Chapter 1109

Fiona's hair was a tangled mess, her cheek swollen from the slap that sent her tumbling backward into Yuvan. He winced, gasping for breath. Violet's fury was barely contained. Without hesitation, she marched toward Molly, her steps swift and determined.

"Violet, what do you think you're doing?" Molly shrieked, stumbling back. "I'm your cousin! I would never harm you—"

Before Molly could finish, Violet grabbed her hair, lifting her off the ground and slamming her into a tree. Molly collapsed, gasping in pain as tears streamed down her face.

"The last thing you said was that the scent on your body was the poison you used against me," Violet hissed, her eyes flashing. "Molly Spencer, what do you gain by helping that vile man? Did you think you could keep the title of princess consort after this? You're stupid and vicious!"

Violet snatched a blade from a nearby soldier and pointed it at Molly's chest. The cold edge gleamed in the moonlight; the deadly purpose in Violet's eyes was unmistakable.

"I didn't…!" Molly wailed, her sobs uncontrollable. "I didn't want this, but Prince Yuvan made me! Lady Fiona forced me! They're both insane!"

In her desperation, Molly confessed everything, her words tumbling out in a frantic torrent. The terror in her voice was raw; she truly believed Violet would kill her.

Wayne sighed. This wasn't how he'd envisioned things unfolding. No plan was flawless, only well-laid. If Yuvan hadn't been so impatient and had taken the forest path to the mountain, they might not have been discovered so quickly. Perhaps then, the plan might have succeeded.

Yuvan's children huddled in the carriage, too frightened to move. Unshielded from the realities of violence, they were unprepared for the ruthlessness of Rafael, Carissa, or Violet. The shock on their faces was evident.

Wayne stood quietly, his mind racing. How would he fare against Rafael and the others? And how long until the Capital Guard arrived? He knew Thomas's troops would take at least an hour. They had to deal with Rafael—and possibly the Capital Guard—within thirty minutes, or their fate was sealed.

Chapter 1105

Once Rafael and his people were dealt with, a swift escape to Valken offered their only chance of safety.

Wayne glanced at Yuvan, silently hoping for a signal. Yuvan, lying on the ground, considered the same strategy, but his wariness of Rafael, coupled with guilt, prevented rash action. He didn't respond to Wayne's glance.

Wayne's frustration flared. Yuvan's indecision was infuriating! Why act impulsively when calm was needed, then falter when action was required? How could anything be accomplished this way?

Rafael approached Yuvan and crouched beside him, his gaze cold and menacing.

"Uncle Yuvan, it seems time to return to the capital and face the king," he began, his voice mocking. "I've heard rumors… rumors that you have quite a taste for women, and that you abducted one here to indulge yourself. But, of course, the girl was rescued by a passing hero, wasn't she?"

Yuvan's bloodshot eyes fixed on Rafael; his teeth ground in fury.

"You're trying to ruin my reputation," he spat.

Reputation meant everything to Yuvan. His important matters demanded an untarnished image. News of abducting a woman, even with punishment, would ruin him. How could he pursue his ambitions then?

Rafael sneered. "Oh? Have I misunderstood? Or perhaps it wasn't the woman you were after. Was it an attempt to raid the garrison outpost with your suicide soldiers—something far more nefarious?"

His tone was mocking, but the words struck like a blow. Yuvan nearly choked, pain seizing him as he struggled to speak. Through clenched teeth, he hissed, "Rafael Sanford!"

"Save your breath, Uncle Yuvan. You can explain yourself to the king upon your return," Rafael said, rising. He turned to Wayne, giving him a cold look. "Mr. Wayne, advise my uncle—what's more important, his reputation or his head? As his nephew, I'm doing what I can. Consider it an act of mercy."

Those words erased any thought of striking out. Rafael knew better than to corner someone; he understood a desperate move could turn deadly. Besides, Salvador's goal in sending them back to Valken was clear—to uncover the private army's hiding place.

Yuvan's ambitions were obvious, but questions about his allies in Valken remained. It wasn't just the private army; weapons, supplies, and more needed to be found. To root out Yuvan, it had to be done decisively to prevent future trouble.