Chapter 935
Salvador reviewed Aurora's confession, a document Patrick had presented to the king. His brow furrowed as he listened to Patrick detail Aurora's admission. The king was aware of the Fawnrun City massacre—the slaughter of villagers and the murder of the prisoner—a blood-soaked affair. However, he lacked specifics. The confession itself didn't detail the grisly events, but Patrick provided them. Even Salvador, King of Starhaven, slammed his fist on the table in anger, cursing Aurora.
Patrick understood Salvador's fury; he felt a chill himself. Fortunately, Aurora's request for marriage was based on her military merit. Had she served in court or the military, she would have been a significant threat, much like Carissa.
"Has the Hell Monarch seen this confession?" Salvador asked after his outburst.
Knowing Rafael had already sent for Barrett, Patrick carefully replied, "As soon as Aurora confessed, Your Majesty, I had it sent to the palace for your review."
Salvador nodded. "Good. Send it to him. Even though the Supreme Court isn't involved, General Sullivan is the Hell Monarch's grandfather-in-law. He can't simply stand idly by."
Patrick was momentarily stunned. Was Salvador implicitly allowing Rafael's involvement? He'd anticipated tension between the brothers.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I shall go personally," he said respectfully, concealing his surprise.
Since undertaking this task, Patrick had been walking on eggshells, overwhelmed by the Hell Monarch's involvement. Now, with Salvador's approval, the Ministry of Justice would follow Rafael's lead. He knew this wasn't a simple case; utmost caution was required. Success wouldn't bring praise, but failure would bring far worse consequences. He felt a sense of relief as he hurried to find the prince.
Perhaps Rafael would go directly to the Sullivan Estate and obtain Dominic's testimony, relieving the Ministry of Justice. However, his hope proved unfounded. Rafael agreed to maintain secrecy before the king but left the task of obtaining Dominic's testimony to the Ministry.
That was acceptable. The changed circumstances made respectful treatment of Dominic appropriate.
At dinner, Rafael announced Aurora had dropped her accusations against Dominic, visibly relaxing everyone. Winona had also arrived in the capital, bringing two Westhaven spies. Rafael handed them over to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation.
The Ministry's officials were thrilled. First, they'd long suspected surviving perpetrators; these spies completed the picture. Second, the spies confirmed Westhaven's orchestration of the Sinclair family's annihilation—a significant advantage in upcoming negotiations.
Winona stayed temporarily at the Hell Monarch Estate, providing companionship for Carissa during a difficult time.
Everything was in place; they awaited the Westhaven envoys. A nervous anticipation hung in the air, though Helen remained unaffected. She knew the envoys' arrival and their intentions, but considered it a matter for others to handle. It wouldn't affect her, so she continued her life as usual.
In fact, she welcomed the increased activity at the Hell Monarch Estate. When Cindy and Winona had free time, Helen invited them to chat, finding their stories interesting. She also included Carissa, spending their days together. She often dissuaded Carissa from overworking herself, suggesting relaxation and socializing with their extended family.
Carissa complied, and the days passed quickly. Claire finally announced the Westhaven envoys' expected arrival the following day. That evening, Helen declared her intention to sleep until noon. Gillian readily agreed, promising her favorite dishes. Helen sighed, lamenting the stressful wait and her inability to contribute, except by ensuring Carissa had company. She then fell asleep instantly.