Semua Bab Her Graceful War Song: Bab 1321 - Bab 1330

After Jacob's investigation into Willowbrook Estate, he discovered that a few servants had indeed gone missing over the past few months.He inquired at every pawnshop in the capital, but found out that none of the missing servants had been purchased there, meaning they must have come from elsewhere. He even went to the government offices to check the slave registration records, but found nothing.Ultimately, after much discussion, it was Violet who decided she would stay at Willowbrook Estate. She told Carissa, "After all this time with Prince Hayden, I trust him. If he truly is the one who would deceive me, then I have no more to say."However, Carissa wouldn't let her go alone. She insisted that Violet bring Bun and Cynthia along. That way, they would be there to offer protection if anything happened. Besides, if Hayden truly felt threatened, he wouldn't have refused their company. After all, the more people to help, the better. On the other hand, if he had called Violet there

Violet smiled and muttered something about the dullness of it all, then checked in with Bun and Cynthia before leaving the estate.She made her way straight to the Capital Guard headquarters, where she found Carissa waiting for her.Carissa pulled her inside and asked, "Well? Did you find anything?"Violet replied, "There's movement at night—almost like patrols—but I never see anyone during the day. It's as if they vanish the moment the sun rises. I checked most of the courtyards in Willowbrook Estate, and there was no sign of anyone living there. I even looked in the servants' quarters, and the number of beds matches what Chaya told me about the staff."Carissa thought for a moment. "Could there be hidden passageways or secret rooms? The curfew is in place now. No one's supposed to be out after nightfall. If what you heard is true, then these people must be living at Willowbrook Estate.""If there are hidden rooms, that's another matter altogether," Violet said. Then, remembering

The next day, Carissa went to the palace to meet Salvador. She suggested that all the Mystic Army soldiers in the Nightsteel Guard be placed back under her command.Upon hearing this, Salvador fixed her with a piercing gaze. "Are you suggesting that I hand over all the forces in the capital to you?""The Mystic Army, Your Majesty," Carissa replied, lifting her chin, her eyes unwavering. "The troops stationed outside the capital, including 15,000 men of the Sacred Fire Regiment, are being sent to Valken. The capital's only remaining line of defense is the Mystic Army, and it cannot be split any further."Salvador repeated the question, his tone flat but tinged with skepticism. "You want me to place all the forces in the capital, including my personal guards, under your command?"Carissa didn't hesitate or even consider whether he might suspect her. She simply nodded firmly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty!"Salvador looked at her for a long moment, then smiled. "Your husband commands

Carissa couldn't bring herself to tell Rafael about Helen and Ryan moving into the palace—she feared it would upset him.She received a letter from Rafael, which came along with the report of their victory in the second battle. Salvador had specifically summoned her to the palace to hand it over.Carissa knew Rafael had intentionally sent the letter through Salvador's hands, signaling that they hid no secrets. It was a gesture of transparency, even if it was a mere formality. But it seemed to please Salvador, who didn't put on the usual fake smile. Instead, he told her not to worry too much about the situation at the Southern Frontier. Victory was within their grasp.After her audience with the king, Carissa went to Serenity Palace to offer her greetings to Victoria and check on Helen and Ryan.However, she didn't find Ryan or Evan there. They were in class; as they were Connor's study partners, they had to follow him to the study.Moreover, Connor's tutor had changed. Trevor wa

Strangely, the movements that had been occurring every night suddenly stopped. Violet and her group went to investigate, only to find that the Willowbrook Estate was eerily quiet. There wasn't a single patrol guard, and the servants had all gone to bed early.Everyone had a strange feeling that something was wrong with Willowbrook Estate. It seemed like it was covered by a thin veil. If they could just lift it, they would see what was really going on. The problem was, where was this veil?It felt close, yet far away. They couldn't figure out the right approach.Meanwhile, Hayden continued his usual routine—eating, drinking, and occasionally going out. He would take Violet and the others with him to dine, drink, listen to music, watch plays, and sip a little wine. Then, he would return home in a slightly tipsy state as the evening sun set.His days were nothing but leisure, completely unaffected by the turmoil at court or the wars beyond. He often boasted to Gordon and Sonny, "T