Thomas looked up. "You want a divorce because the Warren family mistreats you, Barrett treats you poorly, and there are assassins threatening your life. It's not because I've returned, right?"Viola stepped forward suddenly, and wrapped her arms around him. Thomas was startled at her actions. He pushed her away, and stumbled back several steps.Seeing his reaction, Viola froze for a moment. Then, tears streamed down her face, her heart breaking. "Do I disgust you? It seems that I do."Thomas looked at her, his emotions simmering just beneath the surface. "I'll look into what's happening at Valor Estate.""I don't need you to investigate!" Viola's voice rose, teetering on the edge of desperation. "What are you going to investigate? Don't you trust me? All I ask is this: if I get a divorce, will you still want me? Do you despise me or not? Just answer that question."Faced with her aggressive questioning, Thomas took a deep breath. He opened his mouth several times, but couldn't fin
Zoey closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. All of this was giving her a headache, leaving her overwhelmed and frustrated.Jane continued to urge her, "Madam Zoey, if you tell Mr. Farrell about this, the Earl of Silverstone's family will lose all dignity if he makes a scene. You absolutely can't do that! And if the earl finds out that you instigated it, he'll be furious!"Thinking of her husband in the Southern Frontier only added to Zoey's headache. Back in the capital, Oliver used to listen to her, taking in her advice to some extent. Some things could be discussed without things going awry.However, the disagreements and arguments between them had always been numerous. She had to patiently analyze each issue with him and convince him bit by bit. It was just like teaching a child.Yet even when Oliver did comply, resentment lingered in his heart. His capacity to accept a wife with a broader vision than his own simply wasn't there, and that was a fundamental dilemma in Zoey's l
The next day, Zoey sent someone to bring Viola to Silverstone Estate. However, Viola replied that she wasn't feeling well and would return on another date. She was plotting how to discuss the divorce with Barrett, and didn't want her family to know just yet.However, Barrett had been on night duty lately. He slept during the day, which left them with little time to talk. It wouldn't do to bring up the divorce out of the blue without any preparation—there had to be some sort of commotion first.Since Viola's visit to Richspire Peak, she had felt utterly exhausted. There were two days when she slept through the afternoon, not waking even when Barrett returned from his shift. It was only when Poppy nudged her awake for dinner that she finally stirred.Fatigue, drowsiness, and a slight sense of nausea plagued Viola. On top of that, her monthly cycle was delayed by several days. With all the facts combined, she couldn't shake the worry that she might be pregnant.Calculating the dates i
Viola returned to her old room, the one she occupied before her marriage. Unbeknownst to her, Zoey had gone to the Farrell family. Viola assumed Evelyn was still discussing ways to support her with Zoey and Luna.No matter how angry Evelyn might be, Viola knew her mother couldn't bear to see her struggling in the Warren family. That place was suffocating. After all, Julia and Yvonne had both met their end there. Moreover, Evelyn had always been particularly fond of Thomas. If Viola could mend things with him, Evelyn would eventually be pleased after her initial anger faded.After a while, she asked someone about Evelyn's condition and learned that it wasn't too serious. Deciding to return to Valor Estate first to avoid a scolding from her sister-in-law, she felt a wave of annoyance wash over her. She couldn't stand Zoey's lecturing face. What kind of authority did Zoey hold? It was only because of Viola's brother Oliver's title that Zoey could act like the mistress of an earl's h
Violet smiled, and asked, "Are you sure it's okay to take so much? Won't Sebastian be upset?"Silas forced a chuckle. "Not at all. Lady Carissa came personally to collect it, so he won't mind. Anything she takes is fine. He instructed this before.""I'm jealous. Sebastian's incredibly generous with Cari," Violet remarked.Silas nodded. "He treats Lady Carissa like his own daughter.""That much is true. When we were at the Southern Frontier, Carissa came loaded with medicine, claiming it was all from Sebastian." Violet hooked her arm through Carissa's, and added, "By the way, I saw Viola outside earlier. Mr. Lewis, you know her, right? She used to be your cousin's wife."At her words, Silas' knife slipped, and he accidentally cut his finger. Blood instantly welled up from the wound."Why were you so careless? Hurry and wrap that up!" Violet urged.Silas hastily pulled a roll of gauze from the drawer and wrapped it around his finger, his tone noticeably strained. "It's nothing. Ju
