Rafael had gotten the gossip from someone working in the Supreme Court. He had been discussing matters with everyone, and during a break, he and Matthew went inside for some refreshment. As they talked outside, the topic came up.Douglas had been in office for five years and was looking to advance. He had heard that Malcolm had a mistress, who had since been sent to a convent, but not before she had given birth to a daughter.This led Douglas to believe that Malcolm was a man of indulgent tastes, and he decided to offer his daughter as a concubine to Malcolm. When Malcolm refused, Douglas, ever the schemer, assumed Malcolm's wife had disallowed the arrangement. Douglas devised a plan to send his daughter to Malcolm while his wife was absent, hoping to force the issue.He learned through various means that Malcolm, whenever he had time off, would go with his wife to visit temples or take walks in the countryside. Douglas bribed the gatekeeper to find out their plans. Once he learne
Violet's heart sank. "What are we supposed to do? Just let him continue to harm his daughters? For the sake of his so-called career, he's sacrificing one daughter after another, treating them like mere objects to be given away!"And I just can't understand why he would push Karen to kill herself. With such a vile mind, shouldn't he have kept her alive so that... Ugh, I can't even finish that thought."Rafael picked up his cutlery, took a few bites, then put them down again. He had lost his appetite."Because he doesn't know who the culprit is. The whole thing has already leaked out, and he's afraid there might be consequences. So, it was easier for him to have Ms. Whitley kill herself, deny her being his daughter, and cut off any future leverage. He probably erased her from the family record too," the prince explained.Violet's eyes blazed with fury. "Is there really nothing we can do? Can we only watch as he keeps ruining his daughters? The officials are so corrupt, yet the king w
Carissa personally went to The Golden Tower to see Nathaniel.As a businessman, he was sharp and straightforward. While he wasn't overly meticulous in his business dealings, he worked hard to make money. However, he also had a strong sense of patriotism. Unable to pursue a scholarly path or master martial arts, he had always generously donated to the nation's cause during times of war.He greatly admired Carissa and wanted to befriend her. However, he rarely had the chance to meet her, and being a businessman, it was difficult for him to visit her. So, when she came to see him in person, he was eager to give her a warm reception.Nathaniel had heard a little about the incident at Crystal Springs, but it involved too many sensitive matters tied to officials for him to probe further. What he did know was that a young woman had suffered greatly there.When Carissa said she wanted to investigate the matter, Nathaniel didn't hesitate for a second.He slapped his chest confidently and s
The investigation ultimately led back to the Quinton family.Malcolm was completely unaware of the matter until Carissa explained it to him privately. After hearing the entire story, his fury was uncontrollable, his whole body trembling with rage.He had already made a grievous mistake in the past—fathering a daughter with a mistress—a stain on his reputation that he could never fully erase. If this new scandal were to spread, how could he possibly face anyone? Even if he was innocent, others would assume he was guilty.In his rage, Malcolm ordered the guard involved to be brought forward.The guard, Trey Carter, was a family servant from birth. After learning some skills, he stayed on as a guard in the household. His parents were senior servants in the estate, and it was through them that he learned of the Whitley family's inquiries to the gatekeeper about Malcolm's visit to the hot springs. Later, Trey followed Malcolm and Marjorie to the temple. When he saw Malcolm had not gone
Carissa leaned forward slightly, her tone sharp with accusation as she asked, "Tell me, Lord Quinton, can you withstand being charged?"Malcolm's expression darkened instantly. All he wanted now was to keep things as quiet as possible, to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention. After all, his youngest daughter had just been brought back into the household and was now being raised under the care of his concubine, Willow.And with the matter of the crown prince's succession still undecided, any scandal involving the Quinton family would reflect poorly on Connor as well.At the end of the day, Trey was just a servant. He had only risen to the rank of guard because Malcolm had elevated him. Weighing the situation, Malcolm made his decision without much difficulty, the malice in his gaze unmistakable.Trembling from head to toe, Trey slammed his head against the ground and desperately pleaded for mercy."You wretched scum!" Malcolm bellowed. "You dare beg for mercy after defiling an i
Marjorie had been standing quietly outside the courtyard. When she saw Carissa emerge, she curtsied respectfully and walked her to the gate. She had heard everything from her spot outside."How is the girl doing now?" Marjorie asked softly as they walked."She's staying at the workshop," Carissa said with a faint sigh. "But she hasn't given up on trying to end her own life."Marjorie fell silent for a moment before murmuring, "What a tragedy."At the gate, she stopped and added, "If there's anything I can do to help the girl, please don't hesitate to let me know, Your Grace."Carissa inclined her head. "Thank you, Madam Marjorie. I'll remember that."Marjorie curtsied once more, watching as Carissa mounted her horse and rode away. She remained at the gate for a long while, lost in thought, until Trey's parents approached. They fell to their knees and pleaded with her."Please, my lady, call for a physician to save Trey!"Marjorie's expression turned cold as she looked down at t
