MasukShare
Chapter 1039
Bab terkait
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1040
His tone deliberate, Rafael spoke slowly, "Having leverage in someone else's hands really does leave you at their mercy. I didn't make your situation public at first because a good piece of leverage should be used wisely. Now, the time has come. No more talking. If the articles aren't in Jacob's hands within two days, you'll have to write an article yourself to clear your name."There it was—a blatant threat.Malcolm's chest heaved with frustration, but he could only glare in silence.Rafael remained as composed as ever, as if he hadn't just made a bombshell of a statement. He sipped the fine coffee in his cup, showing no sign of haste. He was a man of high standards, and this coffee was quite good. Malcolm's household clearly had taste, though they also liked to flaunt their moral superiority.Such self-righteous people were often the easiest to handle, especially someone like Malcolm who was so concerned with his reputation yet careless about preserving his dignity.After taking
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1041
At the Quinton family's residence, Malcolm straightened his clothes and said, "You're being foolish, dear. How could you believe Carissa's deception? If Her Majesty really stepped in to support the workshop, wouldn't she be scorned by the civil officials?"Right now, the queen doesn't need to do anything—Prince Connor's position as the crown prince is already nearly secure. He is the legitimate eldest son. Who else could it be but him?"Marjorie remained seated, her expression calm as she asked, "If that's the case, then why did you target the workshop, my lord?"Since the matter with Casey, Marjorie had stopped addressing him affectionately. After so many years of marriage, there was a clear distance between them now.Malcolm pursed his lips, silent, though the darkness in his eyes deepened.Marjorie understood the reason, and when he remained silent, she added, "His Majesty is in his prime and there's no talk of choosing a crown prince. The palace is full of concubines, so the n
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1042
The scholars submitted their articles, but Jacob rejected them outright without even presenting them to Rafael. The scholars' attitudes were dismissive, and they still held prejudice against the workshop. They were reluctant to even consider issuing a clarification."Submit it again tomorrow. If it's still like this, then there's no need to bother coming back," Jacob instructed indifferently."Sir, you're a scholar yourself. Now that you've gained power, why are you making things difficult for other scholars?" one scholar asked, gritting his teeth.Jacob responded with the simplest, most direct retort, "It's a pity you weren't born a woman. Maybe then, you'd understand the hardships your mothers face.""What does the workshop have to do with women? It's a place for discarded wives," another one of them scoffed.Jacob's expression darkened. "If there are discarded husbands, they can go too."The scholars froze."Discarded husbands? Such talk is absurd!"Jacob looked at them with
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1043
Carissa furrowed her brows, already suspecting it had something to do with Emma. Knowing how the years at Ironridge Estate had been unkind to her, having to not only manage the household but also bear children, Carissa had desperately hoped it wouldn't be her.Jessica frequently criticized her, and although Emma was Margaret's niece, she wasn't the primary wife. While she oversaw the internal affairs of the household and social engagements outside, her standing was always questionable.Violet was also frustrated. "What should we do? Could it really be her? If it's her... well, the woman is dead. Will the Marquis of Ironridge and the old matriarch even believe this? And there's no solid evidence to prove that Emma arranged everything before her death. The testimony of one maid isn't enough. She could easily say I coerced her."Carissa thought for a moment before saying, "Then, let's have Luke summon Giles again. This time, we'll question him ourselves.""That seems like the only opt
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1044
Sebastian's apprentices were well-connected in the capital's medical circle and quick to catch wind of any news.As the controversy surrounding the workshop and Jessica grew louder, many in the medical community began to gossip. They questioned how a single dose of laxatives could lead to a miscarriage.One person muttered, "She's been drinking Redroot Restorative all along, and that's meant to stimulate blood circulation. That stuff can be dangerous, potentially causing excessive bleeding if taken in excess. How could she not lose the baby?"The gossip spread quickly, reaching Rowan's ears. Naturally, he investigated further. It didn't take long before he found out that the person who had spoken was Aaron Hawthorne's apprentice. Aaron was the personal physician to the Marquis of Ironridge's family, although he also ran his own small clinic and had several apprentices.Rowan dug deeper and discovered that Aaron, under someone's orders, had been sending a special blend of herbs to I
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1045
Although the authorities hadn't been alerted, the truth had already been uncovered through Rowan's investigation and Giles' admission. The only remaining question was whether the Marquis of Ironridge and Margaret had known about Emma's actions and chosen to cover for her.The entire scheme had indeed been orchestrated by Emma, with Giles and several of her trusted maids tasked with carrying it out.The reason behind it was simple—Emma knew her time was running out.Around this same time, Leopold had told her he planned to take another secondary wife to manage the household. He had already chosen the candidate: Flora, who had recently entered the household as a concubine.In other words, Leopold had intended to marry her as his secondary wife from the start. While secondary wives were technically concubines, they held a higher status than common concubines as they were still rightful wives.When Leopold spoke of Flora, he had admiration in his eyes. He mentioned that her father was
