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After hearing their report, Salvador remained silent for a long time and continued to sip at his bowl of millet porridge. Setting his spoon down, he started taking bites of a pastry. Though quiet, his mind was already at work, weighing his thoughts on the matter. Without raising his gaze, he asked calmly, “Are his injuries serious?”
“It’s nothing too serious, Your Majesty,” Rafael replied. “But he likely won’t be able to perform his duties to have any more children in the future.”
Salvador smiled faintly and continued eating his pastry. He didn’t speak again until he finished the whole thing.
Then, he said, “Let’s handle it as though he kidnapped a common woman. That way, the Spencer family’s reputation remains intact. And when the common woman was saved, he… got a good beating from the unknown hero. That seems like a fitting punishment. What’s left is to issue a reprimand and conduct a formal investigation, and we’ll close the matter with that.”
As he spoke, he stood and turned, flashing them a brief smile. “You two continue eating. Have more, you’ve worked hard.”
Rafael and Thomas were indeed famished after a long night, and they accepted the invitation without hesitation.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Salvador’s breakfast was simple, and he ordered more to be brought for them.
He instructed Derek to draft an edict reprimanding Yuvan. Once the edict was issued, it would be impossible to hide. In just a few days, the entire capital would know about Yuvan’s attempted assault on a woman, how he was struck down by a passing hero, and that he had failed in his attempt.
What pleased Salvador the most was uncovering some of the hidden suicide soldiers. These suicide soldiers had been stationed in the capital with the sole purpose of carrying out assassinations, which posed a significant threat to him.
Furthermore, these suicide soldiers couldn’t take their own lives now. If they did, it would confirm that they were part of the same group as the earlier suicide soldiers, making it clear that all of them had been sent by Yuvan. Salvador was still willing to let Yuvan play ignorant.
Yuvan had big ambitions, but his abilities were mediocre. He had only risen through the support of others. His status made him suitable to be pushed into the spotlight, especially since he had an influential elder sister, a grand princess, in the capital. Anything that Eleanor could help him with, it was likely that others couldn’t.
This was something Rafael had reminded Salvador of.
Earlier, they had suspected that the private army was in Stonebridge County. But after sending people to investigate, nothing had been found. This meant that Rafael’s suspicion had been correct-Yuvan, who believed he was in control of everything, was nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s game.
When the king’s edict reached Edgeview Estate, the story of Yuvan’s attempted abduction of a respectable woman spread like wildfire.
Yuvan’s name was an unfamiliar one. Despite his long stay in the capital, the people barely knew him. He kept a low profile, and his family rarely attended social events. Even when there were celebrations in the city, no one thought to invite them.
This was also apparent when the incident with Skye Embroidery occurred, and Molly was implicated. As the Marquis of Ironridge’s family bore the brunt of public scrutiny, Yuvan and his household quietly avoided attention.
In the public’s mind, Yuvan was a vassal prince who had been assigned to Valken. His return to the capital to care for his ailing mom was seen as a favor from the king. His reputation was generally good, and his late princess consort, Avis, was seen as an upstanding woman.
As the rumors began to spread, someone revealed that his current princess consort was a woman from the Spencer family in Ebonflow. It was said that not long after Avis passed away, Yuvan married a new wife.
People of noble rank certainly knew about Yuvan’s marriage to a woman from the Spencer family, but few knew what had really happened to his first wife. It was rumored that he had remarried at the request of his dying wife, who had insisted that the family could not be without a madam to manage the estate.
However, more gossip leaked.
Some speculated that Avis had pushed for this marriage out of spite, fearing Fiona’s rising influence. Her actions were seen as an attempt to suppress Fiona’s chances of becoming the primary wife and princess consort.
Rafael returned to Hell Monarch Estate with Thomas.
When Thomas saw Violet as cheerful as ever, he felt a small measure of relief.
