Obviously, as the captain of Duke Starlake's personal guard, Marios was not happy to see Tails open the door on the first day of his new housewarming.

But under the watchful eye of countless bureaucrats, servants, and guards, the insistence of the Second Prince, and the pressure of Young Master Karabiyan's more or less background, Cohen was politely invited into the waiting room that had just been put in order—of course, before that, Lord Marios, the captain of the Duke's personal guard and the watchman, did not forget to remind his master:

The other party is the heir of the Kalabyan family.

And today is the first day of the prince's return to the royal capital.

This necessarily means something.

Listening to such a reminder, Tails could only smile numbly.

And then, as always, tense the nerves.

Face to face ...... in the living room

"I knew that I would not have a bad memory when I told them the prince, and that he would remember me, and that he would not forget the battle together...... Sure enough......"

"I have written to your Highness for the past few years, but I don't know why, you have never replied to me...... Until one time I met the Cassel Boy who had returned home, and he told me that the Meteorite had intercepted most of the letters written to you, damn it......"

Tails sat on the main seat, looking at the chattering Cohen, scanning the familiar living room, trying to suppress the emotion in his heart.

Back then, I was here......

Cohen paused, he looked at the distracted Tails, raised his palm from his stomach to his chest, and said in surprise:

"Eh, you've grown taller?"

Grew taller.

Tails looked at the chair he was sitting in and remembered six years ago.

Maybe.

At that time, when I sat here, my feet couldn't touch the ground.

Tails was silent for a long time.

Jiude Cohen was a little overwhelmed, and subconsciously sat up straight in his chair.

"Yes. ”

Tails finally spoke up, with a faint smile and a meaningful meaning:

"I've grown taller. ”

But Cohen restrained his smile.

He looked at the open door.

There, Marlos was standing in the doorway with his arms crossed, smiling at his two subordinates, occasionally glancing at the meeting in the hall.

The vigilante officer is cautious:

"Am I ...... Wrong time?"

Tails turned his gaze.

Cohen scratched his head:

"They don't look very happy, especially the leader, whoa, the ...... with a smirk on his face"

Outside the open door, a maid was about to bring refreshments to the Duke and his guests, but was stopped by Marlos smiling and raising his hand.

Not very "happy".

Of course.

Tails thought faintly.

Although the company was not long, from the moment he walked out of the council room......

Obviously, even Cohen felt something.

Thinking of this, thinking of Marlors's words, Tails forced himself to smile:

"That's Marios. ”

"Tormond Marios. ”

"The watchman of the royal guard. ”

"I see," Cohen said with a look of awe-inspiring awe.

"It's the famous Marios. ”

Marlos

Well, that name does sound familiar......

Cohen wrestled with his memories.

Where did you hear that?

Tyers adjusted his mood and said with a smile:

"Don't worry, he's just strict, after all, it's my first day back, and Marios is the captain of my personal guard. ”

Cohen quickly threw the last name he couldn't remember behind him.

"Captain of the Guard, wow, Your Highness," Cohen looked surprised, looking back and forth at the layout of the living room:

"It's a lot more upgraded than the Northland, isn't it? ”

The vigilant officer looked around excitedly and curiously:

"I was only brought here once by an old man when I was very young...... He said it was a great place and it meant a lot. ”

Cohen patted his chair with delight:

"Maybe I've had a lot of big people in my seat. ”

"Yes, six years ago," Tails said nostalgically:

"The Black Prophet sat in your chair. ”

Cohen, who was in high spirits, was born.

Tails smiled slightly, remembering the tense meeting back then.

I wonder how I will react now, when I face Morat Hansen again six years later?

The prince unconsciously clenched his fists.

The Black Prophet of six years ago seemed mysterious and terrifying to his impression, and it was creepy.

But six years later, he knew that the other party wasn't that scary, was it?

At least...... The Black Prophet was also beaten by someone.

In front of him, Cohen moved in parallel and quietly changed seats:

"You may not believe it, but the old man brought me here this time......"

