Chapter 1170

As the ladies chatted, Ruth sent a message requesting Carissa's presence. After receiving the invitation, Carissa sought Victoria's permission before going.

Ruth, Augustus's concubine, should have been living comfortably on her son's fief. Instead, she resided alone in a secluded palace within the royal palace.

When Carissa followed Oscar into the Everlasting Palace, she found the atmosphere cold and desolate. No festive cheer or holiday spirit was evident. It felt as though they were separated not only by palace halls, but by an unbridgeable chasm.

Winter had worsened Ruth's health. Yuvan's son, Randall, remained in the capital and was attending to his grandmother that day.

Upon seeing Carissa, Randall rose and bowed. "Greetings, Your Grace."

Carissa gave him a cool glance. "Greetings, Your Highness. I see you are here today."

"Yes, I am keeping my grandmother company," Randall replied, uncomfortable under Carissa's gaze and avoiding her eyes.

Carissa ignored him and approached Ruth, who lay in bed, supported by embroidered pillows. Her face was a sickly yellow, her eyes sunken, and her hair, unkempt and streaked with white, hung loosely—a testament to her prolonged confinement.

She looked at Carissa, coughed, and said in a weak voice, "Your Grace, please sit. No need for formalities."

Her speech was labored and barely audible.

A palace maid brought a chair to the bedside. Oscar gestured towards it. "Your Grace, please sit closer. Lady Ruth is weak, and her voice is faint."

Carissa thanked Ruth and sat, then asked softly, "Are you feeling any better, Your Grace?"

Ruth sighed. "I suppose there's no hope for improvement."

She applied lip balm, but it only accentuated her pallor.

Carissa offered gentle reassurance, "If you take proper care of yourself, you will improve."

The room's warmth, from charcoal braziers, was almost excessive, yet there was no smoke, a testament to its quality. Salvador, despite Ruth being Yuvan's mother, did not treat her poorly.

"Your Grace," Ruth began, "I asked for you to come because I wish to apologize on behalf of Eleanor. She wronged your family—things I found appalling. I am sorry, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive her."

Carissa lowered her eyes. "When someone dies, it is as if a light is extinguished. Whether one forgives or not no longer matters. You need not carry this burden, Your Grace. Focus on resting and regaining your strength."

"It matters," Ruth replied, tears welling in her eyes. "Forgiveness clears her karmic debt, so that in her next life, she may suffer less. She found no peace in this life, but I hope she may marry well and live peacefully in the next."

"Your Grace, her mistakes were not due to a bad marriage," Carissa said calmly.

"Yes, I know. She was wrong in so many ways. But as you said, when someone passes, their light is gone. There's no point in holding onto hatred."

"There is no more hate," Carissa replied softly.

Oscar wiped away Ruth's tears. After a moment, Ruth continued, her voice thick with grief.

"And then there's my daughter-in-law. That poor woman! She endured so much suffering, especially at Verdant Monastery. To think she passed away without children—what a tragic end! It feels like a knife to my heart. But I couldn't intervene, couldn't speak out, couldn't help. I hope you won't think poorly of me, Your Grace."

Though Carissa showed no displeasure, a touch of irritation stirred within her. How could Ruth not intervene? Had she ever truly tried to help? It would have been better if Ruth remained ignorant, but she knew. Avis had been sent to Verdant Monastery alone. As a mother-in-law, Ruth could have sent someone to Valken to rebuke Yuvan's family, or arranged care for Avis at the monastery. That would have shown some effort.

"It is not for me to hold grievances or offer forgiveness for what happened to my aunt. I have no right to speak on her behalf," Carissa said calmly.

Chapter 1171