Chapter 980

The slap not only struck Penny's face but also released the pent-up frustration and anger she had buried deep within. Penny clutched her cheek, her voice thick with sorrow. "Your Highness," she cried, "have you forgotten how terribly Prince Arthur died? It will forever be a wound in the hearts of the people of Westhaven! How can we not avenge him? He was your brother! How can you be so heartless and disregard your sibling bond?"

Lisandra clenched her fist, her palm wet with sweat. The light cast a ghostly pallor on her face, and her eyes were filled with deep, dull despair.

"So, you all think I don't want war because I don't want to avenge him?"

She took a deep breath, anger flickering in her eyes. Though weak, she pointed an accusing finger at Penny. "Penny, others may think that, but I have made my intentions clear at every step. You know exactly what I'm thinking and considering. You should understand me better than anyone, but you're so blinded by your thirst for revenge that you can't see the situation clearly. You claim loyalty to Arthur, but if you truly honor him, think carefully—would Arthur want us to go to war with Starhaven now?"

Penny sobbed, "But we can't ignore it! I know we face internal and external turmoil, which is why I pushed for the three million bushels of grain and Dominic. Those two things will ensure our victory. Your Highness, we need this victory to appease Prince Arthur's spirit!"

Lisandra looked down at Penny, her heart torn between fury and sorrow. She raised her eyes to meet Yuna and Yasmine's gazes, her voice heavy with quiet menace. "What do you two think? Do you agree with her? If so, speak now, and save me from wondering whether you're plotting against me."

Yasmine and Yuna both knelt immediately, speaking in unison: "Your Highness, we don't agree with her."

Penny turned to Yuna, her eyes filled with disappointment. "Yuna, how could you disagree with me? Have you forgotten how His Highness cared for you? How can you not want to avenge him?"

Yuna's eyes reddened. Memories of Arthur flooded her mind, bringing fresh pain. "I will never forget His Highness's kindness. It's precisely because we want to avenge him that we need to bring Aurora back to Westhaven. We will use her blood to honor His Highness's spirit in the afterlife."

Chapter 980 (+25 BONUS)

Penny's face twisted in fury. "Aurora is just a worthless life! Killing her isn't enough! Westhaven's iron cavalry must conquer Victory Pass and force Starhaven's army to retreat. That would only release a fraction of the anger in my heart! If we were powerful enough, why not raze Starhaven to the ground?"

Yasmine spoke up: "The so-called evidence you presented regarding Marshal Liam's abduction of a civilian woman and corrupt acts—did you work with His Majesty to fabricate it?"

Lisandra turned to Penny sharply, rage flaring in her eyes. Penny didn't hesitate. "Yes, and he wasn't unjustly accused! Marshal Liam failed to protect Prince Arthur's safety on the battlefield. He allowed His Highness to fall into Aurora's hands and suffer humiliation. Then, he marched to the Southern Frontier with 300,000 troops. Instead of helping Sandoria conquer it, he only captured Aurora and her group. He didn't even kill her and simply returned, wasting military resources and supplies. Doesn't it look like a joke? Was he unjustly accused?!"

Lisandra, enraged, spat out blood, nearly collapsing. Struggling to remain steady, she seethed, "Take her away! Bring Leroy and Garrick here."

The negotiations ended abruptly. Lisandra had to return to Westhaven; she couldn't continue this.

"Your Highness, please listen! His Majesty wasn't wrong, and I wasn't wrong! We need the grain and Dominic. Please believe me!" Penny pleaded desperately.

Lisandra clutched her chest, trying to suppress the surge of blood. "Yuna, interrogate her. Who else is she working with? Where did the poisonous worms come from?"

"Understood!" Yuna replied, then barked, "Take her away!"

Two guards rushed in and hauled Penny out. Penny screamed, crying, "Your Highness, believe me! I never meant to harm you! I'm doing this for Prince Arthur, for Westhaven!"

Lisandra collapsed onto the bed, coughing up more blood. The pain in her head was intense; her skull felt as if it might burst.