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At Grace Mansion, Carissa Sinclair stared at the man before her—her husband she had waited for a whole year.
Barrett Warren, still in his battle armor, wore an expression of both determination and guilt.
"Carissa, the king has issued a royal edict for my marriage with Aurora. She will be joining our household. There's no question about it," said Barrett.
Carissa's eyes clouded with confusion. "The queen dowager has praised General Yates as a model for all women in the kingdom. Would she be willing to be a concubine?"
Barrett's eyes flashed with a hint of annoyance. "No, she won’t be a concubine. She’ll be my legal wife, equal to you."
"But calling her equal doesn't change the fact that she’s still just a concubine," Carissa said, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Barrett frowned. "Why can't you face the reality? Aurora and I fell in love with each other on the battlefield, and we earned this marriage with our glorified victory. In fact, I don’t really need your approval on it."
Carissa smiled mockingly. "Fell in love, huh? Have you forgot what you promised me before you left for war?"
On their wedding night a year ago, Barrett was called away to lead reinforcements on an expedition.
Before he left, he lifted his wife’s veil and vowed, "Carrisa Sinclair, you're the only woman I'll ever love in my life. I will never take a concubine!"
Embarrassed, Barrett avoided her eye contact. "Just forget what I said. Back then, I only considered you a suitable match for a wife. I knew nothing about love until I met Rory."
When he spoke of the woman he loved, his eyes softened with deep affection. Turning back to Carissa, he added, "She’s unlike any woman I’ve ever met. I love her deeply, and I hope you'll be generous enough to welcome her."
Carissa felt a lump in her throat.
Despite her disgust and reluctance, she asked, "What about your parents? Do they agree?"
"They do. It was a royal edict, and mother liked her a lot upon seeing her."
They agreed? Huh... How ironic! Seems like everything Carissa had done for this household had all been for nothing.
"Is she currently in the mansion?" Carissa asked, lifting a brow.
Barrett carried a softness in his voice, "Yes, she’s talking to my mother and making her very happy. Even mother's health seems to be improving."
"Improving?" Carissa felt a whirlwind of emotions. "When you went to war, your mother was already gravely ill. I brought in the best physician, managed the estate’s affairs by day, and stayed up nights caring for her. That's how her condition started to improve."
Carissa wasn’t seeking praise. She was just laying out the facts of her exhausting year.
"But seeing Aurora has made my mother feel even better," Barrett said earnestly. "I know this is unfair to you, but for the greater good, please support Aurora and me."
Carissa lowered her eyes, as if blinking away the tears. But inspected closely, that's actually her sharpened gaze. "Invite General Yates over. I have a few things to ask her."
"There's no need," Barrett refused instantly. "Carissa, she’s different from any woman you know. As a general, she’s above household squabbles and wouldn’t want to meet you."
Carissa retorted, "What are women I know like? Or tell me, what kind of woman am I to you? Have you forgotten? I'm also the daughter of the Marquis's family. My father and my six brothers sacrificed on the Southern Frontier three years ago-"
"That’s them," Barrett interrupted. "you're still a delicate woman suited only for home comforts, while Aurora has no respect for that. Besides, she never holds back her true thoughts. Trust me, you won't want to hear it from her."
As Carissa looked up, the striking beauty mark under her eye became more evident in the light.
Calmly, she said, "It’s fine. If she says anything unpleasant, I’ll ignore it. A true matriarch must understand the bigger picture and act with dignity. Don’t you trust me?"
Barrett sighed in frustration. “Why put yourself through this? The king has approved this marriage, and Aurora will never threaten your control of the household. Carissa, she couldn't care less about those things.”
“Oh, you think that's what I fear? Losing the control of this household?” Carissa countered.
Little did Barrett know his household had been reduced to a hollow shell - managing it was a hot potato no one else would bear. Over the past year, it was Carissa's dowry alone that kept the Warren family’s life respectable, and this was her reward.
“Enough,” Barrett snapped, his patience running thin. “I’ve done my duty by informing you. Your opinion won’t change anything.”
As Carissa watched hum storm out, her bitterness deepened.
“My lady, my lord has really crossed the line!” Lulu, Carissa’s maid, said, wiping her tears.
“Don’t call him that!” Carissa gave her a stern look. “We never consummated the marriage. He’s not your lord. Now go fetch my dowry list.”
“Why the dowry list?” Lulu asked, puzzled.
Carissa tapped her on the forehead. “Silly girl, we need to reckon everything before we leave.”
Lulu gasped. “Leave? But where can we go? To the Northwatch Estate?” Suddenly Lulu held her tongue, aware that she had touched the sensitive subject. She spared Carissa a guilty look, "I'll get the list now, my lady."
Upon the mention of Northwatch Estate, the always restrained Carissa finally let her tears fall.
When she was fifteen, her father, the Marquis of Northwatch, had sacrificed his life on the battlefield.
Then, just six months ago, her entire family at the Northwatch Estate was brutally slaughtered — assassins rumored to be spies from the enemy nation, Westhaven.
She rushed back after getting the news, only to find the dismembered bodies of her mother and grandmother. Even her youngest nephew, two years old, didn't escape death, neither.
Now, she was the lone survivor of the marquis' family, the idea of restoring her family’s former glory seemed impossible—at least to outsiders.
After all, she was presented mostly as a delicate, fragile woman, while Aurora Taytes had just made herself the first female general in history. It's only natural that the Warren family was more than happy to agree to the marriage.
Yet, unbeknownst to the world, Carissa's martial talent was never beneath her father and brothers. If given a chance on the battlefield, she would definitely outshine Aurora Taytes, perhaps a million times more...
Just then, Lulu had brought over the dowry list, "My lady, this year alone, you've spent over six thousand silver coins supporting the household. However, the shops, houses, and estates remain untouched. All the bank savings, along with the property deeds and land titles your mother left, are locked up in the chest."
"I see." Carissa's gaze lingered on the list with melancholy. Her mother had given her such a substantial dowry, fearing she might face hardship in her husband's home.
Yet now here she was. The Warren family had disregarded all her effort, and Barrett had even broken his vow to take no concubine - the very promise that led her mother to choose him over more eligible suitors, despite the Warren family’s fall from grace.
'Was this really the life mother wanted for me?'
Soon, Carissa lifted her gaze, determination tightening her grip on the dowry list,
“Lulu, make preparations. We’re going to see His Majesty tomorrow.”
Lulu’s brow furrowed, as if knowing Carissa's purpose, “But, my lady, I don’t think His Majesty will revoke his edict—”
Carissa shook her head, “No, Lulu, I’m not asking him to change the edict, but to request a new one—an amicable divorce from Barrett.”
Lulu’s eyes widened that instant, “A divorce! My lady, you want a divorce?”
Carissa nodded firmly.
She was never someone to pester some man. If Barrett Warren loved Aurora Yates so much, then she would let him go.
What she needed now was a single edict for an amicable divorce, so she could take away all her dowry and get rid of the despicable Warren family for good, dignified and head high...
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