Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

In the sitting room, the fragrance of coffee filled the air.

Lulu brought out some cloud cakes. It was raining outside, and her shoes were soaked. As she walked across the cloud-patterned stone floor, several clear footprints were left behind.

Carissa didn't speak. She sat in a chair, slowly sipping her coffee, with only a high, square table separating her from Heather.

The cloud cakes were placed on the table. Lulu, holding a tray, retreated to stand at the door, keeping watch. Carissa picked up a piece of cloud cake by hand and ate it slowly. The sound of her chewing was barely audible.

Heather also took a piece with a fork and brought it to her mouth. She ate with refined manners, taking small bites and using a tiny porcelain saucer underneath to catch any crumbs that might fall onto her purple floral gown.

Heather's skin had a yellowish tint, and the purple gown she wore made her complexion look even duller. Her eyes were lifeless and shadowed with dark circles, clearly the result of several sleepless nights. Perhaps because Carissa hadn't spoken yet, Heather finally couldn't hold back.

Setting down her plate and fork, she wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief and said, "Carissa, have you become so estranged from me, your aunt?"

"I thought it was you who had become estranged from me," Carissa calmly replied.

Heather sighed softly. "It's because of the matter with Leona's trousseau, isn't it? I owe you an apology for that. Let's just put it behind us, shall we? We're family, after all. If your mother were here to see us fighting like this, it would surely break her heart."

of me," Carissa said, meeting Heather's gaze. "Furthermore, I haven't given a second thought to the issue of Leona's trousseau and your refusal.

because of you, our family was placed under house arrest for a month?

matter, Aunt Heather?" Carissa asked, finding the

mean

evident. In truth, she was indeed upset. Harvey's household had always been modest and low-key. They had never courted trouble or caused

you need to," Carissa said, clearly tired of

face her niece more directly, her

that's right,

like you. She's

fragile constitution. She can't handle hardship and she won't be able to handle the gossip and scrutiny that follows a divorce. Besides, she is a duchess. How

divorce by a courtesan from a brothel?

embarrassment."

earnest, "So, I'm pleading with you not to encourage her to get a divorce.

of looking at the same face. Leona's character is solid and respectable. If she

and indifferent. "Do you think I encouraged her to get a divorce,