Her Graceful War Song

As the carriage rolled along, the strong wind and intense sun made the heat almost unbearable. Despite the sweltering conditions, the maid showed no sign of discomfort. She seemed quite resilient. Typically, a maid attending closely to her mistress would be delicate and avoid heavy labor.

However, this one was different.

Wasn't this little act of hers a bit disrespectful?

Thomas sighed and chose not to dwell on it further. They were accustomed to living on the edge, and such tricks were beneath their notice.

-

Inside the carriage, Carmen had removed her veil, revealing a face strikingly similar to Celeste's-beautiful yet distinctly cool.

With the maid outside, she spoke softly, "Lady Carissa, please save my mother."

Carissa responded gently, "But clearly, that wasn't your only reason for stopping us."

"You're right." Carmen shook her head, a hint of shame on her otherwise composed face. "My mother ordered me to ruin your relationship with the Hell Monarch."

She half-knelt and bowed, her eyes filling with tears. "Please have mercy, Lady Carissa."

"Why should I help you?" Carissa asked, her gaze steady.

She noted Carmen's tears, but understood that they could be as much a tool for manipulation as a sign of genuine sorrow.

Carmen lowered her voice and said, "I can offer you a trade. What I know—"

Suddenly, Carissa pulled her to sit beside her. Carmen froze for a moment before quickly putting her veil back on.

At that moment, the maid lifted the curtain and peered inside. Then, she asked, "My lady, are you feeling better?"

Carmen replied, "I'm much better now."

The maid glanced briefly, and then let the curtain fall back into place.

Carissa exchanged a look with Violet, trying to gauge the truthfulness of Carmen's claims.

With little conversation to go on, they couldn't yet make a judgment. Regardless of whether Carmen's story was true or false, Carissa and Violet needed to discuss it further and find an opportunity. That evening, they stayed at an inn. After dinner, Carissa deliberately instructed Dylan, "Go and find out where we can buy more horses."

Dylan nodded and left.

The maid and the guard exchanged a glance before asking, "Do you not wish to travel with us, madam?"

Carissa replied, "For your mistress' sake, it wouldn't be appropriate. Our group is mostly men, and traveling together might harm her reputation since she's still unmarried."

The maid became anxious, and said, "It doesn't matter. You are all good people, and with so many of you, it would be safer for her to travel with you. There's safety in numbers." "You have your own guard, don't you?" Carissa countered. "Moreover, we'll be traveling not too far apart even if we separate. We can still keep an eye on each other if needed."

The maid couldn't refute this point. However, she seemed increasingly distressed and repeatedly glanced at Carmen.

Carmen gracefully nodded, and said, "Lady Sinclair understand it's an inconvenience. However, with the long journey ahead, having you with us would ease my mind. Besides, the cost of horses is quite high, and my funds are running low. might not be able to afford them."

Carissa frowned and asked, "I see. Which family do you come from? If we know them, we might be able to lend you the money for the horses. You can repay us when we reach the capital." Before Carmen could respond, the maid had already bowed and answered, "My mistress is from the Lester family. We live at the eighth house on Petal Alley, and the family runs a business.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"My mistress was visiting some

relatives, and she initially had a male

relative accompanying her.

Unfortunately, he was injured in a fall from his horse and had to stay behind to recover, so we had no choice but to hire a guard for this journey. However, we have

encountered many difficulties along the way and are afraid of facing more troubles. That's why we earnestly request your kindness to allow us to travel together."

Carissa noted how the maid's movement was smooth and decisive, with no hint of fear. She didn't seem like a typical maid from a wealthy family. She was more like a seasoned attendant from a noble household.

Carmen had already revealed her identity, but the maid claimed she was from the Lester family and was the daughter of a merchant in the capital.

If this wasn't a deliberate slip-up, it seemed Carmen truly intended to betray Eleanor.