Chapter 709: Sacred Covenant

Once the Second Prince's arrest order was given, the surrounding people cried out in shock. Even the vassals and nobles present, however experienced and steady, the foreign envoys, however widely traveled, and the attendant guards, however brave and fearless, all changed expression when they heard it.

Count Noah Havia of Saltwall Harbor could not hide his shock, yet still did his utmost to maintain his bearing and not shame the fame of his family's "Sun-Shooting Bow." But beside him, his sixteen-year-old eldest daughter looked at Zayen, both hands covering her mouth, her lovely face pale with fright.

Bruce Shukadel, the Sunflower Count from Evergreen Island, examined the duke and the prince with a complicated gaze while summoning an attendant to ask something.

Count Etchison Lassia of Marshland had a livid face and trembled all over, muttering nonstop. If not for his eldest son's restraint, he might have said something that violated noble decorum.

The Karabeyan twins put away their folding fans together and leaned close to discuss anxiously, but every time Kasha said something, Qina solemnly shook her head.

The shipmaster of the Sea Wolf Fleet had a ferocious expression. He roughly pushed away his mistress, pulled over his chief mate, and furiously discussed something, every sentence involving words like "exit," "leave port," and "set sail."

Hashan, chief envoy of the Tyron Trade Federation, shifted his gaze. He rubbed the brow bone where he had no eyebrows, looked at the resolute Thales, and smiled with increasing depth.

Yannik Hollier, the bloodkin councillor and guest from the Feast Territory, waved away his anxious servant and raised his head thoughtfully. His sharp gaze turned toward the other end of the crowd. There, Lee Corleone from the Kingdom of Night said nothing, merely looking up at the cold bright moon in the sky.

Amid the swaying lamplight and chaos, only old Butler Ashford, who had seen great storms, remained calm. He held Hilley's arm tightly and retreated, whispering something to stop the emotional young lady from doing something she might regret. Knight Cassian, dressed in shabby clothes, stood before them and helped the old butler protect their lady.

People above and below the stand passed word along one after another. Soon, the entire arena fell into chaos, and even the Jade Legion was no exception.

"Calm down! Calm down! Reform ranks!"

Knight Cecil roared, scolding the subordinates behind him, who had fallen into disorder and whose formation had loosened.

"But, sir," an officer carrying an Eternal Lamp said, summoning his courage, "he said that was the king's..."

Cecil turned and roared.

"You heard nothing!"

The officer was left dizzy by the shout. He tightened the green helmet on his head.

"Yes, of course, sir... but what should we do?"

"Guard your posts!" Cecil shouted himself hoarse.

"Captain, should we act first," a second officer asked, watching the Star Lake Guard around the prince warily, "in case they..."

"But they are important figures from the capital..." another officer said worriedly. "If we act..."

"Then what if they attack us? Do we not fight back?"

"No one moves without my order!" Cecil did his utmost to restrain his nervous and impulsive subordinates and cast a pleading look toward Zayen. "Do not forget where this is and who pays your wages!"

But the tense and chaotic atmosphere affected more than Jade City's locals.

Miranda, standing at the front, cast a startled and doubtful look at Thales. Ralf stared at the rows of green-capped soldiers before him, his expression ruthless and knees slightly bent. Fortunately, Glover had expected this and grabbed the mute's shoulder, stopping him from doing anything impulsive.

"Strange. Looking at these green caps' reaction," someone in the Star Lake Guard said, feeling the surging waves from every direction and growing uneasy, "it feels like we are the ones surrounding them."

"Your feeling is not wrong," Paul said in a deep voice, looking thoughtfully at the prince's calm back.

"Your Highness."

Wya Caso came behind Thales and repeated the prince's order in disbelief.

"I am very sorry, but I must confirm again. You want us to arrest Duke Zayen? Here? Now?"

He looked ahead.

Behind Zayen stood at least two teams of well-equipped Emerald soldiers. They were well trained. Though inevitably confused and frightened, they still stood in tight positions, ready to rush forward at any moment to protect the duke.

