Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair)

Chapter 910

With such intense public opinion, it was clear someone had been pushing the narrative. Salvador suspected it was someone from Hell Monarch Estate, but after a thorough investigation, he discovered, much to his surprise, that the trail led directly to the prime minister, Jeremiah.

The articles and the storytellers in coffeehouses and taverns spreading the rumors had all been sent by Jeremiah. As the investigation unfolded, it became evident that the prime minister hadn't tried to hide his involvement. He hadn't planned on deceiving Salvador at all.

Salvador sat quietly in the royal study for a long time before turning to lan.

"Let's pretend we never looked into this. Keep your mouth shut."

Jeremiah had planned to retire before Sigmund's passing, but the previous king's sudden death caught everyone off guard. Thinking that Salvador, as a new king, might struggle to stabilize the court, Jeremiah stayed on and continued to assist vigorously in state affairs.

Among all the ministers, if there was one person Salvador trusted most, it was Jeremiah. Along with Trevor, they were the only two individuals he felt comfortable relying on.

Salvador recalled the recent discussions with Jeremiah about Victory Pass, where the latter had always seemed hesitant to speak freely. There had been signs all along.

Jeremiah and Dominic had been key figures since the reign of Augustus, and they were old veterans who served as both civil officials and military officers. Salvador remembered something Jeremiah had once said-without the generals guarding the borders, there would be no peace or prosperity within the country.

Though their relationship seemed distant on the surface, and they hadn't seen each other for a long time, both men respected each other.

On the evening of February 13th, Felix and the others brought Dominic back into the city.

For the past few days, the citizens had been gathering at the city gates, aware that Dominic had been summoned back to the capital. They had waited, and now, the day had finally arrived.

The sun set, casting a blood-red hue across the sky. The tall, battle-worn general sat atop his sleek black steed, flanked by the officers of the Crown Guard. His back remained straight, his skin the color of dark bronze, as if covered with a layer of varnish. Despite the snow, rain, and wind, his face showed no sign of cracking, as though his skin were made of iron, impervious to the harshest elements.

When he saw the throngs of people waiting for him at the city gates, shouting his name, his usually stern face showed a momentary shock.

Dominic had expected nothing but the anger and curses of the people upon his return. After all, his lax military discipline had led to tensions between the two kingdoms. Plus, the massacre of the village was a brutal act. The people, he thought, could never forgive him for such a thing.

After the initial shock, his eyes burned with a fierce heat. It was still cold in early February, but here they were, standing in the biting wind, raising their arms to encourage and support him.

Edwin was also in the crowd, dressed in simple green attire, his black cloak pulled up to obscure his face. When the press of people stopped their horses from moving forward, he squeezed through the crowd until he reached Kevin's horse.

"Mr. Ziegler, the old madam is ill. Please come back with me to see her."

Kevin recognized him. He hesitated for only a moment, then turned to Galen, who was by his side.

'Galen, my family's steward has come to fetch me. He said my grandmother is very sick. It seems like it'll take a while for the crowd to disperse and allow us to move, so I'll head back to my family's estate first."

Galen glanced at the person standing next to Kevin's horse. He was wearing plain green attire and a black cloak,

with the collar concealing his face. Judging by his posture, Galen assumed he was likely the steward of the Marquis of Elderglen's household.

'Then, go quickly," Galen said.

Kevin dismounted and grabbed Edwin's hand. "Let's go!"

They hunched their shoulders as they made their way through the throngs of people, the roar of the crowd deafening in their ears. One by one, the shouts began, chaotic at first, but then starting to form into a unified chant.

*General Sullivan, we support you!"

Kevin was forced to cover his ears. The sound was so loud he feared his eardrums would burst. As they moved, the crowd only seemed to grow thicker.

Edwin gripped his wrist, pulling him toward a narrow alleyway. They made their way deeper into it, gradually leaving the chaos behind. At the end of the alley stood a young elm tree, just beginning to bud. They stopped beneath its branches, speaking in the quiet.

"Uncle Edwin," Kevin said, bowing his head respectfully.

Edwin's expression was serious. "Let's cut to the chase, Kevin. You know why I've come for you. If you're willing to come with me, it means there's room for negotiation, doesn't it?"

Kevin fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

A weight lifted from Edwin's chest. A nod was enough.

*Tell me what you want. I'll make it happen."

Kevin's gaze was steady, his voice firm as he said, "I want to be a direct apprentice of Sage Violet, just like Commander Prince, Deputy Commander Brown, and Commander Lewis.

"What?" Edwin blinked, caught off guard by the request, momentarily stunned.

Kevin's cloak fluttered in the wind. "I must become the highest-ranking martial artist in the Crown Guard. Only by earning it through my strength will I be able to keep it without fear of losing it easily."