"Alright!" Theodore replied as he wiped tears from his eyes.Though he couldn't see the young girl before him clearly, he could feel her spirited determination and was deeply relieved."Let's not linger here any longer. You might pick up some bad luck. I'm leaving now; you should also depart soon," Theodore added."I will, Granduncle Theodore," Carissa replied respectfully.Standing up, she walked her great-granduncle and Solomon out of the manor.Beatrice also decided to leave. Initially, she had planned to speak with Carissa. But since the older woman had stayed silent while the Warren family gave Carissa a hard time, Beatrice didn't have the nerve to say anything now. So, she would act like she hadn't come today.The Warren family remained rooted in place, seemingly unable to accept this outcome.Carissa was suddenly the legitimate daughter of a duke, and her husband could even inherit the title. This was unprecedented. How was it possible for someone with a different surname
In the evening, Aurora had someone tell Barrett to meet her by the lake. As they walked, Barrett remained silent.Aurora was still unaware of the situation. She had expected him to explain the divorce voluntarily when they met up. But to her surprise, he didn't say a single word. Also, there were scratches on his face, as if a cat had clawed him.After walking for a while, she stopped and couldn't help but ask, "Did you divorce her? Did you take half her dowry?"As the dusk gently illuminated Aurora's somewhat tanned face, Barrett suddenly thought of Carissa's bright and beautiful face. His heart twinged with pain.Seeing how Barrett remained silent with a pained look, Aurora couldn't help but get angry."You didn't deduct it? Didn't I ask someone to send you a letter, telling you to deduct half of her dowry? The Warren family has minimal funds left. If you didn't keep some of her dowry, how are we supposed to live in the future?"Barrett looked at her and replied, "But that was
Barrett fell silent. He had suffered a thorough defeat in today's battle against Carissa, and it was embarrassing to talk about it."Is it really true?" Aurora pressed.Barrett sighed. "Forget it, let's not talk about this."Pouting, Aurora punched him playfully. "I knew you were lying to me. Anyway, it doesn't matter how she left. As long as everything's settled, it's fine."Since she said it's not worth sharing the position of your wife with me, I actually feel the same. The cunning methods she learned while managing the household affairs are beyond my ability to match. That's also where her real talent lies."She tilted her head and faced Barett. "I can't learn her skills, but if you want me to sweet-talk you like her, I can manage that."Aurora held her hands to her chest, smiled gently, and called in a cute voice, "Honey!"She shivered dramatically. "Oh my god, that was so disgusting! How does she act like that?"Barrett shivered too. Aurora's deliberate act had reminded h
Solomon came over to Northwatch Estate, bringing some of the younger members of the Sinclair family along with him to help Carissa unload and arrange everything. After they all hustled for a while, Solomon walked around the estate with Carissa.Once bustling with life, the mansion now felt desolate."You're the only lady of the duke's estate now, and the servants you have are those who followed you from your natal home."You should find a steward to manage the household affairs and hire more servants for the rough work in the kitchen, garden, and stables, as well as to handle the carriages. If it's inconvenient for you, I can help find some people for you," said Solomon."Uncle Solomon, you're busy with business. I wouldn't want to trouble you. Holly and Lily will take care of it," replied Carissa gratefully.Solomon looked at his niece and sighed. "Family should never talk about not wanting to trouble each other. In the past, your father used to invite us to gather after returnin
Although the Duke of Northwatch's family was known for their military background, Carissa was well-read, so she wanted her attendants to be literate as well."Alright, all of you can stay. Serve Lady Sinclair well. She will name you later," said Holly.The four were overjoyed."Thank you, Ms. Holly!""Don't thank me yet. Serving Lady Sinclair comes with rules. If you don't follow them well, you'll end up as second- or third-tier maids," Holly warned."We will definitely learn and follow the rules properly," the four replied, bowing respectfully.After Holly and Lily picked more servants to join the household, they instructed the agent to find coachmen, carpenters, stablemen, and gardeners. However, the positions of steward and accountant were too important to be left for the agent to procure."Rest assured, we will have some people tomorrow for your selection," the agent promised.After receiving his payment and handing over the contracts, the agent smiled and presented Holly a
But this matter was impossible to investigate now. The spies were either dead or had disappeared back to Westhaven, where they couldn’t be found.Carissa couldn't help but feel bitterness and pain as she thought of her father and brothers again.They had once reclaimed the Southern Frontier, only to lose it again and die tragically on the battlefield. If the Hell Monarch could win the ongoing war and reclaim the Southern Frontier, it would fulfill the wishes of her father and brothers.On her first night back home, Carissa didn't sleep well. Her dreams were filled with scenes of her mother, sister-in-law, nephews, and nieces being killed. After jolting awake in the middle of the night, she couldn't fall back asleep. She spent the rest of the night lying in bed staring wide-eyed at the canopy, her mind racing.From the wounds on her family members' bodies, Carissa could see how ruthless the assailants had been. It was clear that they had been venting their anger.Losing a battle sh
