Chapter 662

Darin composed herself and said, "Let's go." She could only hope the Farrell family wouldn't find her unsuitable. With Thomas's current status, he could marry anyone he wanted; she was merely someone with a fabricated identity.

As they entered the main hall, Darin covered her face with a fan and walked with delicate, practiced steps.

Gemma smiled brightly and said, "Lisette, greet Alice and Opal."

Darin curtsied respectfully. "Nice to meet you, Madam Alice, Madam Opal."

"And this is Major General Farrell," Gemma continued. "And this is Violet Spencer, Alice's goddaughter." (Violet had already been introduced by Alice earlier.)

Darin lowered her fan, revealing her face. Unable to summon a shy demeanor, she greeted them normally: "Nice to meet you, Major General Farrell, Ms. Spencer."

Violet returned the greeting. "Nice to meet you too, Ms. Sanford."

Thomas nodded politely. "Hello, Ms. Sanford."

Violet noticed Darin's well-defined features: wide eyes, moderately full lips forming a beautiful curve, and a small red mole on her upper lip adding a playful touch to her dignified appearance. Darin was attractive, but lacked the refined air of a noblewoman; she seemed more free-spirited, like someone accustomed to life on the road. Her demeanor was not crude, her manners impeccable, yet the essence of a woman who had lived by her wits was hard to hide, especially from someone like Violet, who had seen much.

In fact, Darin shared a certain spirit—carefully masked by decorum—that occasionally surfaced, much like Carissa. This resemblance prompted Violet to examine her more closely.

An inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over Violet, though she couldn't pinpoint its source. She was certain she'd never met Darin before, but Darin's greetings and bearing felt oddly familiar. A similar sense of familiarity existed between Gemma and Henry (though unsurprising, given their mother-son relationship). But where did this feeling regarding Darin originate?

Alice looked pleased. Darin's outfit was tastefully done, neither extravagant nor plain. Her clear, delicate features exuded a grace and maturity beyond her years.

Gemma, noticing Alice's satisfied expression, sighed softly. "This poor child has had a hard life. Engaged young, she faced much criticism after her fiancé's untimely death. In a small place like Stonebridge County, people are narrow-minded and blame her for everything. When Lisette came to the capital seeking a match, I didn't aim so high. But hearing Major General Farrell preferred an older woman, I thought Lisette would be a good match. Now, it all depends on whether you and Major General Farrell mind that Lisette doesn't come from a prestigious family. As for her character, I can guarantee there's no problem."

Alice was pleased with Lisette but didn't dare ask Thomas his opinion; given his nature, he might flatly refuse, leaving the poor woman little hope of marriage.

Sensing Alice's apprehension, Gemma turned to Darin. "Lisette, you may return to your room now."

Darin stood and curtsied before leaving. Violet continued to watch her. Darin held herself upright, her steps far steadier than upon entering. Some habits, clearly, were deeply ingrained.

Thomas had also noticed this. Darin clearly had martial arts training, though she hadn't displayed it earlier. He'd been investigating lately. While Rafael advised against looking into the Warren family, that didn't stop him from investigating other matters. The Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team was mostly back in the capital (except for Scott and Wilfred, who had returned home). They were accustomed to investigating, and the inactivity gnawed at them. With Yuvan back in the capital and the peculiarities following Leona's marriage into the Earl of Gracehold's family, something felt amiss. Much of their investigation was pointless, however, overly sensitive and random. It seemed they'd be stuck in limbo until the king assigned them tasks.

He was there to meet a marriage candidate, yet his thoughts were entangled in inconsistencies, leaving little room for romance.

"Alice, Major General Farrell, let's be frank—what do you think of Lisette?" Gemma asked.