When Carissa arrived at Gracehold Estate, the servants came out to greet her. After all, they were mindful of her status as a princess consort.That was precisely the kind of attention Carissa found bothersome, which was why she rarely visited. She waited for the formalities to conclude before seeking out Leona.When Leona saw her cousin approaching, her face lit up with joy. She waddled out with her prominent belly to meet Carissa.Carissa naturally took Leona's hand, gently placing the other on the latter's belly. "How are you feeling with such a big bump? Is it uncomfortable?""Not too bad, just a bit restless at night," Leona replied with a smile. "The hardest days are behind me. Back when I had to stay in bed to keep the baby safe, I ended up feeling so nauseous from lying down all the time.""Once the baby arrives, it'll all be worth it," Carissa reassured her.Once inside, she found Alana and Leah in the inner room—one sewing clothes, the other working on a net. They looke
Thomas met Zoey's gaze, feeling a knot in his throat. It was a matter of a man's dignity, and he wasn't sure how to articulate his thoughts."Do you know everything?" Zoey asked, studying his expression."I can't say I know everything." He sighed deeply before asking outright, "After I left for the Southern Frontier, did she develop feelings for my cousin? Did they exchange tokens of affection?""Tokens of affection?" Zoey wasn't aware of that detail.Thomas stood and walked to the drawer behind his desk, pulling out an emerald pendant. "I found this under the bed where she used to sleep. It was wedged between the foot of the bed and the wall. I recognize it. It belongs to my cousin."He laughed bitterly. "It was under her bed. She must have taken it out at night to look at as she thought about him. When did she start liking my cousin? I always thought we had a loving marriage, but it seems she was hiding someone in her heart all along. You knew about this, didn't you?"Hearing
Thomas nodded mechanically. He took a moment to gather himself before finally uttering in a slightly trembling voice, "I won't say anything. You have my word."Zoey's gaze fell to the shattered emerald pendant on the floor, and a wave of anxiety crashed over her. She had deliberated long and hard about whether to share this truth, wrestling with her conscience. This secret felt like a buried landmine inside her, one that could detonate over her head at any moment.Now that it was out in the open, she felt a strange sense of relief.She trusted that Thomas would keep her secret. If he ever did share it, however, there would be little she could do. The chaos that the Earl of Silverstone's family had sown would be theirs to bear.Ultimately, Thomas was a man who had endured the brutality of the battlefield. He slowly regained his composure, and said, "You risked your family's honor to share the truth with me, which shows your genuine concern for my well-being. I won't let your family
The position Faelan took at the table represented Nerathia's stance in the negotiations.They were neutral!Carissa couldn't help but marvel once more at the power of a strong kingdom.The initial stages of the talks were tedious, with the same points being repeated over and over. The translators were busy, their voices echoing with historical debates. This was inevitable, as conceding too early would only lead to further compromises.As such, the first round of negotiations yielded no agreement. It was simply a test of boundaries.The second round began the following day. Again, they emphasized the same points.But after the second repetition, Faelan spoke up, saying, "There is no point in prolonging this. The dispute over the border has lasted for decades. It will not be resolved in a day. Let us set the border issue aside for now. What I wish to know is whether both sides are committed to establishing peace and mutual non-aggression between your kingdoms."The answer was unan
Carissa noticed that the nobles and officials of Orivenia seemed unaware of Nerathia's intention to intervene in the negotiations.Their faces betrayed confusion, but after a moment, they revealed expressions of joy and confidence. It seemed they also believed that Nerathia's involvement would provide Orivenia with solid backing.Seeing this, Carissa felt a slight sense of reassurance. If that were really the case, Lisandra would have informed them beforehand. Or at least, she would have let the negotiating officials know.But why hadn't she?It seemed there was only one explanation. Lisandra was also hoping for mutual concessions. Few at court supported her, so she had brought in Faelan from Nerathia—someone whom everyone would trust.This made sense of the conversation from the previous night, when Lisandra had invited Carissa and Violet to the palace. The remarks about unmet wishes were clear now. The example of the women taking part in the civil service examinations was just t
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,