Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 1349

Hayden stood frozen, staring at the shards of his broken cup scattered on the floor. The pieces weren't particularly sharp, but they were enough to tear through skin, perhaps even slit a wrist.

Slowly, he bent down and picked up a fragment. His mind was lost in a haze of dark thoughts.

Before he could move further, a hand gripped his wrist, pulling him back sharply.

"Be careful, Your Highness. You'll cut yourself."

The sudden pain in his wrist was sharp as the grip tightened. The shard was swiftly taken from his hand.

The man who had appeared was dressed in black, his silhouette swallowed by the shadows, as if part of the darkness itself.

Hayden had no idea how many people like this were in his household. Everywhere he went, the sense of being watched clung to him.

These people were more than just skilled. Their martial arts were advanced, and their inner force was formidable. They wielded weapons and hidden blades with frightening precision. Even when Hayden was with Violet and the others, the pressure never let up.

He had hoped Violet and the others might sense the presence of these watchers, but it was hopeless. They were like ghosts—silent, invisible, and untouchable.

Yuvan's suicide soldiers were nothing compared to these people.

When the man released Hayden's wrist, Hayden could already see the dark bruises taking shape where the fingers had been. He was powerless, even when it came to his own death. Despair flooded through him as he sank to the floor.

The man in black showed no concern and disappeared into the darkness.

The next day, Violet and the others prepared to leave Willowbrook Estate. Before departing, Violet took the time to say her farewells, one by one. She thanked Hayden, Chaya, Sonny, and lastly, Gordon.

Standing before Gordon, she smiled warmly. "While we were staying at the manor, the hardest work fell on you. You took care of everything—food, drinks... When I have more time, I'll invite Prince Hayden and all of you to the Glimmering Tower for a meal."

Gordon, his back slightly hunched, smiled humbly. "Please don't mention it, Ms. Spencer. It's our duty. You should not trouble yourself over such things."

Violet waved her hand casually, her smile bright. "No trouble at all! It'll be a pleasure. You're doing us a great favor."

Gordon thanked her repeatedly, smiling as he saw them out of the gate.

As Violet turned to leave, she glanced back and saw Hayden standing in the morning light. He didn't have a smile on his face at first, but when she turned, he forced a smile.

So, they told Jacob and Kyle that they had an unsettling feeling about Gordon. They believed his martial arts might be more than it seemed.

Violet turned to Bun and Cynthia, her expression serious. "There's something else I'm wondering if you two noticed. When we left, I told Prince Hayden to stop smoking his pipe. He said that Gordon and Chaya would be watching him. That can't just be my imagination. He meant it literally."

Cynthia paused, trying to remember. "I think he did say that. But Chaya should be fine, don't you think?"

Bun nodded slowly. "Chaya should be harmless, but when he mentioned Gordon, that raised a red flag. It makes me wonder if Prince Hayden was trying to warn us about something."

Violet agreed, her face hardening. "Yes, it's highly likely. I can't shake the feeling that Gordon is no simple man. It also felt like we were being watched on our way back."

Jacob and Kyle exchanged a glance. It seemed like Gordon might actually be Nicholas. He had already entered the city early on. If that were the case, the Nicholas who had been supposedly keeping an eye on things in Nerovia—sipping wine and listening to music every day—was just an impostor.

It was a clever distraction.

Jacob quickly turned and left, scribbling a note to be sent via carrier pigeon to the scouts in Nerovia, instructing them to expose the false Nicholas.