Timothy opposed vehemently. "This is a decision that has already been made! There is no need for further challenges. This is not a martial arts arena, it's a battlefield. Such actions are detrimental to the unity of the army."Upon hearing this, Aurora sensed that he was trying to prevent Carissa from losing. This assumption only served to bolster her confidence. "Those who are capable should step up. What's wrong with a challenge? Are you afraid she'll lose? If you think her reputation will take a blow, then we don't need to fight. Just give the command of the Mystic Army to me," she said smugly. Timothy snorted. "What wishful thinking! Just because you led the reinforcements to the battlefield, you think they're all yours? I'm trying to save your dignity by preventing this challenge. Since you don't appreciate my goodwill, do as you please!""No need for more empty words. The Mystic Army won't be under General Sinclair's command unless she defeats me," Aurora said. With tha
Aurora's words moved Barrett deeply. Hearing such a statement from anyone else wouldn't have touched him as much as it did coming from Aurora. She wasn't just an ordinary woman confined to the household; she was a formidable general on the battlefield, a hero who had forced their enemy to sign a peace treaty.For such an extraordinary woman to say she didn't mind washing her hands and cooking for him, it warmed Barrett's heart. Any previous disappointment he had felt towards her vanished instantly.The challenge was set for sunset. Rafael sent Dylan to notify Carissa. He found her still drilling her troops in the open field, and informed her of Rafael's order.She simply nodded. "Got it."Since the entire army knew about this, Violet and the others came looking for Carissa after their training. Each gave her a pat on the shoulder and said tersely, "Beat her."Carissa smiled at them. Beating Aurora would indeed be challenging, not because it was a fight to the death, but becaus
Aurora's voice was loud enough for all the generals and the Mystic Army to hear. Aurora prided herself on being straightforward, and spoke without reservation. However, her words only deepened the disdain of those who already looked down on Carissa. The murmurs of discontent turned into a torrent of insults, overwhelming Carissa.Violet and the others were livid, their faces turning ashen with anger. If not for the military rules, they would have rushed forward to teach Aurora a lesson right then and there. Their anger grew even more when they saw Carissa's calm demeanor. Despite Aurora's blatant provocation, Carissa showed no signs of anger. She simply watched Aurora in silence, like a mute. She didn't respond, and her expression remained unchanged. Only her eyes grew darker."Carissa!" Rafael took a wooden staff from Dylan, and tossed it to her. "Don't use the Rose Spear. Use this."Carissa caught the staff with one hand and tossed the Rose Spear back to Rafael, giving him a m
Aurora's heart raced; she glanced at Carissa’s dark eyes, then at the unmarked wooden staff in her hands. She was astonished. Could this be no ordinary wooden staff? Of course! Rafael would go out of his way to protect Carissa. How could he give her an ordinary wooden stick?With that thought in mind, Aurora sneered. "This staff must be more than just a wooden stick, right? It seems the marshal picked the sturdiest weapon for you."The wooden staff was as long as the Rose Spear. It was actually just a wooden post meant for building camp structures. If Aurora had paid close attention, she would have realized it was an ordinary stick. Convinced of Rafael’s favoritism towards Carissa, however, she refused to believe he would give her anything ordinary in this challenge.Many soldiers were unable to see clearly from a distance. They, too, believed Aurora’s accusation, thinking Carissa’s staff was a superior weapon. Immediately, cries of unfairness erupted. “How can an ordinary w
Aurora spat out a mouthful of blood. Carissa's kick seemed to have nearly dislocated her internal organs. It left her in such agony, she couldn’t make a sound for a long time. Her face was ashen as she instinctively touched her neck, feeling the blood on her fingers. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably—not from fear, but from the sheer inability to accept this outcome.She looked at Carissa in disbelief. Such martial skills were beyond anything she had ever seen. How did Carissa, of all people, possess such formidable abilities? Aurora recalled how Barrett had once mentioned that Carissa had hurt him by simply flicking leaves, a statement that had seemed laughable then. Now, after experiencing it firsthand, a surge of jealousy and hatred gnawed at her.This swift defeat was a brutal slap in her face. Earlier, she had accused Carissa of relying on connections to rise in rank, causing several officers to be punished. Even before the fight, she had loudly berated Carissa, inci
The Mystic Army was now utterly impressed with Carissa, particularly Michael. He could see the formidable nature of Carissa's move. She had shattered the wooden staff into many pieces, and they had all been perfectly aligned. There was a subtle but powerful technique hidden within her inner force. Among all the flying wooden shards, only the one that landed on his neck was light.As the sun set and darkness enveloped the land, the campfire cast its glow over the gradually dispersing soldiers. They chattered excitedly about Carissa's technique.“That staff shattered into pieces right on the spot! It was incredible—almost like magic!”“She's truly worthy of being the late General Sinclair's daughter. She's amazing!”“I told you, if she hadn’t made real achievements on the battlefield, how could she have risen to the rank of a fifth-ranked general?”“You shameless idiot! You were the loudest back then! You even made a fuss and tried to protest to the marshal. If I hadn’t dragged yo
