Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair) novel Chapter 1497

On the twelfth day of July, the Starhaven envoy delegation departed the capital in a grand procession, heading toward Orivenia.

Rafael rode alongside the group for five miles, only reining in his horse reluctantly when Dylan and Jacob both insisted it was time to stop. Carissa turned back to wave at him, her smile as bright as ever. There wasn't a hint of sadness on her face.

Rafael gazed after her, his eyes filled with longing.

But under his breath, he muttered, "She's heartless, truly heartless."

The sun had risen high, and the road was still and stifling with the lack of wind. Still, Rafael waited until the last of the procession had disappeared from view before reluctantly turning his horse around and heading back.

This journey to Orivenia was a significant one. Carissa had brought along three hundred men from the Mystic Army, as well as Travis, Violet, and the others.

Though the two kingdoms enjoyed a temporary peace after the last conflict, Leroy had made public what happened with their late crown prince. The news stirred much animosity toward Starhaven among Orivenia's people, which meant that a larger entourage was necessary for the safety of Kendrick and the rest of the envoys.

Carissa had little direct interaction with Kendrick. In fact, her dealings with him and his wife had been few and far between.

His princess consort, Adelaide, was Kylie's cousin. At a previous banquet, Adelaide had publicly insulted Carissa, claiming the painting she had presented as a gift was a forgery. Since then, their relationship had been strained. In recent years, Adelaide had become remarkably reclusive. She avoided most social gatherings, attending only the mandatory affairs.

The two women, as sisters-in-law, maintained a distant and cordial relationship—nothing more.

For his part, Kendrick seldom visited Hell Monarch Estate. It was this quiet lifestyle that had allowed him and his family to remain in the capital, never moving to their fief. Salvador had never once considered him a threat, not in the slightest.

Rumors often labeled Kendrick as mediocre, though Carissa hadn't bothered to verify whether there was any truth to them. But two days into the journey, Violet remarked that he seemed to have been dropped on his head as a child, which explained why he rarely made public appearances.