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1046
Carissa and Violet escorted Giles to Ironridge Estate.Following Emma's passing, Margaret's health deteriorated further. She remained bedridden after the funeral, unable to rise.When Carissa arrived, Margaret had just taken her medicine and was lying propped up in bed. Serena stood by, tending to her. Though Serena didn't look up at Carissa, a storm of emotions stirred inside her.It was because when Carissa arrived, she had announced she come to deal with Jessica's issue and had brought Giles along.Serena harbored a deep hatred for Carissa. She could never forgive Carissa for what had happened. No matter how much she hated Carissa, however, Serena couldn't help but fear Carissa. With Carissa's current position and power, taking down a lowly concubine from Ironridge Estate would be as easy as breathing.Margaret had rejected Carissa's invitation once before, but now, Carissa had shown up after the funeral had just concluded. Margaret knew this was because Jessica's situation h
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1047
The Marquis of Ironridge's family spent the entire night getting to the bottom of things.Once everything was clear, Margaret summoned Leopold. She laid out her plans. "Divorce Serena, bring Jessica back, and invite those storytellers to come and tell the truth. We need them to clear things up."Leopold was already filled with disdain for Jessica. He didn't want her back, and strongly disagreed with Margaret's approach."I don't agree, Mom. We should just leave things as they are. People have already been gossiping about me because of what happened to Jessica. After all this time, I finally got some peace when I divorced her. All the gossip outside doesn't concern us—it's all about Jessica."If we clear things up now, it will only tarnish our reputation and Emma's as well. She's your niece, and she's also the mother of your two grandchildren. You're being too harsh. Either way, I won't take Jessica back—if she's divorced, she'll stay divorced."Margaret looked at him, her chest
Bab terbaru
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1582
Before I took the vows and entered the monastery, my name was Caden.From the time I was young, I often heard the same praise whispered around me: "This child is sharp beyond his years—clever, quick-witted, the finest of the three princes."I heard it so often that I came to believe it myself. At times, I even felt proud. But whenever I let that pride rise too high, Mom would bring me back to earth.She would look at me, her eyes soft but filled with something I couldn't quite name—pity, perhaps. And then, she would sigh and say, "What a pity you were born of my womb. If not, you might have risen above that foolish one. But fate favored him, not you."That "foolish one"—I knew well enough who she meant. I had heard her say it so many times in private, though never once in public.It puzzled me greatly as a child. Mom clearly disliked my eldest brother, Connor, more than anyone. Yet, whenever he came near, she would smile warmly and speak kindly. She would even flatter him, calling
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1581
Two childhood friends were now each giving their all on very different paths.Clarence had started with herbs, then medicine, and in time, healing became his entire world at Eldermere Keep. At first, it was merely something to pour his heart into, because he knew he would never be allowed to leave the mountain and open a medical hall of his own.But then Ryan came, and afterward, sent Clarence a letter.That letter changed everything.For the first time, Clarence began to hope that maybe, just maybe, he could go down the mountain after all. And once that hope took root, he threw himself into his studies with more energy than ever before. He barely slept, rarely left the apothecary, and sometimes forgot to eat.Because of the pain he had once endured, he focused his efforts on curing injuries and chronic pain. Of course, a good physician had to know more than one thing, so he studied every field without neglecting any.There was a fire inside him now. A quiet flame that had not bur
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1580
"Elise, must your mouth run on without end?" Carissa frowned at her daughter, who had been chattering away beside Ryan from the moment he stepped through the door.The little girl's face was flushed from the sun, her hair tangled into a messy nest that made it clear she had only just returned from playing outdoors. She hadn't stopped talking since Ryan came back from his travels, pestering him with questions about what he had seen and done.Elise turned to Carissa with wide eyes, looking up with a face so innocent it could soften stone. She truly had inherited the best features from both her parents."Mom, I haven't seen Ryan in such a long time. Every moment without him felt like an eternity. We've been apart for so long, so of course I have a lot to say to him."Carissa's frown deepened. "And who taught you to speak in such a ridiculous manner? An eternity—where did that come from?""Sage Isaac said it to Aunt Violet. He went back to Meadow Ridge for a few days and said it to her
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1579
