Lady Fitzroy was startled and hurriedly asked, "What do you mean by that?"If marrying Wensley offered no advantage, she would have a reason to convince everyone to call off the engagement."Before, there was something I couldn't figure out—why did the other side go to such great lengths to handpick Steven? After much thought, I realized there was more to it," Miranda, pulling Wensley back beside her, sat in front of Lady Langley and analyzed, "If we go by Wensley’s father’s logic, marrying Wensley into that family would indeed win a reputation for keeping one’s word, which might even aid Lord Fitzroy in his promotion to Prime Minister. But think about it, Madam—if this whole thing was aimed at Lord Fitzroy, planned so meticulously, how could they leave such a glaring loophole that would end up benefiting him, turning a disadvantage into an advantage?"Lady Fitzroy and Lady Langley exchanged a glance; this was something neither of them had considered.The Fitzroy family had only thoug
Meeting Lady Fitzroy’s expectant gaze, Miranda understood that she was not only worried about the Fitzroy family but also about Wensley. Clearly, she was feeling lost and uncertain. So Miranda said, “No need to fret, Madam. This situation isn’t entirely without a way out. Though the plan is clever, the key still lies in Steven’s identity. Whether it’s the real Steven or this imposter, if someone can recognize him, the whole scheme will fall apart on its own.”At first, Lady Fitzroy’s eyes lit up as Miranda spoke, but after hearing the full explanation, she felt a wave of disappointment.Everyone knew the crux of the matter was Steven’s identity. But the real Steven was far away in the city of Jasendale, and it would take at least two months to get there and back. By then, the Fitzroy family would have been the subject of endless gossip in the capital. By the time the information arrived, everything would be settled.Miranda nodded and analyzed further, “I believe the best way to resolv
On this day, a man was causing a scene in front of the Fitzroy estate, angrily confronting the household servants."A man is nothing without his word! Fitzroy! You promised to arrange a marriage with my son, yet now you go back on your word? You won't even let me through the door! You claim to be an honorable family, but I say you're nothing but a bunch of hypocrites! Does having power give you the right to look down on others and trample on those beneath you?"...At first, only a few onlookers watched from a distance, but soon a larger crowd gathered. Among them were troublemakers, stirring discontent and spreading rumors about the Fitzroy family.It was a rest day, and hearing the commotion, Lord Fitzroy emerged with his son Marcus.As the gates opened, Lord Fitzroy saw a sea of angry faces, with Steven—of dubious background—at the forefront, eyes ablaze with fury. Despite his age, Lord Fitzroy’s sharp gaze commanded authority, gradually quieting the mob. Once silence fell, he gave
“Since that’s the case, why don’t we stick around and enjoy the show? It might just turn into a good story for the future, don’t you all agree?” Seeing that things were spiraling beyond control, someone called out loudly, hoping to use the crowd’s presence to settle the marriage quickly and move on to the next phase of the plan.“Yeah, absolutely!” Who wouldn’t want to watch the drama unfold? The crowd eagerly agreed.Watching the instigators stirring up trouble, Lord Fitzroy sneered inwardly. He leaned down and instructed his steward to take note of these agitators and follow them closely after the situation was resolved, making sure to deal with them one by one.Everyone was excitedly preparing to witness the scene when suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out from the crowd: “Is that Lord Steven of Jasendale up ahead?” A gray-clad elderly woman, dragging along a young woman in a blue dress with her face covered by a light veil, pushed her way through the crowd and came right up to the fr
"My lord, please calm down your anger and let me explain," the young woman said with a bow. "I am Jenny from Jasendale, where my family is well-off. Seven years ago, Lord Steven sought a marriage alliance with my family. My father was delighted, and both families exchanged engagement tokens and signed an agreement. My father then spent his own money to help Lord Steven advance in his career."As she spoke, the old woman rushed forward, spat at Steven, and shouted, "That’s because my husband was blind to see you're just a thankless wolf!""Mother!"The young woman gently patted her mother's hand and continued, "Four years ago, my father died, and our fortunes declined. My mother sent someone to discuss the marriage, but Lord Steven avoided us and fled to the capital. Unable to bear the slight, my mother sold our property and pursued him. We heard he now seeks a marriage with the Fitzroy family, so we hurried here."She turned to Steven, sorrow in her voice, "My lord, my father spent ev
