Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair)
Chapter 782

Norman stood up and gestured for Carissa to follow him to his study.

After taking a few steps, he turned back and asked, “Would it be alright if my eldest son came along?”

Carissa knew the duke was referring to Mikhail, whose nature she understood well. She was aware that he wasn’t as valued by Norman as his younger brothers

“That’s fine,” she replied.

Stunned, Mikhail hesitated. He knew his dad never favored him and thought him to be too mild and lacking passion. Norman always chose to discuss important manners with his third and fourth sons. But instead of calling Gareth this time, Norman had unexpectedly requested that Mikhail join the discussion.

In the study, Norman instructed his servants to light a candle with a calming scent. His temper often ran high, so this candle was a staple in his study. However, it wasn’t for his benefit today. He hoped the calming scent might help Carissa overlook the hour wait outside and the indignity of almost being splashed with water.

Once they were seated, Carissa got straight to the point, saying, “I’ll be direct with you, Lord Norman. I’ve already reported yesterday’s replaceings to the king. His Majesty has officially declared that all of Lord Henry’s concubines‘ daughters are victims. I only came here after he made that decision.”

Norman took a moment to process this, then asked, “What are you saying?”

However, Mikhail understood immediately. He rose from his seat and bowed to Carissa. “Thank you for your mercy, Commander Sinclair.”

“No need to thank me,” Carissa replied calmly. “I didn’t do it for your family alone. The women are truly victims. Eleanor held Lady Cecilia’s mom’s life in her hands, and she could only save her by following Eleanor’s orders. Like Lady Cecilia, many were forced to carry out different tasks under threats.

“However, Lady Cecilia’s role was the most sensitive, given that the weapons and armor found in Harmony Palace closely matched those produced by the Ministry of Defense. If I had come to Oakspire Estate before reporting yesterday’s replaceings to His Majesty, every single person involved would have been considered an accomplice. That would implicate not just the concubines‘ daughters, but also everyone in the residence where they live.”

Finally, Norman grasped the full weight of her actions. He gave Carissa a complex look, still unsure of her motives. What she described wasn’t the perspective of an ordinary woman. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she had an ulterior motive.

“Why did you help us? What are your conditions?”

already told you–I wasn’t helping you. I just don’t want to see the innocent suffer.”

Norman shook his head. “Impossible. Every official investigating a treason case hopes to implicate as many people as possible. The more families involved, the more credit they’ll earn.”

Carissa looked him straight in the eye. “Do you remember what happened with the Earl of Gracehold’s family? When that courtesan stirred things up, she wrecked the marriage between the Duchess of

Everpeace and one of the top scholars, Samuel Langley. He was stripped from the National Examination Register and lost his position as heir, causing the Earl of Gracehold’s family to fall from grace.

“That was Eleanor’s goal–to drag the loyal noble families down, one by one. The truly powerful families are hard to topple from the outside, so she worked to break them down from within. And she did it in a way that ensured no one would sympathize with them when it happened. The people even applauded it.”

She continued, “In reality, the noble families are the least likely to support rebellion. They thrive only if the kingdom is stable. If there’s a regime change, the new ruler will target them first to gain public favor. That’s why, if someone attempts treason, the noble familles will rally with the court to oppose it.

“Eleanor spent years laying these traps to undermine them. If I implicate every household connected to the daughters of Lord Henry’s concubines, I’d be falling right into her hands. Why would I let her win? Neither my household nor Prince Rafael’s household is in need of more credit.”

Her words struck a nerve in Norman, leaving him deeply conflicted.

He had assumed Carissa’s perspective would be narrow, as she was the first female official in such a high position. He thought she was likely keen to use this treason case to solidify her standing. But her vision went far beyond that and was free of personal gain.

Now, Norman understood why Salvador valued her so highly, even though the Hell Monarch’s household had enough military accolades to overflow.

At that moment, Norman found himself impressed, but pride held him back from an apology. However, while a father might not have understood his own heart, a son often did.

Sensing Norman’s restraint, Mikhail stepped forward and bowed deeply to Carissa.

“Thank you for safeguarding our family and the other noble families, Commander Sinclair. I apologize for keeping you waiting outside and for the discourtesy shown today. Once this case concludes, I will personally visit to extend our formal apologies.”

Carissa smiled and shook her head. “That won’t be necessary.