Wya then turned to look around.

Without anyone noticing when, Emerald soldiers in green armor had already surrounded them under their officers' urging, separating them from the rest of the crowd. Row after row, they waited in strict formation, while Thales and the Star Lake Guard behind him were like a lonely island at sea, enduring waves from every direction.

Farther away, green caps filled nearly every corner from the stands to the passages. On high ground were archers and crossbowmen, and farther outside, imposing cavalry on tall horses patrolled. They shouted at the crowd watching the commotion while casting unfamiliar and wary gazes at the Star Lake Guard.

At the very front of the team, Thales did not answer Wya, nor did he express dissatisfaction at his attendant delaying the order.

He simply stared wholeheartedly at Zayen across from him.

The Duke of South Coast also looked back at him coldly.

"Everyone hold steady. Keep calm," Glover said in a low voice. He watched the chaotic crowd around them at all times, gritted his teeth, and tightened his nerves. "From now on, I take command."

"But His Highness said to arrest the suspect," Neshy said eagerly, looking at the Duke of South Coast across from them as he drew his sword. "How about we..."

Someone's expression changed, and he grabbed Neshy's hand.

"No!"

Opposite them, a sharp-eyed officer saw Neshy's movement and shouted in fright.

"They are going to act!"

His reaction alarmed his colleagues. Panic and hostility instantly spread, and the Jade Legion's formation rippled like a wave.

"Defend!"

"Legion, protect the duke!"

"Are we really going to fight?"

"Stand firm! Hold the line!"

"That is the king's son..."

"Self-defense does not count as rebellion, right?"

"Force them back!"

For a time, orders, arguments, screams, battle cries, and even the sound of weapons being drawn continued without end. The spectators in the distance also cried out again and again.

The Star Lake Guard were all startled. They formed a back-to-back formation and, facing the restless soldiers around them, followed Wya and slowly approached the prince.

Thales frowned.

"I said hold steady!"

Glover gritted his teeth, but he had no time to pursue Neshy's behavior, even though the latter had already been stunned by the surging waves from all sides.

"Terrible. Everyone has weapons in hand, and everyone is frightened and tense," Miranda said in a deep voice. "There is no time easier for a camp to explode than this."

"Sunset above, I would rather charge through Renaissance Palace again..." someone said with a headache as he pressed down on Neshy and looked at the packed Jade Legion.

"Really?"

"I can say it, can't I..."

"Sunset above, we should not have split our forces," Neshy said, reacting as he faced the dark mass of enemies in his vision. His hand on his sword hilt trembled slightly. "We should..."

"There are more than a thousand of them, not counting the troops farther outside. What use would it be even if everyone were here?" Morgan said disdainfully.

"It is not only a question of numbers."

In the team, Paul's gaze gathered on the prince and duke.

"His Highness said, 'in the king's name'..."

Everyone in the guard stiffened.

"If we clash with the Jade Legion now, and even cause bloodshed and casualties, then this will be far more than a grudge between His Highness and the duke," Paul said gravely. "The sparks our swords strike may ignite the entire kingdom."

Hearing this, everyone felt their footsteps become incomparably heavy. Neshy looked at his sword hilt, his face pale.

"Therefore, who will swing this first sword that will be recorded in history?" Paul turned back and looked at each person in the team. "How about you, Doyle?"

Doyle swallowed, released his sword hilt, and revealed a warm, modest smile.

"But the good news is," Miranda nodded and stared at Knight Cecil, who was loudly issuing orders across from her, "they do not dare either."

"Quiet!"

At this moment, Zayen's voice rang from the crowd, clear and high.

"Hold steady! Step back!"

"Put away your weapons!"

"Are you in such a hurry to die?"

"Stand in position!"

Led by Cecil, the nearby officers reacted one after another. The duke's orders were passed layer by layer. Several seconds later, the restless crowd retreated under scolding and restraint, and the noisy scene finally quieted.

