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Chapter 1189
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1190
Aside from having household soldiers in Hell Monarch Estate, Rafael had not invested in developing a Shadow Guard or any such force. At most, there were a few skilled warriors who frequently went on official assignments, but they all had their duties to attend to and would only return every half month or so to report.There were also spies, mostly used to gather intelligence on the enemy, but they were rarely used for private matters.The lack of a larger force was due to several reasons.Before Rafael had been stationed at the Southern Frontier, he had already earned his battle merits. During his time in the capital leading the Mystic Army, Sigmund had strictly forbidden him from establishing too many guards, particularly a Shadow Guard, which was considered a serious taboo.Then, after Rafael went to the Southern Frontier, there was no time to think about such matters. Upon his eventual return to the capital, amidst Salvador's growing suspicions, any thoughts of increasing his fo
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1191
Randall remained silent for quite some time. His hands were underneath the table, gripping tightly. The cold was biting, yet his palms were damp with sweat.He knew he had to make a choice.When he first became a warden at the Supreme Court, he had spent countless hours pondering over decisions, uncertain of what the right course of action was. In the end, it was Matthew who noticed his restless thoughts and told him not to worry."Focus only on what's in front of you," Matthew had said.Since Randall didn't think about it, he didn't have any answers.Now, faced with Rafael's piercing question, Randall stared blankly at him for a long moment. The weight of the prince's gaze left his mind in a fog.Almost instinctively, he said, "There are soldiers in Lunvale, though I don't know how many.""How do you know this?" Rafael asked.After mentioning the soldiers in Lunvale, Randall's heart skipped a beat. Yet, strangely, it steadied soon after. Making a choice didn't feel as difficul
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1192
As Randall walked out of the hall, his head was held high, his gaze unwavering, and his step filled with renewed purpose. No longer was he the slumped, defeated figure he had been earlier.It was all because of one last thing Rafael had said to him."Matthew mentioned to me that you've handled your warden duties well. After a year or so of experience, I'll see about promoting you."At that moment, Randall's eyes had burned with unshed tears.Aside from Avis, no one had ever acknowledged his abilities. No one had ever truly praised him.Avis would praise him, of course, but those praises had always been laced with consolation. He had never been good at studies or martial arts. She would assure him that, in time, he would amount to something.But that was just comfort, not real recognition.Now, for the first time, Randall had been truly recognized. He didn't even care whether that recognition was sincere or watered down. At that moment, the feeling was too overwhelming, too wonde
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1193
Carissa had her own list of reminders for Rafael—to be careful on the road, to stay alert, and most importantly, if he came across any "pretty flowers" along the way, to look but not bring them back.The hint of jealousy in her tone made Rafael's heart soar with joy. As he swung himself onto his horse, he flashed a grin and swore his loyalty."I won't even spare a glance," he promised.However, Travis looked puzzled for a moment, then asked, "What flowers could you possibly find on the road in the middle of winter? Even if there are any, they're likely being well-tended by someone. How could anyone just pick them? You can look, but why wouldn't you look?"His confusion made both Jacob and Kyle chuckle.Violet snorted and teased, "Poor fool, stop talking! You're completely missing the point. You're talking about one thing when they're talking about something completely different."Travis scratched his chin, deep in thought. He still couldn't understand it, even when Dylan called o
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1194
Carissa gently helped Violet to a chaise lounge, settling her down. "Thank Isaac for me, but I won't guess. Just tell me—who did you see?""Victor!" Violet's eyes went wide, possibly from the alcohol, though it could have been from the sheer shock of what she was about to say. "Yes, it was Victor, the Sandoria marshal. And not just one, there were several Victors.""Several Victors, or several people who looked like Victor?" Carissa pressed her hand to Violet's forehead. "How much did you drink to get this drunk?""Victor…" Violet mumbled, her head growing still, as though the name had locked her into place. "But not as old as Victor.""You mean people who looked like Victor? Sandorians?"Carissa's mind started racing. Sandoria and Starhaven hadn't had much interaction, and for a Sandorian to make it to Starhaven—let alone to the capital—seemed impossible. Even harder to think they could settle here."Yes… Sandorians. How could there be Sandorians in the capital? They were… they'
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1195
