Chapter 711: In Name

After one night passed, many citizens of Jade City only learned, one after another, in shock and panic, after waking in the morning and stepping out of their homes, after being surprised by the unusual silence in the streets and alleys, sensing the indescribable tension and bleakness among patrols and guards, and hearing the furtive, hesitant whispers of neighbors and friends:

Jade City had changed.

It was said that the duke's cousin, bearing crimes upon his back, had returned from death at the selection meeting. Alone with a single sword, he killed his way into the top eight only to cry out loudly before the entire audience and seek justice for his father, the long-dead Viscount Sonar.

It was said that Young Master Federico publicly revealed a horrifying truth: Duke Zayen had murdered his father years ago to seize power and had unjustly killed his uncle, and now he was killing people to silence them and cover up the truth, even attempting to use the same old trick to frame the visiting Prince Thales for these murder cases.

It was said that the upright and fair Prince Polaris did not act lightly, but once he acted, heavenly thunder followed. With one effortless word and one casual point of his finger, he cast the powerful but speechless Duke of South Coast into a bottomless prison of guilt, while all the South Coast lords present were silent as cicadas in winter and did not dare speak, and the officers and soldiers throughout the city were timid and unable to stop him in the slightest.

But behind these rumors, only Thales and his subordinates knew how awkward their situation was and how difficult the matters they faced were.

First was the issue of settling Zayen and Federico.

Although the prince had ordered them imprisoned pending trial, in name this action was noble arbitration, not true case handling and law enforcement, nor ordinary arrest and imprisonment. If they were casually thrown into prison and locked together with criminal or public security offenders, it would be improper.

Second, Zayen had noble status, and Federico was also descended from the Iris. In this great case that was destined to shock the kingdom and spread throughout the realm, Thales absolutely could not give them treatment that was too poor or too harsh, which happened to be the normal state of every prison in the world, lest he be accused of using public office for private revenge and stir public anger.

Third, this was still Jade City under Covendier rule. From the Security Hall to the prisons, from Emerald Palace to the Jade Legion, Thales dared say that some officials would certainly secretly communicate with Zayen. Nor could he guarantee that the mysteriously returned Federico, whose hidden cards were unknown, did not possess forces in the streets and alleys, privately connected beyond sight.

Thus, after discussing with his subordinates, mainly Mallos, Thales decided to place Zayen, "Truly feels like returning home," and Federico, "The abandoned piece returns home and finally fulfills his wish. Your Highness has shown me great kindness," under separate soft confinement in two rooms in Emerald Palace, not far from Thales' residence. They were served with good wine and good food. Each was watched in shifts by one Star Lake guard, day and night without rest, with regular patrols added for safety.

"If, and I mean if, if one of them dies under our watch, what consequences will that have?" Doyle asked with curiosity written all over his face.

Glover, who was arranging guards through the night, snorted angrily and had no choice but to tear up the original plan with a dark face and double the number of guards on duty.

"What damn use is that?" Morgan said disdainfully in a thick accent after listening to the guard arrangements. "I mean, if that assassin named Lausanne comes, what do you do?"

Glover gritted his teeth and tore up the original plan again. From the already overworked and overloaded guard rotation schedule, he squeezed out time and manpower to arrange sentries and long-range firepower on the outer towers.

"With all due respect, our numbers are too few, and everyone is injured. We can only warn, not stop," Paul said, wrapping anti-slip strips around his bow arm and squinting at his rotation. "If we want to guard the prisoners, the key lies in politics, not military force."

Glover roared and tore the nth version of the defense plan to pieces, along with the bandage on his arm.

In the end, Mallos looked at Glover, who had collapsed to the floor from overwork, sighed, and made the decision. The rooms used to confine Zayen and Federico would be arranged together, with even their doors facing each other. Aside from the personal guards, two more groups would be posted outside the foyer.

