Sebastian was summoned immediately. After examining Ryan, he praised Rowan's diligent efforts in helping the boy recover.He then tapped Ryan's little nose and said, "Well done, kid. You've really got some talent. This old man thought it would take at least a year and a half for you to recover.""But didn't you mention he needed to expel the poison before he could speak?" Carissa asked quickly."That's not an absolute requirement," Sebastian replied. "Looking at Ryan now, the toxins in his body are nearly cleared. It's just that after two years of silence, speaking might be a bit challenging. Additionally, his throat has been subjected to acupuncture, which has caused some damage and pain. With time, everything will improve."Everyone nodded and exchanged smiles. Previously, everyone was anxiously waiting to see if Ryan would need to expel the black blood, but it turned out that it wasn't necessary.Sebastian's medical skills were indeed somewhat unpredictable.Carissa bowed deep
Carissa had stayed up late, so she was groggy and barely coherent when Lulu came to report early in the morning.Aurora was outside the estate, demanding to see Carissa. The noise was so disruptive that Lulu had no choice but to wake her mistress.As Carissa sat up in bed, blinking away sleep, she was stunned to realize that Aurora had actually come. She focused her inner force on listening more closely and confirmed that the commotion outside was indeed Aurora's voice, accompanied by thunderous banging on the door.If this continued, it would disturb Ryan. Although he had improved significantly, loud and aggressive noises still frightened him.Carissa's first instinct was to grab her Rose Spear and drive Aurora away. However, with Northwatch Estate surrounded by influential families, she couldn't afford to embarrass herself by personally handling such a situation. It was beneath her status to engage directly with Aurora.However, Carissa's curiosity was piqued. She wondered what
After Carissa finished speaking, Aurora burst into wild laughter."You can't even speak the truth, Carissa. Where is your so-called bravery? It's nothing but hypocrisy!"Carissa ignored her and continued, "I remember the arrogant way you spoke when you came to see me. You demeaned women and reduced them to dust. I don't envy you, I only despise you. As a woman yourself, you have no pity for your own kind, and your character is questionable."Aurora snorted coldly. "Is that so? But even then, you had impressive martial arts skills. Since you found me displeasing, why didn't you take the chance to fight me?""Because it was beneath me!" Carissa's eyes darkened. "To me, you were nothing more than a buffoon. I had no interest in engaging with you. Besides, your offenses against me were only verbal, so I retaliated with words. The one who betrayed his promise was Barrett, so my ire was directed solely at him.""Beneath you, huh? I don't believe you didn't want to kill me back then." Au
Carissa stood and walked through the puddle on the floor, each step bringing her closer to Aurora.She bent down and whispered into Aurora's ear, "Has Liam's revenge not made you see the truth yet? Do you still think you're the greatest female general in the world? Aurora, you're nothing. Barrett married you out of novelty. If he truly loved you, he would have given you the position of a primary wife instead of a secondary wife."Aurora's face turned pale. "That's because he still wanted to preserve your dignity. As for me, I don't care about the title."Carissa grabbed the other woman's collar, then released it before smoothing out her neckline with a touch that carried a bone-chilling coldness."Do you think I care about the dignity he preserved for me? And what do you gain from not caring about titles? You came here today and flaunted your power. Did you think I might be concerned about my reputation and let you make a scene?"Carissa gripped Aurora's chin, pressing hard enough
Being called lowly struck a nerve for Aurora. She sprang to her feet and aimed a kick at Carissa's abdomen. Carissa didn't even dodge, simply countering with a sharp elbow to the other woman's shin.Aurora cried out in agony as a bone-shattering pain surged through her leg.Carissa seized Aurora by the collar and pushed her into a chair, leaning over her with a cold, unyielding gaze."You dare to act up in my house? What exactly are you here for today?"Aurora struggled with all her might but couldn't break free. In her frantic efforts, her veil fell off, revealing half of her disfigured face.Seeing Carissa's eyes fixed on her, Aurora's composure broke and she screamed in despair, "It's you! I came here to hold you accountable. You could have led your troops to rescue me, but you didn't! You even stopped Barrett from coming to my aid!"Carissa, you hate me for taking Barrett from you, so you deliberately allowed Liam to humiliate me. You're bitter, you're resentful, and you stil
Carissa kicked the back of Aurora's knee, making her collapse to the ground."Do you know how they died? Each of them was stabbed eighteen times. Why eighteen? Think carefully!""No!"Aurora's face turned ashen. She swallowed hard, her eyes darting around as memories resurfaced. She recalled the Westhaven junior general they had captured, who had turned out to be royalty.He had been stabbed eighteen times, and they had even cut off his…"It's impossible. The crimes were committed by Westhaven people. Your family was killed by Westhaven spies. It has nothing to do with me. Not in the slightest!"Aurora tried to rise and flee, but Carissa firmly held her shoulders, keeping her immobilized on her knees."Because of what you did at Victory Pass, my entire family was wiped out. They didn't even spare my youngest nephew. He was frail from birth and constantly on medication. Eighteen stab wounds… His entire body was hacked to pieces, and there was blood everywhere. The whole Northwatc
Aurora recalled everything that had happened on the Southern Frontier battlefield. Reflecting on the events now, she recognized that she had indeed fallen into a trap. She had suspected many things, but had been unwilling to believe, instead coming up with numerous excuses and reasons.The biggest reason she clung to was that Rafael aimed to elevate Carissa, thus erasing Aurora's achievements and declaring in advance that she would receive no credit.But Carissa was here, laying everything bare and dissecting it piece by piece.Aurora had no place to hide. She could only shuffle to the door, curl up there, and mutter, "No, it wasn't like that."Carissa stood before the memorial plaques, her figure shadowed by the candles behind her, making her expression indistinct.Her voice was soft and haunting as she said, "Aurora, you're still alive. You should be grateful."Yet, my family will never return, all because of you. Tell me, is it a wonder that I hate you? I've endured for so lon
Aurora couldn't bring herself to meet Carissa's gaze, as cold and sharp as a blade. Every word Carissa spoke was unpleasant to hear, yet not a single one was untrue.Aurora had been desperate to achieve something. After the battle at Victory Pass, she believed she had succeeded, and that she had done so with exceptional merit. No longer just the daughter of an old soldier, she was now a general in her own right.She looked down on everyone and felt superior, but deep down, she knew she was still insignificant. Otherwise, with her accomplishments, she wouldn't have been relegated to the position of Barrett's secondary wife.Most people wouldn't have accepted such a fate.Aurora's acceptance was driven by two reasons—her deep affection for Barrett, as well as the realization that, without her achievements, she would never be able to reach the heights of the Warren family.She dismissed the trivialities of domestic struggles, claiming she wanted women to excel on the battlefield, con
"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