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Chapter 500
Kaugnay na kabanata
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 501
Viola's eyes brimmed with tears, and her voice trembled. "No, let's go back to the first floor and pick out a few pieces instead."As a lady from the Earl of Silverstone's family, she couldn't raise her voice to her mother-in-law here. She could only plead with as much humility as she could muster, hoping they would agree to move to the first floor. Even the items on the first floor were not cheap. The Golden Tower only carried high-quality items.Serena clung to the jewelry box tightly. "No, I want this one!"Viola shook with anxiety, her gaze darting around as more heads poked out from the private rooms, all of them wearing expressions of surprise. This only deepened Viola's sense of humiliation.How could she possibly come up with almost 40,000 silver coins? Did she have to empty out her dowry and even use the funds from her late husband's pension?How could she do that?Viola stood there, trembling and speechless. She had never experienced such a humiliating situation in he
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 502
The shopkeeper William looked at Serena with a smile and said, "Miss, that's certainly possible. However, we have many more ruby tiaras in the shop. You've only seen this one. Would you like to choose from a few more options?"Serena lifted her head to see a shop assistant carrying a tray made of zebrawood enter the room. The tray obviously held pieces of much lower value, clearly brought up from the first or second floor. She immediately clutched the jewelry box she held tighter and said, "No, I only want this one."Rebecca was clearly getting frustrated. "What's with all this nonsense? We've already chosen this one. What is the matter with your shop? Just come to our residence to collect the payment. Stop wasting time."William was experienced and well-acquainted with such situations, though it was rare on the third floor. It was clear to him that the mother and daughter were trying to force the daughter-in-law to pay for the dowry, but the situation seemed unusual. The matria
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 503
The term "respected and remembered" revealed a great deal of information.Just like Viola, Kayla had also lost her husband on the battlefield. They shared a common sorrow, and it was out of kindness that she had wanted to help Viola. Unfortunately, Viola didn't appreciate the gesture, leaving Kayla quite embarrassed.Upon hearing the lady's identity, Carissa immediately understood the situation. However, she didn't comment further on the matter. Instead, she changed the subject and asked Kiera which pieces she had chosen. She also needed to buy a gift for her simple-minded mother-in-law. Not bringing Helen along today would likely upset her.The design for the Mystic Pearl set was finalized, and Kiera picked out several other pieces she loved. Hugging her sister-in-law, she exclaimed how much she adored Carissa.Nathaniel chuckled from the side. Compared to the tense exchange between Viola and Serena outside, this pair truly showed what genuine affection looked like.Though he was
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 504
When Helen returned from the palace, she walked straight through the sitting room. She held her head high, and completely ignored the women speaking inside.One of the women called out, "Mother, you're back?"Helen didn't acknowledge them and continued to walk with her head held high.Another woman rushed out and took her arm. "Mom, look at what Carissa and I bought for you! Come and see!""Hmph!" Helen glanced at Kiera coldly. "Why would I care?"Kiera's face fell. "Huh? You don't? Carissa spent a long time choosing these.""Hmph! Spent a long time choosing?" Helen glared coldly at Carissa, who was standing at the door. In response to Carissa's smile, Helen raised her chin. "Fine, let me take a look. But I'm very hard to please."Carissa smiled and said, "Mother, please come and see."Violet quickly called for someone to prepare some snacks. As she admired the jewelry, she filled Helen in on the excitement of the day.Helen placed a delicate red coral hairpin with dangling
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 505
In Valor Estate, only one lamp was lit in the corridor tonight, and two glass-covered lamps illuminated the main courtyard. These glass lamps were actually the ones Carissa had left behind when she moved away.The side hall was shrouded in darkness, with only the buzzing of mosquitoes to break the silence.The Golden Tower's shop assistant hadn't left. He sat anxiously in the side hall of the main courtyard. No one had served him coffee, and no lamps had been lit. He had waited from dawn until nightfall.He was there to collect payment, but once inside Valor Estate, he had been left waiting in this place. From the direction of the main hall, he could hear the sounds of shouting and heart-wrenching crying.The commotion lasted for at least an hour before finally quieting down. Then, someone had come in to tell him to wait. Since then, no one had returned.Given his experience, he was accustomed to accompanying guests to collect banknotes when they didn't have enough on hand. In the
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 506
Serena sat on the edge of her bed, and snorted. "I wouldn't go out of my way to bother her. Before she married in, I thought she was quite capable, especially when comparing dowries with Carissa. Now she can't even come up with a few tens of thousands. It's truly pathetic! At least she's better than Aurora. Do you remember how much money Barrett gave away when he married Aurora? The dowry she brought back was just a pittance. I've never seen such a poor show, and it was a marriage granted by the king to boot."After criticizing her two sisters-in-law, Serena turned her attention to Amelia. "Amelia hasn't cared about anything since she fell ill, not even my dowry. I don't even know what she'll prepare for me. I shouldn't get my hopes up too high. She's poorer than anyone in our family."Not one of the three daughters-in-law was worth much, and listening to this made Rebecca increasingly irritated. "Enough, be quiet."Serena shut her mouth. The light illuminated her face, revealin
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 507
In the dim light, a figure hurriedly entered and supported Viola. "What's wrong?"Through her tear-filled eyes, Viola saw her husband, Barrett's face. She threw herself into his embrace, crying even harder and more pitifully.Barrett had never seen Viola so openly distressed, sitting on the ground and wailing. He thought something serious must have happened, and urgently asked, "What's going on? What happened?"With tears in her eyes, Julia recounted the events of the day. However, when she was about to mention Thomas's military pension, Viola suddenly shouted, "Be quiet!"Julia was startled, and immediately fell silent.Julia hadn't mentioned the pension specifically, but she had mentioned Thomas's name. Even if he were not the sharpest, Barrett could piece together the situation. Viola had used Thomas's death benefits to buy a tiara for Serena, which was worth 36,800 silver coins."Enough. You're dismissed," Barrett said.Then, he released Viola, his face dark with anger.
