Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair) novel Chapter 1499

After lighting a candle for Edith, everyone returned to the backyard. They wiped away their tears, set aside their grief, and gathered around Carissa to ask about her married life. The most frequent question was about how well Rafael treated her.

That was how families were. They knew she was capable, yet they couldn't help but yearn for her spouse to treat her with genuine love and care.

Carissa had many cousins, all daughters of her uncles, but most had only met her a handful of times. Still, when they saw her, they were all overjoyed.

Her cousins were all married, and many had returned to Victory Pass with their husbands and children. Having heard so much about Carissa, they couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and sympathy.

Among them was Shayla Sullivan, the eldest daughter of Carissa's second aunt. She had married Chase Hudson, one of Dominic's subordinates. But within a year of marriage, Chase died in battle before their child had even been born.

Now, the child was 12 years old.

Shayla had opened an orphanage in Victory Pass, taking in abandoned babies. There were now over 30 children under her care, but life was incredibly difficult. Her resources were stretched thin, and some days, she wasn't sure how much longer she could continue.

Upon hearing that Carissa had opened a workshop in the capital, she sought her out for advice on how to manage it successfully.

"I rely entirely on our family's support now. Otherwise, the children wouldn't even have enough to eat," Shayla admitted in a humble tone, her voice thick with shame.

Carissa noticed her cousin's coarse clothing, patched in several places. Even her shoes were worn through and patched. It was clear that times were hard.

"Shayla, running a workshop is different from running an orphanage," Carissa began. "In the workshop, everyone is capable of supporting themselves. I only provide them with a place to stay and a community of people whose circumstances are similar to theirs, so they can support each other. But your orphanage is filled with infants who can't fend for themselves. They depend on you entirely."

"You're right. They can't care for themselves." Shayla sighed, her face drawn with worry. "I'm not capable of much, but I can't bear to turn them away."

Her voice gentle but firm, Carissa offered some advice, saying, "Adopting infants is a noble cause, but you must act within your means. When it exceeds your capabilities, it becomes a burden. Not just on you, but on your family as well.

"You can't send them away, of course, but you need to find a way to sustain them. I suggest you don't take in any more children for now. And perhaps, since Victory Pass is temporarily exempt from paying taxes, you could petition the local government to establish the orphanage as an official institution. They may allocate funds to you, and it wouldn't require approval from court, so it shouldn't take long."

The room fell silent as her words sank in.