The sun is setting.

Although the banquet had not yet begun, the early arrival of the two dukes made the atmosphere of the banquet hall lively.

Outside the hall, the logistics officer, Shi Tuo, and the head of the Mindis hall counted the carriages and gifts over the list, arguing back and forth with the coachmen and waiters with various accents.

In the hall, the attendants who came with the guests came and went, and from time to time quarreled with the servants in the hall because of the needs of the master and their requirements.

Gilbert had to arrange for clowns, dancers, and bards to enter early, play music, and serve food and drinks in order to repay (distract) the enthusiasm (attention) of the guests, and it is said that many people who were unable to enter without being invited also hurried to the scene to try their luck on this special day.

Marios skillfully and professionally coordinates in the middle, arranging seats, managing servants, discussing on-site matters with the head of the Fuxing Palace, and dealing with unexpected accidents (such as a low-ranking nobleman bringing six daughters who are not on the list, or rearranging Jorge, who sputters spit and excitedly chatters to everyone "Do you know the famous North Star?" from abroad, to the Veterans Veneer).

Tails could only secretly complain, although as the nominal master of the Mindis Hall, he should sit in the main seat of the hall and wait for the guests, but first, the noble king will also attend today's banquet, and the second prince will sit calmly, and second, Tails has not returned to the country for a long time, and he urgently needs to establish a good first impression.

So after the Seven Servants of the Bright Stars and the two dukes, Tails had to continue to drag a large group of attendants and guards, according to Marlos's arrangement and Gilbert's instructions ("Your Highness come here, Your Highness go there, where is Your Highness...... "- Tails's private grumbling), going back and forth in the Mindish Room, greeting designated important guests, appeasing guests who were disgruntled by their seats, and smiling and returning (certainly hypocritically) greetings on the road (whether sincere or not) in order to show the royal dignity and show the "hospitable, gracious" and decentness of the new Duke of Starlake.

"Your Highness, you have such a nice complexion and look very healthy. ”

Duke Bob Cullen, the East Sea Collar with white hair and a big belly, greeted Tails with a red face supported by two attendants.

Tails coughed:

"Welcome, Prime Minister, and it's a pleasure to see you well. ”

Duke Cullen lived in Yongxing City for three seasons all year round to recuperate, but when I saw him today, he was still rich and simple, and he was still the kingdom tumbler who looked like a good old man in his impression.

No, not really.

Tails glanced down.

At the very least, his belly was bulging even more.

"No, as soon as I learned that you were freed from the cave of those northern barbarians, my ailments were immediately cured. ”

The guardian of the East Sea Collar looked at the portrait of the Three Kings of the Stars and said with a smile:

"God bless the stars, I miss this mansion - when it was still open before, I often came to visit, but I didn't know how to cherish it, but now that I am old and have no chance, I feel nostalgic. ”

Tails smiled, pretending not to understand the Duke's words, and stretched out his hand to accompany him to the banquet hall with a few courtesies.

"You will definitely like my gift, I have brought you a lot of pearls from the shore of Huigang, as well as spices, tea and cloth from the east land, all kinds of good things, definitely better than those produced on the south coast, you know, if you go east, the ocean currents and trade winds are on our side......"

Compared to Jenn's insincerity and Cousin's harshness, Duke Cullen's chatter is probably unique in the kingdom, but it's all correct and good-natured nonsense, and you don't have anything to say to interrupt it.

In the past, Tails might have treated it as a routine official affair and gave it away.

But now......

Tails sighed, and had to force his way into the fat duke's kind and gentle self-talk.

"Just now, Jorge from Elk City wanted to introduce his three daughters to me. ”

Duke Kulun's footsteps paused slightly, and the Sun Sword and Shield family emblem on his body shook slightly.

"Daughter?"

He helped the string of jewels around his waist, but he was overwhelmed and saw the precious belt that was about to be broken by his stomach.

"Three?"

Duke Cullen paused, looked at Tails from head to toe, and sighed deeply:

"It's nice to be young......"

Tails smiled awkwardly.

But the old duke continued, and his tone was full of nostalgia:

"Think about the time when I had three ...... in one night"

"The brothel bustard - ahem, I mean, the hostess of the Leia Club wants to add another one for the sake of identity and tips, but I sternly refused, after all, the sunset has teachings, as aristocrats, we must lead by example, clean ourselves, abstinence and self-denial......"

