Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 583

"When we were in Harmony Palace, we weren't allowed to leave our own courtyards. Whether it was practicing martial arts or receiving instruction from the courtesans as my sister did, it all took place within our own courtyards.

"I've never been to the western courtyard before. However, according to the servants, it's used for religious worship. Grand Princess Eleanor goes there to pray on the first and fifteenth days of each month," Carmen replied.

Carissa frowned. "So, there's a temple there?"

It couldn't be as simple as a temple. If it were, why would Eleanor be so anxious? It seemed Carissa would need to find an opportunity to investigate further.

"You mentioned you have some skill in martial arts?" Carissa asked.

"Greta is my teacher. I've trained for several years. We sisters all have similar skills. Since the grand princess raised us, she needed us to be useful. She wouldn't want to waste her efforts," Carmen answered.

Carissa nodded. That was true.

Eleanor was not merely cruel. Her collusion with Yuvan indicated she was plotting something significant, and she would naturally make full use of her resources.

"How does your dad treat your mom?" Carissa queried.

"Because my dad particularly favored my mom, Grand Princess Eleanor was able to manipulate him," Carmen said, her voice filled with frustration. "But my mom always wanted to escape from Harmony Palace. My dad had opportunities to help her in the past but didn't.

"It wasn't until my mom was pregnant with my brother that he started to fear. But by then, my mom was heavily pregnant and about to give birth. How could she escape then?"

Her tone was full of resentment towards Henry, equal to her resentment towards Eleanor.

Carmen's voice choked up again as she spoke, "Now, my mom is imprisoned in the dungeon, kept there to ensure that my sister and I obey. Before I left, I managed to see her. She was so starved, she didn't even look human anymore. I'm really worried she won't hold on and might lose her life like this."

After hearing that, Carissa said, "Go back for now. I've put all three of them to sleep. I'll have them searched, including you."

A search signified their caution and would also make Greta believe that they had gained some level of trust. After all, it was unlikely Carissa and her group would find anything significant.

After Carmen left, Carissa turned to Rafael and asked, "Should we keep her or not?"

He hesitated for a moment before replying, "It's up to you."

Carissa rubbed her temples in frustration. "Am I such a petty person? I'm discussing this with you, not being jealous."

Rafael chuckled. "That's not what I meant… Well, if we're discussing it rationally, it might be strategic to keep her around. We can still look into whether her words are truthful or not."

Violet stood up. "I'll handle the search."

She was best suited for this task. Regardless of the rational or irrational discussions between the couple, it seemed Violet shared the same opinion as Rafael. Keeping a close eye on things would ensure no trouble arose.

If Carmen was genuinely betraying Eleanor, it was fine if she couldn't be of much help. It would still be a good thing to see Eleanor's plans thwarted.