Of course, Caspian had no idea that Ava was interested in him. If he had been that astute and clever, he would have held a position far beyond that of a mere junior official in the Ministry of Infrastructure.When he returned home, everyone was waiting for him to eat. He handed the ravioli to a servant, instructing them to boil it quickly so everyone could enjoy some."I was wondering why you were so late. Was it because you went to buy some ravioli? Look at you—you've got your wife on your mind and have forgotten all about your mom. You left her hungry and waiting for you," Zoey teased.Caspian quickly apologized, but feeling a bit defensive, he explained, "I could have been home earlier, but Harold was so slow. Plus, Ms. Weaver cut in line. She claimed she was starving and asked me to let her and her servant go first. That's why I was delayed.""Ms. Weaver?" Zoey repeated curiously, raising an eyebrow.She knew her brother-in-law well—he usually didn't associate with women. Who
Pigeons from Skywing Spire flew haphazardly across the land, exchanging messages relentlessly. After several days of flight, the birds arrived in the capital two evenings before the Emberfest Festival.Claire and the others sorted and compiled the messages into a letter, which was delivered to Hell Monarch Estate that night.Claire handed the letter to Violet, who didn't even bother to open it. Instead, she called everyone to the study and asked Jacob to read it first. Since it concerned Jaina, it was more appropriate for him to see it first.After Jacob finished reading, the veins on his forehead bulged. "This is absurd! It's clearly a conspiracy. That so-called rescue was all meticulously designed."Rafael read the letter, then briefly summarized it, explaining, "The troublemakers were local thugs hired to cause chaos. The ones pulling the strings were the people from the largest estate in Stonebridge County, which belongs to Aunt Eleanor. She always stays there whenever she visi
The Farrell family had remained silent for quite some time. After several reminders from Eleanor, Gemma had no choice but to visit the Farrell family's residence in person.Upon arriving, she learned that Thomas had gone to Stonebrook District to visit Wilfred, a member of the former Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team. Apparently, Wilfred had encountered a mishap, so Thomas had rushed there with Felix, the adopted son of the Quinton family.Alice expressed her apologies, "This should have been settled long ago, but that stubborn boy insisted on checking on his comrade before making any arrangements. I don't understand his thinking, but I'm very keen on Ms. Sanford. When I saw her the other day, my eyes lit up so brightly as I wished I could bring her home as a daughter-in-law right then and there."Alice's sincerity, coupled with her obvious affection for Lisette, convinced Gemma.She said, "Even though Thomas is not in the capital, you two did have a chance to talk. Didn't you ask
Given the circumstances, Henry was willing to cooperate. Their son would bear the Kingsley surname, and he would undoubtedly stand united with the Marquis of Grovehill's family in the future."I'll talk to them when I get back," Henry promised."The Emberfest Festival is approaching. Have you invited Reverend Zane?" Eleanor asked."I have. This time, we've invited eight high priests, including Reverend Zane. I'll go personally to escort them early on the day."Eleanor nodded and was extra gracious as she said, "Then, have your mother come as well, but you must tell her that it's an all-nighter. If she can't handle it, she shouldn't come.""She can handle it. She's been a devout believer for many years and has always wanted to participate," Henry quickly assured.Among the ladies attending the festival were Natalie, Mildred, and Hannah—all prominent matriarchs of distinguished families whose husbands or sons held significant positions at court.Also, these women were known for be
A carriage rolled out of the city, carrying Daniel on a trip to Serenvale. He was in a hurry as there had been a few issues at a factory there. Though it was nothing too serious, his dad had insisted he go personally to handle it.Daniel had been living in Serenvale for some time, but since his wife was pregnant, he had sent her back to the capital to prepare for childbirth. He figured he could hand off the factory's affairs to the shopkeeper and return to the capital to pursue some other business ventures.Having married at twenty, he was already a father with two sons, so he hoped they would have a daughter this time. In his family, taking a concubine was rare, and he had no plans to do so. He shared a deep bond with his wife, whom he had always brought along on business trips. Now, as their focus shifted back to the capital, their little family of four—soon to be five—would settle in the city.Daniel hadn't visited Carissa, but had gone to the academy to see Ryan. His teacher was
Daniel struggled to rise, but his body felt weak, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness. Just then, the door creaked open, so he quickly turned his head to look.A figure stepped around the screen and entered. It was a woman.She wore her hair in a loose bun, adorned with a delicate hairpin, and was wearing a pale blue top with white accents. Over it was draped a smoke-colored satin coat that flowed elegantly. She appeared to be in her forties, with only faint signs of aging on her face. Yet, her expression was stern and commanding, radiating the authority of someone in power.Behind her, another person entered and moved a chair to the bedside. The woman then slowly sat down, her cold, sharp gaze locking onto Daniel's wide, confused eyes."Who… who are you?"Daniel had never met Eleanor, but he knew her status must be significant.As Eleanor observed the panic in his eyes, an unsettling feeling surged within her. It was as if a flame had been doused by a sudden downp
As soon as Florence heard that Daniel was to be locked away in the dungeon, she hurried after Eleanor."Your Highness, have you changed your mind?""Just lock him up for now," Eleanor snapped, feeling a wave of irritation wash over her."Yes, of course. Please don't be angry. You must take care of yourself," Florence urged gently."No one can compare to Hector. Even if he looks exactly the same, if he's not him, then he's not him. Not even the slightest resemblance can stir my heart. In fact, that face only makes me furious," Eleanor ranted as she stormed back into her room, a fire burning in her eyes.After she sat down, she still felt overwhelmingly restless."Bring me water and scented soap. I need to wash my hands," she ordered.The maids hurried about, bringing in warm water.Eleanor washed her hands repeatedly, scrubbing away the memory of touching Daniel. It was just like how after every encounter with Henry, every moment spent close to him under the flickering light of
Daniel's home was not far from the Sinclair family's main residence, Sinclair Estate. It was a house with two entrances, two exits, and a patio.Usually, Daniel's wife, Thalia, would accompany her mother-in-law, Hilda, after dinner. The two women would do embroidery together, with Thalia usually making clothes for her unborn child or two sons. But tonight, not only did Thalia not show up at all, the sound of the children playing couldn't be heard either.Finding it odd, Hilda sent her maid, Doris, to check on them. When she arrived at Thalia's quarters and inquired, Thalia's maid, Fern, looked surprised."Isn't Madam Thalia doing embroidery with Madam Hilda? She left an hour ago with the two boys," said Fern."No, Madam Hilda hasn't seen Madam Thalia. That's why she sent me to ask," replied Doris, also surprised."How can that be? Madam Thalia had dinner and took her pregnancy medicine, then left.""Did she say she was heading to Madam Hilda's place?""Yes, she did. Pansy went w
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,