First, Mallos politely invited Knight Cassian, "You are a knight and abide by your creed. Naturally, you should protect your lord's... brother," to watch Zayen's door together with the Star Lake Guard. Then, by provoking him with words, he forced Knight Cecil, "If anything happens to him, the duke will never wash himself clean," and his subordinates to guard Federico's door. Under ordinary circumstances, everyone would stand guard outside the foyer, facing one another and supervising each other.

Thales' residence happened to be between them, so the guard could watch three rooms at once. Even shift changes could occur at the same time, and the trouble of delivering meals to multiple places was reduced.

"Truly thoughtful and properly arranged," Zayen said with a smile as he stepped into his room under the guards' watchful eyes, not forgetting to turn back and praise the prince. "After all, when it comes to confinement and house arrest, who could have more experience than Your Highness himself?"

Thales magnanimously forgave him.

After arranging those two troublesome fellows, an even more headache-inducing matter waited for the prince:

Ruling Jade City.

After returning to Emerald Palace that night, Thales immediately released military-message crows through the night, urgently reporting the changes at the selection meeting to the king. "Once again, Father, you have surprised me through your as-ever utterly terrible sense of humor. But I must point out that if you want to invite a knight onto a horse to fight for you, instead of letting him stand by with folded arms, it is best to give him reins and saddle as well." As for how to act next, he asked His Majesty for instructions.

But distant water could not put out nearby fire. The lives of the South Coast subjects had to continue, Jade City had to operate normally the next morning, the Emerald Celebration at least in name was still ongoing, and Thales needed even more to stabilize the chaotic situation.

Thus Thales had no choice but to ask old Butler Ashford for help. Before dawn, lamps were lit, and all the great vassals, nobles, and officials of every level were urgently summoned to the palace, including the heads of the major guilds and respected property owners, to discuss Jade City's political affairs from this point onward. For this, a great deal of sleep was sacrificed, though those heavyweight figures probably had no heart to sleep the previous night either.

"Why do we still need their opinions?" Neshy in the guard asked in confusion. "However they served Covendier before, they serve you that way now. Is that not the end of it?"

"No, we do not need their 'opinions,'" Thales said tiredly, rubbing his forehead. "In fact, what we need is to 'consult' their opinions."

Unfortunately, setting aside the shock and fear brought by the selection meeting incident, the meeting itself was not very encouraging. The brightly lit council hall was nearly overturned by argument.

As one of the most important and most influential vassals of the South Coast, a titled count of the thirteen distinguished families, Etchison Lassia of Marshland insisted that although the Duke of Iris had been detained awaiting arbitration, as long as the judgment from the king and the High Noble Council had not arrived, Zayen remained the kingdom's city lord of Jade City and guardian duke of South Coast. His titles remained, and his duties had not changed.

Therefore, during the arbitration, all political affairs of Jade City should continue operating as usual. Relevant documents should be sent to the Duke of South Coast himself for approval and handling. At most, he would not step outside his room, and everything would be simplified.

This proposal received agreement from many direct local vassals, including many Jade City bureaucrats. Lady Cecilia was the loudest supporter, but more people simply remained silent, occasionally glancing toward the prince himself, who sat in the main seat with a gloomy expression.

The quiet voices of agreement continued for several minutes, until a young assistant judge from Archsea City, Moore Ybonin, quietly pointed out:

Young Master Federico accused his cousin of murdering his father to seize power. According to kingdom law and the South Coast's inheritance traditions, Zayen's inheritance and possession of the dukedom of South Coast and the city lordship of Jade City might not be legitimate. At least until His Highness the Prince's arbitration ended, the legality of his titles and rank should be suspended, doubtful and pending determination.

If, during this period, Zayen Covendier were still treated as the rightful and lawful duke and city lord and granted the authority to rule, that would amount to considering him innocent and without suspicion requiring clarification. Then this arbitration itself would lose its meaning, violating legal principle and being particularly improper. Moreover, the city lord's authority was vast and could influence every aspect of Jade City, greatly hindering investigation and evidence collection during the arbitration, violating fairness.

