That night, Rafael held Carissa quietly as they slept. Her breathing was steady, as if she had drifted off to sleep.Rafael knew she hadn't. Curled up in his arms, she lay still with not a single movement, each steady breath so controlled it seemed deliberate.She didn't want him to worry.-At the Sullivan family's residence in Victory Pass, the royal edict had arrived. The messengers sent were Felix and Homer from the Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team. Naturally, they were accompanied by people from both the Crown Guard and Royal Guard.Felix and Homer were both fourth-rank generals, but had yet to be assigned significant duties by the king. This task, delivering the royal edict to Victory Pass, was their first real assignment. If they performed well, Salvador might start using them more frequently.Yet, this task felt like an impossible burden. Most of the soldiers and officers still looked up to Dominic and Hector. They were here under the guise of delivering an edict, but i
Cindy's heart was a mix of anger and sorrow. Her husband had sacrificed his arm to save Barrett, losing half of his martial skills in the process. Luckily, there was no war, so Wyatt could still train his one-handed sword techniques. However, he would never be able to wield a spear again.Wyatt saved Barrett, but what for? That ungrateful wretch! He dared to get involved with Aurora right under their noses! How could they have been so blind back then? How had they not seen it coming?It was their fault for not being more careful. If they had known, they would have punished Barrett and Aurora right there at Victory Pass. How could they have let them go back and harm Carissa?Cindy doted on Carissa deeply. When she was born, Cindy had been in the capital, and she had never seen such a soft and adorable baby. Carissa was like a precious angel. There was no child in the world more beautiful than her.Before Carissa turned three, Cindy would visit Northwatch Estate every few days just t
The generals under Dominic's command had gone to find Felix and Homer at the observation tower where they were staying, intending to present the situation. As they watched the tanned-skinned generals, their faces full of worry and urgency as they spoke of Fawnrun City, Felix and Homer couldn't help but feel a deep unease."It's absolutely true," one of the generals said, his voice tinged with regret. "General Sullivan had no knowledge of this. At the time, he was shot with an arrow, and the military physicians said he wouldn't survive. General Sullivan pulled through with sheer willpower, and he was bedridden for nearly three months before he could even walk again. His body's never been the same since. He's too frail to endure any more strain.""Exactly," another general said. "Commander Warren's mission to Fawnrun City was at my suggestion. General Sullivan had no part in it. You should take me back to the capital for questioning, and I'll take full responsibility. If you want my he
That evening, Felix and Homer tried several times to find a chance to speak privately with Kevin. However, he was always in the same room as Galen, and the two of them came and went together. Despite their efforts to separate them, they couldn't get rid of Galen.Finally, they waited until Kevin went alone to the toilet. Homer kept an eye on Galen, while Felix stood guard outside the toilet, waiting for Kevin to come out. Kevin was unaccustomed to the local food and water, so he stayed inside for quite a while. By the time he came out, Felix was shivering from the cold.The light was dim in the area. When Kevin stepped out, he saw a shadow and jumped in surprise.After recognizing who it was, he relaxed and said, "Oh, it's you, General Quinton. You startled me."Felix stepped closer and was about to speak, but Kevin smiled and said, "If you can hold it in, why don't you wait a bit longer? Let the smell inside clear out."Felix chuckled.As Kevin addressed him formally by title, F
"What's the point of saying this now?" Shane grabbed him. "At this point, there's no use. I'll go to the observation tower and ask General Quinton myself. Let's see if he did hear anything.""He definitely heard," Igor said, lifting his head. His eyes were filled with uncertainty. Even in the face of thousands of soldiers, he had never been afraid, but now he was terrified. This was a situation he didn't know how to handle. "Dylan yelled so loudly—unless they're deaf, anyone could hear it.""I'll go find them and ask for their help. This can't reach His Majesty's ears!" Shane shouted. "Get the horses ready."With that, he strode out.Wyatt watched the generals. He knew they had been by his dad's side for most of their lives, and that their concern for him was what drove them to seek out Felix.He sighed. "My friends, words can bring disaster. From now on, we must be careful with what we say. No more speaking out of turn."The others nodded quickly, but what good was it now? C
In the capital, Claire received a message via pigeon from Victory Pass. Without reading it, she immediately passed it to Violet, who would be able to take it directly to Carissa.Understanding the gravity of the message, Violet opened it without hesitation. After reading it, she immediately mounted her horse and rode straight to the Capital Guard headquarters. During this time, Carissa should be there.It was completely normal for Violet to come and go from the Capital Guard headquarters. She was now a special martial arts instructor, and Salvador, knowing her exceptional skills and that she had no interest in becoming an official, had deemed her the best person to train the Mystic Army in martial arts.Though the Crown Guard had become independent, martial arts training still fell under the jurisdiction of the Capital Guard headquarters, which was why they came to Violet.Upon reading the message, Carissa let out a heavy sigh. This was the last thing that should have happened.On
