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Convincing himself to trust Oliver was no easy task. But for now, Salvador had yet to issue any orders. Once the Sandorian army arrived at the border, it would be too late to send a general to the frontlines.
After urging Thomas to return, Jacob sighed and said, “It’s only natural for them to feel this way. They’ve given their best years for the Southern Frontier. Now, just as they’ve seen a glimpse of peace, war threatens once again. How could General Farrell bear to see it all undone?”
As he spoke, he glanced at Rafael, knowing that the prince was the one who could truly understand Thomas’ frustration.
Rafael remained silent for a long time, his expression unreadable. Finally, he said, “Keep a close watch. If there’s any news, report it immediately.
Jacob nodded. “Understood, Your Highness.”
Rafael shifted the topic, asking, “What of Valken? With the city gates closed, has any news made it out? Is there any progress? Have they begun to follow the plan?”
“No news yet, but I trust Mr. Moore. He’s a capable man, one who can stir things up when necessary,” Jacob replied.
Rafael nodded. “If you trust him, then he has my trust as well.”
Cole Moore was one of the deputy governors of Valken. When Rafael first learned of Yuvan’s rebellion, he had sent someone to make contact with Cole, who was quite cunning and talented in both civil and military affairs.
He had been the runner-up in the national examination during the 11th year of Sigmund’s reign. However, over the years, he had only reached the position of deputy governor because of his arrogance.
He was known for his poetry, much of which expressed cynical views of the world. Yuvan had seen this as dissatisfaction with the court and had drawn him into his circle. For years, Cole had lived a solitary, secretive life, abandoning any chance of promotion just to stay in Valken, quietly gathering evidence of Yuvan’s treason.
But Yuvan had remained patient, his core military forces hidden from Cole’s reach. No letters had been exchanged, and Cole had been excluded from many of the critical meetings and left to handle the lesser affairs for Saul.
Without evidence, Cole had held his peace. But when Rafael sent someone to find him, he gave up searching for proof. Instead, he kept a watchful eye on their movements, quietly recruiting his own allies and waiting for instructions from Rafael.
He was a sharp individual, and his advancement was naturally not an issue. Often, his success relied on effectively utilizing the talents and efforts of the people working under him.
Having thoroughly vetted him before putting his faith in him, Jacob trusted Cole’s abilities. Even when they had previously investigated Valken’s military strength, he deliberately chose not to involve Cole to ensure he wouldn’t be easily discovered and could maintain a low profile.
Sophie returned later than usual. She had spent her day working at the Capital Guard headquarters, then gone to Gracewood Women’s Academy to teach martial arts with Cynthia before making a final stop at ?kye Embroidery.
Although the situation was chaotic, Sophie remained determined to focus on her responsibilities, making sure to do what was required of her.
When she returned to Orchid Hall, Qiana quickly approached and softly said, “Your Grace, His Highness has been drinking alone for about an hour now.”
Sophie glanced toward the inner room but didn’t see anyone.
She asked, “Where is he drinking?”
“He’s in the bedroom,” Qiana replied.
Sophie nodded, then hurried inside.
It seemed Rafael had chosen the solitude of their bedroom, likely to avoid Jacob’s notice. She lifted the curtain to enter and was immediately hit by the sharp, overpowering scent of alcohol. He must have had quite a bit to drink.
As she walked closer, she saw him sitting on the settee. There was no wine bottle in sight, but there was a large jug resting nearby. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and he seemed about half-drunk.
When he saw her, he flashed a faint smile. “You’re back?”
His voice carried a husky tone, and the soft light illuminated one side of his handsome face, while the other half was lost in shadow.
“You’ve drunk this much?” Sophie asked, reaching for the jug only to find it empty. “Is something bothering you? Worried about the war?”
Rafael reached out, pulling her to sit beside him, then wrapped his arms around her waist. “I haven’t had a drink in so long. Tonight, I suddenly felt like getting drunk. There’s always something bothering me, but I don’t let it weigh on my mind.”
“Yes, we shouldn’t let it weigh on our minds,” Sophie said as she gently stroked his forehead.
She understood him well enough-he must have been hurt. With war on the horizon and Salvador still doubting his loyalty, it wasn’t easy. Her own mood wasn’t much better. Scenes like this had likely played out before in the past.
She remembered when her own father and brothers needed support on the battlefield, and Salvador had delayed allowing Rafael to go to war. It wasn’t until her father and brothers perished in battle that Rafael was allowed to lead the Hell Monarch Army.
Because of suspicion and fear, many military generals and soldiers had already sacrificed their lives. Was that going to happen again now?
Rafael leaned back against the soft cushions, feeling as though every ounce of strength had been drained from his body.
Ever since returning from the Southern Frontier and relinquishing his command, Salvador continued to regard him with suspicion. Rafael could choose not to care. If some things were restricted, he would find other ways to achieve his goals.
He held back to avoid further widening the gap between him and his brother. It wasn’t until the negotiations with Westhaven that he became more proactive. But even after that, he knew when to step back again.
Rafael only hoped that if war did come, Salvador might doubt him less.
“He knows that Sandoria’s return this time is likely tied to traitors within the Southern Frontier who’ve helped them prepare for this attack. Yet, he still believes that I am more of a threat to him than Sandoria’s armies at our doorstep,” said Rafael, laughing bitterly as he drained the last of his wine.
Sophie’s gaze darkened. “This isn’t the first time he’s done this.”
Rafael pulled her into his embrace, his fingers gently combing through her hair as he remembered the last time such a thing had happened. How suffocating that situation had felt.
As he sat here alone tonight, drinking to dull the ache, he found himself repeatedly mulling over the same question would he be condemned to live in this suffocating situation forever?
“I won’t let the same tragedy repeat itself,” Rafael said, pulling away from Sophie slightly and fixing her with a cold, determined stare. “I should learn from you.”
He thought back to the time when Sophie had entered the palace with critical intelligence, only to be rejected by Salvador. Rather than waiting idly or stepping aside, she had single-handedly gone to the Southern Frontier to find Rafael. At that moment, she had placed her life in jeopardy, disregarding the consequences.
Their hearts were in sync, and Sophie understood his meaning instantly.
She nodded firmly. “I support you. Go ahead. If His Majesty remains silent, I will stay here in the capital. But if he moves against you, I’ll scatter the people in Hell Monarch Estate and help them escape.”
A sense of clarity washed over her as she spoke, a plan forming in her mind. She had always been the one to hesitate, the one unsure of the consequences. But now that she had voiced her support, she would be his strongest pillar. With that, he no longer needed to fear any consequences.
“Tomorrow, go to Arcane Sanctum and ask Sebastian if there’s any medicine that might cause a change in pulse after consumption. If so, I’ll take it, and then you can immediately call for a royal physician,” Rafael instructed.
“Got it,” Sophie said, nodding firmly.
Rafael’s large hand gently cupped her cheek, his rough fingers brushing over her lips. “I won’t let the same tragedy repeat itself.”
Sophie’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Good!”
The past most likely still haunted him.
But things were different back then. At that time, the Hell Monarch Army wasn’t at the Southern Frontier. If Rafael wanted to lead them there, it couldn’t be done without anyone noticing, and it wasn’t a matter that involved just him, it also involved 100,000 soldiers from the Hell Monarch Army.
Right now, he could pretend to be sick and buy some time. Even if Salvador wanted to punish him when he arrived at the Southern Frontier, it would have to wait until he returned victorious.