Lahat ng Kabanata ng Her Graceful War Song: Kabanata 731 - Kabanata 740

Rafael frowned as he read through Billy's testimony. The man was clearly terrified of dying.He had confessed everything in painstaking detail—how Celeste seduced him and forced him to risk everything to poison Melanie Lester, the drugs he used, how the illness worsened, and even when he predicted Melanie would die. He also speculated on Celeste's motives, suggesting that she wanted to free herself entirely from Harmony Palace and escape its constraints by poisoning her own mother.Though Rafael hadn't been handling cases for long, he could immediately see a flaw in this story."If Celeste really wanted to break free from Aunt Eleanor, killing her mom wouldn't help. There's a contradiction here. Aunt Eleanor's control over her hinged on her mom. If Celeste truly didn't care about her mom's life, she could have easily lived under Samuel's protection at Gracehold Estate and stayed out of Aunt Eleanor's grasp. And if she didn't want to be a concubine, she could've swindled a good sum f

"Claire and the others might know where Celeste is, but I doubt they're tracking her. After such a big case, they're likely on standby in the capital," Carissa said."I came back specifically to have them keep an eye on Yuvan's residence in the capital, Edgeview Estate, as well as on Hartstone Estate. While they probably won't dare make any moves right now, the production and transportation of those weapons involve a lot of people. Plus, the dungeon wasn't full, so they are likely still working on getting more. Since Aunt Eleanor has fallen, Uncle Yuvan or Uncle Harvey will have to take over. We need to monitor them closely," Rafael replied."Got it. I'll talk to Violet about it later," Carissa promised.Rafael ordered someone to bring water so he could wash his face and change his undershirt. He still had some time to nap.Jacob was aware of Rafael's return and had intended to ask him about the case. However, he heard that the prince was resting and would be heading back to the Su

Violet nodded. "Got it, Ivy and I will handle it. Don't worry."Carissa pulled her down to sit as well. "There's something else I need to tell you in advance, so you can prepare yourself."Violet plopped down next to her friend, raising an eyebrow. "Why so serious? You're scaring me. What is it? Just spit it out!"Still unused to the style, Carissa adjusted her hair as she spoke, "Grand Princess Eleanor is pretty much done for now. Prince Yuvan and his people will definitely be trying to find out whether she's confessed anything or not. Anyone who's had dealings with court officials won't dare reach out to her. I have a feeling your cousin will come looking for you."Violet's expression turned cold. "She won't get a single word out of me. Don't worry about me leaking anything. With her level of cunning, she couldn't trick me if she tried."After a brief pause, she tilted her head. "Wait, are you asking me to pretend to be friendly and play along to fish information out of her?"C

Carissa quickly waved her hand. "That's not it, Your Majesty. I got up too early today and was ready before our appointed meeting time. So, I sparred a little with the people at my residence and accidentally took a hit from one of them."Salvador chuckled. "You got up too early? Were you nervous? Worried you won't handle the responsibilities as the Mystic Army's commander well?""I'm a bit nervous, yes. Mostly because I don't have much experience. I'm afraid I might not do a good job and let everyone down," Carissa replied honestly.Looking at her bruised eye, Salvador had to hold back another laugh. But he knew there were serious matters to address, so he straightened his expression and spoke solemnly."You're the first female official of this era. What you're shouldering is far more than just the duties of the Mystic Army's commander. You also bear the queen dowager's expectations and the admiration of all the women in the kingdom. Others in your position only need to focus on se

Alistair was in his thirties, with well-defined features and a strong, fit build that wasn’t overly large. As he approached Carissa with his men, there was a hint of disdain in his expression.He nodded respectfully, but his eyes betrayed his arrogance as he said, "I apologize for my late arrival. I had matters to attend to. Please forgive me, Commander Sinclair."Carissa nodded slightly, glancing at the twelve captains standing in two rows behind him. Each one looked formidable, their expressions dismissive, as if they couldn't care less about a female commander.It was clear—the caliber of a military leader was often reflected in the nature of their soldiers."There's nothing much to discuss today, so let's disperse and get back to our duties…"Before Carissa could finish her sentence, Alistair interjected, "Since there's nothing of importance and we've all seen each other, I'll take my leave. There's a great deal to attend to in the palace."With that, he turned and strode awa