On the twenty-fourth day of December, a snowstorm had swept through the morning. The sky was overcast, and the biting wind cut through like a blade.Lily gazed at the gloomy sky, and prayed, "Today, our mistress is getting married. Heaven has already been unkind to the Sinclair family and to our mistress. Could you please grant us a clear day? I will pray diligently to the Lord every day."Early this morning, Carissa was awakened and taken by the staff from Elegance Atelier. They were there to cleanse her face, ensuring it was properly cared for so that her makeup would look its best.The staff applied some sort of paste to her face, instructing her to lie still and not speak. Feeling overwhelmed and having barely slept the night before, Carissa soon fell into a deep sleep while lying down on a chaise lounge.It was only last night that she had fully resigned herself to the fact that her master, Violet, and the others wouldn't be coming. Although she understood it was her own doing
Before long, Ryan returned in his new clothes.Over the past few months, he had grown taller. The outfit, which had been custom-made, fit him perfectly. The white silk satin was embroidered with rabbits, and the outfit featured a small cape made of leather with a black exterior and blue lining. The hood of the cape, when draped over his back, gave him the appearance of a young hero. His hair was tied up with a blue silk ribbon, making him look both adorable and festive."Let me see," Carissa said, holding his hand and inspecting him from top to bottom. His freshly powdered face was still flushed and warm, but he wore a beaming smile. "Gosh! Is this our boy, Ryan? I almost didn't recognize you. You look truly wonderful."Ryan blushed slightly. "Those are just things to say to little kids, Aunt Carissa. I'm not a little kid anymore.""Of course you are," Carissa said with affection. "In my eyes, you will always be a little kid." She hugged him, feeling the warmth of family.Sally
Lily invited the staff from Elegance Atelier outside for a meal. The banquet had already been set up, and people needed to eat in advance as the bride would need to set out in the evening.After the meal, the staff from Elegance Atelier wouldn't leave immediately. One of them would accompany the procession to Hell Monarch Estate.After partaking in the nuptial wine, the bride and groom would need to offer wine to their elders as a show of respect. Given the numerous guests at Hell Monarch Estate and the constant movement for the traditional ceremonies, it was crucial to have someone on hand to ensure the bride's makeup remained intact.When it was three in the afternoon, it was time for the dowry to be sent out.The sound of drums filled the air as the Sinclair family's younger members personally carried out the dowry. With sixty-four loads of valuables and treasures, including one precious painting by Kyle, it was a sight to behold.Silverstone Estate and Northwatch Estate were o
After the Inferno Guild, the next announcement came from the capital's physician's office, Arcane Sanctum. They had sent various precious medicinal herbs, including a century-old rare herb and snow lily.Following Arcane Sanctum was the Tideborn Guild, which also sent rare treasures. Among them, Mystic Pearls were the most prized. They seemed determined to outdo the Inferno Guild, delivering three jars of Mystic Pearls, along with a variety of gemstones. Their offerings filled three entire boxes.Viola grew colder, and trembled with each announcement. The more she heard, the more her body shook.Carissa also felt her body shiver more with every announcement. She could hardly hear the list of gifts, only the names of the guilds. Many of these guilds were unfamiliar to her. Why would they add to her trousseau? It must have been her master who informed them.Finally, after hearing announcements from six or seven more guilds, Carissa recognized the voice of her fifth guild senior.
