Chapter 878 (+25 Bonus)

Even Carissa glanced at Hayden. Hayden remarked that he now understood Yuvan to be a dutiful son, implying that this hadn't always been apparent to others. However, this revelation puzzled the royal family. After all, Yuvan had always been dutiful, annually requesting permission to visit his mother in the capital. Sometimes his request was granted; sometimes it was denied. This had been the case even during the late emperor's reign. Such dedication was undeniably moving.

But on this celebratory day, few heeded Hayden's words. Salvador, however, gave Yuvan a meaningful look. Yuvan's expression shifted subtly before he returned to his usual smile, saying, "Our ancestors ruled with kindness and devotion. How could I not be dutiful to my parents?"

Rafael glanced at Hayden but remained silent, continuing his meal with Carissa.

After the palace banquet, the women attended a play. The theater offered performances throughout the New Year, continuing until the eighth day of celebrations. The plays provided a pleasant diversion, making the time fly by. While Sylvia returned to her quarters due to her pregnancy, Victoria remained with the others for a while. Carissa, usually busy, rarely had the opportunity to visit her; thus, Victoria seized the chance to chat warmly with her.

Dakota, sitting nearby, asked, "You've been married for a while. Why haven't you gotten pregnant yet?"

Carissa disliked such questions. The decision of whether and when to have children was solely for her and Rafael to make. Before she could respond, Victoria interjected, "She's only just become the commander of the Mystic Army. Why should she rush into pregnancy? A man should prioritize his career, and a woman should be the same."

Carissa always found Victoria's views refreshing. The older woman consistently encouraged female self-reliance. When Aurora joined the military and successfully subdued bandits, Victoria was overjoyed, holding her up as a role model for women everywhere. Similarly, Carissa was impressed by Victoria's statement about prioritizing careers. Had anyone else said it, Carissa might have suspected opposition to Rafael having children, but Victoria's sincerity was evident.

Helen, though engrossed in the play, chimed in, "Exactly! Why worry about kids? You're making a fuss. I haven't even pressured her."

Dakota offered a half-hearted comment, but both Victoria and Helen dismissed it, leaving her bored and silent.

(+25 Bonus)

Chapter 872

Meanwhile, Heather, who had been quiet, leaned over several people to ask Carissa, "Carissa, I heard you've opened an embroidery workshop for abandoned women."

"Yes, I have," Carissa replied casually.

"You named it Skye Embroidery. Is it named after the late Lady Warren? I recall that was her middle name." Heather leaned closer. "But she's dead. Isn't it bad luck to use the name of a deceased person?"

Carissa glanced at her. "It's bad luck to divorce, and now it's bad luck when someone's dead. In your opinion, everything is bad luck, right? Perhaps you're just unlucky, seeing bad omens everywhere."

Victoria frowned at Heather. "Why bring up the Warren family on New Year's Eve? Are you trying to bring bad luck upon yourself? If you don't have anything nice to say, keep quiet and enjoy the show."

Dakota felt relieved; Victoria was close to scolding Heather. Dakota, setting aside her irritation, asked, "Is Prince Harvey feeling better? Why haven't you called for the royal physician? Someone could check on him."

"No, that's fine," Heather quickly waved her hand. "Hehe's much better now."

Penelope, sitting beside her, flinched at Heather's frantic gesture, puzzled by such a strong reaction. It was merely a suggestion to have a physician check in. Was there something embarrassing about it?

Carissa glanced at Heather but returned her attention to the stage. Was Harvey truly too ill to attend? Earlier, they'd speculated he might not dare to appear. However, their observations suggested Harvey possessed a far more scheming nature than Yuvan.