Chapter 445
Carissa had extended an invitation to the Farrell family, a distinguished family with a strong military tradition. Timothy Farrell was still serving in the Hell Monarch Army. Due to a long-standing illness, the family's elder general had been bedridden for two or three years. The current matriarch was Timothy's wife, Opal. The other branches of the family, having lost members of the younger generations, kept a low profile and rarely appeared in public.
A family of military officers bore a unique pain that others might not understand. With her husband still serving and her children unmarried, Opal had to make public appearances to plan for her children's marriages and futures. Her eldest son was also a soldier but had been injured in battle, preventing him from settling down. Her second son, having passed the national examination, was pursuing a scholarly career and needed to continue his studies. They also had a daughter, thirteen-year-old Nina Farrell, for whom marriage arrangements, while not immediately pressing, were sometimes made as young as twelve or thirteen. She had yet to find a suitor.
When the Farrell family received the invitation to Helen's birthday banquet, Opal decided to take her sister-in-law, Alice, for a change of scenery. Having heard that no one from the Warren family had been invited, she felt it was safe to bring Alice (Thomas Farrell's mother) along. Alice had been melancholic for years, grieving over the loss of Thomas. However, she needed to consider her other children and couldn't remain in her sorrow forever. After some persuasion, she agreed to attend the banquet.
Opal prepared a gift for her sister-in-law. In due time, they would depart together for Hell Monarch Estate to celebrate Helen's birthday. Opal would also bring her siblings to broaden their horizons.
March passed quickly, the verdant growth of spring giving way to the blossoming of April. Soon, Helen's birthday arrived. The people of Hell Monarch Estate had been busy preparing for half a month. The garden was adorned with flowers—those Helen had chosen, plus many more added by Carissa. The bougainvillea on the walls bloomed, resembling clusters of purple-red clouds, creating a beautiful scene. Three theater troupes had been hired well in advance and would perform in rotation from morning until night.
The pastries served to the guests were made by the household's pastry chefs and were in no way inferior to those from the famous Fortune Bakehouse. The banquet featured eighteen dishes, including a variety of mountain delicacies and seafood, along with unique homemade favorites. Vegetarian options were prepared for guests who did not eat meat. For example, the matriarch of the Marquis of Jadehill's family and some members of the Farrell family preferred to avoid meat, as did several older members of the Sinclair family. They hoped their vegetarianism would ensure the invincibility of their family's men on the battlefield—more accurately, they hoped for their safe return from battle. Unfortunately, the Sinclair family's pillar, the Duke of Northwatch's family, now consisted only of Carissa and Ryan.
Despite this, the Sinclair family members continued their vegetarian diet. One reason was habit; they could no longer tolerate even the slightest bit of meat. The other was a hope for the quicker rebirth of departed souls.
Carissa wore a soft pink dress with a peach-colored cloud satin cloak. The light and airy cloak gave her an ethereal appearance. Her makeup was subtle, her hair styled in a sophisticated bun, and a Mystic Pearl headpiece added a touch of elegance without overshadowing her natural beauty.
Rafael wore a dark brocade robe cinched with a leather belt, from which hung an emerald pendant. His attire was striking and dignified, blending handsomeness with authority.
Helen was elaborately dressed. Her hair was adorned with jewels and pearls, and her luxurious brocade outfit was embroidered with large peonies in gold and silver thread. Over this, she wore a silk shawl, lighter and more refined than cloud satin, adding an air of luxury.
Helen had entered the palace at sixteen, gave birth to Rafael at seventeen, and this year turned forty-two. She always insisted she looked young, and dressed like this, she did. Her complexion was fair and smooth, with only faint lines at the corners of her eyes and a few white hairs (which had been removed). Around her neck, she wore a dazzling red coral necklace; each bead was round and fiery red. Her hair and earrings were adorned with rubies, and she wore two jeweled hairpins with dangling tassels. The left hairpin featured a large Mystic Pearl, similar to those in Carissa's dowry.
This was no coincidence—every piece of jewelry Helen wore that day was custom-made by Carissa as a birthday gift.
Soon, the guests began to arrive.