The green-clad maid’s expression turned flustered. She hadn’t expected Miranda to recognize that this winding path wasn’t the one they’d taken earlier. For a moment, she froze in place but quickly recovered and said earnestly, “Miss Miranda, please come with me. I mean no harm to you—this is a good thing, not a bad one. Please believe me!”Miranda enunciated each word coldly: “I’ll ask one more time. Who sent you, and where are you taking me?”The maid hesitated. “I cannot say.”Miranda wasted no further words. She turned and walked away.The maid hadn’t expected Miranda to leave so decisively. Growing increasingly anxious, she stepped in front of Miranda, pleading to no avail. Finally, she dropped to her knees and began to cry. “Miss Miranda, the master forbade me to reveal anything. But I swear, it’s truly not harmful to you! If I fail to bring you, my lowly life will be forfeit. Please, show me mercy and come with me!”As she spoke, she knelt and kowtowed repeatedly. Her fair foreh
"Forgive my ignorance. It seems I haven't been taught manners as thoroughly as Miss June, whose upbringing and decorum are truly exemplary. I must learn much from you, Miss June. But to speak ahead of the princess and inquire about another’s family fortune—how far has one fallen to act so disgracefully? Many thanks to Miss June for teaching me these two rules of propriety. So, may I ask, Miss June, what is your family’s fortune, and how far has it fallen?" Miranda asked with a warm smile, her tone gentle and cordial.She and June were already sworn enemies, so Miranda’s words were sharp and unyielding, leaving no room for mercy.Princess Gina covered her mouth with her sleeve, letting out a soft chuckle, finding Miranda utterly delightful.June, however, was left in an impossible situation. To respond or not to respond—it was equally mortifying. Her face flushed crimson, and she stomped her foot. "Miranda, how dare you be so insolent!""My information is limited, and I truly wasn’t aw
June had initially worried that Reginald might scold her, but to her surprise, he said something completely unexpected. She was instantly overjoyed, her gaze toward Miranda filled with provocation. “Miranda, did you hear that? Even Lord Reginald says my manners are better than yours. Shouldn’t you be thanking me properly? From now on, I will make sure to train you well so you won’t embarrass yourself again!”Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed through Reginald’s jet-black eyes before transforming into a mesmerizing brilliance, captivating and bewitching.Princess Gina silently stared at the ground, inwardly cursing June for her reckless arrogance. She had been set up so highly, yet she still dared to be this brazen—she deserved whatever was coming her way! She was merely a distant niece to the queen, only managing to speak in front of Her Majesty thanks to her connection with Quintina. And now, she was already getting carried away. A person like her should be taught a lesson soon
It was noon, and the sun was at its peak. Reginald sat under the long corridor shaded by a canopy of greenery. Princess Gina stood in a shaded spot as well, and even Miranda wisely chose a spot hidden by branches when she stepped back. However, for June to greet Reginald properly, she had to step out onto the open space in front of the corridor, where there was no shelter from the scorching sun. In no time, sweat began to bead on her forehead, trickling down and ruining her carefully applied makeup. Her entire body became uncomfortably slick with perspiration.Enduring that discomfort was not the worst part. The real challenge was maintaining a curtsey for so long. June soon felt her knees trembling and her body swaying slightly. She quickly steadied herself, but the moment dragged on endlessly. Her entire body began to stiffen, and cramps started to creep into her calves.Just as June was on the verge of collapsing, Lady Shaw finally arrived."Lady Shaw, this young lady June has impe
Miranda sneered, "Andrew, get your facts straight. It wasn’t me who couldn't tolerate her; it was your fiancée who came looking for trouble! And if you’re here to seek justice for her, you should direct your complaints to Lord Reginald. Just turn around and walk straight ahead—he’s the one responsible! If you think I’m some easy target you can bully instead, you’d better think twice! A grown man, too scared to confront Lord Reginald, so you take your frustrations out on me, a mere woman? If that’s really the case, then let's make this public and see who loses face first!”“Miranda!” Andrew gritted his teeth, his face twitching with anger. "Don’t get too smug! You think just because you’re now engaged to Fulton, you can flaunt your power? I’ve been merciful because I felt sorry for you—having your reputation tarnished after I called off the engagement. But don’t think the William family is so easily bullied!”“Oh, so you broke off our engagement that was arranged since childhood, ruini
