Sorry for being so busy these past couple of days, and for the two days gaps between updates. I'll be updating at least two chapters a day for the next couple of days to catch up. I hope you all continue to enjoy the story!
"Miranda, what's wrong?" Mrs. Langley asked, noticing her strange expression in the carriage.Miranda shook her head. "Nothing," she replied, sitting down.As the carriage made its way home, the news of Zachary and Lila spread quickly through the city, sparking heated discussions along the way. This scandal, which had shaken the capital, was bound to be the talk of the town. Lord Croyso felt a bit of satisfaction; he had never forgiven Zachary for the incident at the hilltop manor that nearly caused Miranda harm. He knew Lila was Landon’s daughter, so this matter wouldn’t be easily dismissed, and Zachary would soon be overwhelmed.Croyso couldn't believe that Prince Zachary, of all people, could be involved in such a scandal!Seeing Miranda deep in thought, Croyso suddenly wondered if her pale face earlier had been due to something she saw or heard. He was about to ask, but decided to wait until they were back at the estate.Something d
Miranda’s lips curled into a faint smile that quickly vanished. With a concerned tone, she said, “Father, you’d better check on my sister right away.” Lord Croyso nodded, and the two headed to Selena’s room. Inside the bedroom, Selena lay on the bed with an ice pack pressed against her swollen, bruised cheek, wincing from the pain. Upon seeing Lord Croyso and Miranda enter, her face changed, and she turned away as if trying to hide. Lord Croyso’s face darkened at the sight of Selena’s injuries. He strode over in two quick steps, supporting her as he demanded sharply, “Selena, who did this to you?” Selena lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “Father, just let it go. Miss Quintina is a daughter of the queen’s family; we can’t afford to offend her. This time, I unintentionally angered her, but I’ll be more careful in the future. Please don’t let this trouble you anymore.” Miranda smiled faintly and spoke gently, “Father, since Selena has suffered such an injustice, s
In the study, Lord Croyso let out a long sigh, sitting back in the rosewood armchair with his hand propping up his forehead, as if reluctant to say much. Seeing this, Miranda did not rush to bring up the matter regarding Prince Zachary. Instead, she rose and walked to the nearby tea table, picked up the teapot, and poured her father a cup of tea. Holding the cup with both hands, she offered it to Lord Croyso, “Father.” Lord Croyso looked up, took the tea, and sipped it lightly. A faint smile crossed his lips as he said, “Miranda, have a seat.” Yet, there seemed to be a trace of bitterness in that smile. Miranda poured herself a cup of tea as well, slowly sipping it as she sat down. The room was silent, filled with a faint sense of heaviness and oppression. Lord Croyso leaned back in his chair without saying a word. He was truly disappointed. In the past, he had s
Earl Croyso said, "You should know, the best way to take the initiative is to settle a marriage for you before the Queen makes any move. This would silence both her and Prince Zachary. If you have someone in mind, as long as they are of good character and ambitious, their background doesn't matter. I will arrange it for you."Miranda was taken aback. "Father...""I'm serious, not joking." Earl Croyso looked into her eyes, his expression sincere and gentle. "In the past, I was often away and neglected the thoughts and feelings of you and your sister. I hope it's not too late to make up for it now. Miranda, this concerns your lifelong happiness. Trust me this time, will you?"Miranda had never imagined her father would say such words to her. Marriage was always considered a matter of parental arrangement and matchmakers. She couldn’t deny that she was moved, but...In this life, her only thought was revenge—against Sophie, Selena, Hans... As for anything else, she never thought about it
Marjorie had been appointed by the Dowager Queen to assist the Queen, offering counsel over the years and gaining her trust. Hearing Marjorie's firm and reasonable argument, the Queen nodded. Deep down, she harbored resentment toward Miranda. "A mere thirteen-year-old girl has ensnared Zachary so thoroughly. Who knows what seductive tricks she used? If Zachary hadn't gone to The Heaven Lounge to see her, he wouldn't have encountered that shameless Lila, who caused such a scandal and got Zachary grounded! Even at a glance, Miranda has brought nothing but trouble. She’s surely an ill omen—I can’t trust her near Zachary."As she spoke, a eunuch arrived to report that Miranda had become engaged to Fulton Sheffield.The Queen froze, stunned and furious. What was this? Even if she disapproved of Miranda as her daughter-in-law, that was her decision to make. For Earl Croyso to act first and arrange an engagement for Miranda was an insult to her son, kicking Zachary while he was down. The Que
Reginald returned to his room, locked himself in the study, and ordered his guards to stand watch outside. Only then did his expression completely change, revealing an unprecedented mix of anger, frustration, and confusion. It was as if he were being roasted over a fire, with a faint, sharp pain twisting around his heart, gripping it tighter and tighter with every beat.Miranda was engaged… to Fulton. A girl of only thirteen, engaged already?He himself was twenty and still unmarried. What was the rush?Fuming, Reginald paced, but even he couldn’t make sense of his anger. After all, it wasn’t uncommon for engagements to happen at such a young age between nobles, or even for betrothals to be arranged in childhood. So why did the news of Miranda’s engagement leave him so agitated, so miserable? Lady Liudmila’s words suddenly flashed through his mind, and he froze, as though struck by lightning. Slumping into his chair, he stared blankly ahead. Could it really be as Lady Liudmila had sai
Since her betrothal was announced, Miranda’s days had been unusually calm. Apart from the occasional teasing remarks from visitors and the times Lady Langley and Lord Croyso summoned her to discuss the dowry list, life was peaceful. Even Selena, who Miranda had expected to cause trouble, was strangely subdued. Selena paid her respects to Lord Croyso each day at the appointed time but otherwise shut herself in her chambers without a hint of disturbance. When their paths crossed, Selena appeared demure, even faintly conciliatory, with none of her previous haughtiness. This transformation left Miranda quietly vigilant, wondering what new schemes Selena might be plotting.Word had reached her that Selena had spent a long time in her father’s study for a private discussion. Yet Miranda did not believe, even for a moment, that Selena had turned virtuous.The early summer sun bathed the estate in warmth, and the garden bloomed in full splendor. Through the soft red veil of her window, Mirand
Lifting the beaded curtain, Miranda stepped into the inner chamber. A man sat at a carved round table, dressed in a plain teal robe with subtle patterns. His appearance was unremarkable, yet he carried an air of detachment that made him seem aloof and somewhat melancholic. He inclined his head toward her and gestured courteously. “Please, take a seat, Miss Miranda.”Miranda seated herself, her expression thoughtful. “Mr. Brandon, I did not expect to meet you here.”“Nor I,” Brandon replied with a faint smile, his demeanor softening slightly. “I must thank you, Miss Miranda, for pleading on my and Martha’s behalf before Lord Reginald. Without your help, I would not have had the chance to resolve things.” Pouring her a cup of tea, he added, “This is Eugene tea, a rare treasure worth its weight in gold. Please, try it. It is my small token of gratitude.”Miranda took a sip, savoring the rich, mellow
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