Chapter 493 (+25 BON)
Carissa smiled as she handed Helen a pastry. "Mother, I'm not angry anymore. Please have some."
Helen frowned slightly, noticing Carissa had handled the pastry directly. Her daughter-in-law was still rather rough around the edges, wasn't she? After a moment's hesitation, Helen accepted the pastry. It wasn't as if she'd get sick from eating something a little dirty.
The Oversight Department launched a formal investigation into Samuel, accusing him of immoral conduct, publicly insulting the court, and showing blatant disrespect for royal authority. They argued he was unworthy of being recognized as a top scholar, petitioning the king to remove his name from the National Examination Register and to revoke his inheritance of the Earl of Gracehold title and estate.
During the morning court session, Salvador stripped Samuel of his inheritance but did not revoke his scholar status. Canceling the appointment of someone he personally selected would be too embarrassing. Despite this, Salvador was furious. He issued a severe reprimand to the Earl of Gracehold and summoned him to the royal study after court.
As Noah cried and lamented his failure to discipline his son, Salvador coldly stated, "This is your last chance. If the duchess suffers any further distress in your household, the Earl of Gracehold title ends."
Noah was dumbfounded. He stood dazed, suddenly remembering Leona was the king's cousin. Even if Harvey and Heather were incompetent, Salvador valued family connections.
Disheartened, Noah left the royal study. He saw Rafael waiting at the door. Recalling the prince's bloodthirsty expression the night Gracehold Estate was vandalized, Noah shivered, hastily saluted, and quickly departed.
Rafael entered the royal study, where Salvador was drinking coffee, trying to calm his anger.
"No formalities," Salvador said. "Have a seat."
"Understood, Your Majesty." Rafael sat in an armchair. "You asked me to wait. Is there something important?"
Salvador dismissed everyone except Derek, who remained to attend to him. Derek prepared coffee and served Rafael a cup.
"Take a look at this," Salvador said, tossing a document to his brother.
Rafael caught and opened it, his expression turning solemn. It concerned the prisoner exchange with Sandorla.
Salvador continued, "The two kingdoms have had a ceasefire. After Louis and Timothy held several rounds of negotiations with Sandbrian representatives, an agreement was reached to return captured soldiers. However, one prisoner previously escaped the enemy camp and provided Sandorian intelligence to Hector. After Hector's death, Louis received the reports before passing them to you. Unfortunately, his identity was discovered, and he was captured."
Rafael was stunned. "Septimus Tetra?"
Septimus had followed the Westhaven army's movements from Sandoria, verifying Carissa's information. He had been captured?
Rafael's heart tightened. He'd never met Septimus, but knew he'd been captured in Calmstead City before Hector's death, along with several hundred others. Rafael hadn't been at the Southern Frontier battle; he'd heard about it from Timothy. In that battle, Sandorian forces launched a night raid, burning tents and killing many soldiers. The fighting was fierce, and Thomas had died. Rafael, having taken over from Hector, had repeatedly tried to exchange captured Sandorian soldiers for the previously captured Sinclair Army soldiers, but his requests were denied. Later captured soldiers were accepted for exchange, but the Sandorians refused to release the initial group.
Negotiations had finally succeeded, but Septimus was now in the hands of angry Sandorian troops. Would he survive?