The old fat man's ability to break the crooked building is probably also a must for the stars.

"Of course, speaking of this, it's still not as good as your father, it is said that he once fought thirty ...... in one night on Hongfang Street."

Tails' face darkened the more he listened.

He hurriedly interrupted:

"No, Elk City doesn't mean that, not three at a time, but ...... at once"

The Duke of the East China Sea still looked at him with a smile.

The prince sighed and gave up his efforts to get darker and darker:

"You don't have anything else to say about this news, about the proposal in Elk City?"

Cullen was stunned for a moment, as if he was thinking seriously.

A second later, it dawned on him.

"Oh!"

"I'm really sorry, my daughters have been married and have children for a long time, and some of them are grandmothers. ”

The Prime Minister's face is full of pity:

"As for the granddaughters, well, I'll go back and count them...... Well, I'll have to take some time to draw a portrait, preferably a full-body portrait, and I'll give you a list when I get back to it...... No matter which one or several ...... you have your eye on"

Tails closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

When he opened his eyes again, the prince unceremoniously interrupted the Duke:

"Exeter's coastline is not short, and the maritime territory borders us. ”

"Among them is Elk City. ”

Duke Cullen stopped his progress.

He patted the squire on the shoulder, who stooped back expertly.

Tails felt relieved.

There is play.

"Whether it is a rebuilt tower or a glacial sea, the former is confined to the sighing mountains, and the latter suffers from the freezing of the coast, and there is a lack of good harbors. ”

"Only the Gadelow family of Elk City, who hold the only two elk ports in their hands, are connected to both inland transportation and hinterland towns, enough to support the ...... of the long-distance fleet."

Tails slowly stated his main point:

"Qualified and capable, set sail to end the sea, and ...... with our stars"

Tails' eyes turned, and his words changed abruptly:

"To be exact, it's to share the huge profits of the Eastern Route with the seven ports of the East China Sea under your command. ”

The Duke of Donghai straightened his waist steadily, and smiled:

"You did well in your geography class?"

Duke Xinghu took a deep breath:

"For a century, Elk City has been constrained by the city's unprecedented strength: they have longed for the support of Valhalla and feared the majesty of the king, and they have always kept a low profile in Exeter. ”

Cullen shook his head:

"Growing up in the Northlands is also good?"

Tails frowned.

Play dumb.

But he didn't have a choice.

He must make the most of today's meeting.

The prince chose to go straight in:

"Today, however, Grand Duke Gadro has taken the initiative to send someone to visit Eternal Star City to attend my banquet. ”

Cullen smiled:

"Come and propose marriage to you as a sign of friendship?"

Tails shook his head.

"They are here, including child's play, most of them are making a gesture and exploring the direction of the wind. ”

Duke Xinghu's eyes flashed:

"Wait for the price to sell. ”

The Duke of Donghai paused for a few seconds.

When the owner of the Sun Sword and Shield spoke again, there were no traces of turbidity and smoothness in his tone, replaced by vigilance and shrewdness.

"Sell at a price...... Whose price is it for?"

Tails took a deep breath and chose the most appropriate wording:

"Lord Duke, you have ruled the East China Sea and managed the Glorious Bay for nearly half a century. ”

"I believe you know the answer better than anyone. ”

"I'm sure you know better than anyone else what Elk City's move today means and what the stakes are. ”

The Duke of Star Lake looked straight at Cullen.

The chubby old duke was silent, and the emotion in his shrewd eyes was uncertain.

After a long time, he slowly spoke:

"When King Nunn died, I didn't see them in such a hurry......"

However, the next moment, Duke Cullen narrowed his eyes and looked sly:

"Therefore, Longxiao City, which has been supplying them with supplies and reselling merchant goods, and backing their sea raids......"

"What's wrong?"

Tails sighed inwardly.

Damn the old fox.

Tails had no choice but to give him the answer with a blank face:

"The Freedom League won. ”

"Rumba...... Probably going to win too. ”

Duke Cullen's big belly straightened, and he made a "aha" expression.

