Chapter 1353
News arrived from Nerovia—the imposter posing as Nicholas had been apprehended. He was merely a common man, remarkably similar in appearance to Nicholas. After being discovered by Nicholas, he had been trained to imitate him perfectly.
Following Nicholas's departure from Nerovia, this man assumed his identity, frequenting Nicholas's usual haunts. This explained why earlier investigations had suggested Nicholas rarely left his fief. In reality, he had been operating in disguise.
"Has the man been secured?" Carissa asked urgently.
"Don't worry, he's been dealt with," Jacob replied.
Carissa breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. Prince Nicholas cannot appear in Nerovia again. I understand his intentions. He's been hiding as Gordon, issuing orders from Willowbrook Estate. Everyone believes the so-called rebel leader is Prince Hayden. Meanwhile, Prince Nicholas would have been presumed to be in Nerovia all along, uninvolved in the rebellion."
Jacob nodded. "Precisely. If the rebellion fails, it won't concern him. He can even claim righteousness by killing Prince Hayden. If it succeeds, he would claim all the spoils."
"Then what of Mr. Murphy? Is he in Nerovia now?" Carissa asked.
Jacob shook his head. "Mr. Murphy isn't in Nerovia. He's likely seized control of most of Prince Yuvan's forces. I've already sent word to General Farrell. Even if Prince Yuvan surrenders, we must remain vigilant. There might be a trap."
Carissa recognized Clifford's cunning, but she knew Thomas faced his own challenges. She turned to Jacob. "Shouldn't you consider aiding General Farrell?"
"No," Jacob stated firmly. "The siege at Valken is critical. Even if Mr. Murphy is manipulating Prince Yuvan's feigned surrender, General Farrell will be prepared. However, the capital is our primary concern. Their ultimate goal is a palace coup. I cannot leave."
"Then please monitor the situation and send a carrier pigeon to General Farrell immediately," Carissa said.
"Of course," Jacob agreed. "But please be cautious during your patrols, Your Grace. Prince Nicholas hasn't moved yet, but his silence is unsettling. I fear he may be planning something—especially against you."
"Don't worry, I will," Carissa assured him.
She had already considered this possibility, which is why she rarely participated in patrols, only venturing out when necessary. Carissa knew absolute safety was impossible, but caution was paramount.
Lately, Violet had accompanied her on any outings, ensuring she was never alone. Carissa had stopped visiting both the workshop and the women's academy, fearing her presence might attract trouble.
For safety, Cynthia and Bun oversaw the academy, teaching martial arts and maintaining vigilance. Alana and Leah's presence at the workshop alleviated major concerns there.
Meanwhile, Michael closely watched the city gates, scrutinizing every entrant. Recently, forged documents had been circulating, making it easy for individuals to slip past lax guards.
In the past few days, Michael had noticed several martial artists entering the city. While not unusual, they typically avoided confrontation with the gate guards; a simple document check sufficed. Now, however, he personally questioned anyone dressed as a martial artist.
Today, for instance, a group with an air of arrogance—specifically, a middle-aged scholar with a silk scarf—arrived. His beard was meticulously groomed, his demeanor cold and aloof. When asked for his papers, he ignored the question, seemingly disdaining Michael's presence.
Fortunately, one of his companions quickly explained they were from a household registered in the capital, presenting their residence papers. He apologized profusely, attempting to defuse the situation.
The group didn't resemble typical martial artists or merchants; they looked more like wealthy travelers, possibly aristocrats. Michael found them familiar but couldn't place them. Their address, in a wealthy district of the capital, confirmed his suspicions.
After verifying their documents, Michael allowed them passage.