Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Chapter 1050

Jessica studied the woman before her.

The woman's face was lined with sorrow, and her shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world had ground her down.

With a voice softer than her usual sharpness, Jessica said, "If you're looking for a way to keep going, step inside. The life here is simple, but no one will hurt you ever again."

At that, the woman's tears spilled over, flowing like an unstoppable river breaking through a dam.

Her name was Camila Moore. Once upon a time, she and her husband, Soren Carter, had owned a thriving dye shop in the capital. They weren't among the wealthiest, but their lives were comfortable. Their marriage was harmonious, and their little family was complete with a cherished daughter.

However, her daughter's birth had been harrowing. The blood loss nearly took Camila's life. While the midwife had managed to save her, the verdict had been clear: she would never bear another child.

Camila had grieved deeply over the news, but Soren had always reassured her.

"One daughter is enough," he had said with a smile. "She is our treasure. Besides, I have two younger brothers. They'll carry on the family name."

Taking comfort in his words, Camila devoted herself to her role as the eldest sister-in-law, using their wealth to arrange good marriages for her husband's brothers. Over time, both younger men had wives and children of their own. They held Camila in the highest regard and sought her advice on all family matters.

However, the world they had built crumbled a year ago. Soren and their daughter had traveled to the countryside to visit relatives, only to encounter a band of ruthless bandits. When word reached Camila, it wasn't her lively husband and sweet child who returned, but their lifeless, battered bodies. The grief had been unbearable-her very reason for living was torn away in an instant.

might have succumbed to despair, but the duty to care for her elderly parents and in-laws had kept her going. She told herself she still had a purpose, a responsibility to

in-laws, however, didn't share her sense of loyalty. With Soren gone and no son to carry on the family name, they saw Camila as a burden, one

home, the dye shop she and her husband had built together, and every coin she had saved. Then they cast her out and accused her of beating her mother-in-law, an accusation they backed with false witnesses and

her pleas of innocence, the testimonies of servants

husband's home and branded a criminal, Camila turned to her own family for help. However, her elder brother and his wife saw only disgrace in her misfortune. They refused her shelter, blaming her for tarnishing the Moore family's name. "I thought about ending it," Camila

want. No, I want to live. I want

Embroidery, but with the reputation I've gained-beating my mother-in-law, they say I thought there was

flickered toward Violet, her eyes red-rimmed but bright

of Lady Jessica.

for days. If someone

I

maybe, I

my luck."

before asking, "Where have you been staying all

woman who worked at our dye shop took me in," Camila admitted. "But her home is small, and I

taken Camila in was probably facing blame from both Camila's natal

nodded. "Then stay. There's

Camila froze.

like that? Didn't they need to

a bad