When fate plays its hand

The gifts had already been delivered to Orchid Hall, where Rafael was carefully arranging them one by one. He had already bathed and was waiting for Carissa to return.

Earlier, he had gone to the Ministry of Justice to review Aurora’s testimony. He had planned to skip having dinner at home to stay and observe their evening re–interrogation of Aurora, but Matthew had sent someone to inform him that Carissa had requested his return as she had family arriving in the capital. When he heard that, he immediately mounted his horse and returned home.

Cindy’s return to the capital pleased him greatly. Once the negotiations began, he intended to involve himself regardless of whether Salvador allowed him to participate. When the time came, he might not be able to take care of Carissa. With Violet and Cindy by Carissa’s side, he felt he could relax, knowing she would be looked after.

In the past, he believed Carissa could endure anything. But this time, the negotiations involved the Sinclair family’s massacre. That was a wound buried deep in her heart, and he knew these days would be especially hard on her.

Hearing footsteps, he quickly wiped away the serious expression from his face and replaced it with a charming smile as he rose to greet her.

“Back so soon?”

Carissa removed her headpiece with a soft hum. “Aunt Cindy was tired. I escorted her back so she could bathe and rest early.”

She glanced at the gifts neatly arranged on the table and coffee table, each one beautifully packaged in brocade boxes, with two chests marked with the names of their senders. Her gaze lingered on the four brocade boxes on the coffee table. They were from her seventh uncle, Wade. It felt like something had burned her, and she quickly looked away.

“Do you want to open them?” Rafael asked.

“Not for now.” Carissa then called out, “Lulu, have someone move the gifts to the storeroom and place them separately.”

Lulu hesitated before entering, her confusion evident. “Your Grace, won’t you take a look?”

In the past, whenever gifts from Victory Pass arrived, Carissa would eagerly tear into them. Why wasn’t she opening them this time?

“Not now. Just move them downstairs,” Carissa replied.

Lulu nodded and left to instruct the servants to carry the gifts to the storeroom. Since she wasn’t sure what was inside, they couldn’t be cataloged just yet, so she had them set aside in a corner for the time being. © NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

Rafael didn’t bring up the gifts, simply instructing Pearl and Sydney to prepare hot water for Carissa’s bath. He personally retrieved her nightclothes and placed them on the mahogany wood rack behind the partition screen.

Once she went inside to bathe, he lit a candle with a calming scent in the room, which helped induce sleep.

Having settled the gifts, Lulu followed Carissa inside to assist her. She knew what her mistress was going through, having suffered a similar pain herself. Lulu grew up in Northwatch Estate and had also lost all her relatives in that brutal massacre. Her heart ached with the same sorrow. Over these past few days, it had been difficult for her to keep her emotions in check.

Lily had been a constant companion, urging her to take some time for herself and rest. However, Lulu couldn’t sit idle. Every time she was asked to take a break, her thoughts turned to the past, and the pain was unbearable.

Carissa lifted her head from the steaming bath and saw Lula entering with a towel.

“Lulu,” she called softly.

“Yes, my lady?” Lulu hurried over, handing the towel to Pearl.

Seeing the dark circles under Lulu’s eyes, Carissa understood the latter hadn’t been sleeping well either. Carissa’s voice softened as she said, “I need to go to the palace early tomorrow to request special approval from the queen dowager. I’ll also need to return to the Capital Guard headquarters afterward, so you’ll accompany Violet to pick up Ryan tomorrow.”

“Of course!” Lulu readily agreed when she heard she needed to pick up Ryan.

“A lot is going on right now, so you won’t have much time to rest. Be sure to get some sleep tonight, or you’ll be too tired tomorrow. We can’t afford to make any mistakes these days.”

“I understand, my lady.”

Lulu nodded, relieved that she had something to do. When she was busy, her mind stayed occupied, and she didn’t have time to dwell on painful memories. Besides, she wanted to be by Carissa’s side. Only when she was near her mistress did her heart feel at ease.

“Good. Now, go rest. You’ve got an early start tomorrow,” Carissa instructed.

Lulu had planned to stay until after Carissa’s bath, but seeing Pearl and Sydney already present, she bowed and quietly withdrew.