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Chapter 804

Author: Summer's Blaze
The Kingsley family delivered fifty thousand silver coins, claiming it was meant to settle matters for the women. Gemma continued to lament their poverty, insisting that they hardly had any money left and that fifty thousand silver coins had drained their resources.

Carissa cut off her sobs and said, "His Majesty has ordered you to produce one hundred thousand silver coins—no less. In three days, your son will be executed, and your family members can see him for the last time."

Of course, Gemma wanted to see her son. After all, he was the child she had carried for nine long months. But when she caught sight of the cold look in Martin's eyes, her tears resumed.

"What good would it do to see him? It would only deepen the pain… and the anger. He has done such terrible things that our family cannot accept him," she said.

"Indeed, he is guilty of unforgivable crimes. Perhaps it is better not to see him," Martin echoed.

They were eager to distance themselves from Henry. It wasn't that t
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  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 805

    Carissa regarded him with cold eyes. "I thought you were a sensible man, Lord Lionel, but I see I was mistaken. Do you understand how many lives your flippant words could ruin? It's not just these women. Entire families they've been associated with will be dragged into this mess."This wasn't about Carissa wanting to pick a fight with him or vent her frustrations. Lionel was a favored minister close to Salvador, someone who could voice such thoughts not just to her but potentially to the king himself. Salvador was currently focused on establishing a virtuous legacy. In a couple of years, when he felt secure in his rule, he might recall Lionel's words, and those women would be left with no way out.Lionel recognized his blunder and dared not broach the subject again."Then, will you at least speak to the abbess for me? If that child can be admitted as an orphan, it would be for her own good. At least she and her mom can be together.""If that is your decision, I can mention it t

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 806

    Violet stepped outside and asked, "What's going on?""Lord Malcolm once said that Casey couldn't have children around her, but now he's sending the child here. As a minister, how can he be so indecisive? If he can't even take care of his own child, why have one at all? Children are always innocent," Carissa explained briefly, her tone sharp.Violet was equally outraged. "It's likely he said that out of impulse. After thinking it over, he realized it wouldn't work, so he begged the abbess to take the child. But sending her here doesn't mean they can be together. It's just placing the child in the care of the convent under the guise of being an orphan. It's absurd—she has parents, yet she's being treated like an orphan. Is Malcolm cursing himself?""Forget him," Carissa replied. "We just need to take care of the people we should. If the Quinton family won't raise that child, then she can stay at the convent. For Lady Marjorie, both Casey and this child are cruel reminders of her broke

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 807

    At that moment, both Carissa and Violet felt a twinge of discomfort in their hearts.Violet composed herself and said gently to the little girl, "Amara, we're going somewhere else. Will you come with me?" The one-year-old couldn't quite articulate her thoughts yet. She merely mumbled about wanting to see her mom.Violet smiled reassuringly. "Alright, let's go see your mom."She exchanged a heavy glance with Carissa. Even if they went, the child would only be with the abbess or someone else—she wouldn't be able to stay by Casey's side.The wet nurse brought a baby carrier and helped Violet strap Amara onto her back. The wet nurse didn't follow them, and the child fussed for a moment. She cried until Violet managed to soothe her before leading the horse out.As they reached the edge of the apple farm, they spotted a carriage parked outside. Carissa noticed the insignia on it—it belonged to the Quintion family.Carissa hesitated. Was it Malcolm, Lionel, or someone else?Violet sa

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 808

    Carissa was stunned and in disbelief. "Take her back to the Quinton family? Why would you do that?"Carissa wanted to say the child wasn't Malcolm's, but she couldn't lie. Marjorie had come here for a reason and must have known the truth by now. There was no point in deceiving her."Of course, I want to take her home to raise her," Marjorie replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "Sending such a small child to a convent? She wouldn't survive that harsh life." Marjorie forced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Children are innocent. She can't choose her parents or her background. It's the adults who have made mistakes, and it's the adults who must bear the consequences."Carissa felt a wave of sympathy and admiration for Marjorie. "Does Lord Malcolm know you're here? Does he know you're aware of this situation?"Marjorie's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she held them back. "He thinks he's deceived me. At first, I believed him too, but after some thought, the truth b

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 809

    As the sun dipped low, casting a golden hue over the landscape, Carissa and Violet rode down the mountain. The matter wasn't fully settled, but they could finally relax a bit."They'll be executing Henry tomorrow. Do you think anyone from his family will come forward to claim his body?" Violet asked."I'm not sure," Carissa replied, her thoughts drifting back to Marjorie's intention to take the child home.Violet caught on quickly. "So, Malcolm's wife really wants to bring the child back, huh?""She said so, but I can't tell if it's just a spur-of-the-moment decision."Violet frowned. "Although it's true the child is an innocent victim of Eleanor's actions, why should Marjorie have to bear this burden? For her, this child's existence has turned her life upside down. It has put her in this strange and painful situation where all the good she thought she had now feels like a distant illusion. It's really sad.""She asked me what I would do if I were in her position," Carissa said,

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 810

    Marjorie took the lead, settling into a chair before calmly instructing, "Lionel, close the door. The three of us need to talk."Lionel sensed something was amiss and cast a puzzled glance at his dad, who sat with his lips pressed together, caught somewhere between confusion and unease. With a heavy step, Lionel shut the door and returned to his seat.Marjorie placed one hand on the armrest and rested the other in front of her. These past years had been comfortable for her. She had enjoyed a loving marriage and a life of abundance. This made her appear younger than her peers, and her round face and elegant demeanor marked her as someone of high status. Yet, in recent days, a hint of weariness had crept in.She looked at Malcolm and spoke as if recounting something trivial, "Today, I met Lady Carissa."Malcolm reacted as if he had been bitten by a venomous snake and stared at her in shock. "She sought you out? What kind of rumors did she spread? Whatever she says, don't believe he

