Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 1204

As the year drew to a close, the common folk were busy preparing for the New Year, with every household caught up in the bustle.

But where there was activity, there was an opportunity for gossip, and rumors quickly spread. Victoria's commendation of Rosalind had little effect. Instead, some started to whisper that Victoria's personal approval might mean there was more to the story than just Rosalind being taken advantage of.

This line of thinking slowly became the dominant one, as if someone were deliberately pushing things in that direction.

Even someone from Hell Monarch Estate stepped forward to speak on the matter. Witnesses who had been present at the academy also spoke up, explaining that Rosalind had been trying to protect the students and had been accidentally touched by the assailant in the process.

But the public wasn't interested in truth or justice. They preferred stories of disgrace, tales that brought the mighty low.

The more illustrious Rosalind's reputation had once been—her celebrated beauty, her impeccable lineage, her unmatched talents—the more vicious the slander against her became.

Old gossip was dredged up from the past, embellished and twisted into new narratives.

Some claimed she was aloof and arrogant, looking down on those who didn't meet her high standards. They even brought up the incident at Eleanor's banquet, claiming that Rosalind had deliberately misidentified a painting. It wasn't by the famed artist Kyle, but she insisted it was. And since Trevor doted on his granddaughter, he followed along with her mistake, claiming the painting was Kyle's.

People familiar with the incident said that Kyle's insignia wasn't even on the painting. Everyone present at the time could barely contain their laughter, but they held back out of respect, choosing not to expose her mistake.

Some claimed that all her poems and artwork were plagiarized, that none of it was really her work. It was all part of Trevor's plan to build her reputation, hoping to marry her off to the most sought-after man in the realm, the Hell Monarch. But in the end, her hopes were shattered—Rafael would rather marry a woman who was once divorced than her.

Rosalind then settled for second best, hoping to marry the Farrell family's eleventh son, Thomas. Luckily, Thomas wasn't fooled. He saw through her and turned down the match.

These rumors spread everywhere. Even though Rosalind stayed confined to the estate and Trevor had strictly ordered the servants not to mention it, there were still people setting up tables outside the gate, eager to gossip and watch the drama unfold.

When servants from the estate tried to disperse them, one dramatic individual deliberately fell to the ground, crying out that the royal chancellor's household was bullying commoners and acting above the law.

In the end, they couldn't chase the people away, but they couldn't let them stay either.

Trevor's wife, Mildred, was already in poor health. Now, with all the commotion, she fell ill and had to stay in bed.

Soon, Sebastian personally came to Highstone Estate with his medicine box in hand.

It didn't take long before the crowd dispersed, scattering like leaves in a gust of wind. Even the storyteller's allies, pale-faced and trembling, hoisted him onto their shoulders and bolted. They knew they couldn't afford to offend Sebastian.

The Young family members thanked Sebastian profusely.

Sebastian turned to look at Trevor and said, "You care about reputation and appearances, but I don't. It was Lady Carissa who asked me to come. She made the right choice in calling me."

Indeed, it had been Carissa who summoned Sebastian.

In all of the capital, no one else held the kind of sway Sebastian did across every level of society. The aristocracy revered him, martial artists respected him, and people from all walks of life bowed to him.

After all, he was a legendary renowned physician.

In a crisis, he was nothing short of a lifesaver, a true miracle worker.