Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

"So, did you marry me because you truly liked me, or simply because your mother chose me for you?" Barrett asked softly.

Carissa replied, "That question is pointless."

"I want to know," he insisted quickly.

Carissa's brow furrowed again. "Barrett, you've never understood your place. When you were my husband, you didn't get it. You're Aurora's husband now, and you still don't get it."

Barrett's eyes darkened as he looked at her, his tone turning cold.

"So, you never really liked me. You married me only because your mother told you to. I knew it! I just wanted to have another wife, but you immediately went to the palace to request a divorce. You never had any feelings for me. You were the one who was heartless first, but you made it seem like I wronged you!"

Hearing that, Carissa grew exasperated.

"Whether I had feelings for you or not is beside the point. From the day I entered the Warren family, I served your parents without a single day of neglect.

"I did my duty. I was devoted and respectful, and I waited for your triumphant return. And you? You promised me when you proposed, and before you left for battle, you told me to wait. I waited a year, only for you to come back and inform me that you had used your military achievements to take Aurora as a wife.

"Barrett, I fulfilled my duties as a daughter-in-law and a wife. From the moment I married into your family to the day I left, I have a clear conscience. And you? Can you look me in the eye today and tell me, with a clear conscience, that you kept your promises to me and my mother?"

Barrett was left speechless.

the suffocating weight of the

time, but with a great battle looming,

She had to leave.

at her

right did he have to accuse her? What right did he have to demand

inflicted. What was the

and his words and actions must be worthy of Aurora. Carissa was an outsider now. He couldn't afford to fail Aurora,

perfect. At her core, she was kind, upright, and loyal to both the king and the people. He could tolerate

deeply-he was about to leave, when he heard Aurora's sharp voice

you doing in there

out to find Aurora blocking Carissa's way, her face full of hostility.

wife, your explanation," she said

find you! If a subordinate didn't tell me you were with Carissa, I wouldn't have known you two were

her pace, not wanting to listen to the couple's argument. The further she stayed from them,

year, Rafael issued the