Judge Ybonin was not old, but he cited law and precedent with reason and evidence. His upright and brave statement made many great vassals in the hall look ugly and drew accusations and abuse of "traitor" and "opportunist" from many people, especially secondary vassals below Jade City. Thales had no choice but to stand and control order. But more people, after seeing His Highness the Prince's expression, chose to lower their heads and remain silent. Throughout this process, Brennan, the aged chief judge who had still insisted on coming to the palace, remained quiet and did not say a word.

Count Noah Havia from Saltwall Harbor in the East Sea stopped the argument. As a neutral guest, he was refined and every word was sharp. First, amid boos, he agreed with Assistant Judge Ybonin and believed Zayen was no longer suitable to exercise the city lord's authority. But immediately afterward, he proposed that Jade City should follow old precedent and reestablish the position of South Coast regent. This office had briefly existed during the Conqueror's rule. A senior minister or official under the Covendier family, or even a respected scholar or guild head, could hold the post and temporarily govern on the duke's behalf, ensuring everything was secure.

As soon as these words came out, the council hall instantly fell silent. The vassals looked at one another in thought, the officials whispered, the merchant guild heads murmured. No one opposed it, and no one supported it either, at least not openly.

But to Thales, everyone in the hall straightened their clothes and adjusted their caps at that moment. They looked toward the prince expectantly, eyes shining with eagerness to try.

However, this brought out an even greater question:

Who would serve as regent?

As expected, the council hall was overturned by argument again.

A brightly dressed middle-aged vassal was first to recommend himself, on the grounds that his family was the Iris family's most trusted direct vassal, loyal to Covendier for generations. His ancestors were even a branch of the duke's family, their reputation was high, the businesses they touched were of great importance on the South Coast, and their fief was not far from Jade City. But he was soon refuted by a newly risen noble, who said that his family relied on ancestral shade, took bribes, accumulated old rot, and the duke had long intended to cut out the poison and clean the wound. How could someone as corrupt as him take up a great responsibility? The two vassal colleagues argued more and more unpleasantly. You said I relied entirely on my parents, I said you embezzled and took bribes. You said I lacked ability, I said you lacked virtue for your position. They argued from city affairs all the way to old family grudges, swords drawn and irreconcilable, yet only argued and did not fight, greatly disappointing Morgan and the others, who had rolled up their sleeves early and prepared to break up a fight.

The judges of the Trial Hall spoke in one voice, saying that Chief Judge Brennan deeply understood legal principles, had the public's respect, and was impartial. He was the only choice for regent. But before Brennan himself could speak, the mayors and town heads of the City Hall faction opposed in unison, saying administration was different from judicature. Practical reasoning was not legal reasoning. Judicature could perhaps be iron-faced and impartial, but administration had to adapt to local conditions and handle matters flexibly. Those who served in governance had to communicate upward and downward and coordinate relationships in order to get things done. Otherwise, whether "the policy from above was good, but problems arose in execution below" or "the policy from above was harsh and unreasonable, leaving those below unable to execute," Jade City would suffer great disaster. The judges then stood and cursed one after another: "Is that not exactly how things are now? Is it not all your fault? Can Jade City get any worse?"

The officials of the Finance and Tax Hall were fat-bellied yet spoke with confidence, saying the foundation of rule was money. Jade City's prosperity and the South Coast's wealth depended on proper official use of finances, with revenue and expenditure orderly, so that market trade could flourish. In that case, the most suitable candidate to become Jade City's regent was obvious. "Obvious my ass! Even when the duke was in office, you people never acted like humans, seizing chances to deduct money and peeling layer after layer. Look at how twisted your words are when you speak, and how you wear gold and silver when you go out. If you become regent, can Jade City still be good?" The chiefs of the Security Hall and officers of the Jade Legion roared with righteous indignation, saying that Jade City's change of master made the situation unstable. The urgent matter was naturally stabilizing the overall situation, maintaining order, and managing security to ensure everything was safe. Under this grand objective, the new regent would best understand military affairs and be familiar with public security. Everything else, market livelihoods, finance, taxation, law enforcement, judicature, and common people, should all get the hell aside. Did they not see that during the Western Desert lockdown and martial law, the kingdom's people smiled wide? Did they not see that Blade Fangs Camp had been under military management, peaceful and stable for ten thousand years?

