Leroy furrowed his brows. This matter had nothing to do with him. He had recognized Penny's strange behavior, but it didn't matter what she had done. As long as Lisandra couldn't participate in the negotiations, the power to make decisions rested in his hands.However, there was one condition—Lisandra's life couldn't be harmed. After all, she was his niece. Arthur was gone. Even though Lisandra didn't share Leroy's stance on the war, he simply couldn't take her life.He found it odd that Penny, who had always been Lisandra's trusted confidant, would betray her. Was Penny in favor of the war? She had opposed it previously. And clearly, she didn't want Lisandra to die, nor was she willing to give up just like that.Penny couldn't be acting alone—someone must be pulling the strings behind her betrayal.Who was it? Edmund?Questions swirled in Leroy's mind, but he had no answers.His suspicions about Penny stemmed from his ties to Harvey, but the others wouldn't have noticed anything
There were four threadworms in total. The last two were a different color—their first half was red while their second half was a faint pink, perhaps from having absorbed blood."If all four threadworms had their fill of blood, Grand Princess Lisandra would have been beyond saving," Sebastian said calmly.He placed the incense burner aside, and everyone instinctively took a step back. They had never seen anything so horrifying, and couldn't help but feel a chill run through them.Carissa and Violet exchanged a look, both feeling a wave of disgust, their skin crawling.Penny was so frightened, she could hardly stand. She braced herself against the table, her lips trembling and her eyes wide with disbelief.Sebastian remained calm. "Her Highness will wake soon. Mr. Glover, check on her and see if you can detect any stagnation in her blood now."Leroy nudged the stunned Javier. "Go."It took a moment for Javier to snap out of his daze. He moved to the bed, checking on Lisandra for a
The poison worms hadn't been taken away. They remained in the incense burner, drawn to the bloodied scent of the medicine. They would stay there and feed off the aroma until they died. However, the poisonous worms that had been expelled wouldn't live much longer either."They're in the incense burner," Sebastian replied. "You can take it to Her Highness."Though small, the poisonous worms were disturbing. Javier hesitated before reaching out, his hand hovering in the air.He finally asked, "Can these worms… enter the human body again?"Seeing his reluctance, Winona stepped forward. She lifted the incense burner, carefully removed the lid, and presented it to Lisandra.At the sight of the worms, Lisandra's stomach turned. She fought the urge to vomit as a wave of nausea surged through her. The sight alone was enough to make her feel faint. Her body flushed with heat and her blood surged with anger. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to regain composure. The effort took much longe
The slap not only struck Penny's face, but also released the pent-up frustration and anger she had buried deep within.Penny clutched her cheek, her voice thick with sorrow as she cried, "Your Highness, have you forgotten how terribly Prince Arthur died? It will forever be a wound in the hearts of the people of Westhaven! How can we not avenge him? How can we not? He was your brother! How can you be so heartless and disregard the bond between siblings?"Lisandra clenched her fist, her palm wet with sweat. The light cast a ghostly pallor on her face, and her eyes were filled with a deep, dull despair."So, do you all think that the reason I don't want to go to war is because I don't want to avenge him?"She took a deep breath, her anger flickering in her eyes. Though still weak, she pointed an accusing finger at Penny."Penny, others may think that, but I have made my intentions clear to you every step of the way. You know exactly what I am thinking and what I am considering. You s
Penny's actions had forced Lisandra to make a decision. Summoning the rest of the envoys, she draped her outer robe over her shoulders and forced herself to sit upright in a chair."Negotiations will resume tomorrow afternoon. The terms are up for discussion. There's no need to be so rigid," she announced bluntly.Leroy's eyes widened. "Discussion? How do you plan to discuss it? Are you saying we should just agree if they demand we pull back our borders?""We'll put the border issue on hold for now," replied Lisandra, who had already made up her mind and was resolute, disregarding their objections. "We aim to reach an agreement by tomorrow or the day after, then we'll leave for home immediately.""You can't..."Lisandra gave her uncle a cold glance. "I'm not asking for your opinion. This is my decision. If you're unhappy, keep it to yourself."A furious Leroy shot back, "This is pure stubbornness! If we put the border issue aside, how are we supposed to explain it to the king and
