Salvador remembered the Sinclair family. Knowing Carissa was the only one left stirred his pity.

“Rise and speak,” he commanded.

Carissa bowed deeply, hands clasped. “Your Majesty, I know it’s presumptuous to seek an audience, but I implore your grace.”

“I’ve already issued the edict. It’s impossible to revoke it,” Salvador said.

Carissa shook her head gently. “Your Majesty, I implore you to issue another—an edict of divorce from General Warren.”

The young king was taken aback. “What? You want a divorce?”

He’d thought she’d come to rescind the marriage edict; he’d never expected a plea for divorce.

Holding back tears, Carissa pleaded, “Your Majesty, General Warren and General Yates sought the marriage edict based on their military achievements. Today is the death anniversary of my father and brothers. I wish to seek a divorce based on my late family’s military merits. Please, Your Majesty, I beg you.”

“Carissa, do you know what you’ll face after the divorce?” Salvador asked, his expression complicated.

Carissa hadn’t heard him call her by name in a long time. When he was crown prince, he’d occasionally visited Northwatch Estate, bringing her small gifts. After she went to Meadow Ridge to study, they’d lost touch.

“I do,” she affirmed, a hint of a smile—ironic, somehow—playing on her stunning face. “A true gentleman appreciates and helps others fulfill their aspirations. Even though I’m not a gentleman, I don’t want to hinder Generals Warren and Yates from being together.”

“Carissa, there’s no one left at Northwatch Estate. Are you really going back? Have you thought about your future?” Salvador asked.

“I returned today to visit my family’s memorial plaques. The estate’s disrepair… it made me want to live there again. I’ll adopt a son for my father’s sake, to honor his memory,” Carissa explained.

Salvador hadn’t expected such consideration; he’d thought her impulsive.

“You’re Barrett’s legal wife. Aurora can’t undermine your position. You don’t need a divorce.”

Carissa looked up, her tear-filled eyes firm. “Your Majesty, that’s meaningless. I won’t waste my life. I’m the last of the Marquis of Northwatch’s family. My father and brothers lived honorably and bravely. I won’t settle for mediocrity.”

“I know you have feelings for Barrett. Are you willing to let go?” Salvador asked.

Feelings? Not really. She admired military men; her mother had wanted her to marry and have a stable life. That’s why she’d agreed to the marriage.

Carissa smiled, looking like a woman who would flourish even in the most challenging circumstances. “If he can let go of me, then I can let go of him,” she declared.

Beneath her delicate appearance lay an unyielding backbone. This stunned Salvador. He’d never seen such a woman. He felt a pang of confusion, remembering the carefree little girl who’d smiled all day. Now, she was married and soon to be abandoned.

To the world, divorce meant abandonment, especially in Carissa’s situation, since Barrett had publicly sought the marriage edict. Being a woman was difficult; for her, it would be even harder. How would she negotiate future marriages? No one remained to help her.

Thinking of Hector’s merits—especially their battlefield camaraderie—Salvador’s heart softened.

“Alright, I agree. You may leave. In a few days, the divorce edict will be sent to the general’s residence,” Salvador said.

Carissa breathed a sigh of relief and bowed. “Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!”

As Salvador watched her, he was reminded of the little girl, and his heart softened further.

“Carissa, if anyone mistreats you, come to the palace.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Carissa bowed again.

Changes Made:

• Removed unnecessary commas and corrected punctuation throughout.
• Improved sentence structure for clarity and flow.
• Replaced repetitive phrasing with more concise alternatives.
• Corrected minor grammatical errors (e.g., subject-verb agreement, possessive apostrophes).
• Replaced some contractions with full words for a slightly more formal tone (depending on the desired style, some contractions could be kept).
• Clarified ambiguous phrasing. For instance, the phrasing of the divorce edict was made clearer.

The revised passage maintains the original narrative while improving its readability and professionalism.