Chapter 1295    The witch slipped quietly through the back door of Redstone Manor. After just a brief moment, barely 15 minutes, she was hastily escorted out again.  But by then, Oliver was paralyzed with fear. His chest felt tight, as though he couldn’t catch his breath. It felt as though he had been thrown into a vast, endless ocean and was unable to reach shore, choking on the suffocating sensation.  The witch had come in for only a short time, scanning the room before she fixed her gaze on him and uttering a simple sentence “Be safe, Marshal Prince.”  No matter how much Celeste pleaded, the witch refused to say more. Even when Celeste asked her to perform a ritual, she turned her down, saying it would be useless.  The witch then looked at Oliver and said, “This land is a graveyard for military commanders. Marshal Prince, you should see to your family’s safety.”  It was those words that sent a chilling wave of terror through Oliver.  How many generals had been buried at the Southern Frontier? How many had met their end here? Hector and his sons were warriors as brave as any, and where had that led them?  Oliver knew his own limitations. He was not as fierce as Hector, and he was certainly no match for the young generals of the Sinclair family. He admired them but had no desire to follow their tragic path.  What glory was there in dying? It was living that mattered.  If he died on the battlefield, the title of Earl of Silverstone would go to his family, but none of it would concern him anymore. Even Celeste and their son wouldn’t be able to live freely or enjoy the fruits of his legacy…  No, the real tragedy was that Oliver wouldn’t be there to enjoy any of it. He wouldn’t be there to hear people address him respectfully and in awe.  Celeste’s arms tightened around him from behind, and he could hear her quiet sobs. The sound of her grief weighed on him like a thousand stones.  “My love, if you fall on the battlefield, then I and our son will follow you,” she cried, her voice thick with grief.  The warmth of her tears burned his shoulder, as though her sorrow was searing    Chaat 1204  through him.  Without thinking, he blurted, “No, I cannot die!”  His hand shot out to grasp Celeste’s, pulling her to him. His eyes, for the first time, were filled with a resolve he had never shown before.  “None of us will die. We promised each other that if war came, we would leave this place.”  Celeste looked at him, a flash of confusion in her eyes. “But how do we leave? The people in the manor aren’t all loyal to us, and we can’t just leave with nothing. We can’t go unprepared.”  into Oliver’s mind raced. Of course. If they were to leave, they would have to go hiding. He had grown used to the comfort of his life, and the thought of a life of poverty filled him with dread. How could he go from riches to rags?  He needed a reason, a legitimate excuse to move the gold and silver out. He had trusted men by his side, enough to get it done. If they stayed, they would likely die here anyway, so they likely would follow him.  The people to transport it were there, but how could they leave without raising suspicion? Timothy and Louis had spies everywhere. They were still investigating the misappropriation of military funds. If he tried to move the valuables openly, it would certainly arouse suspicion.  He needed a plan, a way to make it all seem legitimate!  “I might have an idea,” Celeste’s soft voice broke through his thoughts, drawing his attention.  Oliver’s gaze locked onto her. “What is it?”  Celeste leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. She outlined her proposal, and as she spoke, her eyes reddened with unshed tears.  “Do you think I’m cruel, my love? But I only want to be with you forever.”  Oliver’s face went pale, and he remained silent..  The plan had merit, but there were too many risks. A hasty escape might only result in his own execution. But following Celeste’s idea would bring ruin to his entire family. He couldn’t do that.  “My love, we must make a decision quickly Celeste whispered, on the verge of  tears.  Chapter 1205    Oliver hesitated.  For the first time, he thought about his family back in the capital. At the very least, he had to make sure they were safe. Otherwise, he would truly become a person who was disloyal, unjust, and neglectful of his family.  His gaze darkened, his nails digging into his flesh. “Your plan can work, but we can’t kill General Farrell and the others, or the Southern Frontier Army will have no commander. I heard from the scouts that Sandoria’s army will take at least three to five days to arrive. I’ll invite the generals to a strategy meeting, and while they’re distracted…”  He paused, taking a deep breath, feeling the suffocating pressure in his chest. Whether it was fear or a desperate rebellion against fate, he wasn’t sure.  “We’ll use illusion powder,” he concluded.  Illusion powder, also known as poisonous mushroom powder, was deadly in large doses. But if used carefully, it could induce discomfort, nausea, or hallucinations. With the right medical attention, those affected would recover.  נד