Her Graceful War Song

Before my separation, I, Leona Sanford, used to lead a life that was nothing but a joke.

Since I was young, my parents taught me to keep a low profile, never seek attention, stay out of other people's business, and guard my reputation carefully. I was never to invite trouble upon myself.

Everyone said my parents were generous, modest, and noble in character.

I believed it was true.

After all, my father was a dignified prince, while my mother came from the noble Sullivan family. Even with such high ranks, they never troubled others or lost their temper. Even when treated unfairly, they simply smiled and bore it.

But as I grew older and learned to see things clearly, I realized the people's so- called praise was really mockery. To them, my parents were cowards.

The frightening part was that I had grown up with such teachings, never even realizing how timid I had become. I had mistaken my own weakness for gentleness, and that mistake stayed with me even after I married Samuel.

I thought my parents were simply kind—perhaps cautious to protect their good name and avoid conflict. But when I, a proud duchess, was mistreated by my husband's family, it became clear to me that my family's weakness had long been known to others.

Samuel was a handsome and charming scholar, one of the top graduates of the national examinations. I fell in love with him at first sight. When he rode through the streets on horseback, I threw a scented pouch at him. It was something everyone did, so I never thought he would notice me. When the marriage was arranged between our families, I was overjoyed, lost in the happy dreams of becoming a bride.

My parents kept the world's troubles from me, so I had no idea what my cousin was going through. Only later did I learn that Cari had sent me wedding gifts, but my mother refused to accept them, saying they were unlucky.

I was very upset. Cari had always been kind to me, and when she was in trouble,

I had failed to help her. Now, my mother had even rejected her goodwill-it was a clear insult.

When I asked my mother why she had done that, she wept and said it was all for my own good.

"If unlucky people send gifts, their bad fortune might harm your marriage. What will you do if that happens? A woman's marriage is her happiness for her whole life," she said.

I asked her why Cari's divorce was unlucky. My mother coldly explained that Cari's whole family was dead, and now she was divorced too. How could that not be unlucky?

I could hardly believe my ears. The family members who had died included my mother's sister—her very own blood. And yet, she called that unlucky?!noveldrama

I was so angry that tears fell from my eyes, but I couldn't say a single word. That was always how I was. When angry, I only knew how to cry and couldn't speak properly.

Once, when Cari came back from Meadow Ridge to visit me, she warned me that my nature would only bring me harm. She told me not to think too highly of myself, but also not to belittle myself.

I was a duchess, yet why did I always seem like a weak, bullied woman? Cari urged me to be confident, gracious, and steady. I wished I could, but I couldn't.

My mother knew how poorly I was treated in my husband's family, yet she kept telling me to be patient and forgiving. She said all men were the same if I could not tolerate them, I was jealous, petty, and narrow-minded-and people would point and mock me behind my back.

Even when I lost my baby and almost died, it was Cari who stayed by my side and protected me. She wanted to take me away from the Earl of Gracehold's residence.

Yet, my parents came to try to stop me from leaving. I will never forget how they said that if I got divorced

would never be allowed to come home Their words broke my heart; their cruelty hurt me just as much as

Samuel's did.

I had been blinded by love when I married Samuel; it had been a mistake. But

how could my own parents treat me like that?

In the end, Cari helped me get a divorce edict, and Samuel's name was erased

from the official records. He was even sentenced to exile.

Though even the king and his officials couldn't bear Samuel's behavior, my parents still pretended nothing was wrong. Their coldness toward me was fiercer than ever, and they refused to let me return home.

No one could understand how terrifying it was to feel trapped at the bottom of such an abyss.

People said children must never hate their parents. But I truly hated them deeply. At my worst, I secretly swore I would never call them my parents again, no matter what the future held.