Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Violet and Carissa shuddered at the thought. To throw a newborn baby to its death was an act of unimaginable cruelty.

Carmen managed a bitter smile. "Such things... who knows how many cruel and vicious secrets are hidden in the grand princess' inner palace? I once had a younger brother. When my mom was pregnant, she was sure it was a boy.

"She knew my dad couldn't protect her and that the grand princess wouldn't allow a boy to live. Boys were doomed from the start. So, my mom wanted to escape, but the grand princess had people watching her. Once you enter the grand princess' inner palace, the only way out is as a corpse."

Carmen wiped her tears and continued, "My dad promised to help her escape. My mom believed him and waited for a chance. When the time finally came, it was almost too late, but she finally had a chance the grand princess was out for a banquet and wouldn't return until late."

"Did she manage to escape?" Violet asked, both angry and anxious.

"She did escape, but was caught halfway. My brother was born in the carriage, and they didn't even cut his umbilical cord. When they were dragged back to Harmony Palace, my mom and brother were pulled across the ground all the way to Fragrance Courtyard. By the time they got there, my brother had stopped crying. His skin was torn, and he was just a bloody mess. He wasn't even breathing anymore," said Carmen.

Carissa, Rafael, and Violet had seen the brutality of a battlefield many times. However, that was a war between nations, where lives were exchanged and cruelty was unavoidable.

they were talking about a grand princess' inner palace-how could she commit

her smile full of despair. "You haven't seen my mom or the other concubines in Harmony Palace. If you did, you would understand why the grand princess treated them that way." Goosebumps erupted all over Carissa's skin

be that they all resemble

was mistreated so horribly because

resembled Madam Sinclair an

and took

clenched her fists, a glimmer of

turned ashen, her voice seething with anger

and asked, "What is your mom's name? What is her

Greta had provided a specific address, they would need to verify it upon returning to the capital. If the verification didn't match, they would doubt Carmen's words, and Eleanor's plan would

family is my mom's natal family. They were also coerced and enticed by the grand

name is Melanie Sullivan," Violet said