Rafael and Carissa both stood up and rushed outside, only to find Viola with her hair in disarray, gripping a dagger tightly against her own neck. She pressed it down hard enough that blood was already seeping from the cut.Her maid trailed behind her, pale as a ghost. Poppy had tried to stop Viola, but it had been in vain. Viola had insisted on going to Hell Monarch Estate, even stopping along the way to buy the dagger.When Viola spotted Carissa, her eyes were bloodshot with rage. "Carissa, what grudge do we have? Why are you trying to ruin me like this?" Viola screamed.Carissa remained calm and instructed Luke, "Send someone to Silverstone Estate and Valor Estate. Have them come take Mrs. Warren home."Luke nodded, and hurried off.Carissa turned to Rafael. "You should go back inside. I'll handle this."Rafael glanced at Viola, and saw how unstable she looked with the dagger still in hand. "Be careful not to hurt yourself by accident," he warned before heading back. As
In the side hall, the two women sat facing each other.Carissa eyed the dagger still pressed against Viola's neck, and frowned. "Are you really going to keep holding that dagger to your throat? If you truly want to die, go throw yourself against the gates of Hell Monarch Estate. All this drama just makes you look ridiculous."Viola wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her face pale and stubborn. "Carissa, destroying someone's marriage is a sin! You're truly vicious."Carissa sat up straight, her posture as rigid as ever. "When did I destroy your marriage? Whatever happens between you and Barrett is your business, not mine. You've always had a poor sense of right and wrong. When Valor Estate was attacked, I was the one who saved you all."Viola's voice turned cold. "That's beside the point! You didn't save us for my sake. I don't owe you any gratitude."Carissa laughed incredulously. "I don't need your gratitude. Just tell me—what have I done to ruin your marriage?"Viola
After saying that, Carissa released her grip on Viola's arm. Viola stumbled back and collapsed into a chair, covering her face with her hands. "If it's not you, then who? Who's trying to harm me? If it's not you, then who else could it be?"Carissa found herself at a loss for words, grappling with frustration. She wasn't angry—Viola was simply too sheltered by her family and the Farrell family to think for herself. To put it plainly, Viola was both selfish and foolish.Sitting down, Carissa took a deep breath. Getting angry at someone like Viola was pointless. Logic might not work either, but it was worth a shot. "Let me ask you something. What grudge do I have against you?"Viola pulled out a handkerchief to dab at her tears, her eyes swollen and red. "Are you saying there's no grudge? You're Barrett's first wife, and we were married on the same day. You overshadowed me in terms of dowry, which made me looked down upon when I entered the Warren family."Carissa gripped the a
Zoey arrived ahead of the Valor Estate party, accompanied by her maid and servants.As she entered, she first greeted Helen. Upon seeing Yuvan's family present, Zoey's face paled. This was a significant blunder.Guided by Lulu, Zoey stepped into the side hall and immediately offered her apologies to Carissa. "Lady Carissa, please forgive me. Viola's reckless behavior has offended both you and Lady Helen. I sincerely apologize on her behalf."Carissa waved her hand dismissively. "Mrs. Prince, you've arrived at the right time. Please take her back with you. I've sent someone to Valor Estate, but I doubt anyone will come to Hell Monarch Estate from there now. It's best if you handle it."Viola raised her tear-streaked eyes to look at Zoey, who shot her a cold glare before turning back to Carissa. "Of course, I'll take her back now. I'll come to apologize in person another day."Zoey stepped up to Viola, her expression icy. "Are you going to walk back on your own, or do I need to ha
As soon as Zoey left, Violet entered the room.Carissa rubbed her temples. "Aren't you supposed to be out in the gardens with Lady Fiona?""I couldn't care less about her," Violet replied as she took a seat, her expression tense. "I had Lily and a few maids accompany her. She's not getting away from Lily's watchful eye." Violet then turned her gaze to Carissa. "So, what was that crazy woman doing here?"Carissa glanced outside to ensure no one was eavesdropping before recounting Viola's ridiculous antics.By the time she finished, Violet was livid, her temper flaring. "She's carrying Barrett's child and still wants to cling to my godbrother? How shameless can she be?! Thankfully, her sister-in-law is sensible. If not, my godbrother might have felt guilty enough to take her in!""Calm down. There's no need to shout. Your godbrother knows the truth now, and will steer clear of Viola," Carissa reassured her."I've never seen someone so shameless," Violet huffed. "And there's another
It was Rafael's day off, and he felt as though Yuvan had ruined half of it. Helen shared his sentiments, expressing her disdain for Yuvan's family and how they expected her to play host."I can't stand a heartless man like him," she fumed. "Though he and the late king were brothers, he's not an ounce like him. He tortured his legitimate wife to death—he truly is a despicable man!"Gillian interjected gently, "They came all this way, and you're the only one with enough seniority to handle them properly. We can't have Prince Rafael or Lady Carissa dealing with them. After all, they're younger than Prince Yuvan. It wouldn't make sense for an elder to visit the younger generation. Isn't it more fitting for you to step in? By doing so, you've helped Prince Rafael and Lady Carissa.""I know, but I'm just so angry. I want to slap Yuvan twice," Helen said, her expression darkening. “There are plenty of heartless men out there, but I’ve rarely encountered one who is both cruel and callous.”
