Her Graceful War Song

At once, the family summoned all the generals to hold council, and scouts were sent out again to gather firmer intelligence. Additionally, a fast rider was dispatched back to the capital to request reinforcements.

Cindy took care to see Carissa settled properly, and the two sat together for a long while, speaking in low voices.

Cindy did her best to comfort her niece, urging her not to dwell in sorrow and to look ahead instead. Yet even as she spoke kindly, she turned her head away more than once to quietly wipe away her tears.

Carissa leaned against her aunt, thinking how fortunate she was to have a second chance. This time, so much might still be saved.

The following morning, Dominic issued new orders. All soldiers were to return to their posts immediately, and training was resumed in full. The walls were to be reinforced, and traps were to be laid within the outer fortress.

Carissa took this chance to speak to her grandfather. She requested permission for both herself and Travis to join the drills.

Dominic refused her outright: "Before you arrived, your mother's letter reached us first. She was most insistent that you are not to set foot on the battlefield."

"I won't. I only wish to train with the others," Carissa replied quickly.

When she saw her grandfather's stern expression, she smiled and tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Grandpa, you know I've studied martial arts. But I've only ever trained in the mountains, never in real combat or with others. Let me learn a little more. It's only training, after all."

Dominic had visited Meadow Ridge during his last trip to the capital. Back then, Adrian had praised Carissa's skill, saying she trained well enough. But whether that was truly so or only said out of kindness, Dominic didn't know. Still, since she had chosen to take this path, she ought to learn all she could.

If all went well, she would never need to use those skills. But life was long and full of trials. And after all, she was now the only daughter of the Marquis of Northwatch's family. The household was filled with widowed women and grieving mothers. If Carissa could become stronger, more capable, more assured in herself, that would not be a bad thing.

And so, Dominic relented. He agreed to let his granddaughter disguise herself as a young man and train alongside Travis in the army camp. Of course, she had to begin as an ordinary foot soldier, and her identity was not to be revealed. Once training ended, she and Travis were to leave immediately.

Their first day of training was led by a general named Otis Lynch. The soldiers gathered that day had only just returned from farming. In times of peace, the men stationed at Victory Pass often worked the land. It was these people who were now recalled for duty. As for the garrison already stationed at the mountain gate, they had never left their posts.

To withstand Westhaven's army of 200,000, every soldier would be needed. Yet even then, the difference in strength between the two sides remained painfully clear.

Movel.ne

Dominic was deeply troubled. He knew well that it was not merely a matter of numbers, though their forces were far fewer than Westhaven's. The differences ran deeper. It was the supplies, O weapons, reinforcements every aspect of their readiness fell short.

Westhaven faced no other war at present, while Starhaven had long been worn thin with the war at the Southern Frontier. It was a crucial moment for them now.

If Victory Pass were to fall, it might very well spell disaster for the Southern Frontier as well.

Three days later, the scouts returned with news. As Carissa had warned, Westhaven had indeed begun to move. Reinforcements were on the way, but the number was not nearly as high as 200,000. They reported, at most, only 2,000 soldiers.

Dominic ordered them to keep watching. He didn't believe Westhaven's numbers to be so few.

If the two kingdoms were merely in a state of unrest and there were no signs of war breaking out, then why would Westhaven send more troops to the border? It

made little sense, unless they truly meant to launch a full attack.noveldrama

And if so, then 2,000 troops would never be enough. It must be, as Carissa had said, that Leroy was quietly shifting troops in secret. Most likely, the inner strife among Westhaven's noble houses had slowed their movements. They were still planning and gathering strength, so not all their forces had arrived.

Now, they needed solid proof. Without it, the court wouldn't send reinforcements to Victory Pass in time.

In his heart, Dominic held a quiet bitterness toward Salvador. However, it wasn't something he would ever dare speak aloud.

Had Salvador sent the Hell Monarch and his army to the Southern Frontier earlier, when the war first turned grim, Hector and his sons might still be alive. Perhaps the Southern Frontier would already be won.

But as a veteran soldier, Dominic understood Salvador's fears all too well. When the king first took the throne, his position was not yet secure. He feared that should any prince win great glory in battle, it might threaten his own power.

And so, even as Sandoria made their last desperate strike, Salvador hesitated. He refused to send the Hell Monarch Army, which led to the Southern Frontier suffering defeat after defeat.

Still, no matter his grief or blame, Dominic had lived his life as a loyal subject. Loyalty to the sovereign and love of the kingdom-those words were etched in his heart. He would never voice his resentment. Be buried it deep, where no one could see.

But now that his young granddaughter had come to Victory Pass, and thinking

about how she would be without her father and brothers in the future...

How could that bitterness not rise again?