Her Graceful War Song

Serena's voice trembled with frustration as she shouted at Barrett, "Barrett, your accusations are so unfair! If you hadn't been demoted, would I have been forced to do this?"

Barrett's reply was sharp, his tone unforgiving, "Since when does my future need you meddling in it? I will fight for my future on my own! You did this for yourself! You have feelings for Prince Rafael-what's so special about him that all of you keep chasing after him?"

Serena had been putting on an air of self-righteousness, but she was now completely exposed. Hearing her brother disparage the man she loved, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment.

"He's much better than you! Even Carissa would rather divorce you and marry the prince! Doesn't that prove he's far better than you? Besides, which noblewoman in the capital doesn't want to become the Hell Monarch's princess consort?"

Barrett's expression darkened. "You want to become the Hell Monarch's princess consort, but he already has a legitimate wife. Your dream is bound to fail."

Serena cried bitterly, "Don't you think I know that by now? But my plan was that even if I entered the household as a concubine, once I won the prince's favor, replacing Carissa would only be a matter of time! Aren't you all also angry with her? She sought an edict for divorce and dragged our family's reputation through the mud! Yes, I had my own motives, but I also wanted to defend our family's honor!"

"Enough!" Rebecca had finally regained her composure after listening to the siblings argue. Her sharp voice cut through the room, "Both of you, be quiet!"

Taking a deep breath, she turned her gaze to Serena, her eyes cold and piercing. "You said the Marquis of Ironridge, Lord Winchester, touched you?"

Serena sobbed. "He put his arm around my waist. Though he let go quickly, everyone saw it."

Rebecca's face darkened. "Since it happened in full view of everyone, Lord Winchester will have to take responsibility. The Marquis of Ironridge's family is one of the top five noble families in the capital, and it was Lady Jessica who promised to help you. Now that her plan has failed, she must bear the consequences.

"Tomorrow, I'll drag my ailing body to Ironridge Estate. Lord Winchester only has Lady Jessica as his official wife and one concubine, who has borne his children. If you marry in as a concubine, you'll still have an advantage. It's well known that Lord Winchester and Lady Jessica don't get along, and that concubine has already had several children. She can't compare to your youth and beauty-you will surely win his favor."

Serena shook her head, crying. "No, Mom! I don't want to marry Lord Winchester! Lady Jessica hates me if I marry into that household, she'll make my life miserable!"

"What do you know?" Rebecca took

a deep breath, her eyes narrowing with a vicious and sinister glint. "She has no children, and the concubine is favored. She hates that concubine far more than she hates you. She'd be desperate for someone to share the concubine's attention,

"She's going to use you, so you might as welluse her. Once you've secured your position in Lord Winchester's family and won his

favor, he'll help your father an his et

brother in court. That's the only way you'll truly have a good life in that household."

Barrett snapped, "I don't need her help, Mom! Stop talking like that. I'll figure out my career on my own. She's the legitimate daughter of our family-how could she ever become a concubine?" Rebecca replied coldly, "Lord Winchester touched her. Her reputation is ruined. What family would want their sons to marry her now?"

Barrett retorted, "She'll just have to marry into a lower household, perhaps the second or third son of a sixth or seventh-rank official, or even a scholar. It's still better than becoming one of Lord Winchester's concubines."

"No, I won't do it!" Serena screamed, her face pale. "I refuse to marry some second son or into a lowly family!"

Viola, who had been silent, spoke up

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coldly, "And who do you think you'll marry now? You think the Hell Monarch would ever look at you? Tonight, when you threw yourself at him, he saw right through your intentions. He just held back because it was Lady Helen's

birthday..."

Serena whirled around, glaring at her. "Shut up! No matter what, I'm still better off than you-a once-divorced woman who remarried! You're no better than that trash, Carissa-" Slap!

Barrett struck Serena across her face, his expression livid. "She's your sister-in-law! How dare you talk about her like that?!"