Chapter 1116
When the palace gates opened, Rafael and Thomas entered to meet Salvador. The king was enjoying breakfast and beckoned them to sit. Everyone except Derek waited outside in the hall.
By the time Rafael and Thomas arrived, they had coordinated their statements. They would tell Salvador everything except that they had concealed Alistair and Kevin's presence outside the city. Alistair was less of a concern, as he wasn't accompanied by many men. However, Kevin's recent promotion to the king's Nightsteel Guard made his reckless attacks a significant problem. While it might not immediately anger the king, it would cause discomfort and potentially affect his career.
After hearing their report, Salvador remained silent, continuing to sip his millet porridge. Setting down his spoon, he began eating a pastry. Though quiet, his mind was clearly working. Without raising his gaze, he calmly asked, “Are his injuries serious?”
“Nothing too serious, Your Majesty,” Rafael replied, “but he likely won't be able to father any more children.”
Salvador smiled faintly and finished his pastry. Then he said, “Let's handle this as if he kidnapped a common woman. That way, the Spencer family's reputation remains intact. And when the woman was rescued, he... received a good beating from an unknown hero. That seems a fitting punishment. We'll issue a reprimand, conduct a formal investigation, and close the matter.”
He stood, flashing a brief smile. “You two continue eating. You've worked hard.”
Rafael and Thomas, famished after a long night, readily accepted. "Thank you, Your Majesty." Salvador's breakfast was simple, and he ordered more for them. He instructed Derek to draft an edict reprimanding Yuvan. Once issued, the entire capital would soon know of Yuvan's attempted assault, his beating by a mysterious hero, and his ultimate failure.
Chapter 1116
What pleased Salvador most was uncovering some of the hidden suicide soldiers. Stationed in the capital for assassinations, they posed a significant threat. Furthermore, these soldiers couldn't take their own lives now; doing so would confirm their connection to the earlier suicide soldiers, implicating Yuvan.
Salvador was still willing to let Yuvan remain ignorant. Yuvan had grand ambitions but mediocre abilities, rising only through the support of others. His status made him a useful pawn, particularly given his influential elder sister, a princess in the capital. Anything Eleanor could help him with, others could not.
This was something Rafael had reminded Salvador of earlier. They had initially suspected the private army was in Stonebridge County, but investigations yielded nothing, confirming Rafael's suspicion that Yuvan, believing himself in control, was merely a pawn.
When the king's edict reached Edgeview Estate, the story of Yuvan's attempted abduction spread like wildfire. Yuvan's name was largely unfamiliar. Despite his long stay in the capital, he kept a low profile, and his family rarely attended social events. This was evident even during city celebrations, where they were never invited. This was also apparent during the Skye Embroidery incident involving Molly, where Yuvan and his household avoided the public scrutiny that fell on the Marquis of Ironridge's family.
Publicly, Yuvan was a vassal prince assigned to Valken. His return to care for his ailing mother was seen as a royal favor. His reputation was generally good, and his late princess consort, Avis, was well-regarded.
As rumors spread, someone revealed his current princess consort was from the Spencer family in Ebonflow. It was said he married her shortly after Avis's death. People of noble rank knew of his marriage to a Spencer woman, but few knew the true circumstances surrounding his first wife's death. It was rumored she had requested the marriage, insisting the family needed a woman to manage the estate.
Chapter 1116
However, more gossip leaked. Some speculated that Avis had pushed for this marriage out of spite, fearing Fiona's rising influence and seeing it as a way to suppress Fiona's chances of becoming the primary wife and princess consort.