Rafael first shared the results of Zoey's investigation with Barrett, giving him a clear conclusion."It's pretty much confirmed that the people behind this used the Lester family to contact Aurora. They had a maid inform her and got her to show up at your mom's funeral. Afterward, Mrs. Lester went to offer her condolences, which gave her the opportunity to speak with Aurora privately. Once she did, both she and her husband were silenced."Barrett was stunned beyond words. "Is that truly the case?"Rafael didn't hesitate. "I'll be straightforward with you. While investigating Eleanor's treason case, the Supreme Court found links to the Lester family. However, we didn't have enough evidence, so we never moved against them. Mrs. Lester's involvement with Aurora indicates that the people behind her are the same as Eleanor's conspirators—the true masterminds behind the treason."Rafael's gaze grew heavier. "Aurora is involved in this case, and she will be taken to Westhaven. However, y
Barrett's eyes instinctively flickered toward the door. It wasn't something he did on purpose. He simply felt uneasy, as if everything he was doing was underhanded. Because of that, he couldn't help but act cautiously.This nervous, furtive behavior only lowered Aurora's guard even further. In front of her, this man was as transparent as glass—what was there to fear?"The thing you mentioned that day…" Barrett's voice was barely above a whisper. He avoided looking directly at her. "I've thought about it a lot since then. I can't help but feel the chances are slim. And you never said how you would ensure the Westhaven envoys will take General Sullivan. Without that certainty, I can't be sure the people of Hell Monarch Estate will intervene, and whether we'll get the right chance at all."His voice was very low, and his gaze towards Aurora was somewhat evasive. He still cared for her as his wife, and asking her questions like this felt like he was betraying her. He felt deeply trouble
Aurora pursed her lips. She did have some money saved up. No matter who managed the household, her portion was non-negotiable. As for the bride price, she had kept some of it for herself—there was no way she would have given it all to the Warrens! The small dowry she had been given wouldn't have been enough to live on, and she would never agree to the marriage without some savings of her own.However, the money she had saved was meant for the future. "You can take it if you need it, but you have to borrow what's necessary. After I escape, I'll be alone and without any support. I can't be left without money. You can't expect me to wander the streets and starve in the cold," she said. Barrett steered the conversation toward money as he knew it was better to discuss that first. Otherwise, pressing for too much information would make him seem too forceful and arouse Aurora's suspicions."How much do you have? I'll look at it, leave you some, and use the rest to hire people. If it's
Barrett still couldn't bring himself to believe it."Grand Princess Lisandra is against the war," he said. "If a female official around her is doing this, wouldn't it go completely against her stance? There's no way she'd agree to it."Aurora let out a cold laugh. "It seems she may not have a choice in the matter."Barrett was shocked. "What do you mean? Are they trying to undermine Grand Princess Lisandra?"Aurora's expression hardened. "How should I know? That's what Mrs. Lester told me, but she didn't go into detail. I don't even know the identity of the female official! I didn't believe her at first, which is why I asked so many questions. But she promised that if I cooperated, they'd help me escape when the time came. Because of you, I didn't press the issue with Dominic. They may not care about me anymore. However, no matter what I confess, I'm afraid their plan will go forward regardless. That means I still have a chance."After the initial shock, Barrett looked at her inte
Rafael quickly returned to Hell Monarch Estate and made his way to the council hall, where Everett was already sitting in the main seat, waiting for reports.Rafael instructed Jacob to gather information on the three female officials who had arrived this time. It was crucial to examine the details thoroughly.-At Concord Lodge, Violet had drunk a lot of coffee and was beginning to feel uncomfortable. She excused herself and told the Westhaven guards stationed there to wait as she went to the inner chamber. Carissa also stood up to accompany her.A maid who spoke Stellish was called over, and they were escorted toward the inner chamber. As they passed by the main courtyard of Concord Lodge, they noticed that the place was brightly lit. Sounds of an argument could be heard from within.Carissa took a quick look and saw that most of the envoys were present, as well as the female officials from Lisandra's side. There were easily a dozen or twenty people inside, arguing. Their voices
In the council hall of Hell Monarch Estate, Jacob laid out the profiles of the three female officials: Penny Durham, Yuna Rutherford, and Yasmine Stein."These three are Grand Princess Lisandra's close confidants. In Westhaven, women rarely hold important government positions. However, Ms. Durham was the first female official to rise to a fifth-rank position."Grand Princess Lisandra highly favors her. Next is Ms. Stein, the legitimate daughter of the head of Westhaven's Stein family. Marshal Liam's wife is her aunt. Finally, there's Ms. Rutherford. She comes from a commoner background and earned her place by topping the women's imperial exams. She's been working alongside Grand Princess Lisandra on state affairs. All three have been with the grand princess since their late king's time, and our investigation shows they are all highly loyal to her."Rafael picked up the documents, carefully scanning the details—names, ages, personalities, backgrounds, family information, when they st
