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Chapter 875
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 876
New Year's was rather dull.At the palace banquet, some royal relatives, who only made an appearance once a year, came with their families. The men congregated in one area, while the women gathered in another.Carissa, along with several princesses and consorts, accompanied Kylie and the concubines to greet Victoria.The honored and noble concubines were all together, with Helen among them.Molly and Fiona stayed in Ruth's palace and accompanied her, so they didn't come over.Everyone exchanged airy pleasantries—some compliments here, a bit of flattery there—while competing in beauty and showing off their jewelry.Salvador's concubines were also present, leaving Carissa dazzled. She only recognized Kylie, Sylvia, and Salvador's other concubines, Penelope and Grace, while the rest were little more than strangers to her. Those of lower rank mostly kept their heads down, occasionally smiling apologetically or daring to glance up.Salvador only had a few offspring. Perhaps it was du
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 877
Next came the evening banquet. Yuvan arrived with Molly and Fiona. After greeting Victoria and Kylie, he exchanged pleasantries with the other nobles.From Harvey's side, only Heather came. She mentioned that Harvey had caught a chill in December and hadn't fully recovered yet. Victoria expressed her concern and ordered some precious herbs to be sent for his recovery.At the lavish banquet, Rafael sat beside Carissa. He picked out the dishes she loved, while willingly accepting the ones she disliked and pushed aside.Seeing this, Kylie suddenly smiled and said, "The prince and his princess consort are truly affectionate."Kendrick and Adelaide looked up, thinking she was referring to them, but soon realized Kylie was speaking about Rafael and Carissa. They exchanged glances.Salvador cast a cursory glance their way but said nothing. However, when he raised his glass, he shot a cold look at Kylie.Carissa sensed a hint of jealousy in the queen and remarked, "With such a deep bond
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 878
Even Carissa shot Hayden a glance.Hayden said that he now realized Yuvan was a dutiful son, which meant the latter hadn't always given that impression. At least, that was how it sounded to others.Yet, among the royal family, this revelation left everyone puzzled. After all, Yuvan had always been dutiful. Each year, he submitted a request to return to the capital to visit his mom. Sometimes, it was approved, while other times, it was denied. It had been that way even back when the late emperor was still alive.Such dedication—how could it not be moving?But on a day like today, when spirits were high, not many paid much attention to Hayden's words. Salvador, however, cast Yuvan a meaningful look.Yuvan's expression changed slightly before he smiled as usual and said, "Our ancestors ruled with kindness and devotion. How could I dare not be dutiful to my parents?"Rafael glanced at Hayden but remained silent, continuing to enjoy his meal with Carissa.After the palace banquet, th
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 879
After leaving the palace, Carissa spoke to Rafael about the matter while they were in the carriage.Rafael recalled a report from Jacob, who had people monitoring both Edgeview Estate and Hartstone Estate. Ever since the rebellion case, Hartstone Estate had been eerily quiet and Harvey seldom ventured out. He had only left his estate two or three times, each time for a drink with someone. After a couple of outings, he had stopped altogether."There's a possibility that Harvey isn't ill at all but has actually left the capital," Rafael said, furrowing his brow. "Even though our people have been keeping a close watch on Hartstone Estate, there's bound to be a lapse after so long. If Harvey has changed his appearance or disguised himself, he might go unnoticed.""Where would he go at this time?" Carissa asked."Let's get back to the estate first," Rafael replied, running the current situation through his mind and forming a hypothesis.Tonight, Hell Monarch Estate was lively, with the
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 880
In the study, Jacob, Rafael, and Kyle had been discussing for over two hours.If Harvey wasn't in the capital, there were three possible places he could have gone.The first was Victory Pass. Yuvan, Harvey, and their people likely had planted some informants there. The second was Stonebridge County, where their private army was stationed. The third option was a military garrison outside the capital. Harvey had probably been covertly establishing connections there over the years.No matter where he went, it indicated that they were taking action.However, Rafael and the others had always believed that Harvey was the most patient among them. Why was he the one making a move first now?"Perhaps he's going all in," Jacob said. "After all, Eleanor is still alive. They might prefer to take a gamble rather than live in fear."Rafael shook his head. "I don't think it's a gamble. They've been plotting for too long. The best opportunity to strike was during the battle at the Southern Front
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 881
Zoey had a clear purpose for coming here today—she wanted to inquire about the embroidery workshop and the women's academy. If the people of Hell Monarch Estate were indeed establishing a women's academy, she hoped to secure a spot for her daughter.Normally, she would have brought her daughter with her, but doing so would make her intentions too obvious. It would seem as though she was pressuring Carissa to accept her daughter, which might make the princess consort uncomfortable.So, instead of bringing her daughter along, Zoey decided to gather information first and find out what was required. That way, she could go home and prepare everything."There's no need to be formal. Let's move to the side hall and chat," Carissa said with a smile, leading them to a smaller chamber.Meanwhile, Rafael, who had just woken up, was left facing Davis, who was still yawning.Davis covered his mouth with his hand, stifling another yawn, and asked, "Are there any places to lie down here, Your Hi
