A rare sense of unease surged in his heart.
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‘Tessa knows too much about me. If this woman completely loses control, it would be like a sword hanging over my head, making it impossible for me to eat or sleep in peace, he mused.
Because he didn’t know when that sword might fall.
The men he sent to investigate were clearly exhausted, each breath forming white mist, their words slurred from the cold as they reported, “No trace at all.”
“At this time of year, the water in the Icy Pool is enough to freeze anyone to death. If one wants to escape, he’d have to swim a long way through the pool. Tessa is in poor health; she can’t last that long,” Callum said.
He frowned deeply, then added, “But she’s from the Southcroft Empire. She can swim. Unlike those from the north who can’t swim.”
Callum’s subordinate was stunned and said, “Even if she can swim, she couldn’t last that long, could she?”
“There are no traces on either side of the Icy Pool, nor upstream or downstream. Most likely, she died in the Icy Pool,” the subordinate added.
Callum looked at the Icy Pool, his expression grave.
In summer, people didn’t dare approach this place, let alone in winter.
For the non–swimmers of the Eastvale Empire, this place was a dead end. No one was willing to approach, much less go in search of someone.
If someone couldn’t be found, there were only two possible explanations.
Anyone who went down to search for people would surely lose half their life, and it was almost certain they would die down there.
People of the Eastvale Empire had a deep–seated fear of the Icy Pool, rooted in their very bones.
In the end, Callum could only say, “Then let us return for now.”
It was not easy for him to keep his men, and he was unwilling to let them jump into the Icy Pool for Tessa, only to become
useless.
But the King ordered him to capture Tessa, and he failed to find her.
So, it would be difficult for him to report this matter.
Thinking of this, Callum gave orders, “Find a garment identical to what Tessa was wearing at the time, and put on a show Say that a piece of torn cloth was found by the shore, and the person must have sunk to the bottom.
“My Father should not order anyone to search below.”
He looked at the dark, eerie water of the Icy Pool, and a suffocating chill surged into his heart.
“This place is very strange. In winter, the water elsewhere freezes, but here it does not.
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‘In summer, the water elsewhere warms, but here it remains bone–chillingly cold.
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‘It seems like a pool of dead water. Yet it clearly flows downward, and by the time it reaches downstream, it warms up; only this half remains perpetually icy cold.
‘It is truly baffling,‘ he thought.
But this thought only flashed through Callum’s mind, and he led his men back to report the result.
On her way to the Eames family, Margaery encountered Callum.
Callum appeared travel–worn, as if he had just been busy outside, and was now putting on an act, asking the city guards patrolling the road for directions.
“I was only away for a day. How is the whole city already in mourning?” he asked.
He widened his eyes, looking tense and bewildered, “Who has met with misfortune?”
His performance was quite convincing.
Because the city’s defenses had been strengthened these past two days, all passersby and carriages had to be inspected, so Margaery was also blocked at one spot.
She looked at Callum’s demeanor and found it somewhat ironic.
However, on the surface, she showed no sign of anything unusual.
The city guards, of lower status than Callum, could only answer earnestly, “Prince Nathaniel was assassinated and killed. The King has ordered a citywide search to apprehend the murderer.”
‘How could this happen?” Callum staggered.
He acted as if he were completely unaware of the matter.
After a brief moment of shock, a look of grief appeared on his face. “Who is it that wants to kill my brother?”
If Margaery had not seen his true colors, if she did not know about the sordid dealings between him and Tessa, she might have believed his expression at first glance.
Everyone in the royal family is putting on an act.
To be precise, everyone in the court is pretending.
Outside, it is impossible to see their true selves, Margaery thought.
This was what Margaery had felt most keenly lately. But she simply watched quietly and said nothing more.
The city defense troops responded to Callum, “The investigation is ongoing; we are not clear on the specifics. If Your Highness wishes to know, you may need to enter the palace and ask the King, or consult Lord Thornton of the Inquisition
Court.
At this, Callum’s expression darkened, and he ordered sternly, “Patrol diligently. You must find the culprit who tried to murder my brother!”
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“I will personally flay him alive!” he added.
No one spoke.
They simply made way for him.
Callum rode his horse, passed through the city defense blockade, and proceeded inside.
Margaery, following behind, produced her credentials to verify her identity.
Afterwards, she too crossed the blockade.
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Unexpectedly, Callum, ahead, suddenly turned to look at Margaery and said, “Where is Princess Glowsend heading?”
Margaery took a deep breath and did not conceal the truth.
‘I’m going to visit Phillipa. She helped me before, and I want to thank her,” she said.
In fact, Phillipa had come to visit her earlier this morning.
And at this moment, Dashnell had just left to attend to court affairs.
She also needed to go to the Eames residence to administer another round of treatment to Eames, so the medicine would work better and his recovery would be faster.
Callum’s gaze shifted, and he nodded. “Indeed, you and Miss Eames have been close since childhood.”
As he spoke, his tone suddenly changed.
His gaze fell on Margaery’s face. “When I saw you last at the Eames family, I thought that after you and Dominic broke off your engagement, there would be no further developments. Yet unexpectedly, your father and several sons of the Wallen amily committed such utterly deranged acts.”
Regarding the Icy Pool incident, it was thanks to your cleverness that you managed to escape disaster,” he added.
Callum looked at Margaery, his feelings somewhat complicated.
He had originally thought that with Margaery’s death, it would take some maneuvering to bring down the Wallen family.
Yet unexpectedly, the Wallen family was toppled by Margaery herself.
The speed was so swift that even he, the mastermind behind the scenes, was caught off guard.
Now, Margaery is already Imperial Seal Bearer and will soon be at the King’s side,‘ Callum thought.
He began to harbor intentions of drawing her in.
‘I hear you will soon enter the palace. The palace is not a peaceful place, winds rise, and clouds surge, open and covert struggles, all revolving around my father, the King,” Callum said.
‘If you encounter any trouble in the palace, you may seek help from my mother, the consort. She will do everything in her power to protect you,” he suggested.
Without waiting for Margaery to respond, he added, “On this occasion of your entering the palace, I will inform my mother
about this matter.”
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Throughout, Margaery did not have a chance to interject.
Callum spoke all the words himself.
He had assumed that Margaery’s silence meant she herself had no confidence about entering the palace, felt uneasy, and thus did not refuse his olive branch.
Yet unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, Margaery calmly replied, “As Prince Callum said, I am to accompany the King upon entering the palace. Is there truly someone in the palace who wishes to kill me?”
“Is it that they wish for the nation’s fortune to decline?” she asked. “Or is their target the King himself?”
“If so, I ask Prince Callum to speak plainly.
“After all, if a mere Star of Fortune like myself dies, then so be it. But if the target is the King, then the matter becomes troublesome indeed,” she added.
“After all, he is your father,” she warned.
“Surely, you would not wish to see anything happen to him? Moreover, with Prince Nathaniel recently assassinated, the atmosphere is tense; who knows what other restless individuals might seek to harm the King?” Margaery reminded.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
