Chapter 196
Helen had been invited, but she didn't want to come. She couldn't bear the thought of the gossip that might circulate if she stayed away. So, she gritted her teeth and attended.
Upon hearing the gossip about Carissa, she was enraged. Fortunately, no one knew Carissa was about to marry Rafael. If they did, and if Eleanor led the mockery, Helen would have been utterly humiliated.
Helen sat to one side, deliberately ignored by Eleanor. She had no desire for conversation. It was Eleanor's daughter, Jessica, who noticed Helen and smiled. "Oh, you've come too, Aunt Helen? What gift did you bring for my mother?"
Jessica's pointed question, directed only at Helen, was clearly intended to make her uncomfortable. Helen had anticipated a challenge regarding her gift. Reluctantly, she said, "I heard you're a devout Christian, Your Highness, so I brought a finely crafted gold cross. Please accept it."
She signaled Gillian to present the gift. Eleanor glanced at it indifferently and said, "Though I already have several gold crosses, I appreciate your kind gesture. I will accept it."
Eleanor's haughty attitude nearly drove Helen to rage. She rolled her eyes, thinking that if Eleanor looked down on the gift, she shouldn't have accepted it. Yet, Helen dared not speak her mind. When it came to insults, she was no match for Eleanor. In terms of status, after the late king's passing, Helen—once favored—was insignificant.
Her most outstanding son had returned triumphantly. While she could boast within the palace, she felt constrained outside, acutely aware of his indifference. If not for Salvador's intervention, allowing her to leave the palace and stay with Rafael, Rafael likely wouldn't have agreed.
Rafael's lack of respect was her greatest sorrow. Despite his accomplishments, her son had never sought to improve her status. Even though Helen's sister was the queen dowager, she was still only an honored concubine, a rank below noble concubines like Dakota and Josephine. So, Helen swallowed her anger.
Eleanor said slowly, "I've heard the king has shown mercy and allowed you to leave the palace to live with Rafael. It must be a touching reunion of mother and son. I haven't had a chance to congratulate you."
Hearing this, Helen realized that even the imperious grand princess had to acknowledge Rafael's achievements, and by extension, Helen could share in the benefits as his mother. A smug smile crossed her face.
"Rafael is respectful and insisted on living with me. I thought it best to help manage the household. After all, with the lands, estates, and shops we have, it would be difficult without a lady of the house to oversee them," Helen said, her voice betraying a hint of satisfaction.
Eleanor chuckled softly, smoothing her crimson skirt, her eyes narrowing in a sly smile. "Ah, such a wonderful son. But if he's so devoted, why hasn't he asked the king to promote your rank? After all, you bore the late king's son and come from a distinguished family. Your elder sister is the queen dowager. Now that Rafael has reclaimed the Southern Frontier, wouldn't it be easy for him to speak a word in the king's and queen dowager's presence to elevate your rank to that of a noble concubine?"
Helen's smile froze. She knew this was a deliberate jab at her pride.
"You must be quite the failure as a mother if even your own son doesn't hold you in high regard," Eleanor said with a smile.
The onlookers dared not openly criticize Helen, but stifled their laughter. It fueled Helen's fury. She struggled to control her temper, knowing she was at a disadvantage, but she was about to explode.
Just as she was about to erupt, someone announced, "Lady Sinclair has arrived!"
At the mention of Carissa, a variety of emotions flickered across everyone's faces—some sneering, some dark, some cold, and others filled with delight. The only one who seemed genuinely pleased was Leona. She had been seething, overhearing the comments but constrained by her junior status. Upon hearing Carissa's arrival, Leona rose to greet her, but Heather restrained her. Heather, too, had remained silent about the gossip.
Helen's mind reeled. Carissa was here too? She hoped no one would discover Carissa's imminent marriage to Rafael, or she would be thoroughly embarrassed.