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
In the elegantly comfortable carriage, Miranda and Selena removed their veils and locked eyes, sparks nearly flying between them. After a long silence, Miranda arched an eyebrow, a cold glint flashing in her eyes as she sneered, "So this is it. You, suddenly so kind, only wanted to lure me out so those despicable people could ruin me. Selena, your schemes are truly impressive!""If you'd just gone along with me, none of this would have happened. You brought this on yourself," Selena replied coldly, without pretense."Selena, how bold of you. Have you even considered that if anything happened to me today, you were with me the whole time? Do you think you could distance yourself from it? You know how much Father dotes on me. All it would take is a shred of suspicion, and your little act as Miss Selena would be over! I thought you at least had some sense, but it turns out you’re as foolish as can be." Miranda feigned ignorance of Selena's schemes, pretending she thought Selena only aimed
The Easter celebration was being held at the lakeside plaza, drawing a vast, bustling crowd."Young Master, please slow down! Wait for me!" A servant in a simple blue tunic and cap was panting heavily, pushing his way through the throng to catch up with his young master. "Please, take it easy. The chapel isn’t going anywhere; it won’t grow legs and run off! Are you afraid it might vanish? There’s still some time before the Easter Mass begins; it won’t delay your business!""Stop dawdling and hurry up! It’s disrespectful to keep the elders waiting, don’t you think?" Fulton, dressed in a fine blue robe, looked visibly anxious, his usually calm and gentle face filled with concern. "This is all your fault—taking your time and not waking me earlier! Now I’m late, and if I leave a bad impression on the Croyso elders and Lady Langley, I’ll have your hide when we return!"The servant chuckled, completely unafraid, and replied cheekily, "Oh, Young Master, don’t blame me! You’re the one who cha
During the Easter celebrations, the lakeside chapel was bustling with crowds, and carriages could barely pass through. Eventually, the city's magistrate had to request a squad of royal guards to maintain order, finally clearing a path. However, when Miranda and Selena arrived at the chapel’s Pavilion, they were told by the manager and servants that their parents and sisters were not there."What did you say? Croyso family are not at the Pavilion beside chapel?" Selena asked softly, though there was a hint of anxiety in her tone. This was a prime opportunity, as high-ranking officials, nobles, and even royal family members would be attending the Easter festivities. Missing any chance to make a good impression was out of the question.The manager puzzled, "And you are?""We are the young ladies of the Croyso family. We were delayed by some matters but had planned to meet our parents here at the chapel’s Pavilion," Selena explained politely. "If you know where they have gone, we would be
Lady Fitzroy's eyes held a peculiar glint as she looked at Miranda with a meaningful smile and said, "Perhaps it’s the Croyso family’s good fortune, or maybe it’s just the luck of you sisters."Hearing her strange words, Miranda cast a questioning glance toward Lady Langley and Earl Croyso.They both seemed equally puzzled. Lady Langley replied, "I’m not entirely sure myself. When we reached our original seats, there was a commotion. Just as we were about to leave, the steward came over and mentioned that there was still a room available here at The Heavenly Lodge. Oddly enough, the guests who originally reserved this place sent word at the last minute that they couldn’t come, leaving it open for us to take."Miranda’s fine brows knit together. Such a coincidence?She always approached overly convenient situations with a degree of caution."How could it be such a coincidence?" Selena chimed in, curious yet delighted."Indeed, it’s rather strange," Lady Fitzroy laughed. "I was seated i
At that moment, the sound of a servant catering to the nobility could be heard from outside the door. After a polite knock, the servant entered, carrying an oversized tray. On the tray lay nine gilded red sticks, each marked with a number and labeled with either a name or an estate. The servant explained with a smile, “This is a tradition for the Easter horse race. Before the race begins, we place bets on which horse might win. It’s just a bit of fun for the ladies. Would you like to try your luck?”“This sounds quite entertaining,” Lady Langley said with a smile. “Bring it over; let me have a look.”The nine gilded sticks were inscribed with the surnames of the corresponding families. Lady Langley recognized only about half of them, as some estates were unfamiliar to her. However, two stood out—one marked "His Highness Zachary" and another "Lord Reginald." Horses representing these two names, alongside those of such prominent families, clearly indicated that all participants hailed fr
