After the Westhaven envoys left the capital, Salvador swiftly dealt out punishments to Dominic and Barrett.Dominic's military leadership had been lax, but given his years of hard service defending Victory Pass and the fact that he had been on the brink of death when Barrett and Aurora headed to Fawnrun City, Salvador showed him some mercy. He allowed Dominic to retire from his post and return to Victory Pass to live out his remaining years in peace.Another edict followed, transferring command of Victory Pass to Wyatt, with Wallace as his deputy. Since the border issue had not yet been resolved, Victory Pass could not be left without the Sullivan family's involvement.With that, Dominic finally emerged from Sullivan Estate and entered the palace to express his gratitude.His family was still stationed at Victory Pass, and after his retirement, he would return there, though he would no longer be in charge. His accomplishments, despite their weight, would not earn him a noble title,
The group followed Patrick inside, with Carissa holding Lulu's hand the entire way.The two Westhaven spies were brought in, their clothes torn and bloodstained. Their faces were so swollen that it was impossible to distinguish their features, as though they had been slapped dozens of times. Forced to kneel on the ground, they were struggling to stay upright, their bodies nearly falling forward.Lulu's eyes were red, filled with searing rage. Like Carissa, she had never once forgotten the terrible tragedy of the massacre at Northwatch Estate. Now that the larger situation had been settled, she could finally take revenge for her family and for Melanie.The pain and fury in her heart surged forth like a tidal wave. She wanted to rush up and beat them senseless, but she couldn't afford to lose her composure in front of Patrick or embarrass Rafael and Carissa."When these two spies were brought to the Ministry of Justice, they still had defiant looks on their faces, as if they were rea
Violet had originally thought of making a few more cuts on the bodies of the Westhaven spies. But when she heard Lulu's words, she stopped herself. If they were stabbed more, their blood would flow too quickly and they would die too easily.Carissa moved to the small shrine nearby. Lighting the candles, she knelt and prayed silently. Her throat tightened, and no words came. However, she knew that her parents, her brothers, and her sisters-in-law, all in the afterlife, could see this moment.Rafael stepped forward and lit another candle. He knelt beside her, taking her hand in his.His heart ached as he whispered softly, "The killers have been punished. Mother and everyone else will surely find peace in the afterlife now."Carissa's face was already streaked with tears.Would they truly find peace?She didn't know. She only knew they would never return.The vengeance didn't ease the pain in her heart, but she knew she had to stay strong. Only by living a life of happiness could s
After dinner, Dominic and Rafael spent a long time talking in the study. Carissa had originally wanted to listen in, but her grandfather told her it was a conversation for men, so it wouldn't be appropriate for her to be there. Reluctantly, she agreed and left, heading off to find Winona and Kyle.During the meal that evening, Everett had announced he would be returning to Meadow Ridge. He insisted that the others should return with him, especially Kyle. He had scolded him for staying at Hell Monarch Estate, saying that the place was overcrowded with visitors, disrupting the peace.In reality, most of the people coming to visit Kyle were well-known scholars and artists of the court. However, Everett had said that the more connected to court someone was, the less they should be involved with them. He didn't want Rafael getting dragged into unnecessary trouble, so he ordered them to leave Hell Monarch Estate at once.Winona privately said that Everett was being two-faced. When he need
Leona frowned. "Grandpa's leaving for Victory Pass tomorrow. He's getting older, and after this, who knows when we'll see him again? He spent his 70th birthday alone at Sullivan Estate. Don't you want to go have a meal with him and wish him a long life?"Heather wiped away her tears. "No, I can't go. And anyway, Carissa should have been the one to celebrate with him on his 70th birthday…"Leona's anger flared. "Mom, you should know that Cari couldn't see him on his birthday or celebrate it with him. The negotiations hadn't even started then, and His Majesty hadn't made his decision. How could she possibly have done such an inappropriate thing at such an inappropriate time?"Heather dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, choking up as she spoke, "Well, it's all over now. A meal now isn't the same as on his actual birthday. I didn't go then, but when he returned to the capital, I did try to visit. Unfortunately, someone was guarding the door and wouldn't let me in. At least I made th
When Leona arrived at Hell Monarch Estate, she saw Dominic and Cindy. Unable to hold back her tears, she immediately rushed forward to greet them.Upon seeing her, Dominic and Cindy instinctively glanced outside. But after a moment of seeing no one, a flicker of disappointment crossed their eyes, quickly replaced by their usual calm.Cindy smiled as she held Leona's hands. "Why are you crying, silly girl? Aren't you happy to see your grandfather safe and sound?""I am happy... I'm just too happy," Leona said through her tears.Dominic looked at his granddaughter, knowing the hardships she had endured. His heart ached with pity."Leona, come sit down and let me have a good look at you."Hearing the concern in his voice and remembering her mom's indifference, Leona felt a pang in her chest. Tears rolled down her cheeks again."Grandpa, I'm fine. I have my cousin to help me. Everything's good."Dominic glanced at Carissa, his heart filled with sorrow. She had suffered so much, yet
Trevor and Jeremiah stayed at Hell Monarch Estate for dinner. The spread was lavish, with fine wine served alongside it.Dominic was in high spirits and was drinking freely. The three of them chatted and laughed throughout the meal, mostly reminiscing about old times. They spoke of those who had already passed, even mentioning Matthias Warren.Jeremiah sighed deeply. "Back then, I used my connections to arrange a marriage between Barrett and Viola, all out of respect for Matthias. I wanted to make sure their family didn't fall into decline. Who would've thought those two would end up as a mismatched pair? As a matchmaker, I've truly failed. I regret it.""Everyone has their own fate," Trevor remarked. He then turned to Dominic, adding, "At our age, we can't be too concerned with the affairs of the younger generation. Let's focus on taking care of ourselves and enjoying a few more years surrounded by our grandchildren.Trevor's words carried deeper meaning. With Salvador still young
Skye Embroidery had been fully completed and was ready to take in women at any time.Davis' wife, Hannah, had even hosted a garden party to spread the word, and soon, the local people were buzzing with conversation about it. Yet, despite all the chatter, no woman who had been cast out of her home dared to step into the workshop.Violet was puzzled. According to her investigation with Claire, many of the women who had been cast out lived in poor, secluded nunneries, doing the hardest, dirtiest work. Sometimes, they even went without food for days. For those fortunate enough to return to their family's home, they still endured harsh treatment from their brothers and sisters-in-law, and their lives were unbearable.On the 10th of March, the body of a woman was discovered in a river. After the Royal Citadel investigated, they confirmed she had worked as an embroiderer after being cast out for not being able to bear a child.When Violet learned of the incident, she could no longer stay
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,