"Huh?""What?"In the main hall, both Rafael and Carissa were taken aback by the words of Trevor's wife, Mildred. They exchanged glances that spoke volumes of their confusion. Neither of them knew how to respond."This matter really has to be entrusted to you, Prince Rafael, Lady Carissa," Mildred sighed, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes crinkling.Carissa said with a troubled look, "But shouldn't matchmaking be handled by a professional matchmaker? Or at least a government-appointed matchmaker, or someone of high moral standing? I'm still quite young. I really can't bear this heavy responsibility."Mildred sighed deeply again. "You may laugh at us for saying this, but my granddaughter has always been well-behaved and sensible, except when it comes to her marriage. I've secretly scouted several suitable matches for her in the past, but she hasn't liked any of them. She insists on marrying only that man. We've tried to persuade her repeatedly, but she refuses to listen. She'
Rafael stole a glance at Carissa, relieved to see she wasn't angry. Turning away, he felt the urge to slap himself for even worrying. It was clear that Trevor truly adored his granddaughter.Rosalind seemed to be Trevor's youngest grandchild. As the baby of the family, it made sense she would be the most cherished."Are you two in a hurry? Today, we—""Yes, we're in a hurry! That girl is practically in tears!" Trevor rubbed his knees anxiously, eager for them to seek out Thomas immediately. "She may be stubborn, but if the Farrell family gives her an answer she believes, she'll be able to let it go. She won't cling to it forever."Mildred nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Right now, all they've said is that they don't want to hold my granddaughter's life up. Rosalind thinks they're just making excuses. If they're not interested, they should just say so. She's the kind of person who needs honesty."Hearing this, Rafae's heart sank. It was clear he wouldn't be taking his wife to see th
In banquets like these, no one truly ate with much enthusiasm. Most dishes were merely tasted before being set aside, barely touched before servants whisked them away.But the Nerathians were different. They treated every dish with genuine respect, cleaning their plates entirely, no matter what was served. Their wine glasses, once filled, were immediately emptied again. The palace servants attending to them must have been exhausted, constantly refilling their glasses and replacing empty plates.Violet recalled their meal at Spring Pavilion. Just like tonight, not a single scrap had been left behind. She wanted to say something to Carissa, but the only sound in the hall was the clinking of cutlery and the quiet shifting of plates. Speaking now would be too conspicuous.Still, one glance between them was enough.Violet's thought was clear—the Nerathians' presence at this banquet must be tied to the negotiations. Carissa agreed.However, their exact role remained uncertain. Were they
The banquet began in the late afternoon, with Liam personally escorting the Starhaven delegation to the palace again.As they had suspected, the coronation ceremony had already been held. This evening's gathering was mainly focused on the border negotiations. Upon entering, Carissa and Violet noticed that there were no other foreign emissaries present—only royals, nobles, and officials from various departments.While they showed no hostility toward the Starhaven delegation, they weren't particularly welcoming either. Since a translator was needed for communication, conversations remained minimal, limited to simple greetings.Just as they were settling in, Lisandra turned to the Starhaven delegation and remarked, "Today, we have guests from Nerathia joining us as well. They should be arriving shortly. I believe you will find that you have much in common."Davis' eyes brightened immediately. "Guests from Nerathia? Who might they be?"His excitement was understandable.The weapons t
Lisandra continued, "The irony is, when I was a grand princess, I could call for women to join the ranks of government without hesitation. Now that I am the queen, I must move slowly, cautiously, balancing all the factions, weakening their hostility and wariness toward me. There are so many things to consider and so many forces at play. At times, I grow impatient, and I wish I could simply rid myself of those who oppose me."Carissa thought for a moment before replying, "In truth, whether one is a king or an official, man or woman, I believe their goal is the same, Your Majesty. It's to ensure the long-term stability of the kingdom and the peace and prosperity of the people. "When the nation prospers and war is no longer a threat, any reforms you wish to make will face less resistance. But for now, you must first secure your position, Your Majesty."Her meaning was subtle, but Lisandra understood clearly. The kingdom was still in turmoil, with various factions causing obstacles. Si
