With the dowry already dispatched, it would be less than half an hour before Carissa was to be married.


    Rafael had previously promised to personallye for the bride, so Carissa''s tear-streaked makeup would once again need to be attended to by the staff from Elegance Atelier.


    Yet Carissa couldn''t stop crying. She pounded on Adrian''s chest, then struck Kyle''s arm, and finally clung to Winona.


    "Winona, I thought all of you wouldn''te. I was so distressed. I thought all of you didn''t want me anymore."


    Winona''s smile was tinged with sadness as she gently wiped Carissa''s tears. Her eyes betrayed the weariness and sorrow she felt.


    Oh, the younger woman she saw as a younger sister had endured so much suffering and hardship.


    She felt her heart ache. After wiping Carissa''s tears, she said gently, "Let''s stop those tears, okay? Today''s supposed to be the happiest day of your life, so you need to look the most beautiful. How can you be crying?"


    Winona was tall and graceful, and she appeared like a refined youngdy at first nce. Few knew of her remarkable Lightfoot Skill, or how adept she was at hiding and disguising herself.


    She was the top scout in the martial world and, in addition to being the second apprentice of the Pathfinders Guild, she was also the head of Skywing Spire. Although she had entrusted the day-to-day management of Skywing Spire to her deputy, she hade personally as a representative of Skywing Spire to add items to Carissa''s trousseau.


    The staff of the Elegance Atelier were seasoned professionals, but the sudden influx of martial world figures, all dressed in fine clothes and not the usual shabby attire of the wandering heroes, surprised them. To those who didn''t know better, it might have seemed like a gathering of noble families.


    Sally had intended to help Carissa with her makeup, but she could only stand by and wait until Carissa had finished her emotional farewells and stopped crying before she could attend to her.


    Carissa had just managed to dry her tears when she noticed Everett standing next to Kyle.


    Feeling another wave of grievance, she said, "Sage Everett, I''m not crying out of sadness. I''m just so happy that I can''t stop the tears. Please don''t punish me."


    Everett Watson nced at her with a faint smile. "I''ll let it pass this time. But if you cry again, I''ll poke your eyes."


    Everett was in charge of enforcing the Pathfinders Guild''s rules, and he was a figure everyone feared. Even Adrian, upon encountering him, would ingratiate himself with ttering words to avoid any missteps that might lead to a reprimand from his guild junior.


    Once a rule was broken, there was no room for leniency.


    After being punished once, Adrian deeply regretted appointing Everett as the enforcer of the guild''s regtions. He regretted it day and night, realizing that while it was easy to summon a demon, sending them away was much harder.


    Everett''s first and most severe rule was that no one, not even himself, could leave the guild without his permission. Any vitors were to be punished without exception.


    Carissa covered her eyes, as if fearing that Everett might indeed punish her with his sternness. But when she peeked through her fingers, she was astonished to see him dressed in luxurious brocade garments.


    The sight abruptly stilled her urge to cry uncontrobly, and she asked in surprise, "Sage Everett, why are you wearing brocade today? I thought you disliked such luxurious clothing?"


    Everett, who viewed wealth as insignificant, typically wore in cloth and straw sandals. Even in the coldest winters, he would only add an extrayer of clothing, relying on his profound inner force to endure the cold. He had little interest in mingling with the powerful or noble, so Carissa had never imagined that Rafael would be his apprentice before this.


    Everett snorted, and waved his hand dismissively. "I feel like I''m covered in thorns. If it weren''t for your grand wedding, would I wear such attire?"


    Though Everett was proud and aloof, he still cared about appearances. He gave Carissa a stern look, making it clear that if she dared to bring up the topic again, whether it was her wedding or not, he would sew her mouth shut.


    Not daring to speak further, Carissa nced around but didn''t see Travis. Though she previously assumed he was the martial arts expert sent by the Lunar Guild, she couldn''t be sure.


    She choked up and asked, "Where''s Travis? Didn''t hee?"


    Violet chuckled. "He''s part of the contribution sent by the Lunar Guild. Naturally, he''s being brought to Hell Monarch Estate along with your dowry." Carissa turned to look at the head of the Lunar Guild. Despite her usual stern demeanor, she appeared unusually kind-hearted today.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Carissa felt a pang of sadness. The Lunar Guild had only one male apprentice, and yet he had been part of the contribution added to her trousseau.