"He took everything! From now on, the family won't even be able to afford my medicine!" yelled Rebecca.Barrett felt uneasy but could only comfort his mother, saying, "Don't worry, Mom. Aurora and I will soon be needed at the Southern Frontier again. We'll return with honor."Rebecca sobbed hoarsely. "How could she be so heartless? Wouldn't she still have been your rightful wife? Why couldn't she tolerate sharing the position? She's just an orphan girl, yet she thinks of herself as a noble lady?!"Barrett pursed his lips. Carissa was now the legitimate daughter of a duke, which meant she was naturally a noble lady."She deserved having her entire family annihilated! She deserved it! She deserved it!" Rebecca raged.Barrett also found it strange that spies from Westhaven had wiped out the Sinclair family. Why would they kill those elderly people, women, and children? It made no sense and wasn't something worth doing.But the Sinclair family's matters were no longer his concern. He
After Solomon and the other Sinclair family members moved all the dowry items back to Northwatch Estate, Carissa came out to thank them and invited everyone in for tea.Solomon shook his head. "We've got other important matters to attend to, so we can't stay for tea. By the way, Barrett asked me to give you a message. He hopes you won't regret your decision.""I have nothing to say to him in response to his message. Since you have important matters, I won't keep you," Carissa replied calmly.Pleased with her response, Solomon and the others left.Even if the Sinclair family lost everything, they couldn't lose their dignity.It wasn't that Solomon didn't want to stay for tea, but Northwatch Estate was still in chaos. He was certain the new servants had yet to learn all the necessary rules and mannerisms.Solomon would have been okay with it, but he had brought along other family members. Too many people seeing the situation at Northwatch Estate might lead to gossip, and Carissa co
Snow fell softly in the dead of winter, blanketing Victory Pass in white. At that moment, the world seemed to have been made pure again.For years, I wore nothing but a tattered priest's robe. I carried a broken bowl and wandered from place to place, asking for food. I stopped only briefly at temples along the way to rest for a night or two and kneel before the statues to beg for forgiveness.I could have stayed at the first monastery I was sent to. Life there wasn't easy, but it wasn't so hard either. I had warm meals and shelter from the cold. But I knew if I stayed in comfort, I would never wash away my sins.Only by suffering, by staying on the road and bearing the cold, the hunger, the pain, could I find peace in my heart.And so, I came to Victory Pass.My sandals had long since fallen apart. Thick calluses had grown on my feet; I could walk barefoot over rocks and barely feel a thing. Even with every piece of clothing I owned layered over me, the winter cold still cut throug
It was during the Verdant Hunt that Connor fell out of favor with Dad, who scolded him harshly before we left the hunting grounds. Once we returned to the palace, Connor fell ill. Ryan and I were both terribly worried, but Mom was delighted.She held me close that evening, her smile sharper than usual. "After this, your father is sure to be tired of your brother."She told me I must work harder than ever, and to listen closely to the royal chancellor and my uncle."Study better than anyone. Earn their praise. And most importantly, outshine your brother," she said.My heart felt torn. Mom often spoke of the rewards that came with being crown prince, and I won't lie, I was tempted. However, those were all distant things.At the time, I was close to Connor, Ryan, and even our youngest brother, Cecil. We all got along so well. How could I possibly hate my older brother?Those thoughts tangled inside me, day after day. I lost focus. My studies slipped. I made mistakes during riding pra
Before I took the vows and entered the monastery, my name was Caden.From the time I was young, I often heard the same praise whispered around me: "This child is sharp beyond his years—clever, quick-witted, the finest of the three princes."I heard it so often that I came to believe it myself. At times, I even felt proud. But whenever I let that pride rise too high, Mom would bring me back to earth.She would look at me, her eyes soft but filled with something I couldn't quite name—pity, perhaps. And then, she would sigh and say, "What a pity you were born of my womb. If not, you might have risen above that foolish one. But fate favored him, not you."That "foolish one"—I knew well enough who she meant. I had heard her say it so many times in private, though never once in public.It puzzled me greatly as a child. Mom clearly disliked my eldest brother, Connor, more than anyone. Yet, whenever he came near, she would smile warmly and speak kindly. She would even flatter him, calling
Two childhood friends were now each giving their all on very different paths.Clarence had started with herbs, then medicine, and in time, healing became his entire world at Eldermere Keep. At first, it was merely something to pour his heart into, because he knew he would never be allowed to leave the mountain and open a medical hall of his own.But then Ryan came, and afterward, sent Clarence a letter.That letter changed everything.For the first time, Clarence began to hope that maybe, just maybe, he could go down the mountain after all. And once that hope took root, he threw himself into his studies with more energy than ever before. He barely slept, rarely left the apothecary, and sometimes forgot to eat.Because of the pain he had once endured, he focused his efforts on curing injuries and chronic pain. Of course, a good physician had to know more than one thing, so he studied every field without neglecting any.There was a fire inside him now. A quiet flame that had not bur
"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