Chapter 995

So, Barrett was truly remaining at the Ministry of Justice of his own accord? That was unusual. Who would receive clemency and not leave immediately? Most people would flee to avoid bad luck, yet he lingered.

What was happening?

"Why is he still there?" Carissa asked, genuinely curious.

"I don't know. Mr. Lloyd brought the case files today and mentioned that Barrett hasn't spoken since his confinement. He eats only one meal a day and remains there. He initially said he'd stay only one day, but now… he refuses to leave," Rafael replied.

"That's strange. Does he no longer care about his official position?" Carissa mused. But hearing it wasn't Salvador's decision, she changed the subject, asking, "What about the negotiations? After you reported to His Majesty, didn't he investigate?"

Icarus's assassination attempt might have been covered up, but the poison Penny used on Lisandra was identical to that in the Brightmoor District case. The king would surely connect them.

"He'll definitely investigate. I'm sure he's assigned Mr. Walker to handle it," Rafael said.

While the Supreme Court investigated the treason case, Salvador wouldn't want them handling more covert matters.

When Lulu entered with the servants to clear the leftovers, Sydney said, "Your Highness, Your Grace, it's time to prepare for your bath. It's best to settle in early."

The past few days had been stressful due to the negotiations, and Rafael had been working tirelessly. He'd lost weight from exhaustion. Sydney noticed, and now that the negotiations were over, it was time for him to rest.

Rafael blinked and covered Carissa's hand with his, his pinky tracing her wrist.

"Yes, it's definitely time to prepare," he said, his voice meaningful.

That gesture…

Carissa's face flushed crimson; even her ears turned red. She quickly withdrew her hand. How could he act so casually with Sydney and Lulu present?

Sydney noticed and smiled secretly before leaving. Lulu, however, blinked, unsure why Carissa had blushed so deeply.

She glanced at Sydney's departing back. "Why was Sydney laughing?"

Carissa quickly stood. "It's nothing. I'm going to bathe."

"Oh, then let me fetch your bathrobe, Your Grace."

Carissa had been married twice, and Lulu had attended both times. Her first marriage had never been consummated. In her second marriage, Rafael disliked anyone waiting on them after private moments, nor did he like anyone keeping watch at night. Because of this, Lulu was slow to grasp the situation.

While Rafael worked in bed, Carissa's mind wandered. Lulu wasn't getting any younger—perhaps it was time to discuss finding her a match. Seeing Carissa lost in thought, Rafael playfully bit her shoulder.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, his voice low and hoarse, his breathing slightly ragged.

Carissa's pale arms went around his neck, and she kissed him quickly. Her eyes sparkled mischievously. The next moment, she flipped him over, reversing their positions.

Rafael's eyes widened in surprise, but he feigned fright. "Commander Sinclair, what are you doing?"

As the saying goes, deeply in love couples have plenty of playful moments.

After an evening of intimacy, both left bed with dark circles under their eyes.

At Capital Guard headquarters, Carissa summoned Michael and others to report, including the new duty roster. After the reports, Carissa kept Max to discuss the Garrison Unit's situation.

The Garrison Unit comprised spoiled, entitled young men living off royal stipends. They leveraged their family connections to command real guards, taking credit for successes and shirking hard work.

The unit's reputation was already damaged, and without reform, corruption would spread.

Looking guilty, Max explained, "Commander Sinclair, I want to clean house, but many of these men were appointed when His Majesty ascended the throne. Removing them might displease the king and create enemies."

Carissa understood. When Salvador took the throne, he had to win over powerful families by giving positions to their unworthy sons. Many ended up in the Garrison Unit.

"It's a different time now," Carissa said. "His Majesty doesn't need to tolerate them. Give me a list of the troublemakers; we'll deal with them first. Don't worry about the rest. Just give me the list."

Max considered her words and understood. It was a different time. When Salvador ascended, he needed their support. Now, his power was solidified, and the Garrison Unit's reform was inevitable.

Note: I have corrected numerous grammatical errors, improved sentence structure, and adjusted punctuation for clarity and flow. I have also removed the unnecessary "Chapter 995" and "$25 BONUS" repeated notations and corrected the chapter number discrepancy at the end.