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."

was worried I'd be hungry and had someone prepare it for me. I heard you

earlier, but then my master pulled me aside to toast with the leaders of other guilds. I ended up drinking too much,"

you off, wasn't he?" asked Carissa, taking a bite of the roasted

to a perfect tenderness and tasted delicious. The traditional dish combining various meat and vegetables represented the unity of a couple's hearts. So, she gave a piece to Rafael as well. The

first meal after marriage. Without a suitable way to express their feelings, it was better to say less to avoid

but smile as he recalled the time when they conquered Ilyrian City. He had given her a bowl of chicken noodle soup, which she devoured with such enthusiasm that she finished the entire bowl in moments,

in front of him now with the one

smile in her husband's eyes.

mother had invited her aunt to teach Carissa how to serve a husband and what the wedding night would be like. But over time, she had pretty much forgotten

was no one to guide her. Lily had likely assumed that

to recall

she be the one to take initiative, or should she be more passive? Was the concern that her husband might think her too frivolous, or was it that he might find her lacking

dear, Carissa

too forward, nor too passive. She shouldn't make her husband think she was too frivolous, but she also shouldn't seem too unresponsive. She needed to find the right