In front of Fitzroy Manor, the crowd surged with suspicion and accusations. Sweat beaded down Steven's forehead—what he thought was a flawless setup had been effortlessly dismantled. That woman in green was clearly determined to expose him, and her talk of facing off in court was nothing more than a diversion to buy time and shift the crowd's attention. If this continued, his master’s grand scheme would surely fall apart.He needed to act quickly to turn the situation around!The woman in green pressed on relentlessly. "Clearing up this matter is actually very simple. We only need to wait two more months for evidence from Jasendale. Once the proof is here, it will be crystal clear who is innocent and who is guilty. Lord Steven, why are you so afraid to wait? What secrets are you hiding?"Wait two months? Nonsense! By then, not only would their engagement be proven false, but his impersonation of Steven would be exposed as well. More importantly, Fitzroy, that sly old fox, would likely
"Let him go!" Reginald waved his hand. The spectacle before him was far more exciting than he had anticipated. He watched the blue-clad woman slipping away through the crowd, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Harland, take him somewhere safe. He might be useful later. I’ve got some business to attend to, so I’ll be heading off first." With that, he turned and headed downstairs.The green-clad woman supported the old maid as they left the Fitzroy estate. Glancing around carefully, they slipped unnoticed into an inn.Upstairs in a private room, Molly, who had been waiting, rushed over to assist the blue-clad woman with a beaming smile. "Miss, I was watching from the side. You were amazing! You had them all speechless! I was laughing so hard, my stomach hurt!"The green-clad woman was none other than Miranda in disguise.Choosing the right person to play the blue-clad woman was crucial since she had to face Steven directly. Who knew what tricks he might pull? A single misstep, and
This girl, she actually suspects he wants to kill someone?If he were to kill someone, she’d be the first!Noticing Reginald’s clear irritation, Miranda stuck out her tongue. Just then, Molly brought in tea, and Miranda eagerly took it, handing it to him personally. She said, “It was small-minded of me to think that way about you, Lord Reginald. Rest assured, both Fitzroy and Croyso are capable enough to keep someone hidden without letting her ruin things.”Seeing that she still worried he might kill the old woman to keep her quiet, Reginald sneered but didn’t argue, nor did he take the tea. He merely looked at her with a distant gaze.“Lord Reginald?” Miranda called softly, testing his mood.Reginald seemed to realize his anger was somewhat unwarranted. He let out a cold snort, abruptly stood, turned away, and said icily, “Do whatever you like, as long as it doesn’t mess things up.” Without using the main exit, he leapt out of the open window in one swift move, leaving the inn behind
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
The Blackwell family, Prince Zachary, and the Queen?Miranda's heart sank—no wonder Broad Loft was so arrogant; with a background like that, it all made sense! Yet her expression remained skeptical as she said, “Don’t try to fool me with random names! Who are Prince Zachary and the Queen? Would they really concern themselves with a small shop like Broad Loft?”“Broad Loft may be small, but Caleb’s ambitions are grand. The street where Jovanna is located is the most prosperous district in the capital. Caleb wants to buy out every shop on that street and turn it into a hub exclusively selling silk threads and clothing, gradually monopolizing the entire silk and garment trade of the capital, driving other shops and brands out of business.”Miranda’s heart jolted. Others might not grasp the full significance of those words, but she understood perfectly well—because she had done the same thing in her past life while managing the Hans family business.Although they were not conducting busin
At this point, the delivery captain naturally understood that after the counterfeit goods incident was exposed, the young miss had already begun to suspect those responsible for procurement. She had simply bided her time, allowing them to lower their guard before catching them red-handed this time. Her composure and tactics were truly alarming. Trembling, he confessed, “The steward from Broad Loft promised that once the job was done, the mansion and all its furnishings and servants would be mine. Additionally, they promised to make me the deputy manager of their shop…” Miranda continued to swirl her tea calmly, her dark eyes fixed in contemplation. After a moment, she furrowed her brows and said, “Jovanna may be prosperous, but even if it were driven out of business, how much profit could Broad Loft really gain? Yet they went to such great lengths—offering so many beautiful women, a grand mansion, and even a managerial position. Such elaborate scheming… aren't they afraid it’ll all
The men in black immediately carried out the order, not allowing those people to utter a word before binding them tightly. At this moment, the shop attendants who had been eating and drinking merrily inside the hall were also alerted and rushed out, only to be stunned at the sight of Miranda, the shop manager, and a circle of black-clad guards. Some of them, who were already aware of Jovanna’s counterfeit goods scandal, immediately understood what was happening. Frightened, they hurriedly knelt down and pleaded, “Miss, please have mercy! We truly had no idea that the captain… that he would betray Jovanna like this! We are innocent! We didn’t…” Thinking about how they had been indulging themselves while the captain took advantage of the distraction to swap the goods, and then recalling what others said about this keen and capable young miss, they were terrified, breaking out in a cold sweat. “Oh?” Miranda’s voice betrayed no emotion. “And what exactly is your crime?” “We… we sh