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 508
Rebecca's vision went black. She lurched forward, and fainted.Barrett quickly caught her, setting aside his anger. He urgently called out, "Someone, fetch a physician! Now!"With tears streaming down her face, Serena rushed to Viola. "What are you doing? Are you trying to anger Mom to death? You were the one who insisted on buying the tiara, and now you regret it?!"Viola took a step back, feeling helpless as she watched the scene unfold. A sense of powerlessness rose within her, mixed with frustration and pain. She had spent 36,800 silver coins to buy the jewelry, only to receive their reproach. Was she now to be blamed for everything?In the middle of the night, the commotion of calling the physician created a chaotic scene. Viola had to wipe away her tears and use a handkerchief to clean Rebecca's face and hands.The physician diagnosed Rebecca with a fainting spell caused by acute anger, but reassured them that it was not serious and that a few doses of medicine would suffi
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1588
Having failed to convince my mother, I went to my father. However, his response was even more severe.They thought I opposed the marriage because I hadn't spent time with Phineas. They were also convinced that since the match was already being arranged, it would be best for him to take me out and build some rapport between us.I didn't want to go, but my mother's maid forced me into the carriage. The maid was also told to watch me closely to ensure I didn't speak out of turn.Phineas looked all polished up, with shiny hair and a face like he had powdered it that morning. He initially showed me some respect, but soon enough, his true nature began to show. He made crude comments about my appearance, saying that if it weren't for my looks and the fact that I was from the Spencer family, he would never have considered marrying me.His condescending attitude made me uncomfortable. If that had been the worst of it, perhaps I would have simply let it go. But on our way back, he pinched me
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1587
Startled, I quickly turned around. Not far behind me stood a man, half-hidden in the shade of a tree. He wore a simple black outfit, his figure thin and unkempt, with dark circles beneath his eyes.It was him—the scholar from the bridge who sold paintings, the one Mr. Klein had called a hopeless case, a student who had dropped out to care for a woman."You're speaking nonsense," I exclaimed, wide-eyed, a shiver running through me at the thought of his strange words. "I've never heard of any water demons here. You're just trying to trick me."Though I had no fear of death, I was uneasy at the thought of demons, particularly if they were going to trap me beneath the mud."I'm not lying to you." Cassius stepped forward, his frail frame seeming even more fragile against the breeze. "If you look around, you'll see no one is here. Why else would such a lovely place be devoid of visitors?""That's because the people who come here are not tourists. They come to pray, and they leave once t
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1586
After a while, my cousin and her maid returned to find me. I asked the maid to hand thirty copper coins to Cassius. He smiled and thanked me kindly.I thought our meeting was just a chance encounter and I would never see him again. However, to my surprise, during Grandma's birthday celebration a month later, I saw him again.Our family was hosting a grand dinner, and Leonard Klein, a renowned scholar, had come with his apprentices. And there Cassius was, standing among them.In Ebonflow, the rules for social gatherings weren't as strict as in the capital, with women being allowed to be in the front hall during a banquet. Of course, Cassius didn't recognize me. After all, I had been wearing a veil when we first met, so he had only seen my eyes.He didn't stay long. After presenting Grandma with a beautiful painting, he quickly excused himself, saying he had business to attend to at home.Once he left, Mr. Klein spoke of him with a tone of regret, explaining, "He's a clever young man
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1585
Anyone who knew me, Liana Spencer, spoke of me with scorn. Even strangers who heard my story would spit on the ground and say I had no shame.Everyone knew that running away with a man was worse than theft or murder. It was a disgrace no family could easily bear.Many asked me the same question: Did I regret it?I never regretted marrying him, but I did carry guilt in my heart. Because of me, the Spencer family's name was dragged through the mud. My brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews had a much harder time finding good matches because of my choices.As a daughter of the Spencer family, I lived in comfort from the moment I was born. I wore fine dresses, ate the best foods, and was showered with love. My parents doted on me, while my brothers spoiled me terribly.But there was something wrong with me.By the time I was fourteen, I still hadn't gotten my monthly courses. We consulted physician after physician, and I drank countless doses of bitter medicine, day and night. Yet, no
