Her Graceful War Song

Carissa thought being a king must be incredibly frustrating. The balancing and scheming involved made it feel like nothing was truly in Salvador's control.

Right now, Salvador probably wanted to make Connor the crown prince, so Kylie couldn't be involved in this mess. Connor was already a bit mediocre, and if the queen was found guilty of plotting against a royal heir and causing trouble in the harem, his chances of securing the crown prince position would become even more precarious.

As for Sylvia, who was directly involved, Salvador couldn't pursue the matter too much out of respect for her father.

All in all, this entire affair could never be brought into the open.

"None of them are easy to deal with." Victoria sighed. "But in the face of absolute power, who wouldn't want to fight for it?"

Carissa was about to ask why Victoria was telling her all this, but before she could, the queen dowager said, "You need to be aware of what's happening in the palace. People's hearts are the hardest thing to control. The king once feared the Hell Monarch and his people, but now he trusts all of you.

"Those who want to take the throne will come for you first. The intrigues in the harem are far more complicated than they seem on the surface. When faced with a situation, you need to think two steps ahead and dig deeper."

Carissa nodded. "Understood."

After a pause, she asked, "So, Mother, is that it? Will this matter just be covered up?"

Victoria shook her head. "People don't just get away with the things they've done. Even if it's not dealt with now, it'll catch up to them sooner or later. Everyone faces the consequences of their own actions."

Carissa hesitated, then asked, "It seems the harem will never be at peace. Since you know everyone's intentions now, can you stop it?"

Victoria let out a long sigh. "Like I said, people's hearts are the hardest thing to control. One thought can lead to ruin, another to salvation. It all depends on what they choose. You can try to guard against trouble every day, but you can't stop it completely."

Carissa had to agree. No one could truly control everything-not even Salvador, who already had enough to handle with the court, the harem, and his own health.

In the end, the fight for the throne would come down to the three princes. Other than tightening security, there wasn't much else that could be done. It wasn't like they could send the princes away or get rid of the entire harem.

What happened with Jeanette was just the beginning. There would be plenty more schemes to come.

Carissa wondered why Salvador didn't just name the crown prince already. He clearly favored Connor, so making it official now would save everyone the trouble of endless power struggles.

But that wasn't something she could ask Victoria, nor was it her place to bring it up. Even though she was commander of the Mystic Army, matters of succession were beyond her authority.

Since she couldn't ask Victoria, she returned home and asked Rafael instead.

"Whether or not the crown prince is named doesn't change much. If it comes to that point, the only difference will be whether they kill a prince or the crown prince," ." he answered grimly.

Carissa felt a chill run down her spine. Someone had already taken the first step; there was no turning back now.

The throne had a pull like no other. Once someone set their sights on it, they would stop at nothing to claim it.

"In every era, the fight for the throne only starts after the princes come of age and are given their own titles and territories. Why has it already begun when they're still so young?" she murmured.

"Because His Majesty's illness can no longer be hidden. Even if they don't know the full extent of his condition, seeing Sebastian residing in the palace is enough of a hint. If they don't act now, when will they?" Rafael replied.

He sighed and continued, "If the princes were grown, they'd have their own supporters at court. The power struggle would be more balanced and could drag on for years. But right now, while they're still young, it all comes down to the schemes of their mothers."

While the queen had been without real power for a long time, Grace and Sylvia had been in control of the harem. They had placed their own nd even

people in various palaces, Victoria only knew part of it. Since that was the case, rooting them all out would be impossible. noveldrama

Rafael had another concern-if the crown prince were officially chosen now, it might force the concubines to act sooner. As long as the decision wasn't made public, they could still hold on to a sliver of hope and hesitate to make a move.

Salvador thought the same. That was why he planned to write an edict naming his heir and keep it sealed away, only to be revealed on his deathbed. He wanted to protect his chosen successor for as long as possible.

And after what happened to Jeanette's child, Salvador was even more certain that was the right choice.