When Travis had come to the garrison outpost to find him the night before, Thomas had been genuinely frightened. He had immediately rallied his men and ridden out in haste. He had planned to scold her, but seeing her smiling with red-rimmed eyes, he knew she had been just as terrified. So, he couldn’t bring himself to reprimand her.
Instead, he simply told her about Yuvan’s current condition. Aside from his injuries, he had been beaten so badly by Kevin that he would never be able to live a normal life again.
Violet was aware of the chaos of the previous night-how her apprentices had rushed out of the city to rescue her, especially Kevin, who had even resorted to violence.
A bitter mix of sorrow and gratitude filled her heart. Among all her apprentices, Kevin had always been the most focused on his future and the most rational. Yet, he had thrown caution to the wind at that moment, only wanting to vent his frustration on her behalf. Although Thomas didn’t want to upset her further, he still gave her some advice.
“No matter who you encounter or what happens, always remain calm and composed, especially with those you already know to be deceitful. No matter what they say or do, don’t trust them easily. If you’re unsure, you can always come to me or consult Prince Rafael, Lady Sophie, or Mr. York.”
“I understand,” Violet said, looking genuinely serious now.
Thomas watched her, his admiration for her growing. “You almost ran into a real problem this time, but luckily, it was nothing more than a scare. You’ve worked so hard for the workshop, and its success is thanks to your efforts. I’m proud of you, Violet.”
Thomas knew her heart was loyal and full of righteousness. He had met many like her-people with grand ambitions to change the world. But too often, they were blind to the struggles of those close to them.
Violet and Sophie were both very practical. They didn’t focus on distant ideals, but on the people and events right before them, taking action where possible. It was far better than spending every day chasing lofty goals without seeing what needed to be done in the present.
If this had been before, Violet might have basked in the praise. But after everything that had happened, she realized how foolish she had been, thinking that her skills and wisdom could protect her from anything.
There was one thing she had never dared to tell Sophie. At one point, she had seriously considered going to Edgeview Estate herself to settle things with Yuvan.
How lucky she hadn’t acted on that thought!
The mere thought of it made Violet shiver in fear. If Sophie hadn’t insisted so strongly, she might have gone.
In Orchid Hall, Sophie brought
Rafael a cup of chilled fruit punch, observing him with a careful eye.
“It’s such a hot day. You must benet exhausted. You didn’t sleep at all last night, did you? Drink this and then take a rest.”
Rafael took the cup from her, drinking it quickly before setting it aside. He sat there without saying a word.
Sophie picked up the cup and handed it to Lulu, thinking of asking her to leave. But then she hesitated, wondering what she and Rafael would talk about once Lulu was gone. So, she asked, “Was that enough? Should I ask Lulu to bring you another cup?”
“No need, I’ll bathe first,” Rafael replied.
“Oh, then… Let me tell Sydney to prepare it for you,” Sophie said quickly.
She hurried out to speak with Sydney, leaving Lulu standing there in confusion. Why hadn’t Sophie asked her to leave? Why did Sophie leave herself to find Sydney? Rafael’s shoulders slumped slightly. He wanted to ask Sophie-why hadn’t she told him when all this had happened? Had she not thought of him at all?
But then again… She had brought him the chilled fruit punch. And she was still smiling.
How could he ask her anything now? It would spoil the mood and make him seem insensitive. And yet, there was a knot of frustration tightening in his chest. He couldn’t simply pretend like nothing had happened.
“Raf,” Sophie called, stepping back into the room. She walked over to him, twisting her hands nervously as she asked, “Should we bathe together? I didn’t get a chance to bathe last night either.”
Rafael looked up, meeting her gaze. A subtle mix of charm and guilt lingered on her face, her cheeks flushed with a hint of shyness that tugged at his heart. For a moment, he felt his heart flutter.
He sighed inwardly. What a mess he had gotten himself into!
She hadn’t come to him when things went wrong-how could he truly claim no blame in this?
She had gone off on her own to track down Violet, disregarding the danger. But wasn’t that because he hadn’t arranged for anyone to protect her?