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
The carriage pulled up to Harmony Palace. The doorman went inside to report, and soon emerged with a look of apology. "I beg your pardon, Lady Helen and Lady Carissa. I forgot for a moment, but it turns out Grand Princess Eleanor has gone out today."Upon hearing this, Helen turned to Carissa and said, "In that case, we should return for now. We can leave a message and come back tomorrow."Carissa asked the doorman, "Do you know where Grand Princess Eleanor has gone? What time will she return?"The doorman replied, "I'm not sure. She might not be back until very late."Carissa responded, "That's fine. We'll wait."She then took Helen's hand, and moved to enter the residence.Seeing this, the doorman hurried over. "Lady Helen, Lady Carissa, this is Grand Princess Eleanor's residence. You cannot just barge in."Carissa smiled. "How is it barging in? We're here for a visit and will wait for Grand Princess Eleanor to return. Can't this place accommodate guests?"The doorman, wh
Carissa sat for a while, but did not touch the coffee or snacks. Instead, she rose and announced her intention to walk around.In Harmony Palace, guests were generally allowed to explore and enjoy the surroundings, provided that such arrangements had been made in advance. However, uninvited intrusions or requests to wander about were not permitted. There were certain areas within the residence that were off-limits, hiding secrets Eleanor would rather keep concealed.As the princess consort of the Hell Monarch, Carissa was not to be stopped by the household guards. If they dared to interfere or make a remark, they would face severe consequences.Ordinary servants could not halt her advance toward the inner courtyard. Despite several attempts to block her, she skillfully maneuvered past them and made her way with purpose toward the inner courtyard.Just as she approached one of the courtyards, someone shouted loudly, "Grand Princess Eleanor has returned!"Carissa's lips curled int
Eleanor turned to Helen with a look of confusion. "What is this about? Pearls and bets? Wasn't last night just a feast? When did you take any of her dowry? This simply won't do! Dowries are the private property of the daughter-in-law. You cannot take them, even in jest."Helen was taken aback.Over her years of interacting with Eleanor, Helen had suspected that Eleanor might not give up the three thousand silver coins. Even so, Helen had held onto a sliver of hope and thought that Eleanor, being a person of pride, would honor the bet simply to preserve her dignity.Eleanor's complete denial of both the pearls and the bet was beyond Helen's expectations.Dumbfounded, Helen instinctively glanced at Gillian, who was shivering with a reddened face, trying to shield herself with her sleeve and desperately stifling her runny nose.Helen turned back to Carissa, who remained calm and composed, as if she had anticipated this outcome all along.Helen was unwilling to be belittled by Cari
Once Carissa finished speaking, she gave Eleanor a respectful bow. "Aunt Eleanor, you've treated my mother-in-law with such sincerity, which moves me greatly. Though my past reputation is not the best, it is understandable that you have concerns. "However, I promise to be respectful and always prioritize my mother-in-law's wishes. As for the pearls, I had always planned to give some to my mother-in-law. After I visit my family and guild members, I will send a jar of them over. If she wishes to gift them to someone, that is her own decision. As her daughter-in-law, I wouldn't dare interfere."Eleanor understood that Carissa was providing a way out—and she had no choice but to take it.Her carefully maintained reputation for half her life could not be ruined by a few pearls. The way those martial artists favored Carissa was clear to Eleanor from yesterday. Moreover, it was better not to offend Helen too much. Since Helen was now learning to resist, it would be difficult to extrac
Carissa blinked, unable to believe her ears.She looked at the two thousand silver coins in banknotes that had been handed to her, feeling a mix of astonishment and disbelief. Wow, Helen really was generous with her money. It seemed so easy for her to give it out. Carissa could see Helen was truly becoming a gullible fool.No, she already was a fool."Have you finally seen Eleanor's true colors, Mother?" Carissa asked with a smile, her tone considerably softer.Helen's face darkened. "Do you think I'm blind? Even after all this, how can I not have figured her out?""I saw you speaking to her so politely, and thought maybe you were still deceived by her," Carissa replied.Helen snapped, "How can I not speak politely? One of us has to be strict and tough, while the other has to be soft and accommodating. We can't really tear down all the pretenses we have with her. She's on good terms with most of the noblewomen. If she twists things around and tarnishes my reputation, won't I