Seeing the shock in the eyes of the newcomers, Captain chuckled indifferently. “Isn’t it all thanks to our boss’s kindness? Generous and fair, never stingy with wages or bonuses—otherwise, how could I afford this estate?”After unloading the truck into the warehouse, according to Jovanna’s rules, someone had to stay behind to guard the goods.“You two, you’ve been here before. This time, you’ll have to take one for the team and keep watch while the others enjoy themselves,” Captain said with a hearty laugh, clapping them on the shoulders and shooting them a meaningful glance. Seeing them nod in agreement, he grinned and led the rest toward the main hall.The two young men left behind exchanged a glance, their expressions bright with amusement. Everyone knew that guarding the goods came with generous perks!The wine was fine, the food exquisite, and beautiful maids performed songs and dances, filling the hall with a captivating atmosphere. The revelry quickly escalated, cups clinking a
The visitor affirmed confidently, “There’s no mistake. Why else do you think our master insisted on having Young Master Andrew annul the engagement? Our young master is kind-hearted and worried that you and the Earl of Sheffield might not be aware of the truth, so he specifically sent me to inform you—lest you be deceived!” After exchanging a few more words, the Countess of Sheffield had the visitor sent away and hurried off to find the Earl. “Is this true?” The Earl of Sheffield rose abruptly, almost unable to believe it. “Of course it is! We absolutely cannot have this girl as a daughter-in-law! I doubt Lord Croyso is entirely unaware of this either. Otherwise, given his temperament, wouldn’t he have stormed over to the William family to demand an explanation? Instead, he quietly allowed them to annul the engagement without making a fuss!” The Countess had not expected such a stroke of luck—she had been wishing for a way out, and now it had been handed to her on a silver platt
“Enough, stop crying!” The Earl of Sheffield, both frustrated by her tears and exasperated by the situation, waved his hand. “What’s the point of discussing this now? The engagement has already been set. Calling it off now would be a disgrace. Besides, Miranda is still young—if we endure this for a couple of years, perhaps His Majesty will lose interest, and this matter will be forgotten.” Despite these words, deep down, his dissatisfaction with Miranda as a daughter-in-law grew. Even though this situation had arisen due to the Dowager Queen’s proposal and could not be blamed on Miranda, it was, after all, centered around her. There was no doubt that Fulton—and by extension, the Sheffield family’s future—would be affected. “It’s easy for you to say.” The Countess of Sheffield scoffed. “Men are always like this—the more they can’t have something, the more they desire it. Who’s to say the King won’t become even more fixated on Miranda precisel
The Dowager Queen publicly expressed her desire for Miranda to enter the palace as a companion, and the news spread quickly. However, following this event, it became widely known that Miranda was already betrothed to Fulton. Moreover, the topic was not pursued further during the birthday banquet, leaving the matter of her palace residency in question.The only ones who truly found this situation troublesome were the Sheffields, who were engaged to Miranda.Furthermore, rumors emerged from unknown sources claiming that the Dowager Queen was already aware of the engagement but still favored Miranda and wanted her to visit the palace frequently. Normally, gaining the Dowager Queen’s favor would be a good thing and could benefit Fulton's future prospects. However, since the Dowager Queen had previously mentioned that she wished for Miranda to remain by the King’s side once she was older, this supposed honor became rather awkward. Worse yet, there were also rumors suggesting that the King
Miranda left the Queen Dowager’s chambers with a heavy heart, following a maid. Though her expression remained calm, her mind was in turmoil. This banquet felt like a trap—perhaps just the beginning.Lost in thought and unfamiliar with the palace, she failed to notice she had been led astray.Reaching a secluded spot, she caught sight of a distinguished figure and froze. Her face paled as she hastily curtsied, unease weighing heavier. Any lingering doubt vanished—this was only the beginning."Your Majesty!"***Amidst a lush, verdant corner of the palace, the king stood beside a stone table, dressed in a deep green robe. His gaze was lowered, his expression unreadable, his presence so subdued that he nearly blended into the dense greenery behind him—unassuming, almost invisible.Had Miranda not seen him before at the Croyso estate, she might not have even recognized him as the king."Come closer," he said impassively, not even glancing her way.Miranda straightened and stood at a resp