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Chapter 31
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 32
In the evening, Aurora had someone tell Barrett to meet her by the lake. As they walked, Barrett remained silent.Aurora was still unaware of the situation. She had expected him to explain the divorce voluntarily when they met up. But to her surprise, he didn't say a single word. Also, there were scratches on his face, as if a cat had clawed him.After walking for a while, she stopped and couldn't help but ask, "Did you divorce her? Did you take half her dowry?"As the dusk gently illuminated Aurora's somewhat tanned face, Barrett suddenly thought of Carissa's bright and beautiful face. His heart twinged with pain.Seeing how Barrett remained silent with a pained look, Aurora couldn't help but get angry."You didn't deduct it? Didn't I ask someone to send you a letter, telling you to deduct half of her dowry? The Warren family has minimal funds left. If you didn't keep some of her dowry, how are we supposed to live in the future?"Barrett looked at her and replied, "But that was
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 33
Barrett fell silent. He had suffered a thorough defeat in today's battle against Carissa, and it was embarrassing to talk about it."Is it really true?" Aurora pressed.Barrett sighed. "Forget it, let's not talk about this."Pouting, Aurora punched him playfully. "I knew you were lying to me. Anyway, it doesn't matter how she left. As long as everything's settled, it's fine."Since she said it's not worth sharing the position of your wife with me, I actually feel the same. The cunning methods she learned while managing the household affairs are beyond my ability to match. That's also where her real talent lies."She tilted her head and faced Barett. "I can't learn her skills, but if you want me to sweet-talk you like her, I can manage that."Aurora held her hands to her chest, smiled gently, and called in a cute voice, "Honey!"She shivered dramatically. "Oh my god, that was so disgusting! How does she act like that?"Barrett shivered too. Aurora's deliberate act had reminded h
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 34
Solomon came over to Northwatch Estate, bringing some of the younger members of the Sinclair family along with him to help Carissa unload and arrange everything. After they all hustled for a while, Solomon walked around the estate with Carissa.Once bustling with life, the mansion now felt desolate."You're the only lady of the duke's estate now, and the servants you have are those who followed you from your natal home."You should find a steward to manage the household affairs and hire more servants for the rough work in the kitchen, garden, and stables, as well as to handle the carriages. If it's inconvenient for you, I can help find some people for you," said Solomon."Uncle Solomon, you're busy with business. I wouldn't want to trouble you. Holly and Lily will take care of it," replied Carissa gratefully.Solomon looked at his niece and sighed. "Family should never talk about not wanting to trouble each other. In the past, your father used to invite us to gather after returnin
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 35
Although the Duke of Northwatch's family was known for their military background, Carissa was well-read, so she wanted her attendants to be literate as well."Alright, all of you can stay. Serve Lady Sinclair well. She will name you later," said Holly.The four were overjoyed."Thank you, Ms. Holly!""Don't thank me yet. Serving Lady Sinclair comes with rules. If you don't follow them well, you'll end up as second- or third-tier maids," Holly warned."We will definitely learn and follow the rules properly," the four replied, bowing respectfully.After Holly and Lily picked more servants to join the household, they instructed the agent to find coachmen, carpenters, stablemen, and gardeners. However, the positions of steward and accountant were too important to be left for the agent to procure."Rest assured, we will have some people tomorrow for your selection," the agent promised.After receiving his payment and handing over the contracts, the agent smiled and presented Holly a
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 36
But this matter was impossible to investigate now. The spies were either dead or had disappeared back to Westhaven, where they couldn’t be found.Carissa couldn't help but feel bitterness and pain as she thought of her father and brothers again.They had once reclaimed the Southern Frontier, only to lose it again and die tragically on the battlefield. If the Hell Monarch could win the ongoing war and reclaim the Southern Frontier, it would fulfill the wishes of her father and brothers.On her first night back home, Carissa didn't sleep well. Her dreams were filled with scenes of her mother, sister-in-law, nephews, and nieces being killed. After jolting awake in the middle of the night, she couldn't fall back asleep. She spent the rest of the night lying in bed staring wide-eyed at the canopy, her mind racing.From the wounds on her family members' bodies, Carissa could see how ruthless the assailants had been. It was clear that they had been venting their anger.Losing a battle sh