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1584
Snow fell softly in the dead of winter, blanketing Victory Pass in white. At that moment, the world seemed to have been made pure again.For years, I wore nothing but a tattered priest's robe. I carried a broken bowl and wandered from place to place, asking for food. I stopped only briefly at temples along the way to rest for a night or two and kneel before the statues to beg for forgiveness.I could have stayed at the first monastery I was sent to. Life there wasn't easy, but it wasn't so hard either. I had warm meals and shelter from the cold. But I knew if I stayed in comfort, I would never wash away my sins.Only by suffering, by staying on the road and bearing the cold, the hunger, the pain, could I find peace in my heart.And so, I came to Victory Pass.My sandals had long since fallen apart. Thick calluses had grown on my feet; I could walk barefoot over rocks and barely feel a thing. Even with every piece of clothing I owned layered over me, the winter cold still cut throug
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1583
It was during the Verdant Hunt that Connor fell out of favor with Dad, who scolded him harshly before we left the hunting grounds. Once we returned to the palace, Connor fell ill. Ryan and I were both terribly worried, but Mom was delighted.She held me close that evening, her smile sharper than usual. "After this, your father is sure to be tired of your brother."She told me I must work harder than ever, and to listen closely to the royal chancellor and my uncle."Study better than anyone. Earn their praise. And most importantly, outshine your brother," she said.My heart felt torn. Mom often spoke of the rewards that came with being crown prince, and I won't lie, I was tempted. However, those were all distant things.At the time, I was close to Connor, Ryan, and even our youngest brother, Cecil. We all got along so well. How could I possibly hate my older brother?Those thoughts tangled inside me, day after day. I lost focus. My studies slipped. I made mistakes during riding pra
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1582
Before I took the vows and entered the monastery, my name was Caden.From the time I was young, I often heard the same praise whispered around me: "This child is sharp beyond his years—clever, quick-witted, the finest of the three princes."I heard it so often that I came to believe it myself. At times, I even felt proud. But whenever I let that pride rise too high, Mom would bring me back to earth.She would look at me, her eyes soft but filled with something I couldn't quite name—pity, perhaps. And then, she would sigh and say, "What a pity you were born of my womb. If not, you might have risen above that foolish one. But fate favored him, not you."That "foolish one"—I knew well enough who she meant. I had heard her say it so many times in private, though never once in public.It puzzled me greatly as a child. Mom clearly disliked my eldest brother, Connor, more than anyone. Yet, whenever he came near, she would smile warmly and speak kindly. She would even flatter him, calling
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1581
Two childhood friends were now each giving their all on very different paths.Clarence had started with herbs, then medicine, and in time, healing became his entire world at Eldermere Keep. At first, it was merely something to pour his heart into, because he knew he would never be allowed to leave the mountain and open a medical hall of his own.But then Ryan came, and afterward, sent Clarence a letter.That letter changed everything.For the first time, Clarence began to hope that maybe, just maybe, he could go down the mountain after all. And once that hope took root, he threw himself into his studies with more energy than ever before. He barely slept, rarely left the apothecary, and sometimes forgot to eat.Because of the pain he had once endured, he focused his efforts on curing injuries and chronic pain. Of course, a good physician had to know more than one thing, so he studied every field without neglecting any.There was a fire inside him now. A quiet flame that had not bur
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1580
"Elise, must your mouth run on without end?" Carissa frowned at her daughter, who had been chattering away beside Ryan from the moment he stepped through the door.The little girl's face was flushed from the sun, her hair tangled into a messy nest that made it clear she had only just returned from playing outdoors. She hadn't stopped talking since Ryan came back from his travels, pestering him with questions about what he had seen and done.Elise turned to Carissa with wide eyes, looking up with a face so innocent it could soften stone. She truly had inherited the best features from both her parents."Mom, I haven't seen Ryan in such a long time. Every moment without him felt like an eternity. We've been apart for so long, so of course I have a lot to say to him."Carissa's frown deepened. "And who taught you to speak in such a ridiculous manner? An eternity—where did that come from?""Sage Isaac said it to Aunt Violet. He went back to Meadow Ridge for a few days and said it to her
