Her Graceful War Song

This was the first banquet Carissa would be organizing since marrying into the royal family.

If it were poorly executed, it could become a laughingstock, especially given how Helen was so concerned about her own birthday banquet. Carissa was certain her mother-in-law wouldn't want any embarrassment to mar the celebration.

Thus, Carissa personally consulted Helen on whether there were any essential guests who needed to be invited.

Helen pretended to ponder for a moment before saying, "If Dakota and Josephine can come out of the palace, then invite them. As for the others, you can decide."

Carissa knew that these two women were indeed necessary guests, especially Dakota.

It was curious, though. The concubines favored by the late king, Sigmund, weren't those two, but rather the deceased Shelby and Wanda. So, why had Helen ended up at odds with Dakota and Josephine? The marriage alliance with the Quinton family had improved Helen's relationship with Josephine, but her interactions with Dakota remained strained.

Carissa couldn't help but ask, "Did Dakota ever offend you?"

Helen snorted. "Don't be fooled by her appearance. She seems straightforward, but she's actually quite scheming. I was frequently fooled by her when the late king was still alive, and often scolded by him for it."

Seeing the anger on Helen's face, it seemed that she was telling the truth. She was the type to be easily provoked by a bit of manipulation-she could be easily defeated by even the smallest amount of scheming.

"And Josephine?" Carissa asked.

Helen made a face. "She's always been good at playing the victim. Before the late king passed away, she was just a low-ranking concubine. After his death, when the new king took the throne and the Quinton family's daughter became queen, her rank was elevated.

"But it's all meaningless. In the harem, neither the honored nor noble concubines have any real power. It's just a matter of receiving a slightly increased monthly stipend."

Though Helen claimed it was all the same, her deep-seated jealousy was evident. Despite her son's victory at the Southern Frontier, Salvador hadn't offered to elevate her status, and she couldn't propose it herself, as it would show how much she cared.

A few days later, Jacob presented a guest list for Carissa to review. Upon inspection, she noticed that Eleanor and the Marquis of Ironridge's family were included, as well as Dakota and Josephine, whom Helen had insisted should be invited. Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

The list also featured several grand princesses, the Marquis of Jadehill's family, and some noble families, such as the Farrell family, the Quinton family, the Earl of Gracehold's family, and the Earl of Silverstone's family.

Most families of fourth-rank officials and above were invited too, and the Klein family was a must-invite.

After reviewing the list, Carissa said, "Alright, prepare the invitations according to this list and send them out as soon as possible."

Jacob nodded slightly. "Understood. I will prepare the invitations according to the list."

"Thank you, Jacob."

Jacob added, "Now that you're in charge of the household affairs, please be cautious with staffing. We vetted every servant before they were hired. However, His Highness has been away on the battlefield for years, and both Luke and I have been busy with administration and other tasks. Some staff may have formed connections with certain people during this time.

"We conducted a thorough check when His Highness returned, but we're still worried that some individuals may have hidden their true affiliations. Also, we haven't had much interaction with the people around Lady Helen."

Carissa pondered thoughtfully. While the issues within Hell Monarch Estate were manageable since the servants had been screened, she couldn't fully trust all the people Helen had brought with her.

"I understand what to do. Thank you for the reminder, Jacob," Carissa said with a smile.

Jacob nodded respectfully before leaving the room.

Carissa then called for Gillian and requested a list of the people in Helen's entourage. She instructed that the list should not be shared with Helen or anyone else.

Gillian, once away from her mistress, was sharp and vigilant. She immediately understood Carissa's intentions.