Chapter 214

After Rafael left for the Pathfinders' Guild, Helen again summoned Carissa to the palace. Following the events at Eleanor's birthday banquet, Helen's view of Carissa had changed. However, this wasn't enough to change her mind about accepting Carissa as her daughter-in-law.

Helen considered various approaches; she realized she had no effective means to sway Carissa through coercion, especially given Carissa's defiance of Eleanor. Strong-arm tactics would clearly not work.

Thus, Helen decided to appeal to Carissa's emotions and reason with her, hoping she would voluntarily withdraw.

Upon arriving at the Evergreen Palace, Carissa was greeted with a table set with an array of snacks and coffee. Helen, known for her haughty demeanor, managed a strained smile.

After Carissa paid her respects, Helen dismissed the attendants and began to chat casually with Carissa.

"I genuinely mean well for you," Helen began. "Rafael has deceived you. He already loves someone else. He once swore he would marry no one but her, so he will never give you a place in his heart. What happiness can you expect from marrying a man who doesn't love you? You've been married once already. Why let yourself be played and deceived by another man?"

Helen expected to see heartbreak on Carissa's face but was surprised to find no change in her expression.

Carissa replied calmly, "His Highness didn't conceal this from me. I've long been aware of it."

Helen was surprised. "Since you know, why still marry him? If he doesn't love you, and you don't have feelings for him, why go through with it? Is it just for the title of princess consort? The Duke of Northwatch's family's reputation is already high enough. There's no need to trade your lifetime happiness for it."

"Lady Helen, why do you think that, among so many women, he chose me?" Carissa asked with a smile.

Helen pondered this for a moment and replied, "To him, as long as it's not the woman he loves, it could be anyone."

"Indeed, anyone would do," Carissa agreed. "But why is it me?"

This question left Helen momentarily speechless. She couldn't understand why her son was so insistent on marrying Carissa. If he needed a wife to manage the household, there were countless noblewomen in the capital to choose from—women who were pure, dignified, well-educated, and from distinguished families. Why choose a divorced woman?

Helen looked at Carissa, stunned, and asked, "You're right. Why indeed?"

"There are two reasons," Carissa began. "The first is that I am the one he loves…"

Helen scoffed. "Don't be absurd! That's impossible. You haven't been in the capital long and have only met him a few times. How could you be the one he loves?"

Carissa knew full well she wasn't his true love. She used this statement to lead into her second point, encouraging Helen to think deeper.

"The second reason is that he believes I am a suitable choice as the Hell Monarch's consort, and also a safe…" (The text after this point is severely garbled and unintelligible. It needs significant correction to be included.)

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