Chapter 586

Carissa turned away, a smile playing on her lips. It was only natural she would have asked Sebastian to investigate. After all, men with self-respect weren't exactly common in this world.

Rafael gritted his teeth. “You actually think I'd have those kinds of diseases? I've been on the battlefield all this time! You didn't really suspect me, did you?”

The soldiers swam back to shore. As Carissa reached for Violet's hand, completely ignoring her husband's tension, Greta noticed Rafael's frustration and Carissa's haste to leave, as if they were in the middle of an argument.

The journey back to the capital was uneventful. By the time they returned, it was almost August.

The Ministry of Protocol was well aware of their arrival schedule, and news of their return spread like wildfire. Filled with the purest sentiments, the common people were thrilled to see their heroes return. Crowds filled the streets, eager for a glimpse.

Before entering the city, Carissa handed her horse to Carmen, instructing her to return it another day.

“Thank you, Lady Sinclair,” Carmen said respectfully. “May I ask where you live?”

“Hell Monarch Estate,” Carissa replied.

Carmen's eyes widened. “Hell Monarch Estate? Are you… the Hell Monarch’s princess consort?”

She hurriedly prepared to bow, with Greta following suit. But Carissa waved them off.

“No need for formalities. Just bring the horse back tomorrow.”

Carissa then extended her hand to Rafael. After a brief glance at Carmen, the prince took his wife's hand and pulled her up with a firm tug. The two rode off together on the same horse.

Greta noticed Rafael’s lingering gaze at Carmen and felt a flicker of hope, but the real challenge was gaining entry to his estate. To do that, Carmen first had to win over the Hell Monarch’s princess consort and earn her trust. In other words, they would need a roundabout approach.

However, this would make the blow even more devastating. If the Hell Monarch’s princess consort saw Carmen as a friend, the betrayal from both a friend and her husband would hit her harder, increasing the chances of a much bigger scene.

Watching them enter the city, Greta turned to Carmen and said, “When we return the horse tomorrow, bring a generous gift. We need to start by winning the favor of the Hell Monarch’s princess consort.”

Carmen sighed in relief. “Understood!”

As they prepared to enter the city, Thomas and Homer helped Lawrence onto a horse, ensuring he was seated comfortably. Meanwhile, Violet, Kayla, and Carissa sat in a carriage. Sebastian had approved this arrangement. Thomas led the horse to prevent it from becoming agitated by the noise and crowd. People were positioned all around to quickly pull Lawrence away if necessary.

The eleven young soldiers had thought the procession would be a simple formality, but they hadn’t anticipated how overwhelming it would become.

As soon as they passed through the city gates, a deafening cheer erupted. The city guards and garrison units were stationed on both sides of the road to control the citizens, but the people’s excitement was uncontainable. In their frenzy, they broke through the lines, rushing forward to chase after the horses, shouting and calling out as they followed.

All eleven soldiers were overcome with emotion. Tears welled in their eyes as they waved—these were the people they had fought to protect.

In that moment, everything felt worthwhile.

Richard, accompanied by his three sons, led the way. The streets were filled with the sounds of drums and fireworks, smoke billowing around them. He glanced back, trying to catch a glimpse of Joshua and Benson’s faces, but the smoke obscured his view.

He had a royal edict to announce, but the sheer madness of the crowd made it impossible. The cheers were incessant, and even the city guards couldn’t hold the citizens back. The people ran alongside, surrounding the procession. Richard decided to wait until they reached Peace Street to make the announcement.

Peace Street was wider, and there was a circular platform in the middle. The officials led the eleven heroes to this spot.

When it was time to announce the edict, Richard had to shout at the top of his lungs. Only then did the soldiers finally hear him. They helped Lawrence down from his horse, but he couldn’t kneel, not even halfway. So, Kayla stepped out of the carriage to kneel and accept the edict on his behalf.

Despite the commanding power of the royal edict, no one in the crowd could hear a word. The citizens’ excited screams never stopped.

Fortunately, it was an edict of praise and commendation, not a promotion, so the details hardly mattered.

Violet peeked through the carriage curtains, watching the ecstatic faces and hearing the thunderous cheers.

She turned to Carissa and asked, “Why is the ceremony so grand?”

Carissa smiled. “I’d guess the Ministry of Protocol spread the word, and the capital’s storytellers likely exaggerated their exploits. They probably spun tales of how the soldiers risked their lives to deliver vital intelligence, making it sound so dramatic and touching that the people were moved to tears.”

Violet nodded. It seemed likely.

The capital’s storytellers were renowned for their ability to stir emotions, a skill few could match.