Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Avis gripped Carissa's wrist tightly, glancing anxiously outside. Her breathing was rapid, and she struggled to keep her voice steady.

"Listen to me. Prince Yuvan is not a good man. He has been conspiring with Grand Princess Eleanor."

Carissa was stunned. "What?"

She hurriedly sent everyone out, instructing Violet to stand guard at the door.

"Aunt Avis, what do you mean by that?"

Avis' head sank, her voice filled with fear and cold dread as she continued, "Over the years, he has been secretly raising troops in Valken, funded by Grand Princess Eleanor and Lady Fiona. Those soldiers are hidden in Stonebridge County."

Carissa knew Stonebridge County. It was Eleanor's fief, the dowry the late king had given her.

"Do not offend him. Do not become his enemy. He is not as simple as outsiders think," Avis said, her breath growing weaker.

Perhaps the revelation of this secret had frightened her deeply.

"Over the years, he has caused a scandal with his favoritism and abandoning his wife. Do you really think he favors Lady Fiona? It's just a ploy to create a bad reputation and deceive the current king," Avis added.

Carissa was horrified.

Yuvan to be a worthless, idle man-at

might have had spies in Valken, but Stonebridge County was Eleanor's territory, and she

was so brazenly amassing

strength and drifted into a

for lunch and another half for dinner. She even asked if there was more, and ended up

at her aunt's improvement. She urged Avis to rest well, hoping that after the harsh winter, everything

eyes shone as she smiled faintly.

the silent exchange of glances between Ivy and Jasmine,

Carissa and Violet heard Jasmine's frantic knocking at the door and her

shot up, gasping for breath as if she had

Avis had stopped breathing when she got up

her sleep. She had not survived the year,

Avis' death, he held Carissa tightly. He expected her to cry, but she remained remarkably composed, with not a single tear in her

her voice was faint, "She's gone. Perhaps it's a

at the withered trees of Verdant Monastery. The desolation they exuded seemed to carry a

died

her husband or children by her side. Thankfully, Carissa Kad come. Otherwise, when Avis passed, she would have been entirely alone. And

the