At Hell Monarch Estate, Carissa was helping Rafael pack his belongings, her expression marked by a hint of worry.


    "Why don''t I go with you? I''m notfortable with you going alone."


    "I won''t be alone. I''ll have Dn and Jacob with me. You should stay behind to handle Kiera''s wedding arrangements. Besides, Ryan will be going to the academy soon." "How is Jacob''s martial prowess?"


    Carissa wasn''t very familiar with Jacob. Although he was an important figure in the estate, he often seemed rather inconspicuous.


    "He''s average in skill but sharp-witted."


    Hearing that, Carissa was still uneasy, considering the dangers of infiltrating the Sandorian border city.


    "Then, perhaps Violet should go with you?"


    Rafael embraced Carissa, kissing her forehead. Her concern genuinely pleased him.


    "No need. I''ve invited my master to apany me."


    "Sage Everett is going with you? That''s good."


    Everett was highly skilled and elusive. Even when he was far away, he seemed to appear out of nowhere whenever needed, as if he were omnipresent.


    "Yeah, don''t worry. I''ll rescue Septimus."


    Rafael ced another tender kiss on his wife''s cheek, feeling reluctant at the thought of being apart for at least a month.


    "His name is Septimus Tetra?" Carissa asked.


    "That''s right. He sent us intelligence while mingling with the Sandorian supply convoy headed to the Southern Frontier. The fact that Westhaven soldiers had disguised themselves as Sandorian troops was verified through him.


    "After we reimed the Southern Frontier and returned to the capital, Louis took over coordinating with him. The n was for him to stay in Sandoria for a year and only return once we were certain there would be no more conflict," Rafael exined.


    "Septimus Tetra... Septimus Tetra," Carissa repeated. "Is that a codename?"


    "No, it''s his actual name. His


    surname is a little unusual, I know,"


    Rafael said, then paused


    thoughtfully. "A codename? In anothernguage, Septimus means


    seven, while Tetra means for


    Wait... seven plus four is eleven..."


    As Carissa pushed him away gently, their eyes met, and an unlikely thought emerged in both their minds.


    Almost simultaneously, they eximed, "The Farrell family''s eleventh son, Thomas Farrell!"


    Rafael''s heartbeat quickened. "Is that possible?"


    But why not?


    He had heard Timothy mention Thomas several times while on the Southern Frontier battlefield. Thomas had been young and brave-if he hadn''t died on the battlefield, he would have surely been amanding figure by now.


    Timothy had both cherished and respected his cousin.


    Rafael recalled, "General Farrell once


    said that the battle was fierce and chaotic. The Sandorian soldiersunched a surprise night attack and set fire to the camp, resulting in heavy casualties. The soldiers remains were buried in arge pit, many burned beyond recognition.


    "Timothy sawThomas fighting fiercely against the enemy in the firelight. Thomas was eventually injured and kicked back into the mes, but the battle was so chaotic that Timothy couldn''t look for him." Carissa mused, "If Thomas was injured and kicked back into the fire, he might have crawled out unnoticed by Timothy and been captured."


    Rafael nodded solemnly. "That''s a possibility."


    Carissa remembered Thomas'' mother, Alice. Since her son''s death, she had been reclusive. She had attended Helen''s birthday banquet, but seeing her former daughter-inw, Vi, had been a significant blow.


    If Septimus was indeed Thomas, then...


    It was unfortunate that he had now been captured by the Sandorian forces and was likely being tortured. Carissa hoped Oliver could stall the negotiations long enough to at least give Thomas a chance to be rescued.


    "I hope he remains unharmed. Whether or not he is Thomas, he has contributed greatly to the reiming of the Southern Frontier. He must safely return to Starhaven," she said, her heart aching for him.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    On the battlefield, anything could happen, but those who survived the direst situations were few and far between.


    "I won''t wait any longer. I''ll leave the city tonight. There could be unforeseen developments," Rafael dered.


    He couldn''t predict Oliver''s


    temperament. Though Salvador had


    yet to decide whether or not to agree to Sandoria''s proposal to exchange Septimus for a city, Oliver would certainly refuse. Rafael feared that if


    Oliver refused too decidif


    The


    Sandorian people might execute Septimus on the spot.