Chapter 45

In the study, Salvador gazed at Carissa, who knelt on the white marble floor. She wore a plain white dress cinched at the waist, with a blue cloak draped over her shoulders. Unlike her previous visits, her hair was tied up in a high ponytail with a simple white silk ribbon, not styled in the elaborate manner of a married woman.

Her complexion was pale, and a faint redness under her eyes, along with dark circles, suggested a sleepless night. Remnants of tears clung to her eyelashes.

Despite this, she still looked stunning. Her eyes, though sorrowful, lacked vulnerability, instead harboring strength and determination.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Carissa said hoarsely.

After Lulu went to bed last night, Carissa had cried for a long time under her covers.

"Have you been crying?" Salvador frowned slightly, displeasure evident in his eyes. "Is it about Barrett and Aurora's wedding?"

Carissa shook her head.

Before she could speak, Salvador continued, "You sought the divorce edict yourself. Since the divorce is final, their marriage is no longer your concern. Why worry over past matters? If you can't let go, you shouldn't have asked me for the divorce in the first place."

Salvador's voice was gentle, yet tinged with annoyance.

Fearing the king would interrupt again, Carissa quickly said, "Your Majesty, I didn't cry because of Barrett. Since our divorce, I harbor no emotions for him. I cried because I received a letter from my senior, learning of my seventh uncle's sacrifice, the loss of my third uncle's arm, and my grandfather's arrow wound, which remains unhealed."

She naturally omitted mentioning she'd learned this by sneaking a peek at military reports in the Ministry of Defense's records room.

Taken aback, Salvador sighed softly. "I intended to keep all that from you. After all, your family was wiped out just six months ago. Carissa, your seventh uncle sacrificed himself for the country. He is a hero of the kingdom. I have already decreed to posthumously honor him as a heroic divine general. Don't grieve too much, lest it harm your health."

Tears welled in Carissa's eyes, but she forced them back. "I understand they were warriors, like my father and brothers. Serving the country in war was their destiny. Today, I seek an audience for another matter. My eldest senior discovered that three hundred thousand Westhaven soldiers have entered Sandoria, disguised as Sandorian soldiers, and are heading towards the Southern Frontier battlefield."

Upon hearing this, Salvador immediately frowned and exclaimed, "That's nonsense! Utterly ridiculous!"

Westhaven had just signed a peace treaty with Starhaven, establishing mutually agreed-upon borders. If Westhaven dared to break the treaty immediately, wouldn't they lose all credibility? Who would still want to trade with or deal with Westhaven?

Moreover, just yesterday, Salvador had received reports from the Southern Frontier stating the war was nearing its end—a monumental achievement. Reclaiming the Southern Frontier had been a lifelong aspiration of Salvador and his younger brother since childhood, a matter never forgotten by Salvador's grandfather and father, even on their deathbeds.

With the battle in the Southern Frontier having dragged on for so long, Sandoria was already weakened. Victory was imminent, yet Carissa claimed three hundred thousand Westhaven soldiers were en route to aid Sandoria. How could that be possible? While Sandoria and Westhaven were friendly, engaging in cultural exchanges and trade, they had never formed a military alliance.

Carissa, knowing Salvador wouldn't easily believe her, presented a letter. "My eldest senior wrote this letter. Your Majesty, please read it and decide for yourself whether to believe it or not. My eldest senior's name is Kyle Spencer."

Kyle had not, of course, written the letter; the information Carissa spoke of had been discovered by her second senior. However, Kyle, a wandering swordsman since age eighteen, had gained great renown in Starhaven for his book, Starhaven Chronicles, recording the kingdom's famous mountains and rivers. Carissa had imitated Kyle's handwriting. Had she attributed the information to her second senior, the king certainly wouldn't have believed her.

Last night, after calming down, she'd considered the situation. She believed those at the Southern Frontier would soon face a dire situation. If the court didn't send reinforcements, the Hell Monarch would almost certainly lose the battle, and the soldiers stationed there wouldn't be able to return.

It was an urgent situation demanding immediate action. Westhaven's large army had already entered Sandoria and was heading straight for the Southern Frontier. Even if reinforcements were sent now, they might be too late.

As for settling what happened at Victory Pass and Fawnrun City, and whether her grandfather would be implicated, that could be considered later.

Everyone in Starhaven keenly felt the loss of the Southern Frontier. When Hector was alive, he often said he would die without regrets if he could reclaim it. He had, indeed, reclaimed it once, but unfortunately, hadn't been able to hold it to the end. Ultimately, Sandoria had come back and reclaimed it.

Now, Starhaven needed to focus all its efforts on the Southern Frontier and the lives of the two hundred thousand soldiers fighting there!