Her Graceful War Song

Eleanor smiled at Florence. "Why are you so worried? I haven't captured him yet. I've only gathered some information. On the thirtieth of September, he plans to leave for Serenvale with a coachman and servant. I'll have all of them brought back to Harmony Palace and locked up in the dungeon. Who will notice that they've gone missing? Once the Emberfest Festival is over, there'll be plenty of time for me to make my move on him." Florence felt her heart tighten. "Your Highness, General Sinclair was ungrateful and cruel to you. Why do you want to bear a child from the Sinclair family? Though Lord Henry is cowardly, he's still your rightful husband."

A bitter taste rose in Eleanor's mouth, stemming from the depth of her heart.

She pressed her fist against her temple and closed her eyes, hissing her next words through clenched teeth, "He was unfeeling and wanted nothing to do with me. I won't give him the satisfaction. I'll bear a child from the Sinclair family, so he'll never know peace." Florence sighed. "You're just setting yourself up to clash with a dead man. If you truly wanted a son, you would have done so long ago. Why wait until now? Your cycle schedule is all messed up now, and you may not even conceive.

"Please don't punish yourself like this, Your Highness. Let the dead rest. He should be long dead in your heart too, so you don't concern yourself with him any longer."

Eleanor's eyes snapped open, a fire blazing in them. It looked like anger, yet also like the heat that had stirred the first time she had seen Hector in her youth.

"Do you think I want to dwell on him? He haunts my dreams every night. He's the reason I can't find peace. Even in death, he doesn't leave me be."

Tears spilled from her eyes, and her shoulders trembled as she fought to contain the torrent of emotions surging within her.

"Sometimes, I don't even know whether I still hate him or love him. When he died, I was more heartbroken than anyone else. No one in this world loved him like I do. Melanie Sullivan's love for him paled in comparison. If I had married him, I would have died the day he died. But did Melanie do the same?"

Florence knew Eleanor well, and her heart ached fiercely for the grand princess. The older woman stepped forward to embrace her.

"Forget about the past. Whether it's love or hate, you must let it go."Content held by NôvelDrama.Org.

Eleanor gently pushed Florence away and wiped her tears with a defiant glint in her eyes. "In this lifetime, let me be reckless just this once. Let me indulge myself without regard for the consequences. Don't try to talk me out of it anymore-I've made up my mind." Florence sighed. "Let me summon the household physician to check on you and see if there's anything that may help you. If you truly wish to have a child, you need to be in good health."

"Go ahead." Eleanor waved her hand, then closed her eyes again.

She always slept poorly at night and suffered from severe drowsiness during the day.

The household physician, Lilian, had been monitoring Eleanor's health and knew her condition better than anyone else. Hearing that the grand princess wanted to conceive a child with Henry shocked her, but she could only speak honestly

"It's not impossible, but you must follow the prescribed regimen every day without fail."

"Will my age pose any danger to my pregnancy?" Eleanor asked.

"Childbirth is a dangerous process, Your Highness. You experienced it when you gave birth to the princess. As you age, the risk increases. So, I advise you to think carefully," Lilian replied. "Just prepare the prescription," Eleanor said calmly.

She seemed to be uninterested now.

When she had mentioned wanting a son to Florence, the desire had burned brightly within her. But now that she had spoken it aloud, it felt less significant. Perhaps it had just been a fleeting impulse.

Eleanor had caught a glimpse of Daniel by chance. He had been dressed in a blue coat as he rode confidently down the street with reins in hand. His chin slightly raised, he had exuded an air of poise and vigor.

At that time, Eleanor had been seated in her carriage and had lifted the curtain just in time to see him. The instant she saw him, a rush of heat surged through her body.

It felt like she had seen a ghost come to life.

Since that encounter with Daniel, Eleanor had been plagued with dreams of the past, in which Hector remained as cold as ever. He spoke to her with polite detachment, even going so far as to deliberately avoid her gaze when she approached.

Regardless of whether she chose to bear a child or not, she would claim Daniel as her own. She would trample upon the dignity of the Sinclair family and ensure that the soul of the deceased Hector would find no peace.

So, she had sent someone to investigate Daniel.