Carissa knew all too well the gravity of the situation.Salvador had already berated her for not informing him of this matter in advance. If Gerald were to die here at the headquarters, her comrades in the Capital Guard would surely face the consequences.But how could she have warned Gerald in advance? Was she supposed to have sent someone to the Quinton family's residence and have them tell him that the Capital Guard was about to raid the gentlemen's retreats?It would be a miracle if the Quinton family didn't tear her apart for it. Who would believe that the old man would ever venture near a gentlemen's retreat? And if Gerald denied it, she would be the one caught in a trap, painted as a troublemaker.Carissa furrowed her brow. "If he chose to go to the gentlemen's retreat, he should've known this day would come. If he couldn't face it, he shouldn't have gone in the first place."She went to speak with Malcolm, but even after the latter spent an hour trying to persuade his fath
The news, regardless of its shock value, had only one result—it completely enraged Gerald's admirers.Like Trevor, Gerald had been one of Starhaven's most respected scholars and was renowned for his wisdom. Trevor had stepped back from court politics, leaving his influence to dwindle. That was why when trouble befell the Young family, few people spoke up for them.However, Gerald was different. His son still held a powerful position in the Civil Department, and many officials, unaware of the truth, saw this as a way to win favor with the Quinton family. They clamored in court, demanding the Marquis of Glandale be held accountable for spreading rumors about Gerald.Under normal circumstances, this would have been little more than a passing storm. But that day, several officials and prominent young men had been arrested. Though Salvador tried to preserve their reputations, the common folk were relentless in their gossip. Wherever one went, there were whispers, fingers pointing in ever
Tears streamed down Malcolm's face as he knelt before his dad. "Dad, His Majesty no longer favors our family. Why must you force me to offend Hell Monarch's household as well?""Then let me die," Gerald replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "If I die, you will all be free."With those words, he closed his eyes again, his energy all but spent. The few words he managed to say drained him completely.Kylie had long since harbored a deep hatred for Carissa. The Quinton family, once at the height of power, had been struck a devastating blow by her actions. It left them severely weakened and ruined their reputation. As a result, Kylie was also implicated.Once outside, she said to Malcolm, "Since it is Grandfather's wish, then let us call for her. It'd be best to summon Mr. Murray as well. At least then, we'll have a witness to see how she's the one who's driven Grandfather to his death."Malcolm abruptly lifted his head. "What are you saying? Do you truly want to see your grandf
Upon receiving Kylie's summons, Carissa found herself bewildered. Why was she being asked to meet Gerald? If they wanted to question her, they could have called her directly to the palace. Why go to the Quinton family's residence to see him?Gerald was gravely ill. If he wanted to scold her, she wouldn't even have the chance to retort. And if he died in front of her, no words would save her then.Violet had filled her in on Gerald's condition, gathered from the past couple of days' inquiries. He had stopped eating and drinking, and it seemed like he was on the brink of death. "Does Gerald want you there to watch him die? That old man's got some malice," Cynthia said.She was aware of the whole situation, and she had always been sharp-tongued. Knowing how Gerald had treated Carissa, Cynthia didn't hesitate to speak her mind."Don't go—just refuse the order," Bun chimed in from the side. "The queen's order isn't that serious. The king's reaction is what really matters."Violet h
Jeremiah bowed in respect and said, "Your Majesty's command is one I dare not disregard. After all, I am but a humble servant. However, Lady Carissa is here to visit Lord Gerald, and there is no personal enmity between them. I do not foresee any dispute."In front of the thousand-year-old fox, Kylie was no more than a young weasel—with ill intentions but clumsy methods.Using her position as queen, Kylie boldly plotted against Carissa. She was fully aware that it could cost her grandfather his life, yet she showed no concern at all.Contrary to Carissa's expectations, Jeremiah was indeed willing to testify and would argue on her behalf with reason. He cast a cold glance at the Quinton family. "Ah, a fine group of devoted descendants. Lord Gerald should have no regrets."Anyone who understood the situation lowered their heads, too afraid to meet Jeremiah's gaze.Before Carissa could speak, Marjorie stood up. "Commander Sinclair, thank you for bringing Mr. Dalton to treat my fathe
A delicate curtain separated the bedroom from the inner hall. As Carissa parted the beaded curtain, the soft sound of pearls clinking together echoed in the quiet room.People said a small room helped preserve energy. For the elderly, the room shouldn't be too spacious, as it could cause the life force to scatter and harm their health.Thus, the room was modest in size, with a carved cherrywood bed positioned to the east and a low couch to the south. A small wardrobe stood nearby, though Carissa had already noticed another wardrobe in the inner hall, suggesting that this one had been specially added.She glanced around the room, noting the fine, elegant furnishings—everything was of the highest quality."Lord Gerald," Carissa called softly. When she thought about it, there was no personal grudge between them. Their paths had merely crossed at the wrong time.Gerald opened his eyes slowly, his dull, murky gaze sweeping the room. Only when he confirmed that it was just her did he si
Gerald was silent for a long time, his breathing growing more rapid, as though anger were rising within him.Kylie had been listening from outside. When she sensed the conversation was straying, she almost stepped forward to intervene. But when she heard her grandfather's labored breath, she stopped in her tracks.She was certain of her guess—with the crushing blow Gerald had received, his pride couldn't take it. He would see this as the greatest humiliation and would surely seek revenge against Carissa. If he had nothing left to live for, why not use his death to take vengeance?But after a while, she still heard no outburst, only Gerald's faint voice. "Perhaps you're right. But what you said at the Capital Guard headquarters was wrong. Struggling is pointless. What you're doing now is also all in vain," he retorted.Carissa smiled softly. "Would you dare take a bet with me, Lord Gerald?""A bet?" Gerald chuckled, though it was a hollow, bitter sound. "Do you think you can win?
