Her Graceful War Song

Aurora recalled everything that had happened on the Southern Frontier battlefield. Reflecting on the events now, she recognized that she had indeed fallen into a trap. She had suspected many things, but had been unwilling to believe, instead coming up with numerous excuses and reasons.

The biggest reason she clung to was that Rafael aimed to elevate Carissa, thus erasing Aurora's achievements and declaring in advance that she would receive no credit.

But Carissa was here, laying everything bare and dissecting it piece by piece.

Aurora had no place to hide. She could only shuffle to the door, curl up there, and mutter, "No, it wasn't like that."

then

Carissa stood before the memorial plaques, her figure shadowed by the candles behind her, making her expression indistinct.

Her voice was soft and haunting as she said, "Aurora, you're still alive. You should be grateful.

"Yet, my family will never return, all because of you. Tell me, is it a wonder that I hate you? I've endured for so long. I didn't want to harm you, but why did you come to me? You achieved merit at Victory Pass. Before the truth reached me, even if you and Barrett had married, I would have respected you for being a woman willing to fight for the kingdom."

Carissa slowly approached, her shadow completely enveloping Aurora as she continued, "But the truth is so ugly, isn't it? Your achievements came at the cost of my entire family being wiped out. Yet, you still have the audacity to flaunt your success in front of me, talking about how you disdain women struggling to survive in the household.

"You claim to be so skilled and noble, so why did you scheme to retain my dowry? Your greed for credit is ugly, and your greed for wealth is even uglier-far more so than your face now."

Aurora was supporting herself with both hands on the ground as she sobbed uncontrollably.

*Stop, please stop... Don't say anything else..."

Carissa bent down, a mocking smile on her lips. "Can't you take it? You looked down on women who fight for men, so why are you here today? To ask me to tell Lady Viola not to marry Barrett? You're fighting for a man now, Aurora.

"You can't stand the thought of Lady Viola marrying Barrett. Now, you know that your so-called love was nothing but a joke. You acted so grand in front of me, but now you're just a mess."

Aurora's lips moved, trying to argue, but she was reminded of the recent argument she had with Barrett, which had been because he was going to marry the third lady of the Earl of Silverstone's family. Carissa's gaze grew colder. "Aurora, remember this well-my family died because of you. You should be thankful that I come from the Duke of Northwatch's family. If not for my family's values, I would have flayed you alive and ground your bones to dust."

She opened the door, revealing that the snow outside had grown heavier, blanketing the ground with fine, salt-like flakes. The snowfall raining down from the overcast sky intensified, swirling faster and thicker. "Pay for the vase, then leave Don't come back. If you do, I'll kill you," Carissa declared, her voice colder

than the snow outside.

Aurora trembled. At that moment, she felt true fear.

Carissa's words carried a murderous intent that was impossible to mask.

Shakily, Aurora stood up and reached out uncertainly. "I don't have any money on me.

"Frederick," Carissa said calmly, “Go and have the accountant draft a promissory note for fifty silver coins. Have Aurora put her fingerprint on it. Tomorrow, send someone to collect the money." Frederick's eyes darkened as he nodded and left.

Aurora stumbled out of the sanctuary hall and leaned against a pillar in the corridor, taking deep breaths. She was shivering from the cold wind, but fine beads of sweat covered her forehead.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

In her current state, she felt utterly defeated, and her heart was numb. At times, she wanted to regain her former authority before Carissa, but she couldn't even straighten her back.

The snowflakes drifting before her seemed almost invisible. Her mind was flooded with images of the memorial plaques, the bloodshed at Northwatch Estate, and the horrifying thought of Carissa's fifth sister- in-law crawling, bloodied, towards her son.

Aurora's gaze seemed to stretch farther, beyond the capital city, all the way to Victory Pass and Fawnrun City. She saw the civilians who had died beneath her soldiers' slaughtering blades, their screams echoing

in her ears.

She could hear the curses of that Westhaven royal youth. Even as they cut him countless times, he continued to curse.

Why had she remained indifferent then, and even found it exhilarating?