The night was filled with lively festivities thatsted until past midnight, after which everyone retired to their rooms to sleep.


    Ryan was exhausted beyond measure, but he held on as much as he could. At the end of the night, Travis carried him back to their room.


    Rafael held Carissa close in the warmth of their bed, hoping to warm not just her body but her heart as well. He expected her to say something, but she remained silent, quietly lying in his embrace with even breaths. He couldn''t tell if she had fallen asleep.


    However, Carissa was not asleep. She couldn''t sleep, and she didn''t want to move or speak. Some things, she believed, had to be endured silently. She would grit her teeth through the pain. Time would eventually cover the wounds, sealing away the hurt.


    That was her usual way of coping.


    What was different now was that she had someone who truly cared for her.


    Rafael felt a pang of sadness in his heart, mostly from the pain he felt for her. She would smile at him when she was happy, but she never cried in front of him when she was sad. She always hid her darker, sorrowful side and only presented him with calm, rationality, and smiles.


    He had never heard her say she was in love with him, except once to Ryan, but he knew that was a lie meant to cate Ryan.


    At that time, Rafael had taken it seriously, and naturally, he was deceiving himself.


    He somewhat med his older brother After returning from the


    Southern Frontier, Rafael had hoped to cultivate feelings with Carissa and then propose grandly. However, with the edict from Salvador, their marriage had be something necessity.


    At least, Carissa knew he had once wished to marry her, which proved to her that his feelings were genuine.


    Carissa had barely fallen asleep by dawn. Since Helen was staying in the pce, Carissa didn''t have to wake up early to greet Helen.


    However, she was soon awoken by the sound of fireworks. After lying in bed in a daze for a while, she decided to get up and change.


    Lulu came to help her with her hair, and said, "His Highness went to the main courtyard early this morning to receive guests. Some officials havee for a visit."


    "Were anydies apanying them?" Carissa esked.


    As the mistress of Hell Monarch Estate, it was her duty to entertain any visitingdies.


    "No. ording to Ms. Spencer, they''re just a few military officers." Lulu replied.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Has Vivi gotten up too?" Carissa touched her pale cheek. "Apply some makeup for me. If guests arriveter and see me like this. I might scare them."


    Just don''t see them, then." After knowing Carissa was up, Violet swaggered into her bedroom. Isk, tsk! What kind of new bride sleeps in thiste? I guess it''s because you''re spoiled by the


    marshal


    Carissa threw one of the small makeup boxes at her. How de


    Violet raised her foot, caught the box, and kicked it back. "It''s New Year''s Day today. No need to speak so rudely."


    Carissa caught the makeup box with


    one hand and smiled as she handed it to Lulu. Lulu had been caught in their back-and-forth and looked rather confused, but fortunately, the makeup didn''t fall to the floor or get spiffed.


    After Lulu had finished helping Carissa with her hair, Violet pouted yfully. "Lulu, dear, step outside for a bit. I need to have a chat with your young mistress." Luluughed and replied, "Ms. Spencer, you should just speak


    bluntly. Why the need to pout and twist your body like that? People might think you''re having a fit."


    Carissa chuckled softly.


    Violet struck a pose. "You don''t understand. This is called being charming."


    After Lulu tidied up, she brushed her hair behind her ears and winked. "This is charming. See?"


    With that, she left with a smile.


    Violet moved a chair over and sat beside Carissa, examining themselves in the mirror. "Ugh, she outshone me. So frustrating."


    Violet continued casually, "ire


    wrote back. My grandfather didn''t


    promise me to Yuvan, but my cousin was willing. She spent an Sentire night kneeling in the cold at my grandfather''s house before he


    finally agreed to it."


    Carissa frowned. "Does your cousin not know his character?"