Her Graceful War Song

Keith sighed. "Lady Sylvia, surely Prince Cecil must be allowed to speak for himself. Even if he is innocent, it should be him who says so."

"There's no need for him to speak. What I say is the truth," Sylvia declared firmly.

Her gaze shifted to Carissa, her eyes glinting with an icy, cutting hostility. "I know what you seek, Lady Carissa. You wish to satisfy your duty and claim merits. And since I have never treated you kindly, you will believe that Cecil and I are guilty, even when the evidence is not so clear. But I won't allow you to succeed. I won't allow you to harm my son. I will make my stand with my own life, if necessary."

As soon as Sylvia finished speaking, she reached for the scissors on the table. With a swift, deliberate motion, she plunged it into her own throat.

Carissa had already been on alert, but she didn't expect the concubine's actions to be so immediate and without any hesitation. By the time she reached Sylvia, the woman had already removed the scissors, and blood was pouring from the wound.

"Your Grace!" Heidi cried, rushing to Sylvia's side.

Given Laurel Palace's isolated location, even Carissa's swift run to fetch a physician seemed too slow. By the time she returned with medical help, Sylvia was already gone. However, her eyes remained wide open, as if still burning with fury. The blood from the wound had soaked the fine fabric of her dress, creating a dark, spreading stain of crimson.

Carissa struggled to accept the reality of what had just occurred. She barely registered Keith's calm voice cutting through the stillness as he turned to Heidi, whose sobs filled the room.

"Where are Prince Cecil and Princess Phoebe?" he asked.

"Lady Sylvia locked them away. She wouldn't let them leave their room," Heidi answered through her tears.

Carissa finally understood. Sylvia had already made up her mind to show her resolve through her death, so she had locked up her children, not wanting them to see this scene.

Instinctively, Carissa glanced at Keith. She found that he remained unshaken and was issuing orders with a sense of quiet authority. She realized belatedly that Victoria and Keith had known Sylvia would act in such a manner.

Although Sylvia had ultimately taken her own life, saying it was to show her resolve made it very different from just harming herself. Her death was actually a calculated move born of distrust. She had never believed that anyone would take the time to uncover the truth for her and Cecil. swnovel

Her passing would bring two possible outcomes.

The first-the world would always whisper that she and Cecil were responsible,

but no one would ever dare to claim they were guilty.noveldrama

The second-perhaps out of some lingering affection, Salvador might allow Carissa to investigate fully. With that opportunity, perhaps the true culprit might be found, thereby securing Cecil and Phoebe's safety.

Carissa's mind worked swiftly as she grasped the full scope of Sylvia's intentions. She couldn't help but feel a profound sorrow for the woman who had been willing to sacrifice her life for her son. Though

Cecil was not of Sylvia's blood, she сест

had been willing to protect him with everything she had. swnovel

Carissa had once believed that of all the women in the harem, Kylie was the one who loved her child the most fiercely. Yet, the queen's love had always been one that demanded something in return.

Kylie's supposed devotion, compared to Sylvia's, now seemed small and tainted by selfishness.

Carissa crouched beside Sylvia's lifeless form, gently closing her eyes with a soft touch. With a heavy heart, she whispered, "Why didn't you trust me? I swear I would have done everything in my power to uncover the truth."

Heidi was on her knees, weeping openly. The isolation of Laurel Palace ensured that her cries would never reach outside its walls.

Yet, it was not long before Kylie and Grace were informed.

"So, she dares to make such a statement with her death? That just shows she's the murderer. To die like that is too easy for her!" said Kylie, still filled with resentment.

But Grace's brow furrowed in thought. Sylvia's death was a deliberate move. It would send shockwaves through the harem and surely cause tremors in the royal court. Because of this, the investigation wouldn't end. Her death would only serve to fuel the search for the truth.

Grace's plan wasn't flawless, and she had relied on Sylvia and Cecil as protection to cover her. But once they were out of the picture, there would be traces-small hints that would eventually lead to the truth. And as Grace considered Carissa's attitude, for the first time she felt a stirring of unease. swnovel