Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 1425

The weight of the situation was immense, and for a moment, Carissa's mind seemed incapable of processing it all.

If Salvador were to pass, Connor's ascension to the throne would be nearly certain, and it wouldn't be long before he was declared Crown Prince. A young king would need regents, and not just one, which would lead to factions forming within the court.

In that case, the balance of power would inevitably be thrown into turmoil.

If regents weren't appointed, it was likely that either Victoria or Kylie would take charge and rule behind the scenes.

Kylie was ambitious, and even in her confinement, she was plotting for Connor's future. The Quinton family, though suppressed by Salvador, held vast power. If Salvador were to die and Connor took the throne, their influence would soar.

Who wouldn't want that kind of power?

Jeremiah was aging, and though he had already entertained thoughts of stepping down, he was still willing to support the new king. But once the power struggle began, there would be little he could do to control the situation.

However, that was a worry for later.

What truly sent a chill down Carissa's spine was the fact that if Salvador only had a year to live, he would undoubtedly take every measure to eliminate all obstacles and threats for Connor before his death.

And in Salvador's eyes, the Hell Monarch's faction posed the greatest threat.

Derek, too, suddenly realized the gravity of this possibility. His face suddenly went pale.

When he first learned of Salvador's illness, he had only thought that the Hell Monarch might be the one to assist the young prince in stabilizing the court. But now, seeing Carissa's worry, he was pulled out of his sorrow and horrified by this terrifying reality.

In fact, it wasn't a mere possibility—it was something that would likely happen.

"Your Grace, perhaps you should consider leaving…" Derek started to say.

Carissa raised her hand, silencing him. "Don't say anymore, Mr. Walker. The physicians haven't even made a clear diagnosis yet. It could just be a headache, or even an abscess."

She didn't want Derek offering advice. If he did, he might always carry guilt with him—guilt that he hadn't been loyal enough to Salvador.

Derek clenched his fists, understanding her unspoken words. With a heavy sigh, he said, "Then I shall take my leave, Your Grace. Please take care of yourself."

"Have a safe journey back," Carissa replied, watching him leave. But even after he was gone, her mind still couldn't make sense of things.

After Derek and the guards left, Carissa sat in the side hall, lost in thought for a long time.

At least, that was how Salvador would see it.

There was also the possibility, as Derek had suggested, that Salvador might consider appointing Rafael and several other ministers as regents to balance power and ensure mutual oversight.

After listening to their analysis, Carissa said, "Right now, our priority should be to figure out what we need to do. What can we do? How can we act in a way that benefits our nation and us the most, while also ensuring the war isn't affected?"

Everyone fell silent, each lost in thought and unsure of where to start.

Finally, Kyle said, "We need to first confirm whether the king really has the illness and if it's truly untreatable. Although our situation isn't great and he keeps us on edge, we can't deny that he's the healthiest ruler in Starhaven."

Salvador might not be the perfect king, but he always put the people first when implementing policies. Also, with the war at a standstill, the people could finally look forward to a period of peace and stability.

Once the power changed hands, the uncertainty would be overwhelming. However, it was clear there would be a period of power struggles, efforts to strengthen influences, and forming factions for personal gain. All of this would leave the well-being of the common people to be treated as secondary.

It was like a merchant family in turmoil, where the head of the household had no real power, and each family member had their own motives. Each would seek to gain power and benefits, even at the cost of damaging the family business.

Eventually, the family would fall apart from within, and other businesses would swallow it whole.