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
By the time Kevin turned 13, he still wasn't formally apprenticed to a mentor. Every time he tried, something went wrong. Either he fell ill, or the mentor he found had bad luck.In the end, Ernest gave up. "Just keep learning what you can," he said. "Whatever you manage to learn is enough."Violet listened to Kevin's story with mixed emotions. Was this guy some kind of bad luck magnet? His life was one misfortune after another, and it seemed like he even brought bad luck to his mentors. She couldn't help but wonder—would that affect her too?Based on his past experiences, it always seemed like something would go wrong before he could formally apprentice. Now that he had finally managed to find a mentor and things were going smoothly, maybe it was a sign that his luck had finally turned. Since he managed to apprentice without issues, perhaps it meant his bad streak had come to an end and everything would start going well.Kevin had officially met his senior apprentices. Seeing
The following evening, Rafael and Carissa arrived at Sullivan Estate.From the outside, it was clear that the Griffinblade Unit wasn't slacking off. The plaque had been rehung, the front gate cleaned, and every copper nail on the door had been carefully polished to a shine.During the day, common people had come to offer their respects, bringing simple gifts—fruits, vegetables, and meat. The people's affections were the purest. They couldn't do much else, but they gave what they could.Barrett stood at the gate, looking a bit out of place. He couldn't bring himself to come during the day, so he had taken to standing guard at night. He was gathering the courage to go in and apologize. Despite trying to work up the nerve, he couldn't bring himself to open the door. When Rafael and Carissa arrived, Barrett instinctively stepped back and hid from view.It was a reflex, driven by the sharp insults he had been receiving from the townsfolk. He even had rotten vegetable leaves thrown at
Dominic stood and helped Carissa straighten up before gently rubbing her head, just like he used to when she was little. As a child, she would come to him to complain whenever she was upset.She had been a small, delicate thing, and couldn't stand feeling wronged. Anyone who dared to scold her or speak ill of her would find themselves the subject of her complaints the moment her grandfather returned to the capital.After venting her frustrations, she would always hide in his arms, seemingly submissive and innocent on the surface. Yet, her eyes would gleam with mischievous satisfaction.Tears streamed down Carissa's face, each drop falling in a steady cascade. With his rough fingers, Dominic wiped away her tears, swallowing the sorrow in his throat.His voice still trembled with emotion as he said, "Who's been bullying our little Cari this time? But you don't need me to step in and teach them a lesson now, do you? You can handle it yourself and give them a taste of their own medicin
Dominic understood what Rafael was getting at. Westhaven's retaliation had been balanced—it was an eye for an eye. If they hadn't taken action after the massacre but instead sent an envoy like they were doing now, then Starhaven would clearly be in the wrong.However, Westhaven had already exacted their form of revenge."Yes," Dominic said softly. "If it was just the massacre of villagers, they would have gotten their revenge after what they've done. But don't forget, there was the matter of a prisoner of war being killed as well."A prisoner of war being killed was just describing the situation in a nicer way. What had truly occurred was the brutal humiliation of an heir to the throne, leading to his tragic death.The current Westhaven king, Edmund, wasn't acting out of a sense of justice for the common people. No, he was seeking vengeance for his brother, Arthur. Even if the massacre of civilians could be swept under the rug, what of the murder of another kingdom's crown prince?
Dominic looked at his granddaughter's thin shoulders. His heart ached with a feeling of unbearable sorrow.After all that she had already gone through, how could he bear to ask her to endure even more? How could he let her use the tragedy of her family's destruction as a bargaining chip to fight for his survival?"Grandfather, Carissa's right," Rafael said gently. "All of this is interconnected—it's impossible to separate them. And it's not just for your sake, but to avoid war between the two kingdoms as well."If they were to tackle the issues separately, Westhaven might indeed admit their wrongs. They might even apologize and offer compensation, but doing so would weaken their bargaining position.Dominic understood that logic. Still, it was too cruel to ask Carissa to bear the weight of it all. He couldn't continue the conversation.At this moment, grandfather and granddaughter faced each other. There was nothing they could say. Family matters were too sensitive, while national
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