, using truth as falsehood.

Unfortunately, you believed it.

"This night, I have not relaxed for even a moment, waiting for your father's sudden strike," Zayen snorted softly and set down the hookah. "Guess what I discovered?"

"Uh." Thales watched his expression. "Nothing?"

"Exactly." Zayen nodded, his gaze sinking slightly. "This banquet is very lively. Very normal."

The moon had reached the middle of the sky. Quite some time had passed, but the banquet atmosphere seemed only to increase.

Very lively.

Very normal.

"And soon, midnight will arrive," Zayen stared at an expensive and costly clock in the distance. "The Strife Banquet will end here."

Thales sank into thought.

"But," the prince shrugged, "the Emerald Celebration lasts seven full days, does it not?"

Zayen looked at him for a long time.

"Correct. Seven days."

The duke nodded.

"Therefore, we are like two dogs in a slaughterhouse, fighting each other to divert attention and avoid threats, while trembling uneasily," Zayen took another puff of hookah and sneered, "waiting for the butcher's knife above our heads to fall."

"Seven days."

Thales stared at Zayen and suddenly understood something.

The other party had come here to smoke for a reason.

At that moment, Thales looked at this young man silently smoking hookah on the viewing platform and, for the first time, thought that perhaps he was not only the endlessly glorious Duke of the South Coast.

At that moment, the two prairie guests in the banquet hall finally came to blows, causing a wave of chaos.