Her Graceful War Song

A carriage rolled out of the city, carrying Daniel on a trip to Serenvale. He was in a hurry as there had been a few issues at a factory there. Though it was nothing too serious, his dad had insisted he go personally to handle it.

Daniel had been living in Serenvale for some time, but since his wife was pregnant, he had sent her back to the capital to prepare for childbirth. He figured he could hand off the factory's affairs to the shopkeeper and return to the capital to pursue some other business ventures.

Having married at twenty, he was already a father with two sons, so he hoped they would have a daughter this time. In his family, taking a concubine was rare, and he had no plans to do so. He shared a deep bond with his wife, whom he had always brought along on business trips. Now, as their focus shifted back to the capital, their little family of four-soon to be five-would settle in the city.

Daniel hadn't visited Carissa, but had gone to the academy to see Ryan. His teacher was now the main lecturer there, so he could easily visit the academy.This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.

He hadn't gone to Hell Monarch Estate because his business had yet to stabilize. Theodore had advised him not to make any visits until his business was secure, to avoid any rumors that the Hell Monarch's household was helping the Sinclair family's business. Theodore was wise. He knew that prominent figures were often wary of too much association with merchants or powerful officials-even if they were family. Accusations could easily arise, so it was best to avoid the appearance of impropriety. If not careful, such connections could lead to ruin.

Thedore was very insightful, so everyone in the family asked for his advice when doing business and listened to what he had to say. The older man had advised them to maintain a distance during prosperous times and offered assistance when they fell on hard times. True families didn't thrive or suffer together. Each had its own strengths, which allowed them to support one another when it mattered most.

As the carriage rolled out of the city, dust kicked up behind it. The dust gradually settled, but no one noticed that the coachman had changed. When the carriage reached a secluded area, the curtain was lifted, and both Daniel and his servant gasped in unison when they saw a stranger. "Who are you?"

A couple of muffled groans followed before the carriage continued to move forward. The original coachman had taken Daniel's place in the carriage, leaving him and Daniel's servant unconscious inside.

-

At Harmony Palace, Kurt reported, "Grand Princess Eleanor, the man has been brought back. Should we place him in the dungeon?"

Eleanor was copying scriptures when she looked up at Kurt. After a long pause, she said, "Don't put him in the dungeon. Place him in Orange Blossom Hall."

"Understood, Your Highness."

"Prepare some muscle-relaxing powder for him."

"I will, Your Highness. However, he hasn't woken up yet."

"Very well. Set things up first and send someone to attend to him. I'll go check on him later," Eleanor instructed.

"Yes, Your Highness!" Kurt saluted and exited the room.

Eleanor remained still for a while, then resumed her copying as she murmured, "May the gods ensure Hector Sinclair and Melanie Sullivan never meet in this life or the next..."

As she continued, her thoughts led

her to write two questions over and over-Did the gods understand the anguish of loving someone one couldn't have? Did the gods know the despair of loving what one couldn't possess?

She kept writing those lines, as if writing the words might bring her some sort of answer. When the

page was finally filled, she stared et

blankly at it for a long time. Then, she tore the paper into shreds with a flat look, crumpling the pieces into a ball and tossing it onto the floor.

l.ne

Over the past two years, Eleanor had felt increasingly restless and agitated, the root of her turmoil being an overwhelming emptiness It felt as if her heart had been hollowed out or tightly wrapped up, like a silkworm cocooned in layers of silk She struggled desperately to break free, but no matter how hard she fought within that cocoon, she couldn't poke her head out.

The constriction was suffocating.

In Orange Blossom Hall, Daniel slowly regained consciousness, but everything around him felt foreign.

A strange bed, unfamiliar curtains, and unknown furnishings filled the room.

He had no strength in his body, and his mind was clouded and chaotic.

He opened his mouth to call for his servant, "Walter..."

He thought he had called out loudly, but the sound was barely more than a whisper. His voice was even trembling at the end.

Panic gripped his heart.

What was happening? Had he encountered thieves?

Turning his head, he scanned the lavishly furnished room. There were soft, luxurious drapes, a large partition screen adorned with peonies, and a full vanity set. The place didn't resemble a thief's lair at all. In fact, it seemed more like a woman's bedroom.