By chance, Carissa was aware of Viola's predicament.Of all the unfortunate timing, she happened to be there.Today, Carissa had been quietly monitoring the Garrison Unit's patrols. Recently, there had been assessments for several tasks, and patrolling was one of them. Though the previous misconduct had been rectified, many merchants, seeing the patrols, still tried to flatter them by offering goods, much like before.There had once been people assigned to watch over this, and though goods were confiscated, the effort had become lax. The patrols had grown more negligent, often stopping at coffeehouses to relax, a far cry from the discipline they were meant to uphold.Carissa had hoped to catch a group of them in the act, to set an example and deter others. Unexpectedly, she stumbled upon this situation instead.She had just been passing by Arcane Sanctum and had stopped in to ask for a cup of water. From behind the faint blue curtain in the back hall, she had witnessed the entire
Silverstone Estate was in chaos.Riley had slapped Viola across the face several times. Aside from the patients in Arcane Sanctum, passersby also witnessed the scene and stopped to stare.Poppy mentioned that amidst the confusion, someone had shouted that a princess consort was inside Arcane Sanctum, advising everyone to stop before they acted disrespectfully.Zoey was surprised at first, but then realized the princess consort in question must be Carissa, who frequently visited Arcane Sanctum. But no matter which princess consort it was, the news had already spread. The reputation of the Earl of Silverstone's family was now completely ruined.Zoey took a moment to drink a cup of coffee in the outer courtyard. She sat there for quite a while before finally going to see her mother-in-law.Evelyn grabbed Zoey's hand, tearfully pleading, "Just tell me what we can do. We have to cover this up somehow, or find Mrs. Lewis and give her whatever she wants. Let her clear things up and say i
Zoey had wanted Evelyn to adopt this attitude, but when it came down to it, she couldn't help but feel uneasy.Evelyn was usually sensible, but became completely biased in matters concerning her children. Her anger and harsh words lasted only a moment before her concern took over.On the other hand, Zoey felt the weight of the situation more deeply, as it was something she had to face. She had hoped Evelyn might help her. But after seeing how she acted in this situation with Viola, it was clear that Evelyn knew Oliver was planning to take a concubine and was probably expecting Zoey to endure it.Evelyn understood everything else, but had endless tolerance for her own children.Though Evelyn had vowed not to interfere when Viola caused a scene, Zoey knew the truth—those words had been repeated too many times. In the end, Evelyn always stepped in."With a mom like you, Viola's truly fortunate," said Zoey.Evelyn squeezed her daughter-in-law's hand, her face softening into a look of
Barrett snapped at Serena to leave, then instructed Tara to dismiss all the servants, allowing only his father and older brother to remain in the room.Lately, Barrett had been drinking more than usual. His complexion appeared sallow and haggard. His hair was a mess, like wild grass growing unchecked. His beard, likely only shaved a few days ago, had already grown out in a thin, patchy circle around his pale, cracked lips. To any onlooker, he resembled a wild, mangy dog.His clothes were wrinkled, and the lingering smell of alcohol on him was unmistakable.Zoey couldn't help but think back to the day when Barrett had married Viola. Though he wasn't exactly brimming with youthful vigor, he had been a handsome and gallant young man. Yet now, he was reduced to such a pitiable state.He resembled a flower that had withered too soon—its once vibrant bloom now faded, its countenance heavy with ruin.He remained silent, and it was Jonathan who spoke first."Mrs. Prince, word has spread
This was Zoey's first time seeing Viola after everything that had happened recently.Viola lay in bed, her face hidden beneath a thin blanket. Her posture sent a clear message—she didn't want to see anyone. From beneath the blanket, she trembled slightly as a servant brought over a chair, setting it next to the bed for Zoey to sit."Now that we've reached this point, what do you plan to do?" asked Zoey, getting straight to the point.Her voice was firm as she explained, "Avoiding the situation won't help. It must be dealt with. Mother wants me to go to Mrs. Lewis and ask her to clarify things on your behalf. I don't know if she'll agree."As for Barrett, I went to Valor Estate today. He said he'd known about your situation for some time but never mentioned it. He said if you agree to stay married, everything can be forgotten and you'll live together as before. But there's one condition—he insists on returning to the army."The blanket shifted, revealing Viola's swollen, pitiful fa
"If you don't want to answer, then don't. If you insist on divorcing, I won't bother seeking out Mrs. Lewis anymore," Zoey concluded, done with the conversation.With tears still streaming down her face, Viola begged, "Please go to her and clear up the misunderstandings. When I was with Silas, he wasn't married yet. This isn't entirely my fault. Besides, you're already helping your daughter find a match. If this isn't resolved, how will you find a suitable match in the future?"Zoey's eyes hardened, her voice still calm but carrying an underlying edge as she spoke, "Your life is what it is. You say you were born into an earl's family and have been blessed, but your niece wasn't as lucky. She was also born into that same earl's family, but she has to make do with less. It's not wrong to think of yourself, but don't drag others down with you.""What do you mean by that? Are you forcing me back to the Warren family?" Viola asked.Zoey didn't answer. She turned away and walked out.It
