The carriage arrived at the Heritage Bureau, and Carissa yanked Eleanor out of it. Argent Lane, who was in charge of overseeing the royal prisoners, stepped forward to take custody of her. After the handover, Argent ordered heavy chains to be fastened around Eleanor's body.Argent said, "Commander Sinclair, His Majesty has ordered that to prevent Eleanor from biting her tongue to commit suicide, we must remove most of her teeth and sever her tendons. Please come inside to supervise, so you can report back afterward."Eleanor gritted her teeth in fury. "You would dare?!""Lead the way," Carissa replied calmly.Eleanor was pulled inside. She roared in fury as she went, unable to maintain the calm she had in the carriage any longer.The Heritage Bureau was vast, with a wide alley separating the east and west sides. The east side housed the offices, while the west side was where people were detained.Since all the detainees were members of the royal family, there were no conventional
Alistair gritted his teeth against the searing pain, his fury igniting as he disregarded the rules of hierarchy and lunged straight at Carissa.The result was a series of punches—one to the left, another to the right—before he even realized how she had struck him.After returning to the capital, Carissa had been an exceptionally considerate person. To ensure he could still see clearly, she slowed down and raised her hand when she grabbed the fabric of his shirt. When he raised both hands to block it, she expertly dodged them and landed solid hits to his face.Then, before he could even recover from the shock, she kicked him again, sending him crashing back into the wall.This time, Alistair saw everything clearly, but was powerless to avoid it. Her foot moved slowly, the kick seemingly casual, yet it accelerated mid-air, precisely predicting the direction he would try to evade.All he could do was watch as he took another beating.Alistair's face turned a deep shade of purple, th
After Eleanor had gotten her punishment, it was Henry's turn.When the royal edict arrived, the charges against him were summed up in a single phrase—he was guilty of everything from treason and kidnapping to murder and unspeakable acts.Knowing he couldn't escape death, Henry requested to see his concubines one last time.He begged Rafael, "I have lived as their husband and we have children together. I only wish they don't hate me too much. They know I was forced into my choices, that I struggled to survive so they could live, so they wouldn't be killed by Eleanor. But I've wronged them, and all I ask is that you inform His Majesty and let me kneel before them to apologize."Each word he said was just deflecting blame and lacked any sense of responsibility. Not once did he mention his family, though he was intent on protecting them. Even now that the marquisate had been stripped away, Salvador hadn't confiscated their estate. Their foundation remained intact and they wouldn't face
The Kingsley family delivered fifty thousand silver coins, claiming it was meant to settle matters for the women. Gemma continued to lament their poverty, insisting that they hardly had any money left and that fifty thousand silver coins had drained their resources.Carissa cut off her sobs and said, "His Majesty has ordered you to produce one hundred thousand silver coins—no less. In three days, your son will be executed, and your family members can see him for the last time."Of course, Gemma wanted to see her son. After all, he was the child she had carried for nine long months. But when she caught sight of the cold look in Martin's eyes, her tears resumed."What good would it do to see him? It would only deepen the pain… and the anger. He has done such terrible things that our family cannot accept him," she said."Indeed, he is guilty of unforgivable crimes. Perhaps it is better not to see him," Martin echoed.They were eager to distance themselves from Henry. It wasn't that t
Carissa regarded him with cold eyes. "I thought you were a sensible man, Lord Lionel, but I see I was mistaken. Do you understand how many lives your flippant words could ruin? It's not just these women. Entire families they've been associated with will be dragged into this mess."This wasn't about Carissa wanting to pick a fight with him or vent her frustrations. Lionel was a favored minister close to Salvador, someone who could voice such thoughts not just to her but potentially to the king himself. Salvador was currently focused on establishing a virtuous legacy. In a couple of years, when he felt secure in his rule, he might recall Lionel's words, and those women would be left with no way out.Lionel recognized his blunder and dared not broach the subject again."Then, will you at least speak to the abbess for me? If that child can be admitted as an orphan, it would be for her own good. At least she and her mom can be together.""If that is your decision, I can mention it t
Violet stepped outside and asked, "What's going on?""Lord Malcolm once said that Casey couldn't have children around her, but now he's sending the child here. As a minister, how can he be so indecisive? If he can't even take care of his own child, why have one at all? Children are always innocent," Carissa explained briefly, her tone sharp.Violet was equally outraged. "It's likely he said that out of impulse. After thinking it over, he realized it wouldn't work, so he begged the abbess to take the child. But sending her here doesn't mean they can be together. It's just placing the child in the care of the convent under the guise of being an orphan. It's absurd—she has parents, yet she's being treated like an orphan. Is Malcolm cursing himself?""Forget him," Carissa replied. "We just need to take care of the people we should. If the Quinton family won't raise that child, then she can stay at the convent. For Lady Marjorie, both Casey and this child are cruel reminders of her broke
