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Chapter 807
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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
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 813
The next day, Henry was to be executed, with Rafael serving as the supervising officer. The Capital Guard was responsible for setting up the perimeter and maintaining order.Rafael had initially been reluctant to let Carissa attend. While Henry was despicable, he wasn't the mastermind behind the chaos. Plus, the brutality of a beheading was not something he wanted her to witness.But Carissa had already seen all kinds of cruel scenes. Even if Henry wasn't the ultimate culprit, his self-serving actions and weakness had led to the suffering of so many. He was truly guilty of unspeakable crimes.Thus, she insisted on going.By early morning, the area outside the execution ground was packed with people. Since the execution was scheduled for noon, the Capital Guard hadn't arrived early to manage the crowd, leading to a noisy scene. Vendors had even set up stalls and were selling their goods nearby.The timid townsfolk wouldn't come to watch, and children were strictly prohibited. Even
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 814
Henry began to ramble, "None of this was what I wanted! If I could choose again, I would never have pursued Eleanor. My family may have been in decline, but it was still a marquis' family. The foundation was still there—how bad could it possibly get?"I came from a scholarly background. I could have taken the national examinations. There wasn't just one path before me. How could I have been so foolish? I was truly too foolish. I had such a bright future ahead. I could have married a virtuous woman, taken a couple of concubines, and had three or four sons and a few daughters. The marriage would have made my family stronger. Instead, I thought I was taking a shortcut, but I didn't realize it was a dead end."The cutlery fell from his hands as his shoulders shook with sobs.Peter picked them up for him. "Dwelling on the past is pointless. Action is what matters now. You can still share what you know. There's still a chance to turn things around. If you keep silent, you're sealing your
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 815
When they arrived at the execution ground, Henry was dragged out and forced to kneel in the center. The executioner, a burly figure holding a gleaming blade, stood beside him. The sight of the blade sent Henry into a panic, and he found it hard to remain kneeling. He desperately scanned the crowd for help.The noise around him was deafening, yet all he could hear was the pounding of his own heart. It was like a drumbeat, and it felt as if it might burst from his chest at any moment.He didn't see Rafael, the official overseeing the execution, but he faintly heard the prince's voice. He tried to turn and catch a glimpse of the man, but a board tied to his back blocked his actions. All he could see was the executioner's disgusted expression as he covered his nose.At that moment, Henry realized he had lost control of his bowels. The sheer terror felt like a venomous snake, burrowing into his very skin. He was beyond terrified.Finally, amidst the throng, he spotted a familiar face.
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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
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
