Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair) novel Chapter 865

The next day, the young couple set out. Rafael pretended to ask Violet if she wanted to join them.

Violet shot him a puzzled glance. He had already said last night that he was taking Carissa out for the day. He also specifically said they would be going alone and leaving everyone behind, even Dylan. Wasn't it a bit fake to ask her now?

Even if Rafael hadn't mentioned it, Violet wouldn't have gone. She had her hands full dealing with the embroidery workshop, which was still under renovation. It made sense for her to keep an eye on things.

Besides, if her supervision wasn't needed, she could always accompany Helen out to a coffeehouse and indulge in some shopping and dining. After all, there were lovely places like Glimmering Tower and The Golden Tower to explore.

Why venture out into the cold and face the biting mountain winds when there was so much to enjoy right here?

At Glimmering Tower, Rafael ordered a selection of dishes. They were all staple dishes and nothing extravagant, but Glimmering Tower had a knack for elevating the simplest meals to perfection. Since they would be climbing a mountain soon and the weather was chilly, he also ordered a bottle of mulled wine.

The private room they were in was cozy, warmed by a charcoal fire.

Carissa let her husband take charge. Today, he made all the decisions while she simply admired how handsome he looked.

His white fox fur coat was draped over a nearby rack, Rafael was dressed in a blue brocade coat adorned with cloud and wave patterns, its narrow sleeves and high collar framing his face beautifully. His skin had lost its sun-kissed hue, looking much fairer now, giving him an elegant, scholarly air. Only the sharpness of his dashing brows reminded people that he was a military general.

Suddenly, Carissa recalled the first time she saw him on the battlefield, looking like a wild man with his unkempt beard. During strategy meetings, she often found herself staring at it, wondering if the ends would split when it grew long enough.

A laugh escaped her lips. "I really can't understand how the man you are now is the same one I knew at the Southern Frontier."

"I looked better back then," Rafael replied, a grin tugging at his lips. "A man needs that kind of grit to have a presence."

"You looked fine then, and you also look fine now," Carissa said, reaching out to stroke his face. Her fingers glided over his skin, which no longer felt rough and rugged.