(Chapter 39)

(Chapter 39)

Clarisse Faeloria, now known as Clarisse Faeloria Frostborne, stared at the letter sent by Lorcan Frostborne, her husband and the Duke of the North. Each word in the letter felt different this time. The tone of coercion that she had often felt before was now replaced with an unexpected warmth. She remained silent, unsure how to respond.

"Has he started to change? Is he not as bad as I once thought?" Clarisse thought, a small smile forming on her face. Her mother's words, Eleanor Faeloria, echoed in her mind: "Be patient, don't rush to judge someone." Maybe her mother was right; the change was real, even if it came slowly.

Not wanting to stay lost in her thoughts, Clarisse decided to take a walk in the garden. Sasa, her personal maid, calmly followed her from behind. Servants and soldiers passing by greeted her with deep respect, making the surrounding atmosphere feel quiet and formal.

"So much respect," Clarisse thought. Was it purely because of her position as the Duke's wife? Or perhaps Lorcan had specifically asked them to treat her this way? She shook her head slightly, realizing her thoughts had wandered too far. Lorcan was not the type of person to care about such trivial matters.

As she strolled through the beautiful garden, Clarisse began to reflect on her life. "Maybe I wouldn't feel this way if I married anyone other than the Duke," she thought, mixed emotions filling her chest. Her face flushed, embarrassed by thoughts she couldn't control.

"I sound like a hypocrite, don't I?" she suddenly said, breaking the silence. "Thinking of all this as a blessing, when I still have doubts."

Sasa, surprised by the question, answered cautiously, "My lady, sometimes we need time to understand our own hearts."

Days passed, and Clarisse felt herself changing. She had once been stubborn, often trapped in her own convictions. But now she was wiser, learning to go with the flow without losing herself. She began to understand that being the wife of a Duke was not just about duty, but also about opening her heart to new possibilities.

"Married people are often like this," she murmured, quoting from a novel she had just read.

On the other side, Lorcan Frostborne and Kaelion Arvasyn, the crown prince, were having a serious discussion on the battlefield. They had reached a strategic point to end the threat of the barbarian alliance led by Khan.

"This is the right time to finish it all," Lorcan said firmly.

Kaelion nodded. "The Khan alliance has long been a thorn in our side. Some are still holding on, but many have already surrendered."

"That means our plan is working," Lorcan said, his gaze sharp. "The additional support from the empire has put us in a superior position."

Kaelion smiled. "They sent reinforcements just in time. Now we can ensure that this threat ends and peace returns."

They exchanged glances, confidence reflected in their eyes. The burden of leadership weighed heavily on Lorcan's shoulders, but Kaelion's trust strengthened him.

"We need to move quickly before they have time to reorganize their defenses," Lorcan said with determination.

Kaelion nodded, preparing his forces for the final battle that would determine the fate of their kingdom.

Clarisse Faeloria Frostborne walked slowly along the garden path, the gentle breeze brushing her face, which appeared peaceful yet full of questions. "If this is my fate, should I accept it fully or fight for more?" she whispered softly, barely audible. Sasa, who remained faithfully by her side, looked at her with concern but chose to remain silent.