Once Carissa finished writing down their orders, she showed them to Rafael. He reviewed it and said happily, "These are all to my liking. Let's go with this."Then, he turned to Dylan. "Dylan, take this and place the orders."Dylan nodded and took the paper, then went out to place the order. He returned shortly afterward."What happened in the inner courtyard? Did they doubt the birthday gift you brought and think it was a fake? Did they also try to bully you?" Rafael had a general idea, but wanted to hear it from her directly.Carissa took a sip of water to soothe her dry throat, and said, "They couldn't bully me, but there were indeed some who targeted me and didn't take me seriously."Lulu chimed in, "My lady, the last few things you said really frightened me. How could you dare to speak so boldly? What if Grand Princess Eleanor decides to retaliate?"Carissa replied, "Whether I say it or not, she was going to make things difficult for me anyway. I might as well get it off m
Just then, the waiter brought out the food to be served, and Carissa fell silent. She watched as each dish was laid out before them. Among them was her favorite—spicy stuffed peppers. Their vibrant red and green hues looked utterly appetizing.There was a variety of dishes, both spicy and mild options, and the fragrant aroma soon filled the room.Carissa was ravenous. She picked up her utensils, and addressed Rafael's earlier question. "When we left, Frederick mentioned that over the years, Lord Henry had taken many concubines. Most of them died after giving birth. I thought, if a concubine dies, it could be due to an accident or childbirth complications, but for so many to die—it's hard not to be suspicious."As she spoke, she picked up a stuffed pepper and placed it on her plate. She also served some to Rafael. "Try some of this. It's the star of all the dishes."Then, she spooned a small amount of red chili and green chili onto his plate."Okay." Rafael looked at the bright
Carissa also noticed that Rafael started coughing as soon as he ate, and his cheeks turned red from the coughing. Clearly, he wasn't used to spicy food. So why did he choose this restaurant?She moved the list of non-spicy dishes to his side, and said, "Even though you like spicy food, I think your throat is sore today. You should avoid spicy dishes for now and eat something lighter.""My throat does feel off," Rafael said, clearing his throat as he felt the lingering burn from the spices. It was quite uncomfortable."I'll have someone bring you a glass of milk," Carissa said, standing up to open the door to the private room. She called for a waiter to bring a cup of milk."Milk can help neutralize the spiciness," she said with a smile, as if comforting a child. "Drink up."Rafael took the glass of milk. It had a slight gamey taste, but it was cool and refreshing, making it bearable. More importantly, it was a gesture of her thoughtfulness.He appreciated her unspoken underst
Rafael continued to put food on her plate, but he avoided answering her question.Carissa suppressed her curiosity. After all, it wasn't a particularly important matter.He smiled, and deflected by saying, "After Grand Princess Eleanor's birthday banquet today, I'm sure there will be many new topics among the noble families in the capital."Carissa gave him a playful glare. "Yes, many noble ladies will have their hearts broken. When Lady Helen announced our engagement, many looked at me with disdain.""There will be many who envy and resent me," Rafael said meaningfully. At least Barrett would regret it. Even Salvador had been moved as well."Not really. Who would want a woman who has been divorced?" Carissa said. Rafael tapped her forehead lightly with the end of his spoon. "You're about to become the Hell Monarch's princess consort. Are you still belittling yourself?""Such is the way of the world." She tapped him back playfully, then quickly moved away, smiling. "I'm not b
After returning from Grand Princess Eleanor's birthday banquet, Rebecca fell ill. She developed a high fever in the middle of the night, and kept mumbling incoherently.Amelia urgently summoned a doctor, and Benjamin was sent to fetch Barrett, who was staying at an inn. At first, Barrett thought it was a trick, but upon returning and seeing his mother shivering uncontrollably and mumbling nonsensical words, he realized her condition was indeed serious.It was a rare sight, but Aurora also came over to help. She hadn't seen Barrett for several days. Her pride had prevented her from seeking him out, believing that this was still his home and he would eventually return.Barrett didn't look at her, but urgently asked, "Why did she suddenly fall ill? Why is it so severe?"Serena burst into tears. "What else could it be? It's all because of Carissa! She also attended Grand Princess Eleanor's birthday banquet. She took advantage of her upcoming marriage to the Hell Monarch, and had the au
In the dead of night, everything finally erupted. Feeling utterly exhausted, Amelia turned and left the room.Behind her, shouts and screams filled the air, and Serena's piercing cries mingled with the chaotic uproar. Amelia slowly made her way to the main hall of the inner estate. It was the same chair where Carissa used to sit when she was managing the household affairs.Managing those affairs was no easy task. Carissa had always handled it with patience and a pleasant demeanor, even enduring long nights when Rebecca was ill. She would never rest, and was always attending to what needed to be done.Carissa had seemed tireless, but who wasn't tired? It was just a matter of persevering through it all.Amelia had never understood this before, but now, she saw it all too clearly.She sank into a chair, staring at the empty hall. To conserve oil, only one lantern was lit in the corridor, casting a dim light that illuminated the desolate tables and chairs. Valor Estate felt like a m
As Barrett began his new role, Aurora hoped to secure an official position for herself, even if it were just a minor role in the Capital Guard or as a small team leader in the Mystic Army. She knew her past mistakes would limit her to a lower-ranking post, but given her significant contributions in the victory at Victory Pass, she thought finding a position wouldn't be too difficult.All she wanted was to have a position that would allow her to hold her head high.However, Aurora’s expectations were overly simplistic. Even Carissa, who held only a nominal title, didn't need to report to the Capital Guard Headquarters or participate in Mystic Army training unless specifically required. She had the option to go if needed, but she didn't have to.Aurora waited several days, only to receive a document from the Ministry of Defense stripping her of her military rank and erasing all recognition of her achievements at Victory Pass.She was no longer a general or even a soldier. All her con
After Rafael had gone to the Pathfinders Guild, Helen had once again summoned Carissa to the palace.Following the events at Eleanor's birthday banquet, Helen's view of Carissa had changed. However, it wasn't enough to change her mind about accepting Carissa as her daughter-in-law.Helen considered various approaches; she realized she had no effective means to sway Carissa through coercion, especially given how Carissa had dared to defy Eleanor. It was clear that strong-arm tactics would not work. Thus, Helen decided to appeal to Carissa’s emotions and reason with her, hoping she would voluntarily withdraw.Upon arriving at the Evergreen Palace, Carissa was greeted with a table set with an array of snacks and coffee. Helen was known for her haughty demeanor, but she managed to force a smile, though it was clearly strained and unnatural.After Carissa paid her respects, Helen dismissed the attendants and began to chat with Carissa in a casual manner."I genuinely mean well for yo