Chapter 185

After finishing her drink, Carissa said, “Your Majesty, Lady Helen is actually quite easy to get along with.” Or at least, Helen wasn’t difficult to handle.

“Easy to get along with? Are we talking about the same person?” Victoria had stopped laughing, but her eyes twinkled brightly as she looked at Carissa. “Everyone in the palace is afraid of her. Even the queen tries to avoid her.”

Carissa could understand that. With such arrogance and haughtiness, who wouldn’t steer clear of Helen? Any sensible person would avoid getting bitten by a mad dog, right?

However, if given the choice between dealing with Kylie or someone like Helen, Carissa would still choose the latter. Helen may be domineering, but she was easier to handle. On the other hand, Kylie might seem polite on the surface, but her words were filled with hidden barbs.

Carissa reached for another cup of iced tea, but Lulu quickly stopped her. “My lady, you shouldn’t drink too much. Sebastian said your body needs nurturing, and you shouldn’t drink cold drinks or iced water.”

Hearing this, Victoria ordered a cup of hot lemon tea, then said, “The weather is hot, and tea is best for quenching thirst. You must listen to the doctor and take good care of your health. After your wedding, we expect you to help the royal family prosper.”

Carissa’s face turned crimson. She quickly picked up the cup of tea and turned away to drink it.

“Still shy, are you? It’s inevitable, isn’t it?” Victoria teased.

“What inevitable thing are you talking about, Mother?” came Salvador’s cheerful voice from the door.

A flash of bright yellow clothing marked the king’s entrance. He walked in with a tall, commanding presence and a smile on his face.

“Hello, Mother.”

Carissa hurriedly stood up. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Salvador’s gaze briefly swept over Carissa. “Oh? You’re here too, Carissa?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I came to pay my respects to the queen dowager and Lady Helen,” Carissa replied, lowering her gaze.

Salvador took a seat, looking at Carissa with a smile. “I see. I know Mother is quite fond of you, Carissa. Whenever you have the time, do come and keep her company.”

“I will, Your Majesty.”

Victoria turned to Carissa. “You may leave now. I believe the king has something to discuss with me.”

Salvador waved his hand. “There’s no need for that. I was just taking a break from reviewing memorials and came to enjoy some peace here. Since Carissa is here, it’s perfect timing. I want to ask you about the situation at the Southern Frontier.”

Victoria laughed. “You just said you were tired from reviewing memorials, and now you’re talking about military affairs? If you want to know about the war, isn’t it better to ask your younger brother?”

“No matter. Since Carissa is here, I might as well ask her.”

Salvador appeared very affable, but his gaze towards Carissa was somewhat intense.

“I heard that when Simonton City was captured, you led the Mystic Army as the vanguard and Barrett assisted you. So, was the city taken by your combined efforts?” the king asked.

Carissa wasn’t sure why Salvador was bringing up Barrett. The details of that part of the battle had been clearly reported by Rafael and the other generals.

Unaware of the intricacies of court politics, she cautiously replied, “Your Majesty, teamwork is crucial on the battlefield. The marshal ordered General Warren to assist me and the Mystic Army.”

Salvador nodded. “Yes, I understand that, as I’ve been on the battlefield myself. But don’t you think it was risky for Rafael to have you two work together, given your personal grievances?”

Carissa raised her eyebrows in surprise. “The marshal’s decision was a good one. It’s proven by the fact that we successfully reclaimed Simonton City. As for any personal grievances between General Warren and I, we were able to set them aside when facing a common enemy.”

Salvador’s expression grew stern. “You may have set them aside, but Aurora did not. She disrupted your operations, nearly causing the siege to fail.”

“Shouldn’t Rafael have anticipated that Aurora’s jealousy might jeopardize the mission? Securing the Southern Frontier was crucial, so all risks should have been mitigated. Yet, he didn’t.”

Carissa felt a chill run through her. Straightening her back, she replied seriously, “Your Majesty, I don’t understand what you’re trying to say, but it is impossible to guarantee everything on the battlefield. The resources and people available were limited, but the marshal made proper arrangements. Aurora was assigned to the rear guard, but she disobeyed orders. How can this be blamed on the marshal?”

Salvador gazed at her deeply with an unreadable look on his face. Then, he slowly smiled. “I haven’t said much, yet you are already defending him.”

The "+15 BONUS" and "+15 HOUS" notations were removed as they appear to be formatting or editorial notes, not part of the narrative text. I've also corrected some minor inconsistencies and improved sentence flow. The abbreviation "f.e." was removed as its meaning was unclear within the context.