"This time, it's not just about rescuing people. We've uncovered something much bigger. We of the Hell Monarch household won't be able to take the credit. Whoever risks their life gets the honor. Let's drop the topic of Mr. Warren for now. Please eat, Your Highness," Jacob said.Jacob didn't want to keep talking about Barrett, as he didn't want to make Carissa uncomfortable. Thus, he urged Rafael to eat and then clean up. The scent of the dungeon still clung to the prince.However, Violet wasn't quite satisfied. "Barrett still played a role in our plan, and that bothers me. I'd rather Michael get the credit!"She could never forget how Barrett had harmed Carissa and tried to seize her dowry. Even though they had fought side by side on the battlefield, they were simply not cut from the same cloth. Violet would always look down on Barrett.Jacob smiled. "Lord Brown will definitely get some credit. It's not like Mr. Warren will get sole credit. He didn't go into the dungeon alone, a
Salvador had certainly not anticipated uncovering such treasonous material. He had thought it would only be some vile secrets from the inner palace, but this was far beyond that. He initially wanted to intervene, yet he hesitated to issue a direct order regarding the affairs of Harmony Palace. Thus, he had opted to subtly influence things during the Emberfest Festival.Salvador wasn't entirely sure anyone would take action against Eleanor that night, but the recent rumors had been rampant. Whispers claimed that Samuel's courtesan was the daughter of a concubine from Eleanor's household. After sending people to investigate, Salvador learned that Henry had dealings with the Lester family, a prominent merchant clan in the city. Coincidentally, one of the Lester family's daughters had visited Hell Monarch Estate several times.These fragmented pieces of information didn't paint a complete picture, but as in previous years, Eleanor had invited high priests to pray at Harmony Palace du
Rafael lifted his gaze to assess Salvador's expression. "Yes," he said. "After their disappearance, both my household and the Sinclair family dispatched many people to search for them, but to no avail. It was only later that we considered the possibility of Aunt Eleanor's involvement. "We asked Carmen to inquire among the servants at Harmony Palace. That was how we learned that on the night Daniel's wife and children went missing, the household soldiers at Harmony Palace brought two children and a pregnant woman into the dungeon. That's when we pinpointed Harmony Palace as the source of the incident."However, I couldn't just barge in openly. I remembered that Aunt Eleanor usually invited high priests during the Emberfest Festival, and that the Garrison Unit and Capital Guard would focus their efforts on that area that night. So, we decided to use assassins to lure the capital and garrison guards into Harmony Palace, hoping they would rescue the captives."Salvador asked, "Is the
Rafael pretended to be in deep thought before replying, "As for the military generals, I currently have no suspects."Though Salvador found that answer unsatisfactory, he didn't lose his temper."The Supreme Court will investigate this case. I will assign people to look into the other matters separately.""Yes, Your Majesty."Salvador began to roll the emerald ring on his thumb. "You mentioned before that you don't plan to have children anytime soon, right?""That's right. We have no plans at the moment.""I see," Salvador replied thoughtfully. "Carissa is the deputy commander of the Mystic Army. Since you've taken on the role of Chief Judge, I intend to promote her to the position of commander of the Mystic Army."Rafael was taken aback. "You mean, with actual power?""Exactly. She'll assume the position with immediate effect."Rafael hesitated before saying, "But while there are precedents for female generals in our court, there are no examples of women holding such official
After Rafael left, Derek entered the royal study and said, "There's only an hour left before court begins, Your Majesty. Allow me to assist you in changing your attire.""Alright. Let's do it here," Salvador replied, gesturing with his hand.Derek stepped outside and called out, "Bring the griffin cloak. The king will change now."Before long, palace attendants entered, carrying the griffin motive cloak and a golden-threaded attire.Derek dismissed everyone and personally helped the king change. Although Salvador's expression still held anger, it had softened considerably since receiving the news.Salvador looked at Derek and asked, "You don't understand why I appointed Carissa as the commander of the Mystic Army, do you?"As Derek adjusted the belt, he replied, "Your wisdom is unmatched, Your Majesty. You must have your reasons for making this decision."Salvador spread his arms to allow Derek to adjust the underarms of his attire, his tone cool as he said, "What could possibly
After leaving the palace, Rafael made a quick stop at the estate to update Jacob, who had just fallen asleep, instructing him to wait until Carissa woke up before telling her the news.As soon as Jacob heard the news, he was wide awake. He had planned to ask Carissa to take him to see his sister once she was up, but now, he found himself pondering the implications of the king's unexpected actions.Sleep was no longer an option.When Carissa finally got up and dressed, Jacob approached her directly. "His Highness returned just now and mentioned that the king plans to promote you to the commander of the Mystic Army. You'll oversee the Capital Guard, the Garrison Unit, the Royal Guard, and the Crown Guard. However, I haven't quite grasped the king's intention behind this move."Carissa could hardly believe it. "A real position with work and authority?""Yes!"She was genuinely shocked. "There's never been a precedent for a woman serving at court in our kingdom. Even when Aurora di
When Violet woke up, the first thing she heard was that Carissa was about to join court as an official. Carissa would actually become the commander of the Mystic Army and oversee the Capital Guard, the Garrison Unit, the Royal Guard, and the Crown Guard.Violet felt like she was in a dream. She gasped several times before rubbing her eyes and asking, "Are you really going to be a government dog?"Carissa chuckled. "Are you talking about being a corrupt government official? Why can't I be a good one?""Then, you must be a righteous official!" Violet propped herself up on her elbow, tapping her chin with her finger. "Alright, you can definitely be a righteous official."Carissa remembered the times they had ventured through the martial world together. Back then, like all martial artists, they looked down on local officials, especially those known for their corruption. Those officials were often referred to as "government dogs".Of course, they had also encountered righteous offici
On this day, a sudden change occurred in the capital. Albert York heard from a servant he sent to buy things that there had been some kind of commotion. He instructed the servant not to get involved or pay attention to any of it. His grandson was serving as the head archivist at Hell Monarch Estate, so they shouldn't mix with anyone related to political affairs or even discuss them.Of course, Albert didn't believe the events would affect his family in any way. Since they started living in the capital, they followed a principle of caution in their words and actions to avoid causing trouble for Jacob.After breakfast, Albert settled in the small courtyard to soak up the sun. As winter approached, the weather gradually turned colder, and sunny days became especially rare.Jacob's mother, Ethel, approached and spoke respectfully to her father-in-law, "Father, I heard from Daisy that you didn't eat much at breakfast. Are you unwell?""My appetite's just a bit off. It's nothing to wor
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,