548 To Not Perish as Foes Three

As for the rest of what Zayen said…

Caused by accidents.

Compelled by circumstances.

Not personal?

Thales narrowed his eyes and looked at Zayen who was trying his best to restrain himself, but the words of the Duke of Western Desert rang in his ears:

"Before you accept their kind offer, please remember: they are only doing it because they oppose your father, not because they are genuinely loyal to you."

"Oh, is that so?" Thales asked coldly.

"So what you're telling me is, six years ago, the fact that you lent Vine Manor to Serena was 'caused by accidents'?"

"And you were 'compelled by circumstances' when you, after saying some kind words to me, let the Night Queen come after me?"

Zayen's expression started to turn unpleasant.

"What a coincidence," Thales adjusted his posture and sneered, "Do you know what life lesson Lady Serena, who found me thanks to you, taught me?"

Zayen's gaze was fixed on a void in mid-air, and trembled a little along with his breath. "But like you said, times have changed.

"We need to look to the future."

But Thales shook his head slowly, and spoke word by word, "No, Your Grace, I reject your offer—because I don't believe you at all."

Both sat silently facing each other, with normal posture and proper etiquette.

But the tension in the atmosphere was unfathomable to outsiders.

The Duke of Iris Flowers' eyebrows twitched for a while as he struggled to form his words.

"I tried my best, and kindly made a suggestion, a request even, Thales, at least…"

But Thales was not having any of Zayen's acting, and interjected with a smile. "Quick-fire Q&A: Why did I have to go to Eckstedt then?"

Zayen looked up.

"For traveling and sightseeing? To broaden your horizons? To freeload on food and drinks? To find yourself a wife?"

Thales clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Neither… Oh, I remember now,"

Thales' gaze turned sharp as his tone started to strain.

"Was it because a bunch of domestic vassals banded together to assassinate the Eckstedt Diplomat Group, but was used by someone else, and incurred the fury of King Nuven...

"And we needed a scapegoat to clean up the mess, and wipe their asses for them?"

Zayen did not speak.

"But why did they want to assassinate the Eckstedt Diplomat Group?"

Thales leaned towards Zayen, his expression somber.

"Why did you do it?

"Duke Zayen Covendier?"

Zayen's brows kept twitching.

"You have been a prince for six years, and now you're even the Duke of Star Lake—no matter how stupid and ignorant the Northland barbarians are, they must have taught you this: some things are beyond our control."

The Duke of Iris Flowers' gaze had turned to ice, and his tone was no longer courteous, "What happened then should be viewed in isolation and should not be extrapolated to the present, let alone implicate other matters."

Viewed in isolation?

Thales laughed.

The prince's expression turned somber too, his gaze cold.

"Tell me, Zayen, even now, have you ever thought…"

"If I hadn't appeared then, or, if I died at the hands of vampires or Eckstedtians," Thales pointed his chin at the banquet hall below, "Then today, the one holding this title, occupying this manor, sitting here and watching the bustling guests below would be…

"Would be you?"

Zayen raised his head sharply!

"Thales, this is your last chance. Consider your decision carefully," the Duke of Iris Flowers gritted his teeth and threatened implicitly, "I have conceded enough, and my offer has been sincere enough.

"Don't force me to be your enemy. You wouldn't want to go there."

But Thales sneered in response.

"Last chance? Conceded?"

Thales clicked his tongue and shook his head. "'Refuse to cooperate with me and I shall be your enemy', is that what you mean by 'concede'?"

Zayen glared at him. The Duke of Iris Flowers with a friendly smile was long gone.

"I've never forced you, Zayen. Your so-called 'forced to'," Thales said coldly, "were merely choices you have made after being unable to withstand the sways of world.

"Conversely, from the past to the present, from start to finish, you have been the one forcing me."

Thales' words carried warning, "And everyone, has to pay the price for their own choices."

In that moment, their eyes met and the temperature seemed to plummet.

Zayen scoffed angrily.

"When you're young, you might not have worries or fears.

"But once you're grown, when you're more experienced, when you have more, perhaps you will understand, friends are more important than enemies."

Zayen whispered each word clearly, "Let us rather die for friends than perish as foes."

But Thales laughed.

"Do you know, when I first arrived at Dragon Clouds City, the arrogant Nuven the Seventh threatened me just like this: either cooperate obediently or accept death obediently."

Zayen's gaze trembled.

Thales' laughter was cold.

