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    Chapter 891


    The man was Wayne, but his appearance was quite different from when Barrett had seen him at Edgeview Estate. Even his face seemed unfamiliar.


    He took a step forward and nodded in greeting. "Commander Warren, I am aware of the passing of your mom and sister-inw. My condolences."


    Though Barrett recognized the sentiment, he still maintained a certain distance, as he did with all strangers, simply saying, "Thank you. Since you don''t want to introduce yourself, I''ll take my leave now."


    Wayne nodded and said, "Commander Warren, my name is Horace. I serve at Hartstone Estate. It was Lady Heather''s request that Ie to offer my condolences. Considering the unpleasantness between you and Lady Carissa in the past, she felt it inappropriate to visit directly."


    Barrett hadn''t met many people from Hartstone Estate, but he knew that their steward was named Horace, so this man was likely him.


    However, the man before him had a schrly air about him, far from the typical appearance of someone who handled internal affairs. He seemed more like a schr-though, of course, as a servant of a royal estate, he must be well-educated.


    Barrett hadn''t expected Heather to send someone to express her condolences. A wave of mixed emotions swept over him.


    "I appreciate Lady Heather''s kindness. It''s my fault. I''ve failed... Madam Sinir and Lady Heather''s expectations."


    "Would you mind moving to a coffeehouse to talk?" Wayne asked. "Lady Heather has some words she''d like me to convey to you."


    Barrett had gone to Victory Pass on the day of his wedding, then returned and separated from Carissa afterward. When Heather hadn''t intervened, Barrett had assumed she didn''t want the divorce to happen, which gave him an instinctive sense of goodwill toward her.


    Moreover, Harvey and his family had always kept a low profile in the capital, so exchanging pleasantries once or twice with them would not raise any concerns.


    "Very well," Barrett agreed with a polite nod. "Lead the way, sir."


    As the two of them entered the coffeehouse, many eyes hidden in the shadows were watching their every move.


    Wayne studied Barrett quietly. He had already been observing him from afar for some time-he had even ced people to keep track of him.


    A year had passed, and Barrett had slimmed down considerably. His face now appeared more angr, while his eyes were far moreposed and serious than before. But Wayne felt a bit disappointed, as he saw no trace of the sharp edge or hidden ambition he had expected to find in the other man''s gaze.


    After everything he had been through-his sister-inw''s suicide, the loss of his power, the death of his child, his mom''s passing, and the mourning period-Wayne had assumed Barrett would either be more ambitious orpletely broken.


    Instead, he seemed unnervingly calm.


    Perhaps that wasn''t such a bad thing. Yuvan could use a calm and level-headed assistant, especially one who had authority over the king''s personal guards.


    Wayne continued, "Lady Heather knows about everything that''s happened in the Warren family, and is deeply saddened. She feels guilty for not convincing Lady Carissa to stay, for letting her ruin the Warren family''s reputation by getting a divorce, and also tarnishing Lady Heather''s name in the process."


    Barrett felt a strange, almost indescribable emotion rise in him. He had heard about what happened to Leona as well. She was Heather''s own daughter. When Leona was mistreated by her husband''s family, Harvey and his


    family didn''t intervene to help. So, to hear this man sent by Heather speaking about his divorce from Carissa sounded hard to believe.


    "You should know that Lady Heather was left with no choice," Wayne continued. "Prince Harvey has been able to remain in the capital only because he stays out of state affairs and lives quietly. There are many things he wants to manage but res not to, so this guilt should have remained private. But seeing how things have turned out with the Warren family, she simply couldn''t bear it and sent me to express her condolences."


    Wayne''s ability to read people was sharp. Barrett, standing in front of him, felt almost childlike inparison. Barrett thought back to how low-key Harvey and his family had been in recent years. It made sense.


    Back when Sigmund was still alive, Harvey was the younger brother of the king, Augustus'' biological son. If he and his family hadn''t kept a low profile, they would have been vulnerable to false usations of disloyalty. If that happened, wouldn''t that have ruined his entire family?


    Barrett nodded thoughtfully. "Your words make sense, Horace. I understand, and I appreciate Lady Heather''s concern."


    Wayne''s gaze was filled with sincerity and worry. "So, do you n to observe the mourning period for three years? Don''t you want to consider another approach?"


    "Another approach?" Barrett furrowed his brow in confusion.


    "Like applying for an exemption," Wayne said with a small smile. "Three years is a long time. Do you know what the situation will look like then? The king ns to make the Crown Guard independent from the Mystic Army, meaning it won''t be under Lady Carissa''s control anymore. But for that to happen, there needs to be amander for the Crown Guard. If you remain in mourning, that position will fall to someone else."