She suddenly stopped dodging, catching Quintina off guard. Hearing her words, all centered around herself and Reginald, Quintina’s suspicion flared. “You’d better give me a clear explanation! If I find out you’re stalling or scheming, I’ll have you dragged away and thrown into a brothel. Don’t think I won’t dare! Don’t even dream of fooling me!”Given Quintina’s status, it was entirely possible she could carry out such a threat.Selena had a sudden flash of inspiration. Knowing Quintina’s possessiveness over Reginald and her ruthless nature, she decided to redirect Quintina’s jealousy and anger toward Miranda. Quickly, she said, “Miss Quintina, you’ve misunderstood me. This cloak wasn’t entirely my work—Miranda embroidered part of it. No one would openly stitch their name onto a garment, leaving such an obvious handle for others. I believe Miranda must have added my name while working on her section, intending to frame me.”“Miranda?” Quintina’s suspicion deepened. “She’s skilled at e
Selena pushed the door open and saw Quintina sitting by the window, next to a pot of peonies. She was dressed in a gold-embroidered pleated gown and adorned with a full set of ruby-encrusted jewelry. Her youthful, beautiful face carried an air of arrogance as she turned to scrutinize Selena from head to toe, her slightly upturned eyeliner adding a domineering and haughty edge to her expression.Selena curtsied gracefully and greeted, "Good day, Miss Quintina."Quintina continued to examine her closely. Selena was draped in a soft, pale green chiffon shawl over a nearly white silk dress, which accentuated her slender waist. Though still young, her presence exuded a delicate charm and allure.Such a perfectly shaped figure, such smooth, tender skin—she really is a little vixen!The sight of this radiant beauty only fueled Quintina's hatred, though she forced herself to suppress it for the moment. She waved Selena closer and said, "Come here. Let me have a look at you."As Selena approac
In the first round of the horse race, His Highness Zachary, Duke Reginald, Blackwell, and Linton participated, seemingly to probe where everyone’s support lay. Thus, the Croyso family all placed their bets on Montfort. However, starting from the second round, those reservations disappeared, and people began betting freely, with wins and losses creating a gradually livelier atmosphere.Lady Fitzroy glanced at Fulton and suddenly let out a soft laugh, the sound drawing the attention of a few nearby.Fulton looked up, his eyes meeting Lady Fitzroy's as she observed him placing his bets with a knowing and almost mischievous expression. He quickly realized that she had seen through his actions. Embarrassment crept up his neck, and his face slowly turned red, the flush deepening as he avoided her gaze.Wensley, puzzled by his mother’s sudden amusement, tilted his head and asked, “Mother, what’s so funny?”“Oh, nothing. I just remembered a joke I heard yesterday,” Lady Fitzroy said lightly, h
Reginald’s expression remained calm and composed, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “Miss Quintina, don’t celebrate too soon. I may have won the race, but your cousin lost. Aren’t you worried this might upset him?” Though he knew full well that Zachary would be irritated by the loss, feeling bested, Reginald couldn’t resist repeatedly emphasizing the defeat.Standing nearby, Zachary ground his teeth in frustration but restrained himself from reacting in such a public setting.“My cousin isn’t that petty!” Quintina’s cheeks flushed slightly, her excitement undiminished as she cheerfully said, “Reginald, I knew you would win. Look! To celebrate your victory, I’ve specially embroidered this snow wolf cloak for you. It took me months of hard work to make it by hand. Do you like it?”With that, she opened a box she had been holding, taking out the cloak and unfurling it before them.Zachary, already aware of the cloak’s origins, feigned ignorance and nodded. “Impressive embroidery!”Marj
At that moment, faint but thunderous cheers and the pounding of drums echoed from below—it seemed the first horse race had begun. As time passed, the drumbeats and cheers grew louder and closer, heading swiftly toward the finish line. The riverbanks were packed with onlookers, a sea of people cheering wildly for the horses they had bet on. The deafening noise was so intense it seemed to shake the very ground.The lively atmosphere below appeared to affect even the dignitaries and nobles in the high pavilions. They, too, began shouting enthusiastically, casting aside their usual decorum.Even though Miranda wasn’t particularly interested in the outcome of the race, she couldn’t help but be swept up in the excitement. Clutching the window frame tightly, she peered downriver. On the wide track below, a group of horses gradually came into view, racing toward the finish line at breakneck speed. The competition was fierce, each horse vying for the lead.
