When Salvador heard that Kyle sent the letter, he was quite surprised. He quickly ordered Derek to hand it to him.As he read the letter, he recognized the handwriting—it really did seem to be Kyle's. When he was the crown prince, he had the honor of receiving a calligraphy piece from Kyle, so he was familiar with his script.The letter mostly described Kyle's travels, but the last part was different.[After climbing Rocky Mountains, I saw thousands of Westhaven soldiers all dressed in Sandoria uniforms. They were also carrying provisions. Sandoria's third prince personally welcomed them into the territory. [This puzzles me greatly. Was Westhaven allying with Sandoria? But why would they bring nearly 300,000 soldiers into Sandoria? I trailed them quietly, and found that they were heading towards the Southern Frontier battlefield. [I fear they might be planning to attack our troops in the Southern Frontier. This is a serious matter. Please consider whether to report this to the k
Carissa couldn't fight the royal guards. Otherwise, the king would be even more convinced she was causing trouble over Barrett and Aurora's marriage.As she watched the king's retreating figure, she quickly said, “Your Majesty! My father was a great general of Starhaven, and my brothers were formidable junior generals who struck fear into our enemies. I may not be as capable as them, but I won’t let personal feelings interfere with matters of the state. Since I divorced Barrett, it’s a clean break. Please believe me this once!”Salvador stopped, but didn’t turn around.“If you know that the Duke of Northwatch and the junior generals were great heroes, then don’t do things that tarnish their names. I can grant you honor, and I can also take it away. Go back. I will pretend you weren’t here today. Take care of yourself,” he said coldly. With that, he strode away.Carissa lowered her hands in frustration. Tarnish their names?Did others, even the king, see her as someone who only
Frederick took a few decorated boxes, and rode out. As expected, the royal guards didn’t question him since their orders were to keep Carissa from leaving the house. The restriction didn’t apply to anyone else in Northwatch Estate, and such a large household naturally had daily errands and purchases.Arriving at Hartstone Estate, Frederick announced that he was delivering a bridal gift from the Duke of Northwatch's family.The gatekeeper reported this, and soon, the steward of Hartstone Estate, Simon Zephyr, came out. After greeting Frederick, Simon said, “Hello, Mr. Carter. The princess said that since Lady Sinclair has just returned home after her divorce, she must have been in need of money. There’s no need for her to spend on a gift for the princess. We appreciate the thought, but the gift isn’t necessary. Please take it back, and there’s no need to come again if there’s nothing urgent.”Frederick was momentarily taken aback. When he saw the indifferent look on Simon's face,
The gates of the Northwatch Estate closed, leaving Amelia outside. Lily refused to comment on anything about the Warrens. Seeing Frederick looking troubled, she asked, “Mr. Carter, what’s the matter?”Frederick handed the reins to the stableman and stretched his left leg, which had started to ache from all the riding. “Lady Heather refused the gift our lady sent to the princess,” he said quietly, not wanting others to overhear.Lily was shocked. “Princess Leona and our lady’s mother were sisters and very close. Why would she... I understand.”Even though the king had granted the title of Duke, Carissa's return to her family after the divorce, along with all the nasty rumors, had severed their kinship. With Carissa's mother gone, her familial ties weakened.In the eyes of the noble families, they believed Carissa was merely living under the protection of her father and brothers and had received special treatment from the king. Consequently, no one respected her.“I left the
Carissa practiced for half an hour, her legs extending gracefully in the air as she nimbly spun several times. Using her inner force, she struck with her spear, and a stone shattered into dust.Frederick was amazed, and he stepped forward to inspect the scene. Every fallen leaf on the ground had a hole pierced through it, without exception.Frederick was overjoyed. “My lady, your spear skills are even better than those of the young generals. You’re almost as good as the duke.”Carissa held the spear in her hand, feeling it fit perfectly. Her forehead was dotted with sweat, and her face was flushed. After a month of intense practice, she had finally regained the level she had when she first left the mountain. “I’ll take the Rose Spear with me on this journey.”Reinforcements would come, but they might be too late. She needed to gather the Pathfinders Guild and some old friends to head to the battlefield, and help the Hell Monarch hold the line until the reinforcements arrived.Th
The first snowfall lasted less than an hour before stopping.Carissa was dressed in her usual plain white attire with a white flower pinned in her hair, and moved gracefully through the estate. She had worn white since her parents' passing, observing the traditional three-year mourning period and avoiding bright colors.She entered the room, her steps steady and unhurried, and greeted Charlotte with a respectful bow. "Hello, Aunt Charlotte."Carissa then nodded politely to Amelia, acknowledging her presence.Charlotte stood up and took Carissa's hand, examining her closely. Carissa's complexion was smooth and pale, her overall appearance even more refined than during her time at the Valor Estate.Satisfied that Carissa looked healthy and well, Charlotte's eyes welled with tears as she recalled Carissa's difficult days with the Warrens. "Carissa, how have you been?" she asked. "Thank you for your concern, Aunt Charlotte. I'm doing well," Carissa replied with a gentle smile as s
