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.

a grand princess' inner palace-how could she commit

If you did, you would understand why the grand princess treated them that way." Goosebumps erupted all over Carissa's skin as she came

it be that they all resemble my mom?" she asked

mom was mistreated so horribly because

resembled Madam Sinclair an

She humiliated them, tortured them, and

fists, a glimmer of ruthless intent

voice seething with anger as she declared, "We'll kill

mom's name? What is her connection

to verify it upon returning to the capital. If the verification didn't match, they would doubt Carmen's words, and Eleanor's plan

coerced and enticed by the grand princess. Moreover, as merchants, they couldn't possibly stand against Grand Princess Eleanor," Carmen

mom's name is Melanie Sullivan,"