Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Chapter 1611

Chapter 1611

The sunlight filtered gently through the branches, and beneath the thick leaves, a pair of small legs swung back and forth in the air. The peaceful sight was enough to make anyone smile.

The girl's given name, the one recorded in the family registry, was Elizabeth Sanford. But later, she was given the nickname Elise. It was said that her mother thought she talked too much and chose the nickname to quiet her down.

However, Elise thought the nickname quite useless and not very pretty. The meaning of "Elise" was to be silent, but if one had a mouth and never used it except to eat, what then? Wouldn't she grow into a great fat pig if eating was the only thing she did?

"My dear lady, there you are! You had me searching high and low." Lulu stood beneath the tree, looking up with both fondness and exasperation. "Come down now. His Highness and Her Grace are asking for you."

"Aunt Lulu, what do they want with me?" came a bright, lazy voice from above, as content as a cat in the sun.

"Her Grace is going to Meadow Ridge and says she'd like to bring you along. Do you wish to go?"

At that, Elise's face lit up. "Truly? Then, let's go at once!"

She slid down the tree trunk without delay. Perched on either shoulder were two white cats named Blackbird and Whitefang, though neither name quite suited their soft white coats. They had come to her the year before, and Elise treasured them dearly. She had also trained them to be perfectly well-behaved.

bounding in. The two cats stayed perfectly still on

ran forward and called,

you like that—aren't you hot?" Carissa asked with a smile, taking out her handkerchief to dab at Elise's damp brow and pluck

amber eyes blinked, and they straightened at once. With dignified grace, they leapt

said cheerfully, linking arms with her mother and pressing her

though he made an effort to keep a stern face. "Your mother's mentor has agreed to let you stay at Meadow Ridge and learn martial arts.

at the news. "Truly? I promise I won't mess around. I'll

stay to study martial arts. But as she had been too noisy and unruly, both Adrian and

though there was a smile on her face as she gently tapped her daughter's small nose. "If you make Sage Adrian unhappy, or if Sage

and silly back then, but now I'm already seven years

his

she wouldn't have been turned

had been Adrian who had written to them, saying the place was too quiet lately—perhaps a noisy child might do

he was the one in charge of discipline and couldn't abide noisy children. Back in the day, even Carissa had been scolded often by him. But in the end,

parents. If she trained diligently for a few years, her skill

Ridge. The two white