"Guess how he ended up that night?"

"Zayen Covendier, how tough is your skull compared to his?"

Zayen did not speak.

But in the next second, the rage in his eyes melted like ice and turned into a smile.

As if that elegant, civilized, gentle and friendly Duke of Iris Flowers had returned.

But in that moment, Thales merely felt a chill in his heart.

"Tell me, Your Highness," Zayen's smile was undiminished, as he spoke clearly, "Do you think that just because you've been to the North and survived there for six years, you have become resilient and fearless?"

Thales frowned.

"No. You know the truth very well."

"For the past six years, you have been alone in enemy territory but managed to return safely without trepidation, and even gained the glory and fame you have today. This is all thanks to the strong backing you have—thanks to his supreme crown and power."

Thales trembled inside.

Zayen's dangerous smile unnerved Thales.

"And now, after you have escaped danger as the heir of the kingdom, returned to the shade of the kingdom, returned under its shadow, returned to the within bounds of royal power…"

The Duke of Iris Flowers chuckled. "Guess whether that strong backing would still provide you with the type of unreserved shelter and support that had been compelled by a 'them versus us' situation?"

"And whether you, are able to, or would dare fall back on your greatest hits, such as rejecting King Nuven, opposing King Chapman…"

"And reject him, oppose him?"

In that moment, there seemed to be some kind of power, spreading outwards from within Thales and binding him tightly.

It paralyzed him and made him breathless.

"The second prince? Duke of Star Lake? The kingdom's bloodline? Hah, you are clear about it, and you fear it."

Thales struggled to breathe.

As if he could sense what Thales felt, Zayen's tone began to strain.

"Trust me, in Constellation, the harm you will face far exceeds that in Eckstedt."

There was a cold glint in his eyes.

"And the people who are able to harm you, will be much stronger than the Archdukes in the Northland."

Thales glared at him but did not say a word.

"How does it feel, Your Highness? When such circumstances fall on you?"

Duke Covendier continued disapprovingly, "This feeling of someone ripping away the pretense and disguise and holding what you treasure against you, this feeling of being vulnerable and threatened?"

Thales had to suppress his desire to turn away and fly into a rage out of humiliation.

"Threatened?" Thales knew he could not show weakness, let alone reveal any clues. He kept his calm and clarified, "No, Your Grace.

"You should be aware, you're not threatening me. You're threatening the Jadestar Royal Family, and my father."

Zayen chuckled.

"Go tell him then."

The smirk on his face made Thales uneasy.

"Tell him that you're not on good terms with the Duke of South Coast. That, when everyone adores you, flatters you, and counts on you…he dares to be rude and threaten you.

"Let's see whether your father, His Majesty the king who loves the people like his own children, will stand up for his son to fulfil you, cherish you and support you.

"Or whether he will accept me as a good axe that is capable of hitting you, threatening you and suppressing you in this kingdom?"

The chill in Thales' heart reached freezing point.

Showing no signs of abating.

It was the type of excruciating chill that, after the mask and disguise, armor and clothing have been ripped to shreds, cut through the bone.

"I said that this has nothing to do with our families and we don't have to implicate them." Zayen shook his head gently. "But you choose to be obstinate and wilful."

Thales turned sharply and looked at him.

"What can you do then?" the Duke of Star Lake said through gritted teeth, even though he knew this retaliation was weak.

"Send another vampire to assassinate me? Kill his heir? And see how my father will react?"

Zayen responded with a sneer. "Haven't we already tried that?" Zayen Covendier clicked his tongue, "You get hurt, he benefits from it—isn't that pretty satisfactory for him?"

Thales' breathing staggered.

"So, is this a declaration of war?" the prince asked, still gritting his teeth.

Zayen stood up calmly and still looked friendly.

"No, of course not," he replied with a bright smile, then instantly turned cold, "But the next one will be.

"And believe me, I am capable of more than this."

Thales clenched his fists.

"I wish you a pleasant evening, Your Highness," the Duke of Iris Flowers, Zayen Covendier bowed elegantly, and bid farewell by sarcastically ending with, "May you rather die for friends…

"Than perish from foes."

Watching Zayen's figure grow further and further away from him, Thales tried to recompose himself as the person qualified to become the master of Mindis Hall.

But he realized it was easier said than done.

Zayen Covendier.

What the hell was going on with this guy?

At the banquet, with the departure of King Kessel, Prime Minister Cullen and other elderly guests gradually left, but most guests stayed on freely drinking and enjoying themselves.

