Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Caden's eyes were wide with terror and his expression was one of sheer horror, as though he had been suddenly awakened from a nightmare.

Gasping for air, he clutched his ears and shouted desperately, "No! Mom, I don't want this! I don't want my brother to die! I don't want it..."

Grace collapsed to the ground. From the moment Salvador had taken out the caltrop, it was as if all her strength had been drained from her body, leaving her crumpled on the floor.

However, Salvador paid her no mind. His gaze remained fixed on Caden, the coldness in his eyes unyielding.

"It is too late. Your elder brother is dead. You killed him," said the king.

Caden whirled around, his head slamming into Grace's abdomen. A shrill, anguished cry escaped his lips as he shouted, "You lied to me! You said he wouldn't die! You said that he would only be crippled! You lied to me! You lied to me! I killed my brother-"

The force of the impact left Grace breathless, her insides twisting painfully as if they might shift from their place. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she lurched forward, trying to silence her son's outcries by covering his mouth.

But Caden, in his madness, seemed unrestrained. Still screaming, he leaped to his feet and hurled himself against the wall. He collided with the stone wall, his forehead splitting open with the force.

After quickly restraining the boy, Derek swiftly knocked him unconscious, then called for someone to take him away to bandage his wound.

As the door slammed shut, Derek positioned himself silently by Salvador's side. Meanwhile, Grace and Lyra remained kneeling on the floor.

in-she had lost. There was no turning back now. She had failed to secure what she so desperately desired. And with that failure, she knew that nothing could save her now. Her anger and frustration

he drove his foot into her stomach, roaring, "Vile woman! How cruel you

tumbling backward, her body crashing to the floor. Pain radiated through her, yet

no choice. What flaw does Caden have, apart from not being born of Queen Kylie's womb? In every way, he surpassed Prince Connor. Why should Prince Connor be the one to be made crown prince? It is not fair. It is so terribly

it hurt the most. With a flick of his

is the edict I placed in the royal chapel, naming my heir. Read it," the

the parchment and laid it in front

saw it, the mocking curve of her lips froze, and her face went pale with shock. Her

was Caden's name on the

tore from her throat as she shook her head violently. "No! No! Your Majesty,

This was the edict she had dreamed of, the one she had schemed for so long to secure. Everything she had done was for this-for her son's

a pity. Prince

signaled for servants to bring forth a brazier. Before Grace's horrified eyes, he burned the

back to her senses, throwing herself toward the fire, her hands frantically trying to snatch at the burning parchment.

.n

to do it, he didn't want this. It took me so