Kylie thought she had given Carissa an opening to vent her feelings, and that would be the end of it. But unexpectedly, Carissa didn''t take the bait at all. Instead, she brushed it off as a misunderstanding, leaving Kylie and Lydia somewhat at a loss.


    Lydia awkwardly stood up, offering her thanks before stepping to the side. Her eyes flicked quickly to Carissa, silently searching for any sign that she was willing to press the issue further. But there was nothing.


    Carissa remained silent, sipping her coffee.


    Was that it? Had the matter truly been settled? Was this the resolution they had been hoping for? Both Kylie and Lydia felt the answer was no, but the conversation had alreadye to an abrupt end. To continue would only make the situation more awkward.


    "The coffee''s cold," Kylie said, her tone stiff. "Get Her Grace another cup of hot coffee."


    Her anger simmered beneath the surface. It was clear to her that Carissa had built an imprable wall between them, shutting out all attempts at reconciliation. The queen could do nothing about it. Carissa calmly sipped her coffee, sitting in silence with Kylie. She only answered when spoken to, never starting a conversation herself, but also careful not to offend the queen openly. She wasn''t in a hurry to leave either. After all, once she stepped out of Everspring Pce, there would be other invitations from different concubines to contend with.


    Rather than navigating more forced conversations, staying here in silence seemed the wiser choice. Inwardly, Carissa reflected on how drastically things had changed this year. Not only was her usualpanion absent, but now, she was forced to sit here with the resentful queen, both of them spending the evening together in cold silence.


    As for the notion of reconciliation, Carissa saw it as nothing more than a social nicety. It wasn''t needed because it wasn''t a misunderstanding to begin with.


    Was Salvador truly trying to support her? If he wanted them to resolve their differences, he would have suggested they clear up the misunderstanding, not simply tell her to vent her anger as she pleased. Carissa couldn''t help but wonder what Salvador had said to Kylie privately. Judging by the way thetter had initially snubbed her and how she now wore such a sour expression, it was clear it hadn''t been anything ttering.


    Her thoughts kept twisting and turning. At first, she thought it meant one thing, then another. Then, after thinking it over again, she saw yet another meaning.


    It was exhausting.


    Clearly, Kylie wasn''t a person who pondered things so deeply. After a while of sitting in ufortable silence, she had also grown weary of the tension. Carissa''s demeanor was so different from what she had expected.


    As Kylie''s anger slowly subsided, calmness returned, and she realized it was time to mend her rtionship with Carissa.


    Her expression softened considerably as she asked, "Has Ryan note to the pce with you?" "He''s at his uncle''s ce," Carissa replied.


    "Lord Klein certainly dotes on his nephew," Kylie said with a smile that didn''t quite reach her eyes. "Though, Ryan is a smart and well-behaved boy. Both the queen dowager and the king have praised him countless times."


    "Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty," Carissa responded calmly.


    Kylie shifted in her seat and got to the point, adding, "I''ve heard that after the New Year, Ryan wille to the pce to apany Connor for his studies. Ryan is a bit older, and feel much more at ease with him looking after Connor."


    Carissa nodded. "You''re too kind, Your Majesty. Ryan is still just a child and doesn''t fully understand things yet. If he makes any mistakes, I hope you won''t hold it against him."


    Kylie smiled. "It''s a matter of fate, really. His Majesty and your second brother were close friends in their youth. Now, Connor and Ryan are to be ssmates. I believe they''ll continue their fathers'' friendship and be friends they can rely on."


    Carissa simply nodded in response and didn''t speak further, instead just warming her hands with the coffee.


    Kylie''s intentions were clear to Carissa.


    Ryan was the future Duke of


    Northwatch, backed by both the Hell


    Monarch''s household and the Klein


    family. Now, he also had the approval of Victoria and Salvador. So, Kylie saw an opportunity to use Ryan as support for Connor


    But Carissa felt that pulling Ryan in like this wouldn''t be all that useful and wouldn''t make a real difference.


    In the end, everything depended on whether Connor could prove himself. If he wanted Salvador to firmly decide to make him crown prince within the short time left, he had to earn it himself.


    The biggest benefit of Ryan bing Connor''s studypanion was that he could help thetter


    improve. Connections and social ties didn''t matter-Ryan was just a child, not a duke yet.


    Clearly, Kylie hadn''t realized this. She even thought that hard work was useless.