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.

believed Yuvan to be a worthless, idle man-at least, Carissa had thought

Stonebridge County was Eleanor's territory, and she hadn't even

Eleanor was

revealing this, Avis lost strength and drifted into a deep,

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

Avis to rest well, hoping that after

as

her own joy, oblivious to the silent exchange of glances

night, Carissa and Violet heard Jasmine's frantic knocking at the door and her choked voice coming through, "Lady Avis has

breath as if she had just emerged from drowning.

been keeping watch through the night, discovered that Avis had stopped breathing when she got

her sleep. She had not survived

death, he held Carissa tightly. He expected her to cry, but she remained remarkably composed, with not

his arms, her voice was faint, "She's gone. Perhaps

trees of Verdant Monastery. The desolation they exuded seemed

died in such

her side. Thankfully, Carissa Kad come. Otherwise, when Avis passed, she would have been entirely alone. And with her exalted status

the more