Her Graceful War Song

When did I truly realize how wrong I was?

It wasn't when Thomas returned, nor was it after my divorce from Barrett, nor even when the Prince family fell into misfortune.

No, it was when talks were going on to arrange the marriage of my niece, Courtney.

During the Prince family's fall from grace, I was imprisoned and narrowly escaped death. As I reflected on the past, I knew I had made mistakes and was willing to change. But I wasn't fully aware of just how deep my mistakes went.

At the time, I thought it was all my own problem. No matter how much I suffered, it was my burden alone. No one else had the right to speak on it.

I knew that my sister-in-law, Zoey, had suffered because of my stubbornness. She had worked tirelessly, running here and there, trying to help me, and perhaps I had grown accustomed to her always doing that for me. Because of that, I felt both gratitude and respect for her.

Still, I wasn't ready to face the full weight of my past. I didn't want to dwell on it—it only hurt me.

It wasn't until Courtney's marriage was being discussed that I truly examined myself. I let my regret gnaw at me, eating away at me every moment.

Courtney had become close with Merrick Saunders, a young man from the Earl of Averton's family. They shared similar interests and had developed feelings for each other.

Though our family's title was gone, Zoey still had the late king's favor and a good reputation. Her business had flourished, and my third brother, Isaac, had married Violet from the Spencer family. Now, he was gaining favor in the Ministry of Defense.

So, our family was considered to be on equal footing with the Earl of Averton's family.

But when Merrick went to his mother to ask for permission to marry Courtney, he was met with strong opposition. His mother, Maya Baker, forbade him from seeing my niece.noveldrama

Merrick had always been dutiful to his mother, but he had already fallen deeply in love with Courtney. He told Maya that he would marry no one else, and would become a priest if she refused to approve their marriage.

In a fit of anger, she locked him up.

I'll never forget what happened the day Maya came to our house. She arrived with a large group of servants, storming in and immediately starting to yell at Zoey.

"Who do you think you are? What status do you think the Prince family has? How dare you set your sights on my son! You're nothing! Your daughter is just as shameless as that aunt of hers!

"She's still so young, yet she seduces a young man and even teaches him to threaten his parents, saying he'll become a priest if he doesn't marry her. Your whole family is just heartless! Let me make this clear: she'll never be part of my family-not unless I'm dead!"

With that, Maya ordered her servants to smash things and drag Courtney out of the house. They humiliated her in front of the neighbors, slapping her and spitting on her.

Zoey and I were held back by other servants; we were no match for them. After they finished destroying things and hitting Courtney, they left. Zoey immediately ran out and held her daughter, whose face was swollen and bruised from the beating.

Courtney didn't cry, but her body was trembling uncontrollably. She tried to comfort us, saying it was nothing, and that she wouldn't marry Merrick.

But later that night, in her bed, she cut her own wrist.

If Zoey hadn't been so worried and insisted on checking on her, Courtney might have been gone by the time we found her.

My sister-in-law, who had always been so strong, couldn't do anything this time.

She didn't know how to demand an apology from the Saunders family.

I saw her in her room, crying all alone. I had never seen her so broken or vulnerable before; it crushed me to see her like that. My guilt and regret were overwhelming, as if they would swallow me whole.

I couldn't help but reflect on all the mistakes I had made in the past; I felt like I didn't deserve to live.

That night, I sent all the maids away and locked myself in my room.

It was Violet who broke down the door and saved me. She slapped me hard and said, "Is this how you handle problems? Will it change anything? Will it make the Saunders family look at you any differently? Will it make anything better?"

I cried uncontrollably.

Isaac rarely came home, and even when he did, it was just to check on Zoey and the children. Violet came even less often, and she never really acknowledged me as her

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sister-in-law. But this time, she had made a special trip back to stand up for us.

The next day, she went to the Saunders family's residence alone.

I don't know exactly what she said, but a few days later, Maya came with a matchmaker to propose

again. This time, her attitude wamet

completely different. She was gentle and apologetic, and there was no sign of reluctance in her face or actions. She even took Courtney's hand and cried while apologizing, promising to treat her well once she married Merrick.

In the end, Courtney married Merrick, and their wedding was grand and magnificent. True to their word, the Saunders family treated my niece very well once she became part of their family.

However, I was afraid.

Though Courtney was married now, I had other nieces and nephews whose marriages needed to be arranged.

Reconciling with Barrett was the only solution I could think of. If I swallowed my pride and returned to the Warren family as Barrett's wife, at least I wouldn't drag my family down with me anymore.