Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Chapter 1112

At his core, Rafael was a military man. He had always been fascinated by weapons. His interest in them ran deep, and he often found himself eager to spend hours studying and improving them.

Kyle didn't answer Rafael's question and gave him a small smile instead. "Let's head back. You and Carissa had a bit of a quarrel, and she probably doesn't know yet."

Rafael felt a tightness in his chest. "It wasn't a quarrel. Isn't everything fine?"

"Sure. Come on, let's go," Kyle urged, nudging his horse forward.

Rafael led his horse for a few paces before mounting and catching up with him. However, his heart still felt heavy.

Why, when things happened, was Carissa's first thought never of him?

He was always the last to know. She hadn't even bothered to send word. Instead, she had ridden out of the city alone without telling him.

Though she had sent word to Travis, she hadn't sent a messenger to the Supreme Court, leaving it to the Capital Guard to seek him out only because they needed to seal the city gates. If the gates hadn't needed to be closed, would she have simply let him find out when Violet returned and casually told him what had transpired?

Before this, Rafael had already felt that Carissa couldn't fully trust him. Even though there were many moments where they appeared close, even affectionate, something always seemed missing.

What was missing, though?

trusted him

He was sure she liked him, even if she never said

He believed they shared a silent understanding, one that worked both in their private lives and when it came to their duties. It was a bond that felt almost as strong as the

same Carissa you once knew?" Kyle asked, his voice

that's happened, it's only natural that she's changed. As long as she's still herself, that's what matters to me. But... I can't help

a mask," Kyle said thoughtfully. "If

aback. "Me? How could I be wearing a

there are no real-life struggles. You don't dare to be angry, feel slighted,

fragile," Rafael muttered,

respond at once. He cracked his whip and urged his horse forward, leaving Rafael alone with his

words "treading lightly" hit him

It was true.

Carissa had

speaking and thought through every action before taking it. He feared saying the wrong thing or making

He felt guilty because he didn't truly feel it. Sometimes, people were good at deceiving themselves, and he had deceived himself too. This time, her safety was at stake, so he dared to show his frustrations toward her. But if it hadn't been about her safety, he probably wouldn't have had the heart to