Inside, heavy breathing could be heard—panicked and unsteady. Perhaps Gerald had never experienced such chaos in his entire life.No matter how big the problem, he had always been able to handle it with ease. But this? This was beyond his control.The thought of dying here was mortifying enough, but the idea of his body being found in such a place was even worse—especially since, on the eve of the New Year, he had sternly scolded Carissa before leaving the palace."Come out!" Carissa shouted again, her voice sharp and commanding.Two barefoot courtesans stepped out. The room was warm, heated by silver charcoal. Carpets cover the floor, making it easy to walk barefoot."Will you leave on your own, or must I escort you?" Carissa asked calmly.The two courtesans hurried out, leaving Gerald behind the screen, trembling faintly.Carissa grabbed the embroidered tablecloth from the tabletop and moved behind the screen, draping it over Gerald. Then, she seized his arm and said, "Let
The news of the gentlemen's retreats' raid spread like wildfire through the entire capital.Fabian was struck dumb with shock. He had been feeling unwell that evening and hadn't gone to any of the retreats, never imagining it would be seized.The gentlemen's retreats had been in business for years, hosting many of the capital's elite. If Salvador had intended to shut it down, surely someone would have tipped him off. But there had been no warning—it had simply been raided out of the blue!When Fabian finally returned to his senses, he immediately called for one of his most trusted servants. He needed to know who had carried out the raid—and, more urgently, whether Gerald had been there tonight. He was well aware that Gerald frequented the retreat, and he had always kept that knowledge a secret. Even the rest of the Quinton family was unaware, except for Gerald's trusted servant, Cody. To Gerald, the only person in the gentlemen's retreat who knew his identity was the steward.T
In the study of the Quinton family's main residence, the flickering light from two lamps cast a cold glow over Malcolm's face, making his expression one of deep gloom and fury."Who knows about this?" Malcolm asked, his voice tight with barely contained anger.Though his control was still sufficient to keep him from losing his temper on the spot, his frustration was evident.The Marquis of Glandale hesitated. He couldn't admit that his sister had already learned of the matter. Only now did he realize why she had insisted on not coming along. This situation, it seemed, was best kept as quiet as possible."No one knows. I heard Lord Gerald was covered with a tablecloth when he was brought out. It's likely only Lady Carissa saw his face," said Fabian.Malcolm ground his teeth together. "She should never have seen it. If it were Deputy Commander Brown or Chief Lewis, it would be manageable. But her—how are we supposed to move forward now? She will make it her mission to let everyone k
Malcolm sat in the study, pondering for a moment before sending someone to Inkwood Hall to bring Logan back. However, his efforts were in vain as Logan had gone to Ebonflow with Kiera after the New Year and wouldn't be back until March.Furious, Malcolm threw the inkpot on his table. "All he does is play! If it weren't for the Quinton family's influence and his marriage to a princess, would he be living such a carefree life?"The Quinton family's steward, Mark, suggested, "Lord Malcolm, why not send the third lord and his wife instead?"Malcolm furrowed his brow. "A fool and a simpleton. If I send them, they won't be able to say a word without making matters worse."If only Rafael were still in the capital. Two men could manage a conversation better, but now he would have to go and speak to a woman. How could he possibly maintain his dignity?This matter couldn't wait until tomorrow—it had to be dealt with tonight. Gerald's health wasn't good, and he was locked up in the cold, dra
Staring at the steaming coffee, Malcolm had no desire to drink it. It didn't matter that his throat was dry and his mouth felt like it was on fire.Noticing that Carissa didn't respond to his mention of Gracewood Women's Academy, his eyes shifted. "I've heard that His Highness has a few capable men around him. Perhaps I could recommend someone..."Carissa raised her hand to stop him. "Lord Malcolm, let's not stray from the topic. Rest assured, Lord Gerald's identity hasn't been revealed to anyone. When he left the gentlemen's retreat, I covered his head with a cloth. Even now in prison, he is still covered."Her directness caught Malcolm off guard, making his face flush with heat. He didn't know how to respond.If he looked at it objectively, the matter was deeply embarrassing.If it had been anyone else from the family—any cousin or nephew—he would have ordered them beaten within an inch of their life and tossed to a remote estate to fend for themselves.Once the truth was laid
Carissa cradled the cup in her hands, savoring the warmth. "Lord Malcolm, do you think you can offer me something that I can't achieve on my own?"Malcolm was momentarily stunned, unsure of what she meant.Carissa gave a faint smile. "You should return now. I'll be staying here tonight."The cold had begun to fog Malcolm's thoughts, and he struggled to make sense of her words."Then, why not be direct and tell me what it is that you want?" he said."Nothing at all. I'm doing this for the sake of King Sigmund's reputation, nothing more. Not every situation requires a trade of interests. Oh, and by the way, the Capital Guard headquarters doesn't provide meals to those detained here. You can have someone bring food for Lord Gerald, or leave some money and we'll arrange for it ourselves," she replied, her tone sharpening slightly.Malcolm stood, still confused by her actions.Why was she doing this for the Quinton family? Though they weren't bitter enemies, there had always been ten
