Barrett wasn't really surprised. Though his time as the commander of the Crown Guard had been short, he wasn't foolish and could sense the king's intentions to make the Crown Guard an independent unit.
Salvador was wary of the Hell Monarch, so how could he allow Carissa to control all the security in the kingdom, including the king's own safety?
Barrett smiled wryly. "Well, it's something beyond my control. I am in mourning for my mom and must observe the mourning period."
Wayne smiled gently, pouring him a cup of coffee. He spoke quietly, "Prince Harvey can help you."
Barrett blinked, taken aback. Harvey barely interacted with anyone in the capital, so how could he possibly help him? Besides, would he really do it out of guilt—if that guilt even existed? And if there was guilt, it would be for Carissa, not for him.
Barrett wasn't stupid.
Setting aside whether Harvey could actually help him, if he could, it would be for a reason. If he truly did assist him, Barrett would owe him, and from then on, he would become the prince's servant.
"In accordance with tradition, I'm observing the mourning period for my mom, unless the king issues an edict to revoke it. However, I'm not an important court official, nor am I a general on the frontier. The king does not need me," Barrett said slowly.
Wayne chuckled softly. "Commander Warren, you underestimate yourself. You've disappointed the king time and again, yet he's still willing to offer you a chance. Do you know why?"
"Why?" Barrett asked, indeed confused about it.
"It's because of your grudge against the Hell Monarch. The Mystic Army was originally led by Prince Rafael. After he became Chief Judge, he could have continued leading it. Many court officials hold multiple positions. So, why did His Majesty choose Lady Carissa to take over as commander of the Mystic Army?" Wayne posited, his gaze fixed on the other man.
Barrett paused, thinking. Slowly, the pieces began to fall into place, but he still didn't fully understand.
A complicated storm of thoughts swept through Barrett's mind. In the back of it all, he wondered if he would rather be just an ordinary member of the Capital Guard.
Seeing his conflicted expression, Wayne continued to push, "I imagine you're not content with the situation, Commander Warren. A woman who divorced you, who even caused such a public scandal, is now above you and holding power over you.
"Don't you want the power to put her beneath your feet? When she divorced you, it caused a citywide uproar. It tarnished the Warren family's reputation and even caused your mom's death. If it weren't for her, Sebastian would never have stopped your mom's medicine."
Barrett looked up, his expression darkening, his gaze full of anger and confusion.
Pleased to see that look, Wayne's voice was laced with even more persuasion as he added, "It was Lady Carissa who killed your mom. It was she who destroyed your family's reputation, turning them into a joke.
"If you lose the Crown Guard commander's position, you'll never rise again. The king may want you to help balance out Prince Rafael and Lady Carissa, but he doesn't need you. If you want a future, Prince Harvey can help you, Commander Warren."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Her Graceful War Song
What happens to the other chapters, I've been waiting to read more of this story, the character's and the screening are fantastic, very intriguing story...
Next chapter please, what's happening...
Very captivating novel....
Both content and context are very intriguing, the writer style of pulling out characters in their unique ways are profound,I have recommended this book because it's very captivating...