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Chapter 804
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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 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
