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Chapter 1391

Penulis: Summer's Blaze
The citywide search tightened, and it actually forced Oliver to come out of hiding. But he wasn't searching for Viola—he was searching for Zoey.

She had gone to Hell Monarch Estate to deliver a set of clothing for Courtney today. While she was out, she decided to pick up a few things for the ladies of Skye Embroidery. Afterward, she was making her way back to the workshop through the west alley when Oliver appeared.

Her first instinct was surprise.

Hadn't he told Viola not to tell Zoey about his presence? Why would he risk coming here personally to see her?

"My dear, it is I," came a voice from beneath a wide-brimmed hat.

His face was obscured, but the voice—there was no mistaking it.

For a moment, Zoey was too stunned to speak, but then a surge of fury gripped her. She clenched her teeth, trying to swallow the anger that threatened to consume her. With a swift glance, she confirmed that the alley was deserted.

Her heart sank as she regretted her earlier complacency. She had ass
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  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1392

    Zoey composed herself, her features hardening into a mask of calm. "You should leave quickly. Once I've gathered the money, I will come find you. Until then, don't wander around and avoid being seen by the Capital Guard."Sensing the concern in her voice, Oliver was relieved. Women, no matter how sharp they might be with others, always seemed to lack a certain sense when it came to their husbands. After all, which woman didn't long for her husband's love?"You must hurry," he urged, "three days, at most."Zoey feigned hesitation, as though the request weighed heavily on her. "Given our current circumstances, as you well know, how could I possibly gather 3,000 silver coins in just three days?"Oliver's eyes gleamed with resolve. "Isn't Courtney a part of the Hell Monarch's household now? I know you have your ways. I'll wait for your word. But remember—three days! And don't tell anyone about it, not even Mom or Viola."With that, he pulled his hat low over his face and turned to

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1393

    Carissa and Violet set off together to investigate, disguising themselves as ordinary visitors. Upon arriving at Glowmere Sanctuary, they first offered candles and prayers before seeking an audience with the abbot. They made their identities known and inquired about a priest named Reuben.The abbot immediately summoned the priest in charge of guests, Carson Jenkins, as it was Carson's responsibility to handle the arrangements for priests who came to stay at the temple.Glowmere Sanctuary was one of the three largest temples in the capital, with a bustling number of visitors each year wanting to stay and listen to teachings. However, very few were actually allowed to stay.Carson recalled Reuben clearly. Reuben's spiritual skills weren't particularly high; originally, he wasn't eligible to stay at Glowmere Sanctuary. However, a few years ago, he had spent considerable time in the Southern Frontier, helping to guide the souls of the dead. Such compassion was a rare virtue, and it wa

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1394

    Oliver was a notorious criminal, and he should have been sent directly to the Supreme Court. However, Carissa took a different route. She had him detained at the Capital Guard headquarters, where he was to be interrogated first. Afterward, she planned to report the matter to Salvador. She would credit Zoey for her tip, and then plead for Caspian and Cedric to be allowed to return to the capital as soon as possible.Celeste was still detained in the Capital Guard headquarters. If she and Oliver met, it might uncover more secrets—such as just how deeply the Spencer family's collateral branch was involved in this mess.The two prisoners were held in adjacent cells, separated by only a narrow iron bar. When their eyes met for the first time, both faces changed instantly.On the way here, Oliver kept cursing Zoey for betraying him. But when he saw Celeste, he completely forgot about Zoey. He snarled, his teeth clenched. "You wretched woman, look at you now! It's true—bad people get w

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1395

    When Carissa went to the palace to deliver her report, she also expressed her sympathy for Zoey besides presenting the confession. She didn't hide her admiration for Zoey in her words.Despite her difficult life, Zoey still had a kind heart. She continuously gave out food and medicine. Even though her whole family now lived in Skye Embroidery, she never asked for the money she had given away to be returned.Furthermore, Zoey had shown great courage and moral integrity. She had publicly condemned her kin for the sake of the greater good—a rare quality that many men, even among the nobility, could not aspire to.Recognizing the need for such an example to inspire his people, Salvador immediately issued an edict praising Zoey. He granted her 100 gold coins and a residence.As for the exiled men from the Prince family, they could return to the capital after the Southern Frontier won the battle, along with the Hell Monarch.Zoey had turned an impossible situation around. Now, who would

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1396

    After Evelyn finished crying, she didn't say much. However, she stubbornly insisted on going to deliver Oliver his final meal. Her eyes were swollen and her voice was thick with congestion, nearly a rasp. "I know the court allows family to see their loved ones before execution," she said, her tone strained. "I don't want anything else—just this one thing. I need to see him and make sure he's fed. I don't want him to die hungry and become a vengeful spirit."Tears began to fall once more as she cast a tearful glance at Zoey. "You have children, too. You should understand what it means to be a mother. To the world, he may be seen as the greatest of villains. But to me, he will always be that helpless child that hasn't changed."Zoey remained silent for a long moment, then finally said, "Mother, do you know how the final meeting is arranged? It is at the execution ground. Are you sure you want to see him getting decapitated?"Evelyn trembled, her body shaking with emotion. "You must

