Thales stood awkwardly by the desk on the third floor and picked up a towel soaked in hot water from the tub.

He was still wearing sweat-stained and smelly training clothes, his skin was sticky and greasy, the scrapes and bruises were still faintly hot, and his body was still sore, making him very uncomfortable.

It's like I'm back in the days of beggars.

But Thales didn't speak.

He just wiped his face and neck quietly, with a little anticipation and nervousness, and from time to time looked at the sassy figure by the window with his arms folded and looking into the distance.

Jinni silently looked at the setting sun on the horizon, watching the servants in the courtyard busy lighting lamps, the expression on their side faces was calm and deep, thoughtful and reminiscing.

"You shouldn't have let them do that."

Jinni's voice was cold and powerful, with a hint of weathered determination.

Thales' arm, which was twisting the towel, suddenly stiffened.

"Just now, you shouldn't have let the guards be so presumptuous."

The palace lady slowly turned around, as tall and strong as she was six years ago, like a cedar in winter.

"Boy."

Her eyes were as sharp as before, and her tone was as stern as before, reminding Thales of their first meeting six years ago.

At that time, she folded her arms like this, looking at him quietly with an incomprehensible expression.

Six years later, Thales subconsciously wanted to turn his head to avoid the scrutiny from the enlightenment instructor.

"Maybe."

He said in a low voice, with a little helplessness and a slight fluctuation.

Thales picked up the towel in time, covered his sight, and pressed his dirty face and uncontrollable expression into the warm and soft fabric at the same time.

Jinni said nothing.

He put down the towel, tried to meet Jinni's eyes calmly, and tried to release his most natural and warm smile:

"Madam, nice...to see you again."

After six years.

Jinni did not answer immediately. She still stared at Thales silently, and her originally cold and stern eyes had a hint of indescribable meaning.

"very good."

A few seconds later, when the palace lady looked away, she took a deep breath, as if she wanted to restrain herself.

"Then, your etiquette class begins now."

Jinni's tone returned to calmness and strictness, and she walked away from the window.

Thales came back to his senses, and with the usual nervousness in front of the enlightenment instructor, he suppressed his physical fatigue and quickly threw down the towel.

"No need," Jinni stopped him from taking away the tub:

"Today, we will not be practicing table manners."

table manners.

Memories of the past came to Thales' mind, and he suppressed them forcefully.

The female officer sat down on the reception chair, ignoring the refreshments at hand, and glanced at Thales, who was looking a little embarrassed after training, with a soft look:

"The first class won't be very long either."

"And you obviously need to rest more now."

Thales was stunned for a few seconds, then nodded gratefully:

"Thank you, ma'am."

But Ji Ni’s expression immediately turned serious:

"Don't be too busy rejoicing. We will make up for the lost time in the next class."

At that moment, Thales seemed to have returned to six years ago, when he saw the strict and cold-hearted female officer Jinnie in the training ground and at the dinner table. She asked him to raise his shield and hold his knife and fork with a cold face.

The familiar feeling came to my mind again and I couldn't suppress it.

That scene seemed like it happened yesterday.

It's like he never left the country and went north, never returning for many years.

It's like the past six years was just a dream last night and never happened.

But when he woke up this morning, he was still sitting upright under Jin Ni's hands, listening attentively to his instructions.

Thales held back the throbbing in his eyes and chest, nodded, recalled the etiquette unique to the Kingdom of Stars, and sat down solemnly.

Jinni kept staring at him until Thales adjusted his state.

"In the imperial era thousands of years ago, the Supreme Emperor sent his personal guards to the princes to serve as knights."

Jinni went straight to the topic as always, but her eyes were still looking up and down Thales.

"After the End War, although the old tradition of knights was almost extinct, this practice was inherited by the star kings of the past generations: the royal guards were stationed beside adult princes - becoming their guards, attendants, and subordinates

, help, and even future vassals.”

Thales did not expect that Jinni would start talking about history as soon as she opened her mouth, but the young man immediately woke up:

She was not satisfied with her performance just now.

"And how to manage and use these subordinates with extraordinary significance and complex backgrounds to get along harmoniously with the royal guards and get along with each other."

"This is a required course for every prince throughout the ages."

A subordinate with extraordinary significance and complex background...

Thales lightly clenched his fist.

He thought of Marius's indifference, Doyle's frivolity, and Glover's coldness in Mindis Hall.

But the next second, he remembered Sak'el's silence under the Bone Cage, Barney's persistence, and Samir's extreme.

"Without a doubt," Jinni's words became more solemn:

"This is also part of royal etiquette."

Thales listened silently.

The palace lady's eyes were like daggers, slicing open Thales's heart:

"Remember, you are the Duke of Star Lake and the owner of Mindis Hall."

"He is their master."

Duke of Star Lake.

Mindis Hall’s...

Their……

Owner.

The young man's eyes flashed slightly.

"You are no longer an illegitimate son who needs to hide from others, but you are the official second prince and the heir to the kingdom."

Jinni's words were harsh.

illegitimate child.

The second prince.

Heir to the Kingdom.

"Is it?"

Thales spoke as if unintentionally, causing Jinni to choke on her words.

"That's right."

A few seconds later, Jinni's voice became much stronger, sounding a little dissatisfied with his reaction:

"As a Duke, you have to take the initiative and show them your majesty, toughness and severity."

"Let your subordinates know the consequences of disrespecting the prince."

Take the initiative…

Show your majesty...

"August, tough and stern?"

Thales murmured and repeated, forcing a smile.

The Duke exhaled slowly, and what he saw in front of him was the dark and deep Fuxing Palace.

And in the meeting hall, at the end of the deep corridor, is the high throne.

His shoulders relaxed.
To be continued...