Her Graceful War Song

Snow had fallen for two days, not continuously but intermittently. The grounds were covered in a thick layer of snow, though the servants had cleared paths that made walking possible.

The orchids were in full bloom, but buried beneath the snow. With a kick, the snow would scatter, and the flowers would flutter down along with it.

Amid the sea of white, with purple petals drifting down, Carissa and Ryan had built a snowman. Ryan enthusiastically found two pebbles to use as the snowman's eyes, giving it a quirky, adorable appearance. Carissa draped a cloak over the snowman, and added a hat. From a distance, it looked remarkably lifelike.

Not far away, Kyle had set up his easel and had been painting for some time. It had been a while since he had seen Carissa so lively, and this painting would eventually be sent back to their guild.

By the twentieth day of December, with the wedding imminent, Carissa found herself overwhelmed with preparations.

The wedding gown had arrived; after months of painstaking work, it was as splendid as one could imagine.

The outer garment was sky blue, looking heavy but feeling surprisingly light and smooth when worn. The wedding gown featured intricate gold embroidery of cloud patterns, a traditional design reserved for women of the highest rank.

The ceremonial shawl was a blend of turquoise and gold, with woven dove motifs in shimmering gold. The phoenix crown matched this color scheme, adorned with over a dozen blue and silver gemstones. At the back of the crown, delicate fan-shaped accents in pale cyan and yellow added a touch of elegance, curving gracefully and enhancing the overall beauty of the ensemble.

Given that it was a winter wedding, a fine piece of leather and fox fur had been used to create a white cloak. The outer layer was covered with cloud satin, and before it was sewn, intricate patterns were

embroidered on it.

It was decorated with large peonies stitched in gold thread, symbolizing prosperity and wealth. Sincer weddings were a rare occasion to break traditional norms or use symbols and elements that are usually reserved for higher statuses or occasions, both griffin and phoenix motifs could be used. So, alongside the peonies, phoenix patterns were also embroidered.

When Carissa donned the outfit, everyone was so awestruck that they hardly blinked.

Lulu sat Carissa down in front of the dressing table to apply her makeup. After Lulu finished, everyone's eyes finally moved again.

What had Lulu done? Carissa looked more beautiful without makeup. With it, she appeared at least three years older.

Carissa usually did not wear makeup and was naturally elegant, with a complexion as smooth as silk. With such a complexion, she hardly needed any powder or rouge!

Holly patted Lulu's hand. "Alright, that's enough. Go attend to your tasks and stop causing trouble here. What kind of bride's makeup is done like this? Her face looks so pale."

Lulu giggled. "My lady usually doesn't wear makeup. If she does, she applies it herself. I haven't learned that skill."

"Lady Sinclair took you to Meadow Ridge and spoiled you," Holly said, dipping a cloth in hot water and using it to remove the makeup from Carissa's face.

Natural beauty was always best, though a bride did need makeup on her wedding day. Holly had already invited a skilled staff member from Elegance Atelier to apply the bridal makeup. Lily admired the embroidery on the wedding gown, and could not stop praising it. "It makes sense that it's so expensive. I could never embroider such exquisite patterns and designs!" Carissa looked at herself in the mirror, feeling a bit dazed.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

When she married Barrett, Melanie had arranged for an experienced woman to do her hair. Then, Melanie had held her hand in the room and gave her many instructions. Melanie reminded her how to interact with her husband, how to respect her in-laws, and how to treat her younger siblings and relatives.

In the year she lived at Valor Estate, Carissa had followed her mother's advice. Carissa knew that one shouldn't be overly indulgent, but she had adhered to her mother's teachings nonetheless, especially after the Duke of Northwatch's family had been wiped out.

With no home left, she had completely embraced the Warren family as her own. She had followed her mother's words to the letter, feeling that this was the only way to show her devotion and bring peace to her mother's spirit in the afterlife.

In the blink of an eye, she had divorced and remarried.

Looking at herself in the wedding gown in the mirror, it felt as if no time had passed. It was as if, any moment now, a maid would come in to assist her mother, who would take her hand and offer her last-minute advice.

Her eyes instantly filled with tears. She quickly stood up, went to the inner chamber, and changed back into her regular c