With the dowry already dispatched, it would be less than half an hour before Carissa was to be married.Rafael had previously promised to personally come for the bride, so Carissa's tear-streaked makeup would once again need to be attended to by the staff from Elegance Atelier.Yet Carissa couldn't stop crying. She pounded on Adrian's chest, then struck Kyle's arm, and finally clung to Winona. "Winona, I thought all of you wouldn't come. I was so distressed. I thought all of you didn't want me anymore."Winona's smile was tinged with sadness as she gently wiped Carissa's tears. Her eyes betrayed the weariness and sorrow she felt.Oh, the younger woman she saw as a younger sister had endured so much suffering and hardship.She felt her heart ache. After wiping Carissa's tears, she said gently, "Let's stop those tears, okay? Today’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life, so you need to look the most beautiful. How can you be crying?"Winona was tall and graceful, and she a
Frederick wiped his eyes as he approached Carissa. "My lady, the bridal carriage will soon arrive. Please hurry and touch up your makeup."Now that her master and fellow guild members were here, Carissa felt a pang of reluctance as the time drew near for her to marry. She hesitated, and asked, "Could we delay by two hours?""That's not possible, my lady. You must complete the ceremony within the allocated time."Winona took her hand gently. "Come, let's get your makeup sorted out. It's a joyful day, so why are you crying and fussing? That's inappropriate. We've come to see you off, and we'll accompany you to Hell Monarch Estate. We have seats reserved there for the wedding banquet."Carissa blinked, her eyes misty. "So, Prince Rafael knows all of you are coming?""He does, but he didn't know that you were unaware."Well, if that was the case, Rafael hadn't withheld the information from her.With her mood steadied, Carissa stood and bowed in thanks to the heads of the various g
Carissa instinctively reached for Adrian's hand, only to see a different hand extended toward her.The hand was broad and long, with a palm covered in calluses, fingers slender and nails neatly trimmed. Most importantly, just above the palm, she could see a white sleeve embroidered with griffin patterns.The griffin pattern was allowed to be used on a prince's wedding garment or even normal ceremonial robes, but the sky griffin pattern was not.It was Rafael, her husband-to-be.Regaining her composure, Carissa placed her hand in his. He, too, seemed unfamiliar with holding hands. He first enveloped her hand with his palm, then awkwardly turned it a few times to find a proper fit before finally interlocking their fingers.Carissa's heart raced wildly, pounding so loudly it felt as though it might burst through her eardrums. But if it were possible, she would have heard Rafael's heartbeat quickening in tandem with hers, a sensation so intense it bordered on dizziness.Rafael led he
The two wedding processions collided head-on.Barrett looked at Rafael, and Rafael looked back at Barrett.Their gazes met, and Rafael felt nothing but gratitude. He was thankful Barrett had abandoned Carissa. However, gratitude was one thing—the fact that Barrett had previously wronged Carissa was another matter.Barrett's eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions. Once, he had been just as passionate and proud while bringing Carissa into his home. Back then, he had felt like the happiest man in the world.Yet, fate was cruel. Now, Carissa was the Hell Monarch's princess consort, while Barrett had married and divorced different women, never truly finding fulfillment.Because of that, Barrett's complex gaze was filled with traces of envy, jealousy, resentment, bitterness, discomfort, and heartache. At this moment, he seemed to fully realize that he and Carissa could never go back—there really was no connection between them anymore.It was this clear realization that led B
Sitting in front of her vanity table, Sylvia suddenly recalled that the dress she had once asked her mother to order from Camila had been delivered. She had intended to wear it at the New Year's Eve banquet.The dress was a rich shade of sunset yellow, embroidered with delicate camellia flower blossoms. Charming and vivid, the hem of the skirt flowed in graceful waves, the brightness of its color giving it an air of both beauty and refinement.Sylvia asked Heidi to bring the dress over and help her into it. She gazed into the mirror, entranced by her own reflection. While doing so, she noted that although she looked a little haggard, she remained as stunning as ever. Her skin was still pale and smooth, free from the slightest sign of age or fatigue.Her slender, pale fingers traced the intricate embroidery as she murmured softly to herself, "Ms. Moore's needlework is indeed extraordinary. This dress surpasses even the finest dress I own. How truly exquisite."Heidi knelt at her sid
The next morning, Rafael announced Connor’s death, leaving the entire court in shock and mourning."His Majesty is overcome with grief and has fallen ill. For the next few days, matters regarding the kingdom will be handled by myself and Mr. Murray. The arrangements for Prince Connor's funeral will be overseen by the Royal Management Department and the Protocol Department," Rafael said solemnly.Malcolm staggered, barely keeping his balance. His eyes were bloodshot from a sleepless night. Even though he had mentally prepared himself, the news still hit him hard.The news reached the inner palace at the same time. Since returning last night, Kylie had been wailing inconsolably, demanding to see Connor. Upon hearing the dreadful news, she fainted once more. Thankfully, a royal physician had been stationed at Everspring Palace and was able to revive her.Once the queen was conscious again, her screams echoed throughout the entire area.At Iridescent Palace, Grace felt a mix of relief
