Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Serena covered her face, and threw herself into Rebecca's arms. "Mom, Barrett hit me!"

Rebecca patted her back, comforting her, and looked at Barrett with disappointment.

"You hit her just because she said a few words? As her brother, how could you not see how that would hurt her? Even if her intentions weren't purely for your sake, in the end, you still stood to benefit from her actions," she said.

"Mom, I hit her because she spoke disrespectfully of her sister-in-law," Barrett said angrily.

Viola's heart swelled with emotion. Seeing how fiercely Barrett defended her made all her sacrifices feel worthwhile.

Rebecca glanced at Viola and said, "Enough. All of you leave for now. I'll talk to her myself."

Feeling suffocated by the toxic atmosphere, Barrett turned and strode out of the room, still fuming.

Viola noticed his frustration, and hurried after him. She took his arm and said, "Honey, after seeing how you defended me tonight, I swear I'll do everything to protect your future." Barrett stiffened.

A wave of sorrow quietly rose within him.

he hadn't slapped Serena to protect Viola. He had lost control the moment his sister called Carissa trash. That one word had ignited a fire in his mind, driving him to slap Serena without thinking. When he had shouted, "How dare you talk about her like that?", he had

person only realized how much they cherished something once it

anymore-maybe guilt, maybe frustration. He had been wrong, but he also felt Carissa had never truly loved him. If she had,

work for it myself." He pulled his arm away from Viola. "If you say things like that again,

I won't say it anymore. I know you're ambitious,

hold his arm,

had once been the

heights. Now, look at what he had become. His legitimate wife was a woman who had been married before. His other rightful wife, a former captive of Sandorian soldiers, was known for her cold

the then-Marquis of Northwatch, the most favored apprentice of the Pathfinders Guild, admired by both the

had such a promising future. But through all his efforts, he

he had taken

why had he paid such a steep price? The bitterness gnawed

nor did she inquire

was settled, Amelia decided she would only prepare