Everyone was righteous, advancing one after another. Every official was public-spirited and spoke with justice, but no matter how Mallos and Ashford scolded and advised, the council hall only grew more chaotic.

Thales sat in the main seat and listened until his head swelled. He felt the noise and chaos exceeded even the Imperial Conference. He wondered how Zayen had survived so many years under the spittle of these troublesome people and still managed to keep Jade City developing steadily.

Because the city lord's seat was stable then, a small voice said in Thales' heart, or they thought it was stable.

Everyone buried their heads, fulfilled their duties, and stayed in their positions. Naturally, all was peaceful, prosperous, and flourishing.

But that was only an illusion, Thales.

Look. Once there is a flaw in rule and a vacuum in power...

The prince looked at the countless arguments in the hall with irritation and sighed helplessly.

But these are not the questions you need to care about.

What you need to care about, Thales, is how to complete your father's mission.

How to put Jade City and even the South Coast, or more accurately, the ability and tools they use to generate wealth and revenue, completely into your hands, to become the king's vanguard and clear obstacles?

Thinking of this, Thales' headache worsened.

However, the argument was ultimately broken by a flash of inspiration from young Count Pintor. Amid the chaos, he stood and cried loudly: Jade City's regency should not be held by a senior minister, nor did it need to be held by His Highness. It should be held directly by the purest, most orthodox Covendier bloodline.

Thales frowned deeply, and everyone in the hall fell silent. Only young Count Pintor remained smug. He looked at Thales defiantly, then looked toward the astonished Lady Hilley as if seeking credit.

Unexpectedly, this proposal, which at first startled people, received overwhelming support in the council hall.

Count Lassia righteously emphasized that Lady Cecilia, as the blood of the late Duke Lenster, had extraordinary status, and it was only natural for her to temporarily govern Jade City. Count Shukadel of the Sunflower family from Evergreen Island, unsurprisingly, brought out the example of the Duchess of Blade Edge and even the Grand Duchess of Dragon Clouds City far away in the Northland. "At times like this, Eckstedt is classified back into the civilized world again," Thales sighed. He said he was happy to see such a result. Count Havia of Saltwall Harbor immediately applauded and described the glorious history of "Jade City producing outstanding women." After some discussion, the local vassals and officials likewise expressed support, all believing that Lady Cecilia was the best candidate for regent.

The few especially notable ones were the two Misses Karabeyan representing Walla Territory. They looked at Lady Hilley, whose face was pale, and urgently discussed, their expressions shifting between clear and dark. In the end, they snorted softly and said Lady Cecilia's regency was indeed the best arrangement.

Thus the atmosphere in the hall, where people had been fighting and attacking one another just before, was swept clean. The vassals and officials of Jade City praised one another and supported one another, as though the inner court of Emerald Palace had always been harmonious and never discordant.

Throughout this process, Lady Hilley herself was caught off guard. Her face was livid, and she said nothing.

"I truly did not expect that even now, they are still so loyal to Covendier, even if the other party is only a young girl raised deep in the inner chambers and rarely seen for years," Vanguard Officer Oskarlson, a local, said with a headache.

"Perhaps," Miranda said. "But if the person sitting in the main seat today were not His Highness himself, but some random nobody, would they still be this loyal to the Iris?"

Doyle, nearby, raised his volume to a level the prince could hear and promptly pointed out that some random nobody could not so easily and, with a turn of the hand, capture the Duke of South Coast and take Jade City through wisdom.

"Similarly," Doyle added with a pleased expression, "if the duke's sister were not this nobody, uh, a deep-chambered young lady far from court politics and rarely appearing, even if she showed the slightest talent or methods, I think these old rot-eaters would not agree so decisively."

"They do not want a master. They want a puppet," Glover answered most directly.

