Chapter 182
Carissa looked up, her expression solemn. “Thank you for your leniency, Your Highness. As for my status and whether I am worthy of the marshal, that is for him to decide. Either way, since he proposed, I will marry him.”
Helen argued furiously, “He’s simply momentarily confused! He will come to his senses eventually. You’re a woman who was discarded by the Warren family. He’s only intrigued by you for now, but he will abandon you once the novelty wears off. In the end, you will be the one who suffers. I’m looking out for you. Why are you so ungrateful?”
Carissa replied, “I divorced Barrett. I’m not a discarded woman—I requested the divorce edict. If anyone was discarded, it was him. The Warren family had no say in it. Nevertheless, I appreciate your concern.”
Still angry, Helen retorted, “Regardless of who left whom, you’re still a woman who has married once. A virtuous woman does not remarry. Since you chose to divorce, you should stay at home and not aim for higher status. What you’re doing now is tarnishing the reputation of women.”
Carissa said calmly, maintaining her composure, “Men can divorce and remarry, even take multiple wives and concubines. Why can’t women remarry? As for tarnishing the reputation of women, many women see me as a role model. Even the king said at the celebration feast that women of the realm should emulate me.”
Helen scoffed. “You’re sharp-tongued and argumentative. If all women were like you, the world would be in chaos. Women should adhere to their expected roles and behavior—obedience to their father before marriage, obedience to their husband after marriage, and obedience to their son after the husband’s death. They should also have proper virtue, speech, appearance, and skills.”
“And you? You think that just because you have some military achievements, you’re a role model for women? What about those who can’t go to the battlefield? Are they supposed to be doomed?”
That argument sounded familiar to Carissa. She remembered asking Aurora a similar question.
Carissa calmly countered, “Being a role model doesn’t mean all women need to go to the battlefield. The king’s praise was not just for my military accomplishments, but also my indomitable spirit. As for the expected roles and behavior for women… As you mentioned earlier, Your Highness, a woman should obey her father at home, her husband after marriage, and her son if widowed. In that case, shouldn’t you now follow the marshal’s wishes?”
“How dare you criticize the late king?” Helen slammed her hand on the armrest, her voice filled with anger.
Carissa raised her hands in surrender. “I mean no disrespect to the late king. He was a wise and enlightened ruler whom I deeply respected. How could I dare to speak ill of him?”
Helen spoke coldly, “It seems you’ve used your alluring appearance and sharp tongue to deceive my son. You speak of grand principles, but your heart is full of petty schemes. I know exactly what you’re up to.”
“The Duke of Northwatch’s family is in decline. And you, an orphaned girl and a discarded woman, are the only one left. You aim to join the royal family to make those who once looked down on and insulted you see you differently, to be jealous of you. Perhaps you even want to use the status of a princess consort to take revenge on them.”
Carissa’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Your Highness, you’re overthinking this. If I wanted revenge, I wouldn’t need to rely on anyone.”
Helen recalled the display of Carissa’s strength earlier and hesitated. The stubborn girl was indeed beyond her control. Due to Carissa’s military achievements, physically dragging her out and punishing her was out of the question. The intended slap was merely meant to establish authority, to make her realize the difficulties ahead and make her retreat.
As one of the late king’s concubines and a palace veteran, Helen slapping Carissa could still be justified. But that slap hadn’t even touched Carissa, and instead, Helen’s own people had gotten hurt. Helen had never suffered such a setback in her life. Realizing that confrontation wouldn’t work with Carissa, her head ached.
She waved her hand dismissively. “Enough. Don’t think about marrying into the royal family. I’ll find you a suitable match—someone reliable to inherit your father’s title.”
Carissa responded, “Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. However, I have already given the marshal my word. A person without integrity cannot stand in society. I don’t wish to be someone who breaks their word.”
Helen glared at her. Carissa was such a brazen girl. She spoke of climbing the social ladder with such righteousness! What infuriated Helen the most was that Carissa, who kept proclaiming her desire to marry Rafael, showed no inclination to curry favor with her future mother-in-law!