Her Graceful War Song

Though there were clearly three of them sharing the tea, Elise felt as if only the couple was truly eating.

Inside one of the small meat pies, there was mostly fat. Rosalind did not care for fatty meat, so Thomas carefully picked out the fatty parts one by one and handed the rest to her.

With her small appetite, if Rosalind ate a whole pie, she would have little room left for anything else. So, after she took a bite, Thomas took the pie away and offered her a prawn puff instead, as well as gave her a bite of a stuffed cabbage roll.

"Your stomach is weak, too much meat won't sit well. When the bread pudding comes, just have a little," he said.

Elise put down her spoon and rested her chin on her hand, watching them.

Her own parents were loving too, but her mother didn't fuss much over food. When the three of them ate together, they all ate quickly. Carissa often reached for what she liked first, leaving little chance for Rafael to offer her a bite.

Yet, at palace banquets or other formal dinners, Carissa changed completely. She was always graceful and proper. She would take a small bite and chew slowly seven or eight times before swallowing a true example of careful eating. It was only then that Rafael had a chance to offer her a dish.

Thomas noticed Elise watching them so intently, while she herself had not eaten.

He looked up and asked, "Why aren't you eating? Is it not to your taste?"

Elise puckered her lips and pouted. "No one is offering me any food."

Rosalind smiled and picked up a piece of meat. "Here, I'll give you some. Eat up."

But Elise did not take it. Instead, her curiosity got the better of her.

"Ms. Young, how did you marry Mr. Thomas in the first place?" she asked.

The gossip-loving Elise had already heard a bit about them, though not in much detail.

Looking at the two now, it was clear that Rosalind was still young and beautiful, though she was already a mother. Meanwhile, Thomas was indeed tall and elegant, but he did seem quite a bit older than her.

Rosalind glanced at her husband with a look full of tenderness, then softly said, "If you want to hear the story, you must eat first. When you're finished, I will tell you the story."

Hearing that, Elise immediately bowed her head and ate with eagerness, waiting to hear the story. She ate quickly, much like Carissa before her, and naturally, like those in the Pathfinders Guild.noveldrama

Thomas watched the ladies with a smile. When they had finished, he went to the local authorities' office to meet with Bertram and Ansel to learn the latest news.

As for the story from long ago, even now, Thomas thought himself fortunate to have found a treasure like his wife. So, he asked Rosalind to share that sweet memory with Elise.

Sitting beneath the cotton tree, Rosalind's eyes were filled with a tender warmth and gentle sweetness as she spoke softly.

"When the troops returned to the

capital, I saw him at once. He rode a horse that was thin and worn, and he himself was thin, tired, and worn too. But his eyes were bright and full of life. I don't know why, but from that one glance, my heart pounded and my cheeks flushed. Do you believe in love at first sight, Your Grace?"

"I do," Elise answered.

Rosalind smiled gently. "Well, what I felt was not quite love at first sight. That usually means liking someone the very first time you ever see them

without knowing anything about them. But I already knew of him-1

had heard of his deeds, admired

him, and mourned his sacrifices. Not

just his, but those of so many

soldiers who gave their lives to

protect our kingdom. I respected them all deeply."

But with Thomas, it was different. Perhaps at first, it was as Trevor had said, that Rosalind felt a bit of pity for the man. After all, the return of a soldier coming home victorious to be reunited with his family and beloved-ought to have been a time of greatest joy and happiness.

Yet, Thomas had none of that.

Viola had eagerly returned to her parents' home the moment news of his "death" reached the capital. She never mourned him, not even once. And by the time he returned, she had already remarried.

Rosalind had thought Thomas would be broken by it all and be grief-stricken, perhaps bitter even, or full of blame towards Viola.

But he wasn't. He accepted it all with calm and bore no hatred in his heart.

When Viola tried to return to him, Thomas neither scolded her nor clung to her. He simply let his actions speak for him-telling her that they should part in peace and live their separate lives with dignity.