Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 1033

Carissa hopped down from the railing outside the pavilion, plucked a rose, and bit it between her teeth. She flipped over three more times, then nimbly swung herself back up, landing lightly beside Violet. She stretched out her arms and faced her friend, offering the rose in her mouth with a smile. Though there were tiny beads of sweat dotting her forehead, her bright eyes twinkled.

Violet snatched the flower from her, glaring at her in mock anger. "Seriously? You're the Hell Monarch's princess consort and you're flipping around like that? Isn't that embarrassing? Do you have no shame?"

"What could I do? I offended you, Ms. Spencer." Carissa's cheeks turned pink as she laughed brightly. "Have you forgiven me yet?"

Violet sighed. "I wasn't really angry with you to begin with. Come on, let's head to the workshop and find Jessica."

She pinched Carissa's arm and shot Travis a glare. "Still laughing? You're going to dislocate your jaw."

Travis couldn't stop laughing, tears welling up in his eyes. "You guys are killing me. You looked like a monkey."

Carissa and Violet ignored him and stepped out of the pavilion.

As they walked, Violet kicked Carissa in the rear and muttered, "You idiot."

Carissa glanced back, sticking her tongue out. "Who told you to fall for it?"

Violet chuckled, but as she laughed, she remembered Travis' words. A pang of sadness shot through her chest and her eyes welled with tears.

That idiot… it had been so long since Carissa had goofed off with them.

-

They entered the workshop through the back door, as the front was still swarmed with a dozen or so locals shouting and causing a ruckus—throwing rocks, splashing dirty water, and tossing old shoes at the door.

As Carissa entered, she asked Brock, a burly guard sent by Hannah, if he had been keeping an eye on the situation outside.

He nodded. "They switch shifts every couple of hours. Some are just townspeople, but others are clearly here just to stir trouble."

Courtesy of Hannah, Brock had been assigned to watch over the place ever since the unrest started, to make sure no one damaged the property or harmed anyone inside.

Immediately sensing that something was off, Violet asked, "Where's Jessica?"

The tall and burly Brock replied, "She's been hiding in her room and refusing to come out. The past couple of days, she hasn't even been doing any cleaning. Selma told her that she won't get any food if she doesn't come out and work, but she would rather starve than open the door."

"Which room is she staying in?" Carissa asked.

"Room One in Peaceful Wing."

Brock called for Selma, the elderly maid who was taking care of things in Skye Embroidery.