Yuvan inevitably reprimanded Stephanie and ordered her to return and reflect on her behavior, warning her not to embarrass herself any further. Fiona called for Sabrina and took her along as they left.The moment Fiona stepped out, she signaled her maid to follow Carissa and Violet. While the estate didn't have hidden chambers or prisons, it wasn't a place anyone could wander through at will. Molly was a fool, and Fiona feared she might be used for something she wasn't aware of.Wayne had been quietly observing Rafael. Although he was speaking with Yuvan, his expression clearly showed some displeasure, and his gaze occasionally drifted outside. It was almost like a young couple having a spat—annoyed but still unwilling to let go.And with the flash of anger Carissa had shown just before leaving, it was hard to pretend it was anything but genuine. Wayne was fairly certain that her purpose in coming to Edgeview Estate was to stand up for Avis and vent her frustration. This had likely
Edgeview Estate was hardly a place where anything could be hidden. If there was something, it would likely be nothing more than correspondence, but anything truly important would have been hidden away or destroyed. Getting into the study would be no easy feat, and causing a scene would only make matters worse.They had invited Violet here for a reason, though its true purpose had been unclear until now. Now, Carissa knew what that reason was.Before arriving today, she had planned to use this opportunity to find out how many people in Edgeview Estate were skilled in martial arts, and whether any of the suicide soldiers were hiding within the estate. If the suicide soldiers weren't here, she could allow Violet to return next time.Now that she knew Yuvan's intentions, she wouldn't let her friend take such a risk. The way Yuvan looked at Violet was revolting. His gaze was so lecherous that just thinking about it made Carissa feel sick.The maids filed in, placing various pastries on
Back at Hell Monarch Estate, Violet jumped out of the carriage and gave a few quick hops at the gate, shaking off all the bad energy that had clung to her. Her face was ashen with fury."What the hell was that? How dare he have designs on me? Doesn't he realize his son is older than I am? That shameless old fart!" she roared.Luke happened to be walking out at that moment. When he overheard Violet's words, he took a step back, his round face looking thoroughly confused.Why would someone be shameless just because they were old?Carissa, just as upset, pulled Violet into the estate. "Don't go to Edgeview Estate again. The way his eyes were all over you… Just thinking about it makes me feel like you've been sullied. It's disgusting."She couldn't tell if the man she saw tonight was still the ambitious man she knew—it was like he had turned into a completely different person. He was nothing but a pervert.Once inside the council hall, Rafael recounted to Jacob how Yuvan had been eye
Jacob noticed that Travis had gotten off-track and quickly intervened."Mr. Mullen, we can't use Prince Rafael as an example. Sure, men like that exist, but that's not what we're discussing right now."Travis put on a look of deep sympathy, as if he were offering sage advice, and continued, "Vivi says she doesn't want to marry, and I'm all for it. If she doesn't marry, she won't get hurt. Young love is intense, but after time passes, it just becomes gross."It's like iron with a coating of gold—when that coating falls off, the iron rusts and decays. Even with genuine feelings, it turns out like that. And then you have someone like Yuvan, who's all scheming and never tasted the sweetness of love. He's like an old thief. The minute a woman like Vivi steps into his life—someone who can heal his broken heart and also help him out—he becomes like a dog in heat and shows all his ugly sides."Jacob was utterly lost. After a long pause, he asked, "Is that something your mentor said?"If o
The next morning, when Rafael went to the palace to retrieve the approved documents, he casually remarked, "I heard from Carissa that the orchids at Edgeview Estate are blooming beautifully. They have a wide variety, and there are many skilled and unusual individuals in the estate. Even the servants and maids all seem to possess martial arts skills."Salvador paused, surprised. Ian had been secretly investigating Edgeview Estate for a while and hadn't been able to uncover what gave Yuvan the confidence to remain in the capital for so long.But now, Rafael and Carissa had uncovered it in just one visit?"We didn't find any guards at Edgeview Estate, but there's concern that suicide soldiers might be hiding nearby. They're highly skilled, making it difficult to detect them, so we didn't dare to intrude recklessly," Ian had reported.Salvador went quiet for a moment, then asked, "Were they suicide soldiers?"As soon as the question was out, Rafael smiled at him. "No."Salvador shot
The day after Jessica moved into the workshop, rumors about the reasons she had been divorced began to spread like wildfire across the entire capital. Whispers said she had plotted to harm the Marquis of Ironridge's children, caused trouble with the concubines, and even pushed one of them into the water in an attempt to kill said concubine.As the rumors spread, someone also revealed that Jessica had been involved in usury.She was such a wicked woman, yet the Marquis of Ironridge's family hadn't handed her over to the authorities. Instead, they had simply cast her out from the household to settle the matter. What truly shocked the people was that Skye Embroidery—of all places—had taken her in, providing her with food and shelter as though nothing had happened.Carissa had been focused on wrapping up the cleanup operation of the Garrison Unit. She had no idea that Skye Embroidery was facing a storm of public backlash once again. She only found out the day before her operation ended,
Because the Marquis of Ironridge's family was in mourning, Carissa couldn't press forward with her visit. There were too many rumors circulating outside, and while she wanted to put a stop to them, she had no way of clarifying the truth. Without the facts, any attempt to suppress the rumors would be useless.Claire had returned with the results of her investigation. She confirmed that the rumors had indeed started from Ironridge Estate. She had done a thorough job, meticulously tracing the source of the gossip. She even spent some money to dig deeper and learned that the storytellers' information had come from the servants of Ironridge Estate.It turned out that Jessica had been cruel to the servants in the past and had abused them. Now, they were seeking revenge. The storytellers, enraged by the tale, felt it was their duty to spread the word of Jessica's wickedness to the public.Claire had asked them, "Since you speak so passionately about justice, are you sure this is the truth?
