Her Graceful War Song

After bathing and donning her formal attire, Carissa exuded an air of unrivaled elegance and majesty. She touched up her makeup lightly, trying to conceal her pallor and the dark circles under her eyes, to hide her weariness from view.

The royal family banquet was clearly a time for family reunion, but it came with its own set of rituals and decorum that had to be observed.

She took a deep breath before the mirror, striving to suppress the grief of losing a loved one. She told herself that she had become accustomed to it, that familiarity would make it less painful.

In the mirror, she saw a figure dressed in splendid attire, with an elaborate hairstyle and adorned with pearls and jewels. A necklace made of Mystic Pearls shimmered with a lustrous sheen, cascading gracefully down her chest.

This was part of the dowry given by Adrian. The jars of pearls alone were worth a fortune, and they were stored separately in another box.

Her earrings, also made of Mystic Pearls, covered her entire earlobe, adding an air of exquisite grandeur.

The beauty mark beneath her eyes was red, and it now seemed to carry a hint of bloodlust, revealing undertone of coldness and severity. She lowered her eyes, concealing the fierce light of anger that lurked beneath.

Rafael came over and took her hand gently.NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.

"Let's go," he said softly.

Dressed in his formal attire, Rafael looked tall and upright, his features strikingly handsome. Carissa glanced at him and managed a strained smile. "Alright, let's not keep Mother waiting.

Helen was rarely one for understated elegance, but she had styled her hair in a simple coil and wore a modest emerald hairpin. She had originally planned to wear a red coral necklace, but thinking of Avis, she removed it along with her favorite gold bangle set with red rubles and emeralds.

Kiera held Ryan's hand and walked toward the exit. With her hair done up in two buns, she looked

adorable.

The begonia red dress complemented her delicate and lovely appearance. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she adjusted the silk ribbon on Ryan's hair before leading him by the hand. "Mom, Rafael, Carissa."

"Grandma Helen, Aunt Carissa, Uncle Rafael."

Kiera and Ryan chimed in almost simultaneously, then skipped happily over to join them.

Seeing the innocent smile on Ryan's face, which had replaced the sadness from when he had come back, Carissa felt a small measure of comfort in her heart. "Take it slow now that your leg is better," Helen said.

Over the past few days, she had grown fond of Ryan. He was well-behaved and sensible, a child who didn't cause trouble, which pleased Helen immensely. "Yes, Grandma Helen," Ryan replied, stopping in his tracks.

He wanted to explain that hopping along was easier on one foot so that the other was less stressed, but he wouldn't contradict Helen's kind intentions.

When Carissa married, Frederick

had told him to be obedient in Hell

Monarch Estate. He was advised to study

and practice martial arts,

to be too mischievous or

upset Helen, as her anger might

affect Carissa.

So, Ryan intended to be very good, hoping to win Helen's favor, which in turn would make her like his aunt

even more.

Rafael mounted his horse, and the

rest of the family got into the

carriage. The carriages were

spacious, with cushioned seats and

decorated copper stoves in the

corners. The stoves, filled with

glowing iron blocks, kept the chill at

bay.

Carissa didn't speak a word throughout the ride. She felt no festive cheer of New Year's Eve, only the biting cold wind that seeped through the curtains, which chilled her heart.

A hand took hers.

Carissa looked down at it and then up to see Helen giving her a look of encouragement and comfort. Carissa, you still have us."

"What's wrong?" Kiera asked, puzzled.

When Yuvan and his family arrived, Kiera and Ryan had been playing in the backyard and were unaware of the situation. They didn't know about Avis' passing.

Helen wasn't particularly adept at offering comfort, and she didn't want to dwell on the painful subject.

Instead, she said, "During festive times, we miss our loved ones even more. Your sister-in-law is thinking of her family during this New Year's Eve."

At these words, Ryan's eyes dimmed.

Carissa gathered herself. At the

palace banquet, she knew she couldn't allow herself to be downcast. She resolved to keep her pain hidden, just as she had before. If she could conceal it well, it wouldn't hurt so much.