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Chapter 662
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 663
Alice was about to express her satisfaction when Opal chimed in with a bright smile. "She's indeed a fine girl, and we are all quite pleased. However, marriage is a serious matter and shouldn't be rushed. Why don't we each go back and discuss this with our families? After all, Ms. Sanford hasn't said whether she likes Thomas, and they've only just met today. It's best to first understand her feelings."Gemma replied, "That wouldn't be difficult. I can ask her right away."Opal chuckled. "Let's not be too hasty. If you send someone in to ask her like this, it might offend us if she says she doesn't like him. If she says she does, it could make her seem eager, which wouldn't look good for a young lady. Since both our families have already met a couple of times, it wouldn't hurt to meet again. After all, her parents aren't in the capital, and her feelings are what truly matter. What do you think, Madam Gemma?"With such reasonable arguments, Gemma found it hard to dispute Opal. After
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 664
Once Alice and Opal left, Violet shared details about Darin with Thomas, including some schemes involving Yuvan, Harvey, and Eleanor.Violet chose her words carefully, omitting her and Carissa's plans for the Emberfest Festival. However, after listening, Thomas pieced together the information with what he had already investigated and came close to the truth. He understood that they would likely start their inquiries with Eleanor, as Yuvan's influence lay in Valken. In the capital, he relied solely on Eleanor and Harvey.Eleanor's status as a grand princess allowed her to maneuver in ways others could not, and she had indeed been working behind the scenes on Yuvan's behalf. Without her assistance, Yuvan's power would have been weakened significantly.Harvey was deeply embedded in the shadows, making it challenging to trace his connections.It suddenly dawned on Thomas why Rafael had instructed them, the Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team, to limit their dealings with Hell Monarch Es
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 665
It was too alike!The similarities were too much!From the face shape to the eyebrows, eyes, nose, and that beauty mark on her upper lips—everything about the woman in the portraits was identical to Darin, whom Violet had seen earlier that day.Violet suddenly felt as if she couldn't breathe, and a sense of absurdity overwhelmed her. The person she had just met was now captured so vividly in a painting, and Kyle hadn't even seen Darin before.How could Kyle portray her in such a lifelike manner?She turned to look at Kyle and Jacob, who stood in front of another portrait. "What about this one? If she lived a good life, with plenty of resources, she'd look like this—rounded and healthy."Kyle continued, "As for this one, it's the same idea, but I changed her eyebrows and hairstyle. This next one shows her in a worse condition. I assumed she was unable to eat enough or stay warm, which is why she appears thinner…" Then, Kyle waved at Violet. "Violet, go on over there. Don't stand
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 666
Carissa jumped in. "Did she resemble my mother when you saw her in person?"Violet replied, "Honestly, I felt a sense of familiarity right away, but it didn't click at the time. Now that I look at these paintings, it's clear. Kyle has captured her likeness remarkably well, even her expressions. That's why I could tell there was some resemblance. Darin is a living person, but she has been trained to carry herself like a proper lady, which makes the similarity less obvious.""Wait, Your Grace. Let me ask my questions first," Jacob interjected, feeling a tingle of unease wash over him from head to toe. He couldn't explain why he felt that way, but the feeling that everything was unreal was overwhelming. Just moments ago, he and Kyle were still trying to determine which painting best matched Jaina's current appearance. Before they had settled on anything, however, Violet returned and suddenly announced she had just seen his sister. It felt so surreal, as if he was in a dream.Jaco
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 667
Kyle shook his head, "Yes, sorry. I forgot about that. I've been locked up in the Pathfinders Guild for a while now, and it's making me a little loopy."Carissa pointed at Violet. "Violet visited the Kingsley family today. They know she's Thomas' godsister. She can invite Darin out. I believe that even the Kingsley family knows Violet is connected to us. But if she brings along someone from the Farrell family, I think Madam Kingsley will agree."Jacob looked at Violet with hopeful eyes. "I'm counting on you for everything, Ms. Spencer."Violet was loyal and righteous, so she immediately agreed. "Sure! Tell me about her childhood, so I can bring it up when I see her. That way, I can gauge her reaction and at least get a rough idea of what she's like."Jacob stood up, but Rafael quickly pushed him back down. "Stay seated."Jacob tried to stand again. "No…" He was met with another forceful shove from Rafael, accompanied by a sharp command, "Sit down!"With a resigned sigh, Jacob e
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 668
Jacob brought over a little rabbit figurine that looked like it had seen better days. It was rough around the edges and had one ear broken off, clearly not something bought from a shop."The year she went missing, I made this for her during the Starlight Harvest Festival. She got grounded that year for making a mistake, and couldn't go out to play. I was supposed to have the servants buy her one, but my dad didn't allow it as part of her punishment. "So, I secretly made this one out of clay and baked it at home. After it was baked, I painted it, but the colors have faded over time. When she got it, she seemed to dislike it and dropped it on the ground. That's when one of the ears broke off." Jacob's voice trembled, and his eyes glistened with unshed tears. "She didn't like this figurine at all. She seemed almost offended by it, and cried. I thought if she felt that strongly about it, it must have left an impression."Violet looked at the shabby rabbit figurine, its faded paint