At that moment, both Carissa and Violet felt a twinge of discomfort in their hearts.Violet composed herself and said gently to the little girl, "Amara, we're going somewhere else. Will you come with me?" The one-year-old couldn't quite articulate her thoughts yet. She merely mumbled about wanting to see her mom.Violet smiled reassuringly. "Alright, let's go see your mom."She exchanged a heavy glance with Carissa. Even if they went, the child would only be with the abbess or someone else—she wouldn't be able to stay by Casey's side.The wet nurse brought a baby carrier and helped Violet strap Amara onto her back. The wet nurse didn't follow them, and the child fussed for a moment. She cried until Violet managed to soothe her before leading the horse out.As they reached the edge of the apple farm, they spotted a carriage parked outside. Carissa noticed the insignia on it—it belonged to the Quintion family.Carissa hesitated. Was it Malcolm, Lionel, or someone else?Violet sa
Carissa was stunned and in disbelief. "Take her back to the Quinton family? Why would you do that?"Carissa wanted to say the child wasn't Malcolm's, but she couldn't lie. Marjorie had come here for a reason and must have known the truth by now. There was no point in deceiving her."Of course, I want to take her home to raise her," Marjorie replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "Sending such a small child to a convent? She wouldn't survive that harsh life." Marjorie forced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Children are innocent. She can't choose her parents or her background. It's the adults who have made mistakes, and it's the adults who must bear the consequences."Carissa felt a wave of sympathy and admiration for Marjorie. "Does Lord Malcolm know you're here? Does he know you're aware of this situation?"Marjorie's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she held them back. "He thinks he's deceived me. At first, I believed him too, but after some thought, the truth b
When Sylvia moved to her new residence, all the concubines sent gifts. The royal relatives, upon hearing the news, hurried to send their congratulations as well.As for what to send, other households usually left the decision to the lady of the house. But at Hell Monarch Estate, the ones in charge were Jacob and Luke.They searched through the storerooms, but nothing seemed quite right. Either the items were too expensive, or they were just simple gold, silver, or jewels. Even the golden vases seemed too small and trivial.As for the larger items, such as coral trees or folding screens, Jacob wasn't inclined to part with them. The coral tree, in particular, was rare. The one in the estate had been a wedding gift from the Pathfinders Guild when Carissa married.In the end, their eyes landed on the most abundant item in the storeroom—Kyle's orchid paintings.This would certainly make a strong impression—expensive and elegant, yet not unique to the estate. If it wasn't enough, snow w
Among the harem, Kylie was most wary of Sylvia and Grace. Sylvia was caring for Cecil, while Grace was caring for Caden, the second prince.Cecil was not Sylvia's biological son and was still very young, so Kylie need not worry too much. But Sylvia had once been arrogant, with an impressive family background and a sharp aptitude for power games.In the past year, Sylvia had softened somewhat, co-managing the affairs of the harem with Grace. She had learned how to win hearts and minds, and her support for Skye Embroidery and Gracewood Women's Academy had earned her some reputation among the common folk.In contrast, Grace was far more restrained. She co-managed the harem with Sylvia and would occasionally seek Kylie's opinion, genuinely treating her with respect due to her being the queen.But Caden, a sharp and well-mannered boy, was Salvador's and Victoria's favorite.If the position of Crown Prince were to be decided now, it would naturally fall to Connor. But once the princes g
Kylie had yet to remove her hairpins, and her makeup was still untouched, her face brimming with quiet anticipation.Earlier that day, a message had arrived from the court, announcing that the king would visit the harem tonight. She had waited for hours, but had heard no news that he had sent for any concubines. In her heart, she felt a surge of joy. If no summons had come, it meant he would be visiting her chambers."Lydia, go and see if His Majesty has arrived yet," she urged once again, her third time asking that evening.Lydia was standing to the side. She smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please be patient. If His Majesty was coming, he would surely send word beforehand so you can prepare to receive him.""Yes, you're right," Kylie sighed, brushing a loose strand of hair from her temple. "It's been so long since His Majesty visited my palace that I nearly forgot how it goes." Her smile was soft and alluring. "We are husband and wife, after all. What couple do not have thei
