Chapter 195

Hearing Eleanor mention Carissa, Rebecca's heart plummeted. Unaware of Eleanor and Melanie's past, Rebecca assumed Carissa's recent achievements had earned her royal favor. Did this mean Eleanor now favored Carissa? Yet, the gentle expression on Eleanor's face suggested otherwise.

Confused, Rebecca overheard Isabella Miller, seated nearby, speak.

“Your Highness, all this talk of devotion is for show. After the divorce, Carissa ignored her former mother-in-law's well-being. Where's the devotion in that? Anyone can put on a show. Rebecca made a scene at Northwatch Estate. If she weren't forced into a corner, who would want to be embarrassed like that?”

Isabella was the queen's sister-in-law, and her husband held a third-rank official position, making him a key figure in court. As soon as Isabella spoke, murmurs of agreement rippled through the gathering.

“Isn’t it just that she’s flaunting her military achievements and looking down on everyone else? She’s so ungrateful. Of course, she’s despised by all.”

“Rebecca, I heard that when her family was killed, you took meticulous care of her, even staying by her side at night to prevent her from doing anything rash. You cherished your former daughter-in-law, yet she doesn’t appreciate it.”

Initially stunned, Rebecca quickly grasped the implication. The ladies seemed to be contradicting Eleanor, yet the Grand Princess remained unperturbed, a vaguely amused smile playing on her lips. Clearly, the ladies were echoing Eleanor's sentiments.

Rebecca now understood: Carissa would attend the banquet, and Eleanor harbored a grudge. Eleanor hadn't invited Rebecca out of respect for Carissa's achievements, but because she could use Rebecca to criticize her.

Realizing Eleanor shared her disdain for Carissa, Rebecca felt a surge of excitement, as if she'd found a kindred spirit. Putting on an act—wasn't that Rebecca's forte?

With a sigh and a tearful look, she said, “Your Highness, you’re too kind. Sometimes, genuine intentions don't always beget genuine responses. I’ve done my part with a clear conscience—that is enough for me.”

Eleanor sighed sympathetically, wiping a corner of her eye. "Rebecca, it must be tough for you. It’s commonplace for men to take concubines, but the problem is that a certain someone couldn't accept a concubine despite coming from a noble family. Compared to her, you ladies are in a different position. If your husbands had taken a concubine, you might have sought a divorce quietly. You wouldn't have made a fuss in front of the king and asked for a divorce edict. To put it bluntly, Carissa considers herself superior and thinks everyone is inferior. She doesn’t even care about the Warren family.”

Eleanor's cryptic, sarcastic remarks made her attitude abundantly clear. Some ladies present had visited Northwatch Estate and considered acting as matchmakers for Carissa, hoping to gain favor and a title. However, after Eleanor’s words, they dared not attempt it. Even some counts, feeling their influence wane, had considered marrying their sons to Carissa to gain a title, but quickly abandoned the idea.

Regardless of Carissa's true nature, she wouldn't tolerate concubines. None of the ladies present would genuinely accept a concubine, but they didn't want their sons denied the right to take one. After all, if Carissa failed to bear a son, wouldn't that mean the potential end of their line?

Rebecca seized the opportunity, portraying Carissa as arrogant, jealous, and disrespectful. She argued that without her military achievements, Carissa would have been universally condemned as a jealous, discarded woman.

Rebecca, Eleanor, and Isabella were relentless, with the Grand Princess leading the slander. In less than an hour, Carissa became a figure of universal scorn among most ladies. Some knew Carissa wasn't truly like that but remained silent to avoid becoming targets.

Although Carissa hadn't yet arrived, Dakota, Helen, Josephine, and the late king's other concubines had. After all, Eleanor was their sister-in-law, and Victoria, holding the most authority in the palace, had permitted their attendance. With the senior concubines present, it was customary for the other ladies to rise and pay their respects.

Helen had been reluctant to attend. She and Eleanor had never been on good terms, and she harbored several grievances against the Grand Princess.