Chapter 1053

Since Aurora's abduction by Westhaven's envoys, Barrett had been plagued by nightly nightmares. He dreamt of her torture, her flesh slowly carved away, each strip of skin a fresh agony, her blood surging like a tidal wave, drowning him. Even in daylight, while on duty, he sometimes heard her voice—a cry for help, a bitter accusation of betrayal, or the sound of her agonizing screams. He felt he was losing his mind. Guilt weighed heavily upon him, yet a part of him still believed he had acted rightly. This internal conflict had exhausted him, leaving him drained, both mentally and physically.

He knew his position as deputy commander was largely titular. The king assigned him no duties. Day after day, he wandered the halls, his mind unsettled. Home offered no peace; Viola's constant complaints and Serena's goading to seek justice from the Marquis of Ironridge gnawed at him. He found no solace. He longed to confide in someone, but he had no friends left. No one wanted anything to do with him.

However, Carissa knew the truth: Aurora was still alive. Word had come from Skywing Spire. Lisandra remained trapped in Fawnrun City. Leroy, having returned to Fawnrun City, commanded the military. Though he hadn't attacked, he had stationed troops and refused to retreat, calculating his options. After the negotiations with Starhaven, he understood the situation's complexity. War meant a lack of supplies—food, weapons, and horses. Hesitation, however, would anger the king, who had issued unignorable secret orders. The decision to fight, though, wasn't his; Lisandra would negotiate with the generals. His role was simply to adapt to the situation.

Meanwhile, Lisandra had no time for Aurora, who remained locked away, her fate uncertain. Zeke and the others had been executed before the journey even began; their heads, grim trophies, were now in Fawnrun City.

That evening, after concluding her discussion with Max, Carissa left the Capital Guard headquarters to find Rafael's carriage waiting. He sat inside, lifting the curtain and smiling. "Tomorrow's a rest day. Today, we retrieve Ryan before Lord Klein gets to him."

Days had passed since Carissa last saw Ryan, and she missed him dearly. Without hesitation, she entered the carriage. The weather was warming. Rafael removed her heavy cloak and presented a paper bag. "I picked up some crispy yellow pastries. They're fresh—eat them warm."

The enticing aroma filled the air, but Carissa carefully rewrapped the bag. "I'll save them for Ryan. He loves these."

"Of course, I bought some for him too," Rafael replied, unwrapping the bag. "This one's for you—eat it while it's crisp."

The scent was irresistible, and Carissa took a bite. The crunchy exterior yielded to a soft, fragrant, sweet filling. She nibbled for a moment before asking, "Have you had any?"

"I ate mine when I bought them. Now, hurry and eat," Rafael said with a grin. He dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, wiping away golden crumbs. "Is it good?"

"It's delicious," Carissa replied, savoring another bite. The flavor lingered as she continued, her voice muffled, "You're out so early. Finished your cases?"

"I handed them to Matthew. This morning, I checked in at the Supreme Court, then handled some matters. Luckily, I finished in time to pick you up."

Aware of the ongoing investigation, Carissa asked, "How's it progressing?"

Rafael smiled relaxedly. "Slowly but surely." The pace was deliberate; they already possessed some information—some substantiated, some not. The king merely requested Rafael's assistance; he was subtly guiding Ian, letting him gather evidence. Rafael would release the confirmed cases at the opportune moment.

The investigation into Yuvan's private army was Rafael's main focus. While Yuvan had few capital connections, those once loyal to Eleanor now distanced themselves after his fall. It was best to leave that to Ian.

Carissa took another bite of pastry, then said, "Barrett stopped me in the palace today and asked if I knew anything about Aurora's situation."

A flicker of displeasure crossed Rafael's eyes. "If he wants to know, he should ask me."