Helen cast a covert glance at Carissa, who appeared relaxed. A faint smile graced her lips. It was undeniable that Carissa's face was exceptionally beautiful, radiating a clear and refreshing charm.Helen's curiosity was piqued. "Aren't you afraid of Grand Princess Eleanor?"Carissa responded with a question of her own, "Why should I be afraid of her?""She’s the grand princess, the current king's aunt. Even the late king was lenient with her. She controls at least half of the political connections in the capital. Her words alone can tarnish your reputation overnight," said Helen.Carissa remained indifferent. "Didn't you say I'm fearless and lack awareness? Why should I fear a tarnished reputation? If she spreads rumors about me, the hero who reclaimed the Southern Frontier, even her status as the grand princess won’t save her from the scorn of scholars everywhere."Helen thought that while speaking about these matters might seem easy, offending Eleanor could lead to retaliatio
While Kylie was still fervently attempting to bring Cecil to Everspring Palace, Carissa arrived."I have long been waiting for you to ask me whether Prince Connor said anything before he passed, Your Majesty. Yet, you never did," she said, looking at the queen.Kylie sharply turned her head toward her, her expression filled with resistance. "There is no need to speak of it. He would have blamed me, for he was always angry with me.""On the contrary, he said that he loved you very much," Carissa replied.A bitter smile curled on Kylie's lips. She clearly didn't believe Carissa's words."He is gone. Why would you make up such things to make me sad?" she said.Carissa looked at the clear finger marks on Kylie's face and her swollen, red eyes. The pain of losing her son should have been a wound to the soul itself, yet here she was, scheming to bring Cecil to her side.Was it for revenge? Or was she trying to secure leverage, pushing Cecil to become the crown prince and crushing Grac
Victoria couldn't hold back her tears upon hearing those words. Connor was a dutiful child, and it was unfortunate that Kylie remained blind to that.Night had fully fallen by the time they set off.Kyle and Isaac, accompanied by Sebastian's apprentices, escorted them. The journey had been well-prepared by Rafael. The carriage wheels had been altered, and several layers of soft padding had been laid inside.Sebastian had also ensured that Connor's injuries were properly secured, wrapping him in several layers. Each layer was padded with cotton, both to keep him warm and to reduce the damage from the bumps during the journey.The bitter cold had driven everyone indoors, leaving the streets deserted. Snow fell in a steady, gentle stream, blanketing the cobblestones in a thin layer of frost. The carriage wheels crunched over the icy coating, the soft sound a contrast to the stillness of the night.Salvador watched for a long time, well past the point when the convoy had disappeared f
Connor had endured for three days, a feat that even Sebastian had not anticipated. Given the severity of his injuries, it was highly unlikely that he would survive past the second day, yet he defied expectations and lingered on.As had been mentioned earlier, his survival meant that the internal bleeding had ceased. Though the journey ahead wasn't ideal, it was their only option. They had to set out.Over the past three days, Victoria and Salvador had scarcely slept, remaining by Connor's side the entire time.Connor was only awake for brief moments. When he was, his face was pale from the excruciating pain, leaving him unable to speak. But when he opened his eyes and saw his grandmother and father, it seemed to give him the strength to keep going.He had no idea how much his determination had moved everyone. For three days, each time he woke, he endured the pain, only to drift back to sleep after the needle treatment. Asleep or awake, the only thing that filled his mind and dreams
