Chapter 499

A pearl and gem-inlaid tiara featuring Mystic Pearls, and Carissa offering Kiera free rein to choose anything from the third floor? A stark contrast to the past. Carissa once gifted Serena jewelry and seasonal clothing, even promising a lavish dowry. Now, she was arranging one for another.

Today, Serena and Viola arrived at The Golden Tower to select Serena's dowry. Viola, however, limited her choices to the first floor, neglecting the second and opulent third floor, where the finest pieces resided.

The disparity was jarring. Serena felt the mocking gazes of other guests, humiliation surging within her. She grabbed Viola's arm.

"Viola, I want to go to the third floor, too."

Viola, already frustrated by the expense—she was reluctantly covering the dowry's cost—had hoped for a simpler solution. She hadn't wanted to come to The Golden Tower, preferring a less expensive shop. But Rebecca insisted that, given Serena's marriage to the Marquis of Ironridge, a grand dowry was essential, enhancing Viola's image as a generous and virtuous sister-in-law.

Thus, they came to The Golden Tower. Viola planned to stick to the first floor, but Carissa's arrival and Serena's subsequent tantrum changed everything.

Viola cursed inwardly. Serena seemed oblivious to the Warren family's depleted funds and their dependence on Viola. Yet, she insisted on the third floor!

Conscious of onlookers, Viola forced a smile. "Let's look at the second floor. We don't need the third."

Serena stubbornly persisted. "I want something from the third floor! We have money—didn't my brother receive a hundred gold coins?"

Viola's frustration mounted. A hundred coins—did Serena think it inexhaustible?

From the side, Rebecca casually suggested, "Come on, let's look at the third floor. We only need one or two pieces. Quality over quantity." She wanted to see what Carissa bought for the princess, hoping to impress the capital's elite.

Viola reluctantly led them upstairs.

The third floor differed significantly. The décor was refined, less opulent than below, yet everything—from display cases to furniture—was top-quality mahogany. Jewelry trays were intricately carved zebrawood. Instead of numerous displays, there was one showcase and private rooms where guests browsed leisurely, served coffee and refreshments.

They overheard Nathaniel's astonished voice from a private room.

"These pearls are the finest I've ever seen! Perfectly round and lustrous, not a single flaw. Are you really making a tiara from all twenty-something, Your Grace?"

Carissa laughed lightly. "Yes. A tiara, hairpin, earrings, and a pearl bracelet. I'm sure you'll have wonderful ideas."

"I'll ensure your satisfaction, Your Grace, Your Highness," Nathaniel replied.

"Kiera, choose a few more things. I'll buy them," Carissa said indulgently.

Rebecca and Serena were stunned. Carissa's generosity far exceeded her past treatment of the Warren family. Everyone knew the Mystic Pearls were part of Carissa's dowry, yet she was using them for Kiera.

A shop assistant greeted them. "Ladies, this way! New tiaras and exquisite scarlet emerald pendants."

In a private room, Serena's eyes were captivated by a ruby tiara.

"I'll take this! Wrap it up!" she declared.

Serena craved a comparable purchase from Carissa on the third floor. Viola's heart leaped—was Serena mad? She hadn't even asked the price!