Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

With so much on her mind, Grace couldn't sleep. She rose, pulling a shawl over her shoulders, and walked with Lyra to Caden's chambers.

Silently, she dismissed the attendants keeping watch over him for the night. Taking a seat by his bedside, her gaze fell upon her son's delicate, youthful face. He seemed to be having a nightmare. Even with his eyes closed, she could feel the fear emanating from him.

She let out a quiet sigh, a flicker of vexation rising within her.

Asher-that was the middle name Trevor had chosen for Caden, one meant to instill virtue and teach him kindness and humility. But in truth, it was a name meant to make him docile, to mold him into a man who would yield and never fight, forever content in the shadow of others.

Why should he settle for that?

Her son had every advantage but birthright. In every way, he surpassed Kylie's

son.

It was not that Grace wished to fight, but without a fight, there was no survival.

Kylie was narrow-minded, selfish to the extreme, and utterly intolerant of threats to her position. If Caden had been dull or unremarkable, perhaps it wouldn't have mattered. But he was neither. Instead, he was the brightest and most gifted of the three princes.

How could one tolerate a rival sleeping soundly beside them?

Connor might not be so ruthless now, but who could say what the future held? He and his mother would never tolerate threats to their power. To stand aside was to court ruin; to surrender was to die forgotten and unmourned.

Tomorrow, Grace would win. There was no alternative.

She had never entertained the notion of failure.

was foolproof and carefully crafted to ensure success. Every detail had been meticulously arranged, and it was a strategy that would strike two birds

by Caden's side, watching over him in silence. At last, she rose and slipped away. Lyra quietly summoned the waiting

rest, Your Grace. It

tighter, the high collar shadowing the edges of her face. Her eyes,

meant for sleep. No doubt Queen Kylie is just as restless. She still clings to the foolish hope that Prince Connor will prove himself tomorrow, that the court officials might change their

has grown distant. She sought him out at Serenity Palace, yet he barely spoke to her. She

a fool,"

vel

to such extreme measures? She hurt her own son merely to preserve her dignity. Adults may understand her reasoning, but Prince Connopis still a child. How could he possibly accept that his own

"You're absolutely right, Your Grace. A royal prince doesn't act

remained silent, her brows knitted

son to stain his

and Ryan were staying in Serenity Palace as they always did. Victoria had arranged shared chambers for them,

their beds had

opposite ends of the

the eldest prince's

ordered the servants to move the beds closer, so they could speak more easily in the

asking, "You don't

ride poorly, my father will

and said, "You've been training diligently. Even Uncle Rafael has praised your progress. Just relax. Don't let fear get the better of you. Ride as if

I supposed

Connor groaned.

Verdant Hunt?