Chapter 134
Initially, everyone speculated that Aurora was the female general who had led the Mystic Army. However, after Rebecca’s tea party, some people began to notice hints suggesting otherwise. The storyteller, known for his knack for suspense, first piqued his audience's interest before revealing, “At the tea party hosted by Madam Warren at Valor Estate, neither the wives of the Ministry of Defense’s two deputy ministers nor any other family members of Ministry of Defense officials were in attendance. What does that imply? I’m afraid it implies that the female general who led the army was likely not General Yates.”
The coffeehouse patrons were shocked, and the storyteller’s words sparked a lively discussion. If it wasn’t Aurora, then who? There was no other female general in the current era.
A few days later, people managed to find some information and began talking about how Barrett’s ex-wife, who had left him, went to the battlefield. The people of the capital still vividly remembered the story of Barrett’s divorced wife. Wasn’t she Carissa Sinclair, the daughter of the late Hector Sinclair, the Duke of Northwatch, who sacrificed himself at the Southern Frontier?
Mentioning Carissa might have elicited curiosity, but speaking of Hector’s household evoked deep sympathy and sorrow among the citizens. Some, moved by a strong sense of patriotism, even shed tears. All the men of Hector’s family had perished on the Southern Frontier battlefield, leaving behind widows and orphans. Such a tragedy inevitably tugged at the heartstrings.
As a result, people began to delve into the life of Carissa, the sole survivor of the Duke of Northwatch’s family. They discovered that she had been sent to the Pathfinders Guild to learn martial arts at the age of seven. Then, Aurora had snatched Carissa’s husband from her. Given Carissa’s martial arts skill and her family’s military background, combined with the sacrifice of her father and brothers on the Southern Frontier battlefield, it made sense that she would seek military merit there. It was both a quest for revenge and a way to prove herself superior to Aurora.
The rumors about Carissa’s military accomplishments reached the Warren family, causing quite a stir. Upon hearing them, Rebecca laughed bitterly and mocked, “Carissa, capable of earning military merit on the battlefield? If she had such skills, she would have gone to the front lines long ago. Why would she instead marry into our family and even serve an old woman like me?”
Since Amelia couldn’t control the household staff, Rebecca’s scornful words naturally spread outside. Some people believed whatever they heard, so they thought Rebecca’s words made sense. If Carissa had those abilities, why would she have lowered herself to serve a sickly mother-in-law? They recalled hearing that Carissa had attended to the older woman so diligently that she even slept in her room to provide constant care.
Others, however, thought more deeply. They saw this as a testament to the duke’s excellent upbringing of his daughter. After marrying, it was only right for Carissa to fulfill her duties and serve her in-laws. Sleeping in the same room as her ailing mother-in-law demonstrated her strong sense of respect and obedience, which was quite admirable.
Previously, the great triumph at Victory Pass, where Aurora and Barrett earned their merits and sought a marriage edict from Salvador, was considered a romantic tale. However, the joy of reclaiming the Southern Frontier overshadowed the triumph at Victory Pass. In comparison, the recovery of the Southern Frontier was a far more significant achievement.
Upon reflection, Barrett’s act of seeking marriage as a reward for his military achievements began to feel distasteful. Without the heroic aura, Barrett became a man who abandoned his wife, and Aurora was seen as a husband-stealer. How could anyone celebrate them?
As rumors and various speculations spread, the Warren family decided to shut their doors, ignoring the gossip. They remained confident that Aurora and Barrett would earn their merits.
On the third day of April, the court finally announced that the Hell Monarch would lead the reinforcements back to the capital. The Ministry of Defense also released the list of meritorious soldiers from this campaign. Three female generals were recognized for their contributions, with Carissa, who had captured two cities, receiving the highest honors. The other two were Violet and Cynthia.
Barrett’s name appeared on the list but was ranked much lower. He was preceded by veteran generals who had been stationed at the Southern Frontier for years, most of whom were Hector’s former subordinates. Aurora’s name was notably absent from the list.
When the Ministry of Defense’s announcement reached the Warren family, everyone was dumbfounded. They could hardly believe that Aurora had not been recognized. Despite leading reinforcements to the battlefield during the harsh winter, she wasn’t even mentioned for her efforts. Rebecca was so infuriated that she fainted on the spot.