Melody of Strength novel

Chapter 30

Carissa bowed deeply, her shoulders relaxing as she sighed in relief.

The royal edict had come at last.

“I thank His Majesty for his grace,” she said gratefully.

Barrett’s face turned pale; he was frozen in shock.

When Carissa went to the palace, she had actually sought permission from the king to divorce him? Not to obstruct his marriage to Aurora?

Had she planned to divorce him ever since she learned about his and Aurora’s marriage?!

Barrett thought Carissa had done all those things to possess him exclusively. So, he had seen her as jealous, petty, selfish, narrow–minded, unable to tolerate others, and even despicable.

But it wasn’t like that….

Barrett felt an indescribable feeling in his heart as he watched Carissa receive the edict. A warm smile appeared on her face, radiant and captivating.

Suddenly, he remembered the first time he saw her. Captivated by her beauty, he had even forgotten how to breathe. But then, he met Aurora…

Rebecca was also taken aback. She had never expected Carissa to seek a divorce actively. With the king granting permission for the divorce, Carissa could take all her dowry with her. Valor Estate was already a shell of its former glory. If Carissa took all her dowry, how would the estate survive?

“Carissa, it was all a misunderstanding!” Rebecca hurried over and grabbed Carissa’s arm. “I misunderstood you. I thought you were deliberately trying to sabotage Barrett and Aurora’s marriage! That’s why I agreed for Barrett to divorce you, because of your presumed jealousy.”

Carissa withdrew her hand and stepped back from the older woman, “If it was a misunderstanding, it should have been clarified.”

Then, Carissa turned to Derek. “Mr. Walker, I won’t ask you to stay. When you have time in a few days, come to Northwatch Estate. Let me treat you to Lulu’s cooking.”

“Very well!” Derek looked at her and explained, “Officials from the Ministry of Housing have been sent to renovate and redecorate Northwatch Estate. They have been rushing day and night, and the work is finally completed.

“That was the reason His Majesty took a while to issue the edict for your divorce. You can move back to the estate any time you want, Lady Sinclair.”

“I thank His Majesty for his grace,” Carissa said, her voice thick with emotion and her eyes reddening with unshed tears.

“Everything is in the past now. Things will get better in the future,” Derek continued. “The queen dowager also mentioned that she hasn’t seen you in a long time and misses you dearly. Whenever you’re free, please visit her in the palace.”

After Derek finished speaking, he led the royal guards away without saying another word to the Warren family.

Rebecca still held onto Carissa’s sleeve. “Carissa, have you gone to pay respects to the queen dowager in the past? Mr. Walker said she misses you and thinks about you. Why didn’t you go to RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

the palace to visit her this year? Why did you never tell me how well the queen dowager treats you?”

“I used to do it in the past.” Carissa pulled her arm out of Rebecca’s grip. “But I married into the Warren family and was no longer a lady of the marquis‘ family. Without a proper title, it wouldn’t have been appropriate for me to visit the palace. So, I didn’t go.”

She stood a bit away from Rebecca and nodded respectfully. “Thank you for your care over this past year.

Indeed, Rebecca had treated her well before their falling out. But now, Carissa could see clearly that what she thought was kindness had been paid for with her own heart and soul.

Barrett walked up to her, his eyes filled with a complex light and a hint of anger. “Since I told you about the king’s edict to marry Aurora, you’ve been planning to divorce me, haven’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“I don’t understand. You’re the legal wife, and she’s just a concubine. Why couldn’t you accept it? Why did you insist on a divorce?”

“A concubine?” Carissa chuckled. “That wasn’t how you described her to me initially. Do you remember your exact words? About how there would be no distinction between ranks for the two of us? You told me to treat her as an equal and not to provoke her. Do you remember?”

“I…” Barrett was speechless for a moment.

After a while, he asked, “Just because of that? Am I not worth anything to you anymore?”

Carissa’s tone was resolute, “No. Since you broke your promise and pursued Aurora based on your military achievements, you’ve been worthless in my eyes.

“Do you remember when both you and Aurora accused me of using dirty tricks and playing mind games? She said she was above such things. In truth, I despise them even more. I couldn’t even be bothered to tell you how much I despised them.”

With that, she turned and knelt before Theodore. The old man had been shedding tears non-

stop. Carissa bowed low for a long time. When she lifted her head, her eyes were red with

tear

“I’m sorry to have worried you, Granduncle Theodore. Once I’ve settled back home, I’ll come to visit you!”