Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Due to Carissa's wedding, Violet had first returned home to help her family, then gone to assist the Inferno Guild with the gifts to add to Carissa's trousseau.

Though this had occurred more than a month ago, Yuvan would have had to travel from Valken to the Spencer family's residence in Ebonflow if he had gone to propose marriage. Considering the time it took to travel, Yuvan likely arrived to propose shortly after Violet's return to the Inferno Guild.

The Spencer family had sent people to help with the gift preparations just a few days after Violet's return to the Inferno Guild. That meant that by the time Violet met with the other Spencer family members in the capital, they probably hadn't heard the news yet.

"How shameless can Prince Yuvan be? How old is he? How dare he come to propose marriage to me? When was the divorce agreement sent? It's possible he came to propose first, then sent the divorce agreement. That old scoundrel-I'll have him chopped up!" exclaimed Violet, outraged.

Perhaps it was because Yuvan's name was repeatedly mentioned, but the tears in Avis' eyes began to fall. Then, her dull eyes finally focused, and she looked steadily at Carissa.

Recognition dawned on her face.

With a sob, Avis began to cry. Her tears flowed uncontrollably, and her cries were piercingly sorrowful. Her weeping was so intense, it seemed like she might choke. She gasped for breath but could hardly catch it. Soon, she was coughing and vomiting blood, the bright red droplets staining the floor.

A horrified Carissa gently patted her aunt's back and wiped away the blood. Yet, the blood kept coming up in steady streams until Avis eventually lost consciousness.

Ivy and Jasmine, seemingly accustomed to such emergencies, helped Avis lie down and began administering acupuncture. They crushed pills and forced them into her mouth. The attending maids cleaned up the blood and attended to Avis with practiced efficiency.

stood frozen. Even when a maid brought water to clean her blood-stained hands, she remained

her lightly. "Wash your hands. We'll

water, her whole body trembling uncontrollably. She was aware of her aunt's illness, but

Carissa's heart-a fear she knew all too well, the kind that

of medicine, Avis gradually began to regain consciousness. She looked even more frail than before, but she recognized Carissa. Avis reached out for her niece's

I'm married to Prince Rafael, and he treats me

disbelief. "Are you sure you're not... lying to

ask them." Carissa gestured to Ivy and

Avis and nodded.

Violet was conflicted.

Avis so much suffering, and now, he wanted to cast her aside and marry

Violet wondered how her

cared about their reputation. No matter how awful Yuvan was, he was still a prince. It wouldn't

if Violet had been present, she would have pointed a