Carissa went to Jacob with the news.He was clearly taken aback before instinctively asking, "How did the Sandorians get into the capital, and why are they staying here?""That's exactly what we need to figure out. We'll need to check out the remaining gentlemen's retreats and find their owners. If they're allowing Sandorians to be patrons there, they must know more than they're letting on," Carissa replied.What they needed to uncover was when the Sandorians arrived, who brought them, and what their purpose was in the capital.Carissa decided to personally investigate the remaining gentlemen's retreats, and of course, she took Violet and Isaac along. Over several days, they visited the five gentlemen's retreats. Of the five, three were hiding Sandorians, with a total of 15 people.By their breathing and movements, it was clear that all 15 were skilled in martial arts.Though they didn't all look entirely like typical Sandorians, they resembled average Southern Frontier people. I
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1196
The screams from the hall grew louder and more frantic. As she sprinted toward the noise, Claire shouted, "Don't run around—find somewhere to hide!"Inside the hall, both Catherine and Harriet were visibly shaken, frantically shielding the students behind them.Rosalind and Athena gripped sticks in their hands, desperately striking at the men who had charged in, trying to keep them away from the young women. However, Rosalind was no match for their strength. As she saw one man move toward Cassidy, who screamed in terror, she swung her stick with all her might. But the blow didn't knock him down. Instead, he grinned and lunged toward her.By the time Claire arrived, Rosalind was already in the man's arms, who was leaning in to kiss her. Rosalind struggled violently, pushing against him with all her strength, but she was no match for him. She scratched at his face, trying to stop him from kissing her.Seeing this, Claire's temper flared. She seized the man by the back of his coat a
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1197
It was at this moment that Carissa arrived. From outside, she could already tell something was wrong. Some people were stuck outside, unable to get in, but they were busy gossiping and trying to figure out what was going on.Once inside, Carissa quickly took in the scene, her eyes darting over the group of people and hearing their angry accusations. She understood what had happened at once.The moment she appeared, the parents surged toward her, asking how they should proceed. Though none dared directly question her, the tone of their words clearly showed their demand for an explanation.Their words were firm but lacked the earlier harshness.Carissa's face remained composed, though inside, a storm of anger brewed. She couldn't believe that on the last day before the holiday, something like this had happened.The academy gates were supposed to be open today to allow the students to take their belongings home. Since most of the students came from noble families, the servants were a
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1402
Clifford's eyes gleamed with a sharp light. "Very well. Let's hear some of your self-righteous words."Salvador, ever the suspicious soul, had always been wary of the Hell Monarch's household. Even if Carissa hadn't risen for women's rights, Salvador would still remain cautious of her.How could Carissa not know Clifford's intentions? From the moment he asked, she knew it was a trap.Before she could respond, Clifford sneered and added, "You can always start by flattering King Salvador. Praise him for how he treats women under his rule. As long as your conscience is clear, feel free to do so."Carissa was infuriated, but she wasn't willing to be baited. She met his mocking, challenging gaze. "Don't make assumptions. That's not the same thing at all. You think people are ignorant and narrow-minded as they can't understand your preferences, so you resort to extreme measures to gain their approval. But that's your personal problem. You can't speak for others like you, and you're not
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1401
Gerald and Clifford met in the Supreme Court's interrogation room. They sat across from each other, an old wooden table between them. Carissa sat behind the scribe's desk, not far from them. Even if they spoke in hushed tones, she could hear every word clearly.The only sounds in the room were the quiet rustle of breath, the steady beat of hearts, and occasionally, the almost imperceptible sound of a sigh.Yet, no words passed between them.Neither of them exchanged even a fleeting glance. It was as if they were two strangers who were forced to sit together—distant, indifferent.Carissa wondered if it was her presence that made things so strained, though she could not leave. All she could do was endure the awkward silence alongside them.At last, Gerald asked, "Why?"Gerald was truly baffled, struggling to reconcile the person before him with the image of someone he thought he knew. No matter how he looked at Clifford, he could not align the two.Clifford clasped his hands tog
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1400
As Carissa returned to the Capital Guard Headquarters the next morning, Heather intercepted her at the door.It had been a long while since Carissa had last seen Heather. In fact, it seemed Heather had kept herself mostly secluded lately.Since Harvey had been brought back to the capital, his son Lennon Sanford had not been captured, but Chester's forces continued their search. It was almost certain that the boy would be caught soon enough.Heather, anxious that Lennon might be implicated and face the same brutal punishment of beheading, rushed to Carissa for help.Carissa knew Heather had already tried appealing to Leona when Harvey was first brought back. She had asked Leona to talk to Carissa on her behalf. Yet Leona had refused, and she never mentioned the matter to Carissa. Carissa only learned of this from Alana."Carissa!" Heather hurried toward her, her face frantic with worry. "I need to speak with you. Could we find a quiet place to talk?""I have matters to attend to.
