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.

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

Courtney. He told Maya that he would marry no one else, and would become a priest if

fit of anger, she locked

happened the day Maya came to our house. She arrived with a large group of servants, storming in and

Prince family has? How dare you set your sights on my son! You're nothing! Your daughter is just as shameless as that aunt

and even teaches him to threaten his parents, saying he'll become a priest if he doesn't marry her. Your whole family is just heartless! Let me make this

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

we were no match for them. After they finished destroying things and hitting Courtney, they left. Zoey immediately ran out

her body was trembling uncontrollably. She tried to comfort us, saying it

her bed, she cut

hadn't been so worried and insisted on checking on her, Courtney might have been gone by

so strong, couldn't

know how to demand an

so broken or vulnerable before; it crushed me to see her like that. My guilt and regret

but reflect on all the mistakes I had made in the past; I felt like

the maids away

said, "Is this how you handle problems? Will it change

I cried uncontrollably.

came home, and even when he did, it was just to check on Zoey and the children. Violet came even less often, and she never

ver