Her Majestic Battle Cry

Carissa gently helped Violet to a chaise lounge, settling her down. “Thank Isaac for me, but I won’t guess. Just tell me who did you see?

“Victor!” Violet’s eyes went wide, possibly from the alcohol, though it could have been from the sheer shock of what she was about to say. “Yes, it was Victor, the Sandoria marshal. And not just one, there were several Victors.”

“Several Victors, or several people who looked like Victor?” Carissa pressed her hand to Violet’s forehead. “How much did you drink to get this drunk?”

“Victor…” Violet mumbled, her head growing still, as though the name had locked her into place. “But not as old as Victor.”

“You mean people who looked like Victor? Sandorians?”

Carissa’s mind started racing, Sandoria and Starhaven hadn’t had much interaction, and for a Sandorian to make it to Starhaven let alone to the capital–seemed impossible. Even harder to think they could settle here.

“Yes… Sandorians. How could there be Sandorians in the capital? They were… they’re hiding in the gentlemen’s retreat. Why doesn’t anyone talk about the guests at the gentlemen’s retreat? I saw them–those guests surely saw them too,” said Violet, her words slurring as she tried to get them out.

Carissa’s heart skipped a beat.”

Of course, the guests of the gentlemen’s retreat wouldn’t talk about it. To speak of it would be to admit they had gone there. But the real question was–when had the Sandorians come to the capital? It was no wonder no one had discovered them. They had been hiding in at gentlemen’s retreat..

Though there were a few gentlemen’s retreats in the city, they operated discreetly. Sigmund had strictly outlawed them and monitored them closely. After Salvador ascended the throne, such matters were barely addressed.

Though there were no restrictions, they weren’t actively promoted either. The people were a bit more open–minded compared to Sigmund’s time, but homosexuality was still frowned upon by society. No one would openly talk about it, and since no one mentioned it, no one paid attention. Everything seemed fine, and no one would think to look in places like a gentlemen’s

retreat.

let’s head suddenly tilted to the side, and before Carissa could react, she was fast asleep, unable to answer any more questions.

Carissa sighed, calling for Lulu to help tend to Violet. Then, turning on her heel, she rushed out to find Isaac. She knew well that he had a remarkable tolerance for alcohol and wouldn’t have gotten drunk so easily.

“Yes, I took her there on purpose. I noticed them a few days ago,” Isaac said, his voice clear and sharp.

Having splashed water on his face, his hair was slightly damp and sticking to his temples, but he appeared fully awake and alert.

Isaac wiped his hands with a handkerchief and gestured for Carissa to sit. “I had planned to bring you along, but since you didn’t want to go, I took Violet instead. After all, she’s been to the battlefield and has seen Sandorians before.”

were

Sandorians were tall, with prominent noses and distinct eye colors. But some Sandorians of average height, with eyes nearly identical to Starhaven people. Only their noses were slightly higher and their eyes more piercing, giving them a stronger presence, though not so different from Starhaven natives at a glance.

The ones in the gentlemen’s retreat were like that–strikingly handsome, but with a touch of feminine air. So, not everyone who went there would necessarily guess they were Sandorians.

“Why didn’t you explain the situation to me, then?” Carissa asked, frowning. “If you had told me the truth, I would’ve gone.”

Isaac glanced at her. “That wouldn’t have worked. It had to be Violet who invited you. If I asked you to come, word would get back to Meadow Ridge, and Sage Adrian and Sage Everett would never forgive me!” noveldrama

Carissa was speechless.

Seriously? That was the reason?!

“How did you find out?” Carissa eyed him. “You didn’t go to those places to drink again, did you? You said you wouldn’t go.”

“What are you talking about? It’s just a lively place for drinking, not a place of ill repute. I just went there for the drinks, not to do anything else,” Isaac said confidently.

Carissa raised an eyebrow. “Would you say that to Sage Everett?”

Isaac shot her a sideways glance. “If you don’t tell him, he won’t know. I came to the capital on Sage Adrian’s orders with an important task to complete. What’s wrong with drinking a little? Now, enough of this. Let’s talk about the gentlemen’s retreat. But if you go and tell on me, I’ll deal with you later.”

They sat down, and Isaac continued, “The reason I got so drunk tonight was to investigate how many people from Sandoria are hiding there. I found seven, and that’s just at one of the establishments. There are five such gentlemen’s retreats in the capital.”

Tonight, Isaac had picked a handsome young man to sit with him and have a drink. To protect Violet, he had been touched from head to toe by a stranger. Who could he complain to about the treatment he received?

“Did you learn if they have any martial arts skills?” Carissa asked.

Isaac nodded without hesitation. “Yes. Every single one of them knows how to fight.”