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 be ustomed to it, that familiarity would make it less painful.


    In the mirror, she saw a figure dressed in splendid attire, with an borate hairstyle and adorned with pearls and jewels. A ne 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.


    "Let''s go," he said softly.


    Dressed in his formal attire, Rafael looked tall and upright, his features strikingly handsome. Carissa nced 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 nned to wear a red coral ne, 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 dressplemented 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 reced the sadness from when he hade back, Carissa felt a small measure offort 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 exin 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 atThis content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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 andfort. Carissa, you still have us."


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


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


    Helen wasn''t particrly adept at offeringfort, 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-inw is thinking of her family during this New Year''s Eve."


    At these words, Ryan''s eyes dimmed.


    Carissa gathered herself. At the


    pce 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.