However, thinking of Auntie Gwendolyn's condition, Mirabel was filled with sorrow again.
She choked up, "But... but Auntie Gwendolyn... she... she..."
Severa immediately walked over and glared at her harshly. "Does Your Majesty not know that loose lips sink ships?!
Matters of military and state must never leak.
Your Majesty, you are not to speak of it, nor are you to cry!"
"Mmm... won't speak... won't cry..." Mirabel covered her mouth and left the hall, looking utterly pitiful.
The pressure Severa exerted was simply too intense.
This stern woman was always upright and righteous. Even when Mirabel's mother, the late Empress, was alive, Severa dared to remonstrate directly.
If the late Empress did something wrong, Severa would even point it out to her face, leaving the Empress embarrassed and furious, wishing she could cut her down.
But ultimately having to admit she was right.
Facing such an unbending character, Mirabel, like a mouse seeing a cat, didn't dare cause the slightest trouble.
For now, she only dared to bully Sylas.
Mirabel shot a resentful glare full of grievance at Sylas sitting in the main seat, her eyes filled with hatred.
Hmph, you little wretch, relying on someone else's authority! Just you wait. See how I deal with you later!
She left disgruntled.
Sylas then sighed. "My lords and ladies, Stonewold... is entrusted to you."
Hearing this, everyone rose with solemn resolve and bowed together to Sylas.
This gentle young man had shouldered the heavy burden of Stonewold at its most critical moment.
Thus, the administration Gwendolyn had left behind began to operate with high efficiency.
Sylas's measures were effective.
Heaven blessed Great Stonewold. While Gwendolyn remained unconscious, Aethelred did not attempt another attack.
Both sides fell into a deadlocked stalemate.
Isolde toured the military camps, meeting with various generals to stabilize morale.
The campaign had started unfavorably, with heavy losses. It was time to return.
In Stonewold, Severa rode post-haste, crossed the Yellow River, and, under cover of night, entered the Jade Wall via a rope lift.
When the defenders saw Chancellor's Marshal Severa, they breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Finally, a high-ranking minister was here to take charge.
Otherwise, being leaderless, morale would have collapsed.
The situation steadily improved.
Five days later, the unconscious Gwendolyn finally awoke.
Severa stayed by her side, personally administering medicine to the Chancellor.
Gwendolyn had lost sensation in her lower body. To be cured, she would need to return to Ironpeak to find a powerful high priest or skilled healer.
For now, she could only lie weakly in bed.
But this was enough.
As long as Gwendolyn wasn't dead, all the generals thanked heaven and wept for joy.
If not for the threatening Aethelred army, they would have certainly celebrated with a feast.
Gwendolyn was awake, but she needed quiet rest.
Severa had everyone else leave, attending to Gwendolyn alone.
When Gwendolyn saw Severa, her eyes held not only surprise but also deep appreciation.
In her last moments of consciousness, she had thought that if she died, the only person who could take charge of the defense of the Jade Wall was Severa.
But she hadn't had time to tell anyone, nor had she prepared a contingency plan.
It was her greatest regret before losing consciousness.
Mirabel in Ironpeak was still a child who understood nothing. Hearing about her coma, she would surely be like an ant on a hot pan.
After waking up, Gwendolyn's greatest fear was seeing a weeping Mirabel standing before her.
But, to her surprise, the outcome was the one she most desired.
Mirabel had finally grown up.
The burden of Stonewold could gradually be passed to her.
Gwendolyn breathed a relieved sigh, feeling all the suffering and hardship she had endured were worth it.
"Chancellor, Her Majesty in Ironpeak is extremely worried about you," Severa said.
She wasn't talkative, her nature quiet, practical, and steady. A simple sentence conveyed Mirabel's concern.
Gwendolyn nodded weakly. She smiled faintly and said, "I am deeply comforted that Her Majesty sent you.
Stonewold is finally about to welcome a wise sovereign once more."
Severa: "Her Majesty... did not send me. Her Majesty had drafted a decree ordering the garrison of the Jade Wall to escort the Chancellor back to Ironpeak immediately.
However, it was abandoned due to Lord Byron's intervention.
I am here at the command of the Chancellor's Manor, specifically to take charge of the overall situation at the Jade Wall."
Gwendolyn turned her neck slightly to look at Severa. She opened her mouth but finally closed her eyes in disappointment.
"Ah..." She sighed softly. Two teardrops actually slid from the corners of her eyes.
The sovereign she had painstakingly raised, at the most critical moment, actually thought of having the garrison escort her back?
Where was even a trace of her sister's (Mirabel's mother's) bearing?
Even tying a mute dog to the throne could have held out for a few days.
Severa hurriedly comforted her: "Chancellor, please be calm. The Royal Advisor has already begun guiding Her Majesty's studies again."
Gwendolyn asked helplessly, "Couldn't Byron control her?"
Severa glanced around awkwardly but finally chose to answer truthfully.
"Lord Byron has been working tirelessly. However, Her Majesty seemingly... does not listen to him."
Everyone knew about Mirabel bullying Sylas.
But to what extent it had developed, no one dared to guess.
This was also the result of Sylas's desperate pleas.
If Gwendolyn knew the truth, it could literally kill her with anger.
"It was my oversight," Gwendolyn said with a bitter smile.
She had thought that having the gentle-natured Sylas tutor Mirabel would lessen the pressure on her.
After all, as the sovereign, Mirabel would surely lose sleep worrying about the war at the front.
Therefore, she hadn't asked Severa to continue supervision.
But she hadn't expected Mirabel to develop her own method of stress relief.
She had been too indulgent with this child she had raised herself.
Gwendolyn stopped thinking about matters in Ironpeak. She gave Severa a few instructions, telling her to act according to her orders.
The most difficult time for the Jade Wall had finally passed.
Then, even better news came from outside the walls.
Isolde intended to withdraw her troops.
Negotiations began. Severa played a huge role at this moment.
She conducted herself with poise and dignity, neither arrogant nor submissive.
The moment Isolde saw Severa, she knew she should abandon any designs on Stonewold for the coming years.
She reluctantly returned control of Sentinel Peaks, withdrew her troops, and returned to the capital.
Only after returning to Northspire did she receive confirmed news: Gwendolyn had been struck by debris, unconscious for days, and was now paralyzed from the waist down.
Isolde was so angry she stamped her feet.
She had been so close!
So close to breaking into the Heartlands!
But the current court situation no longer allowed for regret. Upon her return, she immediately headed for Lorynth with her troops.
For safety's sake, she left Celeste to guard Northspire, ready to provide support at any time.
She even entrusted her daughter to Celeste.
Because letters from Lorynth said that upon her return, Victoria had refused to enter the city and was plotting rebellion.
Before, Isolde would never have believed this.
Back then, she was at the peak of her power, soaring like a dragon in the sky.
But now, the military campaign had failed, and Aethelred had suffered significant losses.
All contradictions had been intensified.
Who could guarantee that Victoria, whom she hadn't seen for nearly two years, had no rebellious intentions?