Seeing Amelia's restless and anxious state, Carissa couldn't help but smile gently. "Go ahead, speak your mind."Carissa was leaving the capital tonight. If things weren't resolved today, Amelia would return tomorrow or the day after. She didn't want Amelia to spend days standing at the estate's gates and asking to meet her but couldn't, as that would only escalate matters.Carissa knew Rebecca didn't favor Amelia. Apart from not having a son, Amelia's family background was not influential, and her dowry was meager. She lacked the grace and elegance expected of noble ladies.Amelia didn't hesitate to pour out her grievances. Tears fell like rain as she recounted the chaos at the wedding party. Guests had fled, and even the soldiers Aurora invited had left disgruntled. Everyone blamed her, including her husband Benjamin."On their wedding night," Amelia continued with frustration and sadness, "Aurora overturned the table in their room. Barrett had actually left, but when Mom found o
Carissa looked at Amelia's despairing eyes. She realized that Amelia must have been deeply frightened by Barrett divorcing her.Amelia sobbed aloud, hastily covering her mouth with her handkerchief before continuing, "Carissa, it's true! I'm not lying to you. Mom thinks the Warrens have changed for the better, and can now mix with the elite of the capital. She often shows dissatisfaction towards me being the eldest wife in charge but lacking the demeanor of one. She even regrets letting Benjamin marry me."I'm not like you. I can't return to my parents' home if I get divorced. They'll criticize me and say I'm tarnishing my sisters' and nieces' marriages. I'd rather die than get divorced! I won't even have a chance to enter a nunnery."Carissa knew a bit about Amelia's family. Her father is a seventh-rank editor at the Privy Council. Although his official rank wasn't high and he held no real power, scholars value etiquette and reputation greatly. If a family has a daughter who has be
Carissa paid a visit to Jeanette.Though the concubine did not explicitly say that Sylvia was responsible for the loss of her child, she did remark, "Those who commit wicked deeds will always face retribution. No one can escape it."The words seemed not only directed at Sylvia, but also at Kylie.As Carissa prepared to leave after questioning her, Jeanette suddenly spoke up, asking, "Your Grace, was it truly impossible to save Prince Connor?"Carissa assumed Jeanette's words were born of sympathy for Connor. But when she glanced at the concubine, she saw no trace of sorrow in her eyes, only a subtle glint of something resembling satisfaction.It was an emotion she clearly tried to conceal but could not, as though Jeanette had achieved a long-sought revenge. Carissa chose not to respond, instead turning on her heel to leave.Kylie had caused Jeanette's loss, so it was no surprise that she wouldn't wish for Connor's recovery.Carissa couldn't fault Jeanette for her feelings. How c
Kylie had always looked down on Grace.The latter's family lacked distinction, and her beauty could scarcely be considered remarkable. Her rise to the position of higher-ranked concubine seemed nothing more than the result of fortunate circumstances, particularly her giving birth to Caden.Kylie guessed that Grace also must be aware of her limited connections and support, which was why she had long exercised caution and humility. However, there were times when she could not resist harboring a few selfish thoughts. Yet, she dared not plot too aggressively.Such had been the case when Grace had sheltered Jeanette—likely in an attempt to solidify her position and strengthen her influence in the harem by using the other woman as a pawn. Despite Grace's attentions, Jeanette had remained ungrateful, resenting the way she constantly placed Caden in Salvador's presence.Grace always had a habit of making things harder for herself, which was why Kylie had never held her in much regard.Now
Sitting in front of her vanity table, Sylvia suddenly recalled that the dress she had once asked her mother to order from Camila had been delivered. She had intended to wear it at the New Year's Eve banquet.The dress was a rich shade of sunset yellow, embroidered with delicate camellia flower blossoms. Charming and vivid, the hem of the skirt flowed in graceful waves, the brightness of its color giving it an air of both beauty and refinement.Sylvia asked Heidi to bring the dress over and help her into it. She gazed into the mirror, entranced by her own reflection. While doing so, she noted that although she looked a little haggard, she remained as stunning as ever. Her skin was still pale and smooth, free from the slightest sign of age or fatigue.Her slender, pale fingers traced the intricate embroidery as she murmured softly to herself, "Ms. Moore's needlework is indeed extraordinary. This dress surpasses even the finest dress I own. How truly exquisite."Heidi knelt at her sid