Violet stuck to her point, saying, "But if we kick Jessica out, we won't have to get tangled up in this mess anymore.""And then what?" Carissa replied calmly. "What if something similar happens again? Honestly, I think this whole situation with Jessica is a good opportunity. It gives us a chance to learn and handle things better next time. The way I see it, we should set aside our bias and investigate thoroughly. If the accusations are true, we can kick her out. But if they're not, we give her a chance. How about that?"She added, "Vivi, it's really important to set aside our biases. Every woman who's been cast out could end up being labeled with all kinds of accusations. If we just jump to conclusions, no one will want to come to us.""I know what you're saying makes sense. If we're thinking about the workshop, it's the right approach. But on a personal level, I just can't accept Jessica. And she's not exactly innocent. We should just throw her out. Don't you dislike her?" Violet
Lisandra continued, "The irony is, when I was a grand princess, I could call for women to join the ranks of government without hesitation. Now that I am the queen, I must move slowly, cautiously, balancing all the factions, weakening their hostility and wariness toward me. There are so many things to consider and so many forces at play. At times, I grow impatient, and I wish I could simply rid myself of those who oppose me."Carissa thought for a moment before replying, "In truth, whether one is a king or an official, man or woman, I believe their goal is the same, Your Majesty. It's to ensure the long-term stability of the kingdom and the peace and prosperity of the people. "When the nation prospers and war is no longer a threat, any reforms you wish to make will face less resistance. But for now, you must first secure your position, Your Majesty."Her meaning was subtle, but Lisandra understood clearly. The kingdom was still in turmoil, with various factions causing obstacles. Si
The royal palace of Orivenia stood resplendent and imposing, its golden architecture gleaming under the night sky, exuding an air of solemn grandeur.Upon passing through the first palace gate, the carriage rolled smoothly along the wide palace path, its spaciousness a stark contrast to the more cramped streets outside. However, what stood out the most was the abundance of lamps. It seemed as if oil was no object, for the palace grounds were lit up as though the night itself had been banished. As they got out of the carriage and walked along the winding corridor, the large trees ahead were hung with many lamps. Anyone trying to hide in the trees wouldn't stand a chance; they would be seen immediately.Liam led the way. As they approached a grand palace hall, two female attendants stepped forward. They exchanged a few words with Liam in the Westic before smiling and nodding to Carissa and Violet."Ladies, Her Majesty invites you to enter the palace," Liam said with a polite gesture
By the time they reached the capital of Orivenia, it was the 13th of August. A full month had passed since they left Starhaven.The afternoon sun shone brightly, and Kendrick lay back in the carriage as they entered the city.Since entering Orivenia's borders, they had endured seven assassination attempts. The last one had been particularly brutal, likely involving suicide soldiers. Many of the Mystic Army were injured, and even Violet had been grazed on the shoulder. Thankfully, it hadn't struck anything vital.Kendrick's fear was understandable. The attack had come when he was emerging from the washroom. The assassin's sword had pierced his chest, nearly plunging in completely. It was Carissa who noticed in time and swiftly turned, driving her spear into the assassin's chest before dragging him back with the hooked tip of her dagger, saving Kendrick's life.Though the injuries were minor, Kendrick reacted as if he had been mortally wounded. He howled in agony for half the night b
Kendrick had been shaken by the attack, and the royal physician had already been called to prepare a sedative to calm his nerves.When Carissa visited him, it was a pitiful sight. His face was as pale as paper, drained of all color. His lips trembled, and he shakily asked if the assassins were gone.She reassured him, saying they had gone, and only then did his trembling subside slightly.The people around him had already informed him that the assassins were driven off, but he hadn't believed them. He needed to hear it from Carissa to feel any sense of security.Carissa reminded him to rest and recuperate before she left.Meanwhile, Davis was busy comforting the others. As the Defense Minister, he had seen his fair share of chaos and remained calm. Also, he trusted Carissa and the Mystic Army. He didn't think there was much to fear—at worst, they had just risked losing a head.It was Meadow Ridge's members who gathered together, speculating that the black-clad figures they had en
