When Carissa returned to Hell Monarch Estate, she immediately heard the news—Silverstone Estate had been seized, and the Earl of Silverstone's family had been imprisoned.In fact, she already knew. The word had reached her while she was still in the palace.Or perhaps, she had suspected this even earlier, when news of Oliver's desertion reached her. She had known then that this would be the inevitable outcome.The people sent to seize Silverstone Estate were not only carrying out the punishment for Oliver's crime, but also hoping that he would turn himself in voluntarily. The confiscation of the estate and the stripping of titles were routine measures in such cases.It would be impossible for such a scandal to erupt and for the title to remain intact, allowing the family to continue in wealth and comfort. But what would happen next? Even Carissa couldn't predict Salvador's next move.Isaac had already begun making his rounds, seeking assistance, but not from the powerful or th
The following morning, Irvin brought the matter before the court.Jeremiah nodded in approval and said, "I've heard of Mrs. Prince's good deed of setting up the food distribution stall. It's rare for a woman, confined to the inner chambers of the household, to have such a chance to do good. Yet, despite her circumstances, she has remained true to her heart, doing good deeds and accumulating virtue. "It's something worthy of praise and should be spread far and wide to set an example for the people. Though, it's truly regrettable that such a virtuous woman should be dragged down by her husband and trapped in Astral Prison, her fate uncertain."Malcolm stepped forward and added, "The common people have been speaking of nothing else these past few days, and many are speaking out in support of Mrs. Prince. "Your Majesty, I believe that while Mr. Prince's actions are unforgivable, punishing his family by stripping their titles and confiscating their property is already enough. I urge y
It had been six days since the Earl of Silverstone's family was imprisoned, and not a single tear had fallen from Zoey's eyes. But now, in Carissa's presence, her eyes suddenly reddened. She quickly turned her head, her voice breaking as she whispered, "Thank you, Your Grace, for visiting a prisoner like me."Carissa looked at Zoey, who was dressed in coarse prison garb, her disheveled hair concealing a face grimy with dirt. The dignified and graceful woman she once was seemed barely recognizable."You have suffered, Madam Zoey," Carissa said softly.Zoey quickly masked her sorrow and replied, "I'm not concerned for myself, but I fear for the children. Your Grace, what does His Majesty intend to do with us? Will we be executed?"Carissa gently pulled her into a seat. "If His Majesty sought to execute you out of anger, he would have done so by now. He means to use you to draw Mr. Prince back. If he surrenders, your punishment will be lightened."Zoey shook her head. "Impossible.
The people Rafael suspected were Hayden and his son Nicholas, with a particular focus on the latter. After all, Hayden led a very reclusive life and hardly interacted with anyone.If there was anyone Hayden interacted with frequently, it was Carissa and Rafael. Normally, Hayden and Chaya would eat, drink, and have fun at home. Even when they went out, it was all about eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves. Their life motto was simply to eat, drink, play, and have fun.The last time Carissa visited, Chaya had put on quite a bit of weight. Even Hayden seemed to have gained about seven to eight pounds. Chaya's chin was now a bit more prominent when she smiled.After several days of fruitless investigation, Carissa decided to pay them a visit in person, taking Violet along with her.Hayden was delighted to see them and immediately turned to Chaya. "Yesterday, I caught a large carp myself. Use it to prepare sashimi, but remember to drain all the blood. I don't like any red left in
When Carissa and Violet returned and told Jacob and Kyle about the events, both of them agreed that it would be wise to carefully investigate the people at Willowbrook Estate, including Chaya.They had already conducted an investigation into the estate before and found no suspicious individuals. A few of them had been brought back to the capital by Hayden and had been loyal to him for many years—calling them trusted confidants would not be an exaggeration.The rest of the staff had been purchased from a merchant during Hayden's return to the capital. Jacob had even personally looked into their identities through the merchant, tracing their family histories. He discovered that they had all been sold by their families, who were struggling financially.Carissa and Violet had spent the day walking around Willowbrook Estate, but they found no servants who seemed skilled in martial arts. Even if there were any, they would likely be avoiding them.Jacob suggested they conduct another roun
Alec arrived to report the casualties from the first battle: 356 dead, and 1,732 injured.The mood among the officers immediately plunged back to the freezing point.They had been tasked with defending the city, with archers stationed on the walls. But even with their defensive advantage, the Sandorians had managed to deploy their siege ladders and hurl stones, causing so much loss of life and injury.This wasn't even a full-scale siege—the Sandorians were simply testing their strength and the teamwork of the Southern Frontier Army.It was clear that the Sandorians understood the situation. They weren't rushing to deploy their full forces. Instead, they were playing a psychological game, careful not to provoke a decisive battle just yet. The Southern Frontier Army, despite their diminished morale, would fight fiercely once their lives were at stake.But if these probing attacks continued, the casualties would steadily rise. Ultimately, the psychological toll would break the Sout