The next day, both the Garrison Unit and the Capital Guard learned of the incident. It was said that an assassin had broken into Douglas' home, severely injuring him to the point where he was vomiting blood and nearly died.The physician said that with injuries like his, he would likely end up as a bedridden, drooling mess for the rest of his life, unable to do anything except stay in bed to eat, drink, and take care of other basic needs.Naturally, both the Garrison Unit and the Capital Guard did everything they could to track down the assassin. In the king's domain, to commit such an audacious act against a government official was downright brazen.After some investigation, Carissa uncovered a witness who revealed that a martial artist had come to the capital. Knowing that Douglas had once caused his sister's death, the martial artist had snuck in and beaten him senseless in a fit of rage.Further investigation revealed that the rumors surrounding Karen's defilement were entirely
Violet thought for a moment, feeling a twinge of guilt. She hadn't been able to go back and spend time with her father. Maybe writing him a letter and asking him to send her some money would make up for it—spending his money would be one way to honor him."Alright, I'll write a letter. Please wait for a while," she said."There's no need to rush, my dear cousin-in-law. You can write it tomorrow and send it to me then. We won't be leaving for a few days. Why don't you stay and chat with your cousin for a bit longer?" Yuvan responded with a smile.Carissa's eyes flickered with a cold glint.Was Yuvan still not giving up?Violet turned to smile at Yuvan, unaware of how mischievous her expression was. "Alright then."Carissa shot her a glare.What was she up to now?Violet ignored her friend's warning gaze. She didn't meet Carissa's eyes, treating the unspoken rebuke as though she hadn't noticed.Rafael observed Yuvan's persistent gaze on Violet's face, feeling a surge of disgust.
Salvador summoned Eustace to the palace for an audience.Eustace had come prepared. Though he had led his bodyguards and the merchant convoys to quell the unrest, the connection between the Spencer family's collateral branch and Nicholas couldn't be easily dismissed. Even if Salvador publicly declared their merits balanced with their faults, it was not something that could be swept aside without consequence.However, Salvador's attitude towards Eustace was surprisingly warm. The former even praised him for his loyalty to the throne and his patriotic spirit, noting that he resembled his late father in his unwavering commitment. The previous head of the Spencer family had been generous to the court, contributing substantial funds during times of war.Eustace understood the underlying message and quickly offered, "With both the Southern Frontier and Victory Pass embroiled in battle, the Spencer family is willing to contribute in whatever small way we can. We will donate 300,000 silve
Adrian had been in the capital for some time now. In the past, he had been consumed with his studies on sacred firearms, leaving little room for anything else. But now, with some free time, he used the excuse of being unable to let go of the business in the city to extend his stay.The truth was, he was concerned for Carissa.His interest in sacred firearms had begun with his trip to Nerathia to study their methods. He had done it for the Southern Frontier, then Hector, and ultimately, for Rafael and Carissa.As a mentor, Adrian knew that they each had their own paths to walk. He couldn't prevent them from forging their own futures, but he could help them however he could and act as their support.Adrian often claimed he wasn't cut out to be a teacher. But the truth was, his apprentices were exceptional. Each one of them was a person of great character. None of them needed his constant concern—except for Carissa.She had always been wild and carefree. But even so, she had mast
As Nicholas was paraded through the streets, the weight of his downfall crushed him entirely. His sanity fractured and he screamed curses at the people, accusing them of ignorance and foolishness. He raged at the masses, claiming they had been deceived by the court, that they had mistaken a foolish king for a wise ruler. He claimed that only he was the true sovereign—the one destined to bring justice and prosperity.His hoarse cries were drowned out by the roar of the crowd. The people shouted for his death, calling for him to be torn apart. They said that the execution by Torso Cleaving was far too merciful. They demanded he be cut into pieces and slowly tortured to death, as punishment for his evil deeds.On the other hand, Yuvan stayed silent the whole time. Inside, he was filled with resentment and hatred for Nicholas. He believed that if Nicholas hadn't turned his people against him, he could have succeeded.Nicholas was like a poisonous snake, hiding in the shadows. When Yuv
