Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Carissa stopped and turned back to me. "Her family treats her well. It's just that things didn't go smoothly when they were arranging for her niece's marriage. Thankfully, that niece is now married to a good man.

"I think Viola worries that, being unmarried at her age-twice wed, no less-she might invite gossip. She doesn't want to burden her nephews and nieces or trouble her sister-in-law."

I nodded, thinking of Zoey-the fierce woman who was also kind-hearted. She had one son and one daughter, as well as more children from her late husband's concubines. She had likely faced many challenges while arranging marriages for all her children. I imagined the amount of gossip and judgment she must have endured.

I truly cared for Zoey like a sister-in-law, and I felt for all she had gone through. "Think it over," Carissa said.

I nodded, then glanced outside, where there wasn't a soul in sight.

I couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid that Prince Rafael might grow jealous, you being here alone with me? Does he not know?"

Carissa looked rather taken aback, as though she had not expected such a question from me.

She appeared intent on avoiding answering, as she was already turning to walk away.

But after a moment's pause, she stopped and said, "If we can't trust one another even with something like that, how could I have held command of the Mystic Army for so long? I keep nothing from him, nor he from me. So, yes, he knows I have come to see you."

quietly listening to our

walked straight out,

her way alone to the front courtyard. There, I saw Prince Rafael seated next to General Sullivan,

watched from a distance, feeling a strange mix

what a

help but wonder-whether in the city or at Victory Pass, shouldn't men and women take care not to be alone together? After all, if anyone spoke about it, their reputations would be damaged. And with their high positions, they

I thought about it, I felt almost foolish. What right

Viola's words

think it over. After that, Prince Rafael and Carissa would return

be told, thinking

if my feelings were just a moment of

I realized that Viola might not want to be my wife again she probably just wanted to ensure she had a place and some security, to protect her nephews and nieces

for me...

past, we both made mistakes. We should let bygones be bygones, and there was

returned to the capital, I asked her to deliver a letter to Viola for me, along with a banknote. It was most

Pass with a merchant caravan. She