Though Ryan had told Cecil he was going on a journey, he didn't stay long at Eldermere Keep. After just seven days, he left and made his way to the Pathfinders Guild.He had initially planned to return to the capital to seek out Claire, but soon reconsidered. Instead of troubling her, he thought it best to directly ask Winona to teach him the art of disguise.It was not difficult to learn, but to do it well—to the point where no one could tell—was another matter. Such skill could not be acquired in just a few months.The simpler form of disguise involved merely altering one's features with makeup and slight adjustments to the face. This was fine for ordinary situations, but could easily be seen through in more challenging circumstances, like on a rainy day for instance.Therefore, Ryan knew he couldn't settle for such a basic method.The more advanced form of disguise involved creating a mask as a false face. However, these masks had their own set of problems. They were thick, unco
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1578
That evening, Ryan and Clarence sat by candlelight and spoke quietly. They avoided discussing court politics as Clarence had no interest in such matters. As long as the kingdom was peaceful, that was enough for him.He was no longer the eldest prince of Starhaven, and only had himself to look after now. Everything else had faded into the past.It was better not to speak of politics; it was too sensitive a topic. In his younger years, Clarence hadn't understood why his "death" was so tied to such matters. But over the years, Sebastian had explained everything to him, bit by bit, including the risks and consequences.The bond between Clarence and Cecil was not without affection. However, to gamble with one's life and future for the sake of family might not be the wisest choice for any of them.Clarence had come to terms with it. Life had to go on; it was better to live it well today than to wonder about tomorrow."Aunt Carissa said you're no longer able to stand, but you were walking
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1577
The azaleas of Eldermere Keep bloomed in a riot of color, spreading across the hills in a blaze of purple and red. The sight was enough to dazzle anyone who set eyes upon it, especially those who had never visited this secluded place. It was the kind of beauty that made one long to stay forever.Yet, there was one exception.A young man rode his horse to the base of the mountain, dismounted, and secured his steed. Without a glance at the dazzling scene around him, he began to walk the path up the mountain, his gaze fixed firmly on the road ahead.The vivid azaleas stretched out along either side of the path, reaching out as if to claim him, but he merely brushed them aside with a casual swipe of his hand.His pace was swift, and he occasionally used his Lightfoot Skill. Eldermere Keep was not high up, but its location was well-hidden, with many winding paths leading in. However, he had studied the map countless times before embarking on this journey, so the route to the keep was et
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1576
Rafael glanced at the robe. "Isn't that mine? Are you saying I've gotten fat? I'm not fat.""Oh, is it yours? It's too long, then. I'll have someone alter it for me," Carissa replied casually.Rafael shook his head. "If you want something loose, just have someone make it for you. Why bother altering my old clothes? It's not even comfortable.""I'm going to Meadow Ridge for a year. Wearing your clothes will make it feel like you're still with me," Carissa said with a bright smile, as if the idea of being apart for a year was no more serious than being apart for a day."A year?" Rafael looked shocked. "You're going back for a whole year? Why?""Well, of course, my mentor misses me, and I miss him too," Carissa replied, placing her hands on her hips as she handed the robe to Lulu, who was standing by with a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh."But I won't leave right away. Since Ryan is about to inherit the duke's title, I'll wait until that's settled before I go back to Meado
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1575
On the 13th day of winter, Salvador suddenly woke up feeling clearer than before. Saying he was hungry, he specifically asked for beef stew and milk pastries.Derek hurried to make the necessary arrangements. When the food arrived, Octavia sat by the bed as she had done many times before, ready to feed him. But Salvador insisted he wanted to sit up to eat himself.Derek gently helped the king sit up, placing a soft cushion behind him to support his back. Salvador had grown so thin that he seemed to be nothing but skin and bones. His body slouched as he sat, so Derek had to kneel beside the bed, holding his waist to keep him steady.Salvador finished an entire bowl of stew, eating it all without leaving a single bit behind. Then, he picked up a small milk pastry. But after a bite, he felt a little nauseous, so he didn't eat any more.Sebastian sent word to Victoria. After a brief conversation, her face turned pale and tears started to fall almost immediately. Though she had tried to
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1574
Once back at the palace, Salvador was unable to rise from his bed. Sebastian spoke briefly with him, hinting that he didn't have much time left. If there was anyone he wished to see, it should be done as soon as possible.The first person Salvador wanted to see was, of course, Victoria."That child… When he saw me, he couldn't stop asking about you. You didn't love him in vain, Mom," Salvador murmured, his voice weak.Victoria sighed deeply. "How cruel... his life must be lived hidden away in the mountains, never able to leave. Is there truly no hope for his legs?""I believe there is no hope," Salvador replied softly, his lips pale and drained of color. "But as I was leaving, he said, 'Dad, once I've learned enough medicine, I'll cure you. I'll make you better.'"Victoria's heart ached. "What a good child."Salvador's gaze drifted to the ceiling, his voice barely a whisper as he repeated, "Yes, he is a good child."After speaking with Victoria, Salvador asked Rafael to bring in