Now that everyone had been gathered, the long-awaited reckoning could finally begin.After thorough investigations by the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with the Capital Guard, it was confirmed that Yuvan, Nicholas, and his associates were indeed guilty of treason.The charges were indisputable. After such a long delay, it was time to list all their crimes for the world to see.Yuvan's entire family—except for Randall, who had provided valuable information—was sent to Astral Prison. However, Randall was also removed from the royal registry. He remained in his post at the Supreme Court, still serving as warden. Despite that, it was clear that any prospects for promotion were now out of reach for the next ten years.Matthew had ordered Randall to take a temporary leave, telling him to stay away from Astral Prison and reflect quietly at home while the matter was sorted.Matthew thought Randall was a bit slow, but at least the latter was honest and willing t
Clifford's eyes gleamed with a sharp light. "Very well. Let's hear some of your self-righteous words."Salvador, ever the suspicious soul, had always been wary of the Hell Monarch's household. Even if Carissa hadn't risen for women's rights, Salvador would still remain cautious of her.How could Carissa not know Clifford's intentions? From the moment he asked, she knew it was a trap.Before she could respond, Clifford sneered and added, "You can always start by flattering King Salvador. Praise him for how he treats women under his rule. As long as your conscience is clear, feel free to do so."Carissa was infuriated, but she wasn't willing to be baited. She met his mocking, challenging gaze. "Don't make assumptions. That's not the same thing at all. You think people are ignorant and narrow-minded as they can't understand your preferences, so you resort to extreme measures to gain their approval. But that's your personal problem. You can't speak for others like you, and you're not
Gerald and Clifford met in the Supreme Court's interrogation room. They sat across from each other, an old wooden table between them. Carissa sat behind the scribe's desk, not far from them. Even if they spoke in hushed tones, she could hear every word clearly.The only sounds in the room were the quiet rustle of breath, the steady beat of hearts, and occasionally, the almost imperceptible sound of a sigh.Yet, no words passed between them.Neither of them exchanged even a fleeting glance. It was as if they were two strangers who were forced to sit together—distant, indifferent.Carissa wondered if it was her presence that made things so strained, though she could not leave. All she could do was endure the awkward silence alongside them.At last, Gerald asked, "Why?"Gerald was truly baffled, struggling to reconcile the person before him with the image of someone he thought he knew. No matter how he looked at Clifford, he could not align the two.Clifford clasped his hands tog
As Carissa returned to the Capital Guard Headquarters the next morning, Heather intercepted her at the door.It had been a long while since Carissa had last seen Heather. In fact, it seemed Heather had kept herself mostly secluded lately.Since Harvey had been brought back to the capital, his son Lennon Sanford had not been captured, but Chester's forces continued their search. It was almost certain that the boy would be caught soon enough.Heather, anxious that Lennon might be implicated and face the same brutal punishment of beheading, rushed to Carissa for help.Carissa knew Heather had already tried appealing to Leona when Harvey was first brought back. She had asked Leona to talk to Carissa on her behalf. Yet Leona had refused, and she never mentioned the matter to Carissa. Carissa only learned of this from Alana."Carissa!" Heather hurried toward her, her face frantic with worry. "I need to speak with you. Could we find a quiet place to talk?""I have matters to attend to.
In her study, Carissa wrote a letter. Then, she handed it to Jacob with instructions to have it delivered to Rafael in the Southern Frontier.She knew the situation in the Southern Frontier. Victor was amassing troops but neither attacking nor retreating, keeping things in a stalemate.Everyone knew that Victor was just stalling. He had been given a military order to invade the Southern Frontier, but since Nicholas had failed, he could not return with any captured cities or military achievements to report.If Victor made a hasty retreat now, he would likely lose more than just his position—his life might be forfeited as well. He attempted to forge alliances with the nomads, hoping to find a way out—perhaps a way to secure his future or an escape from certain doom.The nomads, tired of conflict, had no interest in picking sides. Caught in the middle, they were doing everything they could to remain neutral, refusing to aid either side. If they really had to choose, they would choos
At precisely three in the afternoon, the long execution block was brought forward. The block was forged from ironwood, solid and unyielding. It was the only one of its kind in Starhaven, used solely for execution by Torso Cleaving.The block had been kept in storage for years.Augustus had once deemed the act of Torso Cleaving too brutal. Even those who committed the most grievous offenses were spared this form of execution. Yet, the punishment had not been abolished. It remained a tool to strike fear into the hearts of would-be traitors.The cruelty of Torso Cleaving lay in the fact that after a person was cleaved in two, the upper body could still crawl, struggle, and leave behind a bloody trail.Normally, Torso Cleaving wasn't meant to be witnessed by the public. But treason, betraying the kingdom, and plotting to overthrow the throne were considered unforgivable crimes. Salvador didn't know how many people had dealings with the traitors, and some conspirators were too deepl