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
After a moment of silence, Tobias asked, "What about my wife?"He had only been married for six months when he went off to war.Violet also knew about Tobias' situation, and she said with a hint of regret, "She has remarried."Tobias couldn't hide his disappointment, but asked, "Is she doing well?"Violet shook her head. "I don't know. I didn't ask."Tears glistened in Tobias' eyes. "It's my fault. I let her down."Homer also inquired, "Ms. Spencer, do you know if my wife…"Homer's father was a commander under Hector, and Homer had fought alongside him on the Southern Frontier. His father was killed in battle, and Homer was captured afterward.Violet wasn't familiar with the Larkin family situation, as Claire hadn't investigated them.However, Carissa knew more about the Larkin family and explained, "Your wife fell seriously ill two years ago. Sebastian treated her, but your mother was overwhelmed by the loss of both you and your father on the battlefield. She became distraugh
Helen had just left when Salvador arrived. After paying his respects to the queen dowager, Victoria handed him the carrier pigeon note. "Carissa left the city last night and specifically instructed your aunt to deliver this note to the palace for you."Salvador glanced at it and smiled. "If she left in the middle of the night, it must be something important. There's no need to inform me of every detail."Victoria replied, "She's a woman carrying a deputy commander's emblem. That she left the capital in the middle of the night, it is only right that she informs you."Salvador nodded, his face showing subtle concern. "I hope Lawrence will return safely."It was a surprise to discover that Septimus was Lawrence. The Marquis of Elderglen's family was indeed a family of military nobility. Even though many of the younger generations had turned to civilian roles in recent years, there were always a few who carried on the family's legacy of honor and resilience.Victoria watched him, wa
Although puzzled, Richard respectfully led Jeremiah to the inner hall and had coffee served.Jeremiah was smiling brightly, which eased some of Richard's concerns. "May I ask what private matter you've come to discuss with me?""Congratulations." Jeremiah put down his cup, looking at him with a beaming smile. Although this matter needed to be revealed quickly, the joy was so great that he feared Richard might not be able to handle the shock of such news. Thus, he preferred to take it slow."Congratulations?" Richard was even more puzzled. As the Minister of Protocol, there seemed to be no further promotion in sight. "May I ask what it is for?"Jeremiah replied, "What was once lost has now been found."Richard's confusion deepened. "Something lost has now been found? I haven't lost anything recently.""His Majesty has decreed that the Ministry of Protocol should prepare to welcome the heroes of the Southern Frontier campaign. Among them are two heroes from your family."Ric
At this time, the Earl of Silverstone's family received a letter from Oliver.The letter was addressed to Zoey, his wife. After reading it, she took the letter to find Evelyn, Caspian, and his wife.Caspian Prince was Oliver's younger brother, and served as a junior official in the Ministry of Infrastructure. It was a comfortable position, but he had remained in this role for four years without any promotion. His wife, Luna, was the daughter of a merchant, so she had married up. Viola never liked her much, and often complained about how Luna seemed to be all about money.Evelyn's face changed upon reading the letter. "My son-in-law is still alive? And has achieved merit? That's…"Zoey gently reminded her, "Mother, you can't call him your son-in-law anymore."Evelyn sighed. "It was a slip of the tongue. Who would have expected him to still be alive?"Caspian also read the letter, and said, "Mom, Zoey, this is good news. We should be happy. After all, the fact that he's alive is
In banquets like these, no one truly ate with much enthusiasm. Most dishes were merely tasted before being set aside, barely touched before servants whisked them away.But the Nerathians were different. They treated every dish with genuine respect, cleaning their plates entirely, no matter what was served. Their wine glasses, once filled, were immediately emptied again. The palace servants attending to them must have been exhausted, constantly refilling their glasses and replacing empty plates.Violet recalled their meal at Spring Pavilion. Just like tonight, not a single scrap had been left behind. She wanted to say something to Carissa, but the only sound in the hall was the clinking of cutlery and the quiet shifting of plates. Speaking now would be too conspicuous.Still, one glance between them was enough.Violet's thought was clear—the Nerathians' presence at this banquet must be tied to the negotiations. Carissa agreed.However, their exact role remained uncertain. Were they
The banquet began in the late afternoon, with Liam personally escorting the Starhaven delegation to the palace again.As they had suspected, the coronation ceremony had already been held. This evening's gathering was mainly focused on the border negotiations. Upon entering, Carissa and Violet noticed that there were no other foreign emissaries present—only royals, nobles, and officials from various departments.While they showed no hostility toward the Starhaven delegation, they weren't particularly welcoming either. Since a translator was needed for communication, conversations remained minimal, limited to simple greetings.Just as they were settling in, Lisandra turned to the Starhaven delegation and remarked, "Today, we have guests from Nerathia joining us as well. They should be arriving shortly. I believe you will find that you have much in common."Davis' eyes brightened immediately. "Guests from Nerathia? Who might they be?"His excitement was understandable.The weapons t