The next morning, Rafael announced Connor’s death, leaving the entire court in shock and mourning."His Majesty is overcome with grief and has fallen ill. For the next few days, matters regarding the kingdom will be handled by myself and Mr. Murray. The arrangements for Prince Connor's funeral will be overseen by the Royal Management Department and the Protocol Department," Rafael said solemnly.Malcolm staggered, barely keeping his balance. His eyes were bloodshot from a sleepless night. Even though he had mentally prepared himself, the news still hit him hard.The news reached the inner palace at the same time. Since returning last night, Kylie had been wailing inconsolably, demanding to see Connor. Upon hearing the dreadful news, she fainted once more. Thankfully, a royal physician had been stationed at Everspring Palace and was able to revive her.Once the queen was conscious again, her screams echoed throughout the entire area.At Iridescent Palace, Grace felt a mix of relief
Salvador announced his decision before asking Rafael about the investigation.The king knew the colt wouldn't go wild for no reason. He had asked about the horses before—some had a bit of a temper, but the children had already tamed them.Rafael didn't hide anything and handed over the caltrop. "Someone placed this under the saddle. When the saddle was empty, the thorn caused only a mild discomfort to the horse. But once Prince Connor got on, the sharp spikes stabbed into the horse's flesh, causing it to go berserk from the pain."Salvador's gaze grew cold as he looked at Carissa. "Did no one inspect the saddles beforehand?"Carissa hurriedly responded, "Your Majesty, we checked thoroughly. The horses were under constant guard, and aside from the three princes and Ryan, no one was allowed near them. They led their own horses; no one else handled them during the journey."Victoria's expression was equally grim. "I gave strict orders to the guards. The horses, the three princes, and
Salvador's question hung heavy in the air, and for a long moment, Sebastian remained silent. His brow furrowed as he pondered, considering every possibility, weighing the odds.The only sounds that filled the room were strained, shallow breaths and the pounding of hearts, creating a silence so profound it was suffocating and seemed to echo with despair.At last, Sebastian slowly said, "There isn't really a solution. At best, there's a desperate gamble. But the chances of success… are very, very low.""Tell us. Just say it," Victoria urged, even more anxious than Salvador.Sebastian let out a deep sigh. "Even this gamble depends on him surviving the next three days. If he makes it through, I'll take him to Eldermere Keep. There, we will soak him in a brew made from the Everbind Herb, which grows only on those grounds. It might save his life. But the chances are slim. He may not last long enough to even get there.""Can't we gather the Everbind Herb and bring it here? How would we m
Connor was transferred to a smaller palace within the royal gardens. It was impossible to return him to the main palace at the moment, with the only choice being to treat him nearby.As for his condition, everyone could guess by looking at Sebastian's face. It seemed like it wasn't looking good.Rafael had the room cleared of any unnecessary witnesses, though he did not yet report the findings of the investigation. There were still questions to be answered, and the search for answers continued.All the concubines, as well as Kylie, returned to the main palace. The queen had initially refused to leave her son's side, adamant in her decision to stay with him. But upon seeing Connor's condition, she fainted once more. It was then that Salvador gave the order to have her escorted away.Ryan had also resisted leaving. He wouldn't abandon his friend, no matter the circumstances, and insisted on remaining at his side. Seeing the boy's resolve, Rafael allowed him to stay.Salvador remaine
The guards were unable to restrain Kylie, who rushed past the partition screens. One glance at her blood-soaked son was enough to make her release a piercing scream of horror before collapsing in a faint.Thankfully, royal physicians were also present. The servants quickly ushered the queen out, allowing a royal physician to attend to her. Once revived, Kylie's sobs were unrestrained, her cries echoing with raw anguish.Leading some men, Rafael took swift action to restore order. He intercepted the frenzied horse and set the wheels of investigation in motion, determined to uncover what had caused such madness.Inside the makeshift room, Salvador knelt beside Connor. As his trembling hands gently brushed the bloodied face of his son, his palms became stained with crimson.Telling the king to move aside, Sebastian quickly administered needle treatment, meant to simply keep Connor alive for a little longer. The priority now was to stop the bleeding in the eldest prince's head.The bo
Carissa ended up with a mouthful of dust. The sandy ground was nothing like the grassy fields. It had no beauty at all, just clouds of dust flying everywhere. Even standing inside the racetrack, she could hardly see who was in the lead.It looked like Joseph's youngest son, Ingram Carter.As the horses cleared the hurdles, it became clear that it was indeed Ingram. His horse had pulled ahead by a full length, and he continued to extend his lead with impressive speed.While lively, the race was not a formal contest. It was merely a display to flatter the royal princes, so the position of first place held little significance.None of the riders were willing to push themselves too hard, lest they raise the princes' anxiety by excelling too greatly. Thus, the others refrained from catching up. However, the pace was swift, even if it was not their peak performance.By the time the current riders reached the third lap, Ryan and the three princes were preparing to mount their horses. Onc