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 669
Jacob's voice cracked with sorrow. "The loss of my sister hit our family hard. My mother cried day and night, and my father resigned from his post. He took two servants with him to search for her. He only returned home once every two years. My grandfather held everything together, and when my grandmother passed away, my father was still out looking for my sister. It wasn't until the second year after my grandmother's death that he finally returned. That was the tenth year he had been searching, and he finally gave up."The group listened and felt their heart ache. The pain and torment of losing a child was a wound too deep to contemplate."From the day my sister disappeared, joy was completely lost to us. For the first two years, I brought my grandfather and mother to the capital, since they were in poor health. My father was unwilling to leave Cloud County. He always held on to hope and believed that one day she would remember her home and come back, and there would be someone at
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 670
Glimmering Tower was one of the tallest buildings in the capital. From its highest point, visitors could gaze down at the southern river port and take in a breathtaking view of much of the city's beauty. The entire structure was imposing and magnificent, and it exuded a level of luxury that was truly extraordinary.However, getting a seat in the private room on the top floor of Glimmering Tower didn't come cheap. Just the coffee alone cost five silver coins, and ordering a meal could easily run into dozens of silver coins for something simple. For a nicer dish, the price could soar into the hundreds or even thousands of silver coins.As for who owned Glimmering Tower, not many could say. What everyone knew was that those who went to the tower were either rich or nobles, and the tower made a fortune every day. Those who knew the owner of Glimmering Tower kept it to themselves, as there aren't many left in the capital who have connections with that person in Meadow Ridge.Violet and O
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1514
"This journey was not only for the sake of Orivenia and Starhaven, but also for Nerathia. No need for thanks; relations between kingdoms are always driven by mutual interests. It is only through personal friendship that true sincerity arises," Faelan replied.Carissa nodded thoughtfully, but curiosity got the better of her. "Might I ask if you know my mentor, Adrian Russell?"Faelan chuckled. "I do. He has been to Nerathia and even stayed at my training grounds for a time. My guard commander, Shadow, is quite close with your mentor. They would often drink together.""Ah, I see," Carissa mused, thinking back to the shadowy figures she had seen.She wondered which of them was the esteemed Shadow. It would be a great pity if she couldn't meet him.As if reading her mind, Faelan chuckled. "In three or five years, we'll visit Starhaven. When the time comes, I'll introduce you to Shadow."Carissa was about to express her thanks, but Violet interjected, "Why wait three or five years? Co
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1513
After two days of touring, Liam finally spoke to Carissa."Your country has a Miracle Healer named Sebastian Dalton, right? He's been making a medicine called Snowdrop Pills. Snow Blossom is a key ingredient, but your kingdom has only a limited supply. It grows at the Southern Frontier, but only high atop the snowy mountains. It's difficult to gather and incredibly scarce."However, in our kingdom, Snow Blossoms are not so rare. It's found on many high peaks. The Snow Blossom that Healer Dalton uses now is bought secretly from Orivenia's herbal merchants at a steep price. It's so expensive that every Snowdrop Pill he sells is at a loss."Carissa knew that Snowdrop Pills were rare because some of the ingredients were hard to find, but Sebastian had never specifically mentioned which ones.However, if he was buying an ingredient from Orivenia, it made sense why he needed to keep it a secret. Previously, there was no trade between Orivenia and Starhaven, especially when it came to med
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1512
The position Faelan took at the table represented Nerathia's stance in the negotiations.They were neutral!Carissa couldn't help but marvel once more at the power of a strong kingdom.The initial stages of the talks were tedious, with the same points being repeated over and over. The translators were busy, their voices echoing with historical debates. This was inevitable, as conceding too early would only lead to further compromises.As such, the first round of negotiations yielded no agreement. It was simply a test of boundaries.The second round began the following day. Again, they emphasized the same points.But after the second repetition, Faelan spoke up, saying, "There is no point in prolonging this. The dispute over the border has lasted for decades. It will not be resolved in a day. Let us set the border issue aside for now. What I wish to know is whether both sides are committed to establishing peace and mutual non-aggression between your kingdoms."The answer was unan
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1511
