Chapter 173

Although touched, Carissa still refused.

“His Majesty’s edict requires me to find a husband within three months. I believe he intends to designate a successor for the title. If I were to marry you under false pretenses, His Majesty might not approve.”

Rafael hadn’t anticipated this response. It seemed she still didn’t fully understand Salvador’s intentions. After a moment’s thought, he pressed his hand down in a calming gesture.

“You needn’t worry about that. I will speak to the king. His concern about designating a successor is likely due to his fear of you finding someone as fickle and unfaithful as Barrett.”

Disparaging her former suitor was a petty tactic, but it likely seemed reasonable to her.

When Carissa heard Barrett’s name, she remained unmoved. However, what Rafael said wasn’t without merit. The title of Duke was now backed by the Sinclair Army—the generals and soldiers who used to follow Hector, and now Carissa. Therefore, choosing a successor required careful consideration.

Previously, when Salvador had conferred honors upon her father, he had mentioned that her future husband could inherit the title. He probably hadn’t anticipated that she might earn the Sinclair Army’s recognition on the battlefield herself. Now that it was known, a casual selection was out of the question.

The three-month period, supposedly for her to find a husband, was, in reality, Salvador’s way of searching for a suitable successor. But Salvador would only consider whether the person was suitable for the title, not whether they were suitable for her or capable of spending a lifetime with her.

In this case, it was easy to end up with a mismatched partner who didn’t get along with her.

Following her line of thought, Rafael could easily guess her current feelings.

“Even after my ideal partner married, I hadn’t planned to take a wife. However, the king insists on granting me a marriage. Even though I’m his younger brother, I must comply with his wishes. Rather than marry someone else, it is better for my partner to be you,” he said. Carissa gazed into his deep black eyes beneath his long lashes, which seemed as dark as a starless night.

After a long pause, she finally said, “Your Highness. If we marry, and you find someone you like later, she would only be a concubine. I don’t need a divorce from you. I have already divorced once. If I were to do it again, it would be a disgrace to my late parents.”

Rafael fought the urge to leap. Instead, he pressed down on his crown with a restrained motion. He tried to maintain a nonchalant demeanor, but his lips betrayed him, curling upward despite his effort.

“Aside from her, I won’t have affection for any other woman. Living this way with you for the rest of our lives seems quite acceptable. At the very least, we can respect and honor each other as partners,” he said.

Carissa couldn’t help but be curious. “May I ask who the lady is? You clearly have a deep affection for her. How could she bear to disappoint you?”

When the woman in question was mentioned, Rafael’s eyes glowed brightly. “She doesn’t actually know my feelings. It was merely my one-sided affection. Before I went to the Southern Frontier, I went to her mother to ask for her hand in marriage, but her mother likely didn’t think much of me. After I left for the battlefield, she arranged for her daughter to be married far away. As for who she is, it’s best not to say. She is already married, and I wouldn’t want to affect her.”

Carissa nodded in agreement. “What you say is very true. A woman’s reputation is important. Since she is already married, it’s not right for you to keep mentioning her.”

She felt a surge of respect for Rafael. Despite his bravery and strategic mind on the battlefield, he was so considerate and sensitive about the difficulties women face. Even though he loved the woman deeply, he refrained from mentioning her to avoid tarnishing her reputation.

If more men were like Rafael, the world would indeed be a kinder place for women.

Seeing her reaction, Rafael adopted a commanding tone similar to that of a military camp. “Carissa, give me a clear answer. Be straightforward, and don’t dawdle. If there are any issues, I’ll take full responsibility.”

At his tone, Carissa responded almost instinctively, “I’ll do it!”

Rafael felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders and couldn’t help but smile.

“Great! Let’s figure out our roles. You handle the household, while I’ll take care of everything outside it. My mother and sister will be living with us. After we marry, my sister won’t stay long, but my mother will be a challenge. She is accustomed to luxury and pride, and likes to exert her authority. But I’m confident she won’t be able to bully you.”

Carissa was a woman who became strong when faced with force, and soft when dealing with weakness. It was time for her to face some consequences.

Carissa couldn’t help but smile. “Your Highness, you’re truly considerate. I suspect you didn’t want to marry anyone else because you were worried your mother would mistreat your wife.”

Her comment, though a joke, carried an undercurrent of truth.

Rafael’s eyes burned with a fiery intensity. “Carissa, you really are perceptive.”