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
The servant opened the door, only to find the study completely empty. At this point, it was better to risk Reginald being suspected by the king of deliberately concealing his whereabouts than to let him fall into the hands of the Blackwell family! Lady Liudmila's thoughts raced as she stepped forward and bowed, pleading, "Your Majesty, the Dowager Queen, I believe there is no need to cause such a commotion. I fear young Reginald has been mischievous and slipped away unnoticed. When he returns, I will personally discipline him severely for his unruly behavior that has caused you such worry and anger."“What nonsense are you speaking?” The Dowager Queen frowned deeply, her expression full of disapproval as she retorted, “Reginald may be mischievous, but he has always been measured in his actions. How could he do something as reckless as sneaking out? That’s too dangerous, and he would never disregard the entire family. Something must have happened!” Her gaze, heavy with displea
"I know that child Reginald is rather thin-skinned. Ever since he was publicly reprimanded, he’s been shutting himself away. Who knows if it has affected his health? There’s no need to bother notifying him—I’ll go with you to check on him," the Queen Mother said kindly. With that, she paid no further attention to the shadow guards, leaning on her cane as she slowly and leisurely walked out of the reception hall.The Queen thought to herself, The Queen Mother truly knows how to handle things! She quickly stepped forward to support the Queen Mother’s hand, walking out of the hall with an air of arrogance. Lady Liudmila and Hendrik, unable to intervene, could only follow anxiously. As Hendrik led the way, he silently prayed that they could escape disaster and that the Queen wouldn’t find any incriminating evidence.The group, familiar with the layout, soon arrived at the door to Reginald’s study. They called inside, but no respons
Prince Zachary had recently suffered a scandal at The Heaven Lounge, publicly reprimanded by the king and placed under house arrest. The circumstances reeked of manipulation, as Lila should never have entered the prince’s chambers without outside influence. With Lord Reginald also present, it was all too easy to suspect his involvement in orchestrating the incident. The queen and the Blackwell family directed their anger at Lord Reginald, relentlessly accusing and framing him. In the end, Lord Reginald, due to his arrogance and reckless behavior, was publicly reprimanded by the king during a court assembly. If the queen discovered that Reginald had no legitimate excuse for his current absence, the consequences would be dire.Though reluctant to leave Miranda’s side, Lord Reginald knew how to prioritize. With a sigh, he took one last longing glance around the room before preparing to leave. Suddenly, he paused, retrieved a pouch, and took out a small object. Plac
Miranda prepared the rosewater and brought it over to Lord Reginald, handing it to him.Lord Reginald took it and drank it in one gulp, finally feeling some relief in his stomach. His deep, dark eyes fixed on Miranda as he said slowly, "Miranda, tomorrow I don’t want to see any bitter melon on my plate. Also, stop adding Coptis root to my medicine. And don’t ever drink rosewater in front of me without giving me a cup. Otherwise," he grinned, baring his sharp white teeth, "I’ll bite you!"How did he figure it out? Miranda’s heart skipped a beat, but she feigned ignorance. "Lord Reginald, I don’t know what you’re talking about.""Still playing dumb? If you didn’t know I hated bitterness, when I asked for rosewater earlier, you should have been puzzled, not amused. Clearly, you knew I disliked bitter flavors and were just standing by to enjoy the show!" Lord Reginald snorted, his tone heavy with accusation.Only then did Miranda realize she had given herself away. Feeling a bit guilty, s
If Fulton really was your ideal husband, she could’ve answered me directly, or perhaps even shyly remained silent. But instead, you’re cold and unresponsive, with that same darkness in your eyes I’ve seen before. Reginald thought, narrowing his gaze. The same look her had when confronting her stepmother at that villa by the hot springs—resentment, hatred, anger, and even a desire to drag her down into the depths with herself."Does it matter whether he is or isn’t?" Miranda abruptly raised her head, seemingly irritated by Reginald’s relentless questioning. Her dark eyes burned with a ghostly fire, shadowed by gloom. "Lord Reginald, have you ever witnessed something like this? Two people, seemingly deeply in love, where the woman pours her heart and soul into her husband, offering unreserved devotion, only to be discarded and mercilessly killed once her usefulness runs out! If you’ve seen such a thing, would you still think any of this matters? "True love, mutual devotion, a lifetime
It seemed that Reginald noticed her puzzlement. A bit flustered, he tried to cover it up, saying, “I was just curious. You know, my mother has been pressuring me as well, so perhaps I’ll also need to find a suitable match soon. I wonder what women think about this—what kind of husband would you want, for example?”When Miranda heard him mention marriage, her face showed no hint of emotion, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.Of course. They hadn’t known each other for long, and he was always teasing, mocking, or scaring her. How could she possibly have feelings for him? Why would she care if he got married?To her surprise, despite his high status and his usual wild and unrestrained behavior, Reginald seemed genuinely interested in understanding what women thought about their ideal husband. This made him seem unexpectedly innocent and endearing. Seeing his sincerity, Miranda decided not to brush him off and thought seriously about what she would want in a husband. “
Molly thought, after drinking that entire bowl, even Lord Reginald’s gut would probably turn bitter. What on earth had he done to upset Miss Miranda so much that she would treat him like this? But perhaps it wasn’t so bad—it at least showed that Miss Miranda didn’t have much affection for Lord Reginald. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone to such lengths. Considering Miss Miranda had already experienced one broken engagement with the William family, hopefully, this engagement with the Sheffield family wouldn’t fall apart too.After all, compared to the infamous and wildly arrogant Lord Reginald, the gentle and refined Fulton was undoubtedly a better match.Knowing Reginald must now be suffering from a mouth full of bitterness, Miranda deliberately poured herself a glass of rosewater in front of him. She took a sip and praised, “Fragrant and sweet, delicate but not cloying. No wonder a tiny bottle of this costs hundreds of gold coins. It’s truly worth every penny—so delicious.”Then, as
"Say it again. What do you want to eat?" Miranda fixed her eyes on him, as if trying to bore a hole through his face."Cake... cake. What's wrong with that?" Lord Reginald shrank slightly, baffled. It was just cake. Did she really need to flip out over it?He dared to say it again! Miranda's chest heaved with anger. She no longer cared that the person before her was the unpredictable Lord Reginald. She roared, "Shut up!""What for? I just want some cake! Is that such a big deal?" Lord Reginald was taken aback, having never seen her like this before. More importantly, he inexplicably felt guilty again. His usual arrogance faded, and he mumbled, "Even if the cake from the Croyso household is complicated to make and requires rare ingredients, I’ll pay you double—"Before he could finish, Miranda’s enraged shout interrupted him."Lord Reginald, go to hell!" How dare he bring it up again! Even if he had been feverish and unaware last night, it was still unforgivable! Seething, Miranda grab
“That’s such an innocent question!” Miranda thought to herself, though she kept her expression neutral. Out loud, she replied, “I have no idea. Just as I was about to sleep last night, you suddenly appeared out of nowhere and collapsed with a high fever.” As she spoke, she instinctively stepped forward to check his forehead. Feeling its coolness, she smiled with relief. “The fever has finally gone down.”Last night?Reginald paused, faintly recalling some trouble from the night before. He vaguely remembered walking a long distance, seeing a face that brought him peace, and then everything blurred. So... last night, in his feverish state, he had stumbled into the Croyso estate and ended up in Miranda’s room?It was a miracle he’d managed to evade the estate guards while so out of it. Otherwise, it would’ve caused a huge commotion.And… feeling her soft hand against his skin, Reginald’s gaze deepened.“Lord Reginald, since you were ill, why didn’t you stay home to rest? Why come here in