Count Croyso was puzzled. Was there some subtlety he had missed? Concentrating on the chessboard, he saw the black pieces, which had once been scattered in an orderly manner within their territory, gradually being devoured by the white pieces.However, for some reason, the club master was placing his pieces increasingly slowly, as if each move required immense mental effort. Before the game concluded, the club master suddenly sighed softly, pushed the chess pieces away, and said, "No need to continue, I have lost!"The club master was in an absolutely advantageous position, so why did he claim defeat? Everyone was confused. Count Croyso stared at the chessboard, seeming to understand something.Miranda stood up gracefully, her demeanor respectful, and said gently, "The club master is too modest; it is I who have lost." However, Miranda couldn't help but feel that his purpose in playing was far from merely attracting customers, or promoting his namefor chess; there seemed to be a deep
The news of Miranda's victory in a chess match at the Black and White Chess Pavilion spread rapidly throughout the capital, causing a stir of disbelief. Once considered plain and untalented, especially after her recent broken engagement with the marquis' family, Miranda's win against the pavilion's master, who had not lost in three years, challenged everyone's perceptions.Even the servants in Count Croyso's mansion were taken aback. "Miss Miranda beat the master and took the seven-colored glass bead? That’s incredible!" they murmured. Rumors spread that Miranda was more talented than previously known.The countess was furious. "Nonsense! Miranda is nothing compared to Selena!" "Hmph, that little wench will never escape my grasp!" The countess sneered, issuing orders to Beatrix, "Go to the teachers of the mansion's young ladies and tell them..." After giving her instructions, the countess went to find Count Croyso.The next day, Count Croyso summoned Miranda, instructing her to resume
In the grand room, Count Croyso was deep in conversation with a man dressed in amber when the door opened, drawing his gaze. Upon seeing Charlotte and her party, his concern was immediate. Had Miranda caused trouble again? His frown deepened.The young man opposite him, with sword-like eyebrows and eyes as dark as pearls, turned instinctively. The shimmering silver threads in his amber attire and the luminous pearl in his belt marked him as someone of wealth. His curious gaze landed on the youngest among them—Miranda. Could she be the infamous Miss Miranda?Charlotte, suppressing her anger, declared, "Count, if Miss Miranda isn't punished severely this time, I cannot continue as her teacher! Her behavior is outrageous, beyond anything I've ever witnessed!" Her outburst painted a vivid picture of Miranda's supposed defiance.With an outsider present, Charlotte's anticipation of a doubled reward grew.Count Croyso rubbed his temples, "What happened?" He dreaded the answer, especially wit
“What is this?” Count Croyso sneered, throwing an old poetry book in front of Charlotte. “This poem, written by my wife Anna ten years ago, was well-known. You stole it and slandered my daughter. What have you done to her in private?”His anger, a result of battlefield experiences, overwhelmed Charlotte, who collapsed in terror.“Count Croyso, I didn’t know... I... I was just following orders...” Charlotte stammered, crying. “Please, spare me!”The Countess entered, noting Charlotte's distress. “My lord, madam Liudmila has invited the ladies of Croyso Estate to view rare peonies in five days. Few in the capital are invited.” She feigned surprise at Charlotte's state. “What happened here?”Ignoring her, Count Croyso demanded, “Who told you to slander my daughter?”Could this man implicate her? The Countess was alarmed. If Count Croyso found out she had instructed the tutor to frame Miranda, she would be finished. Thinking quickly, she hurriedly said, "Someone instructed Mr. Charlotte to
"Mother, why did you give such fine fabrics to Miranda? And an entire set of gold and ruby jewelry too!" In the room, Selena was picking out her attire and jewelry for the flower-viewing banquet. Although the items before her were all luxurious and no less exquisite than Miranda's, she couldn't help but feel indignant. How could that little wretch deserve the same treatment as her?"She is currently the apple of your father's eye. I can't openly mistreat her. Besides, what are you worried about? With her looks, even dressed in gold and silver threads, it's a waste! Do you really fear she could outshine you?"The Countess chided, knowing well that the clothes had been tampered with. "Don't think I don't know what you're after. You're still thinking about the heir of the Sheffield family, aren't you? I've told you, your father wants to betroth Miranda to him!""Father favors her in everything and even punishes me for that little wretch!" New and old grievances surged in Selena's heart as
On the day of the flower-viewing banquet, Earl Croyso left early to attend to his official duties. With him away, the Countess gladly used her illness as an excuse to avoid sending Miranda off.Selena, disdaining the idea of being seen with Miranda, made an excuse to leave early with another young lady.Thus, in the end, Miranda was left to attend the banquet alone in her carriage.This was just to Miranda's liking, sparing her from any potential trouble Selena might cause on the way.Upon arriving at the palace gates and stepping out of her carriage, Miranda walked directly into Lady Liudmila's back garden where the banquet was being held.After inquiring about Selena’s whereabouts from a maid, Miranda walked towards the wisteria trellis nearby.Before she even got close, she heard Selena’s voice from a distance, “You haven’t seen my sister Miranda, have you? She’s always hiding her face behind long bangs because she’s too ashamed to show herself. She’s like a ghost, never to be seen,
