For some reason, the deep dark prison under the Prison of Bones suddenly appeared in front of Thales' eyes.

The young man closed his eyes and opened them again.

"You mean, when even my closest and most trusted guards betrayed me and abandoned the Lord?"

For a moment, the air on the training ground seemed to be still, and all the guards on duty were stunned.

Mallos was quiet for a second.

"I didn't say that."

But Thales ignored him.

"Then you can?"

The Duke looked directly at the captain of the guard above his head:

"Maybe it's for a better, higher reason..."

"betray me?"

Fraten on the side glanced at Mallos subconsciously.

This is not easy to say.

But Mallos just looked at the prince steadily and said nothing for several seconds.

Maybe it was autumn, or maybe the temperature at the training ground was not high at night. Lying on the ground, Thales only felt a slight chill on his back.

"It's time for you to take a shower."

Mallos' voice was still calm and calm:

"Go to bed early."

"After all, your welcome banquet will begin in fifteen hours."

"I hope tonight helps you feel less nervous."

Yes, welcome party.

Damn party.

Thales sighed and hit the back of his head on the ground again.

The guards who were on duty began to pack their bags.

In the distance, a listless figure limped closer, and another strong figure followed behind him.

"Is this the end for you?"

A tired-looking Doyle came to Mallos, followed by Glover, who was expressionless as usual:

"At least give me a chance to get close to the prince, otherwise tomorrow my dad will..."

Mallos didn't even look at him, but just walked forward:

"how's it going?"

Doyle looked at Marius with longing:

"Don't worry, these days I've been in the kitchen, in the warehouse, in the haunted rooms of Mindis Hall that have been piled with dust for hundreds of years, following Stowe, not taking my eyes off him, not leaving for a moment, and even following a group of maids - ahem -

—The servants have established a good relationship and clarified the situation..."

"At least no one can poison the prince and his distinguished guests at tomorrow's banquet - of course, I don't know about aphrodisiacs."

Mallos chuckled and ignored Doyle's euphemistic complaint.

"We have already coordinated with colleagues from the Security Department, the Royal Standing Army, and the Guards at Fuxing Palace. There is no problem with the arrangement of personnel and positions, even after His Majesty leaves," Glover, who was behind Doyle, said coldly:

"No one can threaten him, let alone assassinate him."

Mallos was silent for a while.

"Poison? Assassination?"

The watchman turned around and looked at Thales, who was lying on the ground looking at the stars in the distance, his eyes fixed:

"That's the least of my worries."

————

Today is October 30th, which is the "Holy Chasing Day" commemorating the first defeat of the orcs in human history.

It is said that in this traditional festival, people all over the world celebrate from Jingbi Island to Devil's Sea, from Sighing Mountain to Flame Sea.

Thales still remembers that this is what the beggars call "Fat Sheep Day" - on this day, citizens all over the street celebrate and parade noisily, regardless of the location of their wallets, which is the cutest thing.

Unfortunately, for Prince Thales, today is no longer "Fat Sheep Day", but a welcome banquet for his damn return home.

Growing up, Thales only attended one banquet.

And the experience of that time obviously cannot be used as a reference - the dignified Duke of Xinghu cannot roll up his sleeves, pick up a wine glass, and yell at the guests in the Mindis Hall, "Eat! Drink! Fight! Have sex! Do whatever you want!" right?

But it has to be said that it was not until the next afternoon, when Thales, as the host of the banquet, stood under the statue of the Three Kings of the Stars to greet the guests that he realized how difficult this job was.

"Look at you, what a man you are."

The Viscount Patterson in front of him had an old face and an even older body. He was supported by his two nephews and came to the banquet with cloudy eyes, but his status was important and he belonged to the kind of VIPs that Thales needed to welcome in person - he ruled the Forbidden City.

The Deburg area is an important eastern strategic point of the Central Territory, and I am a direct vassal of the royal family.

Ranked among the Seven Shining Stars.

Among all the heavyweight guests, he was the first one and arrived early. This made Thales, who was getting dressed in the lounge and reciting the banquet procedures and various etiquettes, in a hurry. He had to disrupt the arrangement and hurried out to greet him.

.

I saw Viscount Patterson tremblingly but unceremoniously pushing away the two nephews who were supporting him, leaning forward, and firmly holding Thales' arm.

"I still remember...eighteen years ago, I was sitting in the Hall of Stars...watching your father being crowned king."

"Now..." the old Viscount gasped.

Glover and Doyle stood nervously to the left and right of the prince, with their knees slightly bent and their bodies leaning forward, as if they were ready to fly out at any time.

But Thales felt that this was not to protect him, but because he was afraid that the old man, who could hardly even speak, would fall to the ground and die suddenly.

"The prince held a banquet and was ruthless, and while talking and laughing, the old minister was reduced to ashes" - it is better to have less news like this.

Thales maintained a smile, followed Professor Jinnie's standard royal etiquette, and maintained his demeanor without losing intimacy. He gently held the old Viscount's chicken-skin-like palm, paying attention to the other person's balance at all times, and asked him about his health warmly.

(The Viscount was somewhat deaf, and his nephew had to repeat the prince's words loudly in his ears several times).

Just like a standard Duke of Star Lake should do.

"My body knows it, Your Highness, it won't last more than a few years."

"But it doesn't matter." At that moment, a glimmer of light flashed in Viscount Patterson's cloudy eyes:

"Because... years fly by, but the stars remain the same."

Thales felt his palms tighten, and saw Viscount Patterson leaning down, and with great effort, he pressed his chin heavily against the prince's gloves:

"The kingdom is young."

With chicken skin and white hair, he gasped and gritted his teeth:
Chapter completed!