As the elders have left, the banquet hall became noisier, and laughter and shouts became more frenetic and unrestrained.

Guards from the Flag Bearer Division were urging Duke Arunde to leave, but the latter dragged his feet and was obviously refusing to comply.

Most of the Seven Jadestar Attendants were still in position and on guard, seemingly determined to show their dedication towards the Duke of Star Lake.

The only thing that could improve Thales' mood was the fact that, due to the escalated merriment within the banquet hall, almost no one approached to disturb the prince.

Mallos could finally report to him.

"You seem to have had a pleasant conversation with Duke Covendier?"

Thales snorted and tried to suppress his emotions. "Very pleasant indeed,"

"We're now old acquaintances, old friends."

Old enough to detonate at the slightest prod.

Mallos looked at Zayen's leaving figure and pondered, "If you have any doubts, perhaps you may wish to seek advice from your officer friend?"

Officer friend…

Thales was stunned for a moment.

"Huh?

"You mean—Kohen?"

Mallos nodded.

"The Karabeyan family of Walla Hill has always been a pillar of the South Coast, and long-time friends of the Covendier family of Jade City. They know the Covendiers best."

"Particularly," Mallos looked at the expressionless Thales, then again at the Duke of Iris Flowers in the distance, "About alleviating hatred and brokering peace,"

"Of course, when I say 'seek advice from', I mean contact Officer Kohen Karabeyan's father through him and ask for advice."

And not that doofus himself.

Alleviating hatred…

Thales was startled.

He quickly pinched his own face to make sure he wasn't showing any hatred or rage.

"Is it that obvious?"

"No, you did well. Much better than the last time," Mallos said calmly as he confirmed that his senses were still acute, "It's just, you know, I'm rather sensitive to the emotions and atmosphere around me."

Thales sighed.

"Fine. Speaking of which…what of the assassin?"

Mallos was silent for a while.

"We are fully prepared and have been waiting for him to show up,"

The watchman was unfazed as usual, but Thales, who had been interacting with him for a long time, could still sense that Mallos was not too happy at that moment.

"Yet, even until His Majesty left…"

Mallos admitted calmly, "To be honest, if he doesn't turn up soon, I will start to wonder if I really was overly sensitive."

"Oh? How rare of you to exhibit such self-awareness, Mallos."

They turned around together: vice-captain Vogel walked over with a frown on his face and bowed to Thales.

"Your Highness, although His Majesty has left, but I have been ordered to stay until the banquet ends with some guards, to ensure your safety."

Thales forced a smile. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me," Vogel stared at Mallos with displeasure, "You should thank someone else for their selfless suggestion and conscientiousness."

Mallos was expressionless.

Glover and Doyle returned, but both reported that everything was normal.

"Maybe he gave up when His Majesty left."

Thales rubbed his forehead in fatigue. From Saroma to Zayen, his head was so full that he did not want to linger on the assassination. "It's okay. This is a good thing."

"Maybe he's still waiting, including waiting for His Majesty to leave." Mallos looked around the banquet hall, seemingly dissatisfied. "And now is the perfect opportunity."

Vogel snorted mockingly.

Thales could only smile half-heartedly.

"To wait until His Majesty has left… So you mean he's here to assassinate me?"

"Or, a duke here?"

Mallos did not respond.

Thales sincerely hoped: for example, the one named Covendier?

At the other side of the hall, Duke Zayen had returned to his seat, jovial and approachable along the way.

Impressive as ever.

His old butler, Ashford poured him a glass of wine without saying a word.

Instead it was Zayen that spoke first. "Ashford, when we return, go through the library collection—I mean the banned books, no matter how old they are."

Ashford nodded expressionlessly, "And you want me to find out about…?"

"A wizard," Zayen replied calmly, "Called Heigel."

Ashford furrowed his brows slightly but did not say anything.

Wizard.

Magic.

Zayen quietly kept his disdain to himself.

'Damned Jadestar Royal Family.'

'They really dare teach their descendants anything,' Zayen thought as he looked towards the Duke of Star Lake.

Coincidentally, Thales looked towards the Duke of Iris Flowers at the same time.

Their gaze met: one was friendly, the other was indifferent.

But both were equally inscrutable.

Both had a heavy burden in their hearts.

As if telepathically, they smiled and nodded at each other at the same time.

And the mysterious assassin.

Appeared at that moment.