The next day, Henry was to be executed, with Rafael serving as the supervising officer. The Capital Guard was responsible for setting up the perimeter and maintaining order.Rafael had initially been reluctant to let Carissa attend. While Henry was despicable, he wasn't the mastermind behind the chaos. Plus, the brutality of a beheading was not something he wanted her to witness.But Carissa had already seen all kinds of cruel scenes. Even if Henry wasn't the ultimate culprit, his self-serving actions and weakness had led to the suffering of so many. He was truly guilty of unspeakable crimes.Thus, she insisted on going.By early morning, the area outside the execution ground was packed with people. Since the execution was scheduled for noon, the Capital Guard hadn't arrived early to manage the crowd, leading to a noisy scene. Vendors had even set up stalls and were selling their goods nearby.The timid townsfolk wouldn't come to watch, and children were strictly prohibited. Even
Henry began to ramble, "None of this was what I wanted! If I could choose again, I would never have pursued Eleanor. My family may have been in decline, but it was still a marquis' family. The foundation was still there—how bad could it possibly get?"I came from a scholarly background. I could have taken the national examinations. There wasn't just one path before me. How could I have been so foolish? I was truly too foolish. I had such a bright future ahead. I could have married a virtuous woman, taken a couple of concubines, and had three or four sons and a few daughters. The marriage would have made my family stronger. Instead, I thought I was taking a shortcut, but I didn't realize it was a dead end."The cutlery fell from his hands as his shoulders shook with sobs.Peter picked them up for him. "Dwelling on the past is pointless. Action is what matters now. You can still share what you know. There's still a chance to turn things around. If you keep silent, you're sealing your
When they arrived at the execution ground, Henry was dragged out and forced to kneel in the center. The executioner, a burly figure holding a gleaming blade, stood beside him. The sight of the blade sent Henry into a panic, and he found it hard to remain kneeling. He desperately scanned the crowd for help.The noise around him was deafening, yet all he could hear was the pounding of his own heart. It was like a drumbeat, and it felt as if it might burst from his chest at any moment.He didn't see Rafael, the official overseeing the execution, but he faintly heard the prince's voice. He tried to turn and catch a glimpse of the man, but a board tied to his back blocked his actions. All he could see was the executioner's disgusted expression as he covered his nose.At that moment, Henry realized he had lost control of his bowels. The sheer terror felt like a venomous snake, burrowing into his very skin. He was beyond terrified.Finally, amidst the throng, he spotted a familiar face.
Carissa found Chaya to be a truly remarkable young woman. She had grown up in such a harsh environment, yet her focus was solely on living each day to the fullest and not compromising herself when she could avoid it. As for her dad, Chaya felt neither love nor hatred—just disdain.Chaya turned to Carissa and asked, "If no one is there to collect his body after the execution, where will it end up? Will they hang it up for all to see?""If there are no family members to give him a proper burial, he'll be given a quick burial. They'll only display his body for all to see if he's the mastermind behind the treason case," Carissa replied.Chaya hummed in response, her curiosity satisfied.She returned to Hayden and remarked, "There are still some leftover pound cakes at home. Let's eat those when we get back. They won't taste good if they sit out for too long.""You don't want to watch anymore?" Hayden asked."I'm afraid of blood. It's better if I don't see it," Chaya replied.Hayde
Carmen didn't set up her pulled pork stall. Instead, she joined Pearwater Convent to handle its procurement needs.Since most of the residents at the convent were frail and delicate, they were unable to maintain a strict vegetarian diet for long. So, a new building had been constructed nearby where they could prepare nourishing meat soups to help restore their health.In short, anyone craving meat could go there.However, the abbess had strict rules—no animals could be killed on the premises, whether at the convent or in the new building. So, every day, Carmen would descend the mountain to buy meat and carry it back up.But after just two or three days, no one wanted to eat meat anymore. Perhaps the peace that the convent provided for their souls had fostered a sense of faith within them. They gave up meat of their own accord without needing anyone to tell them to do so.Fortunately, Pearwater Convent had plenty of wild mountain delicacies. They gathered medicinal herbs and local
After Barrett recovered from his injuries, he officially took up his position.He began by expressing his gratitude, and Salvador spoke to him for an hour. Amidst the admonishments, Salvador also conveyed his trust in Barrett, leaving him with red-rimmed eyes as he exited the royal study.The king had established the Central Command Office. Since Carissa had to attend to her duties there, Barrett went to pay his respects to her as she was his superior.They were once husband and wife, yet now, Barrett knelt on one knee to offer his formal greeting.The Capital Guard's deputy commander, the Garrison Unit's chief, the Royal Guard's commander, and the Crown Guard's commander were all present, marking the gathering of key figures.Barrett's emotions were a tangled mess. He expected Carissa to make things difficult for him, but after the formalities, she simply said, "You may rise. Do your job well."He stood, lowering his gaze. "Thank you, Commander Sinclair."Michael stepped forwar
