Once Kylie had settled into her seat, Carissa and Lulu approached and knelt respectfully. "Greetings, Your Majesty."Kylie's gentle voice drifted down from above, "Lady Sinclair, there is no need for such formality. Please rise.""Thank you, Your Majesty." Carissa and Lulu stood, but remained in their place.Kylie assessed Carissa. She had seen this woman before, and even then, Carissa's beauty had been striking. Now, having returned from the battlefield, her complexion had changed, but she was still undeniably a breathtaking beauty, capable of withstanding the scrutiny of any observer.Kylie thought about Salvador's instruction to inquire whether Carissa would be willing to enter the palace. The thought made her stomach churn with unease. A capable and stunning woman like Carissa might become the king's favored concubine if she entered the palace. Though she would never surpass the queen in rank, winning Salvador's heart could render Kylie's position precarious.Yet, Kylie ha
As Carissa left Evergreen Palace, she bumped into Rafael.He looked as though he was still suffering from a hangover, his complexion pale and unwell. He was still dressed in the battle-worn uniform he had worn upon returning to the capital the previous day, stained with blood and dirt. The familiar scent of sweat from him lingered in the air as he leaned against the red palace gate. His messy hair had been straightened out, and he now wore a gold crown. It seemed out of place with the battered uniform, making his appearance quite peculiar.He cast a lazy glance her way, and the sunlight shone on his dark eyes, which did little to liven his demeanor.Carissa stepped forward, and greeted him respectfully. “Your Highness, did you stay overnight in the palace?”"Yes, I did." Rafael nodded, giving her a cursory look. “You look quite elegant. You resemble a noble lady from the capital.”Carissa smiled. “I am a noble lady from the capital.”He looked taken aback for a moment, then nod
Rafael's smile faltered momentarily. Yes, Carissa viewed him and Salvador as brothers. But as long as she stayed out of the palace, Rafael could take his time to develop a relationship with her. He saluted respectfully, and took his leave.Salvador cast a final glance at Rafael's retreating figure. After a moment, he called out, "Derek!""Yes, Your Majesty!" Derek hurried in through the doors, bowing deeply.Salvador instructed, "Deliver my edict. If Carissa does not find a suitable match within three months, she will enter the palace as a concubine."Derek lowered his gaze and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty.""Also, inform Rafael of my edict, but do not add any extra commentary," Salvador added.Derek responded, "Understood, Your Majesty. I will attend to it immediately.""Go on then," Salvador calmly said as he lowered his gaze.No sooner had Derek left than a report came that Kylie had arrived.Having a good idea of why she was here, Salvador said, "Let her in."Kylie enter
Just as Carissa reached Northwatch Estate, Derek came personally to deliver Salvador’s edict.Carissa was stunned. If she couldn't find a suitable husband in three months, she would have to enter the palace?She quickly asked Derek to stay, and dismissed everyone else. "Mr. Walker, can you tell me what exactly His Majesty means?"If Salvador was determined to have her enter the palace, there was no need to give her three months to find a suitor. With the edict out, no one would dare to marry her. It seemed like another form of coercion, leaving her with no option but to enter the palace.However, if he had used his authority and still granted these three months...There was something odd about this edict.Derek pondered momentarily, and said, "Perhaps His Majesty thinks that if someone dares to propose to you within these three months and challenge his will, he would believe that person truly cares for you.""But why is the king so concerned with my marriage?""Didn’t you say i
Carissa didn’t mention Salvador’s strange edict to her friends. Instead, she simply thanked them for their help in the Southern Frontier.“The Sandorian soldiers killed my father and brothers. My trip to the Southern Frontier was primarily for revenge. You’ve helped me achieve that, and I will remember this kindness.”Hearing this, everyone felt a lot better. Indeed, Carissa’s father and brothers had been killed by the Sandorian soldiers. According to the martial world’s code, a life for a life was a matter of principle. They had merely assisted Carissa in avenging her family, and need not dwell on anything beyond that.Putting aside her own troubles, Carissa said, “Now that everyone’s well-rested and well-fed, how about we go out and shop? Also, please help me bring some items back to my master.”“That sounds good,” Violet replied. “But we don’t have any money. The king hasn’t given us our reward yet.”Travis looked at Carissa blankly. “Do you think the king might have forgotte
Rebecca was furious, and her face twisted into an ugly expression.Though a hundred gold coins were a substantial amount, their journey to the battlefield wasn’t driven by the prospect of rewards. Knowing that Barrett had been on the verge of promotion but was demoted due to taking the fall for Aurora, Rebecca was particularly upset. Adding to her frustration was the fact that Aurora’s failed command during the siege had resulted in both reward and punishment, leaving Barrett with only a hundred gold coins. The news nearly gave her a stroke.Her health, already fragile, deteriorated further from repeated bouts of anger, leading her to faint during the night. She had to call for a doctor, who administered acupuncture to revive her. But now, with the need to buy medicine again, she had already exhausted her funds. The money for the tea party had been borrowed, and with only a hundred gold coins received, there was barely enough to cover debts, let alone purchase much-needed medic
Serena was terrified by Aurora’s fierce gaze. She stumbled backward and fell onto the edge of the bed, tears streaming down her face. “Mom, she hit me!” she cried. Seeing her beloved daughter being struck, Rebecca could barely contain her anger. “Barrett, you need to keep your wife in check!”Barrett stood before Aurora, his face drawn with fatigue and inner turmoil. “How could you hit her? She spoke out of turn, but you could have reprimanded her instead.”Aurora’s expression was a mix of disappointment and bitterness. “So what if I hit her? She’s been spreading lies about me! Why aren’t you criticizing her?”“I wasn't the one who said those things! It’s what everyone else is saying! If you have the guts, go deal with them!” Serena sobbed, her eyes burning with resentment. “You’re too scared to confront outsiders, so you’re just taking your frustration out on me! Do you think you're so great for doing that?”Aurora’s voice was sharp and unyielding. “What others say is their
“How absurd!”Charlotte slammed her fist on the table. Her face, illuminated by the dim light of the courtyard, reflected her fury.Benjamin and Amelia, chastised by her outburst, lowered their heads and remained silent, too afraid to speak.“How dare you ask me to go to Northwatch Estate?! How can I show my face there? Am I to tell them that Barrett regrets his decision because he married a venomous woman who beat her father-in-law? "A household in disarray, and now, she’s expected to come back and clean up the mess, use her dowry to pay for her mother-in-law’s medical expenses, and provide seasonal clothes for her younger sister-in-law?“Shame on you for even suggesting it! When you wanted Barrett to divorce her, did you show any compassion? You even tried to claim her dowry! If it weren’t for the king granting the divorce edict, wouldn't you have also claimed her estate and shops? "If you have the nerve, go ahead and ask her! I won’t! Even if my face were as thick as a city