Chapter 17
After soaking in the medicinal bath, Carissa felt a warm flush spread through her body. Just before bed, Pearl brought a basin of medicinal foot soak, saying Carissa had to soak her feet every night. Carissa complied dutifully, soaking her feet before drinking a cup of calming tea—a remedy formulated by Sebastian to aid sleep.
Aside from the first two days after returning from the battlefield, when she slept deeply, the past few nights had been plagued by insomnia. Even when she managed to fall asleep, nightmares haunted her. Her father, her brothers, her family—once vibrant and full of life—now appeared before her, drenched in blood. She would wake up, unable to return to sleep.
After her family’s massacre and return to Valor Estate, she had needed calming medicine every night to sleep. Sebastian had always been deeply concerned about her troubles.
After finishing the tea, Pearl added a candy to her cup and smiled. “Lulu said that since you dislike the bitterness of the medicine, you must have a candy afterward.”
Carissa took the candy, savoring its sweet and sour taste. In truth, she had long since overcome her fear of bitter medicine. As a child, she had indeed dreaded the taste; her small face would scrunch up in distaste as she clung to her mother. Her parents and brothers had all felt pained for her. But now, who was there for her to show her displeasure to? Whom could she cling to?
+15 BONUS
In a moment of melancholy, the sweetness in her mouth faded, leaving only the bitterness of the medicine and a sour taste—much like the unexpected emotions that occasionally surged within her. Yet, she had learned to suppress these emotions and hide them. Those around her were keenly observant, and if they noticed even a hint of unhappiness or sadness in her eyes, their concern would be evident.
Frederick returned with the medicine and a painting by Theodore. Theodore had spent decades perfecting his art and had achieved great skill. Every year, the Sinclair family contributed a significant amount of silver coins for public use, supporting the impoverished so they could excel. Theodore spearheaded these donations, the funds earned through the sale of Hector’s paintings.
Naturally, when Melanie was alive, she had made the most generous contributions. However, Theodore’s branch of the Sinclair family had few scholars, with many opting for trade instead. While merchants were regarded as lower in status, their ability to earn money significantly raised their standard of living. Therefore, neither the late king nor the current one had any reason to be wary of Theodore’s side of the family; they were but a single tree that couldn’t support the whole forest.
Carissa instructed that the painting be framed and hung in the main hall. It was a grand landscape painting, majestic and imposing—perfectly suited for the main hall.
The following day, Rafael arrived at Northwatch Estate with Dylan just before nine in the morning.
+15 BONUS
Carissa had just finished breakfast and had expected him to arrive later in the afternoon. She had even prepared a chilled dessert for the occasion. She and her maids, Lulu and Pearl, hurried out to greet him. By the time they reached the front courtyard, Rafael was already seated in the main hall, and Frederick had served tea.
Carissa was accustomed to Rafael in his battle-worn attire, so she was momentarily taken aback when she saw him. Today, he was dressed in an elegant green robe with cloud patterns. He also wore a crown, a sash around his waist, and black shoes. His attire was dignified, and his demeanor calm and composed. This noble outfit made him look even more distinguished and refined. His regal appearance only accentuated his striking features and exceptional demeanor.
Surprised by his formal attire, Carissa felt her own outfit rather casual in comparison. Rafael’s gaze shifted to Carissa. She wore a delicate white blouse with a sheer pink shawl, paired with a black skirt intricately embroidered with gold thread. Her hair was styled in an elegant bun, adorned with sapphire ornaments. Her attire gave her a distinct air of nobility.
Rafael rarely saw her in such attire. Previously, whenever he visited Meadow Ridge, she would always be wearing vibrant red garments with her hair tied high in a ponytail and red ribbons. Her black ponytail would sway with the fluttering ribbons, giving her a lively and captivating presence.
Carissa performed a military salute. “Marshal!”
Rafael turned away and nodded slightly. “General Sinclair, please clear the room so we can speak privately.”
The changes involve correcting punctuation (hyphens, dashes, commas, apostrophes), improving sentence structure for clarity and flow, and removing unnecessary words or phrases. The inconsistent use of em dashes and en dashes has been standardized to em dashes where appropriate. Minor word choices were altered for improved style.