In the dead of night, Violet knocked on the door of the Arcane Sanctum. Sebastian lived on the second floor of the sanctum.Sebastian had already gone to bed, and was accustomed to early bedtimes for his health. By the time Violet arrived, he had been asleep for over an hour.Even the renowned physician had his moments of irritation. When his apprentice reported that Violet had arrived, he donned a robe and glared at Violet as he came downstairs. "You'd better have a good reason for this visit. I'm not on duty tonight."Violet bowed in apology. "Forgive the disturbance, but Prince Rafael sent us a message via carrier pigeon. He requests that you accompany Cari to Westglade to save Lawrence Zielger.""Lawrence Ziegler?" Sebastian hesitated momentarily before recalling the Marquis of Elderglen's second son, who was already reported dead. Without further ado, Sebastian ordered, "Vanda, Mira, prepare the necessary supplies and come along. Bring the best medicine for wounds, the gol
The carriage jolted over the uneven road, and the hurried pace only made the ride more grueling for Kayla. After just half an hour, Carissa noticed Kayla's face had gone pale, her hand clutching her chest as if she were about to be sick.Carissa asked, "Are you feeling nauseous from the carriage ride? Should I have the driver slow down?""No, don't slow down," Kayla waved her hand dismissively. "We need to go as fast as possible. I wish this horse had wings to fly us to Westglade. Don't mind how frail I look, Your Grace—I can endure hardship.""Alright, then." Carissa reached into her bag and pulled out the dried fruits Lulu had packed. Finding some ginger candies, she said, "Suck on this candy. It'll help you feel better.""Thank you!" Kayla popped a piece into her mouth. The sweet and spicy taste spread in her mouth, somewhat alleviating her nausea.-Meanwhile, Rafael had arranged for the carriage to be modified in Simonton City. It was now spacious enough for Lawrence to lie
Throughout the journey, everyone was genuinely on edge.Lawrence's high fever refused to subside. The military physician, who carried a portable stove and medicine packs, prepared and administered fever-reducing and decontaminating potions to little effect.Sebastian's pills had minimal impact, though they were somewhat more effective than the decoctions.Lawrence would occasionally regain consciousness. Each time, he would ask, "Is this our territory?"Upon receiving confirmation, he would force a weak smile before slipping back into unconsciousness.The military physician explained that persistent high fever could impair brain function, and memory loss was a normal consequence.Eventually, Rafael decided to have Dylan lead his horse alongside the carriage, and he joined Lawrence inside.Even when Lawrence was semi-conscious, Rafael would gently hold his hand and talk to him. He would describe the beauty of the Southern Frontier, update him on his family's situation, and reassu
Jacob and Dylan lay in the carriage, with a soft cushion spread over them. Everyone then placed Lawrence on top, and Dylan and Jacob each extended a hand to hold him steady.The gamble had begun—they were on their way.With three people now in the carriage, the military physician had to dismount and ride on his own horse to increase speed. If any issues arose, Jacob would immediately call for the military physician to come back up.The carriage was stifling. Dylan and Jacob were covered with a soft cushion and laid next to Lawrence, and sweat quickly soaked their clothes. Before long, their hair was drenched in sweat, making it cling and itch unbearably.Occasionally, the driver would lift the curtain slightly to let in a bit of fresh air. However, he couldn't keep it open for too long, as someone with a fever shouldn't be exposed to the wind.The whip cracked, and the horses sped up. On the uneven, bumpy road, the carriage swayed and jolted. However, thanks to their efforts in st
Sebastian was lifted from his horse and carried through the air, and he felt the world spin and darken momentarily. When he regained his bearings, he found himself set down and standing by Lawrence's bedside.He turned to see who had carried him, but was interrupted by Rafael's urgent voice. "Sebastian, take a look at him quickly."All eyes around Sebastian were filled with hope and tears as the men turned to the renowned physician.He was here—Sebastian had arrived!Ten people knelt, their voices choked with emotion. "Please, Sebastian, save his life!"Mira carried a medicine kit and entered. Sebastian took one glance at Lawrence's condition, and knew that stabilizing him was the immediate priority.He took out the piece of a thousand-year-old Evergreen Root, and handed it to Rafael. "Crush this."Rafael squeezed the hard root slice until it softened, and Sebastian swiftly placed it into Lawrence's mouth.The thousand-year-old Evergreen Root was known for its remarkable abil
That night, everyone except Everett stayed awake.They were exhausted, but Sebastian had emphasized the importance of the night. If Lawrence could make it through until morning, there would be at least a ten percent chance of survival.A ten percent chance—it was so minuscule and so heart-wrenching.Sebastian slept on the floor, his exhaustion evident from the grueling journey.Mira and Vanda took turns keeping watch, each taking a two-hour shift.Throughout the night, they administered medicine five times. Initially, Lawrence could only endure a couple of spoonfuls. But by the fifth dose, they could feed Lawrence nearly half a cup.The night was a painful ordeal, each moment dragging on unbearably. Everyone awake repeatedly looked outside, hoping for the sun to rise.In the early hours before dawn, Sebastian woke up. He checked Lawrence's pulse and blew some powder into the man's nose, claiming it was to reduce his fever.Sebastian's dark circles were pronounced, his exhaustio
Upon arriving at the inn, Kayla collapsed to her knees as soon as she stepped out of the carriage, her legs numb and weak from exhaustion. She had endured so much, both physically and emotionally.Carissa helped her up as Kayla said, "Hurry, take me to him."The greatest torment of Kayla's journey had not been the motion sickness or the jostling of the carriage, but the constant worry about Lawrence's condition.Carissa supported her inside, and Rafael approached them. The couple exchanged a glance, and Rafael nodded, a silent assurance that Lawrence was still alive.Carissa breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she looked at him deeply concerned, noting how much weight he had lost.She assisted Kayla up the stone steps and to the door of the room. Everyone stepped aside, allowing Kayla to see her husband lying on the bed.She paused at the door, covering her mouth with her hands. Tears quickly blurred her vision, and they began falling in large, heavy drops.Just when everyone expec
Rafael shook his head, his voice still charged with excitement. "No, Septimus isn't just one person, and it wasn't Thomas either. There are eleven of them… Wait, who's that?"He noticed a horse circling nearby, with someone slumped over its back. The person's hair was cascading wildly, making it hard to tell who it was.Carissa gasped, and hurried over. "It's Vivi! She's been ill all the way, and I forgot about her!"Carissa carefully helped Violet down from the horse. When Violet dismounted, she nearly fell to her knees like Kayla had, cursing as she went."You heartless wretch! I accompanied you the whole way, and you forgot about me! Once I'm better, I'll make you regret it."Exhausted, Violet leaned on Carissa's shoulder. Carissa apologized, "I'm sorry. Let's get you inside to rest. I was just rushing to get Kayla inside to see her husband."Violet didn't have the energy to scold Carissa further, and asked urgently, "How is he? Is he alright? I wanted to see their reunion
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