Chapter 950

Rafael knew Leroy was impulsive and reckless. The trap had been easily defused, and Icarus had been captured. Leroy would likely doubt Harvey, suspecting a joint scheme. Rafael, however, noticed Leroy's momentary hesitation—a sign that, while rash, Leroy wasn't foolish. Undeterred, Rafael ordered, "Matthew, continue the interrogation." Turning to Michael, he instructed, "Take Mr. Stellwyn back to Concord Lodge and report this to Grand Princess Lisandra."

"Understood!" Michael replied, then addressed Leroy. "Mr. Stellwyn, please follow me."

Leroy glanced at Icarus, subtly adjusting his sleeve pocket (where the king's edict was kept), signaling silence. Icarus's heart sank; he'd been discarded. Captured without escape, he bore the weight of responsibility. Westhaven's negotiation couldn't fail because of him; he would bear this burden alone.

As Leroy left the Supreme Court, a chilling coldness swept over him. His heart felt frozen. Where had it gone wrong? An ambush? Or had it been only the three of them? Icarus's whip marks indicated a single attacker. Yet Michael, arriving at Glimmering Tower, claimed a dozen men had surrounded three people, suggesting the Hell Monarch's party hadn't prepared an ambush.

Could Icarus and his suicide soldiers have simply been overpowered? This seemed unlikely. If only three were involved—the coachman, the maid, and the Hell Monarch's wife—they couldn't have defeated Icarus, even without the suicide soldiers. The timely arrival of the Capital Guard suggested prior knowledge. Had they beaten Icarus? But Leroy's prior investigations revealed the Capital Guard and Royal Guard lacked highly skilled members. Icarus's injuries indicated a dire situation before the Capital Guard arrived.

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The frustrating lack of clear answers left the true situation shrouded in mystery.

When Leroy hesitated to mount his horse, Michael offered, "Mr. Stellwyn, would you like assistance?"

Leroy composed himself, mounted, and straightened. "Let's go."

At Concord Lodge, Amos anxiously awaited news. Past midnight, Leroy's absence fueled his unease. Could unforeseen trouble have arisen? Amos had irrevocably offended Lisandra, but knew she wouldn't act against him in Starhaven to protect her reputation. However, failure to carry out the king's orders left him vulnerable to Edmund's lack of protection upon his return to the capital; Lisandra could easily implicate him.

Just as anxiety overwhelmed him, a knock came. "Mr. Bailey, Mr. Stellwyn has returned. Grand Princess Lisandra requests your presence."

He stood and opened the door. "Did Commander Icarus return with him?"

"No, sir. Mr. Stellwyn arrived with Starhaven's deputy commander of the Capital Guard."

Amos's heart sank—had Icarus failed?

He hurried to the main hall. Lisandra sat regally, her expression frosty. The deputy commander had already departed. Leroy sat beside her, dazed and shaken.

"Mr. Stellwyn, what happened?" Amos asked, his voice trembling.

Leroy's gaze lifted; his voice, low and strained, hissed, "We were fooled! Prince Harvey can't be trusted. Commander Icarus failed and was captured."

"What? Tricked?" Amos was stunned. "Wasn't Commander Icarus supposed to escape? How was he captured?"

"I saw him," Leroy slammed his fist on the armrest, furious. "Brought to the Supreme Court, his body covered in whip marks. It was Prince Harvey! That scoundrel—I'll kill him!"

Lisandra remained impassive, her gaze unwavering. "Are you still blaming Prince Harvey? Where's your brain? I warned you not to underestimate women. Did you investigate Lady Carissa? Did you act rashly? Does someone like Icarus even matter to Lady Carissa?"

Chapter 951 (This chapter heading remains as it is, needing the chapter content to edit)