Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair) novel Chapter 581

Carissa pretended to discuss the matter quietly with Rafael. They spoke in hushed tones, inaudible to others. As the maid and the guard couldn't hear anything despite straining to listen, their anxiety was palpable.

After a considerable pause, Rafael finally nodded.

"Alright then, we'll head to the capital together," said Carissa.

The maid sighed in relief. "Thank you, Lady Sinclair. You are truly a saint."

"What's your name?" Carissa asked.

The maid bowed. "My name is Greta."

Carissa turned to the guard. "And you?"

"My name is Dustin," the guard replied in a slightly gruff voice.

Though he was sturdy and appeared honest, a person's appearance didn't always reflect their true nature.

Carissa asked a few more questions but didn't get much more information. It was clear she wasn't expecting to learn anything significant from them.

At supper time, a pinch of Sebastian's colorless, tasteless powder rendered Dustin, Greta, and the driver unconscious. Once that was done, Carmen knelt before Carissa and Rafael. Violet sat on the other side, listening without objection.

Carmen looked up, her eyes filled with distress and urgency. "My mother, Grand Princess Eleanor, originally wanted me to seduce Prince Rafael and ruin your relationship. She hopes that you two will turn against each other. She believed that I would be suitable for this task because I have some skill in martial arts, and His Highness favors such women.

"However, I refused to do it. I knew that even if I did, she wouldn't release my real mom. My twin sister, Celeste, entered the Earl of Gracehold's family and completed her task, but she still had another mission. My mom is imprisoned in Harmony Palace's dungeon and isn't given proper food or clothing.

Carissa explained to Violet, "Grand Princess Eleanor's mom, Lady Chloe, was greatly favored. So, King Augustus cherished Grand Princess Eleanor as well. After Lady Chloe's death, Grand Princess Eleanor was sent to Lady Ruth to be taken care of.

"Since Grand Princess Eleanor and King Sigmund were siblings, certain matters were overlooked. Now that a new king is on the throne, he's even less likely to get involved in family issues. He will only do something if there's clear evidence and strong pressure from ministers pushing for changes in the behavior of the royal family members."

Carmen added, "Unfortunately, my mother harbors no gratitude towards King Augustus. She blames him for not arranging a marriage for her with Lady Sin- I mean, Your Grace's dad, but instead marrying her off to the declining Kingsley family. She resents King Augustus deeply for that.

"The Kingsley family, which was on its third generation of hereditary titles under my grandfather, was about to have its title revoked. But because my dad married Grand Princess Eleanor, it extended the family's influence for two more generations. The Kingsley family relies entirely on Grand Princess Eleanor. They would never oppose her."

Recalling something from the past, Rafael said, "One year, at the year-end palace banquet, I saw Lord Kingsley hiding in a rock garden. He was drunk and crying. Maybe because I was young, he pulled me aside and told me about his family's troubles.

"He said that a concubine's child had been killed because the concubine argued with the grand princess. The grand princess had thrown the child to its death and also harmed the concubine."