Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Barrett was on duty today, tasked with helping the Capital Guard maintain order.

As the eleven young soldiers rode past him one by one, he carefully studied each of their faces. When his gaze fell on Thomas, he noticed that the once-handsome, striking figure seemed less radiant than before. A mix of nostalgia and complex emotions stirred in his chest, along with a fleeting sense of inferiority.

Heroes.

Barrett had once been a hero too. When he returned from the Victory Pass battle, the citizens had cheered for him the same way.

But now?

Now, he had been reduced to a mere ninth-rank capital guard, stripped of the glory that once surrounded him. No longer the golden boy, no longer entrusted with important duties. Watching the eleven young soldiers, Barrett couldn't shake the sense of being worlds apart, like a speck of dirt beneath their feet.

If he was ever going to rise again, it would have to be through his brother-in-law's support. Or perhaps, another war would break out, giving him the chance to earn military merits once more.

How foolish Barrett had been back then, always imagining things so idealistically. He had once thought military accomplishments were easily won. After all, back at Victory Pass, Wyatt Sullivan had taken a blade for him, losing an arm in the process.

And on the Southern Frontier battlefield, Barrett had witnessed the true horrors of war-the brutal siege, mountains of corpses, and rivers of blood. Only then did he realize that earning glory on the battlefield was not as simple as Aurora had once made it sound. How many brave soldiers had died with their ambitions unfulfilled?

And how many, like the eleven young heroes, had been captured and tortured? To escape and form an intelligence network like they had-they were probably the only ones who could pull off such a feat.

As thoughts of captivity and torture filled his mind, a chill ran down Barrett's spine, freezing him to the core.

pursued the matter yet, but had sent people to

thing was certain-if Westhaven underwent a shift in power, so too would the Warren family. The new crown prince wouldn't

Despair settled deep in his bones at that moment, and his mind wandered to something Aurora had once said with such conviction: All

looked up at

almost felt as if he were looking up at a past version of himself and Aurora. But in the thick crowd, no one noticed him. Their attention was fully captured by the

rescued them, the Hell

His attention was focused on the heartwarming scene unfolding before him-Richard's

cry. No, he stood tall, his face filled with pride.

before him, bowing their heads to the ground, their voices trembling as they said, "Dad, we haven't been the

he smiled instead. He helped them to their feet and said,

had come out to greet their loved ones, and each tearful embrace was a sight

He wept like a child in his elder brother's arms, entirely forgetting that he was soon to be married. From inside the carriage, Carissa watched it all

by life and death, but unexpectedly, they experienced the joy of a reunion. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she realized this joy could never belong to her. She, her dad, and brothers would never see each

true cruelty of this world lay in how blood ties, once so close, could be severed, with no promise of ever meeting

returned home,

straight to her room.

sharing in everyone else's

was left with her