Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

The next day, Zoey sent someone to bring Viola to Silverstone Estate. However, Viola replied that she wasn't feeling well and would return on another date. She was plotting how to discuss the divorce with Barrett, and didn't want her family to know just yet. However, Barrett had been on night duty lately. He slept during the day, which left them with little time to talk. It wouldn't do to bring up the divorce out of the blue without any preparation-there had to be some sort of commotion first.

Since Viola's visit to Richspire Peak, she had felt utterly exhausted. There were two days when she slept through the afternoon, not waking even when Barrett returned from his shift. It was only when Poppy nudged her awake for dinner that she finally stirred. Fatigue, drowsiness, and a slight sense of nausea plagued Viola. On top of that, her monthly cycle was delayed by several days. With all the facts combined, she couldn't shake the worry that she might be pregnant.

Calculating the dates in her mind, she recalled how Barrett had spent nearly every night at Grace Mansion during what had been the most romantic phase of their marriage. Panic set in as she fervently hoped she wasn't pregnant.

She didn't dare call for a physician to come to her, so she donned a veil and headed to a physician's office with Poppy to get checked.

At the physician's office, an elderly physician with silver hair smiled and said, "Congratulations, my lady. You are indeed pregnant."

Viola felt her blood run cold. Even though she had suspected for days, the confirmation left her reeling.

How could she be so unlucky? Why did it have to happen now?

If she had become pregnant before Thomas returned, she wouldn't have entertained any other thoughts. But now that she had opened up to Thomas, her feelings were uncontainable. If she had become the wife of a third-rank major general and gained a title of nobility, it would have fulfilled all her aspirations in this life.

However, the arrival of this child threatened to shatter everything she had worked for.

She returned to Silverstone Estate in despair, and ordered everyone out of Evelyn's quarters.

before her mother, just as she had years ago. She raised her head, trembling all over, panic and desperation flickering in

me," she pleaded, "I

at Viola's words as she exclaimed, "What are you

families, this was a nightmare from

child." Evelyn struck Viola across the face sharply, and Viola's face snapped to the side. Yet she quickly turned back to face her furious mother, her own body trembling with defiance. "Mom, if you don't

blurred, and pain constricted her chest. She pressed her hand

Viola cried out in panic, wrapping her arms around her. "Someone! Mom has

physician administered treatment,

weary gaze, she looked at Zoey and Luna. "You two stay. Everyone else,

Viola knelt beside the bed,

her head away, refusing

must help me. I'm begging you one last

that, she slowly rose and

ushered out. The door was locked, the curtains drawn, and the room fell into

inkling of what had happened. It seemed that Viola was truly intent on divorcing, and

she asked directly, "Mother, is it about Viola wanting a