Chapter 346

Rafael needed to wear formal court attire, but he couldn't manage it alone—it was too complicated. He took the attire to the outer room and called for Luke and a servant to help him dress. He wore a crown and a green outfit embroidered with griffin patterns on the shoulders. His waist was bound with a blue sash, from which hung emerald pendants on either side, decorated with gold-etched cloud and griffin patterns, and threaded with emerald beads. The pendants were fastened with golden hooks and secured with four-colored ribbons. The grand sash was woven in red, white, azure, and green. Rafael's tall, slender frame made him appear even more imposing and dignified in this luxurious attire.

Carissa still needed to lightly brush her eyebrows and apply a touch of powder. Even with her naturally stunning beauty, she wouldn't face the day without makeup. Once dressed and groomed, she was escorted out by Lily, Lulu, and her other attendants. Carissa first inquired about Ryan. Learning that he hadn't yet risen and that Joy was attending to him, she felt at ease.

As she left the room, she met Rafael's gaze; he had just finished dressing. Perhaps because they were both dressed so solemnly, they forgot about their intimacy the previous night, and the awkwardness melted away. Almost instinctively, Rafael extended his hand. Without hesitation, Carissa took it. They exchanged smiles and walked out together.

Following behind, Lily wiped away tears. She had promised herself not to cry, but seeing Rafael and Carissa's affection, she couldn't help but shed tears of joy.

Helen was already seated in the custom-made ceremonial chair in the main hall. Though she didn't often sit in the outer courtyard's main hall (Carissa usually greeted her in her chambers), today she felt the need to assert her authority.

However, Rafael and Carissa were stopped by Jacob on their way out. Since the dowry was to be moved to the storeroom that day, an inventory check would be conducted. The missing pearls would definitely need to be reported. Jacob knew the dowry items had been registered at the local government office, with both a ledger and a gift list. If anything was missing, it would be immediately noticed during the inventory check. The Mystic Pearls had been delivered in a jar. Jacob had seen the gift list; while it didn't specify the exact number of pearls per jar, some details were recorded. Even if not explicitly noted, this matter needed to be reported to Rafael and Carissa—they couldn't let Eleanor get away with it.

As Jacob spoke, Rafael's expression darkened. "Are you sure she took them?"

"Yes, I'm sure. They were given to her, and Gillian took them; the guards witnessed it. Exposing her on the spot wasn't appropriate."

Rafael believed Jacob. This was exactly the kind of thing his mother would do. It wasn't that Helen had designs on Carissa's dowry—she wouldn't go that far. But she was obsessed with her reputation and currying favor with Eleanor and Jessica, despite consistently being outmaneuvered by them and constantly submitting to their scorn.

"I'll go myself after we return from the palace," Rafael said.

Carissa was speechless. Was something seriously wrong with her new mother-in-law? How could Helen give Carissa's dowry to Eleanor? To preserve her dignity, or to make Eleanor think she could control her new daughter-in-law? Carissa despised people who couldn't see things clearly. She knew Helen's attitude toward Eleanor and Jessica, and how the mother-daughter duo treated Helen. What she couldn't understand was why Helen, usually confident, was so afraid of Eleanor and her daughter. Did they really have the power to cause harm?

Hearing Rafael's plan, Carissa said, "You don't need to go. This is a matter between women. I can handle it."

"What?"

Rafael paused. It might be appropriate, but Eleanor wasn't easy to deal with. If she denied everything, that would make things difficult.

"I'll be fine on my own. If we can't even recover a few pearls, we'll never be able to hold our own in these circles again. But first, I'll speak to my mother-in-law and find out what's going on. Why did she give the pearls to Grand Princess Eleanor?" Carissa said.

Helen, who had meticulously prepared for this moment, finally saw her son enter, hand in hand with Carissa.