No one dared approach within three meters of the prince and duke, but the Star Lake Guard behind Thales and the Jade Legion behind Zayen naturally faced one another, searching for potential threats and possible opponents.

The two sides confronted one another from afar, more clearly divided than ever. Everyone's heart rose to their throat.

Zayen took a deep breath and looked at Thales.

"You no longer intend to pretend, do you?"

There was a long-lost sense of relief in Zayen's words.

"You finally cannot restrain yourself and have revealed your true intent. You want to put me to death?"

"You are only suspected, Zayen," Thales interrupted him. "Regarding the accusations above, you have not yet been finally convicted."

He glanced at Federico, who had been pressed to the ground by the security officers.

"Right," Zayen sneered repeatedly. "Not yet."

Sensing the other's attitude, Thales' brow tightened.

"Why, Thales? Why?"

At the side, Hilley forcefully broke free from the butler's hand. "You promised me. You clearly had a better way! Remember? On-the-spot decision!"

Seeing Hilley, Thales could not help dimming.

"Do you still not understand, Hilley?"

Zayen snorted coldly.

"He came to destroy us. He only does not dare admit it, and is even cowardly enough not to do it himself, so he has to find excuses to deceive himself."

Thales' breath halted.

"I do not want to destroy anything, Zayen. As long as you..."

"That is it!" Zayen loudly cut him off, full of mockery. "'I do not want to destroy anything.' You have been intoxicated for too long in your fantasy of being a good person, Thales!"

Thales trembled when he heard this.

Hilley's gaze moved between her brother and Thales, back and forth, her expression blank.

"When will you take off the mask and wake up? When will you admit that you are no saint," Zayen sneered, "but only an ordinary hypocrite who detests blood, does not want to dirty his hands, and does not want to face bloodstains directly?"

The fantasy of being a good person...

Does not want to dirty his hands...

Listening to those words, Thales' heart chilled.

You walk atop the edge of a cliff, yet dream of the sky.

He took a deep breath and tried hard to drive the king's words from his mind.

It seems that phrase was right, the voice in his heart quietly spoke. The ones who understand you best are precisely your enemies, Thales.

But the question is...

Are you truly as fragile and hypocritical as he says...

Or can you do more? Do you dare do more?

Thales clenched his fists and subconsciously covered Kortaksa through his pocket.

You must do this, Thales.

You know you must.

"Submit, Zayen. Cooperate voluntarily. I guarantee you will receive the treatment a duke deserves," the prince decisively raised his head and said loudly. "Both before and... after."

Zayen's gaze gradually cooled.

"After?" Hilley's face changed. "What after?"

"What else could it be?" Zayen said mockingly. "After I raise my hands and surrender, and after he mercifully lets the executioner cut cleanly."

Thales frowned slightly.

"I tried, Hilley. I truly tried."

Thales turned to Zayen.

"But some people, some people simply never learn to retreat voluntarily and leave room."

Under the lights of the surrounding stands, Thales looked at Zayen as though trying to dig something out of the other's eyes.

"Unless someone forces them," he said coldly.

With a sword.

"It seems we finally have some common ground," Zayen said sarcastically.

At this point, the two stopped.

Hilley understood something. She looked at one side, then the other, bitterly disappointed.

Butler Ashford sighed. Beside him, Knight Cassian said, "Forgive me," and blocked the lost young lady from returning.

The prince and duke's sudden silence caused the surrounding crowd to stir again. People discussed noisily.

Wya stood within the guard, looking at Thales' back with a complicated gaze.

"Zayen Covendier, the choice is yours," Thales said softly. "Will you retreat voluntarily, or resist arrest..."

"And become the kingdom's enemy?"

Zayen's gaze moved. He turned his head and looked at the tense soldiers and anxious crowd, then laughed softly.

"Quite the opposite," he said, his gaze faintly cold as he nodded and lowered his voice. "You are the one becoming the kingdom's enemy."

Thales froze.

The next second, Zayen's expression turned solemn, and he spoke loudly.

