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Chapter 958
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Her Graceful War Song Chapter 959
After the Westhaven envoys left the Diplomatic Affairs Department and returned to their lodgings, the Starhaven negotiators remained behind and continued discussions about the next round of talks.Jeremiah was involved in the conversation, his voice calm but firm. "If we're going to compensate with grain, we can't offer such a large quantity. Last year, there was a poor harvest and the military wages were insufficient. If we give them 3,000,000 bushels of grain, we're essentially funding their war efforts. We can compensate, but it can't exceed 300,000 bushels."He paused, then added, "Also, His Majesty insists that we cannot make any concessions on the border issue."Having delivered his points, he left the room. From the way Rafael had been conducting the negotiations, Jeremiah felt confident in the direction they were heading.Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Justice, Barrett requested a meeting with Patrick.After his conversation with Aurora the previous night, Barrett had bee
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 960
Once Carissa arrived at Silverstone Estate, she quickly briefed Zoey on the situation. Zoey immediately said, "This involves General Sullivan, so not a moment can be wasted. I'll go immediately."Since Barrett had been taken to the Ministry of Justice, Viola had been on edge. She had even returned to her family for help, hoping they could pull some strings on Barrett's behalf. However, Zoey outright refused."This is a matter between kingdoms," Zoey had said. "What could a woman like me possibly do to change anything?"Still, Zoey had made inquiries. She learned that while Barrett was detained at the Ministry of Justice, he was being given special treatment and hadn't suffered any undue hardship.Zoey shared this information with Viola, but it did little to calm her. She complained incessantly, saying she had worked so hard to see Barrett appointed as commander of the Nightsteel Guard, only for him to end up in prison because of Aurora. She even blamed Natalie for arranging the m
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 961
Leila had heard that Zoey was investigating the servants in Valor Estate, but she had no idea what it was about. When she was brought in, she wore an expression of complete confusion.It wasn't until Zoey questioned her about having coffee with a friend from her hometown the day before Rebecca's funeral that Leila realized what was happening. She quickly dropped to her knees and confessed, "Madam Zoey, that day, the person I had coffee with was a close friend of mine. She's a maid at Lester Estate. She mentioned she'd be returning to our hometown and asked if I had any messages for my family. She also invited me to go shopping for some gifts together..."Having been questioning for a long time, Zoey grew a bit impatient. She interrupted and asked bluntly, "Did she ask you to pass on any messages to Aurora that day?"Leila thought for a moment, then replied, "Yes, she asked me to tell Madam Aurora that Mrs. Lester would also be attending Madam Rebecca's funeral.""Did she give you
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After seeing Zoey off, Carissa and Violet returned to the council hall.Most matters had previously been discussed in the large study, but since Everett had arrived, he insisted that important matters be reported in the council hall. He would remain in the hall from morning until night, listening to everything that was brought before him.Rafael hadn't returned yet even though the negotiations had concluded hours ago. It was likely that he was still in discussion with the delegation about tomorrow's talks.Once Carissa finished reporting the day's findings to Everett, he gave a conclusion everyone was already aware of."It's a case of silencing witnesses—tracing the killer leads nowhere."Kyle spoke up, his voice thoughtful, "Sir, is it possible that Aurora never had to speak with the Westhaven people at all? That someone else already reached out to them and is just focusing all the blame on Dominic?""But Harvey has already fled," Carissa replied. "I doubt Leroy would trust him
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Rafael shot a glance at Kyle before striding in. "Sage Everett, why are you making Kyle hold a pot over his head again? With so much going on, I was hoping he could help me out more. If he's always busy being punished, he won't be able to."After hearing that, Everett said, "Then, he's excused from punishment."Outside, Kyle and Winona realized they had found their support.Winona stepped in to report, "Sage Everett, we've swapped out all of Harvey's gold and silver for fakes. Now, all the chests are filled with stones.""I see. Have they discovered it?""When they stopped to rest in a small grove, we knocked them out. When they wake up, they might inspect the chests and will likely figure it out," she answered. "Did you send anyone to keep following them?"Winona wanted to roll her eyes. Was that really a question? Of course she had sent someone. She wasn't a rookie. After all, she was the one who founded Skywing Spire!But since Kyle was still out there holding a pot over
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 964
After Rafael had eaten a little of the hot food, they began discussing the day's negotiations.Carissa sat beside him, clearly taking advantage of her position. At least when she spoke out of turn or disagreed with Everett, she wouldn't receive the cold shoulder since she was sitting right next to Rafael."Has the king heard their terms? What did he say about it?" Jacob asked. "Davis reported to him. When he returned to the Diplomatic Affairs Department, he relayed the king's stance. The borderline can't be compromised, but everything else is open for negotiation. We're not bound to the conditions they've proposed. We can offer alternative compensation. That's the king's directive."Everett thought for a moment before speaking, "Not yielding on the borderline means forcing Westhaven to acknowledge the treaty Aurora signed. If they deem the treaty invalid, the borderline should revert to the previous one. But the border dispute has been going on for years. Considering they took adv
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 965
Although it was already late February and the weather had warmed considerably, sitting by the entrance with no shelter still felt a bit chilly.The small guardhouse at the entrance of Concord Lodge was available for their use. Inside, there was a brazier for heating water. Seeing that Violet wasn't dressed warmly enough, Carissa led her into the guardhouse to sit and drink coffee."You don't need to stay with me tonight," Carissa said as she poured the coffee. "I'll be fine here."Violet blew on the dark liquid's surface. "It's no trouble. I'll stay with you. It's a good chance to let Claire and the others rest. I'll keep an eye on things."Claire and the others were watching the comings and goings of the Westhaven people, observing where they went and who they interacted with.Lisandra and the officials didn't leave Concord Lodge much, but there were plenty of others in the group. With all the information Barrett and Zoey had gathered, if there really was another hidden plan, Yuv
Her Graceful War Song Chapter 966
Rafael first shared the results of Zoey's investigation with Barrett, giving him a clear conclusion."It's pretty much confirmed that the people behind this used the Lester family to contact Aurora. They had a maid inform her and got her to show up at your mom's funeral. Afterward, Mrs. Lester went to offer her condolences, which gave her the opportunity to speak with Aurora privately. Once she did, both she and her husband were silenced."Barrett was stunned beyond words. "Is that truly the case?"Rafael didn't hesitate. "I'll be straightforward with you. While investigating Eleanor's treason case, the Supreme Court found links to the Lester family. However, we didn't have enough evidence, so we never moved against them. Mrs. Lester's involvement with Aurora indicates that the people behind her are the same as Eleanor's conspirators—the true masterminds behind the treason."Rafael's gaze grew heavier. "Aurora is involved in this case, and she will be taken to Westhaven. However, y
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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"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
