After two days of careful observation, Carissa decided on her target: Miles Grant, the deputy head of the Waterworks Department.He was 35 years old and had served five years in the Ministry of Infrastructure. Born to a family of farmers and scholars, he lost his parents at a young age. To secure his education at the most prestigious academies, he drained his older brother of every last resource.After passing the last level of the national examinations, Miles entered government service. His obsession with wealth and his miserly nature were well known. He had long since severed ties with the brother who had once supported him, casting him aside like an old shoe.If that weren't enough, Miles had also discarded his first wife, citing jealousy as the excuse. Then, he remarried the only daughter of his former mentor, who was the headmaster of Whitecloud Academy. His mentor had since passed away, and while Miles' second wife came from a noble background, she was treated no better than t
Carissa sat back in her chair and said, "The king has known about your corruption for some time now. He's allowed me to handle this privately to give you a chance. If you confess, your life will be spared. If you can provide valuable information, the worst you'll face is a demotion. You'll still be able to work your way back into the ranks."Miles had been around long enough to understand what she was implying. Offering valuable information could only mean one thing—betraying both his superiors and subordinates.There was no doubt in his mind that Carissa spoke the truth.Two things made it clear. First, Ian and his men had been constantly patrolling the river. Second, Carissa's personal involvement in the interrogation. If Salvador hadn't authorized it, she wouldn't need to be here and could have easily sent someone else to extract the truth through torture.Of course, Miles had no idea that Carissa had already analyzed his situation in detail and anticipated his thoughts.She le
Still, hardship was inevitable.Travis broke Miles' leg, then secretly sent him to Arcane Sanctum. The story he was to tell the outside world was that he had drunkenly fallen and fractured his leg. This would allow him to rest at home without drawing any attention.Once the matter was settled, Travis returned to ask Carissa, "Why don't we send him back to gather intelligence for us? We could intimidate him and tell him the king has ordered him to spy. He wouldn't dare disobey."Carissa shook her head. "He won't be able to uncover anything and will be more likely to slip up."Travis recalled the pathetic state Miles had been in earlier. Indeed, he was of little use. Sending him to investigate would quickly attract suspicion from Cameron. It was safer to let him stay home and nurse his leg. That way, they could be sure of a clean outcome.Even if colleagues came to visit him, Miles wouldn't dare say anything reckless. Someone as selfish as him would surely want to take all the credi
Because Salvador assigned Galen to handle other matters, the management of Astral Prison had been left to the Supreme Court officials, with Randall overseeing it.Later that evening, Randall arrived at Hell Monarch Estate to see Carissa. He mentioned there was something troubling him and needed her advice. Carissa only ate a few bites of her meal before rushing out to meet him, her mind preoccupied with worry about Zoey and her children.However, when she heard Randall's concerns, she learned that the problem was with Evelyn and Viola.Since their arrival at Astral Prison, the two women had been consumed with worry. Their meals, looking worse than what was fed to dogs, left them weak. Within days, they both began suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhea.Carissa had already provided some medicine for easing any symptoms of an upset stomach to Zoey, and taking it had helped Evelyn and Viola. But with the continued poor food, their condition had worsened again. Now, Viola was runn
"Do you think Madam Prince and Ms. Prince are in immediate danger?" Carissa asked."Madam Prince should be fine, but if Ms. Prince's fever doesn't break soon, she could be in real danger. She's too anxious. When she saw me, she kept grabbing my hand, asking if she was going to die. She kept babbling nonsense—blaming one person, then another, before turning the blame on herself for all the wrong decisions she'd made," Rowan replied.Carissa said nothing.She had no right to judge someone else's life, but she couldn't help but wish Viola wouldn't drag Zoey down with her. If Viola were to die in Astral Prison, it would only cause panic among the Earl of Silverstone's family. This would undoubtedly increase Zoey's already heavy burden."Rowan, please check on them again in a couple of days."He nodded. "Of course."Carissa thought for a moment, then added, "I'll accompany you when you go."She wanted to have a private conversation with Zoey. In a hopeless place like prison, having n
Although it wasn't proper, Carissa had someone buy two pots of meat porridge before Zoey returned to her cell. She told Zoey that it was a gesture of thanks from the common people, to repay her for her years of distributing food.This time, Zoey was moved to tears. She wished so much that her children could have a bowl of hot porridge, even if just a small spoonful.After leaving the Supreme Court, Carissa paused for a moment before instructing Jacob to spread the story of the supposedly donated porridge.Once, people had spoken highly of Zoey's charity. Over time, however, the talks had dwindled. Now, Carissa saw an opportunity to reignite that warmth, using this small act of kindness to revive Zoey's image.Naturally, Jacob spun the tale a little more, embellishing it with compassion. He spoke of a man who had once been a starving refugee from the outskirts of the capital. He had been barely alive, eating the porridge at the charity stalls for several days. Before he left the cit
