The conversation turned toward Hayden's predicament. His roundabout way of sending the letter showed just how difficult his situation had become.
When Violet and the others had stayed there, they hadn't noticed anything unusual. Only upon their departure did they realize that something was off with Gordon.
"Prince Hayden is truly sacrificing everything for the greater good," Jacob said with respect.
As a descendant of the Sanford family, Hayden never wished for this rebellion, especially when it involved
his own son. The pain of it all must have been unbearable for Hayden.
They had investigated before and uncovered some of the inside details.
Jacob sighed heavily. "Prince Nicholas launched the rebellion in Prince Hayden's name, dragging him into this mess. Now, in his old age, he must bear such a stain on his reputation."
They were father and son. Though the throne had been forced upon Hayden, the world would never believe his innocence. The public would tear him apart, and the main attacks would certainly be aimed at him.
Everyone fell silent for a moment, their emotions subdued, and rational thought took over.
Carissa gave the order to be ready for action when the moment came.
The moment referred to was, of course, early the next morning. This had been mentioned during the
military training-when Carissa called out, it would signal the moment for action.
At Hell Monarch Estate, the preparations were also underway. Violet spent the night choosing her
weapons; she decided that for close combat, twin daggers were best-one in her left hand, the other in her right.
Bun selected a hammer.
"One swing and their skulls crack open," he said with a grin, savoring the thought of that sound.
Cynthia chose a sword, though her skills with both the sword and the whip were equally sharp. But for a battlefield, she knew it was better to use whatever would spill blood the quickest.
Kyle didn't reach for the fan or flute he was known for. Instead, he grabbed a short dagger, ideal for close- quarters combat.
They all knew they would be in the front lines-not hanging back to provide support.
As for Travis, he went with an iron staff, claiming that with one swing, he could take down five enemies.
Laughter filled the room as they joked and chatted, the mood surprisingly light. There wasn't a trace of the looming battle's tension. They had already rehearsed this countless times. The palace guards were more than capable of holding the line.
With the battle happening in the city during the day, the common people would inevitably suffer. Carissa and the others had considered this, so they had arranged for people to evacuate the streets ahead of time.
At around nine in the evening, they went to sleep, as it was crucial to rest and gather strength.
At 5:45 AM, the small gates on either side of the city's main entrance swung open.
Normally, unless there was a special military operation, the main city gates wouldn't be opened. Only the small gates on the sides would be opened for the citizens to enter and exit. Today, just like usual, only the small gates were opened to allow the people to pass.
However, shortly after the small gates were opened, a group of people rushed in and forcibly tried to open the main gates of the city, which led to a conflict with the city guards.
The city gates were under Michael's control. He had already instructed the guards to resist any forceful attempts to open the main gates. However, he also made it clear that they were to allow the intruders to enter.
The intruders were none other than Eustace, disguised as Clifford. He led a small but well-equipped army, and after a brief but intense clash, the gates were finally thrown wide open.
The army poured into the city!
A scout quickly brought the news to Nicholas, whose expression darkened with resolve.noveldrama
"Mobilize the troops. Our final objective is the palace," he commanded coldly.
The battle to storm the palace had begun.
The riverworks project workers, led by Hans, split into four groups to march toward the palace district. Nicholas was still disguised as Gordon. Along with the Shadow Guards, he headed to meet with Hans.
In the early morning, the streets of the capital, cleaned by the rain over the past few days, glistened in the soft light. The rain had lessened, and the street food stalls had already started opening for business.
The Garrison Unit rode through the streets on horseback, urging shopkeepers to close their shutters and hurry home. They also urged everyone to close their doors and windows, warning them to stay inside as rebels had entered the city.
The tense atmosphere quickly spread, and the citizens hurriedly fled to their homes, locking the doors and windows.