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Chapter 817
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 818
After Barrett recovered from his injuries, he officially took up his position.He began by expressing his gratitude, and Salvador spoke to him for an hour. Amidst the admonishments, Salvador also conveyed his trust in Barrett, leaving him with red-rimmed eyes as he exited the royal study.The king had established the Central Command Office. Since Carissa had to attend to her duties there, Barrett went to pay his respects to her as she was his superior.They were once husband and wife, yet now, Barrett knelt on one knee to offer his formal greeting.The Capital Guard's deputy commander, the Garrison Unit's chief, the Royal Guard's commander, and the Crown Guard's commander were all present, marking the gathering of key figures.Barrett's emotions were a tangled mess. He expected Carissa to make things difficult for him, but after the formalities, she simply said, "You may rise. Do your job well."He stood, lowering his gaze. "Thank you, Commander Sinclair."Michael stepped forwar
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 819
Michael said coldly, "I don't care if she's a man or a woman. If she's more capable than I am, I won't have a single complaint. Besides, she was appointed by His Majesty. If you oppose her, are you trying to go against the royal edict? You've been in the Royal Guard for so many years, but you're still full of yourself and look down on women. If you're a man with real skills, then defeat her and make her unable to lift her head in front of you. Isn't that better than any words you could say?"Alistair replied, "Looks like you're really mad at me.""It's you who has the temper. I'm not angry at all." Michael shrugged Alistair off and turned to leave.Feeling dejected, Alistair returned to the inner hall of the Central Command Office. Seeing Max and Barrett still there, he plopped down in a chair and asked, "Are you both on her side as well? Max, I know you are—you follow her orders without question. But Barrett, do you really support her? She's the one who once divorced you and didn
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 820
Since Barrett had just taken office, he needed to work longer hours. He often personally inspected various parts of the palace, except for the inner court. When he wasn't on patrol, he could be found waiting by the door of the royal study or back at the Central Command Office, ready to submit his logs when the shifts changed.The guards on duty were required to record their findings after each patrol. They needed to note down if they found any irregularities. If everything was normal, they also still had to document that. Barrett was free to leave the palace at five in the evening, but he often didn't depart until nearly seven.As he was leaving, he unexpectedly ran into Yuvan. Barrett knew the prince typically entered the palace early in the morning and left before closing time, so it struck him as odd that Yuvan was leaving so early today."Your Highness," Barrett greeted, bowing slightly.Yuvan smiled back at him. "I haven't had a chance to congratulate you on your promotion,
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 821
On the day of the assessment, Carissa ordered that all leaders of the Mystic Army, even if they were just captains, had to be present unless they were on duty.At first, Alistair thought this was a direct dig at him. After a long rant about Carissa to his wife, he finally stepped out the door. Women could be so petty! With someone as small-minded as Carissa in charge of the Mystic Army, who knew how many troubles were going to arise in the future?When he arrived at the Capital Guard headquarters, he quickly learned that the day's assessment wasn't just about him—it was tied directly to the Civil Department's evaluations. That realization made him nervous. He had offended Carissa. If he performed poorly today, he could face penalties like a salary deduction or even a demotion. If he had known, he would have prayed more before leaving the house and sought blessings from his ancestors.Barrett was also there, but he wasn't participating in the assessment since he had just taken
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 822
Next up was each of the twelve captains, but none managed to last the full 20 exchanges against Carissa. They all fell short at around fifteen or sixteen exchanges.Max put up a decent fight, making it through 40 exchanges before he was taken down. When he stood back up and bowed, he wore a satisfied smile—he felt proud of his performance.Finally, it was Alistair's turn.Alistair had been intently watching Carissa's moves. He felt like he had a good grasp on her patterns. He figured he could manage 50 exchanges without much trouble. His leg techniques were his strongest suit, and Carissa's kicks lacked the necessary power. On the other hand, her punches were incredibly fast. If he could focus on using his lower body, he believed he would hold the advantage.He bounced on his feet a few times to stretch his muscles. "I'm up."Carissa wore an enigmatic smile. "Yes, it's your turn."For some reason, seeing that smile sent a shiver of unease down Alistair's spine. He couldn't shake
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 823
Violet smiled slightly before launching herself at Carissa, who sidestepped to avoid her, then grabbed her arm and pulled her back. In a split second, Violet executed a backflip and soared through the air.The two exchanged blows for what felt like an eternity, their movements so swift that it was nearly impossible to follow. The sound of their strikes cut through the air like thunder, and on more than one occasion, their flying kicks shattered nearby flagstones into pieces, leaving the onlookers in shock.Their match made everyone reconsider the earlier assessment—it felt like the true test was taking place right before their eyes. Based on what they were seeing now, Carissa could have easily taken them down in just a few moves.After over a hundred exchanges, the two finally came to a halt, stepping back to catch their breath. Despite their intense battle, their appearances were only slightly disheveled.Barrett watched from the sidelines, feeling a whirlwind of emotions. He had
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 824
A couple of days later, Max and the other two prepared a formal banquet for the apprenticeship ceremony at Glimmering Tower. They invited Violet, along with Rafael and Carissa, to witness the occasion.After returning home that day, Violet felt a wave of regret. How could someone like her, with such a temper, take on apprentices? Being tied down in that way felt stifling, especially since she was younger than them. It wasn't that she couldn't command respect—it just seemed unnecessary.Wasn't it enough to teach them a few things and be known as a sage?She was thinking of ways to decline when they insisted on holding the banquet—at Glimmering Tower, no less. The extravagance of it was absurd and yet stirred a sense of vanity within her.After contemplating it, Violet realized that since the Inferno Guild would eventually be in her hands, perhaps she might as well accept the role.Once she came to this conclusion, she chose appropriate weapons for them. Then, she brought Rafael and
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 825
After returning home from the apprenticeship ceremony and banquet, Violet turned to Carissa and said, "I can't shake the feeling that this whole apprenticeship ceremony was a farce. I wasn't even a good apprentice myself, and now I'm supposed to take on students—students who are older than me and from the Mystic Army, no less! If I can't teach them well, won't I just be dragging you down?"Carissa took Violet's hand and motioned for Rafael to head back inside. She wanted to take a stroll with her friend in the garden."If you really don't want to do it, then just pretend the ceremony and banquet never happened. You can remain their instructor. As for whether you teach well or poorly, there's no need to worry. A mentor can only guide. The rest is up to the individual. Your skills are excellent, and you can certainly keep them in line. If they struggle to learn, that's on them, not you.""It's just… They're court officials. Teaching them martial arts in the way of the martial world mi
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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
