Her Graceful War Song

Salvador raised his eyes to look at Rafael. The handsome young man before him now seemed weathered by the harsh winds of the Southern Frontier.

A weight pressed against Salvador's chest; a tight, uncomfortable feeling.

He knew how difficult the battle had been-cold, hunger, and the emotional toll that wore down even the strongest spirit. Yet, they had endured and fought with great valor.

But all the while, as they fought bravely at the front lines, Salvador's thoughts had wandered elsewhere- toward Carissa.

Guilt surged in his heart, but with it came something else, something darker. It was something he couldn't suppress, no matter how hard he tried. It left him feeling uneasy, caught in a constant tug-of-war within himself, never quite able to make peace with his own contradictions.

Salvador was clearly concerned for Rafael, yet the words that came out carried a hint of bitterness. "After this battle, I fear all the officials and generals in court will bow to you. The people are with you, and their hopes rest in you. Your risky venture onto the battlefield-going in alone, fighting fiercely-it worked." Then, he added with a smile, "Of course, I am proud of you too."

At this, Rafael's eyes dimmed, the spark in them fading as if something had frozen inside him.

"Tell me more about the battle," Salvador said, sighing softly. He knew he had messed up again, so he changed the topic.

Rafael recounted the battle quickly, his earlier excitement gone. He finished speaking in a matter of moments, his thoughts elsewhere. "I miss my wife. I wish to return home soon."

Salvador studied him, letting out a small sigh. "When I said I was proud of you, I meant it, from the heart."

"I know," Rafael replied. His voice was steady, but there was something sharp in it—a mixture of gratitude, resentment, and unspoken emotions.

Some things had been bottled up inside for too long. Rafael wanted to speak his mind, but as he lifted his gaze, he saw Salvador's face had taken on a sickly yellow hue, paler than before. A suspicion stirred in him. He had asked earlier, but Salvador hadn't answered.

Now, it was too late to ask again.

As Rafael left the royal study, his steps quickened, the heavy emotions of the previous moments forgotten in an instant. Excitement surged within him once more.

He was almost certain that Carissa would be waiting for him at the palace gates.

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Sure enough, as he hurried out, he spotted a familiar figure standing just beyond the gates, craning here neck in search of him. When her eyes met his, her gaze instantly softened, and her eyes welled with tears. ,

A warmth spread through Rafael's chest, his own throat tightening with emotion. He moved swiftly toward her, ignoring the guards at the gates, and pulled her into his arms with all the strength he had.

Carissa wasn't one to cry easily, but she had already shed her tears earlier.

As Rafael and his men entered the city, she had been lost in the crowd, unable to reach him. But she had seen him, thin and weathered, his lips cracked and bleeding.

Now holding her, she felt his waist had become slimmer, a sign of hunger. The thought of it brought tearsnoveldrama

to his eyes, and soon, the sobs began to escape her.

She sobbed softly, her body shaking against him. Rafael held her tighter, as if trying to pull her inside him, to keep her close and never letting go.

"I'm fine. I'm safe now." His voice was hoarse.

He had been hurt at Atamore Mountain and had caught a cold that lingered for days. Though he had recovered, his voice would never be the same.

"Home," Carissa whispered, her arms loosening from around him, her breath still unsteady. "Everyone's waiting for you."

They gazed at each other for a moment, drinking in the sight of each other as though they could never look enough.

Her eyes spoke of longing, of pain, and the unshed tears lingered just beneath the surface, as if they could fall at any moment. Rafael's heart clenched, his throat tight with emotion.

The true danger of the battle had never been the Sandoria forces-it was the harsh, unforgiving environment that had tested his body and spirit.

After he was injured and then fell ill,

the army physician feared it might be typhoid fever. The others whispered in private that he might not survive, but he couldn't allow himself to think that way-not for a second.

He couldn't bear to think of how devastated Carissa would be if he didn't make it back. Fortunately, he made it through. He was home.

Safe, at last.