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 37
"He took everything! From now on, the family won't even be able to afford my medicine!" yelled Rebecca.Barrett felt uneasy but could only comfort his mother, saying, "Don't worry, Mom. Aurora and I will soon be needed at the Southern Frontier again. We'll return with honor."Rebecca sobbed hoarsely. "How could she be so heartless? Wouldn't she still have been your rightful wife? Why couldn't she tolerate sharing the position? She's just an orphan girl, yet she thinks of herself as a noble lady?!"Barrett pursed his lips. Carissa was now the legitimate daughter of a duke, which meant she was naturally a noble lady."She deserved having her entire family annihilated! She deserved it! She deserved it!" Rebecca raged.Barrett also found it strange that spies from Westhaven had wiped out the Sinclair family. Why would they kill those elderly people, women, and children? It made no sense and wasn't something worth doing.But the Sinclair family's matters were no longer his concern. He
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 38
After Solomon and the other Sinclair family members moved all the dowry items back to Northwatch Estate, Carissa came out to thank them and invited everyone in for tea.Solomon shook his head. "We've got other important matters to attend to, so we can't stay for tea. By the way, Barrett asked me to give you a message. He hopes you won't regret your decision.""I have nothing to say to him in response to his message. Since you have important matters, I won't keep you," Carissa replied calmly.Pleased with her response, Solomon and the others left.Even if the Sinclair family lost everything, they couldn't lose their dignity.It wasn't that Solomon didn't want to stay for tea, but Northwatch Estate was still in chaos. He was certain the new servants had yet to learn all the necessary rules and mannerisms.Solomon would have been okay with it, but he had brought along other family members. Too many people seeing the situation at Northwatch Estate might lead to gossip, and Carissa co
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 39
The problem was no one had told Rebecca that soldiers would be coming. And with over a hundred of them arriving, they took up many seats, leaving several other guests without a place to sit.These guests were prominent civil and military officials, esteemed figures in court whose goodwill could greatly benefit Barrett's career. But now, how were they to be accommodated? They were left standing in the cold, shivering and resentful.Rebecca urgently turned to Amelia, demanding she find a solution. Amelia was equally stunned and at a loss, as she had arranged the seating based on the official guest list and no one had informed her about the additional guests.The invited guests were equally shocked when they saw over a hundred unruly soldiers immediately sit down and start eating and drinking, laughing and joking loudly with the bride.The scene looked bizarre and out of place. Many of the wedding guests were from prestigious families and had attended out of respect for the king. They
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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
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1549
Carissa paid a visit to Jeanette.Though the concubine did not explicitly say that Sylvia was responsible for the loss of her child, she did remark, "Those who commit wicked deeds will always face retribution. No one can escape it."The words seemed not only directed at Sylvia, but also at Kylie.As Carissa prepared to leave after questioning her, Jeanette suddenly spoke up, asking, "Your Grace, was it truly impossible to save Prince Connor?"Carissa assumed Jeanette's words were born of sympathy for Connor. But when she glanced at the concubine, she saw no trace of sorrow in her eyes, only a subtle glint of something resembling satisfaction.It was an emotion she clearly tried to conceal but could not, as though Jeanette had achieved a long-sought revenge. Carissa chose not to respond, instead turning on her heel to leave.Kylie had caused Jeanette's loss, so it was no surprise that she wouldn't wish for Connor's recovery.Carissa couldn't fault Jeanette for her feelings. How c
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1548
Kylie had always looked down on Grace.The latter's family lacked distinction, and her beauty could scarcely be considered remarkable. Her rise to the position of higher-ranked concubine seemed nothing more than the result of fortunate circumstances, particularly her giving birth to Caden.Kylie guessed that Grace also must be aware of her limited connections and support, which was why she had long exercised caution and humility. However, there were times when she could not resist harboring a few selfish thoughts. Yet, she dared not plot too aggressively.Such had been the case when Grace had sheltered Jeanette—likely in an attempt to solidify her position and strengthen her influence in the harem by using the other woman as a pawn. Despite Grace's attentions, Jeanette had remained ungrateful, resenting the way she constantly placed Caden in Salvador's presence.Grace always had a habit of making things harder for herself, which was why Kylie had never held her in much regard.Now