"Your Highness Thales!"

He made everyone hear his voice.

"I know you harbor resentment toward me, only because I refused your rude request for marriage alliance!"

As his words fell, Thales' expression abruptly changed.

The crowd erupted in uproar, then buzzing discussions rose without end. Many people cast their gazes toward Hilley.

"Zayen, you bastard," Hilley said with the same livid face. She stared at her brother in shock and muttered.

"However, this place is Jade City, the capital and pearl of the South Coast, one of the kingdom's most important fiefs. It has always had its own laws and does not need an outsider overstepping his role, ignoring the fief's traditions and Jade City's laws," Zayen said righteously, "to enforce law and judge cases on our land!"

This is bad.

Thales frowned.

"However, as city lord, you yourself are under suspicion. Whether Jade City's laws can truly be fair..."

"So what?" Zayen shouted.

The Duke of South Coast spoke coldly, drawing everyone's attention.

"Your Highness Thales, you are not crowned, hold no official authority, and possess no decree. It is truly inappropriate for you to exceed your bounds on a foreign subject's territory and use public office to avenge private grudges!"

His words turned.

"As for what Jade City's laws are like, what does that have to do with outsiders?"

The surrounding crowd, especially the vassals, discussed more and more loudly. Thales felt something was wrong.

"Indeed, if Your Highness has already convicted me, then you may follow proper procedure and petition His Majesty to convene a High Noble Council, where the lords seated upon the nineteen stone seats shall judge the merits and faults of the Duke of South Coast!"

The discussions in the crowd grew increasingly chaotic. Many pointed at the duke and prince, excited and stirred.

"Otherwise, on Jade City's land, the internal affairs of the Iris family are not something even His Majesty himself can interfere with lightly. He would have to weigh it carefully and proceed with caution!"

Thales' eyelid twitched.

"Of course, if you insist on exceeding your authority to punish me..."

Zayen stepped forward and raised both hands, letting everyone see him.

"Please remember, Your Highness, your words are the royal family's voice, and your actions are the royal family's deeds. They will be conveyed to the entire kingdom, far beyond one corner of Eternal Star City."

Zayen stopped before Thales, cold light shining from his eyes.

"Jade City may be remote, but it is connected to all directions. The iris may be small, but it does not perish by enemy hands!"

He shook his sleeve, solemn and dignified.

"And the daughters of the South Coast may be soft and weak, but their dignity is supreme and their freedom priceless. Not even the weight of the royal family can bend them!"

As his words fell, the vassals were the first to cheer and applaud. Many voiced agreement. Then this indignation spread outward and into the spectator stands. Among them were no few people who, in their fury, spoke harsh words and shouted threats, with young Count Pintor especially prominent. Even the Jade Legion, whose morale had previously been low, had their protective instinct and temper stirred. Many struck their weapons to cheer and provoked the bewildered Star Lake Guard.

But at this moment, Doyle laughed softly within the team.

"Friends, do you know what is most important in this kind of situation?"

"Our lives?" Neshy answered hesitantly.

"Momentum!"

Doyle answered decisively, and the others could not help looking at him.

Doyle stepped forward, lifted his head and chest, and bared his teeth at an Emerald soldier across from him who was provoking him.

"Do not show fear. Raise your swords. Set your faces. We cannot lose momentum."

Morgan scoffed.

"I said there are at least a thousand of them, and only a few of us," Morgan said with a cold laugh as he looked at the lopsided situation. "What use is momentum alone?"

"Precisely because of that, momentum is very useful," Doyle exhaled, loosened his sour facial muscles, and continued putting on a vicious expression. "Because it is all we have left."

Everyone froze when they heard this.

Paul could not help glancing at Doyle, his gaze surprised.

"True," the Western Desert man said, wiping his bow arm and lowering his stance with the bow horizontal, striking an exaggerated pose with a frightening range but no practical use. The soldiers facing them grew wary. "True."

Facing the surging emotions, Thales felt his shoulders grow heavy.