"He was summoned by the crown prince, and I suddenly had an urgent need to urinate, but the servant who took me was gone, and then I couldn't find a place, and suddenly I found a vase in the corridor......"

"Ahem!"

Doyle, who was coughing loudly, walked up with refreshments, just in time to interrupt Cohen's unconscious narration.

"Cohen," Doyle said in a normal tone, but glared at the guest from an angle that Tails couldn't see:

"This is His Highness's palace, and thanks to His Highness's generosity, you will be the first to visit here. ”

"Pay attention to your manners. ”

Cohen snorted, unconcerned, "I know the prince very well", and watched Doyle leave, as he protested and took a sip of his teacup.

In the next second, the vigilant officer's face changed, and he squirted back into the teacup again.

"Ahh......h Swing, swing, swing to death...... Ride, ride deliberately ......"

Cohen stuck out his scalded tongue and fanned the wind in embarrassment.

Tails watched Cohen and Doyle interact in amazement, and picked up his teacup and tried it.

Well, the temperature is just right.

In Cohen's disgruntled gaze, Tails broke the embarrassment with a cough:

"So, you've known Doyle for a long time?"

"Hah, ha...... Damn it...... Many, many...... Oh, you mean D.D!"

Cohen easily smoothed out his tongue:

"He's my ...... Well, that ......"

Cohen's tone was a little uncertain: "The grandson of some uncle's brother-in-law?"

"Well, probably. ”

The grandson of the brother-in-law of the uncle's grandfather.

It's a shame he remembers.

Tails looked at Cohen's bright blonde hair and Doyle's dark blonde hair, and suddenly found himself in a better mood.

At least, the depression brought out from the Fuxing Palace is no longer like a black cloud, which makes it difficult to breathe.

"But you'd better play with him less, Your Highness," Cohen's face changed, and he leaned over to Tails and whispered into Doyle's back, "That guy is a ......"

"Dude brother. ”

All right.

Tails had a strange face, but the corners of his mouth were curled unconsciously.

From the point of view of making small reports......

You are indeed relatives.

"So...... Where's the boy from the Cassels? The one with the single-edged sword?"

Cohen didn't pay attention to this little episode, he straightened up, looking for the figure in his impression:

"And that smoking uncle who is very good at conspiracy?"

Scratching his chin, Cohen recalled:

"Including that fanning mute ......"

Cohen paused for a moment and said suspiciously, "Wait, the dumb isn't here, right?"

Wyah Cassel.

Putile Niemann.

Midila Rolf.

Tails was slightly distracted.

"They're still working on my legacy in the Northland, but will be back soon. ”

The prince quickly came to his senses and answered seamlessly.

Cohen breathed a sigh of relief and touched his throat vigilantly.

Well, that dumb man, it's better not to meet him.

Looking at Cohen's expression, and then looking at the strange and familiar environment, Tails found that he missed the old people more and more.

"Unthinkable, Your Highness!"

Just a few seconds later, Cohen was rejuvenated and excited:

"Six years ago, we were still in the north, fighting and killing together......"

The Warden's enthusiasm for the prince made the latter a little overwhelmed:

"But...... Look at this place again, Your Highness, you are now a Duke! Duke of Star Lake!"

Cohen took a deep breath, his face beaming, as if he remembered something to exhale and raise his eyebrows:

"Even my old man is going to salute you!"

But you didn't salute.

Tails rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"So, why the Mindis Hall?"

Cohen patted the chair with undiminished interest:

"You're underage...... Why not the Fuxing Palace?"

Tails was about to answer, but stopped talking.

He glanced at the royal guards outside the door.

"I ...... Poor health and more afraid of cold," Tails remembered the story of the 'fog king' who went out of the palace to recuperate, and said with a smile:

"My father let me live here. ”

Tails was a little distracted.

He suddenly found that compared to six years ago......

He couldn't treat his friends like that without any reservations.

"Afraid of the cold?"

Cohen looked at him in amazement:

"But you've been in the North for six years!"

Telvin reluctantly smiled:

"Perhaps, that's why they sent me back. ”

"Prevent me from dying of frostbite in the Northlands. ”

Cohen froze.