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 882
At first, Violet tried to keep things relaxed with her apprentices. After all, it was the New Year—what was the point of acting all high and mighty as their mentor?But when she saw the three couples treating her with such reverence, and when Max's wife, Esther, personally took a cup of coffee from a servant and handed it to her, she realized that the role of a mentor had to be taken seriously. The other two women stood by Violet's side attentively, as if she was their mother-in-law.At that point, even Violet had no choice but to play her role. Still, she couldn't help but wonder—did it really have to be this way?Back at the Inferno Guild, she wasn't treated like this. Most of the time, it was her mentor who pampered her. As for serving refreshments, that was usually left to the new apprentices. What business did she, a senior apprentice, have doing that? But when she first joined, no one had treated her that way either.A sense of guilt stirred within Violet, and she found herse
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 883
For the next two or three days, Carissa didn't have time to entertain guests. There was still much to handle with the Mystic Army, and she couldn't leave everything to others. Plus, she had to head back to the Capital Guard headquarters soon.Meanwhile, Rafael and Jacob were inspecting the site for the women's academy. There was a lot of repair work to be done, along with expansion plans, and the cold weather didn't help. Progress had slowed as they approached the New Year, but fortunately, the funds were in place, so things could move forward smoothly now.On the eighth day of January, Barrett submitted a formal application for mourning due to his mom's passing. He first presented it to his superior, Carissa, who then passed it on to the king.Salvador took a quick glance at the application and asked, "What do you think?"Carissa paused, wondering what the king meant."I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I'm not sure what you're asking.""Military generals don't observe mourning. There
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1588
Having failed to convince my mother, I went to my father. However, his response was even more severe.They thought I opposed the marriage because I hadn't spent time with Phineas. They were also convinced that since the match was already being arranged, it would be best for him to take me out and build some rapport between us.I didn't want to go, but my mother's maid forced me into the carriage. The maid was also told to watch me closely to ensure I didn't speak out of turn.Phineas looked all polished up, with shiny hair and a face like he had powdered it that morning. He initially showed me some respect, but soon enough, his true nature began to show. He made crude comments about my appearance, saying that if it weren't for my looks and the fact that I was from the Spencer family, he would never have considered marrying me.His condescending attitude made me uncomfortable. If that had been the worst of it, perhaps I would have simply let it go. But on our way back, he pinched me
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1587
Startled, I quickly turned around. Not far behind me stood a man, half-hidden in the shade of a tree. He wore a simple black outfit, his figure thin and unkempt, with dark circles beneath his eyes.It was him—the scholar from the bridge who sold paintings, the one Mr. Klein had called a hopeless case, a student who had dropped out to care for a woman."You're speaking nonsense," I exclaimed, wide-eyed, a shiver running through me at the thought of his strange words. "I've never heard of any water demons here. You're just trying to trick me."Though I had no fear of death, I was uneasy at the thought of demons, particularly if they were going to trap me beneath the mud."I'm not lying to you." Cassius stepped forward, his frail frame seeming even more fragile against the breeze. "If you look around, you'll see no one is here. Why else would such a lovely place be devoid of visitors?""That's because the people who come here are not tourists. They come to pray, and they leave once t
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1586
After a while, my cousin and her maid returned to find me. I asked the maid to hand thirty copper coins to Cassius. He smiled and thanked me kindly.I thought our meeting was just a chance encounter and I would never see him again. However, to my surprise, during Grandma's birthday celebration a month later, I saw him again.Our family was hosting a grand dinner, and Leonard Klein, a renowned scholar, had come with his apprentices. And there Cassius was, standing among them.In Ebonflow, the rules for social gatherings weren't as strict as in the capital, with women being allowed to be in the front hall during a banquet. Of course, Cassius didn't recognize me. After all, I had been wearing a veil when we first met, so he had only seen my eyes.He didn't stay long. After presenting Grandma with a beautiful painting, he quickly excused himself, saying he had business to attend to at home.Once he left, Mr. Klein spoke of him with a tone of regret, explaining, "He's a clever young man
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1585