Carissa pointed with her Rose Spear toward where she had fought Michael. “If your eyes are still working, see why Michael surrendered for yourself.”The location wasn’t far, just about seven or eight paces away. Aurora followed the direction Carissa indicated, and took a deep breath. She saw five cracks on the ground, each twisting and winding, as if a centipede had crawled through. They converged at one spot.That spot was roughly where Michael had been standing. The cracks seemed to have passed through beneath his feet. One crack was about the size of a footprint, indicating a lighter impact. It appeared that Carissa's inner force had struck Michael's feet, causing this lighter crack.If Carissa hadn’t carefully controlled her inner force, it could have crippled Michael’s legs. That was why he had surrendered.Aurora took a deep breath, realizing that in Carissa’s presence, she had been thoroughly defeated. However, she straightened herself quickly, clinging to Barrett’s ar
Rafael summoned Carissa to the command tent.A cup of hot coffee was placed before her, its steam hazy and blurring her vision. She picked up the cup, and took a sip. It was bitter—but on a battlefield, having any drink was a luxury.“Do you want to kill her?” Rafael asked.“I’ve considered it,” Carissa admitted candidly.“The scouts we sent have reported back. Westhaven has even hidden the fact that Starhaven destroyed villages. They're claiming that a fire destroyed the entire area instead, and everyone was burned alive. Do you know what that means?” Rafael continued.Carissa held the cup tightly. The warmth of the drink contrasted sharply with the coldness in her heart. After a long pause, she finally replied, “I understand. Westhaven wants to conceal the humiliation of their crown prince.”“Even if the king discovers the truth, he can’t punish Aurora publicly. At the very least, you can be assured that your grandfather won’t be implicated because of her,” Rafael said.Sinc
Grace seemed momentarily taken aback, her grip tightening on the handkerchief. "What is it, Your Grace? Do not hesitate to speak plainly.""Not long ago, the harem was abuzz with rumors. First, it was said that Lady Sylvia was responsible for Lady Jeanette's miscarriage. Then, the rumor shifted, claiming it was Queen Kylie. You've overseen the harem for so long, Lady Grace. You must have some idea of where these rumors originated and who might have spread them, yes?" Carissa asked.Caught off guard by the question, Grace's sorrowful expression stiffened for a moment as she exchanged a furtive glance with Lyra. But she quickly masked the slip and regained her composure."The palace has always been rife with gossip. There is no need to dwell on such matters. Perhaps you might focus on the investigation into Prince Connor's murder, Your Grace?" she replied."The queen dowager has ordered me to investigate thoroughly, starting from Lady Jeanette's miscarriage. So, while the case of Pri
Carissa paid a visit to Jeanette.Though the concubine did not explicitly say that Sylvia was responsible for the loss of her child, she did remark, "Those who commit wicked deeds will always face retribution. No one can escape it."The words seemed not only directed at Sylvia, but also at Kylie.As Carissa prepared to leave after questioning her, Jeanette suddenly spoke up, asking, "Your Grace, was it truly impossible to save Prince Connor?"Carissa assumed Jeanette's words were born of sympathy for Connor. But when she glanced at the concubine, she saw no trace of sorrow in her eyes, only a subtle glint of something resembling satisfaction.It was an emotion she clearly tried to conceal but could not, as though Jeanette had achieved a long-sought revenge. Carissa chose not to respond, instead turning on her heel to leave.Kylie had caused Jeanette's loss, so it was no surprise that she wouldn't wish for Connor's recovery.Carissa couldn't fault Jeanette for her feelings. How c
Kylie had always looked down on Grace.The latter's family lacked distinction, and her beauty could scarcely be considered remarkable. Her rise to the position of higher-ranked concubine seemed nothing more than the result of fortunate circumstances, particularly her giving birth to Caden.Kylie guessed that Grace also must be aware of her limited connections and support, which was why she had long exercised caution and humility. However, there were times when she could not resist harboring a few selfish thoughts. Yet, she dared not plot too aggressively.Such had been the case when Grace had sheltered Jeanette—likely in an attempt to solidify her position and strengthen her influence in the harem by using the other woman as a pawn. Despite Grace's attentions, Jeanette had remained ungrateful, resenting the way she constantly placed Caden in Salvador's presence.Grace always had a habit of making things harder for herself, which was why Kylie had never held her in much regard.Now
