Melody of Strength novel

hapter 243

After he finished writing, Ryan was exhausted, Carissa urged him to rest and watched as he fell asleep, unable to bring herself to leave his side. She was terrified that if she stepped away, the fragile dreamlike peace she felt would shatter, and Ryan would be gone when she returned to reality.

Her heart ached to see the child suffer so much. Watching him limp painfully as he walked felt like a thousand needles piercing her heart.

Rafael had already begun arranging their return to the capital. Ryan needed to see Sebastian for treatment as soon as possible, no time could be wasted. At seven years old, Ryan was still as small as he had been at five, and it was unclear what other poisons he might have been exposed to. It was difficult for any of them to feel at ease until Ryan was examined thoroughly.

Rafael had also instructed the Eldorian governor to submit an urgent report to the king on his behalf, detailing the situation. The preservation of even a small part of the Duke of Northwatch’s family bloodline would surely bring joy to the king and the

entire court

There was also the matter of the Klein family, Ryan would be a form of salvation for them as well.

The massacre of the Duke of Northwatch’s family was not just a matter of everyone being killed–it had been a scene of utter brutality, with each person suffering multiple wounds. The fact that the body presumed to be Ryan had its head severed, as well as its face and body mutilated to the point of being unrecognizable, was chilling to recall

Upon hearing the news of the massacre back then, the Klein family’s matriarch, ingrid, had fainted on the spot. The elderly woman had raised Yvette since childhood and had been particularly close to her. Meanwhile, the Klein family’s patriarch was so grief–stricken he had fallen from the stone steps due to dizziness and passed away the next day.

Under such a grim shadow, the Klein family had scarcely participated in any activities over the past two years, avoiding public events and ceremonies in the capital.

Two days later, Rafael and Carissa set off for the capital by carriage.

With Lighting pulling the cartage, Rafael took on the role of coachman, while Carissa stayed in the carriage with Ryan.

Carissa took out the starcake Lily had packed and gave it to Ryan. As he ate, tears streamed down his face and he gestured with his hands, wanting to say how delicious it was. Understanding his intentions, Carissa’s heart ached.

“From now on, if you want something to eat, just let the kitchen know. They will make it for you,” she said,

Ryan’s eyes brightened for a moment but then quickly dimmed,

Returning home was bittersweet–though the house remained, his family was gone, As far as he knew, his aunt was married and now lived in Valor Estate, which meant she couldn’t be with him all the time.

So, throughout the journey, Ryan clung to Carissa. Even at night, when they stayed at inns, he insisted on sleeping in the same room as her.

Though Carissa had brought some medicines with her, she only dared to give her nephew the ones meant for restoring strength and vitality. She was afraid to administer anything else, unsure of his current condition or what poisons he might have been exposed to. She feared that using the wrong medicine might worsen his

condition.

Back when she just returned from Meadow Ridge, Ryan still spoke in a childlike voice. By the time she married Barrett, he had begun to act like a little adult. His grandmother had told him that he was to grow up to be a man of the Duke of Northwatch’s family, and that he would be responsible for protecting his aunt and his siblings. That had led him to adopt a serious tone, trying to appear mature,

His attempts to act like an adult were particularly amusing. Thinking back on how he used to mimic seriousness made Carissa smile through her tears.

During the journey, Rafael spoke very little to Carissa, as Ryan resisted everyone and didn’t allow the prince to approach her. Despite knowing Rafael had saved him, he remained fearful and wary.

Carissa tried to explain that Rafael was a good person, but Ryan wouldn’t listen. At night, in an inn, he wrote down his reasons for distrusting the prince.

Since Rafael was a tall, intimidating man, he could use a whip to beat people or kick them. Men like him could also pick others up by their collars and throw them into a water tank, holding their heads down until they almost drowned before pulling them

out.

Carissa read each word carefully, learning more about the horrors Ryan had endured

over the past two years. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart.

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