Carissa hesitated for a moment before saying, "Go and bring Sebastian here. I'll think of a way to slip inside and take a look."No matter what, it was best to have Sebastian ready just in case.Violet nodded. "Alright, I'll go now."She hurried out and saddled the horse. The night air was still cold, and it would be quite troublesome for Sebastian to come out in this weather.Halfway there, she crossed paths with Travis, but it seemed like he didn't notice her. He rode straight past. She called out to him, and it took a moment before the sound of galloping hooves returned.Carissa instructed the Capital Guard to stand watch at the entrance, ensuring no one entered. If it turned out to be a trap, they had to be cautious and prepared. There was no harm in being extra careful. After that, she left the gatehouse and wandered around the perimeter of Concord Lodge. Since the area outside was filled with her men, she didn't think there would be much risk in walking around. After a whi
After a while, Winona appeared at the entrance of Concord Lodge. It was likely she hadn't come alone. When Carissa had seen her earlier, she had been dressed in stealth attire. But now, she wore her usual attire and her stealth attire was nowhere in sight.Carissa hurried over to greet her and asked, "What's the situation, Winona?" "I stayed on the roof of Grand Princess Lisandra's quarters for a while. She's unconscious. There are a few maids by her side. I overheard them talking—she came back from the Diplomatic Affairs Department not long ago and suddenly went into a fit. She even bit someone. After that, she lost consciousness," Winona replied."She went into a fit and bit someone? Could she have gone momentarily insane?" Violet exclaimed, astonished."Did you hear what they said in the main courtyard?" Carissa asked."They were arguing in the main courtyard. Some wanted to summon a royal physician or Sebastian, but others opposed it. Since I was on the roof, I couldn't tell
The position Faelan took at the table represented Nerathia's stance in the negotiations.They were neutral!Carissa couldn't help but marvel once more at the power of a strong kingdom.The initial stages of the talks were tedious, with the same points being repeated over and over. The translators were busy, their voices echoing with historical debates. This was inevitable, as conceding too early would only lead to further compromises.As such, the first round of negotiations yielded no agreement. It was simply a test of boundaries.The second round began the following day. Again, they emphasized the same points.But after the second repetition, Faelan spoke up, saying, "There is no point in prolonging this. The dispute over the border has lasted for decades. It will not be resolved in a day. Let us set the border issue aside for now. What I wish to know is whether both sides are committed to establishing peace and mutual non-aggression between your kingdoms."The answer was unan
Carissa noticed that the nobles and officials of Orivenia seemed unaware of Nerathia's intention to intervene in the negotiations.Their faces betrayed confusion, but after a moment, they revealed expressions of joy and confidence. It seemed they also believed that Nerathia's involvement would provide Orivenia with solid backing.Seeing this, Carissa felt a slight sense of reassurance. If that were really the case, Lisandra would have informed them beforehand. Or at least, she would have let the negotiating officials know.But why hadn't she?It seemed there was only one explanation. Lisandra was also hoping for mutual concessions. Few at court supported her, so she had brought in Faelan from Nerathia—someone whom everyone would trust.This made sense of the conversation from the previous night, when Lisandra had invited Carissa and Violet to the palace. The remarks about unmet wishes were clear now. The example of the women taking part in the civil service examinations was just t
In banquets like these, no one truly ate with much enthusiasm. Most dishes were merely tasted before being set aside, barely touched before servants whisked them away.But the Nerathians were different. They treated every dish with genuine respect, cleaning their plates entirely, no matter what was served. Their wine glasses, once filled, were immediately emptied again. The palace servants attending to them must have been exhausted, constantly refilling their glasses and replacing empty plates.Violet recalled their meal at Spring Pavilion. Just like tonight, not a single scrap had been left behind. She wanted to say something to Carissa, but the only sound in the hall was the clinking of cutlery and the quiet shifting of plates. Speaking now would be too conspicuous.Still, one glance between them was enough.Violet's thought was clear—the Nerathians' presence at this banquet must be tied to the negotiations. Carissa agreed.However, their exact role remained uncertain. Were they