Tails observed the other party's expression and said what he had gained:

"Without Valhalla's strong support, Elk City has returned to the prototype of the Yankees: there is no way to merge, and there is no basis for looting. ”

"What's more: they have no king behind them, and they have no bottom in their hearts. ”

"When the land is congested, the sails of the sea will sink. ”

Cullen frowned deeply.

Before the death of King Nunn, Long Xiaocheng used a wide and tight wrist, sometimes generous, sometimes severe, to let go of the power of profit, limit the benefit of Jiawei, and put the self-righteous Elk City, which relied on the sea and border access, into obedience, and did not dare to make a mistake.

The latter's rule over the Waltons was also full of ambivalence: they coveted the strong support of the king's central government, and they were worried about the independence of their northern ports.

("Hmph, thinking about asking for food with a shy face, but disdainful to reach out and hand over the bowl, how can there be such a good thing in the world!") That goatee is not confident and unwilling, so he is only worthy of sneering at words like 'King of Longxiao City' in the letter, and your grandfather just laughed when he saw it, and then opened more supplies for the weak-hearted Elk City and resold more commercial goods.) —The Regent of Lisbane blurted out the words of the Northland when he explained the history of the Northland to the Grand Duchess)

But now, the reinforcements behind them are not only long gone, but even crumbling.

Tails is categorical:

"Elk City's business at sea will be affected. ”

Duke Cullen did not speak.

But Tails took a step closer and smelled the Duke's exotic spices:

"So, you don't have to show mercy, when Archduke Gadelow is preoccupied with domestic politics and is undecided......"

Tails' heart sank, silently recalling his intentions.

When they hesitated whether they should turn their backs on Longxiao City and switch to King Chaman......

When they waited for the stars to react and make a statement, and waited for the Black Sand Collar to bid for it......

The second prince said decisively:

"Take the initiative, strike first, and ...... the profits of the trade routes that we have lost since the bloody years due to the invincibility of the country and the profits of the trade routes that were divided by the northland fleet."

"All...... Take it back. ”

Duke Cullen blinked his small eyes and looked kind and ignorant.

"Prove to those who have holes in their heads, to those northerners who think they can sail with oars: who should be the boss who ends the sea. ”

Tails' gaze was steadfast.

He didn't know how much power his words had today.

But if you look at even a trace of mercenary and down-to-earth attitude of the East China Sea Territory, then Elk City will soon understand:

Far water does not quench the thirst of the near, and the future is not as good as the present.

Even though the dragon lance is worn out, the heroic spirit is dim......

But the help and support that King Nunn and Longxiao City can give them, no matter how many Chaman Kings and Black Sand Lords there are......

I can't get it back.

"I believe that this is very much in the interests of the East China Sea Territory. ”

Thinking of this, Tails solemnly looked at the Duke of the East China Sea and returned the greeting words to him:

"The opportunity has come, God bless the stars. ”

The voice fell.

The Duke of the East China Sea looked at the Duke of Xinghu in a daze.

Slightly surprised.

It was like meeting Tails for the first time.

After a while, the old duke pressed his waist faintly:

"Tsk, take advantage of his illness and ask him to ...... his life"

"You really hate the Northlanders, don't you?"

I hate the Northlanders.

Tails froze slightly.

He slowed down.

Tails remembered the faces he had faced: first King Nunn, who laughed and led him in, and then King Chaman, who raised his glass to him coldly.

Valhalla Palace has its own ghosts, and several archdukes with prominent status.

and the Meteorite, who severely injured his limbs, dyed several times, and even left him permanently disabled.

Thinking of this, Tails turned his left wrist, which was a little sluggish.

Luckily, he eats with his right hand.

"Hmph, you know, in the past six years, ......"

Tails, who was in an unhappy mood, subconsciously grinded his teeth:

"I kind of hate those guys...... I like to bully the big men of the north. ”

The Duke of the East Sea was silent for a moment.

For some reason, Cullen looked at him with a strange expression.

The Duke also subconsciously glanced at Tails' ass.

After being spotted by Tails with a frown, Cullen coughed awkwardly a few times and withdrew his gaze:

"Understandable, but ......"

"Perhaps, you should tell Your Majesty about this?"

"After all, the Eastern Sea Territory is the throat of the stars, and it concerns the entire kingdom. ”

Tails was in a heavy mood.