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1399
In her study, Carissa wrote a letter. Then, she handed it to Jacob with instructions to have it delivered to Rafael in the Southern Frontier.She knew the situation in the Southern Frontier. Victor was amassing troops but neither attacking nor retreating, keeping things in a stalemate.Everyone knew that Victor was just stalling. He had been given a military order to invade the Southern Frontier, but since Nicholas had failed, he could not return with any captured cities or military achievements to report.If Victor made a hasty retreat now, he would likely lose more than just his position—his life might be forfeited as well. He attempted to forge alliances with the nomads, hoping to find a way out—perhaps a way to secure his future or an escape from certain doom.The nomads, tired of conflict, had no interest in picking sides. Caught in the middle, they were doing everything they could to remain neutral, refusing to aid either side. If they really had to choose, they would choos
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1398
At precisely three in the afternoon, the long execution block was brought forward. The block was forged from ironwood, solid and unyielding. It was the only one of its kind in Starhaven, used solely for execution by Torso Cleaving.The block had been kept in storage for years.Augustus had once deemed the act of Torso Cleaving too brutal. Even those who committed the most grievous offenses were spared this form of execution. Yet, the punishment had not been abolished. It remained a tool to strike fear into the hearts of would-be traitors.The cruelty of Torso Cleaving lay in the fact that after a person was cleaved in two, the upper body could still crawl, struggle, and leave behind a bloody trail.Normally, Torso Cleaving wasn't meant to be witnessed by the public. But treason, betraying the kingdom, and plotting to overthrow the throne were considered unforgivable crimes. Salvador didn't know how many people had dealings with the traitors, and some conspirators were too deepl
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1397
The capital guards escorted Evelyn, Zoey, and Viola up to the execution platform. Evelyn's legs trembled, and she couldn't muster any strength. Her tears flowed uncontrollably, blurring her vision to the point that she could no longer see clearly."You foolish boy!" Evelyn let out a mournful cry, raising her hand and slapping Oliver's face. "You've disgraced your grandfather and your father! How can you face them in the afterlife?"Her slap lacked force; even as she exerted every ounce of her strength, Oliver barely felt the sting.Caught in a whirlwind of panic, Oliver's mind raced. Seeing his mom before him, he seemed to have found a lifeline in a stormy sea. He cried desperately, "Mom, save me! Please save me!"Evelyn, near exhaustion from her sorrow, could barely speak. "You've committed an unforgivable crime! How can I save you now? His Majesty once showed favor to you—how could you betray such grace?""Mom, I know I was wrong! I know it now!" Oliver cried, tears streaming do
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1396
After Evelyn finished crying, she didn't say much. However, she stubbornly insisted on going to deliver Oliver his final meal. Her eyes were swollen and her voice was thick with congestion, nearly a rasp. "I know the court allows family to see their loved ones before execution," she said, her tone strained. "I don't want anything else—just this one thing. I need to see him and make sure he's fed. I don't want him to die hungry and become a vengeful spirit."Tears began to fall once more as she cast a tearful glance at Zoey. "You have children, too. You should understand what it means to be a mother. To the world, he may be seen as the greatest of villains. But to me, he will always be that helpless child that hasn't changed."Zoey remained silent for a long moment, then finally said, "Mother, do you know how the final meeting is arranged? It is at the execution ground. Are you sure you want to see him getting decapitated?"Evelyn trembled, her body shaking with emotion. "You must
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1395
When Carissa went to the palace to deliver her report, she also expressed her sympathy for Zoey besides presenting the confession. She didn't hide her admiration for Zoey in her words.Despite her difficult life, Zoey still had a kind heart. She continuously gave out food and medicine. Even though her whole family now lived in Skye Embroidery, she never asked for the money she had given away to be returned.Furthermore, Zoey had shown great courage and moral integrity. She had publicly condemned her kin for the sake of the greater good—a rare quality that many men, even among the nobility, could not aspire to.Recognizing the need for such an example to inspire his people, Salvador immediately issued an edict praising Zoey. He granted her 100 gold coins and a residence.As for the exiled men from the Prince family, they could return to the capital after the Southern Frontier won the battle, along with the Hell Monarch.Zoey had turned an impossible situation around. Now, who would
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1394
Oliver was a notorious criminal, and he should have been sent directly to the Supreme Court. However, Carissa took a different route. She had him detained at the Capital Guard headquarters, where he was to be interrogated first. Afterward, she planned to report the matter to Salvador. She would credit Zoey for her tip, and then plead for Caspian and Cedric to be allowed to return to the capital as soon as possible.Celeste was still detained in the Capital Guard headquarters. If she and Oliver met, it might uncover more secrets—such as just how deeply the Spencer family's collateral branch was involved in this mess.The two prisoners were held in adjacent cells, separated by only a narrow iron bar. When their eyes met for the first time, both faces changed instantly.On the way here, Oliver kept cursing Zoey for betraying him. But when he saw Celeste, he completely forgot about Zoey. He snarled, his teeth clenched. "You wretched woman, look at you now! It's true—bad people get w
