Her Graceful War Song

After much tugging and ear-pulling, Violet finally stood up, raising her voice as she explained, "There's no long story to tell. We were just having a drink at Glimmering Tower. He suddenly said that many people's dream might just be to get married and have children.

"When I agreed with him, he looked at me and asked, 'Why don't we try it?' I said, 'Sure.""

She sat back down, rubbing her hands over her face. "At the time, I thought he was just joking. But then, before the New Year, he said we should start preparing for our wedding. He's going back to Meadow Ridge to consult with Sage Adrian, then he'll ask Sage Conrad and my family for permission. So... what could I say?"

Carissa crossed her arms. "What do you mean, 'what could you say'? If you don't want to get married, just say no. Clear up the misunderstanding now. If you wait until he's asked for your hand and your dad and mentor agree, but you refuse... Isn't that just asking for trouble?"

Cynthia raised her hand to stop the conversation. "Wait, Vivi. Let me ask you something. Do you want to marry Isaac?"

Violet's eyes clouded with uncertainty. "I don't know."

"Don't know? How can you not know?"

"I really don't know."

Cynthia mimicked Travis' stance, hands on hips, exasperated. "Then, do you even like him? You must have an answer to that."

Violet thought for a moment before replying, "I don't know that either."

The others stared at her in disbelief.

Narrowing her eyes, Cynthia asked the final question, "So, will you marry him?"

Violet shook her head. "I don't know."

Cynthia stared at her, dumbfounded, before muttering, "Your indecisiveness makes me want to hit you." Carissa wasn't about to let anyone hit Violet-if anyone were going to do that, it would be her. Dragging the girl to the study, she questioned her using techniques often employed by the Capital Guard and Supreme Court. By the end of it, Violet was clinging to Carissa, sobbing loudly.

There was more to this than met the eye.

It all started after Nicholas' rebellion. Isaac and Violet had helped clean up the battlefield, which was strewn with not only the bodies of the Mystic Army soldiers, but also the rebels' remains. At the time, the court had ordered that all the rebels' bodies be piled together and burned.

Having been on a battlefield before, Violet had experience with disposing of corpses. The first time they did it had left all of them grieving for a long while.

But Isaac had never been on battlefield. Although he had witnessed the cruelty of the human heart, he had never faced such widespread death. So, he showed great respect for the bodies, whether they were those of the rebels or the Mystic Army soldiers. He made sure to clear them all.noveldrama

Then, while searching through the rebels' clothes, he found some letters-some from family members, while others were suicide notes they had written themselves. He read them, then showed them to Violet. Afterward, they went together to help with the interrogation of the prisoners. That was when they realized the rebels hadn't risked their lives for a title or to gain power. Most of them had joined not for glory, but for the promise of 50 silver coins.

One man had planned to use the money to buy his sister back, and another to marry his childhood sweetheart. A third wanted to pay for his parents' medical care, and yet one more dreamed of sending his son to school, with hopes he might one day become a scholar and teach others. Of course, some really had hoped to rise in rank, but most had only simple dreams.

Isaac and Violet were filled with pain, which was why they drank together at Glimmering Tower, and why Isaac had asked that question. She had simply answered, agreeing with the heaviness in her heart.

"I honestly forgot about it after that,"

Violet said, her voice soft. "But when he came to me, seriously talking about making preparations, I wanted to refuse. It was right there on my lips, but I couldn't bring myself to say it. I knew he was serious. I couldn't just disregard his feelings because I knew how precious they were."

Carissa wiped away her tears, but her heart ached too, so she cried with her friend.

Though Violet had lived her life freely and recklessly, she also understood the suffering of others. Yet, she always believed there was more beauty in the world than ugliness, more happiness than sorrow.

When she realized the things that came to her so easily were things others couldn't obtain even at the cost of their lives, she became extremely cautious, even fearful. She didn't dare to act brazenly like she once used to.

"If you don't want to marry him, I'll write to Isaac and tell him not to approach the Spencer family," Carissa said, her voice thick with emotion. "Don't torment yourself, Vivi. You haven't done anything wrong. You're not responsible for other people's pain or happiness. The only thing you need to think about now is whether or not you want to marry Isaac."

When Violet finally lifted her confused eyes, Carissa softly added, "It's not about whether you're willing.

It's about whether you truly want to."