In the dim light, a figure hurriedly entered and supported Viola. "What's wrong?"Through her tear-filled eyes, Viola saw her husband, Barrett's face. She threw herself into his embrace, crying even harder and more pitifully.Barrett had never seen Viola so openly distressed, sitting on the ground and wailing. He thought something serious must have happened, and urgently asked, "What's going on? What happened?"With tears in her eyes, Julia recounted the events of the day. However, when she was about to mention Thomas's military pension, Viola suddenly shouted, "Be quiet!"Julia was startled, and immediately fell silent.Julia hadn't mentioned the pension specifically, but she had mentioned Thomas's name. Even if he were not the sharpest, Barrett could piece together the situation. Viola had used Thomas's death benefits to buy a tiara for Serena, which was worth 36,800 silver coins."Enough. You're dismissed," Barrett said.Then, he released Viola, his face dark with anger.
Rebecca's vision went black. She lurched forward, and fainted.Barrett quickly caught her, setting aside his anger. He urgently called out, "Someone, fetch a physician! Now!"With tears streaming down her face, Serena rushed to Viola. "What are you doing? Are you trying to anger Mom to death? You were the one who insisted on buying the tiara, and now you regret it?!"Viola took a step back, feeling helpless as she watched the scene unfold. A sense of powerlessness rose within her, mixed with frustration and pain. She had spent 36,800 silver coins to buy the jewelry, only to receive their reproach. Was she now to be blamed for everything?In the middle of the night, the commotion of calling the physician created a chaotic scene. Viola had to wipe away her tears and use a handkerchief to clean Rebecca's face and hands.The physician diagnosed Rebecca with a fainting spell caused by acute anger, but reassured them that it was not serious and that a few doses of medicine would suffi
Aurora's mocking voice drifted in. "You've turned yourself into a joke!"Viola clutched her chest. "How dare you! You're just a concubine! How dare you come here to ridicule me?""Hah! As a concubine, I've actually received quite a generous sum from this household," Aurora said with a laugh. "Since I entered the family, I've had the best of everything—no one dares to treat me poorly. And not a single penny of my own money has ever gone out."With that, she left gracefully, leaving Viola gasping in frustration.In the entire household, Aurora was the only one who could stand apart and enjoy the spectacle. If Serena dared to ask for anything, Aurora would slap Serena without hesitation.Only someone like Viola… So despicable!After Aurora finished mocking Viola, she returned to her room. She checked the defensive mechanisms, and then ordered her maid not to enter before changing and going to bed.She had heard about the new Westhaven crown prince and confirmed the true identit
At Harmony Palace, Eleanor questioned the middle-aged man before her. His head was bowed, and she asked sharply, "How is this possible? How did Carissa find out about Cece's identity?! Did that wretch herself tell Carissa's people?"The man was tall and handsome, though a bit weathered. Hearing Eleanor's accusation, he quickly shook his head. "It's impossible. Celeste would never take the initiative to tell Lady Carissa. She has always been so obedient to you and never dared to disobey your orders.""She wouldn't dare." Eleanor's eyes flashed with hostility. "Her mother is still imprisoned in my palace dungeon. If she wants her mother released, she had better be obedient.""Of course. She'll definitely listen to you."Eleanor glared coldly at him, growing more enraged at his demeanor. "Go and ask her. Also, instruct the others to keep a lower profile and not let anyone learn of their identities. I suspect that Carissa only learned about Celeste and is making a fuss to provoke me,
Celeste's eyes were cold and contained a hint of disdain, even when addressing her father.She replied, "How could a mere concubine in the Earl of Gracehold's family possibly have any private dealings with the Hell Monarch's princess consort? If Mother doesn't trust me, I don't mind drinking a glass of poisoned wine to alleviate her concerns."Henry frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about? If she wanted you to drink poison, why would she spend so much money on your upbringing? Don't forget your mission—your mom is still in her hands."Celeste's eyes glinted with mockery and bitterness. "If you truly loved my mom, why didn't you stand up to Mother? Instead, you let me suffer and be mistreated just to keep her by your side."Henry's face darkened. "You've thrown the Earl of Gracehold's family into chaos. Grand Princess Eleanor is pleased with the turmoil. She's merely displeased that your identity was exposed. Your sister has already set out and will encounter the Hell Monarch
When Samuel was summoned back to Gracehold Estate, he continued to maintain a haughty attitude. He insisted that he had done nothing wrong, and claimed that the reprimand and the stripping of his title as heir were signs of the king's folly.The young man was arrogant and self-righteous. He looked down on everyone around him, including his own parents and family. He was convinced that he alone was in the right.Seeing Samuel's obstinate attitude, Noah was enraged and slapped him across the face. "Go and apologize to the duchess immediately! If you dare to voice any more dissatisfaction with the king, get out and never set foot in our family's residence again. And that includes the manor on Hibiscus Lane!"Samuel had returned home with a lingering sense of unease. After losing his status as heir, he had hoped that his family would support him through his protests. If they had, he would have reluctantly yielded and brought Ruby back with him.However, no one sided with him when he
