Chapter 86

Carissa knew that Westhaven soldiers had disguised themselves as Sandorians and infiltrated the Southern Frontier battlefield. This was why she had traveled a thousand miles alone to bring Rafael the news.

"Take your time to calm down, then talk to me," Rafael said, sitting beside her. His tall figure formed a protective barrier, shielding her from the world.

"What else do you want to know, Marshal?" Carissa asked, considerably calmer now.

Rafael's eyes were like a dark, churning sea. "Everything. Why you suddenly got married, what happened afterward, and everything surrounding the Westhaven spies' massacre of your household."

Carissa didn't know why he wanted to know about her marriage, but she answered truthfully, striving to remain composed and concise.

"When I returned from the Pathfinders' Guild, I learned of my father and brothers' sacrifice. I told my mother I wanted to go to the Southern Frontier battlefield, but she refused. My father and brothers' deaths devastated her; she cried so much she nearly went blind. She forced me to promise to stay in the capital, marry, and lead a stable life. I was accustomed to the wildness of the Pathfinders' Guild, so she had tutors teach me etiquette for a year before arranging my marriage."

Rafael looked at her. "I remember you weren't someone who followed orders easily."

Confusion flickered in Carissa's eyes. He was right, but how did he know that?

"Yes, but after my father and brothers died, only elderly people, women, and children remained in our household. So, I agreed with my mother. I tried to learn to be a proper lady and let her choose a husband for me. Among many suitors, she chose Barrett. Although she initially didn't want me to marry a military man, she feared I wouldn't fit into a noble family. Noble families have strict rules and much infighting among the women. She thought I couldn't handle it, that I would either be bullied or end up bullying others. That kind of life wouldn't be stable. She said scholars weren't suitable either. Aside from strategic military books, I've never liked reading. Books about etiquette bore me, and I know nothing about poetry or songs. I wouldn't have anything in common with a scholar, and the differences in our interests would make it hard to be happy."

Carissa smiled bitterly. "In the end, she chose Barrett for two reasons. First, he swore never to take a concubine, even if I couldn't bear children. Second, although he comes from a military background, his family was in decline. Given the state of the Warren family, it would be hard for Barrett to rise. He wasn't likely to be sent to war and, at most, would hold a minor position in the capital. Also, his family situation was simple: his father and elder brother held low-ranking positions, his mother was chronically ill, and his eldest sister-in-law was introverted and indecisive. He has a younger sister who would eventually marry, so she wouldn't be a problem. That's why my mother chose him."

Rafael nodded slightly, his bright eyes now dimmed. "If I were your mother, I would have chosen the same for you."

"Yes, I understood my mother, so I obeyed and got married. But on the wedding day, we received an urgent report from the Ministry of Defense stating that they needed reinforcements at Victory Pass. General Ward had fallen seriously ill, so Barrett led the reinforcements. Although we completed the wedding ceremony, we never consummated the marriage. He told me to wait for his return and promised to treat me well."

Carissa recounted these events without expression, as if they had happened long ago and no longer stirred any emotion within her.

"I waited for a year. During that year, I cared for his mother and managed the household. Valor Estate was falling apart, and there wasn't enough money to cover expenses. I used my dowry to pay for my mother-in-law's medicine. After a year, Barrett returned victorious, and the first thing he did was use his military merits to request to marry Aurora as his rightful wife."

Rafael gazed at Carissa intently. "You disagreed, of course. With your personality, how could you agree? And he swore never to take a concubine."

"Not exactly," Carissa said with a mocking smile. "If he had discussed it with me beforehand, I might have agreed. But he didn't. He sought the marriage edict without consulting me, then came back to inform me and force me to accept it. He condescendingly promised to have a child with me first, so I would have some prospects in his family. Then, he expected me to continue as his wife, care for his and Aurora's child, and be dutiful to his parents."

Rafael's eyes flashed with anger. "That's outrageous!"