But as Thales watched the one-sided situation in the hall, he felt something was wrong.

He looked at Hilley by his side and suddenly realized that the innocence and astonishment on her face were somewhat familiar.

She looked exactly like Magic Master Wyanna when she performed magic in the streets. Before the audience, Wyanna would reach into the hat prepared for the trick, only to come up empty. She would immediately look startled and panicked, fumbling clumsily amid the audience's laughter, but on the next attempt, she would produce countless flowers and scatter them through the air, drawing gasps from the crowd.

What followed was applause from the entire hall.

And the astonished innocence on Wyanna's face would also become confidence and pride.

The memory ended, and Thales returned to the reality of Emerald Palace. Hilley's present innocence and panic were exactly like Wyanna's at that time.

"This is not an accident, is it?" he reacted, leaned close to Hilley, and said in a low voice. "It was you. Whether by showing weakness or granting favor, or through the connections your brother left behind, or something else, you thought of every way to deliberately guide these officials into recommending you?"

Hilley stiffened when she heard this and did not speak.

"You want to be regent? Why?"

Hilley was silent for several seconds.

"Yesterday, someone told me that only by grasping the situation and the initiative can one choose whether to advance or retreat," she said. The innocence and panic remained on her face, but her tone was decisive. "Only then can one sit at the final negotiating table."

Thales froze.

"Hilley..."

"Jade City is mine." Hilley's face did not change, but her voice suddenly cooled. "If you want it, you know what to exchange for it."

Thales frowned fiercely.

At this moment, a palace guard came to report: Young Master Federico, under custody, had entrusted someone to deliver a letter. In it, he said Zayen was no longer suitable to continue presiding over political affairs, but for the sake of his hometown's elders, Jade City could not be without a master for a single day. Therefore, he recommended, though rather unexpectedly, his cousin Cecilia Covendier to temporarily take the city lord's position during the arbitration.

From Hilley to the other vassals, everyone was confused and astonished by this letter. Only Thales' brows locked tighter and tighter.

What exactly does this Federico want to do?

Does he not know that Hilley and Zayen are blood siblings, and letting her serve as regent is no different from asking for trouble?

"Since His Highness and all colleagues have no objection, then..." Count Lassia was delighted, but just as he was about to push the matter forward, another report came. Duke Zayen, in custody, had sent a letter to His Highness.

Thales' face darkened. Perhaps next time, he should tighten the rules and forbid anyone in prison, nominally speaking, from writing letters outward, even if they were addressed to the prince himself.

But this time, Zayen's letter was gentle and polite, showing none of the gloom, decline, impulsiveness, or madness of someone who had failed in political struggle. Coincidentally, the matter he was concerned with was exactly the same as Federico's. Only in the recommended candidate did he say the words no minister in the hall dared to say:

His Highness Thales was noble in status, deeply respected, fair and impartial. There was no one more suitable to serve as Jade City's regent. He also requested that the officials in the court understand this and wholeheartedly assist the prince until Zayen's suspicions were cleared and authority returned to Emerald Palace.

As for the duke's sister, although she was of noble birth, she had encountered this change, her feelings were difficult, she had been implicated and exhausted in body and mind, and as her elder brother, he could not avoid blame and was deeply ashamed. He especially begged the gentlemen in the hall, and His Highness the Prince above all, to consider her feelings, pity the lonely and weak, and not add worries and troubles to her because of Jade City and the family's mundane paperwork.

What?

Clearly, Duke Zayen's prestige remained, and this stance was especially distinctive. After Thales explained the duke's request, Hilley's expression was incredulous. Even the prince's side was astonished, while the ministers in the hall felt subtle and mixed emotions.

"You did not tell your brother your plan, did you?" Thales looked at Hilley's side profile and sighed deeply. "But clearly, he guessed in advance. He does not want you to wade into this muddy water."

Even though he himself was under house arrest.

Hilley fell silent. She bit her lip and said nothing.

Thus the main topic in the hall shifted again, becoming "the prince or the lady."

