The sudden increase in volume surprised Nicolai slightly.

But what made his expression even more ugly was what Thales said later:

"Rumba and I, we chatted for a while after the meeting."

Thales said coldly: "I can see that he is not satisfied with the current interests. He wants more and needs more."

"As long as he is still in Longxiao City, he will never be willing to stop at a neutral Longxiao City."

"Just like six years ago, he was not willing to stop at a dead Nun King."

The prince looked at the Fallen Star extremely seriously:

"So do you know the Grand Duke and what kind of predicament Longxiao City is currently in?"

"Do you know what he is going to do next?" Thales continued solemnly: "And now, I have to talk to that terrible king again and try to convince him: That's it for the time being."

The Fallen Star was silent for a while, his brows furrowing even deeper.

"What else does he want?" he whispered.

Thales shrugged and thought about the king's methods, only to feel a headache.

"Obviously, he is very dissatisfied that I withheld the threat of the Black Sand Leader from the Grand Duchess," the prince lowered his head, rather dullly: "I think he would rather meet the Grand Duchess directly and tell him

The leverage and threats were placed in front of her to turn Thelma into his puppet."

Nicolai did not speak, but his already frightening face became even paler.

Thales raised his head, his eyes burning:

"And I am going to convince him that there is no need to force the Walton family to take sides, there is no need to secretly contact the vassals of Longxiao City who are ready to move, and there is no need to be greedy and tear off another piece of flesh from Longxiao City.

"

"I am going to convince him that the reign of the Grand Duchess does not conflict with his interests."

"I'm going to convince him to give the Dragonlance family some support when needed."

"I'm going to convince him that Longxiao City is not a threat to him in the past few years."

Every time Thales said a word, Nicolai's face became uglier.

"I have to convince him to stop the negotiation with me. There is no need to go to the innocent Thelma and spread the matter cruelly and ruthlessly in front of her to coerce and induce her to make a choice!"

"Now, Serui Nicolai, the Meteorite guarding Longxiao City, you can let me go find Lumba now," Thales raised his head and took a step forward, looking directly at Nicolai with sharp eyes, almost close to him.

Go to the other party:

"Or try every means to delay the schedule and cause trouble for me...and then wait for him to come to Selma in person again."

"Come to Longxiao City."

The prince finished speaking.

The air returned to silence.

Nicolai looked at Thales with increasingly cold eyes.

Under the awning of the stable, Meteorite and Thales looked at each other silently.

The others, whether they were the attendants of the stars or the guards of the Northlanders, were quietly waiting for the results of their negotiations.

The atmosphere was tense.

Until Nicolai sneered and shook his head.

With his smile, the air that was almost reaching freezing point seemed to become a lot warmer.

"You know, you have to thank Count Lisban," Nicolai said calmly: "Even though you attracted Lombard and almost ruined the day of hearing, he still seems to believe that you have no ill intentions towards Longxiao City."

Thales was slightly startled.

Lisbane?

The Fallen Star continued: "Even if you still slander him, saying that he secretly connected with Scarlet Witch and Lumba and betrayed Longxiao City."

Thales slowly breathed a sigh of relief: "Really?"

"Also, you have to thank her," Nicolai sighed:

"I think she is also one of the reasons why Lisban believes in you."

The moment Thales raised his eyebrows, Nicolai turned his head and looked in another direction.

Following his eyes, Thales was stunned.

In the distance, accompanied by guards and maids, the female Grand Justice of Longxiao City stood silently in the westward sunlight, looking here with complex eyes.

The golden light filled the girl's body, making her look even more dazzling.

Thales couldn't help but sigh deeply.

"She's waiting for you," Nicolai turned and walked away. Before leaving, his eyes looked back and forth with deep meaning: "Don't be too late when saying goodbye, pay attention to propriety."

Looking at Nicolai's back, Thales closed his eyes, and complex emotions filled his heart.

The next moment, he suddenly opened his eyes, took decisive steps towards the Grand Duchess.

Thelma's expression was calm, and she slowly stepped forward, with Lady Jinx following behind her.

The prince and the archduchess finally faced each other again.

Thales forced a smile and nodded to the female officer: "Thank you, Ms. Jinx."

But facing the hidden meaning behind this sentence, Ms. Jinx remained motionless, still staring at him coldly and saying nothing.

Until Selma reluctantly smiled at her and nodded.

The palace lady's face, which was almost frozen, moved slightly. She followed the standard etiquette to the Grand Duke and turned around respectfully to leave.

"Even now, she still doesn't like me," Thales scratched his head unnaturally, "It's really sad."

Obviously, his terrible opening statement failed to have the desired effect.

Thelma was still staring at him steadily, and the inexplicable emotion behind her pince-nez made Thales quite uneasy.

"So, you are going to the Black Sand Territory now?"

She asked very directly.

Thales exhaled, avoided the other party's sight, and nodded: "Yes, get used to it soon."

But Selma seemed very calm at this moment: "You didn't expect it, did you?"

Thales raised his eyes slightly doubtfully.

"I thought about it later."

"You said that you want me to choose the path that is most suitable for the Grand Duchess, and you will solve the remaining problems."

"Charmaine Lombard," the Grand Duchess said with a calm face, "He should be the solution to your 'remaining problems'. He is also the last and worst trump card, right."

Thales didn't speak. He exhaled through his nose and nodded.

The Grand Duchess's face looked a little sad.

"If everything goes well, if I choose not to be so stubborn, choose to ignore your life and death, and calmly gain the support of the vassals..."

"If Longxiao City can successfully send troops, if we can form an alliance against the king..." Her voice trembled slightly: "Then you will not go to Lumba, nor will you betray Ian, let alone

Sell ​​yourself to Heisha Ling."

Thelma seemed to want to smile, but ultimately failed.

"You know, the moment you spoke in support of Lombard, I kind of didn't recognize you."

Thales hesitated to speak.

"So, just like six years ago," the Grand Duchess turned her head and no longer struggled with this topic: "In order to save me, you took the risk and took the last step."

Thales could only close his eyes: "You shouldn't be so stubborn, Selma, there is no need for a hostage..."

"Put yourself in danger of betrayal and alienation."

The Grand Duchess suddenly raised her head, her eyes determined, as if she wanted to argue something: "But you are not a hostage, Thales."

"No matter what others think..."

"At least in my eyes, you are not."

She seemed to have remembered something, and then lowered her head, with unspeakable discomfort in her voice: "I'm sorry, Thales."

At that moment, Thales' mood, which had been depressed since the political meeting, suddenly fluctuated slightly.

Like a mountain climber in the winter snow, he welcomes a beam of sunshine after climbing over the top of the slope.

At least she understands.

She believes me.

as always.

"Apologise to me for protecting me," Thales took a deep breath, feeling that the air today was particularly refreshing: "I can't accept this apology."
To be continued...