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Chapter 129
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 130
Seeing Barrett remain silent, Aurora grew anxious. Ignoring her injuries, she said angrily, “They did hurt me, but they definitely didn’t violate me! I’m telling you the absolute truth. If you don’t believe me, you can ask them yourself!”Barrett's expression darkened. “What’s the point in asking? Isn’t it humiliating enough already?”Aurora felt a chill at his words, and was deeply hurt. “You don’t believe me?”Barrett smiled sadly. “Believe you? Have you ever told me a single truth? Every time I asked you about Victory Pass, you always said it was because you spread rumors that the Hell Monarch was heading there as reinforcement. So Liam retreated and went back to sign a treaty with you. You even hid something so important from me. How can I trust you again?”“I didn’t tell you because I knew you wouldn’t like it…” Aurora appeared very agitated and almost frantic. “You kept saying you didn’t want to harm the civilians of both kingdoms, but I clearly saw the enemy hiding in th
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 131
As Carissa spoke, she lifted the bowl and drank the soup in one gulp. Her bold gesture made Rafael smile."By the way, why did the crown prince of Westhaven appear in Fawnrun City?"Carissa had always been puzzled about that. She had heard that this prince was highly esteemed in Westhaven, known for his wisdom and virtue.Why had he been in Fawnrun City? After all, he wasn't a military general."There's internal strife within the Westhaven royal family. The crown prince was framed by the second prince and forced to go to the battlefield. Liam knew the crown prince couldn't fight, so he hid him in Fawnrun City, as it was away from the fighting. No one expected he would encounter Aurora," Rafael explained."The second prince?" Carissa frowned slightly. "With the death of the crown prince of Westhaven, the other princes will vie for the throne. If the second prince becomes the crown prince, it won't be good for Starhaven."After all, the second prince harbored hostility and malice t
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 132
The triumphant news of reclaiming the Southern Frontier spread back to the capital.When Salvador read the report, he was moved to tears.During the morning court session, all the civil and military officials knelt and shouted, "Long live the king!"This monumental news spread like wildfire. First, to the officials' families, then the entire capital, and soon, the entire country.The nation rejoiced!A famous storyteller, who had connections everywhere, heard snippets of information from the servants and maids in officials' households and sold these stories.Thus, everyone knew that the primary credit of reclaiming the Southern Frontier belonged to the Hell Monarch, Rafael. However, it was a female general who had consecutively breached Ilyrian City and Simonton City. Leading the Mystic Army, she had crushed the Sandorian forces!The storyteller was adept at creating heroes. His passionate and dramatic retellings depicted this female general as a divine goddess of war.The batt
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 133
Rebecca sent invitations to the wives of the two deputy ministers of the Ministry of Defense, as well as to the wife of the Minister of Defense himself. Though she doubted the latter would attend, she was confident that the wives of the deputy ministers would come.Rebecca planned to ask them about the general situation of the war and how the Ministry of Defense would reward the meritorious.However, on the day of the tea party, neither of the deputy ministers' wives showed up. Even the wives of slightly higher-ranking officials did not attend. Only the wives of fifth- or sixth-rank officials, and even some of seventh or eighth rank, came with their families. Some of these guests were not even on the invitation list, which made Rebecca both angry and distressed.She had spent so much money on this tea party to raise her family's profile and create a strong and favorable impression for Barrett and Aurora. When they returned victorious, she hoped Salvador and the Ministry of Defense w
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 134
Initially, everyone speculated that Aurora was the female general who had led the Mystic Army. However, after Rebecca's tea party, some people began to notice hints that suggested otherwise.The storyteller, known for his knack for suspense, first piqued the interest of his audience before revealing, "At the tea party hosted by Madam Warren at Valor Estate, neither the wives of the Ministry of Defense's two deputy ministers nor any other family members of Ministry of Defense officials were in attendance. What does that imply? I'm afraid it implies that the female general who led the army was likely not General Yates."The coffeehouse patrons were shocked, and the storyteller's words sparked a lively discussion.If it wasn't Aurora, then who? There was no other female general in the current era.A few days later, people managed to find out some information and started to talk about how Barrett's ex-wife, who had left him, went to the battlefield.The people of the capital still viv
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 135
In coffeehouses across the capital, storytellers spared no effort in embellishing Carissa's military achievements, portraying her conquest of the cities as a grand tale of heroism. As a result, the common people grew to admire Carissa immensely, completely forgetting the harsh words they had once spoken about her after her divorce.Heather finally understood why she had been confined to her quarters. When her daughter got married, Carissa had sent people to offer congratulatory gifts, which Heather had declined. At the time, she had complained to those around her, saying that Carissa, being a divorced woman, had no business sending gifts—it was bad luck.Upon hearing of this, Harvey was furious and slapped her. "She's your niece! If your sister in heaven knew what you did, would she not be upset with you for being so heartless? It's one thing for strangers to show Carissa disdain, but you're her aunt! You're truly…"Harvey was a leisurely prince with no real power or responsibilitie