Even after Carissa left, Kylie couldn't calm down from her anger.She sat in silence, watching darkly as Gerald took his medicine. After that, the royal physician performed needle treatment on him. Gerald also took the pills Sebastian had left for him. Within two hours, his complexion gradually improved.The royal physician confirmed that Gerald's spirits had lifted, and there was hope for his recovery.The Quinton family was delighted, but Kylie was utterly disappointed. Her face was as pale as it had been the day Gerald had gone to the gentlemen's retreat.She knew she had taken a gamble, and that her actions would alienate her maternal family and anger the king. Yet, Carissa posed a monumental threat. Only when her name was fully tarnished could Kylie's title as queen be solidified. Kylie could do everything Carissa had done—reopening the women's academy, recruiting noblewomen and officials' daughters to attend, and consolidating the power of the noble families to strengthen
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
The capital guards escorted Evelyn, Zoey, and Viola up to the execution platform. Evelyn's legs trembled, and she couldn't muster any strength. Her tears flowed uncontrollably, blurring her vision to the point that she could no longer see clearly."You foolish boy!" Evelyn let out a mournful cry, raising her hand and slapping Oliver's face. "You've disgraced your grandfather and your father! How can you face them in the afterlife?"Her slap lacked force; even as she exerted every ounce of her strength, Oliver barely felt the sting.Caught in a whirlwind of panic, Oliver's mind raced. Seeing his mom before him, he seemed to have found a lifeline in a stormy sea. He cried desperately, "Mom, save me! Please save me!"Evelyn, near exhaustion from her sorrow, could barely speak. "You've committed an unforgivable crime! How can I save you now? His Majesty once showed favor to you—how could you betray such grace?""Mom, I know I was wrong! I know it now!" Oliver cried, tears streaming do
After Evelyn finished crying, she didn't say much. However, she stubbornly insisted on going to deliver Oliver his final meal. Her eyes were swollen and her voice was thick with congestion, nearly a rasp. "I know the court allows family to see their loved ones before execution," she said, her tone strained. "I don't want anything else—just this one thing. I need to see him and make sure he's fed. I don't want him to die hungry and become a vengeful spirit."Tears began to fall once more as she cast a tearful glance at Zoey. "You have children, too. You should understand what it means to be a mother. To the world, he may be seen as the greatest of villains. But to me, he will always be that helpless child that hasn't changed."Zoey remained silent for a long moment, then finally said, "Mother, do you know how the final meeting is arranged? It is at the execution ground. Are you sure you want to see him getting decapitated?"Evelyn trembled, her body shaking with emotion. "You must
When Carissa went to the palace to deliver her report, she also expressed her sympathy for Zoey besides presenting the confession. She didn't hide her admiration for Zoey in her words.Despite her difficult life, Zoey still had a kind heart. She continuously gave out food and medicine. Even though her whole family now lived in Skye Embroidery, she never asked for the money she had given away to be returned.Furthermore, Zoey had shown great courage and moral integrity. She had publicly condemned her kin for the sake of the greater good—a rare quality that many men, even among the nobility, could not aspire to.Recognizing the need for such an example to inspire his people, Salvador immediately issued an edict praising Zoey. He granted her 100 gold coins and a residence.As for the exiled men from the Prince family, they could return to the capital after the Southern Frontier won the battle, along with the Hell Monarch.Zoey had turned an impossible situation around. Now, who would
Oliver was a notorious criminal, and he should have been sent directly to the Supreme Court. However, Carissa took a different route. She had him detained at the Capital Guard headquarters, where he was to be interrogated first. Afterward, she planned to report the matter to Salvador. She would credit Zoey for her tip, and then plead for Caspian and Cedric to be allowed to return to the capital as soon as possible.Celeste was still detained in the Capital Guard headquarters. If she and Oliver met, it might uncover more secrets—such as just how deeply the Spencer family's collateral branch was involved in this mess.The two prisoners were held in adjacent cells, separated by only a narrow iron bar. When their eyes met for the first time, both faces changed instantly.On the way here, Oliver kept cursing Zoey for betraying him. But when he saw Celeste, he completely forgot about Zoey. He snarled, his teeth clenched. "You wretched woman, look at you now! It's true—bad people get w