Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair) novel Chapter 793

Herbert stared at Malcolm, momentarily speechless.

Malcolm shut his eyes, his mind racing as he spoke methodically, "After I settled her, I looked into her background but didn't find anything suspicious. Gradually, I forgot about her. I only instructed the servants to keep an eye on her. I never laid a hand on her, which the servants there can testify to. It was my oversight. I've been too busy and let her slip my mind. I had no idea she was actually Lord Henry's concubine's daughter."

Joy flickered across Herbert's face, but it quickly faded as he realized this was merely a facade—a lie crafted by his brother to placate him.

He knew Malcolm well. If there was a suspicious individual nearby, he would have ordered an investigation. No matter the results, that person would never be allowed to stay. They would definitely be chased away or kept at a distance, never allowed to get close.

Herbert's heart grew heavy, and disbelief crept into his voice as he asked, "Why would you do this?"

Malcolm pressed his lips together, keeping his eyes closed, his face a mask of anger and disappointment. He had made a grave error, one he found hard to accept. Even worse was the realization that she was the daughter of one of Henry's concubines, sent to him by Eleanor.

"Why would you do this? You and Marjorie have been affectionate for years. She is virtuous and devoted, and she even arranged early on for you to have concubines to extend your lineage…"

"Arranged early on," Malcolm echoed, rubbing his brow as he slowly opened his eyes. The loneliness in his gaze seemed to swell, dark and overwhelming. "The youngest of my concubines is nearly forty this year, and the others are in their early forties. Meanwhile, this girl is just nineteen."

The reality of the situation struck him hard. Though he felt ashamed to speak of it, his younger brother's relentless questioning forced him to continue.

"In recent years, I've felt overwhelmed, yet the king has relied on our family. I had to push through. It was a moment of folly. I wanted to recapture my youth and didn't thoroughly investigate her background," he added.

Outside the study, Lionel listened to his dad's conversation with his uncle, his emotions a tangled mess. After a long moment, he steeled himself and knocked before entering.