Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Rafael took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from the corners of Carissa's eyes.

"I'm not foolish at all. What use is military power? How can it compare to you? With the country at peace, holding onto military power would only provoke jealousy and lead to future troubles. Even if the king hadn't forced me, I would have given it up."

Rafael even smiled with a hint of pride. "If he hadn't pressured me, I'd still be worrying about how to propose to you. With the edict given, I believed you would choose me over becoming a concubine. He actually helped me."

Carissa shot him a teasing glance. "You're actually pleased about it? Really, you're the type who gets scammed and would still thank the scammer for it."

Her playful reproach seemed to touch his heart deeply, making him feel like he was on cloud nine.

"It doesn't matter. I've achieved what I wished for," said Rafael.

Carissa lowered her gaze, feeling a sweet satisfaction in her heart.

Achieving what one wished for-wasn't that exactly how she felt too? It was delightful to realize how well their hearts were aligned.

He served her some food, adding a bit of everything to her plate. "You must be starving."

and had someone prepare it for me. I

time to eat. I had hoped to return earlier, but then my master pulled me aside to toast with the leaders of other guilds.

dragged you off, wasn't he?" asked

unity of a couple's

to say, they ate in silence. This was their first meal after marriage. Without a suitable way to express their feelings, it

had given her a bowl of chicken noodle soup, which she devoured with such enthusiasm that she finished the entire bowl in

Carissa in front of him now with

ate slowly, unaware of the smile in her husband's eyes.

Barrett, her mother had invited her aunt to teach Carissa how to serve a husband and what the wedding night would be

her. Lily had likely assumed that advice

struggled to recall her aunt's

her husband undress, or was it the other way around? Should she be the one to take initiative, or should she be more passive? Was the concern

dear, Carissa had

she remembered something. It seemed she shouldn't be too forward, nor too passive. She shouldn't make her husband think she was too frivolous, but she also