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Chapter 858
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 859
A storm of opposition swept through the court."This is preposterous! If such a place is established, what will become of the principles of obedience and virtue?" one official shouted, his voice rising above the others."Indeed! This will only embolden women, making them disrespect their in-laws, stir up jealousy, and even cause chaos in the household," another added vehemently."I don't think this reflects your views, Your Highness. This is clearly Her Grace's idea, right? To please her, His Highness is willing to sacrifice men's dignity. How laughable!" came another scathing remark.Salvador sat on the throne, observing the uproar below. He occasionally pursed his lips or let a small smile slip, but this was a true spectacle. Since Rafael returned from the Southern Frontier, praise for him had flowed like a river, while criticism was a rare bird.He sighed inwardly.Ah, Rafael was still too young. He had struck a nerve with the officials. If women had an escape route, how could
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 860
Rebecca froze, her gaze fixed on Zoey. The corners of her eyes, which had sagged slightly, now lifted, filled with scrutiny as she tried to gauge whether the younger woman was joking.But it was clear that Zoey was not joking—she was dead serious.A rush of blood flooded Rebecca's head as she struggled to catch her breath, scarcely able to believe that Zoey was asking her for money to buy medicine. They were family by marriage, and this was for medicine. Did she have to be so calculative about it?Suppressing the humiliation that bubbled up inside her, Rebecca shot a glance at Tara. There were some things she simply couldn't voice, given her senior status.Recognizing the cue, Tara mustered the courage to ask, "Could you lend us the money for now, Madam Zoey? We can pay you back later.""I rushed out of my home this morning. How could I possibly have that much money on me?" Zoey replied."You could always go back and fetch it first," Tara suggested, her voice barely a whisper.Z
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 861
Viola used to shirk responsibility, no matter how catastrophic the situation. She would always distance herself, portraying herself as helpless or innocent. But this time, she didn't refute Zoey's words. She merely wiped away the tears that kept falling.Zoey looked at Viola and sighed. Benjamin was a shell of his former self—no longer a man of status, no longer with a wife, spending his days locked away in his room. Bryan was a disappointment, failing at both martial arts and academics. He wasn't someone they could rely on.Charlotte's side of the family had washed their hands off them, and really didn't care anymore. She even ordered the construction of a wall to divide Valor Estate in two.Barrett was the only one in this family who was able to do anything. In addition to his special training, he still came back to care for Viola. As the man of the house, he looked over the finances and realized just how dire their situation was.The family was truly impoverished.Four hours
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 862
Meanwhile, Barrett took decisive action and prepared to sell off several servants. The Warren family was on the brink of collapse. His eldest brother had lost his position, the second branch of their family had split off, and it was uncertain when Barrett himself would be reinstated.The only option left was to cut back wherever possible.Typically, noble families avoided selling off their servants. There were always unsavory secrets lurking within the estate. It was one thing if the servants were sold to a good household, but if they ended up with a cruel family, they would surely harbor resentment and spill all the dirty secrets when they could.So, noble families were usually cautious about such actions.But what secrets did the Warren family still have that weren't already known? Barrett no longer cared. The vilest curses were already on the lips of the townsfolk every day. What more could he fear?He had never understood Amelia until he truly took over her position. Now, he
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 863
"Of course I'm a man!" Davis replied. "But while men can act recklessly—taking multiple wives, passing on their lineage, and relying on their wives to care for them even when they're afflicted with illness—there's no chaos in the world. So, why is it that when a woman is cast off and finds a place to be sheltered, it somehow leads to disorder?"Why are you so afraid of giving women another chance at life? No one wants to take that step unless they have no choice. Do you all wish to force them into such a position? If not, then what is it that frightens you?"Davis had remained silent until then, but once he spoke, he did so with purpose, having been instructed by his family to lend unwavering support to Rafael.Carissa listened quietly from her seat in court, but didn't speak. As a woman, the backlash would be even stronger if she spoke on behalf of women. After all, what someone chose to do or say was often influenced by personal interests or gains.No matter how eloquent Carissa
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 864
Carissa's voice rang clear, neither too loud nor too soft, ensuring that everyone in the hall could hear her."Perhaps some of you believe that Madam Amelia's death is trivial, but what if she were your sister, daughter, or relative? Would you be able to empathize a little more? After all, everyone here has studied the teachings of the sages, and you're all compassionate toward the elderly and the weak. Many women are divorced because of serious illness or infertility. They were innocent, to begin with."Carissa sighed, her expression heavy with sorrow."A woman's life is still a life. Are we truly in a world that seeks to exterminate them?"What if she were your sister, daughter, or relative?Many people scoffed inwardly at Carissa's words. Yet, her mention of the teachings of the sages cast a moral shackle on them. How could they argue against that? Any rebuttal would make them seem unreasonable, as if they were out to destroy women completely.If these words had come from a ma
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 865
The next day, the young couple set out. Rafael pretended to ask Violet if she wanted to join them.Violet shot him a puzzled glance. He had already said last night that he was taking Carissa out for the day. He also specifically said they would be going alone and leaving everyone behind, even Dylan. Wasn't it a bit fake to ask her now?Even if Rafael hadn't mentioned it, Violet wouldn't have gone. She had her hands full dealing with the embroidery workshop, which was still under renovation. It made sense for her to keep an eye on things.Besides, if her supervision wasn't needed, she could always accompany Helen out to a coffeehouse and indulge in some shopping and dining. After all, there were lovely places like Glimmering Tower and The Golden Tower to explore.Why venture out into the cold and face the biting mountain winds when there was so much to enjoy right here?At Glimmering Tower, Rafael ordered a selection of dishes. They were all staple dishes and nothing extravagant, b
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 866
The further they ascended the mountain, the more Rafael felt that something was off.There were no vibrant mountain flowers or rushing streams as Thomas had described—only bare trees and endless stretches of white snow. At this time of year, the waterfalls had all but disappeared, leaving behind the starkness of early winter.It wasn't that the snow wasn't beautiful. After spending so long at the Southern Frontier, the prince had grown weary of snow. If only there were flowing water and winter blooms to complement the landscape, it would have made all the difference.But there was nothing—not a single orchid to be found. It was almost laughable.However, to the north of Richspire Peak, there was a steep slope covered in unblemished snow, free of obstacles. It was a perfect spot for sledding and skiing.Changing his approach, Rafael led Carissa with a burst of energy, using his Lightfoot Skill to dash across to the northern slope. Reaching the peak, he caught his breath and turned
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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
