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The two women exchanged a look, their eyes filled with silent encouragement.
Rafael had stayed in the palace for a long time, and only left when the palace gates were about to close for the night. As he left, the snow had started to fall. By the time he arrived home, his cloak was heavy with soft, white snowflakes.
Sophie helped him remove his cloak, shaking the snow off. “Have you eaten? Why so late tonight?”
He stood by the fire, warming his hands. “I had dinner with His Majesty. He plans to have me quietly go to Lunvale in a few days.”
Sophie was surprised. “He wants you to go personally? Why not send the Nightsteel Guard?”
“lan sent someone there already. They’ve made some discoveries, but they can’t investigate further. The people they sent don’t have much martial arts skills,” Rafael replied.
Sophie understood immediately the lack of skill or careful planning meant that rash probing could easily alert the target. If they were discovered and the target quickly moved, any chance of progress would be lost.
“How many people are you taking? When are you leaving?” she asked.
It was the 15th of December now; it would be two weeks until the New Year’s celebration.
“I’ll speak with Randall tomorrow and see what he knows. I plan to leave in three days. I’ll be taking Dylan, Travis, and a few of the household soldiers who’ve had proper martial arts training,” Rafael replied. He wrapped his arms around her waist and gently added, “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. Nothing will go wrong.”
“Take Isaac with you,” Sophie suggested.
Rafael frowned slightly. “He’s been busy with the Ministry of Defense, working on the firearms project. Don’t trouble him.”
In fact, Isaac was not as ignorant as he claimed to be. He had been by Adrian’s side for a while and had been working on firearms with him for a long time.
At first, Isaac had pretended that he didn’t understand anything, in accordance with Adrian’s instructions. Adrian had told Isaac to intervene less when he was in the capital, and to let the people sort it out themselves after giving them the notebook.
However, when Isaac visited the Ministry of Defense and took a walk around, he couldn’t stand it anymore and decided to take action. So, he was rarely in Hell Monarch Estate these days.
Aside from having household soldiers in Hell Monarch Estate, Rafael had not invested in developing a Shadow Guard or any such force. At most, there were a few skilled warriors who frequently went on official assignments, but they all had their duties to attend to and would only return every half month or so to report.
There were also spies, mostly used to gather intelligence on the enemy, but they were rarely used for private matters.
The lack of a larger force was due to several reasons.
Before Rafael had been stationed at the Southern Frontier, he had already earned his battle merits. During his time in the capital leading the Mystic Army, Sigmund had strictly forbidden him from establishing too many guards, particularly a Shadow Guard, which was considered a serious taboo.
Then, after Rafael went to the Southern Frontier, there was no time to think about such matters. Upon his eventual return to the capital, amidst Salvador’s growing suspicions, any thoughts of increasing his forces were promptly abandoned.
Naturally, it was a calculated decision. The guard forces in the estate, as well as Rafael’s household soldiers, could handle unexpected situations and ensure a safe retreat if necessary.
If the king sent him on an official mission, the Mystic Army could spare some men. But now, with a secret mission, Rafael couldn’t use the Mystic Army-he had to rely on his own people.
“Would you like me to come with you?” Sophie asked.
“No need,” Rafael replied, smiling as he gently ruffled her hair. “It’s not dangerous. We’re just gathering information. It’s not like we’re going to take any action. If it comes to that, we won’t be going alone. Plus, with the year-end approaching, the Capital Guard and the Garrison Unit will be busy. It’s better if you stay here and keep an eye on things.”
Sophie remembered how hectic things would be for the Capital Guard and the Garrison Unit around New Year’s, and how easy it was for things to go awry. With her public duties, she couldn’t afford to leave the capital at this time.
Still, the thought of Rafael going with just a few men made her uneasy.
When Kyle heard the news the next day, he mentioned that Gracewood Women’s Academy would be closing for the holidays in ten or so days. Since there were only a few days left until Rafael was setting off, Kyle suggested he accompany him on the trip, as it was unlikely the academy would urgently need him for the remaining days.
Sophie felt reassured that Kyle was going, but this matter still needed to be discussed with Catherine and the other teachers.
Of course, Kyle didn’t reveal the true nature of the trip, only telling the teachers that he was planning to return to Meadow Ridge to spend New Year’s in peace.
When he mentioned it to the other teachers, they all agreed. After all, he would still be around for the next three days. He could finish making the exam papers and explaining it to them before leaving. As for the painting and calligraphy classes, they could skip those and let him return to Meadow Ridge.
The plans were settled, and today, the exams were to take place.
The exams focused mainly on essays and arithmetic, with painting and calligraphy as secondary subjects. For the essay section, students had significant freedom to express themselves without being restricted to formal styles or rigid formats. They could write on any topic, ranging from current events and societal critiques to lighthearted personal reflections or daily life anecdotes.
The main goal was to assess their writing skills, insight, and ability to recall what they had learned.
At the Supreme Court, Matthew led Randall to meet Rafael.
This was Randall’s first time in the main hall of the Supreme Court, and he was struck by the orderliness and the imposing atmosphere. Rows of bookshelves stood tall, filled with countless case files. Some were locked away, while others were simply stacked.
The only familiar thing in the room was the large volume of The Laws of Starhaven placed on a wooden stand to the right, for that was what Randall had been studying. Matthew had advised him to become well-versed in that book, as it would be beneficial for his future promotions. So, Randall would thrown himself into the task, reading late into the night. Each word he absorbed felt like a step forward in securing his future.
He deliberately set aside his personal identity, reminding himself that he was now a warden of the Supreme Court, with an official post. His task was to perform his duties well and aim for a promotion. He felt as though he could glimpse a future for himself.
But when Matthew came to him and said Rafael wanted to meet him, the world Randall had been building in his mind came crashing back to reality. He was still Yuvan’s eldest son, borne by a concubine and raised by Avis-that was an irrefutable truth.
Randall bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Since Sophie had scolded him, he no longer dared to leverage his family ties.
However, Rafael greeted him warmly with a smile. “There’s no need for such formalities between family. Have a seat.”
The lack of pressure from an authoritative figure eased Randall somewhat, though he still felt uneasy.
He sat down, trying to maintain composure. “Yes, Your Highness.”
He had expected Rafael to chat with him for a while before getting to the main topic.
Instead, the moment he sat down, Rafael asked directly, “What do you know about the situation in Lunvale?”
Randall remained silent for quite some time. His hands were underneath the table, gripping tightly. The cold was biting, yet his palms were damp with sweat. He knew he had to make a choice.
When he first became a warden at the Supreme Court, he had spent countless hours pondering over decisions, uncertain of what the right course of action was. In the end, it was Matthew who noticed his restless thoughts and told him not to worry. “Focus only on what’s in front of you,” Matthew had said.
Since Randall didn’t think about it, he didn’t have any answers.
Now, faced with Rafael’s piercing question, Randall stared blankly at him for a long moment. The weight of the prince’s gaze left his mind in a fog.
Almost instinctively, he said, “There are soldiers in Lunvale, though I don’t know how many.”
“How do you know this?” Rafael asked.
After mentioning the soldiers in Lunvale, Randall’s heart skipped a beat. Yet, strangely, it steadied soon after. Making a choice didn’t feel as difficult as he had imagined.