Knowing that the entire courtyard was watching her, Miranda still smiled, neither humble nor arrogant. She had achieved the shocking effect she wanted. Now, she didn’t need to do anything but continue to display her elegance and composure, which was already a heavy slap in the face to Selena and Andrew. With graceful steps, she approached Selena and said sweetly.“Sister, won’t you introduce me?”Selena was so furious that she could barely maintain her smile. Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, was already twisting a handkerchief beyond recognition.At this moment, a woman in a brocade floral dress brushed past Miranda, stepping hard on her foot and twisting it.Then, in an exaggerated manner, she feigned shock and said, “Oh, I’m sorry, Miss Miranda, I didn’t mean to step on you. It was an accident! You won’t blame me, will you?”Her raised eyebrows and eyes were openly provocative, waiting for Miranda to react.Everyone was already paying attention to this side, especially since the woman
At this moment, Miranda suddenly cried out in panic, "Oh no, I'm doomed now!""Now you realize it? Too late!" June sneered."Miss June’s reminder suddenly jogged my memory. Yesterday, the maids in my courtyard were arguing, and I scolded them. I thought it was no big deal at the time, but now I realize it's a great disrespect!" Miranda counted on her fingers, looking distressed. "My courtyard is in the Earl's mansion, which belongs to my father. I should have reported this to my father for him to handle. The mansion is in the capital, which belongs to the kingdom, and the king is our ruler. So my father should report this to the king, who would make the final decision. But I handled it privately... I never intended to overstep my father, let alone disrespect the king... What should I do?"Her eyes filled with tears, she glanced around in panic, looking pitiful and heart-wrenching.Idiot! June scoffed, "Two maids arguing in your courtyard is a trivial matter. You don't need to escalate
The Croyso family's guards were momentarily stunned by his roar but quickly resumed their destruction.Upon witnessing the scene, Marquess William was utterly furious, nearly exploding with rage. He rushed forward, commanding his own guards to drive Croyso's men back.Earl Croyso sneered. “Lord William, what’s the point of flaunting your power before my guards? If you want a fight, come at me directly!”“Croyso, you’ve gone too far!” Marquess William's anger flared again at these words. He stormed up to him, pointing a finger in his face. “Bringing a band of thugs to wreck my estate—what do you mean by this? Have you lost your mind?”“And do you think I, Croyso, am so easy to trample on?” Earl Croyso puffed out his chest and bellowed, his commanding presence as a battle-hardened man utterly overwhelming. “Breaking off our long-standing engagement just to climb your way up to the Blackwell family—I let that slide because I never thought much of your son anyway. But when my daughter fou
Lady Langley had already approached Miranda, glancing sideways at Earl Croyso’s retreating figure. In a voice so low that only she could hear, she murmured, “What sense of righteousness and morality can one expect from noble families…”Then she turned to Miranda and said, “You’ve merely escaped a den of fire. No need to concern yourself with those shameless people.”Rose, standing nearby, watched the scene unfold and felt secretly relieved. Thankfully, she had not accepted the match—otherwise, with such in-laws, how could she ever hope for a good life?“There’s no need for you to worry about me, Aunt.” Miranda straightened her posture and said firmly, “Just as you said, not marrying into such a family is actually a blessing! If I didn’t understand that, I wouldn’t have raised my hand against Lady Sheffield.”She had never held high expectations for this marriage. Even when the Queen Dowager suddenly intended for her to enter the palace to accompany His Majesty the King, her only thoug
"It was merely a jest from the Queen Dowager, yet you all assumed the King had taken a liking to me, without considering that I’m just an immature girl—how could I have such influence? But then you realized your son was engaged to me, meaning he’d be competing with the King for a woman. You feared the King’s wrath would harm Sheffield’s future, so you sought to annul the engagement. Yet, breaking it off now might make you seem weak, as if your son were abandoning his fiancée for personal gain. To avoid that, you shifted the blame onto me."Miranda scoffed. "That’s why you want me to admit it. If I confess, then it’s my indiscretion, my fault, while Sheffield remains the innocent victim. You wouldn’t dare say it outright, so you let Lady Sheffield stir up trouble for you. Am I wrong?"Such hypocrisy—far more despicable than Lady Sheffield herself!Exposed so plainly, Earl Sheffield’s face reddened. For a moment, he was speechless before snapping, "Miss Miranda, it’s your own misconduct