After Sebastian left, Lawrence turned to his father. "Dad, no matter what it takes, we must stop Kevin."Edwin nodded. "Don't worry. I won't let General Sullivan fall into such an unjust situation."Even if it meant losing his noble title, there were some things and people Edwin would protect with everything he had. His ancestors had been military officers, and they had earned the title of marquis on the battlefield. If he had to give up his title to protect Dominic, Edwin believed his ancestors would understand and not fault him.Edwin wasn't confident he could convince Kevin. The young man had always been strong-willed and had learned early on to plan for his future. Unfortunately, luck had never been on his side. Every time something important came up, Kevin would either fall ill or something would happen to prevent him from making a name for himself.For years, Kevin was nothing more than a low-ranking guard in the crown prince's personal guard unit. Even after Salvador's ascen
With such intense public opinion, it was clear someone had been pushing the narrative. Salvador suspected it was someone from Hell Monarch Estate, but after a thorough investigation, he discovered, much to his surprise, that the trail led directly to the prime minister, Jeremiah.The articles and the storytellers in coffeehouses and taverns spreading the rumors had all been sent by Jeremiah. As the investigation unfolded, it became evident that the prime minister hadn't tried to hide his involvement. He hadn't planned on deceiving Salvador at all.Salvador sat quietly in the royal study for a long time before turning to Ian."Let's pretend we never looked into this. Keep your mouth shut."Jeremiah had planned to retire before Sigmund's passing, but the previous king's sudden death caught everyone off guard. Thinking that Salvador, as a new king, might struggle to stabilize the court, Jeremiah stayed on and continued to assist vigorously in state affairs.Among all the ministers, i
Before I took the vows and entered the monastery, my name was Caden.From the time I was young, I often heard the same praise whispered around me: "This child is sharp beyond his years—clever, quick-witted, the finest of the three princes."I heard it so often that I came to believe it myself. At times, I even felt proud. But whenever I let that pride rise too high, Mom would bring me back to earth.She would look at me, her eyes soft but filled with something I couldn't quite name—pity, perhaps. And then, she would sigh and say, "What a pity you were born of my womb. If not, you might have risen above that foolish one. But fate favored him, not you."That "foolish one"—I knew well enough who she meant. I had heard her say it so many times in private, though never once in public.It puzzled me greatly as a child. Mom clearly disliked my eldest brother, Connor, more than anyone. Yet, whenever he came near, she would smile warmly and speak kindly. She would even flatter him, calling
Two childhood friends were now each giving their all on very different paths.Clarence had started with herbs, then medicine, and in time, healing became his entire world at Eldermere Keep. At first, it was merely something to pour his heart into, because he knew he would never be allowed to leave the mountain and open a medical hall of his own.But then Ryan came, and afterward, sent Clarence a letter.That letter changed everything.For the first time, Clarence began to hope that maybe, just maybe, he could go down the mountain after all. And once that hope took root, he threw himself into his studies with more energy than ever before. He barely slept, rarely left the apothecary, and sometimes forgot to eat.Because of the pain he had once endured, he focused his efforts on curing injuries and chronic pain. Of course, a good physician had to know more than one thing, so he studied every field without neglecting any.There was a fire inside him now. A quiet flame that had not bur
"Elise, must your mouth run on without end?" Carissa frowned at her daughter, who had been chattering away beside Ryan from the moment he stepped through the door.The little girl's face was flushed from the sun, her hair tangled into a messy nest that made it clear she had only just returned from playing outdoors. She hadn't stopped talking since Ryan came back from his travels, pestering him with questions about what he had seen and done.Elise turned to Carissa with wide eyes, looking up with a face so innocent it could soften stone. She truly had inherited the best features from both her parents."Mom, I haven't seen Ryan in such a long time. Every moment without him felt like an eternity. We've been apart for so long, so of course I have a lot to say to him."Carissa's frown deepened. "And who taught you to speak in such a ridiculous manner? An eternity—where did that come from?""Sage Isaac said it to Aunt Violet. He went back to Meadow Ridge for a few days and said it to her