The royal palace of Orivenia stood resplendent and imposing, its golden architecture gleaming under the night sky, exuding an air of solemn grandeur.Upon passing through the first palace gate, the carriage rolled smoothly along the wide palace path, its spaciousness a stark contrast to the more cramped streets outside. However, what stood out the most was the abundance of lamps. It seemed as if oil was no object, for the palace grounds were lit up as though the night itself had been banished. As they got out of the carriage and walked along the winding corridor, the large trees ahead were hung with many lamps. Anyone trying to hide in the trees wouldn't stand a chance; they would be seen immediately.Liam led the way. As they approached a grand palace hall, two female attendants stepped forward. They exchanged a few words with Liam in the Westic before smiling and nodding to Carissa and Violet."Ladies, Her Majesty invites you to enter the palace," Liam said with a polite gesture
By the time they reached the capital of Orivenia, it was the 13th of August. A full month had passed since they left Starhaven.The afternoon sun shone brightly, and Kendrick lay back in the carriage as they entered the city.Since entering Orivenia's borders, they had endured seven assassination attempts. The last one had been particularly brutal, likely involving suicide soldiers. Many of the Mystic Army were injured, and even Violet had been grazed on the shoulder. Thankfully, it hadn't struck anything vital.Kendrick's fear was understandable. The attack had come when he was emerging from the washroom. The assassin's sword had pierced his chest, nearly plunging in completely. It was Carissa who noticed in time and swiftly turned, driving her spear into the assassin's chest before dragging him back with the hooked tip of her dagger, saving Kendrick's life.Though the injuries were minor, Kendrick reacted as if he had been mortally wounded. He howled in agony for half the night b
Kendrick had been shaken by the attack, and the royal physician had already been called to prepare a sedative to calm his nerves.When Carissa visited him, it was a pitiful sight. His face was as pale as paper, drained of all color. His lips trembled, and he shakily asked if the assassins were gone.She reassured him, saying they had gone, and only then did his trembling subside slightly.The people around him had already informed him that the assassins were driven off, but he hadn't believed them. He needed to hear it from Carissa to feel any sense of security.Carissa reminded him to rest and recuperate before she left.Meanwhile, Davis was busy comforting the others. As the Defense Minister, he had seen his fair share of chaos and remained calm. Also, he trusted Carissa and the Mystic Army. He didn't think there was much to fear—at worst, they had just risked losing a head.It was Meadow Ridge's members who gathered together, speculating that the black-clad figures they had en
At the break of dawn, the large procession set out for Orivenia.Carissa didn't feel much regret in leaving. After all, they would pass through Victory Pass on the way back, and she would have the chance to meet with her grandfather and his family again.Once they had left Victory Pass, the road grew rougher. Many sections were full of deep potholes or had been intentionally damaged, making it difficult for the carriages to move forward.However, Kendrick was determined not to ride a horse again. Even after days of rest, his legs were still sore from the relentless friction of the saddle. Walking was manageable, but sitting on horseback? That was pure agony.So, despite having earned his merit at Victory Pass for establishing an orphanage there, Kendrick insisted on traveling by carriage. When the wheels got stuck or the path became too treacherous, the Mystic Army soldiers dismounted and pushed the carriage forward, inching their way through the difficult terrain.Fortunately,
Wallace gave the order, and Barrett was tasked with the job of investigating. He led a group to search the area.Barrett was aware that Carissa had arrived at Victory Pass. He had been there to greet the group. However, he had stayed at a distance, watching from afar without approaching. From that distance, he hadn't been able to make out any faces, only a vague silhouette that seemed to resemble hers.He had thought his actions unnecessary. After all, what business did he have with her? The affairs of the capital were nothing for him to involve himself with.While the diplomatic envoy rested in Victory Pass, they spent their time discussing strategies and rehearsing their approach. Everyone understood that while this negotiation might seem easier compared to the last, it was by no means a simple task.Lisandra had long kept this matter at the forefront of her mind and would not easily yield to any compromises.The Sullivan family also feared that someone might infiltrate the envo
Spring Pavilion was full that day.The restaurant wasn't very big to begin with, and it usually had some customers. The black-clad men that lady brought had taken up all the remaining seats.Carissa, Violet, and Travis had to sit at a small table the owner had set up at the last minute, separate from the others.The man's voice, soft and apologetic, reached Carissa's ear. It was warm and pleasant. "These are my brothers-in-arms. We've been traveling since last night and haven't had a bite to eat. If it troubles you, I can have them wait outside and just pass them some bread each when we're done."Violet paused, surprised, but quickly shook her head. "No need for that. Please, let them stay. They can sit where they like and order what they wish."The man smiled kindly. "You are kind-hearted, miss. In that case, we'll order freely, and we'll take extra.""Alright… That's fine," Violet replied, casting a glance at the sea of black. The men were dressed in a way that suggested some