"I remember you said that our matter belongs to us, and we must never drag Hilley into it," he said quietly to Zayen, his expression gloomy.

The Duke of Iris, who was at the height of his momentum, paused.

He slowly turned his head. Hilley ignored the countless eyes thrown toward her and only stared fixedly at the ground, gripping her gloves tightly.

Zayen's gaze darkened.

"But she was right. Hilley was dragged in long ago," Zayen took a deep breath. "Thanks to you and your father."

"I understand how Hilley feels now," Thales suddenly said, his voice cold. "Indeed, she deserves a better brother."

Zayen's expression abruptly changed.

His gaze toward Thales grew colder and colder.

"What the hell do you know?" Zayen's speech suddenly quickened. "A bastard whose surname was pasted on later."

Thales laughed coldly.

After speaking, Zayen's expression became solemn again.

He stepped back and raised his volume.

"I believe you must be tired, Your Highness. Why not return to the palace to rest under my escort?"

Zayen's smile vanished, and he lowered his voice for the next sentence.

"Or will you insist on going your own way and still persist in arresting me, swinging a sword that makes you my enemy, and even more, the kingdom's enemy?"

The duke laughed coldly.

"Now it is your turn to choose, Thales."

The kingdom's enemy...

Thales was silent for a long time.

He had failed to force Zayen to submit.

Especially when Zayen no longer cared even about his sister, when he could decisively use her.

What could Thales use to force Zayen to retreat?

Zayen's own life, perhaps?

Several seconds later, Thales took a deep breath, turned sideways, stepped back, and pressed his hand on Warning's hilt.

Zayen's expression changed. He snorted coldly, likewise stepped back, and pressed his hand on the dagger at his waist.

The atmosphere abruptly grew tense. Many people cried out in alarm.

Knight Cecil shouted angrily and drew his longsword. The sword tip did not dare point directly at Thales, but pointed toward the Star Lake Guard behind him.

"Who dares step forward?"

With Cecil's movement, the first row of soldiers around them drew their weapons one after another, their momentum fierce, faintly forming an encirclement.

The atmosphere grew tense again. The onlookers discussed loudly, unable to hide their fear.

In the Star Lake Guard, facing so many enemies for the first time, Neshy's face was pale.

"We, we did not step forward?"

"His Highness stepped forward." Glover, who only had one arm usable, gripped his sword hilt and decisively ordered, "Guard, weapons!"

At the command, the few members of the Star Lake Guard drew their swords together. Neshy was frightened and a beat slow, but still drew under Doyle's reminder. They faced the Jade Legion point for point.

"Damn it. Just now I thought we did not have to fight..." Neshy's sword tip drifted left and right, but in every direction there was more than one group of enemies. "How did this suddenly... start again?"

"Start?" Miranda vigilantly watched several officers within the legion. "No. It never ended at all."

"Hahaha, not bad," Morgan actually laughed at this moment. He rubbed his saber hilt and looked maliciously at a group of sturdy soldiers before him. "I do miss this kind of scene..."

"Since that is the case, come on, friends. Put on your stinkiest faces," Doyle said through gritted teeth, his chest rising and falling, his expression exaggerated. "Imagine the Kingdom's Wrath is standing behind you, holding the line, fierce and reliable..."

"Then he would definitely split you in half with one axe first, so his ears could be quiet." Morgan snorted disdainfully.

"No, are we really fighting?" Neshy asked nervously. "According to what Young Master Paul just said, if I swing my sword later and happen to cut some important person, I might ignite the kingdom and trigger a war?"

Everyone's hearts sank, their thoughts messy.

In the tense atmosphere, the Star Lake Guard worried because of the disparity between enemy and ally. But facing the dignity of a prince, the Jade Legion opposite them were also nervous and hesitant, unable to decide.

Both sides had scruples, and the situation was delicate.

"Can we end this quickly and only seize the duke?" Doyle asked tentatively.

"From the hands of a thousand green-capped soldiers?" Morgan asked doubtfully.