The banquet began in the late afternoon, with Liam personally escorting the Starhaven delegation to the palace again.As they had suspected, the coronation ceremony had already been held. This evening's gathering was mainly focused on the border negotiations. Upon entering, Carissa and Violet noticed that there were no other foreign emissaries present—only royals, nobles, and officials from various departments.While they showed no hostility toward the Starhaven delegation, they weren't particularly welcoming either. Since a translator was needed for communication, conversations remained minimal, limited to simple greetings.Just as they were settling in, Lisandra turned to the Starhaven delegation and remarked, "Today, we have guests from Nerathia joining us as well. They should be arriving shortly. I believe you will find that you have much in common."Davis' eyes brightened immediately. "Guests from Nerathia? Who might they be?"His excitement was understandable.The weapons t
Lisandra continued, "The irony is, when I was a grand princess, I could call for women to join the ranks of government without hesitation. Now that I am the queen, I must move slowly, cautiously, balancing all the factions, weakening their hostility and wariness toward me. There are so many things to consider and so many forces at play. At times, I grow impatient, and I wish I could simply rid myself of those who oppose me."Carissa thought for a moment before replying, "In truth, whether one is a king or an official, man or woman, I believe their goal is the same, Your Majesty. It's to ensure the long-term stability of the kingdom and the peace and prosperity of the people. "When the nation prospers and war is no longer a threat, any reforms you wish to make will face less resistance. But for now, you must first secure your position, Your Majesty."Her meaning was subtle, but Lisandra understood clearly. The kingdom was still in turmoil, with various factions causing obstacles. Si
The royal palace of Orivenia stood resplendent and imposing, its golden architecture gleaming under the night sky, exuding an air of solemn grandeur.Upon passing through the first palace gate, the carriage rolled smoothly along the wide palace path, its spaciousness a stark contrast to the more cramped streets outside. However, what stood out the most was the abundance of lamps. It seemed as if oil was no object, for the palace grounds were lit up as though the night itself had been banished. As they got out of the carriage and walked along the winding corridor, the large trees ahead were hung with many lamps. Anyone trying to hide in the trees wouldn't stand a chance; they would be seen immediately.Liam led the way. As they approached a grand palace hall, two female attendants stepped forward. They exchanged a few words with Liam in the Westic before smiling and nodding to Carissa and Violet."Ladies, Her Majesty invites you to enter the palace," Liam said with a polite gesture
By the time they reached the capital of Orivenia, it was the 13th of August. A full month had passed since they left Starhaven.The afternoon sun shone brightly, and Kendrick lay back in the carriage as they entered the city.Since entering Orivenia's borders, they had endured seven assassination attempts. The last one had been particularly brutal, likely involving suicide soldiers. Many of the Mystic Army were injured, and even Violet had been grazed on the shoulder. Thankfully, it hadn't struck anything vital.Kendrick's fear was understandable. The attack had come when he was emerging from the washroom. The assassin's sword had pierced his chest, nearly plunging in completely. It was Carissa who noticed in time and swiftly turned, driving her spear into the assassin's chest before dragging him back with the hooked tip of her dagger, saving Kendrick's life.Though the injuries were minor, Kendrick reacted as if he had been mortally wounded. He howled in agony for half the night b
Kendrick had been shaken by the attack, and the royal physician had already been called to prepare a sedative to calm his nerves.When Carissa visited him, it was a pitiful sight. His face was as pale as paper, drained of all color. His lips trembled, and he shakily asked if the assassins were gone.She reassured him, saying they had gone, and only then did his trembling subside slightly.The people around him had already informed him that the assassins were driven off, but he hadn't believed them. He needed to hear it from Carissa to feel any sense of security.Carissa reminded him to rest and recuperate before she left.Meanwhile, Davis was busy comforting the others. As the Defense Minister, he had seen his fair share of chaos and remained calm. Also, he trusted Carissa and the Mystic Army. He didn't think there was much to fear—at worst, they had just risked losing a head.It was Meadow Ridge's members who gathered together, speculating that the black-clad figures they had en
At the break of dawn, the large procession set out for Orivenia.Carissa didn't feel much regret in leaving. After all, they would pass through Victory Pass on the way back, and she would have the chance to meet with her grandfather and his family again.Once they had left Victory Pass, the road grew rougher. Many sections were full of deep potholes or had been intentionally damaged, making it difficult for the carriages to move forward.However, Kendrick was determined not to ride a horse again. Even after days of rest, his legs were still sore from the relentless friction of the saddle. Walking was manageable, but sitting on horseback? That was pure agony.So, despite having earned his merit at Victory Pass for establishing an orphanage there, Kendrick insisted on traveling by carriage. When the wheels got stuck or the path became too treacherous, the Mystic Army soldiers dismounted and pushed the carriage forward, inching their way through the difficult terrain.Fortunately,