Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 1112

At his core, Rafael was a military man. He had always been fascinated by weapons. His interest in them ran deep, and he often found himself eager to spend hours studying and improving them.

Kyle didn't answer Rafael's question and gave him a small smile instead. "Let's head back. You and Carissa had a bit of a quarrel, and she probably doesn't know yet."

Rafael felt a tightness in his chest. "It wasn't a quarrel. Isn't everything fine?"

"Sure. Come on, let's go," Kyle urged, nudging his horse forward.

Rafael led his horse for a few paces before mounting and catching up with him. However, his heart still felt heavy.

Why, when things happened, was Carissa's first thought never of him?

He was always the last to know. She hadn't even bothered to send word. Instead, she had ridden out of the city alone without telling him.

Though she had sent word to Travis, she hadn't sent a messenger to the Supreme Court, leaving it to the Capital Guard to seek him out only because they needed to seal the city gates. If the gates hadn't needed to be closed, would she have simply let him find out when Violet returned and casually told him what had transpired?

Before this, Rafael had already felt that Carissa couldn't fully trust him. Even though there were many moments where they appeared close, even affectionate, something always seemed missing.

What was missing, though?

Trust? Carissa certainly trusted him to some extent.

Affection? He was sure she liked him, even if she never said it aloud.

Understanding? He believed they shared a silent understanding, one that worked both in their private lives and when it came to their duties. It was a bond that felt almost as strong as the one he shared with Jacob.

"Do you think she's not the same Carissa you once knew?" Kyle asked, his voice carried by the wind.

Rafael thought about it for a moment before answering, "After all that's happened, it's only natural that she's changed. As long as she's still herself, that's what matters to me. But... I can't help feeling like she's wearing a mask when she's with me."

"I see. You think she's wearing a mask," Kyle said thoughtfully. "If so, do you think you're wearing one too?"