He took a deep breath and chuckled:

"Yes, I should. ”

Tails looked at the innocent-looking Duke of the East China Sea:

"But I'm just his son. ”

He said seriously:

"And you are his prime minister. ”

"The lord of Huigang City, and the lord of the entire East China Sea Territory. ”

Duke Cullen was silent for a long time before replying.

But this time, he's no longer the same gag-like, no-nonsense attitude:

"Thank you for the reminder, I'll keep an eye on it. ”

But Duke Donghai's eyes turned:

"But why? Why do you say this?"

In order to......

Serve the Kingdom?

Tails put away this lame reason and sighed in his heart.

"In return. ”

Tails' eyes flashed to the slender figure who stood up in the midst of the crowd's turmoil, desperate to protect the Star Prince.

He brought his thoughts back to the present moment and smiled leisurely at the Duke of the East China Sea:

"Thanks to your awakening at the National Congress and your resolute vote for me, we have where we are today. ”

"That's what I pay off. ”

Duke Cullen pursed his lips.

I woke up to the fact that this was true......

"Be careful, Your Highness. ”

He still looked at Tails with a smile and patted the latter's shoulder, as if looking at his beloved son and nephew, and said intentionally or unintentionally:

"Mindith Hall is not like Fuxing Palace, the carpet here is very new, and every step ...... move"

"It's all slippery. ”

Tails was silent for a moment.

He remembered the little slippery head whose whereabouts were unknown and whose fate was uncertain.

But the next moment, what appeared in front of him was the Eleanor who was leading her stupid son, who still stubbornly walked into the Mindish Hall with a strange gaze.

Tiny iron spikes.

"But that's our family tradition, isn't it?"

Tails came back to his senses and said softly:

"Don't say the carpet is just slippery......"

He lifted his gaze.

"Even if it hides thousands of iron thorns under it......"

Tails smiled:

"I have to keep my face ...... the same way"

"Take it easy. ”

As soon as these words came out, the Duke of Donghai's eyes lit up.

Duke Cullen laughed and raised his hand to let the attendant step forward, but waved his hand and refused to be accompanied by Tails.

"As for their proposals, Your Highness, you must remember that even if it is a northern ......"

Duke Cullen walked away, not caring at all:

"Women are still hurting. ”

Listening to the other party's words, Tails's heart sank.

Small slippery head.

He looked at Duke Cullen's distant back, silently distracted.

Right now......

What can I do for you......

That's all there is to it.

"Wow, so that Northland man said he was going to introduce you to the daughter of the Grand Duke, was he serious?"

Doyle leaned in and put on a cloak for Tails.

Tyers pulled up his cloak, absent-mindedly, and hummed.

D.D pouted:

"Your Highness, you know that there is a saying in the Seven Servants of the Bright Stars: Don't marry a woman from the Northland. ”

Tails walked back slowly, puzzled:

"What's wrong?"

Doyle shrugged:

"It is said that this is how the Barney family of the 'Mustang' fell: back then, the youngest son of the old lady Little Iron Thorn stubbornly wanted to marry a Northland woman, and Little Iron Thorn resolutely opposed it but it was useless. Eventually, they kicked him out of the family tree, but the curse she brought with her still affected the family - look at Barney's now. ”

stubbornly want to marry a Northland woman......

Affected the family......

Look at Barney's now......

Tails was heartbroken for a while, and said unhappily:

"Why don't you look at yourselves?"

Perhaps the prince's tone was too harsh, and Doyle was startled.

Lovover stepped forward quietly, and squeezed Doyle, who wanted to relieve the prince's boredom with a joke, but had a gray nose, behind him.

Could it be ......

Doyle walked behind depressedly.

His Royal Highness has been in the Northland for six years, and he really has a crush on a certain ......

Northland women?

Oh my God, what about the task that Daddy gave me?

You know, as the miser's scrooge and miser's father, this time he promised him a lot of pocket money!

At this moment, there was a low commotion outside the hall door, attracting everyone's attention.

Tails looked at it in shock.

A lonely man, accompanied by a vigilant guard, walked slowly through the hall door.

Although he was dressed in fine clothes, his momentum was extraordinary.

But it is alone, and the twilight is deep.

With the man came the rustling of metal.

In the elegant and luxurious Mindith Room, it is out of place and extremely harsh.

