Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair) novel Chapter 269

When Rafael saw Carissa on the Southern Frontier battlefield, his emotions were a whirlwind of complexity.

He would often, almost subconsciously, bring up her husband, but she would avoid the topic. That was when he realized that Barrett might not be treating her well.

This thought alone had made his fists clench countless times.

It wasn’t until later that he learned she had divorced. Barrett hadn’t recognized her worth.

It was absurd!

Rafael committed the name to memory–Barrett Warren, a man unworthy of the gift of sight.

The fury Rafael felt then was so intense that he wished he could gouge out Barrett’s eyes for causing her such pain,

After the anger subsided, Rafael felt a surge of selfish joy, though he carefully masked it. He couldn’t let anyone know he was secretly celebrating.

During the days they fought side by side, he had to constantly conceal his feelings. He had to remind himself repeatedly not to let even a trace of personal emotion show in his eyes.

Three years on the Southern Frontier battlefield saw his emotions rise and fall, only to rise again.

Even when he returned to the capital and faced the manipulations of his elder brother, Rafael didn’t mind. There was no war, and he didn’t care about military power–he only wanted her.

He understood Savaldor’s suspicions, but that was how relationships between royal siblings were–never entirely pure. There would always be a mix of mistrust and brotherly affection. As long as they maintained the appearance of harmony, it was enough.

If things ever deteriorated into nothing but suspicion and resentment, he would simply take Carissa and Ryan to his fief, far from the capital. The king may reign high above, but his authority could only stretch so far, and they would live their days in peace.

As Rafael thought about this, he glanced up at Carissa just in time to catch her gaze.

Their eyes met, and his heart skipped a beat.

Carissa’s cheeks flushed with heat, but her heart sank. She realized she had developed feelings for him, while his heart belonged to someone else.

How could this mismatched affection have happened to her? She had originally planned to marry him just

to get by.

She never imagined that after enduring a failed marriage, she would fall for another man so quickly.

Lulu noticed her lady’s face suddenly flush as red as a sunset, and asked curiously, “My lady, why is your face so red?”

Carissa quickly lifted her cup, lowering her head to drink in an attempt to hide her flushed face.

Lulu was increasingly oblivious, and she didn’t know when to hold her tongue!

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