Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 781

Gareth suddenly exploded in fury. He jumped up and slapped Cecilia harshly across the face.

"You treacherous woman! After everything I've done for you, you dare betray me?!" he roared with outrage.

Cecilia fell to the ground, blood slowly trickling from the corner of her mouth. She braced herself on the ground, still kneeling, though tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes.

Her lips quivered, her voice breaking as she said, "I'm sorry... I have no excuse. I know my sins are unforgivable."

"You've doomed us all!" Gareth spat as he fiercely kicked her. "I once asked you if you had any family and you told me you were an orphan! How dare you lie to me?!"

Cecilia's body trembled as she let out a muffled sob, knowing there was no hope of ever regaining Gareth's pity or love.

Carissa let out a barely audible sigh as she watched from nearby. Thankfully, the king had already made his decision yesterday about the daughters of Henry's concubines. Otherwise, the Duke of Oakspire's family would have been done for after this revelation, with none of them able to escape unscathed.

Now that Salvador had declared the women victims in this matter, he wouldn't go back on his word. Putting off visiting the Duke of Oakspire's family and the Quinton family had indeed proven to be a good decision.

Looking at Cecilia, who lay sobbing on the ground, Carissa asked, "The two blueprints you took—were they for armor and ballistae?"

The gathered men were mostly seasoned warriors of the Duke of Oakspire's family, so they instantly understood the gravity of Carissa's question.

They also realized that she wasn't looking to claim false glory. If she wanted to do that, she could have declared that Cecilia had stolen the armor and ballistae blueprints and taken her away. That way, Carissa would have secured her achievement on the spot.

But Carissa was giving Cecilia a chance now. If the latter answered that she hadn't taken such blueprints, there was still a way out of this. Armor and ballistae blueprints had implications far beyond ordinary weapons.

Every gaze turned to Cecilia, their eyes fixed with anticipation.

Gareth's face was contorted with fury as he warned, "Think very carefully before you answer."

Cecilia looked up with tear streaks glistening on her cheeks, her delicate face filled with sorrow.

That was it? She wasn't even taking Cecilia with her?

"Might I have a word with you in private, Lord Norman?" Carissa asked.

"Of course," Norman responded, his voice uncharacteristically low.

A man known all his life for his short temper, whose voice usually boomed even in casual conversation, now spoke for the first time in a tone utterly drained of power.

Carissa turned to Michael and instructed, "I'll step outside with Lord Norman. Ask Cecilia under what circumstances she handed over those two blueprints—see if she was under any kind of coercion."

When Gareth heard this, he felt a glimmer of relief. The tension in his chest eased a bit, and his eyes turned red-rimmed.

He had earlier struck Cecilia because he wanted to make it clear that his family had nothing to do with this matter. He also wanted to gain a bit of Carissa's sympathy as a woman by showing his supposed resolve in disciplining Cecilia. That way, Carissa might not be too harsh with Cecilia if she took her away.