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    Chapter 892


    Barrett wasn''t really surprised. Though his time as themander of the Crown Guard had been short, he wasn''t foolish and could sense the king''s intentions to make the Crown Guard an independent unit.


    Salvador was wary of the Hell Monarch, so how could he allow Carissa to control all the security in the kingdom, including the king''s own safety?


    Barrett smiled wryly. "Well, it''s something beyond my control. I am in mourning for my mom and must observe the mourning period."


    Wayne smiled gently, pouring him a cup of coffee. He spoke quietly, "Prince Harvey can help you."


    Barrett blinked, taken aback. Harvey barely interacted with anyone in the capital, so how could he possibly help him? Besides, would he really do it out of guilt-if that guilt even existed? And if there was guilt, it would be for Carissa, not for him.


    Barrett wasn''t stupid.


    Setting aside whether Harvey could actually help him, if he could, it would be for a reason. If he truly did assist him, Barrett would owe him, and from then on, he would be the prince''s servant.


    "In ordance with tradition, I''m observing the mourning period for my mom, unless the king issues an edict to revoke it. However, I''m not an important court official, nor am I a general on the frontier. The king does not need me," Barrett said slowly.


    Wayne chuckled softly. ''Commander Warren, you underestimate yourself. You''ve disappointed the king time and again, yet he''s still willing to offer you a chance. Do you know why?"


    "Why?" Barrett asked, indeed confused about it.


    "It''s because of your grudge against the Hell Monarch. The Mystic Army was originally led by Prince Rafael. After he became Chief Judge, he could have continued leading it. Many court officials hold multiple positions. So, why did His Majesty choose Lady Carissa to take over asmander of the Mystic Army?" Wayne posited, his gaze fixed on the other man.


    Barrett paused, thinking. Slowly, the pieces began to fall into ce, but he still didn''t fully understand.


    "Why?" he asked again.


    Wayne didn''t bother holding back and spoke directly, "Changing themander of the Mystic Army would cause dissatisfaction within its ranks, since the soldiers were all handpicked and trained by Prince Rafael. But Lady Carissa is his wife. Recing him with her would make it easier for them to ept her.


    "However, she won''t hold the position for long. The king will gradually reduce her power-first the Crown Guard, then the Royal Guard, and eventually the Capital Guard. At best, she''ll be left with the Garrison Unit, which is mostly made up of useless, undisciplined men who are no threat at all."


    Even though Barrett had suspected some of it, hearing itid out so inly still sent a chill down his spine.


    Salvador''s repeated attempts to keep Barrett close weren''t because he appreciated his talents. No, Barrett was just a pawn in Salvador''s game, used to bnce out Rafael and Carissa, who had personal grudges against him. He remembered Sebastian''s words-how Barrett had potential, but wasn''t a great man of talent. Sebastian could see it, so how could the king not? In other words, without the tension between Barrett, Rafael, and Carissa, Salvador would have cast him aside long ago, right?


    Aplicated storm of thoughts swept through Barrett''s mind. In the back of it all, he wondered if he would rather be just an ordinary member of the Capital Guard.


    Seeing his conflicted expression, Wayne continued to push, "I imagine you''re not content with the situation, Commander Warren. A woman who divorced you, who even caused such a public scandal, is now above you andExclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    holding power over you.


    "Don''t you want the power to put her beneath your feet? When she divorced you, it caused a citywide uproar. It tarnished the Warren family''s reputation and even caused your mom''s death. If it weren''t for her, Sebastian would never have stopped your mom''s medicine."


    Barrett looked up, his expression darkening, his gaze full of anger and confusion.


    Pleased to see that look, Wayne''s voice wasced with even more persuasion as he added, "It was Lady Carissa who killed your mom. It was she who destroyed your family''s reputation, turning them into a joke.


    "If you lose the Crown Guardmander''s position, you''ll never rise again. The king may want you to help bnce out Prince Rafael and Lady Carissa, but he doesn''t need you. If you want a future, Prince Harvey can help you, Commander Warren."