The group unanimously agreed that Westhaven would likely lower its demands to expedite the negotiations. The most probable outcome was that the border issue would either be compromised or set aside entirely.Jacob spoke up, "Prince Yuvan's repeated schemes have all failed, which shows how difficult his situation is now. His network was probably all under Eleanor's control. Since she's fallen, he's likely running out of options in the capital.-As Jacob had pointed out, Yuvan truly had few paths left to pursue.Wayne had made several moves, repeatedly using Harvey as a front while concealing another hidden operation. Now, both layers had been completely uprooted, with the loss of more than ten of their suicide soldiers.They kept a close watch on the situation at Concord Lodge. From the fact that Sebastian had gone there, it was clear the plan had failed. Even when Lisandra fell unconscious, the mother Soulgrip Threadworm was unable to control the larvae inside her. From there, it
As dawn broke the next morning, Yuna went to find Carissa and asked her to bring Sebastian to see Lisandra. At the same time, Garrick headed to the Diplomatic Affairs Department to prepare for the afternoon's continuation of the negotiations.Sebastian knew Lisandra would request to see him, so he had gotten up early that day and was now waiting for someone to call on him. When Carissa arrived, his carriage was already ready. Without her needing to speak, Sebastian called for Ivy to bring his medicine box."Concord Lodge, right?" he said.Carissa smiled. "You already knew?""Grand Princess Lisandra's headaches are severe. Without me, she won't be able to handle the upcoming negotiations, let alone return home to deal with pressing matters."Sebastian was as confident as ever in his medical skills.Carissa sat in the carriage with him, asking, "What's going on with Grand Princess Lisandra's headaches? Is it just tension?""That's part of it. From what I can tell, it's clear she's
Carissa was momentarily stunned. Sebastian's words seemed to carry an underlying message, one that was not immediately clear.When Lisandra's gaze met hers, Carissa calmly looked at the grand princess, her expression unreadable, as though she didn't understand.Sebastian was observant, and he was always able to read people deeply. His words must have been a reflection of his insight into the grand princess' thoughts. After leaving the medicine, Sebastian made to leave, and Lisandra stood to see him off.She bowed deeply. "Thank you, Mr. Dalton. If you ever come to Westhaven, I will certainly show my gratitude properly."For some reason, her eyes glistened with unshed tears.Carissa helped Sebastian while Ivy carried the medicine box, and the three of them left together.Lisandra sat back down, watching as Javier opened the medicine bottle and checked the contents, though her focus seemed to wander.A healer didn't just treat the body—they also healed the heart.She had never sp
Having failed to convince my mother, I went to my father. However, his response was even more severe.They thought I opposed the marriage because I hadn't spent time with Phineas. They were also convinced that since the match was already being arranged, it would be best for him to take me out and build some rapport between us.I didn't want to go, but my mother's maid forced me into the carriage. The maid was also told to watch me closely to ensure I didn't speak out of turn.Phineas looked all polished up, with shiny hair and a face like he had powdered it that morning. He initially showed me some respect, but soon enough, his true nature began to show. He made crude comments about my appearance, saying that if it weren't for my looks and the fact that I was from the Spencer family, he would never have considered marrying me.His condescending attitude made me uncomfortable. If that had been the worst of it, perhaps I would have simply let it go. But on our way back, he pinched me