"Violet, when did you become so pessimistic?" Isaac's voice came from behind them, sudden and unannounced.He stood behind them, looking dashing in his attire."There are people far worse off than you, yet they keep pushing forward with optimism. You've got wealth, talent, and beauty—everything a woman could dream of. And yet, here you are, sulking over one setback. Do you really think you're honoring the gods who gave you such a fortunate start in life?"Violet turned around to face him. His towering frame seemed to swallow her up, his chiseled features still carrying that reckless, carefree air. In the dim light of the lamps hanging along the corridor, his sun-kissed skin gleamed faintly. His dark eyes, almost pitch-black, were impossible to read—was he lecturing her seriously or simply teasing?"Come on, let me show you something," Isaac added, before reaching out and grabbing her wrist.With one swift leap, he soared into the air, gliding effortlessly as if carried by the wind
Isaac was silent for a long moment. He took a deep drink from the wine bottle, then tucked the Night Pearl away, wrapping it carefully before placing it in a small box. The glow faded, leaving only the faint light of the moon and a sky full of stars.Violet hadn't expected Isaac to have such a background. Carissa had never mentioned it before.He had always been someone who lingered in brothels, either listening to the courtesans sing or playing music for them himself, a carefree and roguish sort. How could he possibly be a nobleman's son?As Isaac remained silent, Violet's mind began to form an entire drama about a family rivalry behind closed doors.He had said that he was born in a way that benefitted his dad. That surely meant he was well-loved, but a concubine's son gaining favor was a challenge to the legitimacy of the first wife's children.As for what kind of woman his mother was, that remained unclear, but one could surmise she didn't seem to have much influence. Otherwis
"Elise, must your mouth run on without end?" Carissa frowned at her daughter, who had been chattering away beside Ryan from the moment he stepped through the door.The little girl's face was flushed from the sun, her hair tangled into a messy nest that made it clear she had only just returned from playing outdoors. She hadn't stopped talking since Ryan came back from his travels, pestering him with questions about what he had seen and done.Elise turned to Carissa with wide eyes, looking up with a face so innocent it could soften stone. She truly had inherited the best features from both her parents."Mom, I haven't seen Ryan in such a long time. Every moment without him felt like an eternity. We've been apart for so long, so of course I have a lot to say to him."Carissa's frown deepened. "And who taught you to speak in such a ridiculous manner? An eternity—where did that come from?""Sage Isaac said it to Aunt Violet. He went back to Meadow Ridge for a few days and said it to her
Though Ryan had told Cecil he was going on a journey, he didn't stay long at Eldermere Keep. After just seven days, he left and made his way to the Pathfinders Guild.He had initially planned to return to the capital to seek out Claire, but soon reconsidered. Instead of troubling her, he thought it best to directly ask Winona to teach him the art of disguise.It was not difficult to learn, but to do it well—to the point where no one could tell—was another matter. Such skill could not be acquired in just a few months.The simpler form of disguise involved merely altering one's features with makeup and slight adjustments to the face. This was fine for ordinary situations, but could easily be seen through in more challenging circumstances, like on a rainy day for instance.Therefore, Ryan knew he couldn't settle for such a basic method.The more advanced form of disguise involved creating a mask as a false face. However, these masks had their own set of problems. They were thick, unco
That evening, Ryan and Clarence sat by candlelight and spoke quietly. They avoided discussing court politics as Clarence had no interest in such matters. As long as the kingdom was peaceful, that was enough for him.He was no longer the eldest prince of Starhaven, and only had himself to look after now. Everything else had faded into the past.It was better not to speak of politics; it was too sensitive a topic. In his younger years, Clarence hadn't understood why his "death" was so tied to such matters. But over the years, Sebastian had explained everything to him, bit by bit, including the risks and consequences.The bond between Clarence and Cecil was not without affection. However, to gamble with one's life and future for the sake of family might not be the wisest choice for any of them.Clarence had come to terms with it. Life had to go on; it was better to live it well today than to wonder about tomorrow."Aunt Carissa said you're no longer able to stand, but you were walking
