Her Graceful War Song

Victoria couldn't hold back her tears upon hearing those words. Connor was a dutiful child, and it was unfortunate that Kylie remained blind to that.

Night had fully fallen by the time they set off.

Kyle and Isaac, accompanied by Sebastian's apprentices, escorted them. The journey had been well-prepared by Rafael. The carriage wheels had been altered, and several layers of soft padding had been laid inside.

Sebastian had also ensured that Connor's injuries were properly secured, wrapping him in several layers. Each layer was padded with cotton, both to keep him warm and to reduce the damage from the bumps during the journey.

The bitter cold had driven everyone indoors, leaving the streets deserted. Snow fell in a steady, gentle stream, blanketing the cobblestones in a thin layer of frost. The carriage wheels crunched over the icy coating, the soft sound a contrast to the stillness of the night.

Salvador watched for a long time, well past the point when the convoy had disappeared from view. He was shivering from the cold, but wanted to stand there just a little longer before returning to the palace.

"Your Majesty, it's very cold. Let's go back," Rafael said softly, gently brushing away the snowflakes that landed on his brother's head and shoulders.

"Where's Mom?" Salvador asked as he turned away from where he was looking. Victoria hadn't come out to see Connor off. She was old, and farewells like this were the hardest and most painful.

"She's still waiting for you," Rafael replied.

Salvador's eyes lost focus as he asked, "Do you think he will survive?"

Rafael couldn't offer a certain answer. The journey to Eldermere Keep would take at least half a month, and with Connor's severe injuries, it seemed a daunting prospect. The exhaustion of travel, combined with the internal bleeding, made recovery unlikely. If further blood loss occurred, the chances of survival were slim.

Though Salvador knew the circumstances well, he likely asked because he needed some reassurance.

Sensing this, Rafael said, "He will survive. With Sebastian attending him, he will get better."

Salvador fell into a long silence, then slowly started to walk with Rafael. As they began their journey back to the palace, the king at last broached the topic of Sylvia's death.

Carissa wasn't with them, but Rafael knew the details of the investigation. So, he recounted everything from beginning to end.noveldrama

Salvador reflected on the matter for some time before saying, "Sylvia was a simple woman. Her likes and dislikes were plain to see. Though she appeared domineering, she lacked the malice to be truly cruel.

"Perhaps I nurtured her ambition too much, leading her to take action against Jeanette's unborn child. But even so, the poison would have taken weeks to act. The fact that she was willing to stake her life to prove her innocence shows that she is not guilty."

Salvador's gaze darkened as he added, "Continue the investigation. It is imperative that the true culprit is uncovered."

Upon hearing this, Rafael knew at once that Sylvia had made the right wager.

For Salvador, Sylvia and Cecil were no longer under suspicion. Kylie would never harm her own son, and Sylvia had staked her life on proving her innocence. That left Grace as the most likely culprit. With only three princes in total, all signs now pointed to her. swnovel

That said, the investigation would not exclude Sylvia entirely. Personal judgment

could not override objective facts.

Sylvia's passing deepened

Salvador's melancholy. As king, he had never truly entrusted his heart to any of the women in his harem However, Sylvia had been the one he favored most. Perhaps it was due to her beauty, or maybe it was because her mind had not been as intricate and treacherous as others. swnovel

"She loathed the winter, yet she perished in it. She feared pain, yet she chose to take her life with sharp pair of scissors. To protect Cecil, She was willing to sacrifice everything, even her life," Salvador murmured, pulling his sleeves tighter, as if trying to ward off the chill that seemed to have settled in his very soul. swnovel

He thought back to the choice he had given Kylie, when she had opted for her royal position, choosing her own ambitions over everything else.

Salvador returned to the palace secretly, with trusted guards replacing those at the gates.

Victoria fell ill upon her return to the palace. The cold weather, compounded by days without rest and a refusal to eat, had drained her entirely. Her energy seemed to have withered away.

Preparations for Connor's funeral were underway, with Rafael and Derek overseeing matters. Naturally, the coffin didn't contain the eldest prince's body. Since he was not yet an adult, there was no public viewing of his remains, and the coffin was sealed early.

The entire court was filled with sorrow and regret.

Kylie wept so deeply that she fainted several times. Yet, amidst the grief, she still had the audacity to propose that since Sylvia was gone, she would take it upon herself to raise Cecil and Phoebe at Everspring Palace.

When Salvador didn't grant her request, she sought out Victoria, who was weak and confused from her illness.

Hearing someone crying by her bed, the queen dowager struggled to sit up and slapped Kylie across the face. "Leave!"

Stunned, the queen stared at her mother-in-law's face, which was red with anger. Had Victoria just struck her?

In the past, the queen dowager was always reluctant to raise her voice to anyone. She would offer a few pointed words, and if one listened, fine. If not, she wouldn't say anything more. But now, Victoria had personally slapped Kylie.

Keith immediately had the servants escort the queen from the room. Outside, her sobs ceased. She walked away unsteadily, feeling as if the path of life ahead of her was slowly closing off.