His face was full of suspicion, and he looked back at the prince in front of him.

A second later.

"Ahh

Cohen suddenly reacted as if he had an idea, and his smile reopened:

"Your Highness, you're really joking!"

"Afraid of the cold, you are the hero who bravely entered Valhalla and saved Longxiao City!"

Tails could only smile in return.

"But you can't fool me. ”

Speaking of this, the vigilant officer's eyes lit up:

"So, how did you get back from the Northlands?"

Tails smiled stiffly.

Again, it's a difficult question to answer.

"Although the announcement says that the Kingdom of Exeter has sent you back, there is also a letter from their king greeting His Majesty......"

Cohen thought for a moment, and a shrewd glint flashed in his eyes:

"But I'm a man who fought in both the Northland and the West, and I know it well, so I know ...... thing."

Cohen smiled mysteriously:

"It's definitely not that simple. ”

Tails a rin.

But unexpectedly, Cohen looked confident and had no intention of questioning him.

"I know," the vigilante snapped his fingers in a good manner.

"This year, whether it's the war in the Freedom League, or the civil strife in the Black Sand Territory, or whatever, it's just a symptom of what happened. ”

Looking at Cohen in front of him, Tails was a little surprised.

What he meant......

"And the truth is that people with intentions have already planned everything in secret......"

Cohen waved his hand, with a "I know everything, don't pretend" expression on his face:

"Only for your safe return!"

At that moment, Tails was startled.

What the?

Cohen?

When will he ......

Was it Myco, Raphael told him?

"Hehe, not only that, but I also know that the person who has a heart ......"

I saw a shrewd look on the guard officer:

"And the mastermind of it all......"

Tails looked at each other slightly nervously.

I have to say that Cohen in front of him gave him an unfathomable and impressive feeling.

Cohen stood up abruptly and said proudly:

“...... It's Your Highness!"

The whole living room fell silent.

Only Cohen's voice lingered in the living room.

And the guard officer maintained a handsome posture to identify the murderer, sassy and chic.

At the top of his fingers, Tails froze in place.

Outside the door, Doyle looked curiously and was forced back by a smile from Marios.

After a few seconds, the recovered Tails struggled to open his mouth:

"Huh?"

However, Cohen changed his pace as if he had rehearsed in advance, withdrew his right hand and waved his right arm, and put it in his chest: "I know you too well, Your Highness!"

"I know that a witty man like you is the initiator of all schemes!"

Cohen was excited:

"Just like six years ago......"

"This time, it was also you who strategized in the middle, and successfully provoked the infighting between Longxiao City and the Black Sand Collar through the Freedom Alliance and the Black Sand Vassals......"

Tails' eyebrows began to twitch.

"At the moment when the two major forces are fighting each other and have no time to take care of it, you have successfully escaped and returned home safely!"

"It also severely weakens the strength of the Exeter Kingdom!"

Cohen's posture is undiminished.

He knew that at this moment, his eyes were shining with wisdom.

Waiting for the response of the person in front of him.

In front of Cohen's expectant eyes, Tails squeezed his eyebrows as hard as he could.

"Uh, bad, almost. ”

Affirmed, Cohen's eyes lit up!

"Those Northerners," said the vigilante with great amusement:

"You must have taught them a hard lesson, didn't you?"

Tails took a deep breath:

"Well, too...... Pretty much. ”

Cohen became more and more excited:

"That's why you, who have contributed to the country, will be made a duke as soon as you come back!"

Hearing this, Tails replied numbly:

"Poor, bad, almost. ”

Hearing the prince's acknowledgment, Cohen withdrew his arms and clenched his fists fiercely!

Yes!

Unaware of Tails' complicated expression at the moment.

"Hehe, what's the matter, I've been making up for politics for the past few years since I learned a lesson six years ago," the vigilante officer narrowed his eyes and folded his arms, looking very knowledgeable:

"My resourcefulness has also improved!"

Tails silently looked at Cohen, who was full of spring breeze.

"Hmm," Tails smiled awkwardly after a few seconds:

"Yes, yes. ”

Cohen smiled like a squirrel finding a pine cone.