Though Ryan had told Cecil he was going on a journey, he didn't stay long at Eldermere Keep. After just seven days, he left and made his way to the Pathfinders Guild.He had initially planned to return to the capital to seek out Claire, but soon reconsidered. Instead of troubling her, he thought it best to directly ask Winona to teach him the art of disguise.It was not difficult to learn, but to do it well—to the point where no one could tell—was another matter. Such skill could not be acquired in just a few months.The simpler form of disguise involved merely altering one's features with makeup and slight adjustments to the face. This was fine for ordinary situations, but could easily be seen through in more challenging circumstances, like on a rainy day for instance.Therefore, Ryan knew he couldn't settle for such a basic method.The more advanced form of disguise involved creating a mask as a false face. However, these masks had their own set of problems. They were thick, unco
That evening, Ryan and Clarence sat by candlelight and spoke quietly. They avoided discussing court politics as Clarence had no interest in such matters. As long as the kingdom was peaceful, that was enough for him.He was no longer the eldest prince of Starhaven, and only had himself to look after now. Everything else had faded into the past.It was better not to speak of politics; it was too sensitive a topic. In his younger years, Clarence hadn't understood why his "death" was so tied to such matters. But over the years, Sebastian had explained everything to him, bit by bit, including the risks and consequences.The bond between Clarence and Cecil was not without affection. However, to gamble with one's life and future for the sake of family might not be the wisest choice for any of them.Clarence had come to terms with it. Life had to go on; it was better to live it well today than to wonder about tomorrow."Aunt Carissa said you're no longer able to stand, but you were walking
The azaleas of Eldermere Keep bloomed in a riot of color, spreading across the hills in a blaze of purple and red. The sight was enough to dazzle anyone who set eyes upon it, especially those who had never visited this secluded place. It was the kind of beauty that made one long to stay forever.Yet, there was one exception.A young man rode his horse to the base of the mountain, dismounted, and secured his steed. Without a glance at the dazzling scene around him, he began to walk the path up the mountain, his gaze fixed firmly on the road ahead.The vivid azaleas stretched out along either side of the path, reaching out as if to claim him, but he merely brushed them aside with a casual swipe of his hand.His pace was swift, and he occasionally used his Lightfoot Skill. Eldermere Keep was not high up, but its location was well-hidden, with many winding paths leading in. However, he had studied the map countless times before embarking on this journey, so the route to the keep was et
Rafael glanced at the robe. "Isn't that mine? Are you saying I've gotten fat? I'm not fat.""Oh, is it yours? It's too long, then. I'll have someone alter it for me," Carissa replied casually.Rafael shook his head. "If you want something loose, just have someone make it for you. Why bother altering my old clothes? It's not even comfortable.""I'm going to Meadow Ridge for a year. Wearing your clothes will make it feel like you're still with me," Carissa said with a bright smile, as if the idea of being apart for a year was no more serious than being apart for a day."A year?" Rafael looked shocked. "You're going back for a whole year? Why?""Well, of course, my mentor misses me, and I miss him too," Carissa replied, placing her hands on her hips as she handed the robe to Lulu, who was standing by with a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh."But I won't leave right away. Since Ryan is about to inherit the duke's title, I'll wait until that's settled before I go back to Meado
On the 13th day of winter, Salvador suddenly woke up feeling clearer than before. Saying he was hungry, he specifically asked for beef stew and milk pastries.Derek hurried to make the necessary arrangements. When the food arrived, Octavia sat by the bed as she had done many times before, ready to feed him. But Salvador insisted he wanted to sit up to eat himself.Derek gently helped the king sit up, placing a soft cushion behind him to support his back. Salvador had grown so thin that he seemed to be nothing but skin and bones. His body slouched as he sat, so Derek had to kneel beside the bed, holding his waist to keep him steady.Salvador finished an entire bowl of stew, eating it all without leaving a single bit behind. Then, he picked up a small milk pastry. But after a bite, he felt a little nauseous, so he didn't eat any more.Sebastian sent word to Victoria. After a brief conversation, her face turned pale and tears started to fall almost immediately. Though she had tried to
Once back at the palace, Salvador was unable to rise from his bed. Sebastian spoke briefly with him, hinting that he didn't have much time left. If there was anyone he wished to see, it should be done as soon as possible.The first person Salvador wanted to see was, of course, Victoria."That child… When he saw me, he couldn't stop asking about you. You didn't love him in vain, Mom," Salvador murmured, his voice weak.Victoria sighed deeply. "How cruel... his life must be lived hidden away in the mountains, never able to leave. Is there truly no hope for his legs?""I believe there is no hope," Salvador replied softly, his lips pale and drained of color. "But as I was leaving, he said, 'Dad, once I've learned enough medicine, I'll cure you. I'll make you better.'"Victoria's heart ached. "What a good child."Salvador's gaze drifted to the ceiling, his voice barely a whisper as he repeated, "Yes, he is a good child."After speaking with Victoria, Salvador asked Rafael to bring in