Chapter 206
As Carissa walked away, Rafael followed. News of their departure quickly spread from the inner courtyard to the main court. Royal relatives and various civil and military officials learned that Rafael was about to marry Carissa. Men and women reacted differently. Men valued heritage and purity, but also placed great importance on benefits.
Who was Carissa? Besides being the daughter of the Duke of Northwatch, with an impressive background, she was also an apprentice of the Pathfinders Guild, under Kyle's tutelage. The Pathfinders Guild was more than just a martial arts faction. Besides Kyle, it housed many extraordinary individuals. Its current leader was Adrian Russell, the great-grandson of Blake Russell, the former Supreme Cavalry Commander, also known as the Exotic Sovereign and the Annara Monarch.
Adrian founded the Pathfinders Guild, and his influence extended over all guilds in Meadow Ridge, which was his domain, formerly Blake's fief. Though the Annara Monarch's title wasn't hereditary, the territory remained unreclaimed. Over the years, only they knew the extent of their amassed wealth.
Of course, wealth was secondary. The crucial factor was influence within the martial world. Adrian's martial prowess was reputedly second only to one of his juniors. Whether these rumors were true was uncertain, but the guild's formidable reputation commanded respect throughout Meadow Ridge.
Everyone desired an alliance with such a powerful faction; a marital alliance was clearly advantageous. Moreover, Carissa was a celebrated hero who recaptured the Southern Frontier and succeeded Aurora as the era's top female general. Given these accomplishments, whether Carissa was divorced was irrelevant.
It was a strange world where women sometimes belittled each other before men even had the chance. They said that like attracts like, and these women harmed their own kind.
Carissa and Rafael exchanged a glance at the entrance to Eleanor's residence. Seeing her spirited demeanor, it was clear she hadn't been distressed, which reassured Rafael. Since the announcement had been made, he seized the opportunity to extend an invitation. "I hear there's a chef from Funara at Wisdom Retreat skilled in spicy cuisine. How about we try it?"
"Sounds good!" Carissa was hungry. Arguing with others was exhausting.
Rafael and Dylan mounted their horses, while Carissa, Lulu, and Pearl boarded the carriage. Pearl remained somewhat reserved. "My lady, is it appropriate for you two to dine together publicly like this?"
Carissa smiled. "Should we invite him to our estate instead?"
"Uh Perhaps Wisdom Retreat is better," Pearl reconsidered.
(The "+15 BONUS" section is included below, with minor edits.)
The estate wasn't prepared for such an impromptu meal, and even if they could prepare a few dishes, it wouldn't be suitable for distinguished guests. The prince was, indeed, a distinguished guest!
Upon arriving at Wisdom Retreat, Dylan went in first to reserve a private room, then came out to invite Rafael and Carissa inside. The private room had two tables: one for Lulu, Pearl, and Dylan; the other for Rafael and Carissa.
Carissa ordered the food. Holding the menu, she looked up at Rafael and asked, "Can you handle spicy food?"
"I thrive on spice!" Rafael straightened, taking the task seriously. After enduring years on the battlefield, he was eager to savor everything. More importantly, he knew Carissa liked spicy food.
"For the two of us, three dishes should be enough. Since I can handle spice too, let's order all spicy dishes. However, Lulu and Pearl don't like spicy food. Let's order one spicy dish and three non-spicy ones for their table. How does that sound?"
"Three dishes won't be enough. Let's order eight," Rafael said.
Carissa chuckled. "Can you eat that much? It would be a waste if we can't finish it."
"I can manage. I didn't have breakfast today, and I was looking forward to a good meal at Grand Princess Eleanor's birthday banquet. Since that didn't work out, we can't let our stomachs down."
Carissa laughed as she wrote down their order. The menu offered spicy dishes and other cuisines. Ordering all spicy dishes wasn't feasible, so she also selected two of Wisdom Retreat's signature dishes.
(The final line "BIG SALE 3500 bonus free fou you" appears to be unrelated and is omitted.)