Carissa handed Helen a pastry with a smile. "Mother, I''m not angry anymore. Please have some."


    Seeing that Carissa had taken the pastry directly with her hands, Helen frowned slightly. Her daughter-inw was still rather rough around the edges, wasn''t she?


    After hesitating for a moment, Helen epted the pastry. Well, it wasn''t like she would get sick from eating something a bit dirty.


    -


    The Oversight Department was busy once again as theyunched a formal investigation against Samuel. They used him of immoral conduct, public insults towards the court, and showing tant disrespect for royal authority.


    They argued that Samuel was unworthy of being recognized as one of the top schrs, and petitioned the king to remove his name from the National Examination Register. They also called for his removal as the heir to the title and estate of the Earl of Gracehold.


    During the morning court session, Salvador stripped Samuel of his title as heir, but didn''t revoke his status as a top schr. It would be too embarrassing to cancel the appointment of someone he personally selected.


    Despite this, Salvador was infuriated. He issued a severe reprimand to the Earl of Gracehold and summoned him to the royal study after court.


    As Noah cried andmented about his failure to properly discipline his son, Salvador said coldly, "This is thest opportunity I''m giving you. If the duchess suffers even a bit more distress in your household, the Earl of Gracehold title will end here."


    Noah was utterly dumbfounded. He stood dazed for a moment, suddenly recalling that Leona was the king''s cousin. Even if Harvey and Heather were inept, Salvador still valued family connections.


    Feeling disheartened, Noah left the royal study. As he walked out, he caught sight of Rafael waiting at the door. Recalling the prince''s bloodthirsty and cold expression when Gracehold Estate was vandalized that night, Noah shivered and hurriedly saluted before quickly departing.


    Once he left, Rafael entered the royal study, where Salvador was drinking coffee and trying to calm his anger towards the Earl of Gracehold''s family.


    He addressed Rafael, "There''s no need for formalities. Have a seat."


    "Understood, Your Majesty." Rafael sat down in an armchair. "You asked me to wait outside. Is there something important you wish to discuss?"


    Salvador dismissed everyone except Derek, who remained in the hall to attend to him. Derek prepared coffee on the side and served a cup to Rafael.


    "Take a look at this," Salvador said, tossing a document at his brother.


    Rafael caught and opened it, his expression immediately bing solemn. It was about the exchange of prisoners with Sandoria.


    Salvador continued, "The two


    kingdoms have had a ceasefire forTêxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    some time now. After Louis and Timothy held several rounds of negotiations with Sandorian


    representatives, an agreement was reached to return the captured


    soldiers.


    "However, one of the prisoners previously escaped from the enemy camp and had been providing intelligence about Sandoria to Hector. After Hector''s death, Louis took over receiving the reports before passing them on to you. Unfortunately, his identity has been discovered and he was captured."


    Rafael was stunned. "Are you referring to Septimus Tetra?"


    Previously, when investigating the Westhaven army''s movements from Sandoria, it was Septimus who had followed their trail. The intelligence from him had verified the information brought by Carissa. He had been captured?


    Rafael''s heart tightened immediately. Though he had never met the man personally, he knew Septimus had been initially captured in Calmstead City before Hector''s death, along with several hundred others. Rafael had not participated in that battle, as he hadn''t been dispatched to the Southern Frontier battlefield at the time. He had heard about it from Timothy.


    In that battle, the Sandorian forcesunched a night raid, burning tents and killing many soldiers. The two sides engaged in fiercebat amidst the mes, and it was then that Thomas had lost his life.


    Rafael had taken over from Hector to lead the Hell Monarch Army onto the battlefield. Several times, he had captured Sandorian soldiers, hoping to exchange them for the previously captured Sinir Army soldiers. However, his requests had always been rejected.


    Instead, the soldiers capturedter were epted for exchange, but the Sandorians still refused to release that initial batch of prisoners.


    Now, negotiations had finally seeded, but Septimus had been captured and fallen into the hands of angry Sandorian troops. Would he survive?