At the break of dawn, the large procession set out for Orivenia.Carissa didn't feel much regret in leaving. After all, they would pass through Victory Pass on the way back, and she would have the chance to meet with her grandfather and his family again.Once they had left Victory Pass, the road grew rougher. Many sections were full of deep potholes or had been intentionally damaged, making it difficult for the carriages to move forward.However, Kendrick was determined not to ride a horse again. Even after days of rest, his legs were still sore from the relentless friction of the saddle. Walking was manageable, but sitting on horseback? That was pure agony.So, despite having earned his merit at Victory Pass for establishing an orphanage there, Kendrick insisted on traveling by carriage. When the wheels got stuck or the path became too treacherous, the Mystic Army soldiers dismounted and pushed the carriage forward, inching their way through the difficult terrain.Fortunately,
Wallace gave the order, and Barrett was tasked with the job of investigating. He led a group to search the area.Barrett was aware that Carissa had arrived at Victory Pass. He had been there to greet the group. However, he had stayed at a distance, watching from afar without approaching. From that distance, he hadn't been able to make out any faces, only a vague silhouette that seemed to resemble hers.He had thought his actions unnecessary. After all, what business did he have with her? The affairs of the capital were nothing for him to involve himself with.While the diplomatic envoy rested in Victory Pass, they spent their time discussing strategies and rehearsing their approach. Everyone understood that while this negotiation might seem easier compared to the last, it was by no means a simple task.Lisandra had long kept this matter at the forefront of her mind and would not easily yield to any compromises.The Sullivan family also feared that someone might infiltrate the envo
Spring Pavilion was full that day.The restaurant wasn't very big to begin with, and it usually had some customers. The black-clad men that lady brought had taken up all the remaining seats.Carissa, Violet, and Travis had to sit at a small table the owner had set up at the last minute, separate from the others.The man's voice, soft and apologetic, reached Carissa's ear. It was warm and pleasant. "These are my brothers-in-arms. We've been traveling since last night and haven't had a bite to eat. If it troubles you, I can have them wait outside and just pass them some bread each when we're done."Violet paused, surprised, but quickly shook her head. "No need for that. Please, let them stay. They can sit where they like and order what they wish."The man smiled kindly. "You are kind-hearted, miss. In that case, we'll order freely, and we'll take extra.""Alright… That's fine," Violet replied, casting a glance at the sea of black. The men were dressed in a way that suggested some
Carissa studied the man and woman carefully, feeling a sense of unease. She couldn't quite place their age. They looked to be in their thirties, yet there was an undeniable vitality about them, as if they were no older than twenty.Her gaze moved to their eyes, particularly the man's. His eyes were as deep and mysterious, yet they held the calculating sharpness of a seasoned old fox.Before Carissa could say anything, the man stepped forward and spoke. "This is where the orphanage is being built? Is the local government funding it?"Travis glanced at them, noting their perfectly spoken Starhaven dialect. They clearly weren't from Victory Pass, yet he saw no malice in their faces. He nodded. "Yes, it's a place to take in abandoned children," he replied. "It's being supported by the local government."The man nodded. "That's a good cause."Carissa stepped forward. "Are you from the capital?"The man regarded her but didn't answer her question. Instead, he asked, "Are you the He
Kendrick didn't wake until well into the afternoon the following day, his body heavy with exhaustion and hunger. When his eyes finally fluttered open, he felt as if his entire body had been shattered. Every muscle ached, and lifting even his arm seemed like a Herculean task.The weariness sank deep into his bones, and he had no energy to move. His attendant, a trusted servant by the name of Avery, stood at his bedside, awaiting his attention. He said quietly, "Your Highness, Lady Carissa has been waiting for you for half the day. She wishes to speak with you."Kendrick had initially planned to stay in bed, have all his meals brought to him, and then drift back to sleep. He was simply too tired to move. But when he heard that Carissa had waited so long, he immediately threw the covers off and commanded, "Prepare me, quickly."Over the course of the journey, Kendrick had come to understand just how formidable Carissa was. As a woman, she had never once complained about exhaustion