In Lunvale stood the grand Eternalis Atrium, towering by the expansive banks of the Lunvale River. To dine at Eternalis Atrium was a privilege reserved only for the wealthy and the elite.However, on the left side of Eternalis Atrium and facing the dock was a spacious and messy area where vendors set up their stalls every day. Some sold grain, others sold flatbreads or ravioli. The food was good and cheap, and most of the people coming here were common folks or dock workers.Outside each stall, there were a few crude, low tables surrounded by small stools. The diners gathered here, eating heartily in the noisy crowd. Conversations buzzed around them, discussing everything under the sun—except for matters of the state. Politics were too far removed from the daily lives of these people.At one of the ravioli stalls, two men sat. They were dressed simply, blending in with the rest of the crowd. One wore a gray cotton jacket and a faded cap, looking to be in his thirties. The other man,
This operation was labeled as a bandit suppression mission.The night before, they gathered to discuss the details. The mission wasn't particularly dangerous or difficult, but there was one certainty—the people from Stone Village in Lunvale were not the same private soldiers from Stonebrook County.So where had Yuvan's forces gone?Randall had mentioned before that several counties and states had similar strongholds. Rafael guessed they were likely similar in scale to Stone Village—several thousand people, not too many, but certainly not a small number either. Without military posts, relying only on local authorities would be insufficient to wipe out 5,000 men. It would be too easy for the enemy forces to turn the tables and take control.If the same amount of private soldiers in several areas rose up at once, it would wreak havoc on the common people. By the time the main army arrived, it would be impossible to know how many places would have already been taken over.Suppressin
The operation began with a forceful strike. One team headed straight for the northern road of Stone Village, which was the way into the village.However, before this main force set out, other smaller teams had already moved into the mountains, surrounding the area from all sides. Their numbers were few, but their formation was strategic, creating a trap that left the enemy nowhere to run.Still, the battle wasn't an easy one.There were too many places to cover, and the enemy was very familiar with the terrain. Fortunately, Everett had already sent people to block all the entrances to Stone Village's secret passages. This forced the enemy into continuously fighting.Meanwhile, Dylan managed to rescue the two laborers he had previously left in the small cave. He sent them to find others, urging them to leave the village without their weapons.The two men were grateful, but cold and hungry. When they learned that a fight had broken out, they hurried off to warn those living on the
When the news reached Valken, chaos erupted at Horizon Estate.Yuvan was beside himself with fury, and he hurled a glass cup across the room. "Useless fools! 5,000 private soldiers—how could they be wiped out without a word of warning? What is Tiberius even doing? So many men went to Lunvale, and he had no precautions in place! Not even a messenger to report this!"His face was contorted in a fury so terrifying that even Harvey, standing quietly nearby, dared not speak.This was a blow they had not seen coming.Yuvan's group had been solely focused on the private army in Stonebridge County. None of them ever imagined that problems would arise in Lunvale.Stone Village had been concealed so carefully. How could it have been discovered?Lunvale should never have drawn any attention in the first place!Its terrain was perfect—hidden tunnels and a stronghold backed by mountains on three sides. Yuvan had always thought that should their plans fail, they could retreat there and rema
In the study of Horizon Estate, the lamp had burned through the night.Yuvan had called together all his strategists, hoping to find someone who would agree with him.He truly believed now was not the right time—it would only lead to their deaths.If Tiberius were killed, there would be no hard evidence to accuse him of treason.Yet, all the strategists, as well as the officials from Valken who worked alongside him, were united in their opposition to killing Tiberius.The force that wiped out 5,000 private soldiers with ease was now escorting Tiberius back to the capital. With an escort like that, how could they possibly succeed in killing him?Rather than expend all their energy on that, it would be wiser to simply rise.Saul Harper, Valken's governor, said, "Your Highness, since we've missed the best opportunity, we should not delay any longer. The cost of maintaining the army is high, and with no financial aid from the capital, we cannot sustain this much longer. If we wait,
The following day, Horizon Estate grew even more crowded, with several noble families from Ebonflow arriving.These noble families, by all rights, should have been the most opposed to upheaval, for only in times of peace and prosperity could they enjoy their wealth and titles.However, after decades of existence, their titles had dwindled from dukes to marquises. Some even faced the looming possibility of having their titles stripped away. Naturally, anxiety began to creep in. After all, they had once been at the height of their power.Of course, not every noble family aligned with Yuvan's cause. Some sought only to live quiet lives in their own corner of the world, and while they were keenly aware of Yuvan's machinations, they preferred not to involve themselves. For them, the key was never to offend anyone—so they chose to turn a blind eye.Since not everyone had arrived yet, Yuvan decided to delay matters further, claiming he would make his decision only once everyone had gather
Rafael had intended to mention the person behind Yuvan's actions, but upon reflection, he chose to hold back. He didn't want to plant wild suspicions in Chester's mind. Instead, he said, "At the time, there was no concrete evidence. If Prince Yuvan had been killed without cause, the king would have earned the reputation of mercilessly slaying his own kin. "That would have only fueled the rebellion further. After all, rebellion is never the work of one man. With the reach Prince Yuvan's power has gained, someone would inevitably step forward to carry his banner. As for allowing him to return to Valken, it was to prevent him from reconnecting with those who had ties to Eleanor."Chester hadn't thought too deeply before Rafael's explanation. "I see.""If my suspicions are correct, they're planning to rise. They'll find some excuse to incite an uprising in various places. Once chaos erupts in Starhaven, they'll rally their forces under the pretext of quelling the unrest. That's why y
Cece Spencer, of course, was none other than Celeste Kingsley.After the birth of their son, she had blossomed anew. Her figure was as slender and graceful as ever, untouched by the weight of motherhood. Despite the harsh winds and biting cold of last year's winter in the Southern Frontier, she had flourished. Her complexion was as smooth as silk, and she radiated a delicate allure that made it impossible to look away.In the estate, everything of value seemed to be reserved for her. Each day, she indulged in camel's milk stews and royal jelly soup, soaking in sheep's milk baths—luxuries she had no qualms about enjoying even after the flow of money from the capital had dried up. To Oliver, she seemed almost impossibly delicate. Holding her soft, fragile hand stirred something deep in his chest. He knew it was unusual—after all, he had spent his life surrounded by women of all kinds, from those of exceptional beauty to those of quiet sweetness. Yet it was this woman, with her natu
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