"So, how have the Northlanders treated you all these years?"

Tails had not yet recovered from Cohen's "outwitted" blow, and he sighed.

"Well, how do you say it......"

But Cohen, who was full of self-confidence, interrupted him with a wave of his hand.

"Oh, I understand. ”

Cohen looked up with a look of empathy:

"At the end of the tower, my teacher was a Northlander, and Miranda was technically a Northlander...... They, hey, hey......"

Cohen seemed to remember something, and shuddered.

The vigilant officer's expression of disgust was halfway done, and he suddenly turned his head and narrowed his eyes at Tails:

"You know?"

Tails looked at him stunned:

"Uh, I'm ...... That ......"

Faced with Cohen's expectant and longing eyes, the prince could only smile with all his might:

"Well, yes, yes. ”

"Look!"

Cohen slapped his thigh excitedly:

"I knew you understood!"

Tails struggled to suppress the twitching of the corners of his mouth.

Cohen sighed.

"It's a pity that no one else understands. ”

But then he perked up, and looked eagerly at His Royal Highness the Prince, who was confused, as if he were looking at his own brother:

"But it's okay, we just understand!"

Tails had to giggle and nod his head after Cohen, suppressing the terrible question:

What do you know?

In this fruitful conversation, His Excellency Duke Xinghu felt for the first time that his IQ level was slightly insufficient.

While Tails was basking in the sadness of his impaired IQ, Cohen suddenly got up and slapped his thigh.

"Alright, it's time for me to go. ”

Tails was stunned.

"Now?"

I saw the vigilant officer smile and said:

"Your Highness, take care!"

Tails looked at Cohen, who had a happy face, and wondered:

"This ...... Is that the end of it?"

Cohen blinked, as if he didn't quite understand:

"That's right. ”

Tails was stunned for a few seconds, and then said:

"You...... You don't have anything else to do?"

"Yes," Cohen rolled his eyes, and his mood fell:

"I have to go to the hall to sign in in the afternoon, otherwise the director of the hall will deduct ...... again"

Wait a minute.

That's it?

As the heir of one of the Thirteen Noble Clans......

On the first day of the second prince's return to the royal capital......

No temptation, no co-optation, no purpose, no curry-tuning, no coercion, no conspiracy?

There is no ...... as Marhros reminds us of Everything, everything?

The Duke looked at Cohen with a dejected face in front of him.

For the first time since returning to the stars, Tails felt a little unaccustomed.

Tails came back to his senses and shook his head:

"No, I mean ......"

The prince hesitated, and looked at Cohen with a solemn look in his eyes.

"How's your father?"

Tails still spoke, with a hint of discomfort and apology:

"Vola's ...... Lord Count Karabiyan?"

Cohen was also stunned:

"Him?"

"I don't know, but it should be fine...... I haven't written to him for a long time. ”

The young duke was a little surprised:

"But...... You're here today just to spend a few minutes...... Make small talk to me?"

Cohen paused for a moment and pondered.

After a few seconds, he shrugged his shoulders in fruitless thought:

"yes, I'm here to see you. ”

The vigilante touched his head, looking confused.

"Or else?"

Now, it was Tails' turn to be stunned.

At that moment, the Wings of Legends, Nobu of the Myco, the Duke of the Western Wilderness, Dele Cromar, the Earl of the Black Lion, the Watchman Marios, Gilbert, and the Captain of the Guard Adrian...... Since returning home, the faces of many people have flashed in Tails' mind.

But......

They compare themselves to the people in front of them......

Tails looked at Cohen, who was stupid in front of him, with mixed feelings.

The big guard officer looked at him in the same bewilderment, blinking.

After a long time, the duke, who had been touched a lot, came back to his senses and took a deep breath.

"Cohen. ”

"You're the firstborn, aren't you?"

"The Karabi Young Family of the Twin Towers Longsword?"

The moment he heard the "eldest son", Cohen was like a frosted eggplant, and his whole body wilted.

"Yes?"

Cohen is listless.

