Her Graceful War Song

Grace seemed momentarily taken aback, her grip tightening on the handkerchief. "What is it, Your Grace? Do not hesitate to speak plainly."

"Not long ago, the harem was abuzz with rumors. First, it was said that Lady Sylvia was responsible for Lady Jeanette's miscarriage. Then, the rumor shifted, claiming it was Queen Kylie. You've overseen the harem for so long, Lady Grace. You must have some idea of where these rumors originated and who might have spread them, yes?" Carissa asked.

Caught off guard by the question, Grace's sorrowful expression stiffened for a moment as she exchanged a furtive glance with Lyra. But she quickly masked the slip and regained her composure.

"The palace has always been rife with gossip. There is no need to dwell on such matters. Perhaps you might focus on the investigation into Prince Connor's murder, Your Grace?" she replied.

"The queen dowager has ordered me to investigate thoroughly, starting from Lady Jeanette's miscarriage. So, while the case of Prince Connor's murder must be investigated, everything else must be looked into as well.

"You and Lady Sylvia have managed the harem for quite some time and must be well aware of its affairs, Lady Grace. Rather than making a big spectacle of interrogating palace staff, I thought it would be more efficient to come to you directly for answers. That way, we can avoid sending people to the Disciplinary Tribunal. What do you think?" Carissa said.

Her gaze swept casually over Grace and Lyra before settling on the latter's hands. She smiled slightly and added, "Lyra, your fingers are quite lovely."

The maid's face turned visibly pale. She knew all too well what kind of harsh labor and punishments awaited at the Disciplinary Tribunal.

Rumors passed through many ears, but it wasn't hard to trace them back to the source. It was just a matter of whether they wanted to make a grand affair of it. Grace understood that, and so did Lyra.

Grace remained silent. Naturally, she had ordered the rumors to be spread-first by Lyra, then through others under her command. They were loyal, but once brought before the Disciplinary Tribunal, no secret was safe. Who knew what else they might confess?

Weighing the risks, Grace let out a soft sigh and said, "Since you've asked, I have nothing to hide. Yes, I was the one who ordered those rumors to be spread. But I had no ill intent.

"As a mother myself, I understood Lady Jeanette's pain at losing her child. So, I looked into it, hoping to get justice for her. At first, the trail led to Lady Sylvia. But as I continued investigating, I discovered Queen Kylie was involved as well. That was why the rumors surfaced twice."

Grace let out another deep sigh. "In truth, you are mistaken, Your Grace. These are not rumors, they are facts. Perhaps you don't understand why I haven't shared my findings with the queen dowager and the king to have them render judgment. However, I must ask you to consider my position.

"Though I once held the authority to oversee the harem, I never won His Majesty's favor. I dared not directly confront Lady Sylvia or Queen Kylie. Instead, I was left

to employ methods that, though underhanded, were necessary to secure justice for Lady Jeanette's child."

Grace repeatedly insisted that she was only seeking justice for Jeanette's unborn child, with no selfish motives whatsoever. On the surface, it aligned with her usual gentle and compassionate nature.

Of course, Carissa understood that

as long as there was no solid

evidence to prove otherwise, Grace'snoveldrama

explanation would hold up, even if everyone knew it was just an excuse. After all, while the rumors had driven a wedge between Sylvia and Kylie, they still had no clear connection to the attempt on Connor's life.

Plotting against a prince was a

crime punishable by death, while

causing discord in the harem would result in a demotion at most. But as Caden's mother, how far could Grace really fall? Even if she was stripped of her rank, it would only be a matter of time before she was reinstated.

After saying her piece, Grace felt much calmer.

However, Carissa wasn't about to let it go so easily.

Instead, she connected the pieces and said, "So, that's what their biggest conflict stems from. If anything happens to either Queen Kylie or Lady Sylvia, the other will be the first suspect. Is my reasoning wrong, Lady Grace?"

Grace's eyes narrowed sharply as her gaze snapped to Carissa. She couldn't deny her logic because that was exactly how these things usually played out.

Though her confidence visibly wavered, she still managed to say, "Your Grace, those are two separate matters."

"True. But the assassination of a prince can often be built on two, three, or even countless other events," Carissa responded.

Grace shot to her feet, her voice laced with anger as she snapped, "What are you implying, Your Grace? Are you suspecting me?"

Carissa shook her head slightly, her expression calm. "Don't be hasty, Lady Grace. I am simply investigating and making logical deductions. I have reason to suspect everyone, but I won't falsely accuse the innocent."

With that, Carissa took her leave. As she turned, her gaze briefly flickered to Lyra, whose face was completely drained of color. She was even trembling.