Chapter 150

When Carissa woke up, it was already noon the next day. She could have slept longer, but a summons from the palace required her presence, forcing her to get up.

As she yawned and got ready, she asked, “Lulu, have Violet and the others woken up yet?”

“Not yet, they’re still sleeping,” Lulu replied. She had spent the night on the soft couch in Carissa’s room, feeling at ease being close to her mistress.

“Don’t wake them. Let them sleep as long as they need. Even if they sleep for three days and nights, just let them be,” Carissa said, understanding how exhausted they were. She herself felt like she could sleep until the next day.

Lulu finished braiding Carissa’s hair and placed a jeweled hairpin in it. Seeing the dark circles under Carissa’s eyes, she felt a pang of sympathy.

“Got it. Mr. Carter also told me that. He said when the late master and young masters returned from the battlefield, they were similarly exhausted and slept for days,” Lulu replied.

“Good.” Carissa nodded, steering the conversation away from the topic. “Did the summons come from the Empress Dowager, or the King?”

“Neither. It was from the Queen,” Lulu answered.

Carissa was surprised. “The Queen?”

She had little interaction with the Queen, Kylie Quinton. Carissa had only met her years ago when she returned from Meadow Ridge and paid her respects to Victoria, briefly greeting Kylie in passing.

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Carissa didn’t even look clearly at Kylie’s face.

Kylie’s father was the Minister of the Civil Department. The Quinton family had been a prestigious family for over a century, producing many virtuous officials and scholars. Kylie herself was renowned as a talented woman in the capital even before her engagement to the then-Crown Prince, now the King. Her reputation was well-known, but Carissa had never met her because she had gone to Meadow Ridge at a young age and hadn’t attended any social events after returning.

Carissa was unfamiliar with Kylie, so why had Kylie summoned her to the palace?

Rather than speculate, Carissa knew she would find out once she arrived. After dressing and eating a light breakfast, she headed to the palace with Lulu.

At the palace gates, Kylie’s head maid, Lydia, was waiting for her. Upon seeing Carissa, Lydia smiled and congratulated her on her recent success on the Southern Frontier. Before Carissa could respond, Lydia turned and led Carissa and Lulu towards Kylie’s residence, Evergreen Palace.

Carissa fell silent and slowly followed behind Lydia. The walk from the palace gates to the inner palace of Evergreen Palace was a long one. Lydia walked ahead without speaking, her posture cold and distant.

Carissa exchanged a glance with Lulu, sensing that the Queen’s summons might not bode well.

Despite her reservations, Carissa remained calm. She recalled Kylie’s reputation for kindness and virtue. Having met her once, Carissa believed the Queen wouldn’t make things difficult for her, especially considering her recent military achievements.

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Upon reaching Evergreen Palace, they weren’t led into the main hall, but rather a side hall. Only then did Lydia speak, “Lady Sinclair, please wait here. Her Majesty will arrive shortly.”

“Thank you, Lydia,” Carissa replied, nodding respectfully.

Lydia returned the gesture and left the room.

Lulu looked around the side hall, noting its elegant and simple decor. She whispered to Carissa, “I’ve heard that the Queen leads a very simple and plain life. It seems true.”

“Don’t speak without permission,” Carissa admonished softly.

Lulu straightened up. “Yes, my lady!”

They waited for approximately thirty minutes, but the Queen had not yet arrived. Tea was served, but it was of poor quality, tasting somewhat stale. Carissa drank half a cup before setting it down, not wanting to drink more and risk having to accept a refill.

After a while longer, they heard a call from outside, “Her Majesty, the Queen, has arrived.”

Carissa quickly stood and bowed her head, waiting.

Footsteps approached, and soon, a young noblewoman dressed in a finely embroidered robe entered, surrounded by attendants. Carissa kept her head lowered, noticing the delicate shoes adorned with jewels peeking from beneath the Queen’s hem.

Despite Lulu’s earlier comment about the Queen’s simple tastes, Carissa knew better. She had visited the main hall of Evergreen Palace before, and although it wasn’t flashy, every item was of high quality. The furniture was made of precious wood, and even the teacups were made from rare glass.

Kylie’s attire was elegant and understated, but it was always accented with a few pieces of exquisite… (The passage cuts off here)

The main changes involved correcting punctuation (commas, periods, question marks), improving sentence structure (combining short sentences, clarifying phrasing), and ensuring consistent capitalization and grammar. I also added a few words where the original text seemed incomplete.