In the blink of an eye, more than ten people surged into the room. At Eleanor''smand, they headed towards the ount books.


    Helen was frantic. "Grand Princess Eleanor, what are you doing? The ount books are clearly correct! Why are you trying to hide them?"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Eleanor nced at her own fingers, thenzily gave Helen a sidelong look. "How do I know you haven''t tampered with them?"


    "Then, let''s review them together. If we do it together, we''ll find out if there''s been any tampering, won''t we?"


    Eleanor snorted derisively. "There''s no need to trouble yourselves. Since you''ve already reviewed them, it''s our turn now."


    Jessica barked, "What are you waiting for? Take them away!"


    Carissa held her whip in one hand, and hurled her cup at one of the guards. The cup struck him squarely on the forehead and he copsed, unconscious.


    Carissa stepped forward, her whip cracking through the air with sharp, resounding snaps. The ten or so guards, despite not being lined up, all receivedshes from the whip.


    Carissa stood in front of the boxes, ring coldly at the guards. "I dare anyone to try and move these!" "Carissa, how dare you strike my people? How bold of you!" Eleanor was livid.


    "Aunt Eleanor, you tter me. I may not be bold, but I have nothing to hide. I had no choice but to strike them, as it was ast resort. Please forgive me."


    Jessica screamed as she rushed out, "Are you all dead? Can''t you handle one woman? Someone, get some help!"


    Helen was terrified. She stood up and hid behind Carissa.


    Carissa''s voice was icy, "I advise you not to make such a fuss. Harmony Pce is surrounded by the estates of various influential families. If word gets out, they might say you''re bullying your niece-inw. Jessica roared, "Carissa, who''s bullying whom here? You''re the ones who came to provoke us.


    Carissa responded calmly, "Everyone saw that I came to Harmony Pce with my mother-inw and a few servants, without a single guard. You''re the ones escting things by calling for the household soldiers and causing a scene."


    Eleanor''s eyes narrowed. The little schemer had more cunning than brute force.


    Carissa flicked her whip lightly, yet it crackled sharply through the air, whipping up a gust of wind that struck those nearby. The household soldiers involuntarily took a step back, their faces reflecting their


    unease.


    These people had heard of Carissa''s


    exploits on the Southern Frontier battlefield. They knew she had led the charge as the vanguard,


    maneuvering through a storm a


    arrows with her elite troops to


    breach the city gates. Her martial


    prowess and courage were


    unmatched, and none of the


    household soldiers here


    could stand against her.


    Having intimidated the household soldiers, Carissa raised an eyebrow and smiled.


    "It''s quite strange. I''ve merely


    brought the ount books from The Gilded Tower for verification, and you''re both seizing the books and calling for a fight. Is there something fishy going on here? Could it be that it''s not Eric who embezzled The Gilded Tower''s funds, but Jessica who misappropriated my mother-in w''s profits?"


    "You''re talking nonsense!" Jessica retorted sharply, but her inner turmoil was evident.


    "Let''s hope I''m talking nonsense. Since you refuse to review the books, my mother-inw and I will head to Ironridge Estate."


    Holding her whip, Carissa blocked the way of the household soldiers and calmly instructed her own people, "Take the ount books outside. We''re going to Ironridge Estate."


    The household soldiers were


    unwilling to act against her, and


    stood by. The servants from Rafael''s household were skilled and nimble; under Carissa''s protection, they began moving the boxes with ease. Carissa turned, deliberately ignoring Eleanor''s dark expression, and beckoned Helen, "Mother, let''s go. Harmony Pce is not a ce for reasoned discussions. We''ll find another ce to resolve this." Helen hurried forward, her steps quick and small. Carissa took her hand with one hand and held the whip with the other, leading the older woman out with the servants in tow.


    "Stop!" Eleanor''s voice cut sharply through the air.


    Carissa turned, raising an eyebrow with a smile.


    fight us? If they win, they''ll be "Aunt Eleanor, do you n to have your five hundred household soldiers charged with assaulting the royal family. If they lose, well... That would be quite a disgrace, wouldn''t it?"