“You actually believe this nonsense?” Earl Croyso roared. “The William family called off the engagement because June Blackwell set her sights on Andrew! They wanted to climb their way up to the Blackwell family, so they discarded the marriage with Croyso. Don’t you know this? How could you possibly believe such absurd rumors? You and I have been through life and death together, and yet even you believe this nonsense?”As he spoke, rage surged through him with nowhere to go. He grabbed the black lacquered chair beside him and hurled it to the ground, shattering it into pieces.“This is not a rumor. It was the William family themselves who sent someone to inform my wife,” Earl Sheffield snapped, irritation creeping into his tone. “When that man arrived at William Manor, every single person in the estate saw him clearly. Anyone who was there can vouch for it. And if you truly wish to investigate, Edric, you will certainly be able to find this man!”“Im-pos-si-ble!” Earl Croyso refused to
Miranda remained as composed as ever, her delicate features unchanged. Only her eyes—deep and void of light—seemed to burn with an eerie fire, like ghostly flames from the underworld, both searing and chilling at the same time, sending a shiver down one’s spine.Lady Sheffield clutched her aching right cheek, staring at Miranda in disbelief. “You dare slap me?”“So what if I did?” Miranda asked coldly.Lady Sheffield was stunned for a moment before she finally reacted, stomping her foot in rage. “How dare you lay a hand on me? You insolent little harlot—”Smack!Before she could utter the next words, Miranda’s hand landed another slap, this time on her left cheek. Her brows furrowed in defiance, and she sneered, “A senior? You think you’re worthy of my respect? If you want my deference, at least act like someone deserving of it! I’ve endured and tolerated you out of respect, but you mistook my patience for weakness, daring to slander me and even tarnish my reputation! If you dare utte
"Oh? I'd love to hear what you have to say!" Earl Croyso roared. "I refuse to believe that anyone could find fault with my Miranda! I won't waste words with an ignorant woman like you—call your husband here! I'll speak only to him!""Father, why call Lord Sheffield over again? If he was unwilling, how could Lady Sheffield have come to the Croyso estate?" Miranda finally spoke, her cold gaze fixed on Lady Sheffield, her voice as chilling as ice. "Do you still not understand? They’re afraid that I'll drag the Sheffield family down, afraid that the King and the Queen Dowager will make things difficult for them and harm their prospects. That’s why they’re in such a hurry to break off the engagement! Who would have thought—just one remark from the Queen Dowager at the birthday banquet was enough to scare the Sheffield family into such a state?"Recalling the recent rumors he had heard, Earl Croyso suddenly understood, and his fury erupted.There had been talk circulating that the Sheffield
Earl Croyso fixed his gaze on Rose. "Rose, what do you say?"Rose's heart pounded violently. As a member of the Croyso family’s collateral branch, marrying into the Sheffield family as the future mistress would secure her future and elevate her status overnight. When Lady Sheffield had hinted at the possibility before, it had seemed as distant and unattainable as clouds in the sky. But now, the temptation stood vividly before her—her uncle was a man of his word, never one to make empty promises.Lowering her head, Rose’s lips trembled slightly, and her eyes flickered with conflicting emotions, as if she were engaged in a fierce internal struggle.Lady Sheffield, however, smiled smugly. A girl with no favor or standing—how could she refuse such a marriage? At least the Croyso family knew how to show proper respect. Treat me well, and I’ll return the favor. Since that was the case, there was no need to expose Miranda’s matter and cause further trouble.Earl Croyso said nothing, simply w
"Rest assured, even though the engagement between Fulton and Miss Miranda fell through, the marriage alliance between our two families still stands. We can switch to Miss Selena instead. But I must say, Lord Croyso, I’m particularly fond of your niece, Miss Rose. Let’s settle the engagement with your niece as the future daughter-in-law of the Sheffield family! My husband values old friendships and has always cherished the bond with you, Lord Croyso. We truly wish to strengthen this connection through marriage. Once Miss Rose joins our family, I will treat her as my own daughter and ensure she is never mistreated!" Lady Sheffield prattled on without the slightest regard for the dark expression on Earl Croyso’s face.Miranda, however, after the initial shock, gradually regained her composure. Her expression grew calm as she quietly observed Lady Sheffield.For some reason, meeting Miranda’s gaze sent a jolt through Lady Sheffield’s heart. The lengthy speech she had planned suddenly stuc
Lady Sheffield, however, wore a radiant smile. Uncharacteristically, she took Miranda’s hand and examined her closely, chuckling as she said, “I never realized before just how stunning Miss Miranda is. Look at that face, that figure, those hands—and the grace you carry yourself with. Such elegance is truly rare among the young ladies of the capital. I must have been blind to have overlooked it before! Even the Dowager Queen, with her discerning eye, is utterly fond of you—how could I possibly compare? Lord Croyso is truly blessed to have such a daughter!”Hearing this, both the Earl of Croyso and Miranda exchanged a glance of surprise.Lady Sheffield praising Miranda? Did the sun rise from the west today?There’s always something suspicious about unusual kindness. Miranda grew wary but maintained her smile as she gracefully curtsied and replied, “You flatter me, madam.”“No, no! I speak nothing but the truth—every word is sincere!” The thought of soon being able to dissolve Miranda’s