The crowd turned their heads at once and saw a horse galloping toward them, dust billowing in its wake. Its rider was wrapped in the warm sunlight, making it hard to see his face clearly.It looked like who they were expecting, but maybe it wasn't.Louis and Timothy both looked up sharply, their eyes instantly reddening. A lump caught in their throats, and they were too overwhelmed to even shout.He wasn't wearing armor—just the plain, rough clothes of a commoner. From a distance, he appeared ordinary and unremarkable.The man reined in his horse before the gathered soldiers, his gaze slowly sweeping across them. His face turned slowly, allowing the people in the front row to see it with crystal clarity.After a long, stunned silence, the crowd erupted into jubilant cries."It's Marshal Sanford! The marshal has returned!""Marshal Sanford isn't dead!""With Marshal Sanford here, we'll surely win!""Victory is ours!"The cheers came in waves, each one louder than the last. It
A bowl of chicken noodle soup was placed before Rafael, but it was nowhere near enough to fill the emptiness in his stomach.Louis mentioned that he had ordered roasted lamb and skewers, and that there was no shortage of rich food now. It was nothing like the days when the Southern Frontier was struggling. Even the common folk could afford meat these days.Rafael shakily picked up the bowl and drank the soup in one go. The broth was salty, and he followed it with a whole jug of water. Slumping into his chair, he felt his strength gradually returning, though there was still an odd sensation, as if he were still bouncing on horseback. The faces around him seemed to blur and retreat. He had to focus to make out their features.Alec's voice cracked with emotion. "Your Highness, you look utterly exhausted."Rafael rubbed his cheek. "Have the medic give me needle treatment for my face. It feels like it's been blown off-kilter."Everyone took a closer look and indeed noticed that Rafae
Hayden clenched his fists, his anger and helplessness tightening his chest as he followed behind.The physician worked quickly, examining Sonny's injuries. Both of his legs were broken, three of his teeth were knocked out, and his face was riddled with fractures. Despite the pain that twisted his expression, he still grinned at Hayden, forcing a smile through gritted teeth.He tried to assure Hayden with a look that said he would be fine.Hayden turned away, his heart aching. The man who had stood by his side for so many years now lay in such a state. Fury surged within him, but there was nothing he could do.Back in Nerovia, he had ordered an extra emblem to be made, just in case the day ever came when Nicholas stole the original to mobilize Hayden's forces. If Hayden noticed in time, someone could use the duplicate emblem to stop Nicholas.Hayden hadn't expected it to serve its purpose this way, though.The chaos of the riverworks project was swiftly quelled. Cameron was arrest
As dawn broke, Adrian led them to the Glimmering Tower. It was then that Carissa realized they weren't the only ones who had arrived—many guild leaders and elders were present as well. Even Violet and Bun's mentor had come.When Violet spotted her mentor Conrad, she gasped in surprise and rushed toward him. "Sage Conrad, what brings you here? You didn't even send word beforehand!"Conrad smiled warmly as he looked at his beloved apprentice, indulgence in his voice. "I heard you were guarding the capital. Naturally, I had to come and lend you a hand.""Sage Conrad, you're too kind. I'll get another villa for you once we're done here," Violet said, linking her arm with his, grinning widely.Conrad scowled lightly, feigning annoyance. "Why would I need more villas from you? No more, I tell you. However, I did hear about a hot spring at Solitude Peak. I thought of buying it, so your fellow apprentices can soak and strengthen their bodies."Violet nodded enthusiastically. "I'll buy i
The black-clad assailants' Lightfoot Skills were extraordinary, and they scattered in all directions. Adrian could have pursued one of them, but catching all of them was impossible.However, he chose not to pursue anyone at all. Emerging from the shadows, his hand darted out and grabbed Carissa by the ear, twisting it until she yelped in pain. "So bold of you, wasn't it? To engage without proper defenses? Do you think you're invincible? Haven't you heard the saying that there's always someone stronger out there?"Carissa shrieked and flailed in protest as the lamps were lit by Jacob, illuminating the courtyard and revealing the bloodstains on everyone's bodies.Only then did Adrian notice the wounds on Carissa. Yet instead of softening, his grip on her ear tightened, and he hissed, "You couldn't guess what Nicholas was planning? And you didn't think to write for reinforcements from Meadow Ridge? Are you so arrogant now that you've forgotten basic caution? Just wait until your mart
