Kylie flinched at Salvador's outburst and quickly lowered her head. However, a flicker of anger flashed in her downcast eyes.

She hadn't expected the harem's gossip to provoke such a reaction-that Salvador's first instinct would be to defend Carissa so fiercely, his thunderous wrath reserved for anyone who dared to question her.

If Carissa never harbored such intentions, then it could only mean that Salvador himself had made this choice. In that case, he would shoulder all the criticism alone.

Kylie couldn't understand it. Salvador had always valued his reputation above all else. In a situation like this, shouldn't he have seized the opportunity to shift the blame onto Carissa to preserve his own name? Why was he protecting her instead?

If he insisted on defending her in public as well, then the entire court would see this as nothing but a reckless scandal of his own making.

A storm of emotions surged through Kylie's heart as she recalled Salvador's previous mention of bringing Carissa into the palace.

Could it be that he had truly fallen for her?

That would be utterly absurd.

From the moment Kylie married Salvador, she had understood that he would never belong to her alone. Compared to power and status, love and affection held no weight.noveldrama

But the condition for this balance was simple: he was never meant to truly love anyone.

Over the years, new favored concubines had come and gone in the harem, but Kylie had never been jealous. The king's so-called favor was fleeting nothing more than a few extra nights spent in a favored concubine's bedchamber, which was hardly a sign of true affection.

Yet, when Salvador had spoken of bringing Carissa into the palace, Kylie had been displeased.

For one, the selection of concubines had always been her domain. Salvador had never taken interest in such matters, leaving it entirely in her hands. Carissa had been the only exception, the only woman he had personally named.

How could Kylie not feel jealous?

Beyond that, she knew Carissa was different.

Carissa had military achievements of her own, and her lineage as Hector's daughter and Dominic's granddaughter made her even more formidable. With such a powerful backing, she commanded the support of many within the military. If she ever bore a royal heir, the balance of power would shift dangerously in her favor.

Kylie had only felt relieved when Carissa married Rafael, allowing Salvador to reclaim military authority without opposition.

But Carissa had never been one to stay quiet.

Serving as the sole female official, founding an academy for women, establishing the workshop, and now, achieving an even greater military victory by repelling the rebels. Her prestige had only grown stronger. And if, on top of all that, she had truly won Salvador's heart...

Then, there would be no one left who could curb her rise.

Kylie even began to wonder whether Rafael had already fallen in battle at the Southern Frontier. That cursed place swallowed soldiers whole; anyone sent there was as good as dead.

If that were the case, then Carissa's entry into the palace was a real possibility.

Thinking of this, a sharp sense of crisis gripped the queen.

Ignoring Salvador's fury, Kylie

pressed on and urgently said, "Your Majesty, since both the court and the harem are full of whispers, this、 matter must be given a proper resolution. Why not let Commander Sinclair take responsibility? I have always believed that women serving as officials is improper, especially a woman of exceptional beauty navigating the political arena. I fear such a woman would surely have an easy rise to power...."

She didn't even get to finish.

"Silence!"

Salvador's roar struck like a thunderclap over her head.

The outburst came so suddenly that Kylie barely registered when he had risen to his feet, towering over

her. She looked up in shock, her breath catching in her throat. His face was contorted with rage, veins standing out in stark relief.

"For someone born a woman-and

queen of the kingdom, no less-you dare to speak such disgraceful words? You.insult not only women, but also your own father, the Civil Minister! Do you take the court's system for a joke? Do you think our officials are selected at random, that a woman can rise in rank merely by using her looks and body? Do you take me for a foolish ruler?" he thundered.

Terror gripped Kylie. She dropped to her knees, her lips quivering as she tried to form a response.

"Your Majesty, please " she choked out. "That wasn't what I meant..."

She bit her lip, her shoulders shaking as tears began to spill down her cheeks.

"Your Majesty, you know full well that it was improper to visit Hell Monarch Estate in the dead of night. Why did you go?" she asked, her voice raw with desperation. "I am your wife-I cannot stand by while the court brands you reckless and foolish.

"Lady Carissa is your subject, bound

to serve and bear your burdens. Let the blame fall on her. Regardless of what happens, she will still be the Hell Monarch's princess consort. At worst, she loses her command over the Mystic Army, which is hardly a significant loss."

Salvador's fury cooled into something even more chilling.

Instead of erupting again, he simply asked, "Then, tell me. Would it be no great loss if you were to lose your title as queen?"

Kylie's blood ran cold. "Your Majesty, how can you even compare the two?"

"There is no comparison," he said, his tone devoid of warmth. "This kingdom has had more than one queen, but only one woman has ever served in court.

"Stop acting like you're so generous at someone else's expense. Since you keep saying you're doing these things for my sake, then step down from your position. With that, I will announce to the world that my visit to Hell Monarch Estate was so I could see Violet.

"Step aside, and I will take Violet as my queen."