Her Graceful War Song

In the dead of night, everything finally erupted.

Feeling utterly exhausted, Amelia turned and left the room.

Behind her, shouts and screams filled the air, and Serena's piercing cries mingled with the chaotic uproar, Amelia slowly made her way to the main hall of the inner estate. It was the same chair where Carissa used to sit when she was managing the household affairs.

Managing those affairs was no easy task. Carissa had always handled it with patience and a pleasant demeanor, even enduring long nights when Rebecca was ill. She would never rest, and was always attending to what needed to be done.

Carissa had seemed tireless, but who wasn't tired? It was just a matter of persevering through it all.

Amelia had never understood this before, but now, she saw it all too clearly.

She sank into a chair, staring at the empty hall. To conserve oil, only one lantern was lit in the corridor, casting a dim light that illuminated the desolate tables and chairs. Valor Estate felt like a mausoleum. She felt genuinely happy for Carissa, not for any other reason but for how Carissa had cared for her during her time at Valor Estate. It wasn't just the material support-now that she was in charge of the household, she understood what Carissa had endured and resisted on her behalf.

Now, Amelia was truly exhausted, drained by the endless turmoil. Life would be simpler as an ordinary person, where one could live comfortably without unrealistic aspirations that drained everyone's energy and never led to fulfillment.

She fell asleep in the chair, though she had no idea how long she slept.

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Eventually, a servant came in to inform her that Barrett had slapped Aurora, and Aurora had retaliated with a slap of her own. Her action caused more chaos, before Barrett stormed out and Rebecca fainted from rage.

After hearing everything, Amelia merely said quietly, "Everyone, go back to your tasks."

Amelia knew this was just the beginning-the start of a continuous state of unrest in the household.

Just as Rafael set off for Meadow Ridge, the Civil Department issued Barrett's new appointment. He was now assigned to the Capital Guard Headquarters. He would serve as the administrative overseer, which was a fifth-rank position.

This position was held by two individuals, one of whom was Michael from the Mystic Army. The Capital Guard was derived from the Mystic Army, and the Hell Monarch was the commander of the Mystic Army, with Carissa serving as the deputy commander. Below them were the assistant commander, commandant, and then came the administrative

overseer.

Of course, Carissa's appointment was largely ceremonial. While the kingdom allowed women to go to war, it didn't permit them to hold substantive positions.

Moreover, although Rafael had given up his military authority, he remained the commander of the Mystic Army. With Carissa as deputy commander, the Mystic Army and the Capital Guard were effectively under their control, which made some people uneasy.

Arranging for Barrett to join the Capital Guard Headquarters, even in a fifth-rank position like the administrative overseer, was a strategic move. Over time, with a potential for promotion, he could become a

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thom in Rafael's side.

Salvador was cautious, and preferred to prevent issues before they

arose.

He knew Rafael wasn't currently ambitious, but it was best not to provide any opportunity for such ambition to grow and risk damaging their brotherly bond.

Barrett was deeply dissatisfied with this appointment. He would rather return to the garrison guards in the capital than serve under Rafael and Carissa. Even though he knew Carissa wouldn't come to the Capital Guard Headquarters, her nominal title meant that he would always be considered her subordinate.

However, a fifth-rank official position was still respectable. It was better than being a mere idle general with no responsibilities after the Victory Pass battle.

In the Capital Guard Headquarters, at least, he held genuine authority.

His personal life was a mess, and he just wanted to focus on his career. His direct superior was the commandant, Caleb Gibson. Caleb hadn't participated in the battlefield, but was a close friend of Michael. So, he was informed about battlefield events.

Caleb was quite displeased with Barrett and Aurora. On Barrett's first day in office, he was left waiting and was subjected to a round of sarcastic remarks.

Barrett endured it, and offered to treat his new colleagues. Michael stepped in to defend him, pointing out that Barrett had indeed earned merit on the battlefield and had received the king's commendation. This intervention prevented Caleb from further harassing him.

Michael wasn't protecting Barrett out of personal loyalty. He had done it because Salvador and the Ministry of Defense had recognized Barrett's achievements. Michael preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble,

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knowing that Rafael disliked such cc