As soon as Carissa left, Salvador's smile vanished. He barely sipped his soup before dismissing Grace and Caden. Grace said nothing. She simply instructed the servants to clear the dishes, took Caden's hand, and curtsied gracefully before taking her leave.

Once the hall was silent, Derek closed the door and turned toward the king. "Your Majesty, it's not yet time for the next council meeting. Why don't you rest for a short while?"

In the past, Salvador had always taken a brief respite during the noon hours. But ever since summoning Carissa for these conversations, he hadn't rested at all.

Salvador massaged his temples and sighed. "Very well. My head's starting to ache."

"Should I summon the royal physician to examine you?" Derek offered.

"There's no need. Those useless quacks at the Royal Medical Department have yet to cure a simple

headache, though I've taken more than my share of their remedies."

Salvador stood and made his way into the inner chamber, lying down fully clothed. The ache in his head only seemed to worsen.

Derek tucked the blankets around him, but Salvador suddenly opened his eyes, a faint daze in his expression.

"What's wrong with me lately?"

"You're simply burdened by concerns over the war, Your Majesty," Derek reassured. "You're mentally and physically exhausted. A period of rest will do you good."

Salvador didn't seem to hear him, lost in his own thoughts. "Has Carissa ever asked why I keep summoning her to speak with me?"

"She has, Your Majesty."

-

Salvador's gaze sharpened as he looked at Derek, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And what did you tell her?"

"I told her the truth. That you miss General Nathan and wish to reminisce about the past," Derek answered calmly.

Salvador fell silent, staring at the ceiling. After a long moment, he murmured, "That's true. It is true."

He closed his eyes and pressed both hands to his forehead. "Leave me. I want to think for a while." "Yes, Your Majesty. I'll be right outside. Please call for me if you need anything."

Derek cast a worried glance at Salvador before stepping out of the chamber.

Back at the Capital Guard headquarters, Carissa couldn't shake the events of the afternoon from her mind. Derek's explanation no longer convinced her.

Something about the situation felt deeply wrong.

Grace's gaze lingered in her thoughts-a knowing look, layered with meaning. It carried no hostility, yet it chilled her to the bone.

When she returned home that evening, she skipped dinner entirely. Instead, she summoned Kyle, Violet, and Jacob to her study. Once they arrived, she recounted every detail of what had transpired in the royal study.noveldrama

Kyle and Jacob exchanged uneasy glances, neither knowing what to say.

It was Violet who wrinkled her nose in distaste and broke the silence, saying, "He drank from it and wanted you to drink it after him? That's disgusting, isn't it?"

She spoke without much thought, merely expressing her revulsion at the gesture. But Kyle and Jacob- both men understood far more.

Kyle's mind was already racing.

Salvador had always been a man of reason, calm and composed in his. judgments. When it came to matters

of the heart, he was indifferers

at

best. Despite sitting on the throne for years, his harem was modest and the royal lineage remained sparse.

But before he became the king, Salvador had been a spirited young man, unburdened by the weight of court affairs. Like any man of his age, he must have once entertained dreams of love and romance.

He had always felt a certain unspoken emotion toward Carissa, something he couldn't quite put into

words. He had even suggested once that she become a concubine in the palace.

It was clear that Salvador once had feelings for her.

During the rebellion in the capital, Carissa took the lead in quelling the unrest. Her boldness and skill were undeniable, and her efforts relieved Salvador of his pressing difficulties. He couldn't help but admire her, and that respect only grew stronger.

But no, it wasn't just respect-it was something more.

It wasn't really surprising that it happened.

What was surprising, however, was how Salvador allowed those feelings to develop. He kept her in the royal study every day to chat, which was far from his usual way of doing things.

Though Carissa was his subject, she was also a ma married woman and his sister-in-law. If word got out, even if it was just idle gossip, it could cause trouble if anyone used it to stir up conflict and drive a wedge between the brothers, that would be a much bigger problem.

"Your Grace, you must feign illness. For a time, at least," Jacob said firmly, his tone brooking no argument.

Jacob had considered every possibility-from malicious gossip to manipulation and even the risk of Carissa becoming a target for the royal concubines. None of these outcomes was acceptable to him. The simplest solution was to distance her from the palace. There were no pressing matters that required her personal attention. If there was something urgent, people like Michael would report it to her. As the men discussed the situation, Violet's eyes widened in sudden realization. She shook her head, aghast.

"You don't think he's harboring feelings for his sister-in-law? Is he trying to emulate-"

"Enough!" Kyle cut her off sharply. "Speak no further of this. Regardless of his intentions, meeting with her so often in the royal study is inappropriate. Feigning illness is the wisest course of action. Once Rafael

returns to the capital, the king

should have come to his senses by then."