Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Chapter 1198

Carissa remained composed as she directed the students and their families out of the hall. She no longer bothered with asking them to keep the incident quiet-it was clear they couldn't.

Once they were cleared out, she instructed Claire to bring in Ivy and someone from the Royal Citadel. The man needed to be restrained and interrogated, and it was obvious he had been drugged. Carissa wanted Ivy to determine what substance had been used. The few who had managed to escape were soon captured by Max and his men, all brought back under guard.

The others, though somewhat more aware, still seemed dazed. Their eyes, glazed and hungry, followed Carissa and Claire with an unsettling intensity.

Carissa walked over and gave Rosalind a comforting hug.

Rosalind had already calmed down and reassured her in return, "It's alright, I'm fine."

"You foolish girl," Catherine said, her voice heavy with sorrow as she sighed. "You shouldn't have said that. You've ruined your reputation. How are you fine?"

Rosalind's face was pale, and she smiled shakily. "Don't worry about me, Mrs. Ashford. I never intended to marry. My reputation was just a burden. Now that it's gone, I can move more freely."

"You say that, but you've taken the burden upon yourself. The public, the rumors... Oh! Humanity has both kindness and cruelty. I fear I can't even predict what they'll say about you. As for your grandparents, how will I explain this to them?"

the closest of friends, they had always shared a respectful bond. When Rosalind took the position at the academy, Catherine had assured Mildred that she would look after her granddaughter. Never did she imagine such a

Mildred's frail state, this news was likely to

decision never to marry, couldn't help but feel for Rosalind. She was young, beautiful, with a sharp mind and an excellent family background-surely she could have found a

quickly smiled, trying to ease their worries. "Really,

they

made herself appear. It was clear that she was only comforting them, hiding the hurt beneath her calm facade. She must be

affairs, leaving Carissa and the Garrison

were alone,

and guided her into a quieter room. She carefully adjusted the

disheveled hair, speaking softnet

"I'm

You shouldn't have had

tears finally fell. She had been terrified. The courage she had shown when swinging the stick was born from the need to

in. Her heart raced as