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“At the time, they must have sent out so many people to target us,” Violet theorized. “But then, they probably realized that in Victory Pass, even if they killed us, they wouldn’t be able to escape.”
She continued analyzing, growing more convinced.
She glanced at Sophie and asked, “Do you think I’m right?”
Sophie took a moment to think before shaking her head.
“It wasn’t them. Or rather, these assassins weren’t as skilled as those people. If they could move freely in and out of Victory Pass, as you said, that idea doesn’t hold up. They could’ve struck and then escaped without us being able to catch up or trace them. Think about it-after we finished our meal at Spring Pavilion, we sent people to look for them. Aside from the staff there, no one else had seen them.”
Violet thought about it and agreed. Those black-clad people from the other day had shown remarkable skill. The assassins from tonight were good, but not to the same extraordinary degree.
Sophie continued, “Also, tonight, the assassins had people covering their escape. Do you think the black-clad group we met before needed that?”
Everyone seemed to agree. It was clear that the black-clad figures from before had not needed any such help.
After they left the restaurant, Sophie rushed out to follow them but saw not even a shadow.
Thaddeus had conducted an investigation and now came to give Sophie an update.
His Stellish was rough, but it was clear enough to understand.
He explained that these assassins had once been under the former king’s command. They had been trained to hate the people of
Starhaven deeply. Even though net
Edmund had abdicated, their hatred was so ingrained that they had plotted this assassination
Thaddeus assured Sophie and the others that he had already dispatched people to apprehend those responsible and promised that such an incident would never happen again.
Sophie knew he had already dealt with a few of the guards involved, but she didn’t wish to press further. It was pointless to dig deeper. Many people probably understood how Edmund had abdicated.
History was full of victors and vanquished those who lost had to step aside. However, their influence lingered. Furthermore, Orivenia was still a land of turmoil, especially after a female ruler had taken the throne. There were likely many who r?sented her and were eager to disrupt these negotiations.
Edmund was the younger brother of Westhaven’s former crown prince Arthur, who had been killed by Freya at Victory Pass. Arthur had been beloved by the people and had considerable weight in the court. So, even though Edmund acted erratically after taking the throne, he still gained some support because of his brother.
As for those who didn’t support him, they didn’t strongly oppose him either.
Other noble families and factions were likely fighting behind the scenes. With a new ruler came a new court, and everyone was scrambling to rise to the top. So, it was hard to say if those assassins were Edmund’s people or not.
In the end, it didn’t matter. Thaddeus’ assurances meant little now. Sophie and her group would need to be on high alert and exercise extreme caution.
As expected, another assassination attempt occurred two days later.
This time, the assassins were clearly not the same group as before. Their skills were much weaker, and they were quickly defeated.
Thaddeus captured a few for interrogation. It was unclear if he got any answers, but Travis saw several bodies being dragged out. They must have been tortured, as their deaths looked brutal.
Thaddeus’ explanation was the same as last time-they were people who used to serve the former king.
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 Sophie 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 before finally quieting.
Liam, now the prime minister of Orivenia, led the official welcome party. He spotted Sophie immediately and greeted her with a smile.
“General Devin, it’s been a long time. Your elegance remains as striking as ever.”
Sophie dismounted and returned the gesture, her gaze assessing him. To be honest, she hadn’t recognized him at first.
He had aged considerably, his hair streaked with gray, his beard and eyebrows mixed with white. Yet, his eyes still shone with a sharp vitality, more so than when he had been on the Southern Frontier. Back then, he had been consumed by rage. His expression had been cold and stern, his presence one of deep sorrow, as if he lived only for revenge.
“Thank you, Mr. Stellwyn.” Sophie smiled.
“Such an honor!” Liam chuckled, greeting Davis and the other officials one by one. Since his Stellish was impeccable, there was no need for a translator, which made the exchanges all the smoother.
After the pleasantries, they were escorted to the royal guest residence. This venue was not typically used to host foreign envoys, but Liam explained that this was an exception due to Lisandra’s high regard for the Starhaven delegation.
Upon hearing of Kendrick’s injury, Liam even brought a royal physician to tend to him, ensuring that every detail of this visit was handled with the utmost care.
Liam also conveyed the queen’s decree, acknowledging the long journey and insisting that the Starhaven delegation rest the night before a grand banquet was held in their honor the following day.
Everyone was absolutely exhausted. After a hearty lunch, they retired to their rooms to bathe, change, and rest.
Sophie slept until late in the evening. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw Lulu waiting nearby.
Rubbing her eyes sleepily, Sophie mumbled in a hoarse voice, “Why aren’t you asleep?”
Lulu smiled and replied, “I slept a little, but I’m not used to the bed here. I couldn’t get comfortable.”
“When did you become so picky about beds?” Sophie chuckled as she sat up, noticing the worried expression on Lulu’s face. “What’s wrong? Something happened?”
Lulu reached out to pull the cool blanket off her and said, “The queen sent someone to ask for your presence. They want you to come to the palace alone- just you. No other officials were invited.”
Lulu was clearly concerned. With all the assassinations they had encountered along the way, it was understandable that she feared something might be amiss.
Sophie nodded, stretching her body and loosening up her muscles. “I’ll go with Vivi. Don’t worry. Mr. Stellwyn should send someone to escort us along the way. They won’t let anything happen to us here in the capital. This is their territory, after alp.”
Lulu frowned. “That’s true, but we’ve encountered plenty of assassins on this journey.”
Sophie smiled. “Exactly. The fact that we’ve been targeted on the road means the assassins know that once we enter the capital, they won’t get another chance. They wouldn’t risk coming after us here.”
She stood up, preparing to change and comb her hair.
Her clothes were simple and practical, without the lavish finery one might expect of nobility. Her position as the commander of the Mystic Army required efficiency, not the finery of a princess consort. The simple attire allowed her to move freely, ready to take action at any moment.
The weather was warm, so she and Violet wore short-sleeved tunics with leather vests over them for added practicality. Their hair was neatly tied back in practical braids, and neither wore jewelry.