Her Graceful War Song

After two days of touring, Liam finally spoke to Carissa.

"Your country has a Miracle Healer named Sebastian Dalton, right? He's been making a medicine called Snowdrop Pills. Snow Blossom is a key ingredient, but your kingdom has only a limited supply. It grows at the Southern Frontier, but only high atop the snowy mountains. It's difficult to gather and incredibly scarce.

"However, in our kingdom, Snow Blossoms are not so rare. It's found on many high peaks. The Snow Blossom that Healer Dalton uses now is bought secretly from Orivenia's herbal merchants at a steep price. It's so expensive that every Snowdrop Pill he sells is at a loss."

Carissa knew that Snowdrop Pills were rare because some of the ingredients were hard to find, but Sebastian had never specifically mentioned which ones.

However, if he was buying an ingredient from Orivenia, it made sense why he needed to keep it a secret. Previously, there was no trade between Orivenia and Starhaven, especially when it came to medicinal items. So, it was only natural for him to be more cautious.

Liam and Lisandra were clearly aligned on this matter, and their investigation was so thorough that they must have already planned to facilitate trade between both sides. They even invited Faelan all the way from Nerathia to make these plans a reality.

Snowdrop Pills were a life-saving medicine. If the ingredients were no longer scarce, the pills could benefit the common people, which would be a tremendous boon.

Recalling their visit to the herbal market, Carissa asked, "Why didn't I see any Snow Blossoms in the market?"

Liam smiled. "That's only normal. Though the Snow Blossom isn't rare in Orivenia, it's still considered precious. It's difficult to harvest, as one must climb treacherous mountains to gather it.

"Moreover, because of its potent properties-particularly its ability to strengthen the heart and relieve pain—it is never sold in the open markets. If you don't believe me, I can have a basket sent to you right now. You can take it back to Starhaven and have Healer Dalton examine it himself."

Without waiting for an answer, he immediately gave orders for someone to fetch a basket of Snow Blossoms.

It wasn't long before a full basket was brought over. The flowers were dried, each stalk nearly as long as a forearm, with the stems and leaves still attached. Its color was a dull brownish-yellow, the petals shriveled and tightly wrapped around dark brown stamens. The dried flowers didn't look very appealing, which was a bit of a letdown, given how nice its name sounded.

After a moment of observation, Davis asked, "Isn't this just the Snow Lily?"

Liam nodded with a smile. "Yes, it's also called Snow Lily or Skysnow Lily. There are several varieties, but this one is the most suitable for medicinal use."

At the mention of Skysnow Lily, Carissa's face lit up with recognition. "Ah, so it's a kind of Snow Lily. I've heard of how rare Skysnow Lily is, but is it really that scarce in Starhaven?"

Davis explained, "The Southern

Frontier's snowy mountains do have Snow Lilies but the flowers only bloom once every few years. The people of Sandoria know its value,

so when they occupied the Southern Frontier, they would harvest the Snow Lilies for medicinal use or take it back to their homeland to sell.

"However, their methods were crude. They destroyed the very places where the Snow Lilies grow, which has made the flower even rarer. Even if it can be found now, it's only in scattered patches and growing on steep cliffs. That makes it nearly impossible to harvest."

"Such a shame," Carissa murmured, feeling regretful.

So, Starhaven once had an abundance of the flower, but it was now almost wiped out entirely.

"Perhaps in a few years, it will grow back," Davis said.

He then motioned for Carissa to step closer and lowered his voice, adding, "His Majesty requires Snowdrop Pills on a regular basis. This basket should be enough for him."

Carissa wasn't certain how much Snow Lily was needed to make Snowdrop Pills, but she understood that this basket wasn't an insignificant amount of the essential ingredient.

Heart disease was a cruel affliction,

and such a remedy would be a true blessing for the common people if it could be made more widely available. She was certain Sebastian would gladly provide it, as he often offered free consultations and medicine to those in need, driven by the compassion of his healer's heart.

Once Carissa and Davis had finished

their conversation, Liam continued, "We've compiled a list of valuable medicinal herbs that Orivenia produces. You can take it back and show Healer Dalton. He'll know

which ones are most prized. Of course, Orivenia has more to offer than just herbs. I trust you've seen that over the past few days."

Carissa understood their intentions clearly. Liam was eager to establish trade between the two kingdoms, and he made no effort to conceal his desire.

Carissa, in turn, hoped for the same. She thanked him with a smile for the basket of Snow Blossoms.

"I truly hope that our two kingdoms can develop in peace and friendship," she said.

Starhaven and Nerathia's envoy delegations were both preparing to depart soon. But before that, the Nerathian party arranged for a meeting with Carissa and Violet.noveldrama

The two women visited their quarters at the inn, where Faelan and Elysia were waiting in a private room on the second floor. Carissa and Violet entered and greeted them with courtesy.

"Your Highness and Your Grace, thank you for your hard work. We are truly grateful for your long journey to help with the peace talks between Starhaven and Orivenia. If there is ever an opportunity, I would be honored to invite you both to Starhaven," said Carissa.