After the Westhaven envoys left the Diplomatic Affairs Department and returned to their lodgings, the Starhaven negotiators remained behind and continued discussions about the next round of talks. Jeremiah was involved in the conversation, his voice calm but firm.


    "If we''re going topensate with grain, we can''t offer such arge quantity. Last year, there was a poor harvest and the military wages were insufficient. If we give them 3,000,000 bushels of grain, we''re essentially funding their war efforts. We canpensate, but it can''t exceed 300,000 bushels."


    He paused, then added, "Also, His Majesty insists that we cannot make any concessions on the border issue."


    Having delivered his points, he left the room. From the way Rafael had been conducting the negotiations, Jeremiah felt confident in the direction they were heading.


    Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Justice, Barrett requested a meeting with Patrick.


    After his conversation with Aurora the previous night, Barrett had been troubled. Aurora had mentioned a n to convince Westhaven to take Dominic, but Barrett couldn''t understand how she could pull that off. So, he turned to Patrick for advice. "She really said that?" Patrick asked,ing to meet Barrett in person. "Did she say how?"


    Barrett shook his head. "She didn''t say, and when I asked, she just refused to exin. But she has mapped out an escape route, and it''s clear she''s confident she can convince the Westhaven envoys to take General Sullivan with them."


    At that point, Patrick still didn''t know the oue of the negotiations. However, he knew Dominic would definitely be brought up at the table. If Starhaven refused, Westhaven wouldn''t be able to take him.


    But if the talks ended without a resolution, what could Westhaven do to take Dominic after the fact? More importantly, how could Aurora be so sure she could persuade the Westhaven envoys?


    "That doesn''t seem likely," Patrick said. "If she''s taken, she''ll be in a prison cart. The Westhaven envoys hate her with a passion. No matter what she says, no one will listen."


    Barrett frowned. "I agree, it seems unlikely. But she''s convinced that Westhaven will take General Sullivan. I just don''t get how she''s so sure. I''ve been locked up here, so I want to ask you to send a message to my wife... No, to Madam Zoey, and ask her to investigate the servants at Valor Estate."


    "You suspect that Aurora has been in contact with someone outside through the servants, perhaps even conspiring all along?" Patrick asked, his expression thoughtful. Barrett thought it over, but couldn''t untangle the mess in his mind.


    "I''m not sure," he admitted, "but it''s better to investigate, just to be safe. If something doese up, please have Madam Zoey inform Cari-I mean, Lady Carissa." Patrick nodded, but couldn''t hide his confusion. "Why Madam Zoey? Why not have your wife look into the servants at Valor Estate?"


    From what Patrick knew, Zoey was the sister-inw of Barrett''s wife, Vi. Why would he ask his wife''s sister-inw to handle this rather than his own wife?


    Barrett looked visibly ufortable.


    After stammering for a moment, he finally replied, "Well... Madam Zoey has been managing her household for years and is incredibly meticulous. If there''s something


    suspicious about the servants, she''llProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    be able to uncover it."


    Patrick studied Barrett''s expression, suspecting there might be some discord between Barrett and Vi—or perhaps Vi simply wasn''t adept at running a household.


    "Very well," Patrick said. "In that


    case, I''ll inform Commander Sinir.


    It''s better for her to approach


    Madam Zoey about this. Since the Earl of Silverstone is absent, it


    tos


    wouldn''t be appropriate for me to go personally, nor for my wife to step inolt might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings."


    Barrett nodded quickly. "Exactly, sir. Please act quickly."


    Patrick left the Ministry of Justice. Before departing, he made a point of instructing the kitchen staff to improve Barrett''s dinner for the evening with a couple of meat


    dishes. Afterward, he personally went to find Carissa and ryed


    Barrett''s concerns.


    Carissa also found Aurora''s behavior peculiar. After her capture, Aurora had fixated on implicating Dominic in the matter, which initially seemed like a desperate attempt to shift the me and avoid the worst punishment. After enduring interrogation and torture, Aurora had been explicitly told that no matter who else she implicated, she would still be handed over to Westhaven. Her persistence no longer made sense.


    Hearing Patrick''s report, Carissa decided to investigate immediately. Without dy, she made her way to Silverstone Estate.