"The Black Sand Territory is in disgrace at the border...the kingdom's fury..."

"Rumba sent an army to send him over..."

"If this battle still has to be fought, it will have to wait until spring..."

Thales walked straight forward without looking away, towards Nunn VII who was also staring at him with an unclear look.

Finally, more and more nobles exhausted their curiosity, gave up the idea of ​​seeing the prince's face, and returned to the rhythm of the banquet.

The nobles of the Northland are particularly different from their counterparts in the stars. The latter always behave elegantly in the Hall of Stars. Even the country nobles sitting on the outermost periphery must try their best to look like civilized people, whether it is

Whether it's behavior or clothing decoration - this also makes the three northern families headed by Arend, Forris, and Zemuto and their subordinate nobles stand out among the princes of the stars.

But the group of northern nobles in front of me may be different in terms of status and personality, but they all behave like rough men: from their sitting posture to their eating habits, from their appearance to their clothes, they must make deliberate noises even when drinking.

Grunting, then dripping a few drops from the edge of the beard, and then slamming the bottom of the cup on the table, loudly scolding the opponent, or being scolded by the opponent.

Thales silently observed the behavior patterns of this group of nobles while walking between the long tables on both sides. He couldn't help but notice that except for the maids, there were almost no female relatives in this banquet.

"The people who will appear here at the back of the banquet hall are low-ranking nobles, lords and ministers, meritorious knights, specially invited bureaucrats, etc.," Putilai reminded lightly from behind him: "The one in front of you on the left is wearing the same clothes.

The only good ones are the servants who deliver the food. The one in the back right corner who is roasting meat on the stove looks like a servant, but is actually the chief officer responsible for cooking the meat. This is usually done by the lord's most trusted ministers."

"Asking the ministers to roast meat—Guan Zhang? Why?" Thales did not look back. He wondered: "Isn't it something that should be done by the chef, or is this an honor?"

"Humph, my prince," Putilai said calmly: "Do you know how many assassinations and poisoning intentions in the history of the empire originated in that corner of the silent barbecue?"

Thales shut his mouth and stopped talking.

They walked through the middle of the long table. Sure enough, from here on, the "quality" of the Northland nobles seemed to increase with their status. There were far fewer pointing fingers in the banquet crowd, and the exchange of glances in silence, and

The murmurs of unknown meaning rose sharply.

"The open space in the center of the hall...if it were placed in the Star or Enrenzo, it would be a dance floor and performance venue, but in the Northland," Putilai walked past several guests with unhappy expressions, ignoring a rude noble next to him.

Cursing in a low voice, he pointed at a circular space in the center of the hall and twitched his cheek: "According to my experience, when you are drunk, don't be surprised if you see two rough guys fucking each other desperately."

Thales frowned when he heard Putilai speak foul language for the first time: "Is it really okay to use such language to a prince?"

"Do as the Romans do. Years ago, I saw a noble princess from Exeter standing on the street and yelling at people with words like '***.'" Putilai shook his head: "Besides, I don't think she can

Prince, you are quite used to these terms."

"Ah, as your Royal Highness, I am just like the noble princes in many poems and legends." Thales looked at the several grand dukes already at the table in the distance and covered it up calmly: "I have been here all over the world.

He has tasted the sufferings of the people and is both virtuous and kind."

Putilai snorted noncommittally.

They finally reached the end of the long table.

Among the people closest to them, the one with the highest status was Archduke Alessio.

"No music and minstrels, no clowns and burlesques, no beautiful women, no busty maids, no whole pigs roasted, no jousting by the good men, no rejoicing with the people in tents all over the city,

"Tales heard Archduke Alessio complaining unhappily to the lords around him, then turned around and shouted dissatisfiedly in the direction of King Nunn:

"What the hell kind of party is this?"

Contrary to Thales' expectations, many northern nobles actually echoed in unison and issued a wave of protests in the direction of King Nunn.

Like a vegetable market... Thales sighed, suddenly thinking that he had given the same evaluation to the State Council before, he couldn't help but be startled.

But King Nun just stared coldly at the chaotic nobles in the audience without any reaction.

A loud but eerie voice sounded from the long table on the other side, responding to Olesio:

"First of all, this is the eve of the extreme cold. Except for lunatics like Lumba, the entire Northland is scrimping on food and clothing and storing food for the winter. Secondly," the Jarhead Grand Duke of Trudida stood up with squinted eyes and looked from a distance.

