Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Back to me-Violet-again, and I had to complain a little.

About my husband, Isaac Prince, of course.

Heavens help me, but that man truly had a talent for being infuriating!

Before our marriage, we had come to an agreement. In the future, whatever I chose to do, he would not interfere, would not advise, and most certainly would not involve himself.

Well, it had only been a year since our wedding, and that agreement had already gone out the window. Now, he insisted on doing everything with me.

But could he even be part of the work I did? Of course not.

The Pathfinders Guild had strict rules, and there was even a rather fearsome man -Sage Everett-keeping watch. If they ever discovered I had taken Isaac with me to personally punish people in my own way... Wouldn't they grind my bones to dust?

Yet, Isaac claimed he was a man of the martial arts world, and that in such a world, one settled debts of gratitude and grudges alike. And yes, that included other people's grudges too. He argued that if we kept everything well hidden, the guild would never find out.

Had my dear husband forgotten he was in the Ministry of Defense now? And that he was a proper official? How could he still speak of settling grudges like some wandering hero?

The things I did I hadn't even told Cari all of it. And if she had guessed anything, she chose to turn a blind eye. It was a matter of roles, understand? Our positions didn't allow for such entanglements.

I wasn't an official, nor did I serve the court. I only did what I wished to do, and whatever consequences came of it, I bore alone.

Over the years, I had offered the Royal Citadel no small number of clues and pieces of evidence. As for cases with no evidence, I would use my own methods to force out the details of the crime. If the details matched, there was basically no chance of wrongful accusations.

with the investigations. If it had been left to me alone, I would never have uncovered so much. But that was the extent of Claire's help.

very identities-belonged in the light. I, however, could

law could only punish those caught and proven guilty.

that case, I would be their

when he insisted

in the Ministry of Defense. By day, he was part of the armory division; by night, he was simply Isaac. And what he chose to do at night, the people in the Ministry of Defense need not

argued with him for a long while, but could not out-talk him or

to follow my orders without question, and under no circumstances was he to

so, it seemed we had come

idea of us

him, many laughed and teased, "Didn't you say you'd never marry? And now here you are, a

thoroughly against the idea of marriage—that I hated it

But that wasn't true.

Everything, from the joyful scenes and lively music to the bride in

had once dreamed of

it had anything to do with me or the Spencer family. But as I grew older, I began to understand. The woman they whispered about-the shameless creature who ran away with a man-was Liana, amember of

on their faces and understand what it meant. If it had only been the adults, I might have endured it. But even the children I

I bear

yet know how to tell right from wrong, but I knew what it

be solved by beating

was fierce, unafraid of

even, and I struck