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
After reflecting on everything, a calm smile returned to Hans’ face, warm and serene like polished jade. But he refrained from mentioning anything further about his act of heroism. Matters like these are ultimately judged by others, and if he were to defend himself, it would only make him appear defensive. Letting the brute carry on with his slander could even plant seeds of doubt in Miss Miranda’s mind. The best move now was to win again with ease and make another striking impression before her."Alright then, let me teach you a lesson, you sly little charmer!"The brute bellowed, raising his massive fist and swinging it straight at Hans.The moment their fists met, Hans sensed that something was off. Although this man looked like a common thug, his movements showed a surprising skill, effectively cutting off Hans’ escape routes and forcing him to block each punch head-on. The brute’s force was overpowering, and after just a few blows, Hans found himself forced backward under the bru
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