Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Let me tell you about the day the Saunders family crossed a line even I, Violet Spencer, couldn't ignore.

It was beyond outrageous!

The Saunders family held nothing more than a minor earl's title, yet Maya dared act so arrogantly! In all my years alive, I had encountered plenty of ill-mannered women, but never had I encountered one among the powerful and influential.

When I heard that they had dragged Courtney out and slapped her, calling her shameless for having feelings for a young man, I wanted to storm into Averton Estate, break down their door, and give them a taste of their own medicine.

Cari was angry too, but she reminded me that we couldn't just go rushing in without thinking. The most important thing was to check on Courtney and Viola- who knew if they might do something rash?

I had to admit, Cari had been in court long enough to know how to handle these things. She could stay calm when it mattered most.

I rushed straight to the Prince family's residence. As I feared, I found that

Courtney had slit her wrist. And when I heard Viola had sent away all her maids, I knew it was only going to get worse.

Sure enough, Viola was determined to hang herself up like winter provisions. I lost my temper and slapped her right across the face.

I've had a good temper these past few years, but seeing her like that, I couldn't hold back. All those years spent at the workshop and she never learned a thing. Not how to be strong, nor how to stand up for herself.

stormed over

to see Cari there, accompanied by some soldiers from the Mystic

court official, Cari wasn't supposed to be here. We had agreed I would be the one to storm in and deliver payback. Yet there she was, clad in full official robes, seated sternly in

soldiers restrained a prisoner. I took a closer look-wasn't that Merrick's brother and

seemed to have come out, including the servants, and of course, Maya herself. It was clear something big had happened, though I wasn't sure what

going on. Cari hadn't warned me she would

could hear, the Saunders family was bowing and scraping, begging Cari for mercy. And from there, I began to

caught in the act. Gabriel thought his noble Status gave him the right to act as he pleased and

luck would have it, Michael and the Capital Guard were patrolling nearby and "happened" to come across the scene. They

vel

Gabriel for abusing his power, kidnapping the concubine, and assaulting the merchant's servants. If those charges were proven, Gabriebwould never be able to inherit his title.

at least as long as

was then that she gave me a look. We had known each other for so long that there was no need

through the tension,

Perfect timing. I've come to

room seemed to just notice me for the first time, their

followed by bewilderment. What debt