The azaleas of Eldermere Keep bloomed in a riot of color, spreading across the hills in a blaze of purple and red. The sight was enough to dazzle anyone who set eyes upon it, especially those who had never visited this secluded place. It was the kind of beauty that made one long to stay forever.Yet, there was one exception.A young man rode his horse to the base of the mountain, dismounted, and secured his steed. Without a glance at the dazzling scene around him, he began to walk the path up the mountain, his gaze fixed firmly on the road ahead.The vivid azaleas stretched out along either side of the path, reaching out as if to claim him, but he merely brushed them aside with a casual swipe of his hand.His pace was swift, and he occasionally used his Lightfoot Skill. Eldermere Keep was not high up, but its location was well-hidden, with many winding paths leading in. However, he had studied the map countless times before embarking on this journey, so the route to the keep was et
Rafael glanced at the robe. "Isn't that mine? Are you saying I've gotten fat? I'm not fat.""Oh, is it yours? It's too long, then. I'll have someone alter it for me," Carissa replied casually.Rafael shook his head. "If you want something loose, just have someone make it for you. Why bother altering my old clothes? It's not even comfortable.""I'm going to Meadow Ridge for a year. Wearing your clothes will make it feel like you're still with me," Carissa said with a bright smile, as if the idea of being apart for a year was no more serious than being apart for a day."A year?" Rafael looked shocked. "You're going back for a whole year? Why?""Well, of course, my mentor misses me, and I miss him too," Carissa replied, placing her hands on her hips as she handed the robe to Lulu, who was standing by with a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh."But I won't leave right away. Since Ryan is about to inherit the duke's title, I'll wait until that's settled before I go back to Meado
On the 13th day of winter, Salvador suddenly woke up feeling clearer than before. Saying he was hungry, he specifically asked for beef stew and milk pastries.Derek hurried to make the necessary arrangements. When the food arrived, Octavia sat by the bed as she had done many times before, ready to feed him. But Salvador insisted he wanted to sit up to eat himself.Derek gently helped the king sit up, placing a soft cushion behind him to support his back. Salvador had grown so thin that he seemed to be nothing but skin and bones. His body slouched as he sat, so Derek had to kneel beside the bed, holding his waist to keep him steady.Salvador finished an entire bowl of stew, eating it all without leaving a single bit behind. Then, he picked up a small milk pastry. But after a bite, he felt a little nauseous, so he didn't eat any more.Sebastian sent word to Victoria. After a brief conversation, her face turned pale and tears started to fall almost immediately. Though she had tried to
Once back at the palace, Salvador was unable to rise from his bed. Sebastian spoke briefly with him, hinting that he didn't have much time left. If there was anyone he wished to see, it should be done as soon as possible.The first person Salvador wanted to see was, of course, Victoria."That child… When he saw me, he couldn't stop asking about you. You didn't love him in vain, Mom," Salvador murmured, his voice weak.Victoria sighed deeply. "How cruel... his life must be lived hidden away in the mountains, never able to leave. Is there truly no hope for his legs?""I believe there is no hope," Salvador replied softly, his lips pale and drained of color. "But as I was leaving, he said, 'Dad, once I've learned enough medicine, I'll cure you. I'll make you better.'"Victoria's heart ached. "What a good child."Salvador's gaze drifted to the ceiling, his voice barely a whisper as he repeated, "Yes, he is a good child."After speaking with Victoria, Salvador asked Rafael to bring in
Salvador had temporarily settled at Eldermere Keep. The place was filled with every kind of medicine, yet his illness had reached a point where no remedy could ease his suffering.Still, staying there brought him peace. It was as if he had finally set down a heavy burden and could now live as an ordinary father. He spent each day with his son, sharing simple moments together.Carissa was allowed to visit and spend some time with Connor. He asked her about Ryan, specifically inquiring whether he had made any new friends."Ryan has no other friends but you. He always thinks about you," she reassured with a smile, thinking the eldest prince might be jealous.Connor was quiet for a long while, his expression tinged with guilt. Finally, with a deep sadness in his eyes, he softly said, "I have friends now, like Otto. Ryan should have his own friends too. I always think about him, but... I don't think I'll ever see him again."Carissa gently patted his head and smiled. "The future is lon
After the sun set behind the mountains, the temperature began to drop. Salvador had been carried up the mountain, but now, he was carrying Connor on his back as they made their way back into the estate.Connor had his arms tightly wrapped around Salvador's thin shoulders, and he couldn't stop the tears from falling. This was a scene he had never even dared to dream of. Not only had he never imagined being carried by his father, but even something as simple as having his father gently pat his head had always seemed like an impossible wish.But his father was so thin; there was no flesh on his back at all. How had he become so frail?Carissa and the others waited outside the gates. Not even Galen had been allowed in. Only Salvador's most loyal attendants, those who had carried the litter, were permitted to enter. The others, of course, were kept away from Connor. They all believed that Salvador had come to Eldermere Keep solely to recover from his illness.The estate itself was full