Caspian pointed an accusing finger at Isaac and shouted angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting? When has my mom ever abandoned her son? My brother and I are both fine!"
"You all are fine, but what about me?!" Isaac yelled, his voice cracking with fury.
He had put too much force behind the shout, and his stomach and throat reacted painfully. Clutching his stomach, he crouched down, using all his strength to hold back the swirling alcohol in his gut.
Caspian stood there, stunned for a moment, as if the words hadn't fully registered. Then, as though something had clicked into place, his eyes widened in disbelief. He stared at Isaac, his face pale with shock.
Zoey suddenly recalled something from the past. It was something she had learned when she first entered the family—Evelyn had borne three sons.
The youngest had fallen ill, and no matter how hard they tried, the child didn't recover. He was sent to a temple to be cared for, but a fire broke out and the boy perished in the flames.
Zoey's heart thudded in her chest. Could it be? Could the boy have survived the fire?
"What's your name?" Caspian asked, his voice choked with emotion. His lips trembled uncontrollably as he looked desperately at Isaac.
Isaac held his stomach as he slumped back into the chair, clearly exhausted. Even his voice was barely a whisper. "Ask her… Go and ask her…"
Zoey took a step forward, her own emotions rising.
"I remember now," she said. "I've seen you. You've walked around the estate's entrance several times."
Isaac didn't respond, and Zoey turned to Violet for answers. Violet didn't meet her gaze and instead stared at Isaac.
"Isaac Prince, since you're here, you might as well clear things up. Tell them the truth. Tell them you were once named Seraphina Prince, and you were raised as a girl since you were young. At five years old, you were abandoned at a temple. You were left to suffer, and you almost died from the torture after a few months before being thrown out. Your mentor found you and saved your life. You didn't do anything wrong—they did. You deserve an explanation."
Caspian felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He froze, his entire body stiff, his eyes wide and unblinking.
Then, with a strangled cry, he lunged forward, throwing himself at Isaac. He wrapped his arms around Isaac, crying out with a raw, heart-wrenching wail that echoed with a grief he had never felt before.
"Seraphina… You're alive! You're not dead!"
Evelyn's brow twitched, and her heart skipped a beat. "Has something happened with Viola again?"
The mere thought of another scandal made her heart race. She couldn't bear to hear more of it.
"No, it has nothing to do with Madam Viola," Jane reassured her quickly.
"Don't lie to me!" Evelyn gasped, clutching her chest. Her breath grew shallow, panic spreading through her. She was too afraid already.
Just then, Evelyn's maid Rosie hurried over to support her. She turned to Jane and asked, "What's going on at this hour? Who's here? Can't Madam Zoey handle it herself? Why must Madam Evelyn go out?"
Jane knew she couldn't hide the truth. "Ms. Spencer brought a man with her. He's drunk, and he's demanding an explanation from Madam Evelyn. He wants to know why she abandoned him all those years ago. And now, Mr. Caspian is holding him and crying, calling him Seraphina."
Evelyn suddenly gripped Jane's hands tightly. She gasped for air, her body swaying as if she might collapse.
With a hoarse cry, she ordered, "Quickly, take me to him!"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Her Graceful War Song
What happens to the other chapters, I've been waiting to read more of this story, the character's and the screening are fantastic, very intriguing story...
Next chapter please, what's happening...
Very captivating novel....
Both content and context are very intriguing, the writer style of pulling out characters in their unique ways are profound,I have recommended this book because it's very captivating...