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
This outcome was within Miranda's expectations.Steven’s incident was sudden, coming at an inopportune moment with the murder case. During her confrontation that day, Miranda had repeatedly emphasized waiting for Jasendale’s investigation results. Lord Green, a veteran in the halls of power, could surely sense something amiss. With Steven’s abrupt disappearance, even though he couldn’t secure concrete evidence, it was clear that he had pieced together the truth."My father-in-law asked me to convey his thanks to you, Miranda, and he sent a token of gratitude, which has already been delivered to your chambers. And I’ve brought my own gift as well. Honestly, you saved Wensley from an absurd engagement, which is as good as saving my life!" Lady Fitzroy laughed heartily. "If ever you need a favor from me or the Fitzroy estate, don’t hesitate to ask!"Miranda shook her head with a smile. “You and Lord Fitzroy are too kind. Wensley is my friend, and I didn’t want to see her marry someone un
In the evening, upon returning to the quiet comfort of his study, Lord Croyso received a letter bearing the familiar seal of Lady Langley. He paused, turning it over thoughtfully before breaking the wax seal and reading her message. She conveyed Lady Fitzroy’s words, raising the topic of Miranda’s marriage. Lord Croyso pondered for a moment before writing, “I’ve actually been thinking about Miranda’s marriage for some time now. I have my eye on Earl Sheffield’s son, Fulton. He has a good temperament, is ambitious, and, from what I can see, he seems quite taken with Miranda. Sheffield and I have a close friendship, and he’s straightforward and trustworthy. For my sake, he’d surely treat Miranda well. I think it’s a promising match, but I’m still considering it.”Since Lady Langley mentioned Miranda’s marriage, Lord Croyso realized he should also start considering Selena’s future.***As the light from her candle flickered across the walls, Lady Langley sat quietly, deep in thought. "Th
Selena lowered her head, hesitating for a moment before slowly unfolding the embroidered cloak in front of her father.Selena had added a subtle touch of her own; she stitched her name discreetly into the sleeve of the cloak, in a barely noticeable color.Prince Zachary was already known for his charm and talent, and with her own intelligence and beauty, Selena was confident that it was only a matter of time before she earned his unwavering favor once she entered his palace. When Zachary finally ascended the throne…Then, she would make sure that vile Miranda would be groveling at her feet, begging for mercy!Earl Croyso glanced at his daughter and, seeing that she had completed the cloak he had firmly opposed, frowned and scolded, "You’re so determined; now that it's finished, why not hurry and send it over?"Selena knew that acting rashly wouldn’t achieve her goal and could harm her relationship with her father. She quickly replied, "After hearing your advice last time, Father, I sp
Easter was the liveliest day of the year in town. Children darted about, hunting for colorful eggs, while the streets overflowed with people celebrating. Stalls displayed painted eggs and holiday trinkets, creating a vibrant market. For young noblewomen like those of the Croyso family, this day offered a rare opportunity to step outside the confines of their usual restraints, to experience the festive energy freely. It was a chance to mingle, to showcase their grace, and perhaps even to catch a few admiring glances.The Croyso household bustled from dawn, and, after everyone was dressed and ready, they boarded the carriage. With a flick of the reins, the driver set them toward the market, escorted by four family guards. The festivities had drawn throngs, and the streets were packed. Not only the Croyso carriage but several others were also at a standstill along the crowded route.Realizing the delay, Selena lifted the carriage curtain, glanced at the bustling crowds, and suggested, “S
"Young lady, alone here, must be feeling lonely, right? Why not let us keep you company and have a little chat?" Just from hearing those words, Miranda could tell these weren’t decent people."Isn't that so? Meeting like this must be fate!"The group of seven or eight men spouted suggestive words as they slowly approached where Miranda was seated.The people in nearby shops seemed to recognize who these men were, all instinctively stepping back to avoid any trouble. Even the teahouse owner discreetly slipped away, and the customers who had been resting there also left without a word. In the blink of an eye, Miranda was left alone at the teahouse, her mind racing as she quickly reviewed everything that had led to this moment.She was in a commoner’s district in the capital, and these men were clearly local thugs with a reputation for crude behavior. Everyone knew better than to get involved with such types. Usually, Miranda moved in circles frequented by high-ranking officials, with pa
Hans sat down gracefully, his long, slender fingers carved like fine jade, leisurely toying with the wine glass in his hand, seemingly indifferent as he observed the scene below."And who do you think you are, telling me to get lost?" The gang leader, already filled with rage, sneered at the sight of this scholarly young man in white, cracking his knuckles with a menacing grin. "Where did this fresh-faced lad come from, daring to meddle in my affairs? Today, if I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know who you're dealing with." With that, he clenched his fist, large as a bowl, and swung it toward Hans.Given Hans's delicate appearance, he looked like he wouldn’t withstand even a single punch.Gasps erupted from the crowd, most of them the soft, melodic voices of young women filled with concern.However, Hans remained unfazed. He drew the wooden sword from his waist and moved with fluid grace, striking, flicking, parrying, and hooking with precision. Like a serpent, each stroke hit th
Hans was momentarily stunned upon hearing such a sweet, captivating voice.He had indeed sought Miranda out, intrigued by the rumors of discord between the Croyso sisters. He’d heard that Miss Selena intended to trouble her, which was precisely why he’d thought to involve himself. He had expected Miranda to be either spoiled or unattractive, yet he had agreed to the arrangement for the sake of his ambitions. That day in the forest, he’d kept his back to her, far from the carriage, and hadn’t actually seen her. But now, as they met face to face, he was struck by her light, graceful form and the quiet elegance about her. Although her face was obscured by a veiled hat, her voice and demeanor hinted at a noble, tender-hearted beauty, and his heart couldn’t help but stir.“Helping those in need is simply the right thing to do, miss. Please, think nothing of it.” Although intrigued, Hans did not reveal his name, instead choosing to let her curiosity linger. He merely smiled and added, “Seei
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