Chapter 1193

Carissa gave Rafael a list of reminders: be careful on the road, stay alert, and most importantly, if he saw any “pretty flowers,” to admire them but not pick them. The hint of jealousy in her tone made Rafael's heart soar. Swinging onto his horse, he grinned and swore his loyalty. "I won't even spare a glance," he promised.

However, Travis looked puzzled. "What flowers could you possibly find on the road in the middle of winter? Even if there are any, they're likely well-tended. How could anyone just pick them? You can look, but why wouldn't you look?"

His confusion amused Jacob and Kyle. Violet snorted. "Poor fool, stop talking! You're missing the point entirely." Travis scratched his chin, still confused, even as Dylan called for departure.

As soon as Rafael mounted his horse, Helen turned and went back inside. The cold wind at the gate was unbearable. Seeing her son depart was enough; there was no need to endure the chill, especially since he wasn't looking back. Jacob, Lily, and Carissa's other attendants followed Helen inside. Carissa and Violet remained, watching the group ride away.

Violet nudged Carissa. "Are you going to miss him?"

"A little," Carissa admitted, her gaze lingering until they were out of sight. A wave of emptiness washed over her. Although they were both busy since their marriage, they'd spent nearly every night together, always finding at least one shared moment each day. Now, two months stretched before them with no chance of seeing each other.

"Two months… feels so long," she sighed.

Violet tilted her head. "Long? It's only two months, not two years." She wrapped an arm around Carissa's shoulders as they walked inside. "Enjoy your freedom while it lasts. It's rare to not have him around. Do what you want—I'm planning to take you out to eat, drink, and be merry. I heard from Isaac that there are some nice places in the capital. I've always wanted to check them out, but with His Highness around, I didn't think it was appropriate to ask you to come. Now's the perfect time—he won't be back for at least two months, so we have plenty of time to explore."

"What restaurants wouldn't be appropriate when Raf is around? Are they better than Glimmering Tower?" Carissa waved dismissively. "Never mind, I'm not really in the mood to eat."

"It's not that!" Violet's radiant face broke into a mysterious smile. "It's a gentlemen's retreat, a place with male courtesans. We'll dress as men."

Carissa stopped. "You've been there? Did Isaac take you? Where is he?"

Violet shook her head. "He didn't take me, he just told me about it. Aren't you curious?"

"I'm not curious, and I don't want to go," Carissa replied sharply. "Why is Isaac telling you about such things?"

"To broaden my horizons," Violet said with a mischievous grin. "When we travel the world, we should learn as much as we can."

Violet wondered if she was the only one intrigued. She'd heard of a gentlemen's retreat, a place for men, but full of men... The thought of men with men—wasn't that enough to make Carissa curious? Violet had heard of it, but never seen it.

"Cari, it's so unfair. Men can go to places like gentlemen's retreats or entertainment parlors. There's no place like that where women can go openly," Violet said.

Carissa stood with her hands behind her back, sighing. "Who says it isn't unfair?" She dropped her hands, her tone serious. "Even if there were such places, I wouldn't go. I'm married now. I have a husband."

"I don't have a husband," Violet said excitedly. "I could go and have some fun."

Carissa assumed her friend was joking, but Violet wasn't. That night, she insisted Isaac accompany her to a gentlemen's retreat.

When Violet returned, still in men's clothes and reeking of alcohol, Carissa nearly threw her out. But Violet grabbed Carissa's shoulder, swaying unsteadily, her expression serious. "Do you know who I saw there? You'll never guess. If you can guess, I'll make Isaac do something ridiculous."