Her Graceful War Song

After lighting a candle for Edith, everyone returned to the backyard. They wiped away their tears, set aside their grief, and gathered around Carissa to ask about her married life. The most frequent question was about how well Rafael treated her.

That was how families were. They knew she was capable, yet they couldn't help but yearn for her spouse to treat her with genuine love and care.

Carissa had many cousins, all daughters of her uncles, but most had only met her a handful of times. Still, when they saw her, they were all overjoyed.

Her cousins were all married, and many had returned to Victory Pass with their husbands and children. Having heard so much about Carissa, they couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and sympathy.

Among them was Shayla Sullivan, the eldest daughter of Carissa's second aunt. She had married Chase Hudson, one of Dominic's subordinates. But within a year of marriage, Chase died in battle before their child had even been born.

Now, the child was 12 years old.

Shayla had opened an orphanage in Victory Pass, taking in abandoned babies. There were now over 30 children under her care, but life was incredibly difficult. Her resources were stretched thin, and some days, she wasn't sure how much longer she could continue.

Upon hearing that Carissa had opened a workshop in the capital, she sought her out for advice on how to manage it successfully.

"I rely entirely on our family's support now. Otherwise, the children wouldn't even have enough to eat," Shayla admitted in a humble tone, her voice thick with shame.

Carissa noticed her cousin's coarse clothing, patched in several places. Even her shoes were worn through and patched. It was clear that times were hard.

"Shayla, running a workshop is different from running an orphanage," Carissa began. "In the workshop, everyone is capable of supporting themselves. I only provide them with a place to stay and a community of people whose circumstances are similar to theirs, so they can support each other. But your orphanage is filled with infants who can't fend for themselves. They depend on you entirely."

"You're right. They can't care for themselves." Shayla sighed, her face drawn with worry. "I'm not capable of much, but I can't bear to turn them away."

Her voice gentle but firm, Carissa offered some advice, saying, "Adopting infants is a noble cause, but you must act within your means. When it exceeds your capabilities, it becomes a burden. Not just on you, but on your family as well.

"You can't send them away, of course, but you need to find a way to sustain them. I suggest you don't take in any more children for now. And perhaps, since Victory Pass is temporarily exempt from paying taxes, you could petition the local government to establish the orphanage as an official institution. They may allocate funds to you, and it wouldn't require approval from court, so it shouldn't take long."

The room fell silent as her words sank in.

Carissa observed their expressions

and guessed that they had likely considered it. However, the separation of military and

government affairs meant that if the Sullivan family pressured the local authorities, it could easily lead to

criticism, especially since the

orphanage was now under the management of one of their own.

On the surface, it might seem like a noble cause to help abandoned infants. But if someone wanted to stir up trouble, they could spin it in many ways. For instance, they might accuse the Sullivan family of using the orphanage to siphon tax money from the local treasury, or claim it was a front for personal gain. noveldrama

What was once a noble cause could easily become a scandal and a serious crime.

Also, Magnus Smith, who worked in the local government, had been sent by Salvador. He was specifically there to oversee the Sullivan family.

How could those in high positions ever fully trust a family that held military power?

Carissa chuckled. "Actually, there's no need for you to get involved. There's someone else who is perfect for this task."

Everyone looked at her, curiosity written on their faces, waiting for her to reveal who she meant.

Carissa only grinned and replied, "Don't worry, I'll speak to him first."

Victory Pass was far from Salvador's reach, and the military and local government were technically separate. However, in a region frequently plagued by war, the military naturally held a higher status. Yet, the balance between the two had been remarkably maintained.

The Sullivan family didn't compete for status because their goals lay elsewhere.

But to others, this made them seem easy to manipulate.

Now, it wasn't like Carissa wanted to fight for status on their behalf either. Orphanages existed in many parts of Starhaven, funded by the court and managed by local government offices.

If other states could have them, why not Victory Pass? The reason was simple: it wasn't considered a political achievement and would require significant funds. Yet, this seemingly insignificant achievement was exactly what Kendrick needed.

He knew he had to remain low-key and unremarkable, but he also couldn't bear to be seen as a useless prince. If he could earn a good reputation, it might elevate his standing when he returned to the capital.

Most importantly, the entire endeavor would bring him benefits without any drawbacks. From his behavior at the relay station, it was clear that he occasionally liked to make a splash, even if just a little.

So, let him have this.