Lisandra continued, "The irony is, when I was a grand princess, I could call for women to join the ranks of government without hesitation. Now that I am the queen, I must move slowly, cautiously, balancing all the factions, weakening their hostility and wariness toward me. There are so many things to consider and so many forces at play. At times, I grow impatient, and I wish I could simply rid myself of those who oppose me."Carissa thought for a moment before replying, "In truth, whether one is a king or an official, man or woman, I believe their goal is the same, Your Majesty. It's to ensure the long-term stability of the kingdom and the peace and prosperity of the people. "When the nation prospers and war is no longer a threat, any reforms you wish to make will face less resistance. But for now, you must first secure your position, Your Majesty."Her meaning was subtle, but Lisandra understood clearly. The kingdom was still in turmoil, with various factions causing obstacles. Si
The royal palace of Orivenia stood resplendent and imposing, its golden architecture gleaming under the night sky, exuding an air of solemn grandeur.Upon passing through the first palace gate, the carriage rolled smoothly along the wide palace path, its spaciousness a stark contrast to the more cramped streets outside. However, what stood out the most was the abundance of lamps. It seemed as if oil was no object, for the palace grounds were lit up as though the night itself had been banished. As they got out of the carriage and walked along the winding corridor, the large trees ahead were hung with many lamps. Anyone trying to hide in the trees wouldn't stand a chance; they would be seen immediately.Liam led the way. As they approached a grand palace hall, two female attendants stepped forward. They exchanged a few words with Liam in the Westic before smiling and nodding to Carissa and Violet."Ladies, Her Majesty invites you to enter the palace," Liam said with a polite gesture
By the time they reached the capital of Orivenia, it was the 13th of August. A full month had passed since they left Starhaven.The afternoon sun shone brightly, and Kendrick lay back in the carriage as they entered the city.Since entering Orivenia's borders, they had endured seven assassination attempts. The last one had been particularly brutal, likely involving suicide soldiers. Many of the Mystic Army were injured, and even Violet had been grazed on the shoulder. Thankfully, it hadn't struck anything vital.Kendrick's fear was understandable. The attack had come when he was emerging from the washroom. The assassin's sword had pierced his chest, nearly plunging in completely. It was Carissa who noticed in time and swiftly turned, driving her spear into the assassin's chest before dragging him back with the hooked tip of her dagger, saving Kendrick's life.Though the injuries were minor, Kendrick reacted as if he had been mortally wounded. He howled in agony for half the night b
Kendrick had been shaken by the attack, and the royal physician had already been called to prepare a sedative to calm his nerves.When Carissa visited him, it was a pitiful sight. His face was as pale as paper, drained of all color. His lips trembled, and he shakily asked if the assassins were gone.She reassured him, saying they had gone, and only then did his trembling subside slightly.The people around him had already informed him that the assassins were driven off, but he hadn't believed them. He needed to hear it from Carissa to feel any sense of security.Carissa reminded him to rest and recuperate before she left.Meanwhile, Davis was busy comforting the others. As the Defense Minister, he had seen his fair share of chaos and remained calm. Also, he trusted Carissa and the Mystic Army. He didn't think there was much to fear—at worst, they had just risked losing a head.It was Meadow Ridge's members who gathered together, speculating that the black-clad figures they had en
At the break of dawn, the large procession set out for Orivenia.Carissa didn't feel much regret in leaving. After all, they would pass through Victory Pass on the way back, and she would have the chance to meet with her grandfather and his family again.Once they had left Victory Pass, the road grew rougher. Many sections were full of deep potholes or had been intentionally damaged, making it difficult for the carriages to move forward.However, Kendrick was determined not to ride a horse again. Even after days of rest, his legs were still sore from the relentless friction of the saddle. Walking was manageable, but sitting on horseback? That was pure agony.So, despite having earned his merit at Victory Pass for establishing an orphanage there, Kendrick insisted on traveling by carriage. When the wheels got stuck or the path became too treacherous, the Mystic Army soldiers dismounted and pushed the carriage forward, inching their way through the difficult terrain.Fortunately,
Wallace gave the order, and Barrett was tasked with the job of investigating. He led a group to search the area.Barrett was aware that Carissa had arrived at Victory Pass. He had been there to greet the group. However, he had stayed at a distance, watching from afar without approaching. From that distance, he hadn't been able to make out any faces, only a vague silhouette that seemed to resemble hers.He had thought his actions unnecessary. After all, what business did he have with her? The affairs of the capital were nothing for him to involve himself with.While the diplomatic envoy rested in Victory Pass, they spent their time discussing strategies and rehearsing their approach. Everyone understood that while this negotiation might seem easier compared to the last, it was by no means a simple task.Lisandra had long kept this matter at the forefront of her mind and would not easily yield to any compromises.The Sullivan family also feared that someone might infiltrate the envo
Spring Pavilion was full that day.The restaurant wasn't very big to begin with, and it usually had some customers. The black-clad men that lady brought had taken up all the remaining seats.Carissa, Violet, and Travis had to sit at a small table the owner had set up at the last minute, separate from the others.The man's voice, soft and apologetic, reached Carissa's ear. It was warm and pleasant. "These are my brothers-in-arms. We've been traveling since last night and haven't had a bite to eat. If it troubles you, I can have them wait outside and just pass them some bread each when we're done."Violet paused, surprised, but quickly shook her head. "No need for that. Please, let them stay. They can sit where they like and order what they wish."The man smiled kindly. "You are kind-hearted, miss. In that case, we'll order freely, and we'll take extra.""Alright… That's fine," Violet replied, casting a glance at the sea of black. The men were dressed in a way that suggested some