Chapter 259

Carissa blinked. “So you’re my junior in the guild?”

Rafael’s handsome face stiffened, and he turned away, still trying to maintain his composure. “I’m not really an apprentice of the Pathfinders Guild. My master made it clear—I’m his private student, but I’m not formally part of the guild.”

Carissa smiled, her eyes sparkling. “My dear junior, you’re just deceiving yourself. Sage Everett is part of the Pathfinders Guild, so as his apprentice, how could you not be? When did you join, dear junior?”

Rafael tried to maintain his nonchalance and smile, but stubbornly changed the subject. “We were just talking about taking Ryan to see Theodore. When do you plan to go?”

Carissa propped her chin on her hand, blinking as she looked at him. “My dear junior, your guild senior and Ryan will go tomorrow.”

For some reason, now that she knew he was from the same guild, Carissa felt completely at ease, allowing herself to be much more playful around him.

Rafael was silent momentarily and rolled his eyes. “I’m older than you.”

“Yes, my guild junior is indeed older than me, his senior,” Carissa teased, thoroughly enjoying herself.

No wonder Rafael never mentioned it before and only said he went to Meadow Ridge every year. It turns out he was the apprentice of her master’s fellow apprentice, and he even joined later than she did!

Of course, back in the Southern Frontier, how could he possibly call her his senior in front of all the soldiers? On the battlefield, there were only generals and soldiers—no room for junior or senior apprentices from a guild.

Rafael felt a wave of dissatisfaction. Clearly, he was more skilled in martial arts and older, so why did he have to be the guild junior between them? Besides, Rafael was Everett’s private student. It had been explicitly stated that he wouldn’t be part of the Pathfinders Guild.

However, seeing her bright and mischievous smile, which reminded him of the spirited girl in red on Meadow Ridge, he sighed inwardly. Fine. He would accept being her junior in the guild.

“But don’t call me that in public.” His pride wouldn’t allow it—how could a husband be his wife’s junior?

Carissa’s smile deepened, and the beauty mark beneath her eye looked especially vivid and alluring. Rafael couldn’t tear his gaze away. Carissa was so caught up in her amusement that she didn’t notice the emotions swirling in his eyes, though he was doing his best to keep them hidden.

Chapter 259 (continued)

Rafael returned to the topic of Meadow Ridge. “When the time comes, most of the Pathfinders Guild members will attend our wedding. My master has also informed other guilds in Meadow Ridge, saying that he’s marrying off his apprentice. I expect there will be quite a few guests.”

“Then I’ll need to host a banquet for the bride’s side as well in Northwatch Estate,” Carissa nodded in agreement. It was more of a statement than a question. After all, if her master and the others were coming, they would represent her family, so it was only natural to have a banquet.

But as she said this in front of him, she felt her cheeks suddenly grow warm. Whenever the topic of marriage had come up before, Carissa always felt calm. To her, it was just a marriage of convenience—a union where both parties would get what they needed, with the hope of a peaceful future. However, after everything that had happened with Ryan, she found herself paying more attention to Rafael. Sometimes, when she looked at him and thought about him becoming her husband, a sense of anticipation would stir within her. It was a completely different feeling from when she had been engaged to Barrett. Even so, back then, she had genuinely intended to build a life with Barrett.

Rafael noticed her cheeks suddenly turning red as she spoke, even the tips of her ears flushing pink. It made him recall the time he had overheard her conversation with Ryan—how she had admitted that she had feelings for him. Could there be some truth to that statement? Of course there could! Why? Just because! When it came to feelings, there wasn’t always a reason for them. Trying to rationalize it could make it feel less genuine.

The two of them, lost in their own thoughts, locked eyes for a moment. A subtle, almost imperceptible tension hung between them. It was just a bit awkward.

Rafael broke the silence. “By the way, the king has appointed me as the Minister of Justice and the commander of the Mystic Army.”

Carissa looked up at him in surprise. “What?”