At night, the lights are dim.

Two shadows facing each other silently were projected on the stone floor and extended between the walls, dark and cold.

 It’s bottomless.

 “That’s for me, Your Majesty.”

 The prince snorted softly and focused his attention on the spoon in his hand:

 “Please, please be in good health and live a long life.”

 King Kessel’s eyes twinkled.

“At least once the play is over, don’t give up on me halfway and leave me alone on the stage, unable to argue.”

 At that moment, Thales looked at King Kessel, but thought of King Nun.

 And his head rolled into a pool of blood.

“Believe me, it’s like taking a final call alone,” Thales sighed with lingering fear:

 “Not so pleasant.”

 Kessel did not reply.

 Perhaps it’s late at night and the lights indoors have become softer.

The light and shadow between the two people are no longer as sharp as sword blades, and they are clearly distinct.

Rather, it is an integrated whole, with light and darkness complementing each other.

"you know."

　　King Kessel suddenly said: "You could have done otherwise."

  Thales’ eyes moved.

“Keep to yourself, walk by the rules, don’t show any gestures, don’t stir up any muddy waters, and don’t act impulsively or behave as horribly as you did at the banquet and today.”

“Then you wear the nine-star crown and rule the entire kingdom...”

 The Iron Fist King said softly:

 “It’s just a matter of time.”

 Nine-star crown.

Tales took a breath.

This word seemed to have magic power, seeping out of the air, seeping into Thales' brain, and turning into an ever-growing thought.

 “When that time comes, the whole stars will be ruled by you.”

 The whole star is ruled by you...

The king's voice was long and deep, carrying an indescribable meaning.

 The young man clenched the spoon in his hand.

 “It’s too late,” Thales shook his head and drove away the unwanted thoughts:

“I broke into the palace blatantly, just for everyone to see. Now it’s too late to go back and show family harmony, fatherly kindness and filial piety.”

The king didn’t care:

"that's not important……"

Thales shook his head: "No, besides, what if the kingdom falls into trouble before I am crowned..."

 But the voice of the Iron-fisted King overshadowed him:

"that's not important!"

Kessel V leaned forward, imposing:

“The important thing is that you no longer have any constraints and have nothing to worry about.”

"You can overthrow the old system and put things in order, put all the responsibilities on the iron-fisted king, use my mistakes to consolidate your rule, and use my tyranny to set off your kindness, just like the 'Wise King' after the 'Red King'

."

 Thales found that his breathing was speeding up.

 “Then, piece the kingdom together the way you want it to be.”

The king’s words are seductive:

“Where the stars go, it all depends on your thoughts.”

 “Do whatever you want, do whatever you want.”

 No more constraints, no worries...

 Let Er Shiwei...

 Tales swallowed his throat.

In a daze, he once again saw the familiar yet unfamiliar back of the young man wearing a crown, facing the majestic palace wall alone.

 But this time, the young man stood behind King Kessel, his robes were luxurious and his bearing was extraordinary.

He looked down at all the living beings in the capital outside the window like he was examining a chessboard, with a calm posture and an indifferent expression.

 Tales felt suffocated.

"But, but..." He started to speak, but struggled to speak.

In the dead silence, King Kessel’s voice faintly reached my ears:

 “My mother said this when I was a child.”

“Only in two places can the blood of the Emperor’s veins be as brilliant as gold and have endless majesty.”

 It is as brilliant as gilded gold, and its majesty is endless.

 King Kessel slowly raised his head and looked at the portraits of famous ministers in the Ballard Room:

 “Legend.”

The light is dim, but the historical figures in the portraits are still alive, looking at them with burning eyes.

　　Never fades.

 Never move.

 Tales pursed his lips.

The Iron Fist King lowered his head and knocked on his seat in a daze:

 “Throne.”

The night wind blew past the window sill, and the eternal lamp flames in the room trembled and tilted in the same direction.

  neat and uniform.

Without exception.

 Taylors held his breath.

“Four hundred and fifty years ago, the ‘alien’ that questioned the church’s scriptures became a legend.”

 “The king who ascends high will reign among the stars and dwell on the throne.”

 In the cold wind, the king and Thales looked at each other and spoke indifferently:

 “Which one do you want to choose?”

 “I, I understand, Your Highness.”

 Gilbert just closed his eyes gently, but this action seemed to use up all his strength.

  Thales frowned:

“Really? Do you understand?”

 Gilbert let out a long sigh.

"Yes."

 When he opened his eyes again, he seemed to have aged many years:

“Whether it was at the royal banquet or the subsequent raids on the Mindis Hall, you were young and energetic, and you were naturally unhappy when you were wronged.”

 Young and energetic, feeling wronged and unhappy.

Thales listened silently, clenching his fists unconsciously.

 This is what Gilbert meant by his actions today?

 Gilbert tried his best to smile:

"Obviously, during the six years in Longxiao City, you have become accustomed to the way Northlanders get along, so when you entered the palace, you were so... Ha, I know, I met King Nuen for the first time.

, he almost forced me to jump from the top of the fortress...Northlanders, the way they express their opinions is always, um, impressive."

Tales did not speak.

But the Foreign Secretary only looked at him kindly and kindly, seeming to tolerate all his audacity.

"Gilbert," the prince said calmly, "this morning, I was able to attend the royal meeting with dignity despite causing great trouble."

 “Listen to my father, is it because of your advice and persistence?”

Gilbert was startled, then smiled with emotion:

“You know, when I woke up this morning, I thought nothing could be worse than a hangover until I heard the news that you had stepped up to the plate at the royal banquet last night.”

 He sighed:

“Your Highness, I just think that if there is any misunderstanding between you and His Majesty, there is no better way than to clarify it face to face.”
To be continued...