The two of them fought desperately but were quickly overwhelmed, blood splattering everywhere.The assassins showed no desire to linger in battle. One dealt with Gregory and his sons, while the remaining three pressed their attack on Aurora, targeting her chest with their blades. In a panic, Aurora threw down her sword and pulled Barrett in front of her, using him as a shield."No!" Rebecca and Viola both screamed in shock at the sight.Never in Barrett's wildest dreams would he imagine that Aurora would do such a thing. He was injured, and Aurora held him tightly. As a result, he couldn't swing his sword in defense. He could only watch helplessly as the three assassins advanced, their swords poised to plunge into his heart.Everyone's blood ran cold, but no one could do anything. Rebecca couldn't even bear to watch, terrified of seeing her son die at the hands of the assassins.In the nick of time, a red spear flew through the air, expertly knocking aside the three swords. The
"You're insane!" Gregory was furious. "They're all bound! If we don't get the authorities to interrogate them to find out who sent them, we can't eliminate future threats!"Aurora looked up, her gaze locking with Carissa's in midair. Her eyes were a mix of complexity and malice as she gritted her teeth."You're a discarded woman the Warren family cast out. What right do you have to come back here?"Carissa observed Aurora's bloodied face, and her frown deepened. "Did you think they were Westhaven spies? What an idiot."Aurora's expression shifted slightly, her eyes filled with even more venom. Yes, she was worried that they could be Westhaven spies. If they were tortured by the Royal Citadel and the local authorities, they might reveal information about Fawnrun City. Right now, she was still hoping for the best since the king had yet to punish her.But if the matter was discovered through interrogation by the local authorities…Aurora couldn't afford to gamble on it.Carissa cou
Aurora's head snapped to the side from the slap. She clenched her teeth but didn't strike back, focusing instead on tending to her wound.Viola turned to Michael, wiping her tears with one hand as she shouted, "Mr. Brown, it was her! The assassins came for her. She locked herself in the room, and pushed me and my maids out. She's responsible for my maids' death! And the assassins—Carissa had already taken them down and tied them up, but Aurora went crazy and killed them all. Mr. Brown, please get justice for me!"Michael glanced at Aurora. Before he could ask any questions, Aurora said coldly, "They broke into Valor Estate and killed guards and maids. Why would I leave them alive? Keeping them around would only bring more trouble."Michael examined the assassins' bodies, and was dissatisfied with Aurora's response. "Their tendons were severed, their cores were damaged, and they were bound. What further danger could they pose? Leaving them alive and questioning them to find out who w
The Royal Citadel personnel arrived quickly. Gregory briefed them and conferred with Michael. It was decided that the bodies of the assassins would be taken back to the Royal Citadel.Since the matter was now in the hands of the authorities, statements were crucial. The information revealed to Michael earlier would need to be reiterated to the Royal Citadel personnel. To avoid having to answer more questions, Aurora pretended to have fainted from her injuries and was carried back to her room.Everyone was busy dealing with the aftermath.After handling all the inquiries, Barrett finally collapsed from exhaustion. Viola instructed that he be taken to the bed in Grace Mansion to rest.Charlotte usually preferred not to get involved in the affairs of the main house. However, when she heard Carissa had been the one to save them tonight, she went straight to Rebecca and demanded sharply, "How did you treat her in the past? Today, she saved the entire Warren family. Do you feel any shame
Carissa recalled she had met Edmund, Westhaven's third prince, outside Simonton City. He was now the crown prince of Westhaven. He harbored a deep-seated hatred towards the people of Starhaven. If he ascended to the throne, the situation in Fawnrun City would become very troublesome.Carissa felt sorry for her grandfather, who was still stationed at Victory Pass even though he was well over sixty. By his age, most military officers would have retired and be enjoying life in the capital.Carissa understood the king's intention to promote younger generals. But in recent years, there were hardly any who were truly capable of handling important roles.Salvador had also stripped Rafael, who had been a feared general in both Westhaven and Sandoria, of his military authority. If he had still been in command, he could certainly have deterred potential threats.For now, Oliver was in charge during this period of peace when there was no immediate danger. However, if conflict were to erupt ag
After a brief chat, Carissa asked, "Can the earring be repaired?""My mother-in-law has already sent it to The Golden Tower for examination. It should be repairable," Kayla replied."Such a valuable item should be kept safely; wearing it out carries risks," Carissa said, noticing how much Kayla cared about the earring and understanding its significance to her."I usually don't wear it," Kayla said with a smile, though her eyes were misted with tears. "But it was Alexander's first day at the academy yesterday. I thought if I wore it, it would feel like my late husband was with me, sending our child to the academy together."Her voice trembled slightly, "That was one of the things we vowed to do together when we got married. I know it's silly. But if I don't lie to myself sometimes, it's hard to get through the day."Carissa's eyes were filled with compassion, half for Kayla and half for herself."You're strong, Your Grace. Unlike me, I know you wouldn't do something silly like lyi
In Simonton City, Oliver was growing increasingly impatient. After four rounds of negotiations, Victor refused to budge. He insisted that he would only release Septimus in exchange for Simonton City.The other prisoners had already been exchanged long ago. In fact, Starhaven had been on the losing side of the deal. The number of Sandorian captives they had was twice more than the Sinclair Army soldiers in Victor's hands.The numbers didn't add up, revealing how many prisoners Sandoria had killed. Now, they were demanding an entire city in exchange for Septimus' life.It was absurd.If it hadn't been for Rafael arriving a couple of days ago and urging him to delay the negotiations, Oliver would have flatly rejected Victor's demands.Timothy and Louis had repeatedly stressed that Septimus had been an important figure in recovering the Southern Frontier, but Oliver didn't agree. He had reviewed the list of people in the Sinclair Army, and Septimus wasn't even on it. Even if his name
On the fourth day since the assassins appeared in Valor Estate, Carissa was summoned to the palace. Before this, no one from the Royal Citadel had come to question her, nor had the garrison unit appeared.Carissa wasn't surprised. After all, the Royal Citadel and the garrison unit would have used the information they got from the Warren family to conduct their investigation. They needed to gather a coherent account before reporting to the king. Only then would the king summon her to the palace for questioning.As Carissa made her way to the palace, Barrett finally forced himself out of bed and headed straight for Aurora's room.He had been bedridden for several days, recovering from his injuries. He had also been stewing with anger for days. Although his wounds were superficial, he had received over a dozen sword wounds and had no choice but to remain in bed to recover. If he didn't, he risked permanent damage. If that happened, he would lose all his value and might even be unable t
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