Keith sighed. "Lady Sylvia, surely Prince Cecil must be allowed to speak for himself. Even if he is innocent, it should be him who says so.""There's no need for him to speak. What I say is the truth," Sylvia declared firmly.Her gaze shifted to Carissa, her eyes glinting with an icy, cutting hostility. "I know what you seek, Lady Carissa. You wish to satisfy your duty and claim merits. And since I have never treated you kindly, you will believe that Cecil and I are guilty, even when the evidence is not so clear. But I won't allow you to succeed. I won't allow you to harm my son. I will make my stand with my own life, if necessary."As soon as Sylvia finished speaking, she reached for the scissors on the table. With a swift, deliberate motion, she plunged it into her own throat.Carissa had already been on alert, but she didn't expect the concubine's actions to be so immediate and without any hesitation. By the time she reached Sylvia, the woman had already removed the scissors, an
By the time they arrived at Laurel Palace, the sky had darkened.Laurel Palace stood in an isolated corner of the palace district, separated from the Cold Palace by only a single wall. The bitter wind howled through the trees, its wailing like the cries of restless spirits.As Carissa led Victoria's head chamberlain, Keith, along the narrow path, she took note of the wild grass lining the way. Most of it was dry and brittle, with only the occasional pale green shoot clinging to life. Winter in the north was unforgiving. It allowed no sign of growth, just as the abandoned Cold Palace permitted no trace of hope.Ordinarily, Keith did not accompany Carissa on visits to the other residences. But this time, at Victoria's command, he had insisted on following her to Sylvia's chambers. Carissa understood the queen dowager's reasoning. Keith had served by her side the longest—if there was scheming afoot in the harem, none could decipher it better than he.It seemed Sylvia had been waiting
Grace seemed momentarily taken aback, her grip tightening on the handkerchief. "What is it, Your Grace? Do not hesitate to speak plainly.""Not long ago, the harem was abuzz with rumors. First, it was said that Lady Sylvia was responsible for Lady Jeanette's miscarriage. Then, the rumor shifted, claiming it was Queen Kylie. You've overseen the harem for so long, Lady Grace. You must have some idea of where these rumors originated and who might have spread them, yes?" Carissa asked.Caught off guard by the question, Grace's sorrowful expression stiffened for a moment as she exchanged a furtive glance with Lyra. But she quickly masked the slip and regained her composure."The palace has always been rife with gossip. There is no need to dwell on such matters. Perhaps you might focus on the investigation into Prince Connor's murder, Your Grace?" she replied."The queen dowager has ordered me to investigate thoroughly, starting from Lady Jeanette's miscarriage. So, while the case of Pri
Carissa paid a visit to Jeanette.Though the concubine did not explicitly say that Sylvia was responsible for the loss of her child, she did remark, "Those who commit wicked deeds will always face retribution. No one can escape it."The words seemed not only directed at Sylvia, but also at Kylie.As Carissa prepared to leave after questioning her, Jeanette suddenly spoke up, asking, "Your Grace, was it truly impossible to save Prince Connor?"Carissa assumed Jeanette's words were born of sympathy for Connor. But when she glanced at the concubine, she saw no trace of sorrow in her eyes, only a subtle glint of something resembling satisfaction.It was an emotion she clearly tried to conceal but could not, as though Jeanette had achieved a long-sought revenge. Carissa chose not to respond, instead turning on her heel to leave.Kylie had caused Jeanette's loss, so it was no surprise that she wouldn't wish for Connor's recovery.Carissa couldn't fault Jeanette for her feelings. How c
Kylie had always looked down on Grace.The latter's family lacked distinction, and her beauty could scarcely be considered remarkable. Her rise to the position of higher-ranked concubine seemed nothing more than the result of fortunate circumstances, particularly her giving birth to Caden.Kylie guessed that Grace also must be aware of her limited connections and support, which was why she had long exercised caution and humility. However, there were times when she could not resist harboring a few selfish thoughts. Yet, she dared not plot too aggressively.Such had been the case when Grace had sheltered Jeanette—likely in an attempt to solidify her position and strengthen her influence in the harem by using the other woman as a pawn. Despite Grace's attentions, Jeanette had remained ungrateful, resenting the way she constantly placed Caden in Salvador's presence.Grace always had a habit of making things harder for herself, which was why Kylie had never held her in much regard.Now
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