After Sebastian left, Carissa first spoke with Ryan about his situation, allowing him to give his own input. Naturally, he wasn't expected to make the final decision, but having his opinion would make it easier for her to discuss things with the Klein family.Ryan nestled against Carissa as he listened and smiled. Then he began to write in her palm, one word at a time.[Actually, Rowan has already told me that the pain will be unbearable. When my leg was first broken, I felt like I might die from the pain.]Carissa asked him to rewrite it, since some words were unclear. After he completed the revision, she understood and asked, "So, you would prefer acupoint sealing for pain relief, correct?"Ryan shook his head, and continued writing. [But if there's a significant risk of ending up with a permanent limp, how can that be acceptable? When I grow up, I will need to be the patriarch of the family. How can someone with a limp lead the Duke of Northwatch's household?]He looked up at h
When they arrived at Ryan's room, Pearl came out to greet them.Ryan was lying in bed, waiting for the painkiller. He had made up his mind not to take any risks—he wanted to get better on his own.He saw that everyone had worried expressions. They wanted to comfort him, but Ryan gave them an encouraging and determined look instead. The sight of the young boy, only seven years old, trying to be strong in such a vulnerable moment made everyone's hearts ache even more. He was at an age when children were pampered and showered with affection.Just as Sebastian was about to begin the treatment, Rafael arrived.The Klein family members, knowing Rafael was Ryan's savior, had intended to express their gratitude. They didn't expect to see him here, and they hurried to pay their respects and offer their thanks.Rafael waved his hand dismissively, and smiled. "It was merely a matter of chance; no need for thanks. I am here today to accompany him through the treatment. Let's not discuss any
Sebastian was reflecting on the anguished cry Ryan had just let out. It seemed that the pain had quite an effect on Ryan's vocal cords, but for Sebastian, the sound was like music to his ears.Rowan was capable of performing tasks such as setting bones. However, Sebastian valued Ryan too much to leave it to anyone else. He preferred to handle it personally.To him, this was a skill deeply ingrained in his bones. He carefully felt along Ryan's leg, inch by inch, until he reached the misaligned section. With great precision, he adjusted the bone.Ryan was drenched in sweat from the pain, his body trembling uncontrollably. He gripped Rafael's wrist tightly, his nails digging in and drawing blood.The pain from setting the bone was excruciatingly real. The pain-relief medicine didn't seem to help much, and he felt as though the pain was radiating throughout his entire body, even though the injury was in his leg.Once the bone was set, Sebastian began applying the medicine. Two woode
Rafael watched Carissa's careful and quick movements. She lowered her head, and he could see her slightly curled, thick eyelashes trembling gently.A subtle emotion stirred in his heart—she rarely displayed such a gentle demeanor.Looking at the two layers of bandages wrapped around his hand, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Isn't it just a minor wound? It's nothing serious.""How is it nothing serious?" Carissa looked up with wide eyes. "If it's not treated properly, it could get infected. I've experienced it before. Look, let me show you my hand."She extended her hand, revealing a small scar on the back, about half the length of a finger. The scar was faint, just a trace of pink left behind. "It got infected back then. It was only after my master treated it with medicine that it healed, but it left a scar. Your hands are so beautiful. If they were scarred, it wouldn't look…well, as good."As she spoke, she suddenly remembered that when she had cleaned his wound earlier, his h
Carissa looked up, her lashes wet with tears. "In any case, I will always remember this kindness. No matter what you ask of me in the future, as long as it doesn't go against my conscience, I will do it for you."Rafael's expression turned serious. "I don't need you to do anything for me. If there's one thing I ask, it's that you live well. Live happily, live a life full of joy. That's how you can honor your family's spirits in heaven."Her heart trembled slightly, and a single tear slid down her cheeks. Her tearful eyes were filled with confusion. "Why are you so good to me?"Rafael felt his heart breaking at the sight of her like this. He recalled her fierce and determined figure on the battlefield, yet now, she was so delicate and vulnerable. He couldn't hide the tenderness in his eyes and had to turn his face away. "Why wouldn't I treat you well? You're my betrothed, after all. We're going to spend our lives together."Carissa should have been moved, but she had heard simil
When Rafael saw Carissa on the Southern Frontier battlefield, his emotions were a whirlwind of complexity.He would often, almost subconsciously, bring up her husband, but she would avoid the topic. That was when he realized that Barrett might not be treating her well.This thought alone had made his fists clench countless times.It wasn't until later that he learned she had divorced. Barrett hadn't recognized her worth. It was absurd! Rafael committed the name to memory—Barrett Warren, a man unworthy of the gift of sight.The fury Rafael felt then was so intense that he wished he could gouge out Barrett’s eyes for causing her such pain.After the anger subsided, Rafael felt a surge of selfish joy, though he carefully masked it. He couldn't let anyone know he was secretly celebrating.During the days they fought side by side, he had to constantly conceal his feelings. He had to remind himself repeatedly not to let even a trace of personal emotion show in his eyes.Three year
The next day, Ryan woke up. He was still in pain, but it wasn't as unbearable as when his bone was being reset.Despite the discomfort, he forced a smile to reassure Carissa and the rest of the family. His resilience was heart-wrenching to witness.Even so, the acupuncture in his throat continued. Rowan insisted it couldn't be stopped. Since they didn't do it yesterday because of the bone-setting, it couldn't be skipped today.Especially since Ryan had cried out during the procedure, which had proven the treatment to be effective. So, both Sebastian and Rowan believed that the poison in Ryan's body was being expelled faster than expected.Additionally, the withdrawal symptoms from the Peony Bliss had not resurfaced, which greatly surprised Sebastian. He knew that even for adults who committed to quitting, the process could take over six months. Yet, here was a seven-year-old child with such an indomitable will.In a private conversation with Rowan, Sebastian said, "The Duke of
Carissa nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "So, may I ask, in which aspect of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, or trustworthiness does society find him lacking?""It's because your second marriage has harmed him," Samuel replied."My second marriage has nothing to do with him. My remarriage is my own affair," Carissa responded.Her voice was calm and steady, showing none of the shame Samuel expected. "Let me ask you this: does the law forbid a second marriage after a divorce, or is it merely a social custom? Are there not others in society who have remarried? Does benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, or trustworthiness dictate that a woman cannot marry again? And another question: if a woman is abandoned, must she then retreat to a life of solitude, living out her days in misery to satisfy society's expectations?"Samuel sneered, "You twist words to make them pleasing, but true virtue is rare!"Unable to counter Carissa's reasoning, he chose to dismiss her