Sitting in front of her vanity table, Sylvia suddenly recalled that the dress she had once asked her mother to order from Camila had been delivered. She had intended to wear it at the New Year's Eve banquet.The dress was a rich shade of sunset yellow, embroidered with delicate camellia flower blossoms. Charming and vivid, the hem of the skirt flowed in graceful waves, the brightness of its color giving it an air of both beauty and refinement.Sylvia asked Heidi to bring the dress over and help her into it. She gazed into the mirror, entranced by her own reflection. While doing so, she noted that although she looked a little haggard, she remained as stunning as ever. Her skin was still pale and smooth, free from the slightest sign of age or fatigue.Her slender, pale fingers traced the intricate embroidery as she murmured softly to herself, "Ms. Moore's needlework is indeed extraordinary. This dress surpasses even the finest dress I own. How truly exquisite."Heidi knelt at her sid
The next morning, Rafael announced Connor’s death, leaving the entire court in shock and mourning."His Majesty is overcome with grief and has fallen ill. For the next few days, matters regarding the kingdom will be handled by myself and Mr. Murray. The arrangements for Prince Connor's funeral will be overseen by the Royal Management Department and the Protocol Department," Rafael said solemnly.Malcolm staggered, barely keeping his balance. His eyes were bloodshot from a sleepless night. Even though he had mentally prepared himself, the news still hit him hard.The news reached the inner palace at the same time. Since returning last night, Kylie had been wailing inconsolably, demanding to see Connor. Upon hearing the dreadful news, she fainted once more. Thankfully, a royal physician had been stationed at Everspring Palace and was able to revive her.Once the queen was conscious again, her screams echoed throughout the entire area.At Iridescent Palace, Grace felt a mix of relief
Salvador announced his decision before asking Rafael about the investigation.The king knew the colt wouldn't go wild for no reason. He had asked about the horses before—some had a bit of a temper, but the children had already tamed them.Rafael didn't hide anything and handed over the caltrop. "Someone placed this under the saddle. When the saddle was empty, the thorn caused only a mild discomfort to the horse. But once Prince Connor got on, the sharp spikes stabbed into the horse's flesh, causing it to go berserk from the pain."Salvador's gaze grew cold as he looked at Carissa. "Did no one inspect the saddles beforehand?"Carissa hurriedly responded, "Your Majesty, we checked thoroughly. The horses were under constant guard, and aside from the three princes and Ryan, no one was allowed near them. They led their own horses; no one else handled them during the journey."Victoria's expression was equally grim. "I gave strict orders to the guards. The horses, the three princes, and
Salvador's question hung heavy in the air, and for a long moment, Sebastian remained silent. His brow furrowed as he pondered, considering every possibility, weighing the odds.The only sounds that filled the room were strained, shallow breaths and the pounding of hearts, creating a silence so profound it was suffocating and seemed to echo with despair.At last, Sebastian slowly said, "There isn't really a solution. At best, there's a desperate gamble. But the chances of success… are very, very low.""Tell us. Just say it," Victoria urged, even more anxious than Salvador.Sebastian let out a deep sigh. "Even this gamble depends on him surviving the next three days. If he makes it through, I'll take him to Eldermere Keep. There, we will soak him in a brew made from the Everbind Herb, which grows only on those grounds. It might save his life. But the chances are slim. He may not last long enough to even get there.""Can't we gather the Everbind Herb and bring it here? How would we m
Connor was transferred to a smaller palace within the royal gardens. It was impossible to return him to the main palace at the moment, with the only choice being to treat him nearby.As for his condition, everyone could guess by looking at Sebastian's face. It seemed like it wasn't looking good.Rafael had the room cleared of any unnecessary witnesses, though he did not yet report the findings of the investigation. There were still questions to be answered, and the search for answers continued.All the concubines, as well as Kylie, returned to the main palace. The queen had initially refused to leave her son's side, adamant in her decision to stay with him. But upon seeing Connor's condition, she fainted once more. It was then that Salvador gave the order to have her escorted away.Ryan had also resisted leaving. He wouldn't abandon his friend, no matter the circumstances, and insisted on remaining at his side. Seeing the boy's resolve, Rafael allowed him to stay.Salvador remaine
The guards were unable to restrain Kylie, who rushed past the partition screens. One glance at her blood-soaked son was enough to make her release a piercing scream of horror before collapsing in a faint.Thankfully, royal physicians were also present. The servants quickly ushered the queen out, allowing a royal physician to attend to her. Once revived, Kylie's sobs were unrestrained, her cries echoing with raw anguish.Leading some men, Rafael took swift action to restore order. He intercepted the frenzied horse and set the wheels of investigation in motion, determined to uncover what had caused such madness.Inside the makeshift room, Salvador knelt beside Connor. As his trembling hands gently brushed the bloodied face of his son, his palms became stained with crimson.Telling the king to move aside, Sebastian quickly administered needle treatment, meant to simply keep Connor alive for a little longer. The priority now was to stop the bleeding in the eldest prince's head.The bo