Startled, I quickly turned around. Not far behind me stood a man, half-hidden in the shade of a tree. He wore a simple black outfit, his figure thin and unkempt, with dark circles beneath his eyes.It was him—the scholar from the bridge who sold paintings, the one Mr. Klein had called a hopeless case, a student who had dropped out to care for a woman."You're speaking nonsense," I exclaimed, wide-eyed, a shiver running through me at the thought of his strange words. "I've never heard of any water demons here. You're just trying to trick me."Though I had no fear of death, I was uneasy at the thought of demons, particularly if they were going to trap me beneath the mud."I'm not lying to you." Cassius stepped forward, his frail frame seeming even more fragile against the breeze. "If you look around, you'll see no one is here. Why else would such a lovely place be devoid of visitors?""That's because the people who come here are not tourists. They come to pray, and they leave once t
After a while, my cousin and her maid returned to find me. I asked the maid to hand thirty copper coins to Cassius. He smiled and thanked me kindly.I thought our meeting was just a chance encounter and I would never see him again. However, to my surprise, during Grandma's birthday celebration a month later, I saw him again.Our family was hosting a grand dinner, and Leonard Klein, a renowned scholar, had come with his apprentices. And there Cassius was, standing among them.In Ebonflow, the rules for social gatherings weren't as strict as in the capital, with women being allowed to be in the front hall during a banquet. Of course, Cassius didn't recognize me. After all, I had been wearing a veil when we first met, so he had only seen my eyes.He didn't stay long. After presenting Grandma with a beautiful painting, he quickly excused himself, saying he had business to attend to at home.Once he left, Mr. Klein spoke of him with a tone of regret, explaining, "He's a clever young man
Anyone who knew me, Liana Spencer, spoke of me with scorn. Even strangers who heard my story would spit on the ground and say I had no shame.Everyone knew that running away with a man was worse than theft or murder. It was a disgrace no family could easily bear.Many asked me the same question: Did I regret it?I never regretted marrying him, but I did carry guilt in my heart. Because of me, the Spencer family's name was dragged through the mud. My brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews had a much harder time finding good matches because of my choices.As a daughter of the Spencer family, I lived in comfort from the moment I was born. I wore fine dresses, ate the best foods, and was showered with love. My parents doted on me, while my brothers spoiled me terribly.But there was something wrong with me.By the time I was fourteen, I still hadn't gotten my monthly courses. We consulted physician after physician, and I drank countless doses of bitter medicine, day and night. Yet, no
Snow fell softly in the dead of winter, blanketing Victory Pass in white. At that moment, the world seemed to have been made pure again.For years, I wore nothing but a tattered priest's robe. I carried a broken bowl and wandered from place to place, asking for food. I stopped only briefly at temples along the way to rest for a night or two and kneel before the statues to beg for forgiveness.I could have stayed at the first monastery I was sent to. Life there wasn't easy, but it wasn't so hard either. I had warm meals and shelter from the cold. But I knew if I stayed in comfort, I would never wash away my sins.Only by suffering, by staying on the road and bearing the cold, the hunger, the pain, could I find peace in my heart.And so, I came to Victory Pass.My sandals had long since fallen apart. Thick calluses had grown on my feet; I could walk barefoot over rocks and barely feel a thing. Even with every piece of clothing I owned layered over me, the winter cold still cut throug
It was during the Verdant Hunt that Connor fell out of favor with Dad, who scolded him harshly before we left the hunting grounds. Once we returned to the palace, Connor fell ill. Ryan and I were both terribly worried, but Mom was delighted.She held me close that evening, her smile sharper than usual. "After this, your father is sure to be tired of your brother."She told me I must work harder than ever, and to listen closely to the royal chancellor and my uncle."Study better than anyone. Earn their praise. And most importantly, outshine your brother," she said.My heart felt torn. Mom often spoke of the rewards that came with being crown prince, and I won't lie, I was tempted. However, those were all distant things.At the time, I was close to Connor, Ryan, and even our youngest brother, Cecil. We all got along so well. How could I possibly hate my older brother?Those thoughts tangled inside me, day after day. I lost focus. My studies slipped. I made mistakes during riding pra
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