Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Chapter 169

Two days later, Dylan and Rafael's strategist, Jacob York, returned.

It was raining heavily earlier, so Jacob had changed into a fresh set of clothes before he hurried to the study to see Rafael.

Jacob was direct and to the point..

"The king's intention is to strip you of your military command. Since you're willing to relinquish it, then let it go. However, you mustn't allow your marriage to be used as leverage.

"The king knows you once sought to marry Lady Sinclair. He wants. to

use her as compensation, to ease his own conscience. However, I bélieve it is unnecessary. Once you surrender your command, request him to retract his edict. Whether or not you marry Lady Sinclair should be a matter between you and her, not tainted by the royal family's interference.

"If the king inserts himself into the matter, it will complicate things and turn it into something more than just a marriage. Both you and Lady Sinclair will be put in a very awkward position."

Marriage should be purely about affection, not a matter of profits and interests. To marry for gain would be to betray the true feelings. involved.

late king. He declared the Hell Monarch Army would forever be under my command to protect the

surely feel the need to reward me handsomely to account for the late king's wishes and the court's expectations. At the very least, he needs to maintain his image. I worry he might grant a marriage as

that it is a reward, he will likely Inform the officials that I sought to marry Carissa

wait for you to reclaim the Southern Frontier. Or they might think that Madam Warren doubted your ability to reclaim it. All sorts of

is precisely what troubles me the most," Rafael said, pushing aside a paperweight on the desk. "The king's actions hav caused me

it possible that the king is not necessarily forcing. you to surrender your command... What I mean is, perhaps he

II

that the king. genuinely wants to make

have both. As for rewarding you, it could be in other forms- gold, silver,

heard of Salvador showing any interest in Carissa. If he had, he would have asked Victoria to intervene when Melanie arranged Carissa's

to change. his mind after the Southern

of women, but none like Carissa, who was both capable

to be a

to lead the Hell Monarch Army. If Carissa became Salvador's concubine, his troubles would be greatly eased. Also, Carissa had proven her worth before the soldiers who had followed Hector before this. The generals who

simple words