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 811

    The next day, Lionel went to Pearwater Convent to pick up Amara.Carissa was present, so he pulled her aside for a moment. "Commander Sinclair, please don't worry. My mom will treat Amara well and won't make things difficult. I have half-brothers and half-sisters borne by my dad's concubines, and my mom has always been kind to them."Carissa replied bluntly, "I don't doubt your mom will be good to the child. However, I need to clarify something. Yesterday, your mom asked me what the child's name was. I told her it was Briar. As for whether you will use 'Amara' after returning, that's up to you."Lionel sighed softly. "Thank you, Commander Sinclair.""Since you're bringing the child back, will you let her meet Casey?"Lionel nodded. "That's fine. In fact, my mom said yesterday that if my dad wants to take Casey back to our residence, she would agree."Carissa looked at him in surprise. "You're not that simple a person, Lord Lionel. Be a little kinder to your mom and consider her f

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 812

    Casey shook her head. "No, I wouldn't want to. I want to stay here.""Your daughter will be there," Carissa reminded her gently.Casey tilted her head, her long hair cascading down a little. "I know. She won't suffer. She'll grow up just like any other ordinary child."Her eyes sparkled with longing—what she desired but couldn't have. Yet, seeing her daughter in that life brought her joy.Carissa's voice was warm as she said, "Alright. If you don't want to go back, no one can force you. You don't have a formal status in the Quinton family, so they can't make you return."Casey slipped off the bed and knelt in front of Carissa, bowing her head. Her voice was choked with emotion as she spoke, "Thank you. You don't know what this means to us. The knife hanging over our heads is gone. I no longer dream of mountains of blades and seas of fire."Carissa helped her up. "Once the case is resolved, you can go wherever you wish. But for now, you're not truly free.""Right now is good enou

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  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1518

    With Salvador having summoned the court officials to the royal study, the discussions continued late into the night. It was only when Sebastian stepped in to interrupt, informing them that the hour had grown late, that the session came to a close."Has it really gotten this late? Let's call it a night, then. The palace gates will be locked soon," said Salvador, stretching his arms with a smile.Despite the late hour, the king appeared to be in high spirits, especially with the color back in his face. He hardly resembled a man suffering from illness.Carissa waited for Rafael to finish his meeting before leaving the palace with him. Exhausted, she leaned against his shoulder and drifted into a deep, drowsy sleep.When the carriage arrived at the estate, Rafael lifted her into his arms. Carissa, half-conscious, recognized the motion but was too tired to protest. She simply let him carry her inside, finding comfort in his strong embrace.Over the past three months, she had only been

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1517

    On the fifteenth of October, the envoy delegation finally returned to the capital.The Mystic Army dispersed on the spot, while Davis, Alden, and the other officials made their way to the palace to report to the king. Kendrick, who had been weak and unable to stand on his own, seemed to find strength now. He insisted that he accompany them to the palace as well.As for Carissa, Rafael had been waiting at the city gates for her. Every day, he had someone stationed there. Sometimes, during his midday breaks, he would go himself. Today, he finally caught sight of her.While Davis and the others were reporting at the palace, Carissa went to see Helen with Rafael. Seeing her daughter-in-law's fatigue, Helen urged her to hurry and bathe and change. With that, the couple returned to Orchid Hall.When Carissa emerged in fresh clothes after her bath, her lips were oddly swollen. Joy stared at her, surprised. Without thinking, she glanced at Rafael. It seemed that when Carissa was bathing, R

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1516

    After resting at Victory Pass for five days, Kendrick finally recovered. Now that he was well, it was time to set off for the capital.Though Carissa was reluctant to part with her family, she could only say a tearful farewell. She bowed deeply to Dominic, nearly causing tears to spill from his own eyes.Davis, who held the utmost respect for Dominic, was the most emotional. While Carissa silently wept, Davis openly wept. He knew this was likely the last time he would ever see the venerable old general, who had served Starhaven in Victory Pass for decades.Dominic was already in the twilight years of his life, and he looked much frailer than the last time they had met. Even though Salvador had granted him leave to return to the capital, the long, grueling journey would likely be too much for him to bear, and the Sullivan family might not permit him to make the trip.Dominic spoke with Davis for a while, and the latter's sobs grew louder.Cindy had never asked about the details of

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1515

    The journey home began in early September. The heat of summer had passed, replaced by a cool breeze.Liam personally escorted the delegation, accompanying them all the way to Fawnrun City.The return journey was uneventful—no more attempts on their lives, and everything proceeded smoothly. Once they crossed the rolling mountains, they entered Starhaven's territory.They hadn't notified Dominic in advance, so Carissa didn't expect anyone to be there to greet them. But as soon as they crossed into Starhaven, they saw Barrett leading the Sullivan Army, waiting for them.Relief was clear on Barrett's face when he saw they had returned safely. He rode forward, then dismounted and greeted Kendrick, Davis, and the others."Your Highness, Mr. Lloyd, esteemed lords, Grand General Sullivan sent me to wait here. I will escort you back to Victory Pass."Davis raised an eyebrow. "How did Grand General Sullivan know we were returning today?""He didn't know, but he ordered us to wait here eve

  • 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

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