The Mystic Army's defensive measures turned the capital into a place of unease and tension.With a curfew in place, many businesses in the entertainment districts found their activities stifled. Coffeehouses and taverns closed their doors at sunset, and by night, the city seemed as lifeless as a tomb.The strategy now was simple—if the enemy did not move, neither would they.The riverworks project continued without interruption. As long as the work did not stop unnecessarily, the Mystic Army would remain on standby, prepared to mobilize at any moment. Carissa knew that this was the only way to gain an advantage.If the work remained uninterrupted, it would benefit both the court and the people.Though no open battle had yet occurred, the air was thick with tension, the scent of war hanging over the city. The city gates were now under constant scrutiny. It was unlikely that the true mastermind behind the rebellion would stay away from the capital.His life and wealth were at stake
Violet and the others had stayed at Willowbrook Estate for so many days, turning the place upside down. Yet, they found nothing. She had decided it was time to leave.Spending every day following Hayden's indulgent routine of eating and drinking had become tiresome. Violet felt as if the days were slipping away, especially now that Carissa was so busy and she hadn't been able to help. It left her feeling unsettled.At dinner that evening, she turned to Hayden and said, "I'll leave tomorrow."Hayden glanced at her with a smile. "What's this? Haven't I treated you well with good food and drink? Why the sudden departure?"Violet answered honestly, "The food's been too good—every day, it's either mountain delicacies or seafood."Hayden laughed heartily. "You're like a wild boar, unable to appreciate the finer things!" He waved it off. "Fine, if you're tired of it, then go ahead."He called for Sonny. "Sonny, go to the storeroom and pick out some gifts. When they leave tomorrow,
Back to me—Violet—again, and I had to complain a little.About my husband, Isaac Prince, of course.Heavens help me, but that man truly had a talent for being infuriating!Before our marriage, we had come to an agreement. In the future, whatever I chose to do, he would not interfere, would not advise, and most certainly would not involve himself.Well, it had only been a year since our wedding, and that agreement had already gone out the window. Now, he insisted on doing everything with me.But could he even be part of the work I did? Of course not.The Pathfinders Guild had strict rules, and there was even a rather fearsome man—Sage Everett—keeping watch. If they ever discovered I had taken Isaac with me to personally punish people in my own way... Wouldn't they grind my bones to dust?Yet, Isaac claimed he was a man of the martial arts world, and that in such a world, one settled debts of gratitude and grudges alike. And yes, that included other people's grudges too. He argued
At times, I taught my students to face life with courage and own up to their mistakes. Yet, I had not done so myself.All these years, I had hardly seen Thomas. If there was an event where he might be present, I would quietly avoid it.Back when I was still stubborn, Zoey had scolded me, saying I owed Thomas an apology. At the time, I didn't quite agree. In fact, I felt rather aggrieved.But thinking back now—what was I so aggrieved about? Who truly owed me anything? Had the heavens not already treated me kindly enough? Everything I lost, I brought upon myself.More than once, I had unfolded a sheet of parchment, intending to write him a sincere apology from the heart. Yet, each time I put a quill to paper, the ink would fall, but not a single word would follow.I feared the letter would seem sudden and out of place, that it might stir suspicion in his wife's heart, or in Barrett's. Even though Barrett and I were husband and wife in name only, I still didn't wish to disturb the pe
It had been a month since I arrived at Victory Pass, and I began to wonder what I ought to do with myself.Though I was Barrett's wife in name, in truth, we had very little to do with each other. He spent most of his time at the camp, only returning now and then. As such, I had plenty of time on my hands and thought I might start a little trade.Victory Pass was not quite as I had imagined. I thought a border town like this would surely be cold and short on supplies. But to my surprise, one could buy almost anything here—save for things like the finest jewels and luxurious brocade.That was not to say they couldn't be found at all. When merchant caravans brought such treasures, they were quickly stored away and sent on to Orivenia, where they would be sold to nobles and the wealthy.The common folk in Victory Pass bought ornaments for their prettiness rather than their worth, and no one really cared whether they were costly or not.I had been thinking about what sort of business I
I heard Franklin endured quite a few rejections from Isaac. In the end, Franklin had no choice but to release Merrick and send him to plead on their behalf—only then was Gabriel rescued.With the matter settled, they were deeply grateful to Isaac, though they all knew it had been a calculated move. What else could they do? After all, their son had behaved badly and been caught in the act.When Merrick learned of his mother's mistreatment of Courtney, he kept quiet for a time. However, once they were married, he made it clear that he wished to live separately. He didn't want to cause a rift in the family, but in Starhaven's official evaluations, being dutiful towards family mattered more than talent. A single accusation of being disloyal could end a person's career.Merrick's reason for wanting to live separately was perfectly reasonable—he said he needed peace and quiet to prepare for his upcoming exams. His family was too large, so the distractions would make it difficult to focus.
