Her Graceful War Song

As they arrived at the gates of Hell Monarch Estate, the crack of Flamepetals filled the air, and the household rushed out to greet Rafael. Everyone surrounded him in a joyous embrace as he made his way inside.

Even Frederick and Holly from Northwatch Estate had come, and Ryan had been brought out from the palace to join the celebration.

Rafael hoisted Ryan up into his arms and lifted him onto his shoulders, then strode into the main hall with a commanding presence. Ryan was absolutely delighted, his hands resting on Rafael's forehead as his smile stretched all the way to his ears. His eyes sparkled with admiration for his uncle.

Once they reached the main hall, Rafael gently set Ryan down, asking about his studies. He learned that Ryan had been serving as Connor's study partner in the palace, earning praise from both Victoria and Trevor. Rafael gave an approving nod, lifting his thumb in praise of the boy's diligence.

Ryan glanced shyly at Carissa, though his joy was plain in the sparkle of his eyes.

Carissa's face lit up with a smile, but the tears that lingered at the edges of her eyes betrayed the emotion she was holding back.noveldrama

Helen had been waiting for her son to come and offer his greetings, but she could not wait any longer. She hurried out to meet him, and when she saw how much weight he had lost, her heart clenched in

sorrow.

The table was laid with an abundance of food, but Helen did not sit with them. She insisted that they enjoy their meal, allowing them to talk freely and enjoy themselves.

Though famished, Rafael ate sparingly. He chose only light fares that were placed further from him. He tried a few morsels from the meat dishes Carissa had arranged for him, but he only nibbled a small amount before pushing the plate aside. Several times, he clutched at his stomach, as though in discomfort.

Carissa noticed at once. Her eyes welled with tears, and she swiftly turned to send someone to fetch Sebastian.

The others had caught on as well, their concern evident in their expressions.

Rafael set his cutlery down, then took Carissa's hand in his with a smile.

"It's nothing serious," he reassured her, his voice soft. "There's no need to trouble Sebastian. It's just my stomach. I'll recover with time."

"Let him check your condition," Jacob suggested. "It'll put everyone's mind at ease."

Violet raised an eyebrow. "Did you ruin your stomach in Atamore Mountain? With nothing to eat or drink, did you end up gnawing on tree bark or snow?"

Rafael gave a lighthearted shrug. "There was food, though it was scarce. But there was always some dried meat from the grasslands tribes. Every meal, I had a few pieces to fill my belly. And I could always make a fire for water, so we never had to eat snow."

His words were not entirely untrue, though they omitted the worst of it.

How could there be enough dried meat for several pieces in one meal? Sometimes, they would only get a small piece for the whole day, tearing off tiny bits to make it last.

Before reaching Mount Chimera,

there had been times they had resorted to eating snow. The thick fog of Mount Whitemist made it difficult to light a fire without revealing their position. It wasn't until they reached the peak of Mount Chimera that they could make a fire for water. Even then, it was in short supply.

Carissa knew the reality was far worse than Rafael let on. He was only masking the true hardships. Her grip on his hand tightened, her heart sinking with sorrow.

Sebastian and Rowan arrived together. Rowan's medicine chest was so large it bent his back with its weight.

Rafael rose to greet them, but when Sebastian looked at him and saw the gauntness of his face, he sighed deeply. "It's just good that you've returned safely. Sit down, I'll check on you."

"It's nothing serious," Rafael reassured him.

"Let me see your hand," Sebastian replied, his voice firm.

Rowan quickly unstrapped his medicine chest and took out a mat, and Rafael reluctantly placed his hand upon it. As Sebastian checked his vital signs, he asked about his condition.

Rafael kept it brief, mentioning only a slight discomfort in his stomach and no other symptoms.

Sebastian didn't challenge him. After

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his examination, he wrote out three prescriptions, handing them to Rowan without explaining their. purpose. "One dose of medicine with each meal, morning, noon, and night. Do not skip."

Seeing this, Carissa was uneasy and asked, "Is it serious?"

Sebastian gaye Rafael a quick glance before answering. "It's nothing to worry about. He just needs some rest and good care. He's had a few injuries, and with poor nutrition over time, it's left him with some lasting effects."

Rafael had been holding his breath, but at those words, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Carissa wasn't convinced but didn't press further. Instead, she asked, "How long will he need to take this medicine?"

Sebastian's response was calm. "Let's see how he fares after six months."

As he spoke, he continued to pull out medicine bottles from his chest, laying them carefully on the table. "Three doses a day, with each meal."

Carissa picked up one of the bottles. Though she didn't understand much, she could tell there were also remedies for external injuries among them. It was clear now that Rafael hadn't been just suffering from illness.

Sebastian gave a final word of advice. "There's one more thing I need to tell you. You two come with me into the inner chamber."