Miranda vaguely sensed that, at the very moment she approached the window, Reginald had glanced at her briefly. However, that fleeting gaze was filled with unmistakable displeasure and irritation, and his eyes quickly dropped again, as though he couldn't bear to look at her any longer.It was clear that someone had managed to anger this guy yet again.Miranda couldn’t help but feel sympathy for whoever had incurred his wrath. This Lord Reginald was petty, vengeful, and notoriously temperamental. Whenever he was in a foul mood, everyone around him had to suffer the consequences. She wondered who the unlucky fool was this time. Whoever had crossed him to the extent that his anger lingered even now was surely doomed.“Marjorie, look across the way. The young lady in the blue dress by the window—that’s Miranda.”In the private room to the left, Zachary addressed the elderly, kind-looking woman standing behind him. “Marjorie, you’ve long served in the palace and have a sharp eye for people
As the new owner in this area, it was evident that such matters were well within their grasp. However, with the new owner’s background still unclear and the court's political situation remaining murky, Earl Croyso had no intention of taking sides. Thus, choosing to support either Prince Zachary or Lord Reginald would not be appropriate. The Blackwell and Linton families clearly held the same stance, while the Montforts, having been in decline for some time, were uninvolved with either faction. Being a military man who admired Lord Montfort, it was perfectly natural for Earl Croyso to bet on his success.For someone as young as Fulton to understand these intricacies was already quite remarkable.What was even more commendable was that, despite his youthful impetuosity, he had no intention of aligning himself with Prince Zachary or Lord Reginald in pursuit of personal gain. Such composure was rare among young men, and this thought made Lady Langley all the more satisfied. She had never e
At that moment, the sound of a servant catering to the nobility could be heard from outside the door. After a polite knock, the servant entered, carrying an oversized tray. On the tray lay nine gilded red sticks, each marked with a number and labeled with either a name or an estate. The servant explained with a smile, “This is a tradition for the Easter horse race. Before the race begins, we place bets on which horse might win. It’s just a bit of fun for the ladies. Would you like to try your luck?”“This sounds quite entertaining,” Lady Langley said with a smile. “Bring it over; let me have a look.”The nine gilded sticks were inscribed with the surnames of the corresponding families. Lady Langley recognized only about half of them, as some estates were unfamiliar to her. However, two stood out—one marked "His Highness Zachary" and another "Lord Reginald." Horses representing these two names, alongside those of such prominent families, clearly indicated that all participants hailed fr
Lady Fitzroy's eyes held a peculiar glint as she looked at Miranda with a meaningful smile and said, "Perhaps it’s the Croyso family’s good fortune, or maybe it’s just the luck of you sisters."Hearing her strange words, Miranda cast a questioning glance toward Lady Langley and Earl Croyso.They both seemed equally puzzled. Lady Langley replied, "I’m not entirely sure myself. When we reached our original seats, there was a commotion. Just as we were about to leave, the steward came over and mentioned that there was still a room available here at The Heavenly Lodge. Oddly enough, the guests who originally reserved this place sent word at the last minute that they couldn’t come, leaving it open for us to take."Miranda’s fine brows knit together. Such a coincidence?She always approached overly convenient situations with a degree of caution."How could it be such a coincidence?" Selena chimed in, curious yet delighted."Indeed, it’s rather strange," Lady Fitzroy laughed. "I was seated i