I finally understood Cari's plan.Maya had made a scene at the Prince family's residence, and would naturally have to go there and apologize. But the real plan was to use the scandal around Gabriel's disgrace to put pressure on the Saunders family. From now on, even if Courtney married into their family, they would be too scared to mistreat her.With both leverage and a secret weapon in hand, it was a solid move.But for me, today was about getting some justice, especially with Maya. I wasn't going to leave without making my point.Once Michael and the others left, I turned to Maya. "I heard you say that your family is one of high standing and noble reputation. Truly, that's a laugh. What kind of noble family would kidnap a woman and make a scene by beating up someone at another person's residence?"I was ready to tear your whole house apart and expose your hypocrisy to the city today, but you're lucky. Since Merrick genuinely cares for Courtney, I don't want to make things too ug
The reactions of the Saunders family were telling. They stood frozen, as if they couldn't believe what they were hearing. It was clear that no one in the capital had warned them, and they hadn't heard anything about it.Seizing the opportunity, I spoke again, my voice icy, "Who doesn't know that my husband, the third son of the Prince family, dotes on Courtney more than anyone? She's been wronged so severely, and he's beside himself with worry."I had to talk him out of rushing to the grand queen dowager to complain about this. But since I'm here, whoever it was that raised their hand against Courtney should step forward and accept the consequences."Isaac, while holding many positions in the capital, was most known as my husband, an apprentice of the Pathfinders Guild, the armory's overseer in the Ministry of Defense, and the owner of several enterprises in the capital. His connection to the Prince family was downplayed, but it still proved useful in situations like this.Among hi
Let me tell you about the day the Saunders family crossed a line even I, Violet Spencer, couldn't ignore.It was beyond outrageous!The Saunders family held nothing more than a minor earl's title, yet Maya dared act so arrogantly! In all my years alive, I had encountered plenty of ill-mannered women, but never had I encountered one among the powerful and influential.When I heard that they had dragged Courtney out and slapped her, calling her shameless for having feelings for a young man, I wanted to storm into Averton Estate, break down their door, and give them a taste of their own medicine.Cari was angry too, but she reminded me that we couldn't just go rushing in without thinking. The most important thing was to check on Courtney and Viola—who knew if they might do something rash?I had to admit, Cari had been in court long enough to know how to handle these things. She could stay calm when it mattered most.I rushed straight to the Prince family's residence. As I feared, I
When did I truly realize how wrong I was?It wasn't when Thomas returned, nor was it after my divorce from Barrett, nor even when the Prince family fell into misfortune.No, it was when talks were going on to arrange the marriage of my niece, Courtney.During the Prince family's fall from grace, I was imprisoned and narrowly escaped death. As I reflected on the past, I knew I had made mistakes and was willing to change. But I wasn't fully aware of just how deep my mistakes went.At the time, I thought it was all my own problem. No matter how much I suffered, it was my burden alone. No one else had the right to speak on it.I knew that my sister-in-law, Zoey, had suffered because of my stubbornness. She had worked tirelessly, running here and there, trying to help me, and perhaps I had grown accustomed to her always doing that for me. Because of that, I felt both gratitude and respect for her.Still, I wasn't ready to face the full weight of my past. I didn't want to dwell on it—i
Carissa stopped and turned back to me. "Her family treats her well. It's just that things didn't go smoothly when they were arranging for her niece's marriage. Thankfully, that niece is now married to a good man."I think Viola worries that, being unmarried at her age—twice wed, no less—she might invite gossip. She doesn't want to burden her nephews and nieces or trouble her sister-in-law."I nodded, thinking of Zoey—the fierce woman who was also kind-hearted. She had one son and one daughter, as well as more children from her late husband's concubines. She had likely faced many challenges while arranging marriages for all her children. I imagined the amount of gossip and judgment she must have endured.I truly cared for Zoey like a sister-in-law, and I felt for all she had gone through."Think it over," Carissa said.I nodded, then glanced outside, where there wasn't a soul in sight.I couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid that Prince Rafael might grow jealous, you being her