When Carissa woke up, it was already noon the next day. She could have slept longer, but a summons from the pce required her presence, forcing her to get up.
As she yawned and got ready, she asked, "Lulu have Violet and the others woken up yet?"
"Not yet, they''re still sleeping," Lulu replied. She had spent the night on the soft couch in Carissa''s room, feeling at ease being close to her mistress.
"Don''t wake them. Let them sleep as long as they need. Even if they sleep for three days and nights, just let them be," Carissa said, understanding how exhausted they were. She herself felt like she could sleep until the next day.
Lulu finished braiding Carissa''s hair, and ced a jeweled hairpin in it. Seeing the dark circles under Carissa''s eyes, she felt a pang of sympathy.
"Got it. Mr. Carter also told me that. He said when thete master and young masters returned from the battlefield, they were simrly exhausted and slept for days," Lulu replied.
"Good." Carissa nodded, steering the conversation away from the topic. "Did the summonse from the empress dowager, or the king?"
"Neither. It was from the queen," Lulu answered.
Carissa was surprised. "The queen?"
She had little interaction with the queen, Kylie Quinton. Carissa had only met her years ago when she returned from Meadow Ridge and paid her respects to Victoria, briefly greeting Kylie in
When Carissa woke up, it was already noon the next day. She could have slept longer, but a summons from the pce required her presence, forcing her to get up.
As she yawned and got ready, she asked, "Lulu, have Violet and the others woken up yet?"
"Not yet, they''re still sleeping," Lulu replied. She had spent the night on the soft couch in Carissa''s room, feeling at ease being close to
her mistress.
"Don''t wake them. Let them sleep as long as they need. Even if they sleep for three days and nights, just let them be," Carissa said, understanding how exhausted they were. She herself felt like she could sleep until the next day.
Lulu finished braiding Carissa''s hair, and ced a jeweled hairpin in it. Seeing the dark circles under Carissa''s eyes, she felt a pang of sympathy.
"Got it. Mr. Carter also told me that. He said when thete master and young masters returned from the battlefield, they were simrly exhausted and slept for days," Lulu replied.
"Good." Carissa nodded, steering the conversation away from the topic. "Did the summonse from the empress dowager, or the king?"
"Neither. It was from the queen," Lulu answered.
Carissa was surprised. "The queen?"
She had little interaction with the queen, Kylie Quinton. Carissa had only met her years ago when she returned from Meadow Ridge and paid her respects to Victoria, briefly greeting Kylie in passing.
Carissa didn''t even look clearly at Kylie''s face.
Kylie''s father was the Minister of the Civil Department. The Quinton. family had been a prestigious family for over a century, producing many virtuous officials and schrs.
Kylie herself was renowned as a talented woman in the capital even before her engagement to the then-crown prince, now the king. Her reputation was well-known, but Carissa had never met her because she had gone to Meadow Ridge at a young age and hadn''t attended any social events after returning.
Carissa was unfamiliar with Kylie, so why had Kyle summoned her to the pce?
Rather than specte, Carissa knew she would find out once she arrived. After dressing and eating a light breakfast, she headed to the pce with Lulu.
At the pce gates, Kylie''s head-maid, Lydia, was waiting for her. Upon seeing Carissa, Lydia smiled and congratted her on her recent sess in the Southern Frontier. Before Carissa could respond, Lydia turned and led Carissa and Lulu towards Kylie''s residence, Evergreen Pce.
Carissa fell silent, and slowly followed behind Lydia. The walk from the pce gates to the inner pce of Evergreen Pce was a long one. Lydia walked ahead without speaking, her posture cold and distant.
Carissa exchanged a nce with Lulu, sensing that the queen''s summons might not bode well.
Despite her reservations, Carissa remained calm. She recalled Kylie''s reputation for kindness and virtue. Having met her once, Carissa believed the queen wouldn''t make things difficult for her, especially considering her recent military achievements.
Upon reaching Evergreen Pce, they weren''t led Into the main hall, but rather a side hall. Only then did Lydia speak, "Lady Sinir,Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.
please walt here. Her Majesty will arrive shortly."
"Thank you, Lydia," Carissa replied, nodding respectfully.
Lydia returned the gesture and left the room.
Lulu looked around the side hall, noting its elegant and simple decor. She whispered to Carissa, "I''ve heard that the queen leads a very simple and in life. It seems true."
"Don''t speak without permission," Carissa admonished softly.
Lulu straightened up. "Yes, mydy!"
They waited for approximately thirty minutes, but the queen had not yet arrived. Tea was served, but it was of poor quality, tasting somewhat stale. Carissa drank half a cup before setting it down, not wanting to drink more and risk haying to ept a refill.
After a while longer, they heard a call from outside, "Her Majesty, the queen, has arrived."
Carissa quickly stood and bowed her head, waiting.
Footsteps approached, and soon, a young noblewoman dressed in a finely embroidered robe entered, surrounded by attendants. Carissal kept her head lowered, noticing the delicate shoes adorned with jewels peeking from beneath the queen''s hem.
Despite Lulu''s earlierment about the queen''s simple tastes, Carissa knew better. She had visited the main hall of Evergreen Pce before, and although it wasn''t shy, every item was of high quality. The furniture was made of precious wood, and even the teacups were made from rare ss.
Kylie''s attire was elegant and understated, but it was always
ented with a few pieces of exquisite