Chapter 945
When Lisandra returned to Concord Lodge, she found that neither Leroy nor Icarus had returned. A sense of unease gripped her; she felt something had gone terribly wrong.
Her uncle, Leroy, was the most reckless and troublesome member of the Stellwyn family. He wasn't lacking in ability—on the contrary, he was bold and skilled—but his arrogance and impulsive, reckless behavior often led him to act without thinking.
Lisandra turned to Penny Durham, one of the female officials, and sharply ordered, "Bring Amos to me! Immediately!"
Amos was one of Westhaven's Secretaries of State and Leroy's brother-in-law. The two had been in close discussion throughout their journey, so he certainly knew Leroy and Icarus's plans for the night.
After returning to his room, Amos had been waiting for news. He knew exactly what Leroy was up to. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision; everything had been carefully arranged. When Amos last saw Leroy, the mission was already half-complete, with Leroy having successfully lured away the Hell Monarch.
Once Rafael was out of the way, capturing Carissa would be easy. After all, they had only brought a coachman and a maid with them that night. As long as the prince was absent, Carissa's martial arts skills wouldn't matter; she would be no match for Icarus and the elite suicide soldiers Harvey had dispatched.
The operation was bound to succeed.
"Mr. Bailey, Her Highness requests your presence," Penny's voice came from outside the door.
Amos stood and opened the door. While this plan had been kept secret from Lisandra, now that it was underway and sure to succeed, it was time to inform her.
The Grand Princess had always opposed war. She only wanted justice from Starhaven, but the truth could only be revealed on the battlefield. Without military action, how could they renegotiate borders or receive the apologies and reparations they were owed?
Amos followed Penny into the side hall where Lisandra was waiting. Under the dim light, the Grand Princess's expression was cold and stern, a far cry from the gentle demeanor she had shown at the palace banquet earlier that evening.
Before Amos could greet her, Lisandra's sharp, accusatory voice cut through the silence: "Where are Leroy and Icarus? What are you plotting behind my back?"
Amos bowed. "Your Highness, Mr. Stellwyn is luring the Hell Monarch away, while Commander Icarus and the suicide soldiers are capturing Lady Carissa."
"Nonsense!" Lisandra slammed her hand on the table, her face red with anger. "How dare you? This is Starhaven, not Westhaven! You've taken it upon yourselves to abduct the Hell Monarch's wife? If this fails, have you considered the consequences?"
Amos replied confidently, "Your Highness, please do not worry. Failure is impossible. Even if something goes wrong, it won't be our fault."
"How could it not be our fault? Icarus went personally," Lisandra snapped.
"Your Highness, please remain calm," Amos said soothingly. "Do you remember the man who accompanied us to Starhaven, the one next to Mr. Stellwyn? That's Prince Harvey. He's part of tonight's plan. He sent the suicide soldiers, all from Starhaven. Even if tonight's mission fails and we cannot abduct the Hell Monarch's wife, Commander Icarus can still escape unscathed."
Lisandra shook her head, disappointment evident. "You've underestimated everything. The Hell Monarch's wife trained in martial arts at Meadow Ridge since her youth. Her skills are likely equal to, if not greater than, Icarus'.
"Before attempting to capture anyone, did you bother to find out who you were dealing with? And let's assume, for a moment, that you succeed. What happens when the Hell Monarch realizes his wife is missing? Do you think he won't suspect us? Tomorrow are the negotiations…"
The Grand Princess paused, taking a deep breath before glaring at him. "I see now. You've been so focused on the idea of war that you've forgotten about diplomacy entirely."
"Mr. Stellwyn and I merely wanted to be prepared. We never said we wouldn't negotiate. And frankly, Your Highness, I believe war wouldn't be such a bad option. Starhaven has been oppressive, and you've always said you wanted justice. Prince Arthur was your brother. Don't you want to avenge him?" Amos countered, determined to defend their actions.
Her anger evident, Lisandra responded sharply, "I came to Starhaven to seek justice, not to wage war. Do you think the only way to achieve justice is through bloodshed and destruction? You all sit comfortably in your high positions, throwing around the idea of war like it's nothing. Why don't I see any of you charging into battle, fighting as soldiers?"
Amos didn't show her the respect he would have shown in Westhaven. He sneered, "I'm a civil official, Your Highness. Of course, I can't fight on the frontlines. But Mr. Stellwyn can. During the battle at Victory Pass, he led the campaign, forcing the Sullivan army to retreat. He even nearly killed General Sullivan."
His words subtly revealed that he was trying to manipulate Lisandra. His attitude reinforced the suspicion that Edmund was orchestrating this entire scheme.
Edmund had outwardly agreed to the negotiations but had never truly abandoned the idea of war.
Lisandra's face paled. She sighed heavily, her voice filled with weariness. "I've warned you all time and again—never underestimate your enemy. Over the years, my father and I have worked tirelessly to bring stability to the kingdom. But none of you care about the people.
"Have you seen the national treasury's records? The famine last year—did you see the devastation? A desire for revenge could lead to widespread suffering, displacement, starvation, even cannibalism. Those of you in power sit comfortably in your positions, indifferent to the lives of the common folk. In your hands, Westhaven will eventually collapse."