Chapter 1251  Even after Carissa left, Kylie couldn’t calm down from her anger.  She sat in silence, watching darkly as Gerald took his medicine. After that, the royal physician performed needle treatment on him. Gerald also took the pills Sebastian had left for him.  Within two hours, his complexion gradually improved.  The royal physician confirmed that Gerald’s spirits had lifted, and there was hope for his  recovery.  The Quinton family was delighted, but Kylie was utterly disappointed. Her face was as pale as it had been the day Gerald had gone to the gentlemen’s retreat.  She knew she had taken a gamble, and that her actions would alienate her maternal family and anger the king. Yet, Carissa posed a monumental threat. Only when her name was fully tarnished could Kylie’s title as queen be solidified  Kylie could do everything Carissa had done–reopening the women’s academy, recruiting noblewomen and officials‘ daughters to attend, and consolidating the power of the noble families to strengthen Connor’s position.  Things she once refused to do, Kylie now considered. She had seen through her dad’s indecisiveness. He had placed all his hopes on the Quinton family, but if anything went wrong, it would all collapse.  Jeremiah entered to visit Gerald, patting him on the shoulder. “Old friend, take care of yourself. Watch how these young ones stir things up. As long as they’re causing a ruckus, the world will stay lively.”  L  Gerald was moved. He had expected Jeremiah to look down on him, but his attitude remained unchanged, just like it had always been.  Gerald pulled through in the end, but Ruth didn’t. In early February, the news of her death was officially announced, and Salvador sent word to Yuvan that he could return for the funeral.  Yuvan seemed to have been waiting for this day. He wept loudly in his estate, then began making preparations. He wasn’t getting ready to return to the capital. Instead, he had prepared a storyteller in advance.  The storyteller would exaggerate the death of Yuvan’s mom, portraying her as a victim of the royal family’s cruelty and the king’s neglectful actions.  However, he had yet to make his move when he began hearing praises from the common people for the current queen dowager. They spoke of how Victoria had posted public notices across the realm, seeking the best physicians to treat Ruth.  Not only did the royal physicians tend to her for 24 hours, but Victoria also invited Sebastian to the palace to treat Ruth using the finest medicinal herbs available.  1/3  Naturally, there were also mentions of her extraordinary generosity–granting Yuvan leave to return to the capital to care for his ailing mom for an entire year.  Yuvan was caught off guard, his plans thwarted before they even began.  But how could he accept his? In the past, he would endure everything quietly. Now, with his body disabled, he was more anxious than ever. Despite the public’s praise, he still sent his people to spread rumors.  Unfortunately for him, Victoria’s reputation was already well–known among the people. His words hardly made it beyond Valken before they were swiftly rebutted.  A single drop of water falling into the ocean made only a tiny ripple before disappearing completely.  When Yuvan returned to Valken, something else struck him as strange. It seemed that his control over affairs in Valken had weakened.  That was how it felt!  He could still summon the local officials, but his orders were often delayed or met with excuses. When they did come, they were overly polite and respectful.  Though he sensed something was wrong, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.  He summoned Wayne for advice. Wayne suggested that perhaps the officials had grown complacent after he had spent too much time in the capital.  “It’ll pass in time,” Wayne assured Yuvan.  Yet, doubts still lingered in Yuvan’s mind. Even more troubling was the news coming from the capital. It was said that spies from Sandoria had infiltrated the gentlemen’s retreats in the capital, and that they had been brought in by Eleanor all those years ago.  Eleanor had never mentioned anything of the sort. Had she had dealings with Sandoria? Why hadn’t he been told?  Eleanor was far too sharp to be unaware of something like this. Back then, the Southern Frontier was still under Sandoria’s control. If it was just for profit, bringing Sandoria’s spies into the capital and taking such a huge risk wasn’t something she would’ve done.  Unless, of course, she had an agenda of her own, or had made some kind of alliance. Maybe she was working for someone else.  “‘Yuvan, are you planning to return to the capital for the funeral?” Harvey asked him.  Yuvan was torn.  Going back to the capital meant danger. Not going meant failing to observe his duty to his  mom.    After weighing it all, he found that his reputation mattered less and less. Safety was now his priority. “I am disabled and need treatment. The journey is too much for me. I will take this as my failure as a son, and hope that my mom’s spirit will forgive me.”  Harvey nodded. “I believe you’ve made the right choice. You shouldn’t return. Word has come from the capital that Rafael left before the new year. He may have come to Valken. We should stay here for now.”