Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

After a busy day, and with the weather warming up, a bath was a necessity.

Rafael lifted Carissa effortlessly, his lips brushing her ear as he spoke in a husky, magnetic voice, "Perfect timing. Let's bathe together." Carissa wrapped her arms around his neck, her curiosity piqued. "We've been intimate every night, yet we haven't conceived. Why is that?" "Are you eager to be pregnant soon?" Rafael carried her into the bathing chamber, and started to help her out of her dress.

"Not really. I'm just curious. I remember my mother saying that she found out she was pregnant just over a month after marrying my father."

"I don't think we need to rush into having children," Rafael said, carefully peeling off her clothes until her fair shoulders were exposed. "I had Sebastian prescribe me some medicine. Let's wait until your health fully recovers first-you were injured on the battlefield, after all."

Her eyes widened. "You took contraceptive medicine? I've heard it can be quite harmful."

Rafael chuckled. "If women can take it, why can't men? Your health was already fragile. I couldn't have you taking contraceptive medicine just to prevent pregnancy. Sebastian told me that it's hard enough for women to build their strength back up. If you took it, it would undo all that progress and make things worse."

Carissa was touched. She had never heard of a man willing to take such medicine himself.

For the primary wife of a man, it wasn't even an option. If word got out that a primary wife was using contraceptive medicine, people would think she wasn't virtuous. They would think that her husband must despise her and leave her with no choice.

A proper wife was expected to bear children.

to have so many children, but for all of them to survive infancy. That kind of fortune

it from her mind. She didn't want to dwell on

thing led to another as

Carissa asked, her voice hoarse from exhaustion as she lay in

if we do nothing, they'll find an excuse to come back to the capital for a

Carissa nodded in agreement.

for them,

thing disgusting. Among the many things he detested in

to approach

in his arms, her thoughts lingering on the fact

quite a while tonight, lamenting how that girl from the Warren family had been

hadn't explained, only urging

such a grand appearance today and receiving envious glances from many, Helen was

past, I thought Carissa, being a woman who was once divorced, might not be quite worthy of my son. Did

thought that. I knew Lady Carissa was pure. Even if she wasn't, as