Chapter 650

After Harvey finished speaking, Yuvan fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.

“But it’s ultimately better if she dies,” Yuvan said. “That way, all blame falls on the Sullivan family. Aurora is cunning and deathly afraid. Given her unpopularity, the common folk would likely disbelieve her. Furthermore, the Sullivan family has guarded Victory Pass for years without harming civilians. If someone spins that narrative, it could exonerate them.”

Harvey replied, “But our goal isn't to eliminate the Sullivan family. We only need them out of Victory Pass so we can station our own troops. Oliver hasn't aligned with us yet; we must seize control. As long as we control the elite troops in both areas, or if the conflict prolongs, we can implement our original plan: inciting a civilian uprising. This will expose the king's failures and incite public outrage, giving us the perfect opportunity to act.”

He finished, then secretly glanced at Eleanor, lifting his cup. As expected, he saw a flicker of anger cross her face.

“No!” Eleanor snapped. “All Sullivan family members must die.”

Yuvan frowned. “Eleanor, don’t be impulsive. Harvey’s right. Our goal is to remove the Sullivan family from Victory Pass. As for their deaths… you can decide on the manner and brutality once they're back in the capital.”

Harvey anticipated Eleanor's rebuttal but knew she would heed Yuvan. Besides, Yuvan was right; witnessing the suffering of one's enemies was deeply satisfying.

Seeing Eleanor's acquiescence, Yuvan continued, “We must urgently incite the noble families and common folk scholars. We’ll extol Rafael's accomplishments in reclaiming the Southern Frontier. The goal is to focus public attention solely on Rafael, obscuring the king's involvement.”

Eleanor and Harvey nodded in agreement.

Eleanor sneered. “Yuvan, something interesting has developed. Our dear nephew seems to have taken a liking to Carissa.”

“Are you referring to the royal edict demanding Carissa enter the palace if unmarried within three months?” Yuvan shook his head. “I doubt it. He was manipulating Rafael, using Carissa as leverage to relinquish his military authority. He’s known of Rafael’s feelings for Carissa for a long time.”

Eleanor shook her head. “No, there's a rumor from Sylvia's palace. When intoxicated, he held Sylvia's hand and called her Carissa.”

“Really?” Yuvan exclaimed. “He truly has feelings for her?”

“It seems so.”

Yuvan traced the rim of his cup, a slow smile spreading across his face. “How amusing—brothers vying for the same woman. Conflict is inevitable.”

Harvey remarked, “But the king doesn't seem inclined to claim her himself.”

“Whether he does depends on circumstances. Perhaps he’s biding his time…” Eleanor trailed off, chuckling coldly. The implication was clear to Yuvan and Harvey.

“That won't be easy,” Harvey cautioned. “Carissa is highly skilled in martial arts. Your usual tactics will be ineffective.”

Eleanor scoffed. “So what if she’s strong? She’s still just a woman.”

Yuvan contemplated this for a moment. “Let's address my earlier points first. As for the king's feelings for Carissa, I'll investigate further. My frequent palace visits will facilitate this.”

“And the Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team members. Lawrence is useless, but Felix and Thomas are important. We should meddle in their marriage arrangements, Eleanor.”

Eleanor smiled slowly. “I have someone suitable for Thomas. I was planning to find a matchmaker.”

“Who is she? Can we trust her?”

Eleanor’s smile was enigmatic. “She’s utterly loyal. I saved her life.”

“Which family? How old? What skills?”

Eleanor stretched languidly. “Her background is irrelevant. She could be Fiona's sister, or even Henry's sister raised outside the palace; we'll fabricate her story. She’s about twenty-five, exceptionally skilled. In Stonebridge County, she was pursued and nearly killed. I saved her; she's fiercely loyal.”

Yuvan said, “If truly loyal, we can use her without worry. At twenty-five, we should see if the Farrell family would accept her as Thomas's bride.”

Harvey interjected coolly, “Did you really save her, or manipulate the situation? Could she be like those other women in your courtyard, bearing a resemblance to Melanie Sullivan?”

Eleanor laughed. “You know me so well, Harvey. She does bear a slight resemblance, but the most striking feature is a red mole on her lip.”