First, that same Assistant Judge Ybonin stood up and sang the opposite tune from before.

In terms of qualifications, as a Covendier by blood, Lady Cecilia serving as regent was naturally the most proper. But unfortunately, she was the biological sister of one of the parties under arbitration. If they worried that letting Zayen continue governing would affect the fairness of the arbitration, then what difference was there in letting his direct relative serve as regent? Where was the fairness to the other party under arbitration?

Next was Count Shukadel of Evergreen Island, head of the Sunflower family and an outside guest. He smiled and said that since Lady Cecilia's advantage in serving as regent lay in "nearness" and "kinship," then His Highness the Prince's praiseworthy virtues were undoubtedly "wisdom" and "distance."

Since His Highness Thales was responsible under the Covenant for arbitrating the dispute between two nobles, then having him govern Jade City before them, leaning toward neither side and stained by no position, was naturally the most neutral and fair arrangement.

Whispers rose again in the hall. The local vassals of the South Coast looked at one another, confused between the hidden intentions of the imprisoned duke and the prince seated above them, hesitating between South Coast tradition and the powerful royal family, worried and uncertain over whether to lower their heads and hand over Jade City. Finally, with encouragement from many colleagues, an old vassal shakily stood and stammered a question:

Would it be proper for the kingdom to set such a precedent, taking from below by above, and from subject by master?

But the prince's subordinates, who had long been eager to try, especially Lady Miranda Arunde of the White Eagle family, held a different view.

"Eight years ago, Duke Val Arunde of the North Territory was imprisoned and serving sentence, unable to govern personally. His heir guarded the fortress and could not divide attention. The court ministers in the territory had to avoid suspicion, and the branch descendants were all unworthy. Cold Castle thus fell into the predicament of having no master and no lord. Fortunately, His Majesty Kessel cared for the subjects of the North Territory and understood Cold Castle's difficulties, so he sent a wise royal minister north to govern on its behalf until Duke Val was released, or a new heir succeeded."

Lady Arunde's status was extraordinary, and her words carried no small weight, especially when she wore armor, had her hand on her sword, and paced back and forth before the officials in the council hall. The entire hall fell into an eerie silence. No one loudly expressed their views again. Many secretly glanced at His Highness the Prince, who was silent, calm, and strangely expressioned.

"As the daughter of the guardian duke of the North Territory, I can testify here: all subjects of Stars should know this precedent!"

Seeing everyone lower their heads and no one dare refute, Lady Arunde turned toward His Highness Thales in the main seat.

"And now Jade City has fallen into the same difficulty. As the first heir of the Jadestar royal family, Duke Thales' status and duty both call upon him. He naturally should temporarily govern Jade City's affairs and relieve disaster for the subjects of the South Coast. He cannot shirk this duty!"

When her words fell, no one dared oppose, and no one immediately agreed.

"Moreover, this was approved and recommended by Duke Zayen," Young Master Paul of Heroic Spirit Fort said in a deep voice while holding the nine-pointed star great flag that had not yet been put away. "I think even if you went to ask Federico, he would have no objection."

The council hall again fell into deathly silence.

Just as this frightening silence made Thales increasingly impatient, made those seated in the hall increasingly tense and hesitant, and made the Star Lake Guard wonder whether they should "politely" persuade them again...

"We can speak with full authority on behalf of our father, Count Turami Karabeyan of Walla Territory," Kasha and Qina spoke in unison, breaking the silence. "Walla Territory and its vassals support His Highness Thales sitting in Emerald Palace, supervising affairs and governing until the truth comes to light."

"Since that is the case, the Lassia family has no objection either." Count Lassia's eldest son spoke on behalf of his father, extremely respectful, forming a sharp contrast with his father, whose shoulders were firmly pressed down and who swallowed his anger but ultimately did not speak.

Seeing that the two great distinguished families of the South Coast had both acted this way, while the Covendier family was trapped in the vortex and unable to free itself, the ministers in the hall could only nod submissively one after another.

