Alistair was in his thirties, with well-defined features and a strong, fit build that wasn’t overly large. As he approached Carissa with his men, there was a hint of disdain in his expression.He nodded respectfully, but his eyes betrayed his arrogance as he said, "I apologize for my late arrival. I had matters to attend to. Please forgive me, Commander Sinclair."Carissa nodded slightly, glancing at the twelve captains standing in two rows behind him. Each one looked formidable, their expressions dismissive, as if they couldn't care less about a female commander.It was clear—the caliber of a military leader was often reflected in the nature of their soldiers."There's nothing much to discuss today, so let's disperse and get back to our duties…"Before Carissa could finish her sentence, Alistair interjected, "Since there's nothing of importance and we've all seen each other, I'll take my leave. There's a great deal to attend to in the palace."With that, he turned and strode awa
Rafael pulled his wife to stand in front of him and gently rubbed her bruised eye. "Does it hurt?""Just a little," Carissa replied, pulling his hand away and glancing back, wary of any onlookers."Don't worry. No one's coming in. What happened?" he asked, concern etched across his face.After maintaining her composure for so long, Carissa finally relaxed. She sank into a chair and rubbed her eye, realizing it was indeed a bit more swollen than earlier.That wretched Travis!"I was sparring with Violet this morning, and then Rod jumped in. Both of us ended up getting accidentally hit by his fists.""Let's dock his pay," Rafael said, both amused and sympathetic.Though Travis was typically well-behaved, he tended to revert to the playful demeanor of a youth when he was with Violet and Carissa.Carissa chuckled. "Docking his pay might cost him his life. Money is one thing, but if Alana finds out and tells his master, she'll certainly send orders for further punishment.""Just sc
Florence, who was advanced in age, was kept in a small and relatively clean cell. She was also separated from the other Harmony Palace servants. Since being taken to the Supreme Court, she hadn't eaten or drank anything, nor had she spoken a word.Matthew had personally questioned her and urged her to eat, but she just lay in her cell, appearing resigned to death.Rafael was well aware that Florence wouldn't speak ill of Eleanor. After all, she had raised the grand princess, and their bond had long since transcended that of a mere servant and her mistress. Over the years, while people came and went from Eleanor's side, Florence had remained steadfastly loyal.As a result, she was privy to all of Eleanor's secrets—many of which were quite sordid."Matthew interrogated Kurt today. We learned that Aunt Eleanor initially ordered that your uncle's face be ruined and his entire family be killed. It was Florence who intervened and told Kurt not to carry out the order. Otherwise, your uncl
Florence's cold and hollow gaze was fixated intently on Carissa, who returned her stare.She had seen Florence during her visit to Harmony Palace, where the old woman had worn a stone-blue silk gown. Authority had been etched into every wrinkle of her face, instilling fear in many who crossed her path.However, Florence was dressed in a wrinkled indigo outfit now, and her hair was a mess. Her eyelids sagged and dark spots marred her once-proud visage, revealing the toll of age and hardship. She looked painfully thin, her frailty accentuated by worry and her refusal to eat, making her appear near skeletal.Though Florence seemed indifferent, caught in a state of waiting for death, the truth was that she was anxious—otherwise, she wouldn't have aged so dramatically in such a short time.Matthew had spoken to her, but she hadn't uttered a word, not even sparing a glance in his direction.Now, when facing Carissa, she spoke first, saying, "Don't think you'll hear a single word against
Carissa didn't find Florence's words ridiculous. Instead, she felt a twinge of sadness. Regardless of the old woman's current thoughts, it was clear she had once held those beliefs deeply.Carissa chose not to counter Florence's claims. From the way she secretly spared Daniel and his family from Eleanor's wrath, it was evident her mindset had changed. The things she said now weren't meant to persuade anyone else—Florence was merely trying to convince herself."Alright, since everything was done by you and Kurt and has nothing to do with Grand Princess Eleanor, why don't you tell me how many women you've brought into Harmony Palace over the years, how many have died, and how many baby boys were killed?" Carissa asked.Florence fell silent, her expression growing increasingly grim."They're already dead. You owe them some justice and should let the families of the abducted women know they don't have to search anymore. Besides, Grand Princess Eleanor has committed the heinous crime of
As Carissa listened to Florence's words, the rage inside her nearly consumed her.It was the details of everything that had happened that truly shattered one's heart.Carissa fought to keep her anger in check and not let it show. She pretended to be unaffected as she listened calmly and rationally. The more Florence revealed, the more Carissa would have to use as evidence. When the time came to interrogate Eleanor, be it for the charge of treason or the crimes against those women, all of this would seal the grand princess' fate."I know there's no way Grand Princess Eleanor can escape what's coming now." Florence sighed. "But she used to be such a lively, cheerful girl. She was so noble, and she had the world at her feet. She could've had any man in the kingdom, so many of them would've lined up for her."And yet, she fell in love at first sight with General Sinclair, a mere military man. Of all people, it had to be him, who didn't even care for her... At first, all I wanted was t
Rafael and the scribe walked in from behind the partition screen. The prince first embraced Carissa before instructing someone to take Florence away.Carissa remained composed and calmly instructed, "Go to the apple tree and find that box. She noted down the origins of those women.""Understood!"The scribe left to carry out the task.As Carissa leaned against Rafael, it felt as if her heart and throat had clogged up, leaving her with an indescribable discomfort."Let's not dig any deeper," Rafael said, concern etched on his face. "Don't hold onto what she said. Your dad is blameless. It was Aunt Eleanor's own obsession that harmed both herself and others."Carissa's face had turned pale, and it took a while for her to finally find her voice again."I'm fine. I can continue the interrogation. Once Florence is better, I'll question her again. At least we now know the origins of those women. We can send someone to inform their families. There's no need for them to keep searching o
Carmen was taken aback when she saw Violet. Then she recalled that Carissa and Violet had deceived her, and it left her feeling somewhat disgruntled. Even if their actions were for the sake of the plan, deception was still deception. So, Carmen could only muster the bare minimum of politeness. "Is there something you need, Ms. Spencer?"Violet wasn't one to ignore subtle cues. Seeing that Carmen was probably upset, she asked softly, "Can I come in and talk?"Carmen stepped aside. "Please go ahead."Carmen had just acted on impulse. After all, she knew that if Carissa and Violet hadn't kept the plan from her, she would definitely have told Henry. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that her own dad would betray her.The little cabin was modest. It had a tiled roof, and one could see the entire place in one glance. A small kitchen was outside, while the interior consisted of a small hall and a single room. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the crumbling roof, clearly i
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,