Salvador announced his decision before asking Rafael about the investigation.The king knew the colt wouldn't go wild for no reason. He had asked about the horses before—some had a bit of a temper, but the children had already tamed them.Rafael didn't hide anything and handed over the caltrop. "Someone placed this under the saddle. When the saddle was empty, the thorn caused only a mild discomfort to the horse. But once Prince Connor got on, the sharp spikes stabbed into the horse's flesh, causing it to go berserk from the pain."Salvador's gaze grew cold as he looked at Carissa. "Did no one inspect the saddles beforehand?"Carissa hurriedly responded, "Your Majesty, we checked thoroughly. The horses were under constant guard, and aside from the three princes and Ryan, no one was allowed near them. They led their own horses; no one else handled them during the journey."Victoria's expression was equally grim. "I gave strict orders to the guards. The horses, the three princes, and
Salvador's question hung heavy in the air, and for a long moment, Sebastian remained silent. His brow furrowed as he pondered, considering every possibility, weighing the odds.The only sounds that filled the room were strained, shallow breaths and the pounding of hearts, creating a silence so profound it was suffocating and seemed to echo with despair.At last, Sebastian slowly said, "There isn't really a solution. At best, there's a desperate gamble. But the chances of success… are very, very low.""Tell us. Just say it," Victoria urged, even more anxious than Salvador.Sebastian let out a deep sigh. "Even this gamble depends on him surviving the next three days. If he makes it through, I'll take him to Eldermere Keep. There, we will soak him in a brew made from the Everbind Herb, which grows only on those grounds. It might save his life. But the chances are slim. He may not last long enough to even get there.""Can't we gather the Everbind Herb and bring it here? How would we m
Connor was transferred to a smaller palace within the royal gardens. It was impossible to return him to the main palace at the moment, with the only choice being to treat him nearby.As for his condition, everyone could guess by looking at Sebastian's face. It seemed like it wasn't looking good.Rafael had the room cleared of any unnecessary witnesses, though he did not yet report the findings of the investigation. There were still questions to be answered, and the search for answers continued.All the concubines, as well as Kylie, returned to the main palace. The queen had initially refused to leave her son's side, adamant in her decision to stay with him. But upon seeing Connor's condition, she fainted once more. It was then that Salvador gave the order to have her escorted away.Ryan had also resisted leaving. He wouldn't abandon his friend, no matter the circumstances, and insisted on remaining at his side. Seeing the boy's resolve, Rafael allowed him to stay.Salvador remaine
The guards were unable to restrain Kylie, who rushed past the partition screens. One glance at her blood-soaked son was enough to make her release a piercing scream of horror before collapsing in a faint.Thankfully, royal physicians were also present. The servants quickly ushered the queen out, allowing a royal physician to attend to her. Once revived, Kylie's sobs were unrestrained, her cries echoing with raw anguish.Leading some men, Rafael took swift action to restore order. He intercepted the frenzied horse and set the wheels of investigation in motion, determined to uncover what had caused such madness.Inside the makeshift room, Salvador knelt beside Connor. As his trembling hands gently brushed the bloodied face of his son, his palms became stained with crimson.Telling the king to move aside, Sebastian quickly administered needle treatment, meant to simply keep Connor alive for a little longer. The priority now was to stop the bleeding in the eldest prince's head.The bo
Carissa ended up with a mouthful of dust. The sandy ground was nothing like the grassy fields. It had no beauty at all, just clouds of dust flying everywhere. Even standing inside the racetrack, she could hardly see who was in the lead.It looked like Joseph's youngest son, Ingram Carter.As the horses cleared the hurdles, it became clear that it was indeed Ingram. His horse had pulled ahead by a full length, and he continued to extend his lead with impressive speed.While lively, the race was not a formal contest. It was merely a display to flatter the royal princes, so the position of first place held little significance.None of the riders were willing to push themselves too hard, lest they raise the princes' anxiety by excelling too greatly. Thus, the others refrained from catching up. However, the pace was swift, even if it was not their peak performance.By the time the current riders reached the third lap, Ryan and the three princes were preparing to mount their horses. Onc
Carissa was especially busy today. Her presence was felt throughout the palace grounds, as she hurriedly moved from one task to the next. Now, she was back at the racetrack, overseeing the arrangements and ensuring everything was in order.The equestrian competition was set to begin shortly. A large group of military officers and young men from noble families had already gathered outside the track. All of them held their horses, eagerly awaiting their turn.The event itself was straightforward—each rider was to complete three laps around the track. At intervals, two-foot-high hurdles would be placed in their path, and each rider would need to leap their horse over the barriers without knocking them down. The winner would be the first to complete all three laps.In truth, calling it a "competition" was somewhat of an exaggeration.For well-trained horses and skilled riders, the two-foot barriers posed little challenge. But the height had been chosen specifically for the three royal
The stables had already been thoroughly inspected. The horses were fed and groomed, ready for the day's festivities. The four children chattered excitedly, each tending to their own mount while exchanging lively remarks about the grand occasion.Despite Sylvia's fall from favor, Cecil seemed entirely unaffected. His face was bright with a cheerful smile.Naturally, Sylvia was present as well. No matter how she was treated within the harem, she remained, in the eyes of the public, Cecil's mother and an esteemed concubine of the kingdom.However, Jeanette had been too unwell to make the journey and had remained behind.Leading their horses out for a short ride, Cecil decided to test himself. Previously, he had always required assistance to mount. Today, he attempted the feat alone. To his delight, he succeeded in swinging himself onto his horse's back without aid.His face lit up with triumph. "Connor, Caden, Ryan! Look at me! I did it all by myself!"His exuberance was infectious.