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 136
The events in the capital were unknown to Carissa, who was far away at the Southern Frontier.The war was long over, but the troops could not fully withdraw yet. The first reason was the severe cold, which made marching difficult. The second reason was that many areas of the Southern Frontier were in ruins after years of conflict, and the soldiers were helping with the reconstruction.Since the end of the war, rumors about Aurora's capture and disgrace had spread throughout the army. No matter how much she denied it, there were many soldiers who had rushed into the wooden hut and seen her state that day.It was not a secret that could be hidden.Aurora had sought out Zeke and the others to testify on her behalf, but what could they say? Having endured brutal beatings and mutilation, they could barely say whether Aurora had been violated or not.Besides, Zeke was furious with his cousin and refused to even speak with her. Meanwhile, the other soldiers who had once been grateful to
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 137
As spring arrived and the ice and snow melted away, the soldiers stationed in Simonton City prepared to return to the capital. Violet and the others were torn between whether to go back to the capital with them or return to Meadow Ridge."Meadow Ridge will always be there, but a triumphant return happens only once in a lifetime. We should go back and receive the people's praise," Travis said.They didn't have grand ambitions; their greatest aspiration was to perfect their martial arts skills. They didn't seek to be invincible, only to be able to defeat any opponent they faced.Suddenly hailed as heroes of the Southern Frontier, they found the new height of their status a bit overwhelming.-With Aurora's injuries nearly healed, it was time for her to face her punishment.During her time at the Southern Frontier, her relationship with Barrett had been in a peculiar state. Her husband seemed to constantly avoid her, yet would still assist her when necessary.For instance, when she
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1558
Caden's eyes were wide with terror and his expression was one of sheer horror, as though he had been suddenly awakened from a nightmare.Gasping for air, he clutched his ears and shouted desperately, "No! Mom, I don't want this! I don't want my brother to die! I don't want it..."Grace collapsed to the ground. From the moment Salvador had taken out the caltrop, it was as if all her strength had been drained from her body, leaving her crumpled on the floor.However, Salvador paid her no mind. His gaze remained fixed on Caden, the coldness in his eyes unyielding."It is too late. Your elder brother is dead. You killed him," said the king.Caden whirled around, his head slamming into Grace's abdomen. A shrill, anguished cry escaped his lips as he shouted, "You lied to me! You said he wouldn't die! You said that he would only be crippled! You lied to me! You lied to me! I killed my brother—"The force of the impact left Grace breathless, her insides twisting painfully as if they migh
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1557
Grace received Salvador's arrival with a sense of dread.The past days had been filled with Carissa's relentless probing, which had left Grace in a state of terror. Yet, despite her fear, a small spark of hope still flickered within her.Connor was dead, while Cecil was but a child and of frail health. It was Caden—intelligent as well as gifted in both studies and martial arts—who was undoubtedly the most suitable choice for the throne.If not Caden, then who? Could it truly be Cecil?If Caden were chosen, Grace was certain she wouldn't be blamed for anything. Salvador wouldn't tarnish the reputation of the birth mother of the crown prince and future king.Now, as Salvador arrived at Iridescent Palace, Grace's heart began to race. His presence could only mean one of two things. Either he had come to check on Caden's progress and finalize his selection as crown prince, or—more dangerously—he had come with evidence and questions regarding the events that had unfolded.Either way, t
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1556
During her investigation, Carissa learned a troubling piece of information from a young chamberlain. The caltrop Cecil had been playing with had indeed gone missing, and a palace maid had picked it up.The chamberlain had witnessed the moment the caltrop was picked up, and recognized the maid in question as Clara, who served Penelope, one of Salvador's concubines.It was clear to Carissa that Penelope had no reason to harm Connor. Her relationship with Grace and Sylvia was rather indifferent. Thus, Carissa formally petitioned Victoria for permission to conduct an inquiry within the harem and see if Clara was secretly loyal to someone else.As expected, Carissa uncovered that Clara had entered the palace years earlier as a low-ranking maid, assigned to laundry duty and forced to endure a hard life. She was from the same hometown as Lyra, one of Grace's trusted maids.Lyra helped Clara by making arrangements with the head maid, sending her to Penelope's residence to work as a cleaner
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1555
