Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 1452

Kylie thought she had given Carissa an opening to vent her feelings, and that would be the end of it. But unexpectedly, Carissa didn't take the bait at all. Instead, she brushed it off as a misunderstanding, leaving Kylie and Lydia somewhat at a loss.

Lydia awkwardly stood up, offering her thanks before stepping to the side. Her eyes flicked quickly to Carissa, silently searching for any sign that she was willing to press the issue further. But there was nothing.

Carissa remained silent, sipping her coffee.

Was that it? Had the matter truly been settled? Was this the resolution they had been hoping for?

Both Kylie and Lydia felt the answer was no, but the conversation had already come to an abrupt end. To continue would only make the situation more awkward.

"The coffee's cold," Kylie said, her tone stiff. "Get Her Grace another cup of hot coffee."

Her anger simmered beneath the surface. It was clear to her that Carissa had built an impenetrable wall between them, shutting out all attempts at reconciliation. The queen could do nothing about it.

Carissa calmly sipped her coffee, sitting in silence with Kylie. She only answered when spoken to, never starting a conversation herself, but also careful not to offend the queen openly. She wasn't in a hurry to leave either. After all, once she stepped out of Everspring Palace, there would be other invitations from different concubines to contend with.

Rather than navigating more forced conversations, staying here in silence seemed the wiser choice.

Inwardly, Carissa reflected on how drastically things had changed this year. Not only was her usual companion absent, but now, she was forced to sit here with the resentful queen, both of them spending the evening together in cold silence.

As for the notion of reconciliation, Carissa saw it as nothing more than a social nicety. It wasn't needed because it wasn't a misunderstanding to begin with.

Was Salvador truly trying to support her? If he wanted them to resolve their differences, he would have suggested they clear up the misunderstanding, not simply tell her to vent her anger as she pleased.

Carissa couldn't help but wonder what Salvador had said to Kylie privately. Judging by the way the latter had initially snubbed her and how she now wore such a sour expression, it was clear it hadn't been anything flattering.

Her thoughts kept twisting and turning. At first, she thought it meant one thing, then another. Then, after thinking it over again, she saw yet another meaning.

It was exhausting.

Carissa simply nodded in response and didn't speak further, instead just warming her hands with the coffee.

Kylie's intentions were clear to Carissa.

Ryan was the future Duke of Northwatch, backed by both the Hell Monarch's household and the Klein family. Now, he also had the approval of Victoria and Salvador. So, Kylie saw an opportunity to use Ryan as support for Connor.

But Carissa felt that pulling Ryan in like this wouldn't be all that useful and wouldn't make a real difference.

In the end, everything depended on whether Connor could prove himself. If he wanted Salvador to firmly decide to make him crown prince within the short time left, he had to earn it himself.

The biggest benefit of Ryan becoming Connor's study companion was that he could help the latter improve. Connections and social ties didn't matter—Ryan was just a child, not a duke yet.

Clearly, Kylie hadn't realized this. She even thought that hard work was useless.