There was a lot of talk among the people who didn't know what was going on, and the nobles who knew a little bit were silent, but they all subconsciously made way for the new guests.

Receiving his return, Marios hurried from the inner hall to see this special guest.

The watchman frowned as he looked at the slowly approaching guest, his gaze focused on the other's hand.

There, locked with a dark-toned ...... with mopping chains

Manacles.

The guest looked up, revealing a thin, vicissitudes of life and a beard that dragged down to his chest.

He stared at the brightly lit and lively Mindis Hall in front of him.

Marlos stepped forward quickly, motioning for the guards to bring him in the door to avoid the myriad of curious glances, while holding down the penistor, Gray Patterson, who was leading the guests in.

"Gray, what's going ......on?"

He wouldn't. Patterson hurriedly replied, also with an annoyed and helpless face:

"It was useless for us to talk about it, and he insisted on attending the dinner in shackles. ”

The penalizer said fiercely:

"And that beard is also ......"

Marios looked at the non-thinking guest, at the headache-inducing shackles, with a solemn expression:

"You're not going to be tough?"

Patterson shook his head in embarrassment:

"Your Majesty has told him that he is going to a banquet and must not have any injuries on his face. ”

"It's hard. ”

Marlos snorted unhappily:

"Find a cloth and cover him, and lead him directly to the seat......

"When the time comes, send him back. ”

Patterson nodded yes, turned to look at the new guest, and had a businesslike attitude:

"Lord Vaal, welcome to the Mindis Hall, please come with me......"

But the silent new guest spoke up at this time:

"While your family was still thriving, Tormond Marios ......"

Marlos's face moved, and he turned to face the guest.

The voice of the guest is obviously majestic and deep, but the tone is like a horse that has been silent for many years, listening to the old age, lifeless:

"Your father asked for you to marry the daughter of the house of Arronde. ”

Marlos frowned slightly.

"He probably thought that Nolanur would eventually inherit the family business, and that my brother had a close personal relationship with the two princes, and that the Duke of the North would be in high demand no matter who was king. As for you, with the help of the duke's in-laws, you naturally have a higher status among the Seven Servants of the Bright Stars. ”

As soon as these words were spoken, the guards in charge of guarding the guests froze, and they looked tentatively at the chief.

After only a brief pause, Marios put on a smile and looked politely at the strange guest.

The guests smiled sadly, raised their hands, and drove the metal shackles and chains to sound again, mixed with the faint joy song in their ears, like a touch of cold color injected into the spring painting.

"Now...... Check us out. ”

"A family has become a prisoner in shackles," the man slowly looked up, looking at Marlos, and then at Mindis Hall, and the fursis of his lips stirred his gray beard:

"The family has become a guard who watches the shackles. ”

Watch the shackles of the guards......

Marius furrowed his eyebrows, forcing himself not to care about the other party's overtones:

"Your Excellency, we have arranged a table for you in the banquet hall......"

But the guest's words, with a backlog of years, always seem to interrupt him just right:

"You know, many years ago. ”

The man in the costume looked at the layout of the Min Disi Hall with fascination:

"My brother, like you, as a glorious royal guard, once stood here, dutifully guarding this virtuous mansion. ”

"And I passed the garden countless times and watched the mad girl run towards me. ”

The vicissitudes of life man put down the chains, his eyes were confused:

"Now, the Mindis Hall has reopened. ”

"My brother, but no more. ”

Marlos did not speak.

The man snorted lightly and looked up at the statue of the Three Kings of the Stars in the height, and the color in his eyes became thicker.

The king of mongrels, the king of wives, the king of rotten debts - the man thought so, and unconsciously curled the corners of his mouth.

But after a few seconds, the man's gaze turned cold.

"And he's not the only brother I've lost. ”

He looked at the Three Kings of the Stars and said disdainfully:

"It's not. ”

Marlos was silent for a moment, then finally exhaled and looked at his men.

"Go through the side door and 'invite' the Duke into the banquet hall, remember to keep a low profile, and of course, be 'polite'. ”

His tone was grim and his gaze was stern.

The penistor Patterson realized what the chief meant, and he waved his hand, and the two people in the guard looked cold, and they were about to step forward to restrain the man.

But the man turned abruptly and was furious!