"And that Knight Cecil, plus his sloppy friend," Neshy added uneasily.

Doyle's expression turned ugly.

"Try to hold back," Paul said, leaning against his back, his words somewhat disappointed. "Try not to kill anyone, especially do not harm the duke, or civil war will be unavoidable..."

"If you start fighting with that thought, Young Master Bozdorf," Miranda said, her gaze bright, "believe me, we are definitely going to have people die."

Paul froze.

"If, I mean if, war breaks out, even if it only happens in Jade City, how many people would die?"

Doyle spoke faintly, making everyone's gaze tighten.

"You will not know," Morgan said coldly with a Blade Fangs Camp accent. "If we really fight, we die today and will not see the war break out."

Morgan's words made everyone's heart sink.

Hmph, Ralf thought disdainfully. A bunch of cowards.

"You have not seen the Kingdom's Wrath, have you?" At this moment, Wya, who had not spoken for a long time, suddenly said. "I mean, aside from Lady Arunde and the mute?"

The topic shifted, and everyone froze.

"Uh, do portraits count?" Neshy's face was pale, and his sword hand trembled slightly.

"I saw him a few times while guarding the Ballard Room. To be honest, short..." Doyle's eyes moved.

"I saw him from far away once. Very solid," Glover said, alertly moving his sword tip back and forth toward the enemies at his angle.

"I heard my father mention him. Easier to get along with than the Wings of Legend," Paul said, turning left and right, his bow moving constantly, causing many Emerald soldiers caught before his aim to instinctively step back. "Why ask?"

Wya smiled.

"Because Arracca Murkh, the Kingdom's Wrath, the most fearsome iron-blooded warrior in all of Stars..."

He took a deep breath. Facing the enemy in sheets before him, he no longer trembled nervously, but revealed a relieved smile.

"Will never, never, never stand behind his comrades."

Everyone froze, but Wya had already strode forward to the very front of the team, facing Zayen's direction.

"Do not worry. If His Highness gives the order, if we truly reach that step..."

Wya raised his single-edged sword. Facing layer upon layer of enemies, his gaze was resolute.

"I will swing the first sword."

Everyone was immediately startled and looked at one another.

Until a sigh sounded.

"Damn it. He took all the handsome lines for himself."

Several seconds later, everyone laughed together, and the atmosphere relaxed a great deal.

Only Ralf was disdainful when he heard this, curling his lip with a cold snort.

You will swing the first sword?

Fuck. As if everything will be fine for everyone else as long as you alone swing your sword.

So fucking hypocritical.

"Focus!"

Glover pressed against Ralf's back and interrupted their exchange through gritted teeth.

"If anything happens, prioritize protecting His Highness. Hold formation. Do not show openings!"

But they were already full of openings.

Ralf snorted inwardly.

From the moment they came to Jade City.

But at this moment, Thales, standing before them, released his sword hilt and smiled.

"You are right, Zayen. I cannot overstep my role or interfere with Jade City's law enforcement!" the prince said loudly.

This declaration surprised many people. The noise of discussion at the scene diminished. Even the Star Lake Guard, who had been preparing to risk their lives to seize Zayen, looked at one another.

Zayen frowned slightly, seeming puzzled by Thales' softening as well.

"Very good." But the duke reacted very quickly and immediately became all smiles. "I have already ordered a banquet prepared in the palace. Since the selection meeting has ended, why not..."

"Arbitration." Thales smiled and spread his hands.

"What?"

"I said, arbitration!" Thales said loudly.

Zayen's eyes changed.

"As far as I know, someone has accused you, Zayen," Thales turned around to face everyone. "A noble of the kingdom, the son of the late Viscount Sonar Covendier of Archsea City, Federico Covendier, who shares your surname, has accused you of murder to silence witnesses and kin-slaying to seize power."

"He is the shame of the Covendier family and should have changed his surname long ago," Zayen said unhappily. "And Jade City has its own laws..."

