Chapter 919
Dominic stood and helped Carissa straighten up before gently rubbing her head, just like he used to when she was little. As a child, she would come to him to complain whenever she was upset.
She had been a small, delicate thing, and couldn't stand feeling wronged. Anyone who dared to scold her or speak ill of her would find themselves the subject of her complaints the moment her grandfather returned to the capital. After venting her frustrations, she would always hide in his arms, seemingly submissive and innocent on the surface. Yet, her eyes would gleam with mischievous satisfaction.
Tears streamed down Carissa's face, each drop falling in a steady cascade. With his rough fingers, Dominic wiped away her tears, swallowing the sorrow in his throat.
His voice still trembled with emotion as he said, "Who's been bullying our little Cari this time? But you don't need me to step in and teach them a lesson now, do you? You can handle it yourself and give them a taste of their own medicine."
His words, full of both pain and pride, made Carissa's heart ache even more.
She hurriedly wiped her eyes. She wasn't here to cry, let alone let her grandfather see her weakness. Through her blurred vision, she caught the familiar, doting look in his eyes. Yet, it only made her more aware of how much he had aged.
She had been through a lot these years, but Dominic had experienced even more. Besides the heartbreak over the Sinclair family, there was the loss of his third son's arm, the death of his seventh son, and his own near-fatal injuries from an arrow. Yet Dominic had endured each hardship with resilience. Even now, his back remained straight.
While this caused others to admire him, all Carissa could feel was a deep ache in her heart. Finally, after much coaxing, Rafael managed to calm the grandfather and granddaughter enough for them to sit and talk properly. Carissa didn't dare ask about her uncles or aunts, afraid that mentioning them would remind her grandfather of the painful loss of his seventh son. She was cautious with her words, careful not to bring up anything that might stir old wounds.
Sensing her hesitation, Dominic spoke first, "Your third aunt will be coming to the capital in a few days. She insisted on returning, saying she wants to see you."
He didn't say more, not wanting to reopen the deep wounds he had buried for so long.
Carissa's face softened with concern. "The journey is long, and the weather is so harsh. Why didn't you stop her, Grandpa?"
Dominic's voice was tender and loving as he replied, "She misses you. She wanted to come back sooner, but she didn't dare. Now, with everything that's happened, she's decided to come anyway. Let her come back to see you and Ryan."Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
"It's been hard on her," Carissa said, holding back her tears. 'I had planned to bring Ryan tonight, but he's staying at the academy. I was in such a rush to come here that I didn't go to pick him up."
In truth, Carissa had purposely not brought Ryan with her. She hadn't informed Salvador of her visit tonight. It was a private matter, but she would report it to him later, of course.
In a few days, she would formally request the queen dowager's special permission in Ryan's name to allow him to meet his great-grandfather. That would give her a proper reason to come again.
Privately, she could always visit again, but it would be better with a legitimate excuse-perhaps bringing Sebastian to check on Dominic's health, delivering some tonics and everyday essentials, and sharing a meal together.
It had been so long since they had sat down to eat as a family. Carissa's father had once said that one of the most important things in life was sharing meals with family.
When Ryan came up in conversation, Dominic's heart ached too. He knew Rafael had been the one to find the boy, and that still deserved a proper thank-you.
He rose and bowed in gratitude to Rafael. "Thank you, Your Highness, for bringing Ryan back to the Sinclair family.
Rafael quickly stood and returned the gesture. "Grandfather, there's no need for thanks-we're all family."
The way Rafael said 'grandfather' was so natural, as though he had practiced it countless times.
'This time, I've troubled both of you." Dominic sighed. "I hope the two kingdoms can avoid war."
"Don't worry, Grandfather," Rafael said quietly. "We're working toward that goal as well. The Sinclair family was destroyed, and though the spy we captured later confessed that the reason was a grudge stemming from my late father-in-law's victory at Westhaven, where he and his thousand men defeated an army of a hundred thousand, it's an old grudge.
"It happened many years ago and can't be used to justify the massacre. The Sinclair family's tragedy is rooted in Fawnrun City, and soon, everyone in the capital will know the truth of it."
They had discussed this in their letters before.
Dominic added, "It's a pity. There's no concrete evidence, and even if there were, it would still be seen as us massacring the village first, with their revenge coming later."
"Revenge or not, it was still retaliation. After that, the soldiers from Westhaven went to the Southern Frontier-that was their second retaliation. Then, on the Southern Frontier battlefield, they captured Aurora and the soldiers who took part in the massacre-that was their third retaliation," said Rafael.