Some of the servants rushed outside, only to find the courtyard in total disarray, no different from the chaos in the main hall.His face ashen and lifeless, Noah stepped forward and bowed. "Has your anger been fully vented, Your Highness?"Rafael remained silent, his expression cold.It was Carissa who spoke up instead, "Earl of Gracehold, do you harbor any resentment in your heart?"Noah gritted his teeth. "I wouldn't dare.""You wouldn't dare?" Carissa's face was devoid of any warmth. "It's best if you don't. Because next time, I promise you, the estate will be leveled to the ground."Noah had witnessed the grandeur of her wedding and knew that behind Carissa stood not only the Hell Monarch's household, but also a number of martial artists. In fact, there were even two martial artists affiliated with her currently stationed here in his own household.Forget leveling the estate—if Carissa wanted, she could kill everyone in Gracehold Estate without leaving a trace.Tonight, No
Violet glanced at Carissa, who gave her a slight nod.Violet then coldly laughed and said, "You're claiming to be a 'pure courtesan'? Maybe you can fool someone as brainless as Samuel, but do you really think you can fool us?"Her words instantly enraged Samuel, who snapped, "How dare you slander her?"Violet sneered. "Slander her? I wouldn't dare. Ruby, shouldn't you tell everyone your real name? What was it again? I heard your esteemed father gave you a rather lovely name—Celeste Kingsley, wasn't it? But Grand Princess Eleanor didn't call you that, did she? She called you something else, right? Cece, wasn't it?"Ruby's face turned deathly pale, but only for a moment.Soon, her eyes filled with tears, and she choked out, "W-What are you talking about?"The faces of those from the Earl of Gracehold's family also changed drastically. They stared at Ruby's elegant and beautiful face in disbelief.Could she really be Eleanor's daughter?Surely, she wasn't her biological child. Ele
Ruby continued to cry uncontrollably, her sobs wracking her body. Despite her tears, her fingers clung desperately to Samuel's shirt, as if holding onto him was the only thing keeping her grounded. Though her eyes had run dry, her cries were still filled with a deep sense of hurt and vulnerability."Such a mess!" Rafael commented as he stood up, taking Carissa's hand in his.He turned to the stunned Helen. "Mom, let's go."Helen snapped out of her shock and rose to her feet.But before leaving, she glanced at Heather and said, "I just went in to see Leona. She thought it was you and was so happy, but when she realized it wasn't, she was disappointed. You're such a weak mother, so it's no wonder your daughter turned out the same. You know very well who I caused a scene for today. If you have any shred of dignity as a mother, don't let this slide so easily. Otherwise, you'll lose all respect in my eyes.""Mother, let's go. Every mother has maternal instincts. I'm sure Aunt Heather k
Heather covered Leona's mouth and warned, "Don't you dare say those words again! You're a duchess with an annual stipend and land of your own. You can support yourself without depending on the earl's family."As for your husband, I believe he'll come to his senses. That woman… that woman is Grand Princess Eleanor's illegitimate daughter. She's up to something by coming into this household."Leona's heart sank further. She didn't care who Ruby was. No matter how scheming or filthy her methods were, none of this would've happened if Samuel had believed Leona.Leona had already given up on Samuel.Seeing her daughter's silence, Heather assumed she would listen and continued, "Trust your mother. Once the child is born, your husband will change his mind. And when the old matriarch sees her great-grandchild, how could she not love the child? They'll be good to you. You just need to endure. Things will get better after this rough patch."The real problem is that old matriarch—she caused
After Harvey and Heather left, the servants in Gracehold Estate were busy cleaning up. Apart from Samuel and Ruby, who remained in the sitting room, everyone else dispersed. Even Abigail did not stay as she escorted Dorothy back to her quarters.Before leaving, Dorothy gave strict orders that Noah was not to make things difficult for Samuel."Which of the young men in this family is as outstanding as he is? The king personally selected Samuel as one of the top scholars. Him losing his position is only a temporary setback. Which family doesn't have multiple wives and concubines? It's just that some petty people are stirring up trouble.""Mom, go rest," Noah responded, but he didn't agree. He simply gestured for his wife to escort Dorothy away.Noah then turned his gaze to Ruby, who was sobbing uncontrollably in Samuel's arms. He felt a surge of frustration."Why are you crying? If you hadn't provoked Leona, would tonight's events have happened?"Still shielding Ruby, Samuel spoke
After Samuel settled down, he immediately began drafting a scathing article condemning the Hell Monarch. Once he finished, he reached out to his old scholar friends, inviting over a dozen people to join him. However, only three or four actually showed up.Those who did come were stunned after reading his article. They quickly made excuses, claiming they had urgent matters to attend to, and hurriedly left.Samuel was bewildered.He chased after one of them, grabbing him by the arm and asking, "You all read how the Hell Monarch bullied me. Aren't you going to help?"The scholar's name was Sean. He entered the National Academy last year and had once deeply admired Samuel—before Samuel brought a courtesan from a brothel into his home. Today, Sean had come merely out of respect for old ties.Samuel's article boldly and repeatedly denounced the prince who had just reclaimed the Southern Frontier. It accused the Hell Monarch of disrespecting women—specifically, of disrespecting Ruby.Se
Carissa had Violet arrange for someone to keep an eye on Samuel for a few days. Despite everything, this once-renowned scholar, who had been favored by his family's matriarch, still held onto his lofty ambitions.Over the past few days, Samuel had carried his written articles to the National Academy, hoping to find someone to present them to the king. But no one at the National Academy would pay him any attention anymore.Believing it was because they were jealous of his talent, Samuel seethed with frustration. Determined, he then sought out people at the Academy of Wisdom. But no matter where he went, people deliberately avoided him.After all, he was a top scholar who had been personally demoted by the king, destroyed his marriage for a favored mistress, abandoned his family to set up his own household, and even renounced his title as heir.To make matters worse, rumors had spread that he had married the daughter of a merchant, then forced her to use her dowry to buy the freedom
In the sitting room, the fragrance of coffee filled the air.Lulu brought out some cloud cakes. It was raining outside, and her shoes were soaked. As she walked across the cloud-patterned stone floor, several clear footprints were left behind.Carissa didn't speak. She sat in a chair, slowly sipping her coffee, with only a high, square table separating her from Heather.The cloud cakes were placed on the table. Lulu, holding a tray, retreated to stand at the door, keeping watch. Carissa picked up a piece of cloud cake by hand and ate it slowly. The sound of her chewing was barely audible.Heather also took a piece with a fork and brought it to her mouth. She ate with refined manners, taking small bites and using a tiny porcelain saucer underneath to catch any crumbs that might fall onto her purple floral gown.Heather's skin had a yellowish tint, and the purple gown she wore made her complexion look even duller. Her eyes were lifeless and shadowed with dark circles, clearly the re
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
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