Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

When Rafael saw Carissa on the Southern Frontier battlefield, his emotions were a whirlwind of complexity.

He would often, almost subconsciously, bring up her husband, but she would avoid the topic. That was when he realized that Barrett might not be treating her well.

This thought alone had made his fists clench countless times.

It wasn't until later that he learned she had divorced. Barrett hadn't recognized her worth.

It was absurd!

Rafael committed the name to memory-Barrett Warren, a man unworthy of the gift of sight.

The fury Rafael felt then was so intense that he wished he could gouge out Barrett's eyes for causing her such pain,

After the anger subsided, Rafael felt a surge of selfish joy, though he carefully masked it. He couldn't let anyone know he was secretly celebrating.

During the days they fought side by side, he had to constantly conceal his feelings. He had to remind himself repeatedly not to let even a trace of personal emotion show in his eyes. Three years on the Southern Frontier battlefield saw his emotions rise and fall, only to rise again.

Even when he returned to the capital and faced the manipulations of his elder brother, Rafael didn't mind. There was no war, and he didn't care about military power-he only wanted her.

He understood Savaldor's suspicions, but that was how relationships between royal siblings were-never entirely pure. There would always be a mix of mistrust and brotherly affection. As long as they maintained the appearance of harmony, it was enough.

would simply take Carissa and Ryan to his fief, far from the capital. The king may reign high above, but

at Carissa just in time

his heart skipped a

flushed with heat, but her heart sank. She realized she had developed feelings for him,

could this mismatched affection have happened to her? She had originally planned to marry

to get by.

enduring a failed marriage, she

as red as a sunset, and asked curiously, "My lady, why is

quickly lifted her cup, lowering her head to drink in an

increasingly oblivious, and she didn't know when

Chapter 269

though the curve of his lips was all too

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never allow anyone to mistreat Ryan. In fact, if he didn't spoil

only felt a resemblance, but he probably wouldn't have thought too much about it if things were different. After all, the Duke of Northwatch's family had been wiped out, and Carissa was

wonder if Melanie had regretted her decision that day, and she had decided to bring him and Carissa together after

think that was the

Rafael would never be able to overcome the fact that Melanie had chosen Barrett over him. He knew, in his heart, that he wasn't inferior to Barrett. Setting aside social status, Rafael knew