Leona said, "Help me sit up and let him in. Let's see what he has to say.""Your Grace, are you sure you want him here?" Hazel recalled how Samuel had pushed Leona into the table, and was both angry and worried.Leona reassured her, "Don't worry. Have Alana and Leah watch from the side. He won't be able to touch me."Leona had given up on this man, but if he had something to say, it should be said clearly and directly.Hazel helped her sit up and placed a cushion behind her back. "You shouldn't be out of bed. The physician said you're not to move around.""I know," Leona replied flatly, her pale face betraying no emotion.Since Heather had forbidden her from seeking a divorce, she had spent her days lying listlessly in bed. Not only was she uncertain about the future, but she didn't even know what would happen the next day. But today, Samuel's angry arrival gave her a glimmer of strength. She wanted to do or say something.The footsteps grew louder and more urgent as he strode
Samuel was furious and embarrassed. He snapped, "You think so little of me, yet you're still eager to cling to me? Our feelings were never truly mutual. Our marriage was your obsession from the start, and I was simply pressured by the influence of the royal family…""Be quiet." Leona's eyes were red, and her lips trembled again as he spoke of their marriage. She felt deeply ashamed and distressed. "I did have feelings for you, but you also claimed to have feelings for me. That's how this wretched union came about. If my family had any power, would you have dared mistreat me?"Her tears fell uncontrollably despite her best efforts to hold them back. Though she tried to remain composed, her natural weakness meant that her emotions got the better of her, and the tears flowed freely.She was so thin and fragile, and she was trying to stifle her sobs but failed. Her appearance stirred a fleeting sense of guilt in Samuel. Yet, this guilt was short-lived. He had vowed to be loyal to
Carissa had known for some time that Barrett had lost an arm while saving Wyatt. Cindy had mentioned it in a letter—not intentionally, but while talking about the Sullivan family's situation and the battle, it came up briefly.When Carissa read it, she didn't dwell on the matter, nor did she mention it in her reply.In the chaos of war, it was often impossible to distinguish who saved whom.She naturally wished for every soldier to return home whole and unharmed, but war was brutal and unrelenting. Blood and sacrifice were inevitable.While Carissa had acknowledged Barrett's actions, Salvador had only recently learned of them. The latest victory report from Victory Pass detailed Barrett's courageous efforts—how he had fought valiantly, saved lives, and lost an arm in the process.The earlier reports that came back on horseback had contained only critical updates on the battle's progress, with no mention of individual achievements. Only the detailed victory reports included a list
Salvador now regularly summoned Carissa to the royal study to discuss military matters, granting her a seat at the table where battle strategies were planned and debated. Her place in these discussions was earned by leading the Mystic Army to crush the rebels.It was a position forged in blood and sweat, with no one daring to challenge her right to it.The reports that shaped their discussions came from Victory Pass and the Southern Frontier. These dispatches provided the foundation for the court's analysis of the situation, guiding decisions on logistical support and strategies.Yet, even when strategies were drafted, Salvador refrained from issuing direct commands. Instead, he offered suggestions, a gesture that showed his trust in Rafael and the Sullivan family—though that trust extended only as far as their abilities on the battlefield.With winter approaching, the soldiers needed winter clothing and more weapons. Most of their discussions revolved around supplies.Leroy and V
The garden at Tranquil Palace wasn't small, but it couldn't be compared to the royal garden.If one took their time strolling along, admiring the flowers, or stood still to enjoy the view for a while, one could easily spend a good portion of the afternoon. But Carissa was accustomed to walking briskly. Flowers didn't require her lingering attention—she could glance at them and move on, seeing little difference between one bloom and the next.She had seen fields upon fields of flowers, all of which had left a lasting impression on her. These meticulously tended peonies in their pots, though, hardly stirred any great interest.By the time they finished their walk, some of the other ladies hadn't even finished their coffee. Just as Jeanette began to speak of Skye Embroidery, they found themselves back at the main hall of Tranquil Palace.Jeanette forced a smile. "Shall we go inside and congratulate Lady Sylvia?"Carissa shook her head. "I have matters to attend to, so I'll have to
