Chapter 942

On Royal Street, the only sounds were the clatter of horses' hooves and the occasional rattle of carriage wheels. Silence reigned otherwise.

Travis expertly guided the carriage, his skill improving daily—after all, he now owned it.

Inside, Violet rested her head on Carissa's shoulder. Feigning weakness, she complained, "You all got to eat and drink your fill inside, while we were stuck out here in the cold wind! Thankfully, Lulu had us bring meat and pastries from home. She even thoughtfully packed coffee in a water pouch. I might have fainted from hunger otherwise!"

Carissa chuckled. "It's a sin to let you go hungry, Ms. Spencer. We'll throw a feast to make amends after this."

Violet smiled playfully. "You know me best. I always enjoy spending money."

Violet enjoyed spending money on loved ones. With strangers, it depended on their circumstances; she'd help those she felt sympathy for.

Carissa leaned her head against Violet's. They didn't need to listen to the outside—Travis was managing everything.

At Hartstone Estate, a dim light flickered in the study, casting shadows on a face weathered by wind and time. The usual weakness and hesitation were gone, replaced by a dangerous gleam in his eyes, reflecting the flickering light.

They couldn't afford a single mistake tonight. War between the kingdoms had to happen now, or their opportunity would be lost. The chance at the Southern Frontier had already slipped away. This time, failure wasn't an option.

Salvador already suspected them, so aiming for both power and a righteous reputation was impossible. What did it matter if they were called traitors and rebels? The victors would write history.

To succeed, war needed to break out simultaneously at the Southern Frontier and Victory Pass, mobilizing their scattered forces to create internal chaos. They would then blame Salvador for the turmoil, using this to justify a righteous campaign.

Chapter 942 (Bonus)

Harvey's visit to Westhaven was necessary to find Leroy. Of all the people in the enemy kingdom, he and Edmund most eagerly desired war. Unable to meet the king, Harvey had to rely on Leroy.

He and Leroy had secretly formed an alliance. Leroy's condition: Westhaven's victory at Victory Pass. He asked for little—only the capture of Victory Pass and the relocation of its people.

Guaranteeing success at Victory Pass meant kidnapping Carissa and taking her to Westhaven. She was the apple of Rafael's and the Sullivan family's eye. Holding her would allow them to threaten Rafael, preventing him from joining the war, and coerce the Sullivan family into withdrawing from Victory Pass.

Yuvan's suicide soldiers would work with Icarus in this large-scale plan. Carissa's martial arts skills were formidable, so mistakes were unacceptable. They had to act swiftly.

Icarus was Westhaven's greatest fighter. Without Rafael, Leroy and the suicide soldiers could kidnap Carissa.

Harvey closed his eyes. Tonight was a critical first step. There could be no mistakes. Leroy should be able to draw Rafael away. Negotiations were tomorrow; the prince would want to gauge Westhaven's position beforehand.

The plan would succeed.

"Your Highness."

A knock jolted Harvey upright. He recognized his wife's voice. Irritated, he replied coldly, "What is it?"

Heather's anxious voice followed: "Your Highness, I wanted to ask where you went. The Queen Dowager sent a physician, and she knew you weren't on the estate."

"No need for questions. Rest. Unless it's important, don't bother me," Harvey replied emotionlessly.

He knew of Victoria's actions, but it didn't matter. There was no evidence, and Salvador wouldn't bother with a useless prince. Even if suspected, Harvey could provide an explanation. Heather's fear over something so trivial was absurd. While she and Melanie Sullivan were sisters, Heather lacked Melanie's courage and intelligence.