While Kylie was still fervently attempting to bring Cecil to Everspring Palace, Carissa arrived."I have long been waiting for you to ask me whether Prince Connor said anything before he passed, Your Majesty. Yet, you never did," she said, looking at the queen.Kylie sharply turned her head toward her, her expression filled with resistance. "There is no need to speak of it. He would have blamed me, for he was always angry with me.""On the contrary, he said that he loved you very much," Carissa replied.A bitter smile curled on Kylie's lips. She clearly didn't believe Carissa's words."He is gone. Why would you make up such things to make me sad?" she said.Carissa looked at the clear finger marks on Kylie's face and her swollen, red eyes. The pain of losing her son should have been a wound to the soul itself, yet here she was, scheming to bring Cecil to her side.Was it for revenge? Or was she trying to secure leverage, pushing Cecil to become the crown prince and crushing Grac
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1554
Victoria couldn't hold back her tears upon hearing those words. Connor was a dutiful child, and it was unfortunate that Kylie remained blind to that.Night had fully fallen by the time they set off.Kyle and Isaac, accompanied by Sebastian's apprentices, escorted them. The journey had been well-prepared by Rafael. The carriage wheels had been altered, and several layers of soft padding had been laid inside.Sebastian had also ensured that Connor's injuries were properly secured, wrapping him in several layers. Each layer was padded with cotton, both to keep him warm and to reduce the damage from the bumps during the journey.The bitter cold had driven everyone indoors, leaving the streets deserted. Snow fell in a steady, gentle stream, blanketing the cobblestones in a thin layer of frost. The carriage wheels crunched over the icy coating, the soft sound a contrast to the stillness of the night.Salvador watched for a long time, well past the point when the convoy had disappeared f
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1553
Connor had endured for three days, a feat that even Sebastian had not anticipated. Given the severity of his injuries, it was highly unlikely that he would survive past the second day, yet he defied expectations and lingered on.As had been mentioned earlier, his survival meant that the internal bleeding had ceased. Though the journey ahead wasn't ideal, it was their only option. They had to set out.Over the past three days, Victoria and Salvador had scarcely slept, remaining by Connor's side the entire time.Connor was only awake for brief moments. When he was, his face was pale from the excruciating pain, leaving him unable to speak. But when he opened his eyes and saw his grandmother and father, it seemed to give him the strength to keep going.He had no idea how much his determination had moved everyone. For three days, each time he woke, he endured the pain, only to drift back to sleep after the needle treatment. Asleep or awake, the only thing that filled his mind and dreams
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1552
Keith sighed. "Lady Sylvia, surely Prince Cecil must be allowed to speak for himself. Even if he is innocent, it should be him who says so.""There's no need for him to speak. What I say is the truth," Sylvia declared firmly.Her gaze shifted to Carissa, her eyes glinting with an icy, cutting hostility. "I know what you seek, Lady Carissa. You wish to satisfy your duty and claim merits. And since I have never treated you kindly, you will believe that Cecil and I are guilty, even when the evidence is not so clear. But I won't allow you to succeed. I won't allow you to harm my son. I will make my stand with my own life, if necessary."As soon as Sylvia finished speaking, she reached for the scissors on the table. With a swift, deliberate motion, she plunged it into her own throat.Carissa had already been on alert, but she didn't expect the concubine's actions to be so immediate and without any hesitation. By the time she reached Sylvia, the woman had already removed the scissors, an
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1551
By the time they arrived at Laurel Palace, the sky had darkened.Laurel Palace stood in an isolated corner of the palace district, separated from the Cold Palace by only a single wall. The bitter wind howled through the trees, its wailing like the cries of restless spirits.As Carissa led Victoria's head chamberlain, Keith, along the narrow path, she took note of the wild grass lining the way. Most of it was dry and brittle, with only the occasional pale green shoot clinging to life. Winter in the north was unforgiving. It allowed no sign of growth, just as the abandoned Cold Palace permitted no trace of hope.Ordinarily, Keith did not accompany Carissa on visits to the other residences. But this time, at Victoria's command, he had insisted on following her to Sylvia's chambers. Carissa understood the queen dowager's reasoning. Keith had served by her side the longest—if there was scheming afoot in the harem, none could decipher it better than he.It seemed Sylvia had been waiting
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1550
Grace seemed momentarily taken aback, her grip tightening on the handkerchief. "What is it, Your Grace? Do not hesitate to speak plainly.""Not long ago, the harem was abuzz with rumors. First, it was said that Lady Sylvia was responsible for Lady Jeanette's miscarriage. Then, the rumor shifted, claiming it was Queen Kylie. You've overseen the harem for so long, Lady Grace. You must have some idea of where these rumors originated and who might have spread them, yes?" Carissa asked.Caught off guard by the question, Grace's sorrowful expression stiffened for a moment as she exchanged a furtive glance with Lyra. But she quickly masked the slip and regained her composure."The palace has always been rife with gossip. There is no need to dwell on such matters. Perhaps you might focus on the investigation into Prince Connor's murder, Your Grace?" she replied."The queen dowager has ordered me to investigate thoroughly, starting from Lady Jeanette's miscarriage. So, while the case of Pri
