Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Chapter 1371

The Astrology Department's predictions were true. This year, there was indeed more rainfall than usual. On the 18th of July, a torrential downpour began over the capital.

Outside the city, Nicholas' scouts spotted a group of people braving the rain, heading toward the capital. The scouts were posing as peasants from the surrounding villages on the outskirts, and their entry into the city wouldn't raise suspicion. When they recognized the leader of the group as Clifford, one of the scouts immediately carried a basket fruit into the city.

Such common folk were often overlooked. Every day, peasants entered the city, either to sell their goods at the market or to deliver produce to the homes of the nobility.

The scout made his way to Willowbrook Estate's back door. Once it opened, he quickly slipped inside.

In the study, Nicholas sat stiffly, listening intently to the report.

"Are you certain you saw Mr. Murphy?" Nicholas asked in a calm voice, betraying no hint of excitement. Now more than ever, he had to remain composed.

"Yes, Your Highness. I'm certain it was Mr. Murphy."

"You could see clearly, even in this downpour?" Nicholas heard the rain hammering against the roof, the noise nearly drowning out the conversation.

"I could see him clearly, and the soldiers with him wore armor and clothing just like ours. I wouldn't mistake them."

Nicholas absentmindedly twisted the red silk wrapped around his wrist, then fixed his gaze on the scout before him. "Did you notice if Mr. Murphy wore a red silk ribbon like this on his wrist?"

The scout was stunned. "No, I didn't see that. Could it be someone else in disguise?"

It was possible that Nicholas and Clifford had agreed beforehand that, if leading troops to the capital, Clifford would wear

"Your Highness, if it's a deception,

there's no need to worry. Perhaps Mr. Murphy simply forgot to wear the red

was puzzled. If it was a signal, how could Clifford forget? But

grew serious. "Order the men at the city's outskirts to prepare. Once the

immediately straightened, his voice sharp with

depart, then picked up his coffee

there was no such thing as

Nicholas' men

their own devices for too long. Given the recent investigations by the Mystic Army, their identities might

giving away information or

a deception, the scout would have claimed he saw it. If

Clifford had truly arrived.

and ordered them to inform Hans Stone at the Waterworks Department about the action tomorrow. Hans

had once served

general. He was punished with 30 lashes for violating military code, and was expelled from Victory Pass. The 30 lashes weren't just regular strikes-they were delivered with a heavy rod and nearly

who helped heal Hans, enabling him to stay undercover for eight years. During that

had caused Hans to

general, but he knew that if

Hans had a fatal weakness-his

they were intimate, the woman went to Dominic to