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
Kevin immediately knelt and hurriedly said, "Dad, don't worry. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'll make sure to learn well from my mentor. I won't slack off or be lazy. As for anything I shouldn't do, I promise I won't do it."He had attended Violet's large lectures twice before, but had missed the others due to his duty shifts. Violet didn't teach him one-on-one whenever he was free, which left him feeling quite despondent.When he returned home, he had told his parents several times that if he could be personally taught by Violet, it would be a dream come true.To his surprise, after all the bad luck he had suffered during the Victory Pass campaign, he now had such good fortune. He knew his actions weren't exactly noble, but he also understood that if he let this opportunity slip through his fingers, he would never get another.The Crown Guard, soon to be the Nightsteel Guard, would soon separate from the Mystic Army, and Violet was only teaching the Mystic Army troops
Violet pulled Carissa aside to watch the sparring match. She knew Carissa must be worried about her grandfather right now, so she called over her apprentices to compete. Martial arts was Carissa's favorite, and watching the match would likely help distract her.Rafael sat beside her, also observing the fight. His main purpose, of course, was to stay with Carissa. As for how the match was going, he didn't care much.Well, it didn't matter whether he cared or not. Kevin was up against three opponents and was getting utterly pummeled. He could barely fight back and was mostly just taking the hits.It was almost painful to watch.Fortunately, they were careful not to target Kevin's head or face. A few punches and kicks to his body weren't a big deal since no one would see the damage. But if this kept up, Kevin wouldn't last much longer.Just as Rafael was about to step in and call for a stop, Carissa beat him to it. As someone who practiced martial arts, she couldn't bear to watch suc
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