Thus the matter was settled. In the council hall belonging to the Covendier family, amid an agreement so peaceful it felt eerie, Thales Jadestar became the first regent in Jade City's history who was not surnamed Covendier. Although His Highness the Prince declined this title and refused to let people call him "Regent Thales," humbly saying that he was merely temporarily governing on another's behalf, watching over a transition, with no intention of claiming merit, fame, authority, or a place in history by taking the host's seat.

Thales' first political order in the inner court of Emerald Palace was quite simple:

From daily administration to the Emerald Celebration, from food, clothing, shelter, and transportation to scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, everything in Jade City would continue as before. All ministers and subordinates, however you served Covendier before, serve Prince Thales that way now.

It was said that Vanguard Officer Nate Neshy, responsible for delivering this handwritten order, had a strange expression and frowned for a very, very long time.

Just like that, Thales resolved the issue of his name and authority in Jade City.

But he soon discovered that, for rule, name and authority were only the simplest part.

After the ministers in the council hall left with complicated and indescribable thoughts, Thales exhaled. He deliberately dismissed guards and servants and turned toward Hilley, who was silently deep in thought.

"Thank you."

"For what?" Hilley raised her head.

"Thank you for stepping back just now and not continuing to insist."

Hilley sneered softly and twitched the corner of her mouth.

"You mean, fighting you for this shitty seat as Jade City regent?"

Thales was silent for a while.

"You know you could have. After all, you are Covendier."

Hilley laughed coldly again and again.

"Enough. My brother has been accused by my cousin of murdering his father to seize power, framing his uncle, and has become a prisoner in his own castle and palace," she said with cold sarcasm. "After the Iris that held everything up fell, there is no one in Jade City who dares defy your will. And I am merely a woman. What choice do I have?"

"The thing they do not dare defy is not me, but that flag."

"Is there a difference? Your flag shines, and so does your blood, at least supposedly."

Thales knew the selection meeting incident had left resentment in her heart. He sighed.

"About yesterday, I am sorry."

Hilley did not speak.

"But I promise you, whether arbitration or regency, this is only temporary. I will correct everything before my father..."

"Then promise me one thing."

Thales paused.

"What?"

The next second, Hilley took a deep breath and put away her mocking tone.

"Yesterday, I thought for the entire night and finally thought of it," she said seriously. "A way to save Zayen without angering His Majesty."

Thales froze.

"Really?"

"Really."

"And that is..."

"I will marry you."

"Right, but the premise is your brother cooperating... what?"

Thales reacted halfway through his sentence and was startled.

"You heard me." Hilley stared at Thales, and her gaze changed. She moved her chair closer to Thales, raised a gloved finger, pointed first to herself and then to Thales, pausing between each movement. "I. Will. Marry. You."

Looking at the round-faced girl before him, Thales froze.

"Hilley?"

"I know this sounds stupid, but listen to me!"

Hilley stopped the prince's words, her eyes shining.

"The reason you helped Fed yesterday was because the king will not allow you to lose. At least, he will not allow you to stand by and lose like this." She looked at the disbelieving Thales with hope. "Then we only need to give the king a reason, a reason why even if you stand aside, you still will not lose."

"You mean..."

Thales widened his eyes.

In the council hall, Hilley was incomparably serious.

"Tell His Majesty that you made a deal."

"A deal?"

She nodded.

"Thales stands aside, allowing Federico and the Secret Intelligence Department to fail, allowing Zayen and Jade City to escape disaster."

"The price is that the duke's own sister enters an engagement with His Highness the Prince. Jadestar and Covendier become in-laws again. Jade City and Eternal Star City form a blood alliance."

Hilley gently reached out and tenderly held Thales' hand.

"Our descendants, no, even just in our generation, can connect Stars and the sea, ambition and wealth."

What?

Thales was completely stunned. He stared at the round-faced girl before him, whose face was full of urgency. Only after several seconds did he wake up.

"This is the thing you want me to promise? No, this is not that simple..."

"It is that simple!"

The next second, Hilley turned both hands over and gripped his tightly, refusing to let go.

