Chapter 274

In the evening, Rafael visited Ryan. His words of comfort were more effective than Rowan's or Carissa's. Rafael's reassurance was simple and direct: "A true man must learn patience and endurance."

Hearing this, Ryan felt immediately at ease, accepting treatment calmly and obediently. Rafael spent half an hour with him, practicing writing. Ryan's handwriting had improved significantly; his finger flexibility had increased, and his progress was gratifying.

Ryan was quite talkative. While Rafael was with him, he asked numerous trivial, conversational questions. Rafael patiently answered each one, no matter how inconsequential.

After a while, Carissa instructed the staff to prepare dinner and invited Rafael to stay. Rafael now occasionally dined at Northwatch Estate. Lily had learned his food preferences: he disliked sweets but tolerated them; he disliked spicy food but always ate it for Carissa's sake. His appetite was substantial—he could eat six plates of rice in one meal, with no preference for meat or vegetables. In other words, he wasn't picky.

Initially, his large appetite went unnoticed. The first time he dined at Northwatch Estate, he ate only one plate of rice and refused more. On his second visit, he reluctantly ate half a plate more. By the third time, he praised the beef stew and ate three plates of rice. Now, he ate six plates. The household speculated whether six plates was his limit, or merely enough to make him half-full, wondering if he would eventually eat seven or eight.

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It wasn't until Dylan, who had come with Rafael, mentioned that the prince practiced martial arts for an hour in the morning and another in the evening—a total of two hours daily—in addition to his Supreme Court duties, that everyone understood Rafael's large appetite. After all, who wouldn't need to eat more after such strenuous work? Even Carissa, when practicing martial arts, easily consumed three plates in one meal.

After dinner, Carissa watched Ryan take his medicine. The black liquid was swallowed in one gulp under her watchful eye. Carissa smiled, put a candied fruit in Ryan's mouth, and said, "You're becoming more and more obedient, Ryan." Ryan obediently went to sleep. Sebastian had said that sleep was the best medicine—sufficient rest allowed the medicine to work at its full potential. Carissa left him undisturbed and went to chat with Rafael.

Rafael had just spoken with Frederick and learned that the Earl of Silverstone's family had sent an invitation regarding Barrett's marriage to the Prince family's third daughter.

"The decision to find Barrett a primary wife was His Majesty's idea," Rafael said, hands clasped behind his back.

It was dark, and the estate's lanterns illuminated Rafael's uncertain expression.

"Did the king instruct the prime minister?" Carissa asked, surprised. "Why? Barrett and Aurora were married with His Majesty's edict. Why look for another wife now? Aurora was given the status of rightful wife at the time."

"Regardless of how she entered the Warren family, the edict granted Aurora the position of Barrett's rightful wife. However, His Majesty isn't willing to let her have an easy time."

Carissa nodded, understanding that Salvador still harbored grievances from the Victory Pass battle. He couldn't express them openly, and it must have been uncomfortable for him.

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"Why specifically the Prince family's third daughter?" Carissa asked.

"She's the divorced widow of the late General Farell. The prime minister provided a list, and His Majesty selected her. The reason is not difficult to discern." Carissa was momentarily taken aback.

Rafael continued, "His Majesty is finding ways to vent frustrations on your behalf, though that's not his main objective. His primary goal is still to use Barrett. Oliver now commands the Hell Monarch Army. While not exceptionally capable, he holds considerable influence within the army. This marriage alliance would benefit Barrett."

Carissa's eyes narrowed. "Understandably, His Majesty wants to use Barrett, but there's no need to vent frustrations on my behalf. If His Majesty has chosen the Prince family's third daughter, she must marry, whether she wants to or not."