Chapter 16

Frederick, having managed the outer household for many years and being well-acquainted with the intricacies of court life, quickly assessed the situation.

“My lady, one thing is certain: the king likely wants you to enter the palace. Otherwise, he could have simply issued an edict making you a concubine. You wouldn’t have had any choice but to comply.”

“I know that,” Carissa replied, a hint of frustration lacing her voice. “But he’s given me three months to find a suitor, almost as if he’s pressuring me into marriage. What does my single status have to do with him? I’ve reviewed the royal edict concerning my father’s posthumous title multiple times. While other details are insignificant, what stands out is that if I marry, my husband could inherit the title. Does he want someone to inherit my father’s title through marriage?”

Frederick considered this and said, “I recall the edict mentioning the possibility of selecting suitable relatives from collateral branches to be trained, with the potential for them to inherit titles in the future. Could it be that the king does not wish for members of the Sinclair family to inherit the title? Does he have a specific candidate in mind? If he expects you to marry within three months, could it be that he has already chosen a suitor for you?”

Carissa pondered this, her fingers absently turning the string of rosary beads her mother had left her, trying to calm her thoughts.

“If your speculation is correct, then the king must have a designated candidate for the title,” Carissa muttered.

Her brows furrowed in displeasure; the situation felt increasingly frustrating. It felt like being thrust into another arranged marriage with a stranger and managing the affairs of a large family.

“If there is already a pre-designated candidate to inherit the title, does that person have to marry into the family? And the children should take the Sinclair family name, right? Men can be unreliable, and if he gains a title and takes concubines, there’s a risk that he might favor those children over the legitimate ones, which could be a tremendous loss for us,” Lily asked.

A man who would take on his wife’s family name? If it were a matter of bringing a single individual into the family, that would be manageable. After all, a man who married into his wife’s family wouldn’t come with a whole household.

As for the issue of concubines, the reason Melanie had chosen Barrett in the past was precisely because he had promised not to take any. However, in the capital, among the prominent families, which man didn’t take concubines? Even ordinary people, who lacked the means to afford concubines, might seek companionship in brothels.

Carissa had no expectations for marriage and little resistance to it. It was her mother’s dying wish for her to marry, have children, and live a stable life. So, when Rafael asked about her plans, she mentioned that her mother didn’t want her to follow a military path.

Whether this was a true reflection of Carissa’s feelings or not, it didn’t really matter. She once had ambitions, fiery dreams, and pursuits—but now, she had none. Life felt as stagnant as still water, and it didn’t bother her.

Although she had achieved fame for her role in recapturing the Southern Frontier, that joy was no longer something she could share with her family.

Had Salvador not issued this edict, she would have selected someone from her clan, trained them properly, and ensured the continuation of the Duke of Northwatch’s line. Instead, complications had arisen.

Carissa didn’t want to have children because she couldn’t ensure the safety of her loved ones. The pain of losing them was something she had endured too many times. She was unwilling to experience it again.

But with Salvador demanding she find a suitor, someone else would inherit her father’s title if she didn’t bear children. This dukedom, which now seemed to be a burden to her, was a mark of the court’s recognition of her father’s sacrifices. It was a title he had gained in exchange for his life.

Carissa decided not to dwell on it further. “Let’s not overthink this. Since the edict has been issued, the person will eventually reveal themselves. We’ll decide what to do when the time comes.”

Everyone was deeply concerned. If Carissa were to marry, it would naturally require careful consideration. Anyone willing to marry into the Sinclair family and take on the family name might not be an ideal candidate.

Carissa had returned after achieving great merit. How could Salvador treat her so unfairly? Everyone felt sympathetic towards her but found themselves powerless to help.

Changes Made:

• Corrected chapter numbering: Removed the extra zero.
• Improved punctuation and sentence structure: Added commas, periods, and semicolons where needed. Broke up some long, run-on sentences.
• Consistency in punctuation: Ensured consistent use of punctuation marks (e.g., em dashes vs. hyphens).
• Removed unnecessary words: Streamlined sentences for clarity.
• Italics for emphasis: Used italics where it seemed appropriate to emphasize a word or phrase.
• Removed redundant "BONUS" markers: The bonus sections seemed to be just a continuation of the text, so these were removed.
• Improved word choice: Made some minor changes to improve the flow and readability.

The revised passage is much clearer and more grammatically correct.