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1397

    The capital guards escorted Evelyn, Zoey, and Viola up to the execution platform. Evelyn's legs trembled, and she couldn't muster any strength. Her tears flowed uncontrollably, blurring her vision to the point that she could no longer see clearly."You foolish boy!" Evelyn let out a mournful cry, raising her hand and slapping Oliver's face. "You've disgraced your grandfather and your father! How can you face them in the afterlife?"Her slap lacked force; even as she exerted every ounce of her strength, Oliver barely felt the sting.Caught in a whirlwind of panic, Oliver's mind raced. Seeing his mom before him, he seemed to have found a lifeline in a stormy sea. He cried desperately, "Mom, save me! Please save me!"Evelyn, near exhaustion from her sorrow, could barely speak. "You've committed an unforgivable crime! How can I save you now? His Majesty once showed favor to you—how could you betray such grace?""Mom, I know I was wrong! I know it now!" Oliver cried, tears streaming do

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1398

    At precisely three in the afternoon, the long execution block was brought forward. The block was forged from ironwood, solid and unyielding. It was the only one of its kind in Starhaven, used solely for execution by Torso Cleaving.The block had been kept in storage for years.Augustus had once deemed the act of Torso Cleaving too brutal. Even those who committed the most grievous offenses were spared this form of execution. Yet, the punishment had not been abolished. It remained a tool to strike fear into the hearts of would-be traitors.The cruelty of Torso Cleaving lay in the fact that after a person was cleaved in two, the upper body could still crawl, struggle, and leave behind a bloody trail.Normally, Torso Cleaving wasn't meant to be witnessed by the public. But treason, betraying the kingdom, and plotting to overthrow the throne were considered unforgivable crimes. Salvador didn't know how many people had dealings with the traitors, and some conspirators were too deepl

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1399

    In her study, Carissa wrote a letter. Then, she handed it to Jacob with instructions to have it delivered to Rafael in the Southern Frontier.She knew the situation in the Southern Frontier. Victor was amassing troops but neither attacking nor retreating, keeping things in a stalemate.Everyone knew that Victor was just stalling. He had been given a military order to invade the Southern Frontier, but since Nicholas had failed, he could not return with any captured cities or military achievements to report.If Victor made a hasty retreat now, he would likely lose more than just his position—his life might be forfeited as well. He attempted to forge alliances with the nomads, hoping to find a way out—perhaps a way to secure his future or an escape from certain doom.The nomads, tired of conflict, had no interest in picking sides. Caught in the middle, they were doing everything they could to remain neutral, refusing to aid either side. If they really had to choose, they would choos

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  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1488

    After a while, Max finally arrived. Upon seeing Carissa and Connor together, he let out a sigh of relief. "Commander Sinclair, we need to get Prince Connor back right away. Her Majesty is worried, and she's already sent people looking for him. However, the attendants are too afraid to go into the fenced area, so they've been calling from the outside."Connor clearly looked conflicted and didn't want to go back."Your mom cares about you. She'll be worried. You should return," Carissa said gently.Connor pouted. "She doesn't really love me. She only scolds me. She's a bad person."Carissa looked at him, somewhat surprised. Kylie doted on him—even spoiled him—so he should have been able to feel that love.Now, after just a couple of scoldings, Kylie was suddenly the bad person?However, as Carissa thought back to her time at the Pathfinders Guild, she understood. There, no matter how strict Everett was, no matter the punishments, she never dared to complain. But if Adrian scolded

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1487

    Compared to Sylvia, Grace was far more approachable—kind and friendly. Even when with her family, she was constantly surrounded by people seeking her attention. She greeted everyone warmly, often offering small gifts to the young ladies, which earned her their genuine affection.On the other hand, Kylie was no less popular. As the queen, her position commanded respect, and many came to pay their respects or simply make conversation. Yet despite her dignified stature, she still saw herself as the center of attention. She temporarily pushed aside her earlier displeasure and warmly engaged in conversation with everyone.In such gatherings, people naturally sought to build relationships, either to further their standing or to scout potential matches for their sons among the noblewomen present. Ever conscious of her position, Kylie had brought many gifts today, eager to present herself as a benevolent and approachable queen.Before long, a Royal Guard approached with news that Salvador

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1486

    Kylie bristled at the continued reproach. "And what good is saying all this now? What we need to do is figure out how to turn this around! Now, His Majesty won't let Connor into the woods. Today, Lady Grace's son outshone him completely—are you satisfied now? If you have a solution, say it! If all you're doing is offering empty words, then there's really no need for that."Kylie's resentment toward her natal family was always present, always simmering just below the surface.Marjorie continued speaking softly to Connor. "When His Majesty returns from the hunt and all the court officials are gathered, you should go to him. Acknowledge that you're not the most gifted and that you've been lazy in the past. But after this failure, you've come to understand where you went wrong. "From now on, you'll change your attitude, learn diligently from Mr. Young and Prince Rafael, and never again disappoint your grandmother or your dad. You'll ask your dad and the court officials to keep watch