Anyone who knew me, Liana Spencer, spoke of me with scorn. Even strangers who heard my story would spit on the ground and say I had no shame.Everyone knew that running away with a man was worse than theft or murder. It was a disgrace no family could easily bear.Many asked me the same question: Did I regret it?I never regretted marrying him, but I did carry guilt in my heart. Because of me, the Spencer family's name was dragged through the mud. My brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews had a much harder time finding good matches because of my choices.As a daughter of the Spencer family, I lived in comfort from the moment I was born. I wore fine dresses, ate the best foods, and was showered with love. My parents doted on me, while my brothers spoiled me terribly.But there was something wrong with me.By the time I was fourteen, I still hadn't gotten my monthly courses. We consulted physician after physician, and I drank countless doses of bitter medicine, day and night. Yet, no
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1584
Snow fell softly in the dead of winter, blanketing Victory Pass in white. At that moment, the world seemed to have been made pure again.For years, I wore nothing but a tattered priest's robe. I carried a broken bowl and wandered from place to place, asking for food. I stopped only briefly at temples along the way to rest for a night or two and kneel before the statues to beg for forgiveness.I could have stayed at the first monastery I was sent to. Life there wasn't easy, but it wasn't so hard either. I had warm meals and shelter from the cold. But I knew if I stayed in comfort, I would never wash away my sins.Only by suffering, by staying on the road and bearing the cold, the hunger, the pain, could I find peace in my heart.And so, I came to Victory Pass.My sandals had long since fallen apart. Thick calluses had grown on my feet; I could walk barefoot over rocks and barely feel a thing. Even with every piece of clothing I owned layered over me, the winter cold still cut throug
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1583
It was during the Verdant Hunt that Connor fell out of favor with Dad, who scolded him harshly before we left the hunting grounds. Once we returned to the palace, Connor fell ill. Ryan and I were both terribly worried, but Mom was delighted.She held me close that evening, her smile sharper than usual. "After this, your father is sure to be tired of your brother."She told me I must work harder than ever, and to listen closely to the royal chancellor and my uncle."Study better than anyone. Earn their praise. And most importantly, outshine your brother," she said.My heart felt torn. Mom often spoke of the rewards that came with being crown prince, and I won't lie, I was tempted. However, those were all distant things.At the time, I was close to Connor, Ryan, and even our youngest brother, Cecil. We all got along so well. How could I possibly hate my older brother?Those thoughts tangled inside me, day after day. I lost focus. My studies slipped. I made mistakes during riding pra
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1582
Before I took the vows and entered the monastery, my name was Caden.From the time I was young, I often heard the same praise whispered around me: "This child is sharp beyond his years—clever, quick-witted, the finest of the three princes."I heard it so often that I came to believe it myself. At times, I even felt proud. But whenever I let that pride rise too high, Mom would bring me back to earth.She would look at me, her eyes soft but filled with something I couldn't quite name—pity, perhaps. And then, she would sigh and say, "What a pity you were born of my womb. If not, you might have risen above that foolish one. But fate favored him, not you."That "foolish one"—I knew well enough who she meant. I had heard her say it so many times in private, though never once in public.It puzzled me greatly as a child. Mom clearly disliked my eldest brother, Connor, more than anyone. Yet, whenever he came near, she would smile warmly and speak kindly. She would even flatter him, calling
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1581
Two childhood friends were now each giving their all on very different paths.Clarence had started with herbs, then medicine, and in time, healing became his entire world at Eldermere Keep. At first, it was merely something to pour his heart into, because he knew he would never be allowed to leave the mountain and open a medical hall of his own.But then Ryan came, and afterward, sent Clarence a letter.That letter changed everything.For the first time, Clarence began to hope that maybe, just maybe, he could go down the mountain after all. And once that hope took root, he threw himself into his studies with more energy than ever before. He barely slept, rarely left the apothecary, and sometimes forgot to eat.Because of the pain he had once endured, he focused his efforts on curing injuries and chronic pain. Of course, a good physician had to know more than one thing, so he studied every field without neglecting any.There was a fire inside him now. A quiet flame that had not bur
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 1580
"Elise, must your mouth run on without end?" Carissa frowned at her daughter, who had been chattering away beside Ryan from the moment he stepped through the door.The little girl's face was flushed from the sun, her hair tangled into a messy nest that made it clear she had only just returned from playing outdoors. She hadn't stopped talking since Ryan came back from his travels, pestering him with questions about what he had seen and done.Elise turned to Carissa with wide eyes, looking up with a face so innocent it could soften stone. She truly had inherited the best features from both her parents."Mom, I haven't seen Ryan in such a long time. Every moment without him felt like an eternity. We've been apart for so long, so of course I have a lot to say to him."Carissa's frown deepened. "And who taught you to speak in such a ridiculous manner? An eternity—where did that come from?""Sage Isaac said it to Aunt Violet. He went back to Meadow Ridge for a few days and said it to her