"And you deny the accusation!"

Thales ignored him.

"You, a noble of the kingdom, the current guardian duke of South Coast, city lord of Jade City, Zayen Covendier of the Iris family, deny the accusation, denounce it as slander and false framing, and further intend to pursue the accuser's crimes from years ago."

Everyone looked at one another, puzzled. Only the shadows in Zayen's eyes grew darker and darker.

"Since two nobles each hold to their own version and cannot settle the dispute," Thales said with confidence, "then I, Second Prince and Duke of Star Lake, Thales Jadestar, as a detached and neutral third party, have no choice but to conduct sacred noble arbitration for the dispute between the two of you!"

As his words fell, a sizable wave of discussion immediately erupted among the vassals.

"Arbitration?" Zayen reacted, his tone unstable. "Who said that?"

Thales turned and pointed into the crowd.

"He did!"

Everyone turned their eyes together. Federico lay on the ground, and the security officers guarding him all looked terrified.

"If you do not believe it, drag Federico over now and ask him whether he issued an appeal, requesting that I arbitrate between you two cousins!" Thales said loudly.

The discussions grew louder. Hearing this, Federico burst into hearty laughter.

"Hahahahahahahaha..."

Several seconds later, he was struck down by a bold security officer's elbow. He fell with a muffled grunt, and the laughter stopped abruptly.

Thales' gaze tightened and shot toward Zayen.

"Of course, unless you do not intend to let him speak and only want him to disappear right here, in front of me and the entire kingdom."

The crowd stirred again. The guards and security officers maintaining order had to increase their scolding and control.

Zayen remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking.

"This is not only Jade City's matter, Your Highness. It is also the Covendier family's internal affair. It is absolutely not something an outsider can arbitrate..."

"This is a law written in the Sacred Stars Covenant: no matter what crime he bears, Federico is a noble of the kingdom. He has the right to request arbitration from a higher-ranking noble."

Thales opened both arms and enunciated clearly.

"Especially when the other party involved is high in position, powerful, and wealthy, while the appellant is weak, alone, and has nowhere to seek fairness."

Zayen showed no emotion, but he could not help exchanging a glance with Hilley, whose expression was dim.

"This has nothing to do with Jade City, Zayen. Nothing to do with Covendier, and even less to do with the private grudges between me and you or Hilley!"

Thales did not stop speaking, his logic advancing step by step.

"This is a sacred right all nobles of the Kingdom of Stars, and in certain circumstances all subjects, are born with. Since the day Tormond founded the kingdom, witnessed by the Sunset, following the old laws of the empire, from princes and nobles down to country gentry and knights, it was a law established to protect the weak from oppression by the strong."

He narrowed his eyes.

"You should understand the reasoning better than I do, Lord Zayen. After all, not long ago, you conducted noble arbitration for a baron and stopped him from oppressing the farmers in his territory."

Zayen's expression changed slightly. He did his utmost to maintain his bearing and sneered.

"Arbitration? You? On what grounds?"

"On the grounds that my status is neutral enough to show fairness, and my rank is high enough to be no less than a duke."

"No less than a duke? You truly know how to gild yourself," Zayen said, his gaze growing colder. "Great Duke Thales, who governs Star Lake Fort, a fief with an entire town and two villages."

Thales smiled slightly and ignored the other's mockery.

"However, the person involved, no matter how high his position or how great his power, must accept third-party arbitration. He absolutely cannot use any excuse to act selfishly through power, abuse authority, or behave recklessly."

Thales stepped forward and met Zayen's gaze.

"Unless he is no longer bound by the Sacred Stars Covenant," the prince said in a deep voice. "Unless he betrays the Sunset Goddess, betrays the sacred contract his ancestors, as one of a thousand vassals, made with the Renaissance King and the Sunset Prophet Saint Mohasa before the divine statue."

As Thales spoke, his gaze slowly moved toward the Duke of South Coast, his words sharp.

"Unless he... is no longer a subject of the Kingdom of Stars."