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1485

    Kylie's heart sank at the Royal Guard's words. She turned back to the ladies and noblewomen present, noting the questioning and curious glances in their eyes. She forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Connor is unwell. He'll try again next year."With that, she signaled Lydia to find out what had happened, then took Connor's hand and led him back to the tent to calm him down. Connor was consumed by his grievances and cried pitifully, unable to get a word out. All Kylie could make out was, "Everyone's picking on me, even Dad…even Dad…"Not long after, Lydia returned with the details, relaying them all to Kylie.Kylie could hardly believe what she was hearing.She looked down at Connor, whose swollen eyes made him appear even more pitiful. But this time, she didn't feel her usual maternal sympathy. Instead, she felt cold.No mother believed her child was truly stupid. Most would think their child simply hadn't tried hard enough. Even if he didn't succeed, she would

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1484

    Sebastian's treatments were indeed effective. In just half a month, Salvador's complexion had improved—his face no longer carried that sickly, waxen pallor but instead held a faint flush of color. His strength had also returned significantly. If not for the occasional bouts of pain, he might have believed himself fully recovered.Sebastian wasn't present today, but the Royal Medical Department had sent several physicians. They claimed that since there were many people around, they needed to better guard against any unexpected incidents.However, the real reason for Sebastian's absence was obvious—he didn't want the court officials and their families to realize just how much Salvador relied on him.Connor and Caden, guided by guards from the Royal Guard, sat atop their horses. The two young boys each had a bow slung across their backs and looked remarkably serious, as if they truly belonged on the hunt.On the other hand, Felix held Cecil in his arms atop the horse. Dressed in a thi

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1483

    Though Salvador had trained in martial arts, he lacked Rafael's keen eye for detail. He hadn't noticed that Caden had prior training—he only saw a son who was diligent, disciplined, and improving rapidly.A brilliant child.If only he had been born to Kylie!It would have made things so much easier. Salvador wouldn't have to hesitate—he could have simply chosen Caden.The day before the Verdant Hunt, Salvador summoned Rafael to the royal study."What do you think of my three sons?" he asked.Rafael answered bluntly. "Prince Connor has no interest in martial arts. His talent is poor, and his attitude is indifferent. Even after days of training, he still holds the bow incorrectly. Every time I correct him, he makes the same mistake again the next day."Prince Caden is strong, skilled, and takes archery seriously. He already had a foundation before this, so he's nearly on par with Ryan."As for Prince Cecil, he's just there to play."Salvador paused. "A foundation? Caden's trai

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1482

    As the newly appointed Deputy Royal Tutor, Rafael spent the days leading up to the Verdant Hunt instructing the three princes in archery.Connor should have started learning long ago, but under Kylie's care, he had been coddled like a precious jewel. She couldn't bear to let him do anything too strenuous.Even after moving to Serenity Palace, where his education was properly arranged, he remained sluggish and unmotivated. Keeping up with his academic studies was already a struggle—catching up in both areas was out of the question. He lacked talent, and worse, he had no desire to work hard. More often than not, he found creative ways to slack off.His biggest improvement so far was that he no longer threw tantrums when sent to the study. At the very least, he now had a passable attitude toward learning.With Connor's laziness, it was Ryan who benefited most from the martial arts lessons. He picked up some basic skills but never pushed himself too hard—Sebastian had warned him to p

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1481

    Salvador returned to court, looking noticeably better than before. Some of the older court officials couldn't hold back their tears—especially Irvin, who had nearly caused a disaster. Now, seeing Salvador's condition improving and knowing that Sebastian had entered the palace for treatment, there was finally a glimmer of hope.As expected, the call to establish a crown prince was strong among the court officials.However, Salvador didn't immediately agree. He simply stated that his three sons were still young and that it would be best to wait a little longer.Among those urging for the appointment of a crown prince were some of Malcolm and Gerald's students. However, they merely echoed the sentiments of others—none of them took the lead in pushing for it.Salvador had never truly believed Malcolm's claim that he only wished to serve as a loyal subject.The Quinton family had indeed been keeping a low profile lately, but that was simply the result of being put in check.Although

  • Her Graceful War Song   Chapter 1480

    Marjorie entered the palace with a quiet determination, having been sent by Malcolm to make his position clear.Kylie's fury flared when she learned that her father intended to remain neutral."I've always supported our family when asked, without hesitation. But now, when I need help, you all retreat. I don't understand. If Connor becomes king, doesn't that benefit the Quinton family? Does Dad really believe everything will be smooth sailing for our family in the future?" Kylie said, her voice sharp, her eyes cold.Marjorie sighed. "Your dad wishes to remain a loyal subject, to follow His Majesty's wishes."Kylie's anger was so intense that she almost barked a laugh. "A joke! He's knee-deep in filth and still dares to talk of loyalty? Why didn't he say that sooner? It would have saved me from being sent into this royal family, left to fight and struggle all alone.""Your dad's private life may be in question, but in his years of service in the Civil Department, he has served the t

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