Hayden gestured for her to lower the sword. "Not tonight. Neither side is ready."Chaya frowned, confused. "Why? Didn't you say Mr. Russell was formidable? If he's taking action, surely he can capture Prince Nicholas?""He won't capture him," Hayden replied, rubbing his temples. "General Farrell has Valken surrounded, but he hasn't launched an attack because he knows Mr. Murphy has already undermined Prince Yuvan's authority. "A portion of Valken's population has joined the so-called rebel forces. If the capital falls now, the officials in Valken and Nerovia will find an excuse, under the court's banner, to slaughter the townsfolk. That would spark even larger uprisings. That's why Lady Carissa can't act prematurely."Chaya hastily tossed the sword aside. "And why isn't it the right time for Prince Nicholas, then?""It's simple," Hayden said. "He needs Mr. Murphy to first defeat General Farrell in a decisive victory. Once General Farrell is dealt with, he'll move on to General Mu
By the early hours of the morning, the rain had lessened to a gentle drizzle, leaving the air cooler and the night more serene. The quiet respite lulled many into a deeper, more peaceful sleep.Seven or eight shadowy figures darted through the curfewed city, their movements light and swift. They barely left a trace as they touched down on rooftops, their steps silent.They arrived at the Capital Guard headquarters. The outer guards had already retreated for the night, leaving only Carissa and her companions waiting in the main hall, tense and alert.With a quick exchange of glances, the group gripped their weapons. The assassins had arrived!The dim light of the hall flickered, and as the black-clad figures descended, a gust of wind extinguished the lamps. Darkness enveloped the room, plunging it into an impenetrable black where even an outstretched hand became invisible.Amid the darkness, the faint sound of breathing and the subtle rhythm of movements became the only clues to
The damp, oppressive heat of summer seemed to weigh heavily on the spirit, stoking an inexplicable irritation in the air.Hayden, clearly affected by the weather, barely touched his dinner. After a few cursory bites, he set his cutlery down and announced that he was heading back to the study to practice his calligraphy to clear his mind. He gestured for Chaya to follow, and the two left the room.Before departing, Chaya made sure to take two heaping plates of snacks with her. After all, she wasn't about to let herself go hungry.Nicholas, still in his Gordon disguise, watched Hayden leave but made no move to stop him. It didn't matter where Hayden went—his every step was being monitored. Besides, Nicholas had far more pressing matters to attend to tonight.Back in his room, Nicholas locked the door behind him and methodically prepared for the night's mission. He changed into his stealth attire, then sat before a mirror. Opening a small wooden box on the table, he revealed an array
By evening, tensions finally erupted.The Waterworks Department had stationed soldiers to oversee the workers, ensuring work continued on schedule. Yesterday's heavy rain had halted all progress, but with today's rare overcast skies and no rain, Cameron ordered the workers to make up for lost time. In fact, he demanded they finish the project three days ahead of schedule.The workers were already agitated, and they refused. Tempers flared, and heated arguments broke out between them and the Waterworks Department officials. In a fit of rage, Cameron picked up a club and struck one of the workers. That single blow ignited an uncontrollable fury among the workers. Over a hundred men turned on the officials, attacking them in a chaotic melee.Fortunately, Carissa had already stationed people nearby to keep an eye on the situation. Word was immediately sent to Max.Max was wary, suspecting this might be a calculated ploy by Nicholas. However, based on their investigation, not all th
Adrian had also brought a cannon with him, though it had to remain outside the city for now. It couldn't be transported in just yet. This cannon, an improvement on the red canon of Nerathia, was the same one that had destroyed Everett's courtyard back then.In a few days, nearly all the martial factions that had been invited to Adrian's birthday banquet would arrive, each disguised in various ways. Knowing that martial artists would be thoroughly questioned at the city gates, they all decided to change their appearances completely.Adrian had specifically chosen people from Coldmoon Guild to keep watch at the Capital Guard headquarters and Hell Monarch Estate in shifts. There was a reason for this. The people from Coldmoon Guild rarely moved within the martial world, and they seldom visited the capital. Nicholas' men likely had never encountered them, which made them perfect for keeping Carissa safe without drawing suspicion.Adrian was certain that Nicholas' next move would be to
After the group entered the city, Michael was momentarily distracted by another merchant caravan arriving at the gates. He made sure to inspect them thoroughly, confirming that there were no issues before allowing them to pass.As he turned back, he noticed the merchant caravan was following closely behind the group he had just checked. Among them, a familiar figure caught his eye—a figure whose silhouette seemed unmistakable. It resembled Carissa's martial uncle from the Pathfinders Guild.The man's name was Everett, if Michael recalled correctly. But then again, the face didn't match. He thought about it for a moment, but the resemblance was only in the figure. The features—absolutely not. Still, Michael felt uneasy and decided it was worth investigating further.He instructed a few men to follow the caravan and watch for any unusual activity. An hour later, they reported back that the group had settled in a manor on Eastland Avenue. That area was known for being home to powerfu