Tails silently looked at the young master of the Karabiyan family in front of him, the rightful heir of the Vola Lord.

"So after you graduated from the Termination Tower, you went directly to the Western Wilderness?

The vigilant officer raised his hand:

"Yes. ”

"Your father didn't stop you?" Tails gently rubbed the teacup in his hand:

"You know, you are the heir to the family domain and title......"

"Oh, speaking of ......"

Cohen struggled to brace himself and face these things that were giving him headaches.

"My old man, he ...... Wait, how do you know that I served in the Western Wilderness and went to the 'Thunder Crow'?"

The vigilante looked at him suspiciously.

However, Tails' face did not change:

"Everybody knows. ”

Cohen thought about it seriously, and then suddenly realized:

"Yes, everybody knows. ”

"As for my father, of course, he stopped it, he didn't want me to join the army, nor did he want me to go to the Western Wilderness, I mean," Cohen replied thoughtfully, but his tone gradually dimmed:

At least he tried to stop it. ”

Tails stared deeply at Cohen.

For the first time, he felt that he saw something different in this big man.

"But you went anyway. ”

The prince said silently.

Cohen exhaled slowly:

"I went anyway. ”

The living room was silent for a while, as if it took time for both sides to digest these few words.

"Didn't he put pressure on you after that?"

Tails looked at the reflection in the teacup and asked in a daze:

"Forcing you to go back and make a ...... A qualified heir?"

Cohen was slightly shocked, as if he remembered some bad memories.

But he still smiled:

"Absolutely. ”

"You can't imagine. ”

Cohen's words ended with a hint of imperceptible regret:

"The way he forced me to leave the army ......"

He didn't say any more.

"But you're still here," Tails said lightly, "in the royal capital?"

"yes. ”

The vigilant officer was also slightly distracted,

"At least in the royal capital, the old man doesn't dare to mess around," Cohen sighed, and his words were helpless:

"If I leave the royal capital, I suspect he will send a large army to tie me up...... Ahem......"

Cohen shrugged his shoulders and showed his usual smile.

Cheerful as always.

Tails looked at him silently.

He was laughing.

The prince told himself.

Cohen.

At that moment, Tails suddenly felt:

It turns out that he is not alone.

There was silence between the two for a while.

In the distance, there was a soft knock on the door from Marios.

It's time to meet guests.

"Cohen. ”

Tails put down the teacup in his hand and slowly raised his head.

"Thank you......"

The prince let out his gentlest smile, but also the most sincere, of the day:

"Nice to meet you. ”

Cohen raised his eyebrows:

"yes, I'm ...... too"

But the vigilante officer was interrupted.

I saw Tails say to himself:

“...... You can see old faces. ”

"That's good. ”

Tails' expression was indifferent, and his words were profound.

As the words fell, Cohen's face changed.

He looked at the prince in a daze, puzzled.

"What's wrong?" Tails laughed.

Cohen's eyes narrowed, as if he wanted to take a closer look at the owner of the Mindish Hall:

"You're different. ”

Tails laughed dumbly:

"yes, you think so, too?"

Cohen nodded thoughtfully.

"Yes, you became, you be......came, you became"

He scanned the Duke of Star Lake in front of him.

In the end, Cohen, who couldn't think of adjectives for a long time, could only hold back one sentence in the end:

"Change...... It's big. ”

Tails chuckled.

Looking at the prince's smile in front of him, Cohen frowned.

He twisted his head, remembering the child who was in the tunnel, caught under his armpit.

Well, it's still cuter when I was a kid.

Tails' heart moved, and he remembered something.

"By the way, do you remember Rolf?"

Cohen's thoughts were confused, and he said blankly:

"Luo what?"

"My man, the masked ......"

"You mean......" Cohen pondered for a moment, then said suddenly:

“...... Dumb!"

Looking at Cohen's happy expression, Tails sighed:

This may be a bad idea.

But......

"Cohen. ”

Tailston paused, but still looked up.

This time, the prince's expression was extremely serious.

"I ...... I'd like to ask you a little favor. ”

"Privately. ”