In the royal study, the braziers still hadn't been lit, and the cold crept in like a quiet intruder, spreading its chill across the room.The reports had been reviewed and signed long ago, yet Salvador lingered, his hand resting idly on the pile of documents. His gaze was fixed on the dim flickering of the lamp's flame, his mind adrift.He read the letter Rafael had written to Carissa, filled with endless longing and heartfelt emotions. It was as if they had just gotten married, and they were deeply in love and inseparable.This wasn't the first time Salvador had read their letters. While there had been expressions of longing in the past, none were as bold and reckless as this.Such words would feel awkward to say out loud, let alone write down. Salvador thought his younger brother's actions were inappropriate and too careless.There were far better ways to win a woman's affection—why resort to this?And yet, despite his disapproval, something within him stirred, like a stone t
Balin entered the city with just a dozen men. They were all strong and sturdy, with curved blades at their waists, looking fierce and intimidating.But when they sat down to eat and drink, their tanned faces broke into wide, radiant smiles.Balin was in his fifties, with skin as dark and shining as his men's, his eyes sharp and intelligent. He was a man of great wisdom and was meticulous in his thinking. In other words, he remained cautious and never fully trusted the Hell Monarch.His one demand was simple: this would be a one-time alliance. After driving back the Sandorians, the Southern Frontier Army was to withdraw from the grasslands swiftly. No one was to step foot in the heart of the grasslands again without permission.Rafael agreed, and the treaty was signed immediately.Once the agreement was made, they didn't linger any longer than necessary and left.The grassland tribes held little fondness for Starhaven, as the endless warfare often spilled over into their territori
After the lively wedding banquet, Carissa returned to Hell Monarch Estate, only to be struck by an unexpected chill in Orchid Hall. Her thoughts turned to Rafael, who was far away in the Southern Frontier. She hadn't counted the days since they had parted, but it felt like an eternity.She was about to head out to the Glimmering Tower as usual to see Adrian, but then she remembered that he had returned to Meadow Ridge.A pang of emptiness settled in her chest.She thought back to how Rosalind had seemed tonight. Carissa realized that when a woman got married, her heart was filled with so much joy, excitement, and bashfulness. The happiness just radiated from Rosalind.Carissa thought back to her own two weddings—both had been too calm and quiet.Lulu helped remove her makeup and was about to prepare a bath, but Carissa stopped her, pulling her down to sit beside her instead."Lulu, I've mentioned before that we need to talk about your marriage. Have you thought about anyone in
Thomas and Rosalind's wedding had been postponed time and time again, but finally, they found a favorable day to celebrate. The event wasn't extravagant, but as the granddaughter of the royal chancellor, it still carried the necessary dignity.Victoria led the way, and the other palace ladies followed suit, each offering generous gifts to Rosalind for her trousseau. The students of Gracewood Women's Academy also rallied to show their support, presenting Rosalind with handmade wedding gifts. Most of the girls at the academy came from humble backgrounds. Though their gifts weren't costly, the thought and effort they put into embroidering and crafting the items was the most meaningful part.Rosalind's wedding dress had been commissioned long in advance from Camila. The gown had previously been displayed in Skye Embroidery, where it had caught the eye of many young women. They all dreamed of wearing such a beautiful dress for their own weddings. Camila was already well-known, but now
Salvador summoned Eustace to the palace for an audience.Eustace had come prepared. Though he had led his bodyguards and the merchant convoys to quell the unrest, the connection between the Spencer family's collateral branch and Nicholas couldn't be easily dismissed. Even if Salvador publicly declared their merits balanced with their faults, it was not something that could be swept aside without consequence.However, Salvador's attitude towards Eustace was surprisingly warm. The former even praised him for his loyalty to the throne and his patriotic spirit, noting that he resembled his late father in his unwavering commitment. The previous head of the Spencer family had been generous to the court, contributing substantial funds during times of war.Eustace understood the underlying message and quickly offered, "With both the Southern Frontier and Victory Pass embroiled in battle, the Spencer family is willing to contribute in whatever small way we can. We will donate 300,000 silve
Adrian had been in the capital for some time now. In the past, he had been consumed with his studies on sacred firearms, leaving little room for anything else. But now, with some free time, he used the excuse of being unable to let go of the business in the city to extend his stay.The truth was, he was concerned for Carissa.His interest in sacred firearms had begun with his trip to Nerathia to study their methods. He had done it for the Southern Frontier, then Hector, and ultimately, for Rafael and Carissa.As a mentor, Adrian knew that they each had their own paths to walk. He couldn't prevent them from forging their own futures, but he could help them however he could and act as their support.Adrian often claimed he wasn't cut out to be a teacher. But the truth was, his apprentices were exceptional. Each one of them was a person of great character. None of them needed his constant concern—except for Carissa.She had always been wild and carefree. But even so, she had mast