Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 1398

At precisely three in the afternoon, the long execution block was brought forward.

The block was forged from ironwood, solid and unyielding. It was the only one of its kind in Starhaven, used solely for execution by Torso Cleaving.

The block had been kept in storage for years.

Augustus had once deemed the act of Torso Cleaving too brutal. Even those who committed the most grievous offenses were spared this form of execution. Yet, the punishment had not been abolished. It remained a tool to strike fear into the hearts of would-be traitors.

The cruelty of Torso Cleaving lay in the fact that after a person was cleaved in two, the upper body could still crawl, struggle, and leave behind a bloody trail.

Normally, Torso Cleaving wasn't meant to be witnessed by the public. But treason, betraying the kingdom, and plotting to overthrow the throne were considered unforgivable crimes.

Salvador didn't know how many people had dealings with the traitors, and some conspirators were too deeply hidden to uncover. So, he decided that such a gruesome spectacle would serve as a warning for any who had ever harbored treasonous thoughts.

Oliver's clothes were stripped away, and two guards held him down on the execution block. They pinned his shoulders firmly in place to prevent any movement.

In terror, Oliver's eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

At the moment the executioner raised his great sword, many in the crowd averted their gaze.

Only Nicholas, Yuvan, and the others in the prison cart were forced to keep their eyes forward. Their necks were locked in place, and they were unable to turn away.

They could only shut their eyes, trembling with fear.

Yuvan was the weakest of them all. He quickly squeezed his eyes shut, releasing a high-pitched scream as the sword was raised.

Among all the people, only Clifford kept his eyes open and watched. His gaze was as deep and still as the night. When the blade fell, his expression didn't change at all.

Even when the executioner moved on from Oliver to Celeste, Clifford never looked away. The screams and gasps around him seemed to fade as he focused solely on watching the two crawl on the ground. Only when they stopped moving did he reluctantly pull his gaze away.

Viola had already left with Evelyn, but Zoey remained. She stayed until the execution was finished.

When Carissa sent someone to invite her, Zoey immediately changed her clothes and went.

Courtney cried in her mom's arms. After all, Oliver was still her dad. She was filled with resentment, yet unable to be indifferent to his death.

Once her sobs had subsided, Zoey gently brushed Courtney's hair and said softly, "Before his execution, he realized his mistakes. He faced his death with calmness and offered his apologies.

"I went to see him off. He asked me to tell you all that a person must always act with integrity and never allow wicked thoughts to take root. Do not let your conscience be buried for the sake of gain. Be brave, be resolute, face hardships without flinching, and never run from your problems. Stand firm and confront them."

Courtney's eyes were red from crying. She sniffled and said, "Mom, these are your words, not his."

Zoey looked at her daughter's swollen eyes in the mirror and softly said, "Yes, those are my words—keep them in your heart. Let him be a lesson to you. When faced with something, remember that avoiding it won't solve anything. Be brave, face it, solve it, and then move on."

Courtney nodded solemnly. "I understand, Mom. I won't disappoint you."

Zoey held her daughter close, tears welling up in her own eyes. "Good girl."