Melody of Strength novel

Rafael needed to wear formal court attire, but he couldn’t manage it on his own–it was simply too complicated.

In the end, he took the attire out to the outer room and called for Luke and a servant to help him dress.

He wore a crown and a green outfit with griffin patterns embroidered on the shoulders. His waist was bound with a blue sash, and on either side of his waist hung emerald pendants decorated with gold- etched cloud and griffin patterns, 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, it wouldn’t do to face the day without any makeup. Once she was fully dressed and groomed, Canssa was escorted out by Lily, Lulu, and her other attendants,

Carissa asked about Ryan first. Upon learning that he hadn’t risen yet and that Joy was attending to him, she felt at ease

As she walked out of the room, she met Rafael’s gaze, who had just finished dressing.

Perhaps it was because they were both dressed so solemnly today that they forgot about the intimacy they shared the previous night, and the awkwardness melted away.

Almost instinctively, Rafael extended his hand. Without hesitation, Carissa placed her hand in his. They exchanged a smile, and walked out together.

From where she was following behind, Lily wiped away her tears. She had promised herself not to cry, but seeing how loving Rafael and Carissa were, Lily couldn’t help but shed tears of joy.

Helen was already seated in the ceremonial chair in the main hall. The chair had been custom–made at her special request. Though she didn’t often sit in the outer courtyard’s main hall, as Carissa would typically have to visit her chambers to greet her in the future, today, she felt the need to exert her authority.

However, on their way out, Rafael and Carissa were stopped by Jacob.

Since the dowry was to be moved into the storeroom today, 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.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

When the Mystic Pearls were delivered, they were sent in a jar. Jacob had seen the gift list, and while it didn’t specify the exact number of pearls in each jar, there were some details written down.

Even if it hadn’t been explicitly noted, this matter needed to be reported to Rafael and Carissa–they couldn’t let Eleanor get away with this.

As Jacob spoke, Rafael’s expression darkened immediately. “Are you sure she took them?”

“Yes, I’m sure. They were indeed given to her, and when Gillian took them, the guards saw it with their

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own eyes. It’s just that 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 any designs on Carissa’s dowry–she wouldn’t go that far. But she was obsessed with her reputation and showing bff.

Despite consistently being outmaneuvered by Eleanor and Jessica, she kept trying to curry favor with them, always rushing to subject herself to their scorn.

“I’ll go myself after we return from the palace,” Rafael said.

Carissa was utterly speechless after hearing this.

Was there something seriously wrong with her new mother–in–law?

How could Helen give Carissa’s dowry to Eleanor? For what reason? To preserve her dignity, or to make Eleanor think Helen could control her new daughter–in–law?

Carissa despised people who couldn’t see things clearly. She knew exactly what kind of attitude Helen had toward Eleanor and Jessica, and how the mother–daughter duo treated Helen.

What Carissa couldn’t understand was why Helen, who usually strutted around the palace with confidence, 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?”

But then, Rafael thought for a moment.

It might be appropriate, but Eleanor wasn’t someone easy to deal with. If she decided to deny everything. that would make things very 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 prepared meticulously for this moment, finally saw her son enter, hand in hand with Carissa.