Chapter 923

Carissa tapped the rim of the bowl, her nails clinking against the glass. A soft, clear sound rang out.

“Sometimes, not crying and not making a scene is actually more painful than the tears and noise,” she murmured.

Violet said, rising to her feet and wrapping her arms around Carissa, “I figured that out later. That’s why I’ll always be by your side, until you give me back that arrogant Carissa from Blue Stone Spring.”

Carissa gently pushed her away, quickly wiping away fallen tears. She smiled and asked, “Does it have to be the Carissa from Blue Stone Spring? What about the one who beat you under the apple tree? Or the one who beat you outside the Inferno Guild? Or the one who defeated you on the mountaintop…?”

Violet ground her teeth in frustration. “Shut up already! It looks like you haven’t had enough of my life’s bitter, sour, sweet, and salty experiences. How about I bring you a whole pot of it and see if I can numb your tongue?”

She put her hands on Carissa’s shoulders. “You’re really getting on my nerves.”

Carissa wiped her tears on Violet’s sleeve, then suddenly threw her arms around her friend tightly, her shoulders trembling. She clung to Violet for a long time, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Violet’s face was wet with tears, but she said nothing. It was just like when they were younger. After a sparring match, Carissa had laughed at her for crying, only to hold her again afterward.

After what felt like forever, Carissa pulled back, choking on her words. “Thank you.”

Violet handed her a handkerchief. “Don’t wipe your tears and nose on my clothes. Use your handkerchief.”

Carissa took the handkerchief, still crying and laughing at the same time.

“Is this the one I gave you last time? You still carry it around?”

Violet sat back down, her nose stuffy. “No. The one you gave me was thrown away long ago. This one is from your estate. I got it from Lulu.”

Carissa wiped her tears away, her eyes swollen and red. “Why would you take those? There are plenty of pretty handkerchiefs at your house.”

Violet sniffed dismissively. “Only these can prove that you’re weaker than me.”

Carissa burst into laughter.

Outside, Travis leaned against the wall when he heard her laugh. Slowly, he slid down until he was sitting on the ground. Hugging his knees tightly, he pressed his face into them, quietly wiping away his tears.

Lately, although no one mentioned the Sinclair family massacre during their discussions, everyone knew it was an unspoken shadow hanging over them. With the arrival of the Westhaven envoy, the case was bound to resurface. Tonight’s visit to the Sullivan Estate was the beginning of that conversation.

He worried about Carissa. After she and Rafael left tonight, Travis’s heart hadn’t calmed down. When he followed Jacob to revisit the events, what Carissa had casually brushed off with a simple sentence—that her family was dead—had unraveled into something far more harrowing. Scene by scene, the tragedy came to life before his eyes.

He had never been able to imagine how Carissa had endured it all. Now, it seemed even harder to comprehend.

Travis had no parents, but he had his mentor and guild members who loved him deeply, even if they were strict. If they were all brutally killed, he would go mad. He wouldn’t care about the so-called “greater good.” When he saw his enemies, he would do whatever it took to take revenge, even if it cost him his life.

However, he understood why Carissa could endure it. Her grandfather and uncles were loyal generals, placing the kingdom before their family, and she was proud of that. Yet, it also bound her, preventing her from seeking revenge as she once might have.

Travis sat there for a while, listening to their teasing inside, before he saw Kyle outside. He quickly stood up and walked over, hushing the other man with a finger to his lips.

“They’re just chatting.”

“Did she cry?” Kyle asked softly.

“Violet calmed her down. Now, they’re just talking.”

Kyle sighed. “It’s fortunate she has Violet by her side. Sometimes, it’s the women who understand how to comfort each other. Us big guys, we can’t do it with that much delicacy.”

Travis nodded. “You’re right. Let’s head to the study. Prince Rafael and Jacob are probably discussing matters and planning the next move.”

The first step was to ensure Dominic wasn’t detained at the Ministry of Justice. That battle had already been won.

Note: The repeated "+25 BONUS" and "Chapter 424" at the end seem to be extraneous and were removed. I also corrected several minor spelling and word choice issues for clarity and flow.