Semua Bab Her Graceful War Song: Bab 1231 - Bab 1240

In the study of the Quinton family's main residence, the flickering light from two lamps cast a cold glow over Malcolm's face, making his expression one of deep gloom and fury."Who knows about this?" Malcolm asked, his voice tight with barely contained anger.Though his control was still sufficient to keep him from losing his temper on the spot, his frustration was evident.The Marquis of Glandale hesitated. He couldn't admit that his sister had already learned of the matter. Only now did he realize why she had insisted on not coming along. This situation, it seemed, was best kept as quiet as possible."No one knows. I heard Lord Gerald was covered with a tablecloth when he was brought out. It's likely only Lady Carissa saw his face," said Fabian.Malcolm ground his teeth together. "She should never have seen it. If it were Deputy Commander Brown or Chief Lewis, it would be manageable. But her—how are we supposed to move forward now? She will make it her mission to let everyone k

Staring at the steaming coffee, Malcolm had no desire to drink it. It didn't matter that his throat was dry and his mouth felt like it was on fire.Noticing that Carissa didn't respond to his mention of Gracewood Women's Academy, his eyes shifted. "I've heard that His Highness has a few capable men around him. Perhaps I could recommend someone..."Carissa raised her hand to stop him. "Lord Malcolm, let's not stray from the topic. Rest assured, Lord Gerald's identity hasn't been revealed to anyone. When he left the gentlemen's retreat, I covered his head with a cloth. Even now in prison, he is still covered."Her directness caught Malcolm off guard, making his face flush with heat. He didn't know how to respond.If he looked at it objectively, the matter was deeply embarrassing.If it had been anyone else from the family—any cousin or nephew—he would have ordered them beaten within an inch of their life and tossed to a remote estate to fend for themselves.Once the truth was laid

Carissa motioned for a member of the Garrison Unit to take the silver ingot worth ten silver coins and said, "Buy meals for everyone tomorrow. Once they're released, they can pay back the money they owe him."What she said was meant to reassure those being held—nothing would be done to them beyond this brief detention. She wanted to keep the peace, urging them not to cause a ruckus and to get through the next two days without any trouble.At the same time, it was meant as a subtle reminder for Gerald to calm down.In the dead of night, Carissa made another round of the prison. This time, she found Gerald trembling even more.Cody approached her, speaking softly, "Might it be possible to get him a blanket? My lord is weak and can't stand the cold. His health is frail."Carissa noticed that Gerald had curled himself into a strange, almost rigid position, huddling into the corner. There was a small draft coming through a hole in the wall, which explained why he seemed so cold.She s

In the end, Malcolm left the room. As he passed through the main hall, he saw Carissa sitting by the fire. He didn't want to face her, but for some reason, his feet moved of their own accord, carrying him inside.A thought struck him—if Carissa weren't here watching over the situation, he would have forcibly taken Gerald away. Even if it meant angering Salvador, he couldn't allow his father to endure this kind of humiliation."It's late. Why haven't you returned to your residence, Lord Malcolm?" Carissa asked, her voice steady.Malcolm looked utterly deflated, like a wilted flower after the first frost. All the strength had drained from him. He had never felt such fear before, the dread of stepping out into the unknown, of facing what awaited him once he left these walls.He remembered his arrival tonight, thinking he had prepared for a negotiation, only to find that Carissa hadn't intended to profit from it at all.As the Civil Minister, Malcolm was in charge of many officials' c

The next moment, Malcolm and Fabian were summoned back into the hall to receive their scolding. The other two knelt and acknowledged their faults, but Carissa remained silent.Salvador's anger flared again. "Don't think you're innocent, or that you've been unjustly accused. You knew Lord Gerald went to the gentlemen's retreat, yet you didn't report it in advance."Carissa had endured a long night, and she was now being forced to be scolded alongside Malcolm and Fabian. Naturally, she felt a little disgruntled.So, she lifted her head slightly and asked, "If I had reported it, would you have refrained from raiding the gentlemen's retreats, Your Majesty?"Angry and embarrassed, Salvador shot back, "They would still have been raided, but..."He trailed off, caught in his own thoughts. He knew he couldn't go back on what he had ordered, and he certainly couldn't say that having prior knowledge would have made him send someone to warn Gerald.Moreover, it was uncertain if he would act