Her Graceful War Song



Chapter 936

Around noon the next day, the Westhaven envoys arrived in the capital. The Protocol Department and the Diplomatic Affairs Department made the arrangements for their reception and provided lodging at Concord Lodge.

Westhaven's government system was similar to Starhaven's, though they did not have a position equivalent to the prime minister. Instead, they had a cabinet and various ministry departments that were similar to Starhaven.

This delegation to Starhaven was led by Lisandra, along with Leroy, Westhaven's Defense Minister. They were accompanied by various cabinet members-Garrick Horton and Amos Bailey, both Secretaries of State; Klaus Reed, the Diplomatic Affairs Department Minister, and Icarus Mendez, commander of the Sovereign Guard.

Also present was Harlan Fitzgerald, the guard captain of Lisandra's household soldiers, as well as two interpreters and three female officials. Since the names of the female officials had not been announced, their identities remained unknown. The rest of the entourage consisted of various guards and attendants.

Rafael, Carissa, and the others stood at a tavern near the city gates, watching the envoys pass by.

Lisandra was dressed in purple official attire and riding a bay horse, slowly making her way into the city with her large procession. Though she was actually 32 years old, the weariness from the long journey made her appear older than her age.

'The man riding the black horse behind Grand Princess Lissandra is Leroy Stellwyn," Jacob remarked.

Though Liam and Leroy were indeed related to the Westhaven royal family, they actually had a different family name. They had used the Tudor surname on the battlefield, but their actual surname was Stellwyn.

"He's Marshal Liam's younger brother, but they're not on good terms. He was the one who pushed for the battle at Victory Pass, and even now, he's the one urging King Edmund to go to war.

"King Edmund greatly respects his older sister, but he respects the late crown prince, Prince Arthur, even more. That's why he wants to go to war. King Edmund..."

Jacob paused, considering the best way to describe him before continuing, "He's a capable person. He's well-versed in both civil and military matters. He followed Prince Arthur for a long time and earned a reputation for virtue in Westhaven. But his nature is rather unhinged.

"Back in the day, when Grand Princess Lisandra and Prince Arthur were watching over him and with Marshal Liam guiding him, his true nature didn't show. That's why Grand Princess Lisandra supported his rise to power. What she didn't know, though, is that in his heart, the kingdom and the people don't come before his brother."

Carissa picked up on Jacob's words, saying, 'Grand Princess Lisandra prioritizes the kingdom and the people, so naturally, she assumed that King Edmund would do the same. "Now, she probably realizes what's going on. This time, she's come personally to push

through the decisions, which is favorable for us. But we can't let our guard down with Mr. Stellwyn. He's always wanted to replace his older brother, Marshal Liam."

Since their return from the Southern Frontier, the Hell Monarch Estate's members had begun investigating the princes and influential figures in Westhaven, uncovering the true nature of their personalities.

The second prince, Eamon, had been granted a title, but was mediocre and had almost no chance of ascending the throne.

The third prince. Edmund, was now king of Westhaven.

The fourth prince, Emory, was on par with Edmund in terms of ability, but his heart was twisted, cruel, and without compassion. His maternal family was powerful, which was why Lisandra had supported Edmund's ascension to the throne. Without the grand princess, the throne would likely have fallen to Emory.

Now that Edmund had ascended as king, he hadn't fully dismantled his brother's power. The fourth prince's maternal family still held substantial influence and watched the throne with greedy eyes. This internal division and severe internal strife were the reasons why Liam and Lisandra did not want to go to war.

The fifth and sixth princes, Elian and Elior, were twins who had been born with heart conditions. Simply surviving was considered a great blessing.

The seventh prince, Esher, was only twelve years old. His mom was Emory's mom's cousin, further strengthening the fourth prince's power.

Canissa's gaze fell on the three female officials accompanying the delegation. Though their names were not listed on the roster, it was clear that Westhaven was more accommodating toward women holding official positions compared to Starhaven, where women entering court was a rare sight.

She couldn't help but feel envious. Starhaven also had many capable women, but they were confined to the inner household, where they managed household affairs, educated their children, and served their husbands.

"Does Westhaven have a civil service exam for women?" Carissa asked.

Rafael shook his head. "No, wormen usually enter court through recommendations. Westhaven has a women's academy where a selection is held every three years, but only three women are chosen each time. It's like a single plank bridge with fierce competition. So, it's quite difficult for women to serve in court."

Carissa's gaze lingered on them. "It may be difficult, but at least it gives women a chance. Choosing three every three years, thirty every ten years-slowly, more women will enter the government and their influence will grow."

Rafael hesitated for a moment, but at the hopeful expression on her face, decided not to elaborate further.

In truth, it wasn't as easy as she imagined. The selection every three years only allowed women into official positions, but the opportunity for promotion was slim. Wormen who held positions above the fourth rank were only found in the palace, not at court.

Rafael's eyes scanned the ranks of guards, spotting a face with a flat expression.Belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

That person..

As the Westhaven delegation's procession gradually disappeared from view, their mood became more serious.

There would be a royal banquet tomorrow evening to host the envoys. The royal family and high-ranking court officials, those of third rank or higher, would attend. The negotiations wouldn't take place on that night, but the envoys' attitude could be gauged from the banquet.