Michael said coldly, "I don't care if she's a man or a woman. If she's more capable than I am, I won't have a single complaint. Besides, she was appointed by His Majesty. If you oppose her, are you trying to go against the royal edict? You've been in the Royal Guard for so many years, but you're still full of yourself and look down on women. If you're a man with real skills, then defeat her and make her unable to lift her head in front of you. Isn't that better than any words you could say?"Alistair replied, "Looks like you're really mad at me.""It's you who has the temper. I'm not angry at all." Michael shrugged Alistair off and turned to leave.Feeling dejected, Alistair returned to the inner hall of the Central Command Office. Seeing Max and Barrett still there, he plopped down in a chair and asked, "Are you both on her side as well? Max, I know you are—you follow her orders without question. But Barrett, do you really support her? She's the one who once divorced you and didn
Since Barrett had just taken office, he needed to work longer hours. He often personally inspected various parts of the palace, except for the inner court. When he wasn't on patrol, he could be found waiting by the door of the royal study or back at the Central Command Office, ready to submit his logs when the shifts changed.The guards on duty were required to record their findings after each patrol. They needed to note down if they found any irregularities. If everything was normal, they also still had to document that. Barrett was free to leave the palace at five in the evening, but he often didn't depart until nearly seven.As he was leaving, he unexpectedly ran into Yuvan. Barrett knew the prince typically entered the palace early in the morning and left before closing time, so it struck him as odd that Yuvan was leaving so early today."Your Highness," Barrett greeted, bowing slightly.Yuvan smiled back at him. "I haven't had a chance to congratulate you on your promotion,
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
As Nicholas was paraded through the streets, the weight of his downfall crushed him entirely. His sanity fractured and he screamed curses at the people, accusing them of ignorance and foolishness. He raged at the masses, claiming they had been deceived by the court, that they had mistaken a foolish king for a wise ruler. He claimed that only he was the true sovereign—the one destined to bring justice and prosperity.His hoarse cries were drowned out by the roar of the crowd. The people shouted for his death, calling for him to be torn apart. They said that the execution by Torso Cleaving was far too merciful. They demanded he be cut into pieces and slowly tortured to death, as punishment for his evil deeds.On the other hand, Yuvan stayed silent the whole time. Inside, he was filled with resentment and hatred for Nicholas. He believed that if Nicholas hadn't turned his people against him, he could have succeeded.Nicholas was like a poisonous snake, hiding in the shadows. When Yuv
Now that everyone had been gathered, the long-awaited reckoning could finally begin.After thorough investigations by the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with the Capital Guard, it was confirmed that Yuvan, Nicholas, and his associates were indeed guilty of treason.The charges were indisputable. After such a long delay, it was time to list all their crimes for the world to see.Yuvan's entire family—except for Randall, who had provided valuable information—was sent to Astral Prison. However, Randall was also removed from the royal registry. He remained in his post at the Supreme Court, still serving as warden. Despite that, it was clear that any prospects for promotion were now out of reach for the next ten years.Matthew had ordered Randall to take a temporary leave, telling him to stay away from Astral Prison and reflect quietly at home while the matter was sorted.Matthew thought Randall was a bit slow, but at least the latter was honest and willing t
Clifford's eyes gleamed with a sharp light. "Very well. Let's hear some of your self-righteous words."Salvador, ever the suspicious soul, had always been wary of the Hell Monarch's household. Even if Carissa hadn't risen for women's rights, Salvador would still remain cautious of her.How could Carissa not know Clifford's intentions? From the moment he asked, she knew it was a trap.Before she could respond, Clifford sneered and added, "You can always start by flattering King Salvador. Praise him for how he treats women under his rule. As long as your conscience is clear, feel free to do so."Carissa was infuriated, but she wasn't willing to be baited. She met his mocking, challenging gaze. "Don't make assumptions. That's not the same thing at all. You think people are ignorant and narrow-minded as they can't understand your preferences, so you resort to extreme measures to gain their approval. But that's your personal problem. You can't speak for others like you, and you're not