In the bathing chamber, Rafael's nightwear had already been laid out. It was blue, made from a comfortable fabric with only subtle cloud patterns, matching the nightwear Carissa was about to change into in both color and style.It wasn't entirely without embroidery, though. The cuffs featured some stitching: one sleeve bore the words "eternal harmony," while the other sleeve had "blessing of a child," symbolizing good wishes.Rafael had bathed and groomed himself the previous night, knowing that this evening might extend late into the night.When he emerged from the bathing chamber, dressed in the blue nightwear, he looked both clean and handsome. After spending some time in the capital, his complexion had become notably fairer.Carissa remembered meeting him on the battlefield. Back then, his face had been covered in a rugged beard, and he looked as unkempt as one could possibly be. It was hard to imagine that the man before her now was the same person.The candles cast a warm gl
At around seven in the morning, Lily knocked on the door from outside. The inner and outer rooms were separated by a curtain, with the door to the bedroom in the outer area.Hearing the knock, Rafael and Carissa both opened their eyes and sat up almost simultaneously. Both were naturally alert.Carissa glanced at Rafael, noting he was without clothing, and suddenly realized she was in the same state. She quickly grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around herself. Her face flushed hotly and she assumed she was blushing.Recalling the previous night's events, Rafael felt he had not performed very well. He wasn't quite comfortable meeting his wife's gaze directly, and was still getting used to the intimacy they shared. So, he quickly grabbed his nightclothes and hid under the covers to put them on.Once dressed, he cleared his throat and said, "I'll get up first. You… you should put on your nightclothes, then call someone in to help you change."Why did this feel so awkward? He didn't
Rafael needed to wear formal court attire, but he couldn't manage it on his own—it was simply too complicated. In the end, he took the attire out to the outer room and called for Luke and a servant to help him dress.He wore a crown and a green outfit with griffin patterns embroidered on the shoulders. His waist was bound with a blue sash, and on either side of his waist hung emerald pendants decorated with gold-etched cloud and griffin patterns, threaded with emerald beads. The pendants were fastened with golden hooks and secured with four-colored ribbons.The grand sash was woven in red, white, azure, and green. Rafael's tall, slender frame made him appear even more imposing and dignified in this luxurious attire.Carissa still needed to lightly brush her eyebrows and apply a touch of powder. Even with her naturally stunning beauty, it wouldn't do to face the day without any makeup. Once she was fully dressed and groomed, Carissa was escorted out by Lily, Lulu, and her other att
The scene before Helen was truly pleasing to the eye. Her son was handsome, and Carissa was beautiful. Both of them exuded a cold, imposing aura—a true match as husband and wife.Just a moment ago, Gillian had rushed in to report that it had been confirmed Carissa was indeed chaste, and that she had only consummated her marriage with Rafael the previous night.Helen was quite satisfied with this news, though her satisfaction was limited to the fact that Carissa was pure. As for this being Carissa's second marriage, she hadn't fully come to terms with it yet.Helen sat upright, her demeanor proud, and her gaze carried an air of authority.Suppressing his anger, Rafael led Carissa forward by the hand. They knelt down, and bowed their heads in greeting.Gillian, holding a tray, stood to the side and spoke. "The new bride offers a toast to Lady Helen!" Carissa took the cup, respectfully offering it to Helen with both hands. "Mother, please have some wine."Helen waited for a mome
Carissa smiled, though she was nearly grinding her teeth.Still, she maintained a gentle tone as she agreed with her mother-in-law."You're right, Mother. Business does have its ups and downs. Oh, by the way… Do you and Grand Princess Eleanor split the profits of the jewelry shop evenly? Did you sign a contract? And since it opened, have you reviewed the account books?"Helen puffed up with pride, like a peacock. "Of course we signed a contract! Do you take me for a fool? It's not an even split—I've taken seventy percent. Naturally, I've looked at the account books. They send them every season, and I've checked them thoroughly. We've indeed been running at a loss.""Oh? So, you hold the majority share? That means when there's a loss, you have to contribute more money to cover it. How much money have you put in over the years? Have you been keeping track?" Carissa pressed. "Of course I've kept track. Every time I put in money, I note it down," Helen said.Good, that was a start.
The queen dowager had sharp eyes—she immediately noticed her younger sister's discontent. After Rafael and Carissa went to greet the king and queen, Victoria held back Helen and Gillian for a private conversation.She first addressed Gillian. "Now that you've left the palace and entered the household, things are different. Social interactions are inevitable, and any misstep in words or deeds could bring trouble to Rafael's reputation. So, you must be even more careful in your conduct, with no room for error. "Your mistress was raised by you and has been spoiled by you, but if you notice anything amiss in the future, you must speak up immediately. If she intends to do something inappropriate, you must persuade her otherwise. Do you understand?""Yes, Your Majesty, I understand," Gillian replied respectfully.However, Helen pouted. "Victoria, what could I possibly do wrong? Besides, I'll be managing the household affairs from now on, with Gillian and Luke assisting me, and Jacob
The king and queen received Rafael and Carissa in the Great Hall.After the formalities and greetings, Salvador granted them seats. Kylie glanced at Carissa, who was adorned with simple, elegant makeup, and let out a slight sigh of relief. At least everything was settled.Had Carissa truly entered the palace, the harem might have become her domain. Her stunning and ethereal beauty was unmatched by any of the palace concubines.Instinctively, Kylie looked toward Salvador; she saw that he, too, was gazing at Carissa. A tightness gripped her heart—she was all too familiar with that look. Whenever Salvador was drawn to a woman, there was always a trace of lingering fascination in his gaze.Once again, Kylie felt a sense of relief that Carissa had married Rafael. Kylie remembered how Salvador's edict had kept her awake for nights on end. Any other woman might have been fine, but Carissa was different—her fallen brothers and father held significant weight in Salvador's heart, and her
Kylie was truly at her wit's end. As Dakota's son, Kendrick, had married someone from the Quinton family, Helen was also keen on marrying Kiera to the same family. Victoria had tacitly agreed. Salvador, being devoted to his mother, would certainly heed her advice.However, among the Quinton family men, only Logan was uninterested in scholarly pursuits. He spent his days idly walking dogs and playing with cats, while the rest dedicated themselves to rigorous study, striving for a place in the court. Particularly, Kylie's fifth brother, Marcus, had devoted himself to intense study from a young age, aiming for top honors. If he were to marry Kiera and become a mere idle nobleman like Henry, what would be the point of his efforts?Kylie knew she couldn't interfere directly in Kiera's marriage arrangements, so she sought Carissa's help. She had expected Carissa to be reluctant, but Carissa's final words had shown her intentions clearly. Kylie felt a deep sense of gratitude."If