"After all, His Majesty the King only needs the advantages to outweigh the disadvantages, right? Besides, you came here for a marriage interview in the first place!"

"But that was only an exc..."

"Really, Thales! If your father has questions, then tell him. No, if necessary, I can go to the capital and meet him, tell him face to face," her tone was urgent, almost hysterical. "Tell him I will love you, I will be obedient, I will cooperate, I will be your wife, your princess consort, even your queen! The mother of your children!"

Thales was about to speak, but Hilley hurriedly cut him off.

"Tell him I have unlimited political value and financial value. Not only the Iris and Jade City, far more than that. I even know the forces hidden behind the Half Tower... As for you personally, listen, I am very capable. Not only magic tricks and summoning monsters, not only losing my temper. I know many skills, many kinds of knowledge, much forbidden knowledge, the sort that temples do not welcome. Better than the Bloodmoon Tebark family. I know the Jadestar family has always been very interested in these things..."

The faster she spoke, the more she resembled a drowning person clutching a straw and struggling nonstop.

"Also, my dowry is enormous. You cannot even imagine it. All the women of the North Territory, Cliffland, and Blade Edge combined cannot compare. I can make up Star Lake Fort's annual financial deficit tenfold, a hundredfold, and it goes far beyond money... If it is not enough, I can carve off a piece from Zayen. You know, my family has leaching crystal mines, and also the hunting waters of the eternal whales..."

"Hilley!"

Thales interrupted her in disbelief.

But the girl did not listen.

"Believe me, your father will be satisfied! After all, from now on, no, from this very moment, you can use this reason and status to intervene in Jade City. Then whether Zayen is taken down or not no longer matters... Think about it. If you are my fiancé, even my husband, with such a name, what reason would those old fellows just now have to oppose you serving as Jade City's regent?"

Hilley pointed toward the empty seats throughout the hall.

"And I am different from that bitch in Dragon Clouds City. She is in an enemy country, her status is sensitive, and if there were to be a marriage alliance, there would be many opponents. But us? The nine-pointed star and the iris. A family marriage within Stars will draw no opposition, only blessing and awe... All these benefits are within reach, as long as, as long as you spare Zayen. His crimes..."

Hilley spoke until her mouth was dry and she panted slightly.

Thales looked at her almost fanatical state and was at a loss, only waking when he heard Zayen's name.

"These things, this proposal, does your brother know?"

Hilley's words halted, and her face cooled slightly.

"He will know," she forced a smile. "He is the bride's brother. In the future, he still has to take my hand and send me off to marriage."

"No. You know very well that as long as he remains Duke of South Coast for one day, he will absolutely never agree to this..."

"Soon he will not be!"

Hilley suddenly interrupted him emotionally, then immediately worked hard to suppress her feelings.

"Right now, he is only a prisoner waiting to be slaughtered, still waiting for me to save his life."

Looking at her, Thales immediately understood something.

"You two really are alike," he said faintly.

"What?" Hilley froze.

Thales sighed.

"Have you ever thought that when you insist, in your way, on saving him, perhaps Zayen neither needs nor wants you to save him?"

Hilley's brow tightened.

"He has no choice."

"Just like you had no choice," Thales answered quickly, with both emotion and loss. "When in the past, he insisted, in his way, on protecting you."

"Even though you neither needed nor wanted his protection," Thales said quietly.

Hilley froze when she heard this.

Thales sighed.

"Help me, Hilley. Walk your own road. Do not walk his, all right?"

Under Thales' earnest gaze, Cecilia was blank for several seconds.

She released Thales' hand in a daze, and her eyes gradually reddened.

Thales did not speak either. The two remained silent for a long while.

Several seconds later, the girl seemed to understand something. She gritted her teeth, and her breathing grew faster and faster.

Hilley came back to herself.

"Stop talking nonsense, Thales. And you had better not force me to beg you."

She sniffed, blinked, and stubbornly forced her tears back.

"One sentence: are you marrying me or not?"