"I am the son of Aarend, the master of the Cold Castle, and the guardian duke of the northern realm of the Kingdom of Stars!"

"And I saw the old fat man's carriage, and he got in from here!"

The majesty he exuded at that moment made the people around him frown.

Aarend looked at Marlos coldly:

"If your master wants to prove to the kingdom that I am still breathing, that he has not been killed, then at least, he should respect the position of the duke. ”

Marlos's eyes froze.

Right now.

"Marlos!"

A young but gentle voice sounded, and Tails came from the other side door, nodding to the watchman:

"I'll just come. ”

"Go down, all of you. ”

Patterson looked at Marhos warily.

Mallorston paused for a moment, looked at Glover and Doyle behind Tails, and then nodded to Patterson.

"As you wish, Your Excellency. The penistor bowed to Tails and stepped aside with the guards.

Tails exhaled and walked over to the new guest.

"Long time no see, Duke Vaal. ”

From the moment Tails appeared, the eyes of the guests were locked on the young master of the Mindith Hall.

He looked at Duke Xinghu's figure stupidly, first surprised, then relieved.

"So you're back. ”

Val Arend, the imprisoned Duke of the North looked at the second prince with a complicated gaze when the conspiracy was revealed six years ago:

"How's Exeter?"

What do you think?

The prince looked at each other's appearance and sighed slowly:

"The wind and frost are so strong that it is hard to shake its strength. ”

Tails was also looking at Val closely, and he couldn't help but notice that Val's once majestic figure was much thinner, and his beard was curvy.

Somehow, he suddenly remembered what Josh, who belonged to the Sword of Calamity, had said when he was still in the prison of bones:

[This is the effect that imprisonment has on a person...... No matter who you are, no matter how powerful you are. 】

[They are forever lost in the lonely void, never to come back. 】

Tails' gaze was focused in front of him.

Before, the impassioned and magnificent Duke of the North......

It's gone.

Vaal muttered for a few seconds.

"Rumba, how is he?"

Rumba.

Tails' heart sank.

What kind of mood did Val have in that year to meet with Charman Rumba, who was only the Grand Duke of the Black Sands, and work together?

Six years later, the situation of the two is very different, I don't know what he thinks?

"The wind and frost are fierce," the prince said softly, and replied word for word:

"It's hard to shake it. ”

After a strange question, Val fell silent.

But then he chuckled softly, and walked forward, walking to the banquet hall with ease.

It's like a wanderer home.

Patterson and the guards attached to the Punishment Wing immediately followed.

But Val walked up to Tails' side and stopped.

Lovover and Doyle nervously moved forward, trying to separate the Duke from the Prince, but were held down by Marios again.

"Thank you. ”

Tails was slightly startled.

The emaciated Duke of the North didn't look at Tails, but whispered:

"I was informed. ”

"Everything you did for my daughter six years ago on Exeter's turf. ”

On the territory of the Exeters......

Miranda?

Tails thought of the night of the dragon's blood, and thought of the cold female swordsman, and sighed in his heart.

The duke, who was in prison, turned his head expressionlessly:

"Just, please do me another favor. ”

I saw Val's face dark:

"Don't marry her. ”

Tails was stunned.

"If you have to marry. ”

Val snorted softly, like a desperate gambler who had seen through everything after losing all his chips:

"Don't leave seeds in her belly either. ”

Tails' face turned red, and he immediately adjusted his expression.

"Mira, she had an unfortunate early life. ”

I saw Val looking at the ceiling and said desolately:

"I've seen enough blood. ”

Tails looked grim when he heard this.

A second later, looking at the Duke of the North who was lonely and miserable in front of him, like an old man in his twilight years, Tails sighed in his heart:

"I promise you. ”

Val smiled, his head hung down, his wrinkled face curled:

"Thank you. ”

"You're not like him. ”

"You haven't ...... yet Become him. ”

It's not like him.

At that moment, Tails suddenly realized something.

He remembered that the former watchman of the royal guard, the Knight of Punishment, Sakel, had said something similar to him before the Bladefang camp parted.

This made Tails, who was greeted with a smile on his face all night, realize that the man in front of him, who was thin and didn't care about everything, might be the only person who would tell him the truth in this night of laughter and laughter.

"Maybe. ”

Tails replied with a smile, how much he hoped that his words could give a little comfort to the hopeless other party in life.

