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Chapter 140
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 141
Lulu was the happiest and the most tearful.She practically flew as she chased after the king's carriage, crying out, "My lady! My lady...!"Carissa glanced at her helplessly. Lulu was laughing and crying at the same time, showing no restraint at all.Sitting beside Carissa, Rafael glanced at Lulu and said thoughtfully, "Her name is Lulu, isn't it?""You still remember her, Your Highness?" Carissa asked in surprise."Yes," Rafael replied with a slight smile. "I remember one year when I went to the Pathfinders Guild, I saw that girl picking apples from a tree. When she saw your senior and I, she was so frightened she fell off the tree."Carissa was even more surprised. "You've been to the Pathfinders Guild before?""Yes. Before I was deployed to the Southern Frontier battlefield, I used to go to the guild once a year," he said softly.The June sunlight shone brightly in his eyes, but his gaze quickly dimmed as he continued, "I haven't been there since.""I didn't know about tha
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 142
Aurora returned to the capital in a state of dejection.Barrett kept his distance from her, even though he was injured and could have used her support. He was adamant about avoiding any physical contact with her. Even the others who had been captured with her glared at her with hatred.They knew why they had been castrated—it was because in Fawnrun City, Aurora had tortured that young general and ordered his castration, humiliating him.Now, the eighteen soldiers who were captured had been treated the same way by the Westhaven soldiers, and they couldn't voice their suffering or express their grievances. Their hatred for Aurora ran deep.Throughout the journey, they avoided her as much as possible. They didn't want to speak to her, and even when they saw her, they kept their distance.Aurora remembered her earlier enthusiasm, believing she would achieve great things in this war. Instead, she had returned with half her face disfigured and despised by everyone. She could barely tole
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 143
Aurora froze for a moment, then snapped, "Who said that? Who said I was defiled?""Just answer the question," Rebecca said, her face turning dark with anger. "Word has already spread all over town. Who needs to ask? Everyone is talking about it!"Aurora hadn't expected news of the Southern Frontier events to reach the capital. Her mind went blank.She raised her voice defensively, "I wasn't defiled. Yes, I was captured, but I only endured physical suffering. My purity remains intact."Jonathan interjected, "Then, you should find someone to vouch for you. Weren't there others with you when you were captured? They can testify for you."Aurora's frustration grew as she thought about her cousin and the other soldiers. Barrett had questioned them, but they all claimed ignorance. They had all been locked up together in the wooden hut, so how could they not know?Their claims of ignorance led Barrett and everyone else to believe that Aurora had been defiled.Unable to find anyone to pr
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 144
After hearing Jonathan's words, Rebecca began to seriously consider the possibility.Carissa was now the esteemed young lady of a duke's family. If Barrett married her, he would immediately inherit a title. Rebecca had considered this before, but at the time, she believed Aurora and Barrett could forge a successful career together.In that case, why bother letting her son be the subject of public gossip? But what was the difference between that and what they were facing now?With the scandal surrounding Aurora, there was no shortage of gossip. A defiled woman tarnished the family name and jeopardized the marriage prospects of the younger relatives. If Barrett inherited a title, at least the marriages of Bryan and Serena could be given some consideration due to the prestige of the duke's household.Moreover, if Carissa returned, the vast wealth she brought with her would also return. The Warren family had been impoverished lately; they couldn't even afford medicine. Plus, Carissa wa
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 145
Moreover, if Carissa agreed to come back, that would be fine. But if she refused, it would be quite embarrassing!After considering, Rebecca decided, "Let's send Charlotte first. If she refuses, we'll think of another way."Rebecca was unwilling to go herself. If Carissa were to truly reconcile with Barrett, Rebecca wouldn't be able to maintain her position as a strict mother-in-law. The Warren family already had enough trouble with Aurora—they couldn't afford to have another difficult situation.-While Rebecca was mulling over her predicament, Carissa had already gone to Serenity Palace to meet Victoria.The empress dowager was in her early fifties, but she had taken very good care of herself. Despite a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, she appeared youthful. Her black hair was speckled with a few strands of white, but they were not very noticeable.She exuded an air of grandeur and elegance, and her demeanor became even more gentle and approachable when she looked at Ca
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 146
Victoria's voice was choked with emotion.When Carissa was very young, she often accompanied Melanie to the palace. At that time, Victoria was still the queen consort.Victoria and Melanie's most frequent topic of conversation was that women should strive for themselves, and not spend their entire lives being subservient to men. They should have their own thoughts and live their lives to the fullest.Whenever this topic came up, Victoria would sigh, saying that she was trapped within the high walls of the harem. Though it appeared she lived a life of luxury and wealth, it was also a life without freedom.Melanie would agree, saying that women didn't necessarily have to marry and bear children; they could also venture into the world and carve out their own path.That was why, when Carissa was seven, she was allowed to leave home and join the Pathfinders Guild to learn martial arts. With the skills to defend herself, she could explore the world without fearing for her safety.In an
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 147
Liam was indeed admirable. But if Westhaven's second prince seized the throne and discovered the truth behind the crown prince's death, he might not hesitate to send troops to Victory Pass again. The man was a warmonger, and Liam couldn’t restrain him.After discussing these frustrating matters, the conversation shifted to Carissa and her friends. Salvador was quite pleased, and praised Carissa highly.Looking at Rafael, Salvador said, "I have already spoken with the queen about bringing Carissa into the palace as a concubine."Rafael was still worried about the succession struggle in Westhaven, so he nodded absentmindedly. "Good... Wait, what?"He sprang to his feet, instantly sober despite all the alcohol he had consumed. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at Salvador. "Salvador, did you say you want Carissa to enter the palace as a concubine?""Why are you so agitated?" Salvador gave him a sideways glance. "She has now achieved military merit and is the legitimate daughte
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 148
Amidst the myriad of thoughts swirling in Rafael's mind, one thing stood out: under no circumstances could he allow Salvador to take Carissa into the harem as a concubine. Even if she wasn't riding on the battlefield, a woman like Carissa shouldn't be confined within the deep palace walls."Salvador, she can't enter the palace. I won't allow it! She is under my command; you cannot just take her away without even asking her opinion," Rafael argued."That's not a valid reason," Salvador countered. "She has just come out of such a miserable marriage. At the very least, give her time to recover and rebuild her confidence in men. We should care for her feelings, not forcibly take her..."Salvador looked at Rafael, his gaze hardening. "Do you fight wars like this? Letting the enemy recover? Caring for the enemy's feelings?"Rafael didn't back down. "She's not the enemy."His battlefield ferocity seemed to have returned as he stood before Salvador. He made no secret of his desire to
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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