Carissa noticed that the nobles and officials of Orivenia seemed unaware of Nerathia's intention to intervene in the negotiations.Their faces betrayed confusion, but after a moment, they revealed expressions of joy and confidence. It seemed they also believed that Nerathia's involvement would provide Orivenia with solid backing.Seeing this, Carissa felt a slight sense of reassurance. If that were really the case, Lisandra would have informed them beforehand. Or at least, she would have let the negotiating officials know.But why hadn't she?It seemed there was only one explanation. Lisandra was also hoping for mutual concessions. Few at court supported her, so she had brought in Faelan from Nerathia—someone whom everyone would trust.This made sense of the conversation from the previous night, when Lisandra had invited Carissa and Violet to the palace. The remarks about unmet wishes were clear now. The example of the women taking part in the civil service examinations was just t
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1510
In banquets like these, no one truly ate with much enthusiasm. Most dishes were merely tasted before being set aside, barely touched before servants whisked them away.But the Nerathians were different. They treated every dish with genuine respect, cleaning their plates entirely, no matter what was served. Their wine glasses, once filled, were immediately emptied again. The palace servants attending to them must have been exhausted, constantly refilling their glasses and replacing empty plates.Violet recalled their meal at Spring Pavilion. Just like tonight, not a single scrap had been left behind. She wanted to say something to Carissa, but the only sound in the hall was the clinking of cutlery and the quiet shifting of plates. Speaking now would be too conspicuous.Still, one glance between them was enough.Violet's thought was clear—the Nerathians' presence at this banquet must be tied to the negotiations. Carissa agreed.However, their exact role remained uncertain. Were they
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1509
The banquet began in the late afternoon, with Liam personally escorting the Starhaven delegation to the palace again.As they had suspected, the coronation ceremony had already been held. This evening's gathering was mainly focused on the border negotiations. Upon entering, Carissa and Violet noticed that there were no other foreign emissaries present—only royals, nobles, and officials from various departments.While they showed no hostility toward the Starhaven delegation, they weren't particularly welcoming either. Since a translator was needed for communication, conversations remained minimal, limited to simple greetings.Just as they were settling in, Lisandra turned to the Starhaven delegation and remarked, "Today, we have guests from Nerathia joining us as well. They should be arriving shortly. I believe you will find that you have much in common."Davis' eyes brightened immediately. "Guests from Nerathia? Who might they be?"His excitement was understandable.The weapons t
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1508
Lisandra continued, "The irony is, when I was a grand princess, I could call for women to join the ranks of government without hesitation. Now that I am the queen, I must move slowly, cautiously, balancing all the factions, weakening their hostility and wariness toward me. There are so many things to consider and so many forces at play. At times, I grow impatient, and I wish I could simply rid myself of those who oppose me."Carissa thought for a moment before replying, "In truth, whether one is a king or an official, man or woman, I believe their goal is the same, Your Majesty. It's to ensure the long-term stability of the kingdom and the peace and prosperity of the people. "When the nation prospers and war is no longer a threat, any reforms you wish to make will face less resistance. But for now, you must first secure your position, Your Majesty."Her meaning was subtle, but Lisandra understood clearly. The kingdom was still in turmoil, with various factions causing obstacles. Si
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1507
The royal palace of Orivenia stood resplendent and imposing, its golden architecture gleaming under the night sky, exuding an air of solemn grandeur.Upon passing through the first palace gate, the carriage rolled smoothly along the wide palace path, its spaciousness a stark contrast to the more cramped streets outside. However, what stood out the most was the abundance of lamps. It seemed as if oil was no object, for the palace grounds were lit up as though the night itself had been banished. As they got out of the carriage and walked along the winding corridor, the large trees ahead were hung with many lamps. Anyone trying to hide in the trees wouldn't stand a chance; they would be seen immediately.Liam led the way. As they approached a grand palace hall, two female attendants stepped forward. They exchanged a few words with Liam in the Westic before smiling and nodding to Carissa and Violet."Ladies, Her Majesty invites you to enter the palace," Liam said with a polite gesture
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1506
By the time they reached the capital of Orivenia, it was the 13th of August. A full month had passed since they left Starhaven.The afternoon sun shone brightly, and Kendrick lay back in the carriage as they entered the city.Since entering Orivenia's borders, they had endured seven assassination attempts. The last one had been particularly brutal, likely involving suicide soldiers. Many of the Mystic Army were injured, and even Violet had been grazed on the shoulder. Thankfully, it hadn't struck anything vital.Kendrick's fear was understandable. The attack had come when he was emerging from the washroom. The assassin's sword had pierced his chest, nearly plunging in completely. It was Carissa who noticed in time and swiftly turned, driving her spear into the assassin's chest before dragging him back with the hooked tip of her dagger, saving Kendrick's life.Though the injuries were minor, Kendrick reacted as if he had been mortally wounded. He howled in agony for half the night b