But Val shook his head, smiling desperately and sarcastically:

Just like back then, he thought that he was different from the owner here. ”

Tails' face moved:

"What do you mean?"

Val didn't answer him, just turned his head.

He looked at the noisy and lively outside the hall, and looked at the people coming and going, the door was like a city, and the Mindith Hall was a prosperous scene:

"Did you see that?"

The Duke of the North looked at the magnificent scenery in front of him, listened to the beautiful silk bamboo, and under the light of the dazzling and inextinguishable lamp above his head, he seemed to see another scenery, and only smiled for a long time before he spoke:

"This scene ......"

"The spectacle of hell. ”

Hell?

Tails frowned.

Vaal looked around, his face furious:

"Some people are hypocritical and whitewash the peace; some people hypnotize themselves and deceive themselves; some people hide their anger and force themselves to endure it; and some people see through the world and look at it coldly. ”

"Under the light of the dark night, everyone pretended to be happy and happy. ”

His sneer gradually increased, with a chilling meaning:

"I don't know that I am already in the urn. ”

"Cooking oil over fire. ”

Marios coughed lightly.

Tails' face turned cold.

Recalling the experience after returning to the stars, his heart was inexplicably heavy.

He knew that his conversation with the Duke of the North was coming to an end.

Tails knew, he knew what the Duke meant by saying this.

Like so many others.

And he will not be easily shaken.

But......

Tails gritted his teeth.

Vaal lowered his head and sneered.

"Boy, you're like me back then. ”

Tails' heart moved:

"Like?"

"For example......" Val took his words, his eyes misty:

"For example, it seems that you have a deep relationship, have the same interests, and share honor and disgrace, and it is the right time. ”

"In this life, it is impossible to be an enemy. ”

It's time.

Tails couldn't help but think of what Viscount Patterson had said to him before.

[The kingdom is young, and it is the right time. 】

"But only you know ......"

Vaal's words grew deeper.

Like a traveler looking for his way in the fog, he has no future in sight, and he is empty and vain:

"In front of me is a thousand cliffs. ”

"Behind him is the abyss. ”

At this moment, there was a lot of noise and commotion outside the hall again.

Everyone in the hall moved, and they knew they were ready to welcome the next important person.

However, this time, the sound of uniform footsteps, the sound of stern and solemn shouts, and the noisy sound mixed with excitement were all heard at the same time, and it was impossible to distinguish them......

Marlos was slightly puzzled, and then his color changed.

Until a majestic and imposing herald, with a meaning that could not be disobeyed, came from afar like an oracle from heaven, penetrating the wall:

"The High King of the Kingdom of Stars, Kessel Bright Star—"

Tails lost his mind.

The people present changed color in unison.

There was a lot of muffled noise outside the hall.

"And the name of the High Queen, Koya Bright Star—"

The herald's voice filled the hall.

Whether it was the joyful music in the banquet hall, the fierce arguments between the waiters in the corridor, or even the melodious horse chirping in the distance from time to time, they all died down at this moment.

There was silence, only the lights flickered.

"Subjects ......"

The power to breathe, at this moment, all surrendered to the majestic voice:

"To your Majesties the King and Queen—"

"Salute!"

The herald's shouting was over.

But it reverberates.

Dispel it.

Next moment, Marios, Patterson, Glovor, Doyle......

Whether it was the royal guards or the attendants, whether it was the nobles and bureaucrats or ordinary civilians, the people present all subconsciously adjusted their postures and held their breath.

Everyone stepped aside, out of the way, and turned solemnly and respectfully to look in the direction of the outside of the hall.

They got down on one knee.

Press your hands to your chest.

Hang your head.

It's as if it's an instinct that comes from birth.

Unshakable.

Be accustomed to something.

Only Tails, who stood dumbfounded by the lamp, looked out into the deep darkness of the hall under the gaze of the Three Kings of the Stars.

"And you have no way back. ”

Unconsciously, Duke Val's cold voice and the sound of shackles came from behind him at the same time, burrowing into his heart:

"There is only one leap. ”

"Fight for it. ”

The herald's order and the voice of the Duke of the North lingered at the same time, staggering.

A distracted Tails took a deep breath.

After a few seconds, he struggled to take a step back.

Get down to your knees.