Looking at Prince Thales who was restless in the field:

"This dinner is to welcome the unpopular Prince of the Stars!"

The nobles around him stood up and cheered.

Thales and everyone in Xingchen frowned almost at the same time.

"Finally, Rebien Alessio, when you live in other people's castles and palaces, eat their food, drink their food... Hey, maybe even fuck theirs," the Archduke of Trudida said towards a big-assed man.

The maid glanced at it and showed an interesting smile: "Then it's best not to dictate the master's arrangements."

Some northern nobles laughed inexplicably.

Olesiu shook his head disdainfully and sat back in his chair.

Thales finally came to King Nun and bowed slightly to him.

King Nun looked at him, his green eyes full of complex emotions.

This made Thales extremely uneasy.

From the moment he stepped into Exeter, the Grand Duke of Lombard, the Viscount of Cambida, and even the five Grand Dukes present, every lord he met was not a simple thing, but Thales, who had experienced many storms, had been able to calm down.

Face their hostility, coercion, oppression and even murderous intentions.

Because Thales knew exactly what they wanted.

Only the old king in front of him, the king who had already stood at the pinnacle of Exter's power, made him unable to figure it out.

The strange emotions hidden in the eyes of the other party, the actions that forced him to cooperate in revenge, and the words and deeds in the meeting hall all made Thales couldn't help but feel chilled in his heart - even though the conversation between them only lasted a few words.

Unpredictable people are always scary.

In the meantime, King Nun slowly stood up and raised his hand to signal to the leader of the White Blade Guards, Nikolai.

Nicolai nodded and walked to Thales: "Please take a seat. Your seat is at the end of His Majesty's left hand."

Thales turned his head and looked at the unoccupied seat at the end of the row of horizontal tables.

Although we are in the same row as the King, it is... so far away from King Nun.

Almost a corner.

Putilai behind him sighed.

Thales shrugged and walked to his seat nonchalantly.

Rolf and Wyatt followed closely.

But before he could sit down and warm up his butt, a familiar yet unfamiliar old voice sounded in the hall:

"Everyone, raise a glass!"

Thales turned his head blankly, and Putilai beside him remained unchanged and handed him a glass of rye wine in an iron wine glass with great experience.

"Toast." The thin deputy envoy said calmly.

Thales turned his head and watched King Nunn, who had just lost his son, leave his seat, raised his glass high, and shouted to the audience:

"Welcome our guest...the second prince from the Kingdom of Stars - Thales Shining Star!"

The renewed noise in the hall fell silent again.

I saw the old king slowly stepping out of his seat and walking towards the front of the hall.

Like an old lion taking dangerous steps out of its territory and into the territories of other lions.

The five princes stared at him intently, raising their glasses from afar, with different expressions.

"May the north wind measure his courage, and the ice and snow wash away his perseverance!"

"For reasons you all know, I cannot welcome his arrival with joy," King Nunn looked around, with a firm expression and cold words: "But he is already here!"

All the nobles present listened quietly to their king's speech.

Many eyes were cast towards Thales' corner.

"Then don't let anyone doubt the enthusiasm of the Northlanders and the tenacity of the Exeter people - even if they are enemies of life and death!" King Nun knocked on the wine glass, with a majestic look on his wrinkled face, and in his tone

The boldness of youth is vaguely visible:

"Even if we have to fight to the death tomorrow, we must first fulfill our traditions!"

Under the spotlight, King Nunn shook his glass and roared: "For Exeter!"

At that moment, everyone in the hall raised their glasses and roared:

"For Exeter!"

King Nun's eyes were sharp. He spoke again and shouted a second time: "For the North!"

The guests roared in response: "For the North!"

The raging roar filled the entire hall like thunder, deafening.

The next moment, King Nunn moved swiftly and drank all the wine in the glass.

Following his actions, the nobles in the hall all looked solemn and began to drink. For a moment, the only sounds in the banquet hall were the gurgling sounds of countless throats.

Thales frowned. He held the heavy iron wine glass in both hands and reluctantly took a sip under the gazes of many eyes behind him.

King Nun finished his wine, turned around with an angry look on his face, and slammed the bottom of the wine glass on the long table!

"Boom!"
To be continued...