Carissa motioned for a member of the Garrison Unit to take the silver ingot worth ten silver coins and said, "Buy meals for everyone tomorrow. Once they're released, they can pay back the money they owe him."What she said was meant to reassure those being held—nothing would be done to them beyond this brief detention. She wanted to keep the peace, urging them not to cause a ruckus and to get through the next two days without any trouble.At the same time, it was meant as a subtle reminder for Gerald to calm down.In the dead of night, Carissa made another round of the prison. This time, she found Gerald trembling even more.Cody approached her, speaking softly, "Might it be possible to get him a blanket? My lord is weak and can't stand the cold. His health is frail."Carissa noticed that Gerald had curled himself into a strange, almost rigid position, huddling into the corner. There was a small draft coming through a hole in the wall, which explained why he seemed so cold.She s
Carissa left the room first and Cody followed, quietly closing the door behind him.Inside the small side hall, only Gerald and Malcolm remained. The father and son pair sat in silence for a long while, neither of them speaking. Finally, it was Malcolm who stepped forward, intending to remove the cloth covering Gerald. But the old man held tightly to it with both hands, refusing to let him.With a heavy heart, Malcolm set the blankets and clothing aside, turning his back. "Please change your clothes. I'll turn around."The sound of rustling fabric came after a long pause.A sharp, uncomfortable feeling welled up inside Malcolm. His chest tightened, his throat burned, and his nose became clogged as tears welled up in his eyes. He couldn't tell if it was from frustration, anger, or the weight of everything he couldn't quite accept.All his life, his father had been a figure of stern authority, someone whose presence commanded respect. His words could shake the literary world, and hi
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
After lighting a candle for Edith, everyone returned to the backyard. They wiped away their tears, set aside their grief, and gathered around Carissa to ask about her married life. The most frequent question was about how well Rafael treated her.That was how families were. They knew she was capable, yet they couldn't help but yearn for her spouse to treat her with genuine love and care.Carissa had many cousins, all daughters of her uncles, but most had only met her a handful of times. Still, when they saw her, they were all overjoyed.Her cousins were all married, and many had returned to Victory Pass with their husbands and children. Having heard so much about Carissa, they couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and sympathy.Among them was Shayla Sullivan, the eldest daughter of Carissa's second aunt. She had married Chase Hudson, one of Dominic's subordinates. But within a year of marriage, Chase died in battle before their child had even been born.Now, the child was 12
After nearly twenty days of grueling travel, they finally arrived at Victory Pass on the third of August.The heat had been unbearable along the way, causing many in the party to fall ill. Fortunately, Carissa had come well-prepared with plenty of medicine. They had also brought along a royal physician, Dorian, who was able to manage the illnesses without any major issues.But Kendrick, having never endured such hardship, was exhausted beyond measure. By the tenth day of their journey, he could barely speak. His face and lips were pale, and the exhaustion was evident in every line of his features.When they finally reached the outskirts of Victory Pass and saw the Sullivan family and the troops come out to greet them, Kendrick collapsed. The sight of him fainting right there gave everyone a fright, and they quickly rushed to carry him back.However, Carissa barely noticed Kendrick's condition. As soon as she saw her family, she ran straight into her grandfather's arms, tears stream
On the twelfth day of July, the Starhaven envoy delegation departed the capital in a grand procession, heading toward Orivenia.Rafael rode alongside the group for five miles, only reining in his horse reluctantly when Dylan and Jacob both insisted it was time to stop. Carissa turned back to wave at him, her smile as bright as ever. There wasn't a hint of sadness on her face.Rafael gazed after her, his eyes filled with longing.But under his breath, he muttered, "She's heartless, truly heartless."The sun had risen high, and the road was still and stifling with the lack of wind. Still, Rafael waited until the last of the procession had disappeared from view before reluctantly turning his horse around and heading back.This journey to Orivenia was a significant one. Carissa had brought along three hundred men from the Mystic Army, as well as Travis, Violet, and the others.Though the two kingdoms enjoyed a temporary peace after the last conflict, Leroy had made public what happen
The evening before the trip, Carissa, accompanied by Rafael, made her way to bid farewell to Helen. Since she was leaving early in the morning, before her mother-in-law would be awake, Carissa chose to say her goodbyes the night before.Helen had known about the trip to Orivenia for some time. At first, she hadn't fully understood the situation and felt Salvador's order was a bit much. Why did it have to be Carissa, of all people, who had to undertake such a long and tiring journey?But after hearing from Violet that the real purpose of the journey was for Carissa to visit her maternal family, Helen only sighed quietly."The greatest pain in life is the separation from loved ones, whether by life or death. And the greatest joy is the reunion with loved ones after a long time apart."Of course, those words were spoken to Violet, and would never be said in front of Carissa. To say them to her would be like rubbing salt in an open wound. After all, Helen had come to love and cherish h