Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

While Kylie was still fervently attempting to bring Cecil to Everspring Palace, Carissa arrived.

"I have long been waiting for you to ask me whether Prince Connor said anything before he passed, Your Majesty. Yet, you never did," she said, looking at the queen.

Kylie sharply turned her head toward her, her expression filled with resistance. "There is no need to speak of it. He would have blamed me, for he was always angry with me."

"On the contrary, he said that he loved you very much," Carissa replied.

A bitter smile curled on Kylie's lips. She clearly didn't believe Carissa's words. "He is gone. Why would you make up such things to make me sad?" she said.

Carissa looked at the clear finger marks on Kylie's face and her swollen, red eyes. The pain of losing her son should have been a wound to the soul itself, yet here she was, scheming to bring Cecil to her side.

Was it for revenge? Or was she trying to secure leverage, pushing Cecil to become the crown prince and crushing Grace's hopes once and for all?

"I am but the messenger. Whether you believe it or not, that is for you to decide," Carissa said.

After offering a shallow bow, she took her leave.

Once Carissa departed, Kylie pressed her hands to her face and collapsed into uncontrollable sobs.

her son, and Sylvia had died. After all the fighting and scheming, the one who benefited in the end

if he became her son-the queen's son-he would be

of lawful ways to exact revenge on Cecil. Anything beyond that, she had

heirs that had brought her to this point. Had there been any other alternative, she would

profound regret and an overwhelming sorrow. She realized that she should never have listened to the queen and done so

was punished. On top of that,

Sylvia could never endure such humiliation. Retaliation was only a matter of time-but no one

funeral, the year came to an

pause, though Carissa had refrained from directly questioning Grace. Instead, she carefully sifted through

left Grace on edge. It was as if a

head, ready to fall at

be raised under Victoria's care. The queen dowager hadn't shared the true cause of Sylvia's death with her grandchildren, only telling them that

mother at such a young age left them feeling

visited them, and later told Carissa that Gladys had cried so much her eyes were nearly blind

sigh. Everything had happened so suddenly and without warning. It was hard not

only dimmed, the image of Sylvia dying in front of her playing over and over in her mind. If she had been a little more alert, maybe she could have grabbed the