"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
Rafael and Carissa were sitting in a private room on the second floor of a tavern not far from the city gates. The room offered the best view in the place. With the windows pushed open, they could see the entire area around the gates.Since their schedule had always been fixed, Rafael had reserved this room in advance so Carissa would be able to see Dominic from there.Carissa's gaze never left his face, her eyes hungry as if she couldn't get enough of him. She wanted nothing more than to rush down, throw herself into her grandfather's arms, and cry like she used to when she was little.She would pour out all the grievances she had been holding inside, and her grandfather would gently pat her head, promising that anyone who dared hurt his little granddaughter would have to answer to him.But now, all Carissa could do was stand on the second floor, watching as Dominic's horse was surrounded by the masses, listening to the deafening roars of support. Tears welled up in her eyes.Her
Eventually, Michael and Max, accompanied by the Capital Guard and the Garrison Unit, managed to push through the crowd, gradually clearing a path so that Dominic and the Crown Guard could pass through unhindered.The Crown Guard led Dominic into the palace to see the king. Before they arrived, reports of the uproar caused by the citizens and the chants they had shouted had already been delivered to Salvador.The king's brows furrowed. The repeated cries of "His Majesty is wise" had coiled around him like a noose, tightening with each passing moment.Originally, he had planned for Dominic to be taken directly to the Ministry of Justice upon returning to the capital, where a relatively comfortable cell would be prepared for him. That way, he could also explain things better to the Westhaven envoy.But now, could he still carry out that plan?Under Galen's guidance, Dominic entered the royal study and knelt with his head bowed. "Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live the king!"Before
When Carissa first took up the position of commander of the Mystic Army, many officials opposed her appointment. They felt that a woman holding such an important position was inappropriate.But now, seeing the series of actions taken by Salvador and understanding his intentions, the people began to feel that something wasn't quite right. If things went on like this, the Mystic Army might end up reduced to nothing more than a gathering place for the Garrison Unit's misfits.The Mystic Army had once been a vital defense for the capital, a shield against external threats. Now, it was being torn apart, piece by piece. The officials felt uneasy, as if some sacred authority was being destroyed.This feeling was also due to the fact that since Carissa had taken charge, the Mystic Army had become more formidable and had instilled a greater sense of security. Many who had previously opposed her leadership were now completely won over.And it was this recognition of Carissa's ability that ha
Edwin arrived alone, without a single attendant. His plain green attire was paired with a thick black cloak. To anyone unfamiliar, he could have been mistaken for a steward from some noble house.Rafael and Carissa were the first to rise to greet him, with everyone else following suit. They all felt a deep gratitude for Edwin's silent assistance.After the formalities, Edwin got straight to the point, saying, "I'm ashamed to say I couldn't get that brat to agree unconditionally. He set a condition, so I had to come here first to ask Lady Carissa and Ms. Spencer's opinion."The word "ashamed" caught everyone off guard, but when they heard the rest, they finally breathed a collective sigh of relief.However, Violet was confused. "Why would you need my opinion? What does he want?""He said he wants you to be his mentor, Ms. Spencer. He wants to be one of your direct apprentices, like Commander Lewis, Deputy Commander Brown, and Commander Prince," Edwin said, finding the situation str
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