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Chapter 391
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 392
During these fifteen days, the king would personally visit Skyward Sanctum, the sacred platform for ceremonies. He would then enjoy the festivities at the city gates with the common folk and watch the fireworks.The Capital Guard and the garrison unit needed to make early preparations, urging the Ministry of Housing to build high platforms outside the city walls so the king and court officials could watch the fireworks.After visiting Avis, Carissa and Rafael talked in the small wooden cabin outside. Travis had used the cabin for a night, but the bedding was neatly arranged. Although the furniture was old, it had been cleaned thoroughly.Carissa shared the situation regarding Avis with Rafael, who was equally shocked upon hearing about Yuvan's reasons for the divorce."That's absurd, isn't it? Having no sons and jealousy—none of those accusations are convincing," he said, frowning."There's always something that can be used to convince others, like Aunt Avis' grave illness," Caris
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 393
Avis gripped Carissa's wrist tightly, glancing anxiously outside. Her breathing was rapid, and she struggled to keep her voice steady."Listen to me. Prince Yuvan is not a good man. He has been conspiring with Grand Princess Eleanor."Carissa was stunned. "What?"She hurriedly sent everyone out, instructing Violet to stand guard at the door."Aunt Avis, what do you mean by that?"Avis' head sank, her voice filled with fear and cold dread as she continued, "Over the years, he has been secretly raising troops in Valken, funded by Grand Princess Eleanor and Lady Fiona. Those soldiers are hidden in Stonebridge County."Carissa knew Stonebridge County. It was Eleanor's fief, the dowry the late king had given her."Do not offend him. Do not become his enemy. He is not as simple as outsiders think," Avis said, her breath growing weaker.Perhaps the revelation of this secret had frightened her deeply."Over the years, he has caused a scandal with his favoritism and abandoning his wife
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 394
By the time they arrived at the capital, it was already New Year's Eve.The New Year was the most anticipated and joyous festival of the year for the common folk. Every street and alley was filled with festive cheer, with households putting up decorations and preparing fireworks to usher in the new year.Amidst this time of universal celebration and family reunions, Avis had passed away quietly, her death not causing even the slightest ripple in Yuvan's family. As Yuvan and his family had already arrived in the capital, the news of her death may not have reached them yet.When Carissa entered Hell Monarch Estate, she learned that Yuvan's family had arrived and that Helen was hosting them.As Violet handed over her horsewhip to the stable hand, she clenched her fists upon hearing the news. Her anger was so intense, she could hardly contain herself. She felt an overwhelming urge to storm in and confront Yuvan.Rafael frowned. "When I left, they hadn't yet arrived in the capital. Cle
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 395
When Verdant Monastery was mentioned, the faces of Yuvan's family members changed immediately. Yuvan's eldest son, Randall, was about to sit down when he heard it.He abruptly asked, "Verdant Monastery? Do you know how our mother is faring?""Not well!" Carissa looked directly at Randall. "If you care about her, why didn't you go see her yourself?"Randall glanced at Yuvan, who remained indifferent and said nothing."I... I was at the academy and couldn't leave," Randall replied awkwardly."Is that so? With so many people in Horizon Estate, no one could leave? Only two maids were sent to attend to her. If it weren't for Sebastian's apprentices, Jasmine and Ivy, how long could she have lasted at Verdant Monastery?"Sabrina, who never thought much of Carissa because she had been divorced, was displeased by her words and said, "I didn't realize that my cousin-in-law had a penchant for meddling in other people's affairs."Carissa's gaze cut through Sabrina like a knife as she retort
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 396
Yuvan's face went ashen. The divorce agreement was still in existence? Every one of those responsible was unreliable!Randall took the letter with trembling hands. How could he not recognize the handwriting? It was his father's handwriting, written by his own hand.He lifted his gaze to Yuvan, clenching his fists. "Dad, how do you explain this?"Yuvan pursed his lips, his displeasure evident. The once gentle and unassuming expression on his face had been replaced by a cloud of gloom.Fiona quickly intervened, "How could your father have written that? It's clearly an imitation of your father's handwriting. Why would your father divorce your mother?"She looked around, but did not dare directly address Carissa. Instead, she turned to Violet. "You must have produced this document, right? Do you have some deep-seated grudge against Yuvan and his family? Why use a fake divorce agreement to provoke Lady Avis and cause her to fall ill?"Violet replied coldly, "Don't you know who I
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 397
Randall wiped his tears and approached Rafael, wanting to ask something. However, Yuvan cut him off with a loud command. "Didn't you hear them? They think we bring bad luck because we're in mourning! Hurry up and leave!"Tears streamed down Randall's face again. He gave Rafael and Carissa a salute, his tall, thin figure swaying as he staggered away.Yuvan's other children all made a noise of discontent and left. Only Fiona managed to maintain her composure. She bowed to Helen, and said, "Take care, Lady Helen. I'll be taking my leave."As Fiona left, she cast a few significant glances at Violet, who responded with a dismissive roll of her eyes.Helen remained in a state of bewilderment throughout the encounter. She had just been conversing pleasantly with them. They had appeared polite and well-spoken. How could they turn out to be so heartless?Avis was dead, and only Randall had shown any sign of grief. The others wore faces devoid of any visible sorrow. Especially the two y
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 398
After bathing and donning her formal attire, Carissa exuded an air of unrivaled elegance and majesty. She touched up her makeup lightly, trying to conceal her pallor and the dark circles under her eyes, to hide her weariness from view.The royal family banquet was clearly a time for family reunion, but it came with its own set of rituals and decorum that had to be observed.She took a deep breath before the mirror, striving to suppress the grief of losing a loved one. She told herself that she had become accustomed to it, that familiarity would make it less painful.In the mirror, she saw a figure dressed in splendid attire, with an elaborate hairstyle and adorned with pearls and jewels. A necklace made of Mystic Pearls shimmered with a lustrous sheen, cascading gracefully down her chest.This was part of the dowry given by Adrian. The jars of pearls alone were worth a fortune, and they were stored separately in another box.Her earrings, also made of Mystic Pearls, covered her en
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 399
Carissa knew she couldn't let Helen comfort her any longer. The latter's attempts at consolation were heartbreaking.Carissa squeezed Ryan's hand. "It's alright. I was just feeling a bit down, but my spirits are already lifting after I think about tonight's palace banquet and all the delicious food."Her tone was light, managing to deceive both Kiera and Ryan, as well as Helen.Though Helen was distressed by Avis' passing, the palace banquet was a lively affair. Such excitement was rare—who wouldn't enjoy it?The palace was indeed bustling with festive cheer. The atmosphere was thick with New Year's spirit, with lights and decorations adorning every corner. Star-shaped lanterns lined the corridors, casting a bright light that made the palace appear as if it were bathed in daylight.Yuvan was currently taking his family to pay their respects to the queen dowager and the queen. Victoria wasn’t fond of Yuvan, who was the late king's younger brother. Naturally, it was due to his rec
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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
