Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair)

Chapter 902

Rafael shifted closer and took Carissa's hand in his. "Don't worry too much. We won't let things get to the worst possible point."

Carissa knew that his assurance, though strong, didn't have much solid ground to stand on. People's hearts were the hardest thing to control, especially the new king of Westhaven. Since becoming crown prince, Edmund had used the Fawnrun City massacre to stir up public anger. Now that he was king, he could do whatever he wanted unchecked.

Jacob compiled the gathered information and summarized it, "King Edmund doesn't seem to care much about the throne. He's using his immense power to seek justice for his brother and the massacred civilians, pushing us to give up our borderlines.

"He's even considering war, but Westhaven's military is still recovering from their previous conflict with Sandoria. They've lost soldiers and resources, and they've been stuck in a stalemate with us for years. We've also had major battles with them at Victory Pass. They need time to recuperate.

"A lot of Westhaven ministers oppose war, with Grand Princess Lisandra being one of the strongest voices against it. Having her lead the envoy party coming here is probably King Edmund's way of backing down. It will likely be his only concession. If we can't reach an agreement with Westhaven's envoys, the anti-war faction will probably be completely silenced."

Lisandra was the eldest daughter of the former king of Westhaven, and the sister of both Arthur and Edmund. Now that Edmund had ascended the throne, she held the title of grand princess.

It was Lisandra who had helped Edmund rise to power. When Westhaven's previous king fell ill, she had taken over the governance of the kingdom, so her influence in Westhaven was immense.

There was a saying in Westhaven: If Lisandra weren't a woman, she would have been made the crown prince. While Westhaven allowed women to wield political power and hold official positions, they would never let a woman ascend to the throne.

Kyle suddenly spoke up. "I've met her a few times. She's very capable-strong-willed and decisive."

"You know Grand Princess Lisandra, Mr. Spencer?" Jacob quickly asked. "Does she have any weaknesses?"

Kyle thought for a moment before replying, 'She values family, the throne, and the people."

"Those are weaknesses, but they are also her armor," Rafael said.

Carissa nodded. "At least her arrival shows that the anti-war faction has temporarily suppressed the war faction. This is our opportunity."

Jacob sighed. "It's an opportunity, yes, but she'll want a lot in return. Some things we can't give, and others... Even if we can, should we?"

The biggest point of contention was the borderlines. However, the current borderline was the one Starhaven had acknowledged. The conflict started when Westhaven repeatedly encroached during Starhaven's weak years, leading to decades of ongoing border disputes.

The room fell into silence after that. Rafael stood and suggested they disband for the time being, waiting to see if the Ministry of Justice would uncover any new information they didn't already know.

Back at Orchid Hall, Lulu stepped forward. "Your Grace, all the jewelry has been sold. The banknotes are safely stored in your private vault. The total is five thousand three hundred silver coins."

Rafael glanced at her and asked, "What jewelry?"

"The things sent over by the Warren family. I didn't realize I had given away so much," Carissa replied.

Rafael ruffled her hair gently. "You gave them your heart and they didn't value it. That's on them, not you."

Carissa smiled faintly. She hadn't exactly bared her soul to them, but she had cared for them from the bottom of her heart.

"It's in the past." She turned to Lulu. "No need to store the banknotes away. Give it to Vivi for the embroidery workshop's expenses."

"Understood," Lulu replied, her voice soft with concern.

She could see that her mistress wasn't in a good place. Carissa was clearly struggling, losing sleep over everything.

"Why don't you take a bath? It might help you sleep better."

Carissa met her worried gaze and didn't resist her suggestion. "Alright."

Lulu bowed to Rafael. "I'll go prepare it now."

Rafael took Carissa's hand and led her inside. He removed her official cloak, his fingers gently massaging her scalp.

"You haven't been sleeping well these past few nights. Your head's hurting, isn't it?"

Carissa's scalp felt tight and her neck was stiff. She hadn't been able to sleep, and the tension in her body was affecting her blood circulation. The headache made it even harder to find peace.

Under his soothing touch, some of the tension eased away.

Rafael's heart ached for her. Carissa had become so accustomed to being strong that it was rare for him to see the carefree smile she used to have when she was at Meadow Ridge. The pain of losing her loved ones had hardened her, turning the once bright and lively girl into the resilient, unyielding warrior she was today.