Semua Bab Her Graceful War Song: Bab 1631 - Bab 1640

Samuel no longer dared to show his face. On the other hand, Mr. Claude began appearing before me rather often.Several times, he brought his servant and stopped by the shop set up to sell the embroidery made by the ladies at our workshop. Over the past few years, we had built up a fine list of noble ladies and officials' wives as regular customers. I would occasionally visit to play hostess.Truth be told, the embroidery had no trouble selling. After all, in the entire capital, few could rival Ms. Moore's needlework. It was only when dealing with wealthy clients that the prices were higher.Now that the court permitted women to register as heads of their own households, many of the ladies were eager to earn enough money to purchase a small house of their own and live comfortably.As I held the title of duchess and was cousin to the regent's princess consort, the ladies of noble families were more than willing to befriend me.At first, Mr. Claude only passed by the shop with his se

I didn't expect Mr. Claude to once again ask Mrs. Murray to act as a matchmaker. And this time, he came with her in person. The gifts he brought with him covered an entire table. They weren't especially rare or costly, yet it was clear he had taken great care in choosing them.I knew his salary wasn't high, and I'd heard he had sold off his family's home and shop just to afford a modest house in the capital."Your Grace, I tried to talk him out of it many times, but he insisted. So, I've come with him, just once more. Here, speak with him yourself. If you truly have no intention of accepting, tell him so plainly. Be firm, so he will give up for good," said Mrs. Murray.I thought it best to speak plainly too. Perhaps then his face would stop appearing in my thoughts from time to time.With that, Mrs. Murray excused herself, saying she would stroll through the garden. She left us in the drawing room, alone save for the maids waiting quietly just outside the doors. I caught the looks

Rafael took out the box of incense, broke the seal, and opened it, only to find a single incense bead inside, no larger than a peanut."Only one?" he murmured in surprise.The box had seemed rather large, so he had expected it to hold several. But no, there was just one. He looked at the bottom of the case, where a few characters were faintly inscribed. Though the words were a bit blurry, his eyes were still sharp enough to make them out.[Dreams of the Butterfly.]Dreams of the Butterfly… Dreaming Butterfly? The name sounded rather mysterious.Perhaps it truly could bring beautiful dreams, as the envoy had claimed.On the lid of the box, there were several more lines, carved in tiny seal script, each letter no bigger than an ant. Rafael squinted, but couldn't make out what they said. He didn't trouble himself too much about it. After all, Nerathia and Starhaven had long been on friendly terms. It would hardly be something harmful.Aside from the lines of script, there was also

Inside Northwatch Estate, Carissa held her mother's hand tightly and wouldn't let go. Even as Melanie scolded her daughter for being stubborn, she only smiled and cried without saying a word in reply.Seeing her behavior, Melanie grew worried."Are you ill?" she asked, touching Carissa's forehead.She turned to one of the servants and instructed, "Go quickly and fetch Sebastian."Carissa's sisters-in-law gathered around, each one speaking with concern.The servant soon brought Sebastian. When Carissa saw him, she couldn't help but cry again. She still remembered how deeply saddened she had been when the physician passed away, and how she had taken care of his funeral herself.Now, she knew she wasn't in a dream. She had truly come back to life—back to a time before she married Barrett. Thinking about the many things she could change this time made her laugh and cry all at once.Melanie and the other ladies thought Carissa might have lost her mind.After examining her, Sebastian

Before leaving for Victory Pass, Carissa wanted to visit Victoria. She had long hoped for the chance to enter the palace to see the queen dowager, and perhaps catch a glimpse of Helen, or even Salvador.In their past life, Victoria and Helen had passed on after living long lives. Even so, their deaths still grieved Carissa deeply. She had mourned for quite some time and thought it was a farewell for eternity.Never had she imagined she would get to see them again.As an unmarried young lady, Carissa could not enter the palace alone. Proper etiquette required her mother to accompany her and present a formal request for an audience. Once Victoria granted it, they were permitted to visit.Since the loss of her husband and sons, Melanie had not stepped beyond the gates of Northwatch Estate. Now, Carissa hoped a short outing might lift her mother's spirits. Additionally, a meeting with Victoria might offer some comfort and possibly aid in her recovery.Melanie didn't want to go at firs