When Sylvia moved to her new residence, all the concubines sent gifts. The royal relatives, upon hearing the news, hurried to send their congratulations as well.As for what to send, other households usually left the decision to the lady of the house. But at Hell Monarch Estate, the ones in charge were Jacob and Luke.They searched through the storerooms, but nothing seemed quite right. Either the items were too expensive, or they were just simple gold, silver, or jewels. Even the golden vases seemed too small and trivial.As for the larger items, such as coral trees or folding screens, Jacob wasn't inclined to part with them. The coral tree, in particular, was rare. The one in the estate had been a wedding gift from the Pathfinders Guild when Carissa married.In the end, their eyes landed on the most abundant item in the storeroom—Kyle's orchid paintings.This would certainly make a strong impression—expensive and elegant, yet not unique to the estate. If it wasn't enough, snow w
Among the harem, Kylie was most wary of Sylvia and Grace. Sylvia was caring for Cecil, while Grace was caring for Caden, the second prince.Cecil was not Sylvia's biological son and was still very young, so Kylie need not worry too much. But Sylvia had once been arrogant, with an impressive family background and a sharp aptitude for power games.In the past year, Sylvia had softened somewhat, co-managing the affairs of the harem with Grace. She had learned how to win hearts and minds, and her support for Skye Embroidery and Gracewood Women's Academy had earned her some reputation among the common folk.In contrast, Grace was far more restrained. She co-managed the harem with Sylvia and would occasionally seek Kylie's opinion, genuinely treating her with respect due to her being the queen.But Caden, a sharp and well-mannered boy, was Salvador's and Victoria's favorite.If the position of Crown Prince were to be decided now, it would naturally fall to Connor. But once the princes g
Kylie had yet to remove her hairpins, and her makeup was still untouched, her face brimming with quiet anticipation.Earlier that day, a message had arrived from the court, announcing that the king would visit the harem tonight. She had waited for hours, but had heard no news that he had sent for any concubines. In her heart, she felt a surge of joy. If no summons had come, it meant he would be visiting her chambers."Lydia, go and see if His Majesty has arrived yet," she urged once again, her third time asking that evening.Lydia was standing to the side. She smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please be patient. If His Majesty was coming, he would surely send word beforehand so you can prepare to receive him.""Yes, you're right," Kylie sighed, brushing a loose strand of hair from her temple. "It's been so long since His Majesty visited my palace that I nearly forgot how it goes." Her smile was soft and alluring. "We are husband and wife, after all. What couple do not have thei
In the royal study, the braziers still hadn't been lit, and the cold crept in like a quiet intruder, spreading its chill across the room.The reports had been reviewed and signed long ago, yet Salvador lingered, his hand resting idly on the pile of documents. His gaze was fixed on the dim flickering of the lamp's flame, his mind adrift.He read the letter Rafael had written to Carissa, filled with endless longing and heartfelt emotions. It was as if they had just gotten married, and they were deeply in love and inseparable.This wasn't the first time Salvador had read their letters. While there had been expressions of longing in the past, none were as bold and reckless as this.Such words would feel awkward to say out loud, let alone write down. Salvador thought his younger brother's actions were inappropriate and too careless.There were far better ways to win a woman's affection—why resort to this?And yet, despite his disapproval, something within him stirred, like a stone t
Balin entered the city with just a dozen men. They were all strong and sturdy, with curved blades at their waists, looking fierce and intimidating.But when they sat down to eat and drink, their tanned faces broke into wide, radiant smiles.Balin was in his fifties, with skin as dark and shining as his men's, his eyes sharp and intelligent. He was a man of great wisdom and was meticulous in his thinking. In other words, he remained cautious and never fully trusted the Hell Monarch.His one demand was simple: this would be a one-time alliance. After driving back the Sandorians, the Southern Frontier Army was to withdraw from the grasslands swiftly. No one was to step foot in the heart of the grasslands again without permission.Rafael agreed, and the treaty was signed immediately.Once the agreement was made, they didn't linger any longer than necessary and left.The grassland tribes held little fondness for Starhaven, as the endless warfare often spilled over into their territori
After the lively wedding banquet, Carissa returned to Hell Monarch Estate, only to be struck by an unexpected chill in Orchid Hall. Her thoughts turned to Rafael, who was far away in the Southern Frontier. She hadn't counted the days since they had parted, but it felt like an eternity.She was about to head out to the Glimmering Tower as usual to see Adrian, but then she remembered that he had returned to Meadow Ridge.A pang of emptiness settled in her chest.She thought back to how Rosalind had seemed tonight. Carissa realized that when a woman got married, her heart was filled with so much joy, excitement, and bashfulness. The happiness just radiated from Rosalind.Carissa thought back to her own two weddings—both had been too calm and quiet.Lulu helped remove her makeup and was about to prepare a bath, but Carissa stopped her, pulling her down to sit beside her instead."Lulu, I've mentioned before that we need to talk about your marriage. Have you thought about anyone in