Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

When did I truly realize how wrong I was?

It wasn't when Thomas returned, nor was it after my divorce from Barrett, nor even when the Prince family fell into misfortune.

No, it was when talks were going on to arrange the marriage of my niece, Courtney.

During the Prince family's fall from grace, I was imprisoned and narrowly escaped death. As I reflected on the past, I knew I had made mistakes and was willing to change. But I wasn't fully aware of just how deep my mistakes went.

At the time, I thought it was all my own problem. No matter how much I suffered, it was my burden alone. No one else had the right to speak on it.

I knew that my sister-in-law, Zoey, had suffered because of my stubbornness. She had worked tirelessly, running here and there, trying to help me, and perhaps I had grown accustomed to her always doing that for me. Because of that, I felt both gratitude and respect for her.

Still, I wasn't ready to face the full weight of my past. I didn't want to dwell on it—it only hurt me.

It wasn't until Courtney's marriage was being discussed that I truly examined myself. I let my regret gnaw at me, eating away at me every moment.

Courtney had become close with Merrick Saunders, a young man from the Earl of Averton's family. They shared similar interests and had developed feelings for each other.

Though our family's title was gone, Zoey still had the late king's favor and a good reputation. Her business had flourished, and my third brother, Isaac, had married Violet from the Spencer family. Now, he was gaining favor in the Ministry of Defense.

So, our family was considered to be on equal footing with the Earl of Averton's family.

to marry Courtney, he was met with strong opposition. His mother, Maya Baker, forbade him from seeing

he had already fallen deeply in love with Courtney. He told Maya that he would marry no one else, and would become a priest if she

a fit of anger, she locked him

came to our house. She arrived with a large group of servants, storming in and immediately

think the Prince family has? How dare you set your sights on my son! You're nothing! Your daughter is just

priest if he doesn't marry her. Your whole family is just heartless! Let me make this clear: she'll never be part of

her servants to smash things and drag Courtney out of the house. They humiliated her in front of the neighbors,

destroying things and hitting Courtney, they left. Zoey immediately ran out and held her daughter, whose face was swollen

her body was trembling uncontrollably. She tried to comfort us, saying it was nothing,

night, in her bed, she cut

so worried and insisted on checking on her, Courtney might have been

who had always been so strong, couldn't do

know how to demand an apology from the

in her room, crying all alone. I had never seen her so broken or vulnerable before; it crushed me to see her like

mistakes I had made in the past;

I sent all the maids away and locked myself in

the door and saved me. She slapped me hard and said, "Is this how you handle problems? Will it change anything? Will it make the

I cried uncontrollably.

to check on Zoey and the

ver