With a decree from the Queen Dowager, everyone quickly lined up and entered. The young men and women stood quietly, not daring to make a sound.The Queen Dowager nodded and asked, "Who is Miss Miranda of the Croyso family?"Miranda's heart tensed. She stepped forward, curtsied, and respectfully replied, "I am Miranda, Your Majesty, the Queen Dowager!""Your gift may be simple, but it is a scripture you personally copied by hand, which shows your sincerity. I had the priest examine it, and he praised the elegant handwriting, noting that it is a scripture of blessing for peace and longevity. It’s clear you put a lot of thought into it." The Queen Dowager smiled warmly and ordered the scripture to be displayed.The displayed text was graceful, with no errors or omissions, as if completed in a single stroke.Receiving praise from the Queen Dowager, the crowd naturally expressed admiration. Soon, the hall was filled with voices of approval, and countless eyes were drawn to Miranda.Among t
The King took his seat on the left and only then noticed Miranda, who stood with her head lowered. He asked, “Mother, who is this young lady?”The Queen Dowager smiled warmly. “Ah, she is a hidden gem I discovered today. Miss Miranda, raise your head and let His Majesty see you.”A sense of foreboding grew stronger in Miranda's heart. Yet, with no way to refuse, she slowly raised her head.The Queen Dowager kept her eyes fixed on the King, observing every subtle change in his expression without missing a detail.When the King saw Miranda’s face, a faint, unclear glimmer seemed to flash in his eyes. He arched his eyebrows slightly and carefully examined her. A trace of admiration appeared in his gaze. After a while, he smiled and said, “No wonder Mother is so fond of you. Such remarkable beauty is indeed rare!”Had the King shown either indifference or a dramatic reaction upon seeing Miranda, the Queen Dowager would have been able to gauge his thoughts more clearly. But now, with his m
After chatting with the young nobles for a while, the Queen Dowager signaled the start of the banquet. Food was arranged in a buffet around the grand hall, allowing guests to enjoy a relaxed and leisurely time. Groups formed as everyone mingled, drank, and danced.Andrew glared at Miranda with a fiery gaze, his heart seething with anger and resentment.The woman he had once broken off an engagement with was now favored by the Queen Dowager? To make matters worse, there were even whispers that the Queen Dowager intended for her to serve in the royal court and accompany the King! She was nothing but a woman of tarnished reputation—someone he had rejected. Yet here she was, becoming more and more prominent. It was infuriating. Even though he knew Miranda was already engaged to Fulton, which likely ruled out her entering the palace, the contrast between her radiant success and June’s misfortune today made his fury unbearable.“Isn't it a pity, Miss Miranda?” Andrew sneered, approaching he
Hearing these words, everyone except the king, Earl Croyso, the lady in the purple dress, and her maid was utterly shocked. “She…” Marquis William was dumbfounded. “If she’s not Miranda, then who is?” “This is my niece, Rose! Stop staring. The maid beside her isn’t Miranda either—she’s just a maid!” Earl Croyso scoffed. “I knew you’d try to bribe someone to make false accusations!” Clearly, this was a trap set by Earl Croyso and the king. If Hans Dickson truly had a relationship with Miranda, he should at least have met her in person and recognized that this woman wasn’t Miranda. But if he had been bribed and was merely fabricating claims, he would naturally assume that the lady in the purple dress was Miranda upon hearing her introduce herself as such, with Earl Croyso repeatedly calling her by that name and offering his reassurances. Given the circumstances, anyone would believe it. Marquis William had only seen Miranda when she was a very young child. Later, due to Sophie
Hans Dickson raised an eyebrow and smirked. “You claim that Miss Miranda and I met in secret multiple times? As the eldest daughter of an earl, Miss Miranda is always accompanied by maids and attendants. Even if she were careless, wouldn’t her nurse have noticed and intervened? How could she possibly have met with me frequently in private?”Earl Croyso nodded approvingly at these words, secretly cheering, Well said!Hans Dickson continued, “Even if we assume, for argument’s sake, that I did have feelings for Miss Miranda, since she is engaged, I would have withdrawn. Would I really be so selfish as to ruin her reputation? And would I have done something as absurd as bringing a handkerchief to her fiancé’s residence to demand a broken engagement? House William is a noble family—if such an incident had truly occurred, wouldn’t they have had me thrown out at once? How could they possibly have broken off the engagement with the Croyso family over such a ridiculous claim? Isn’t that laughab
Marquis William’s eyes widened in astonishment, completely unable to grasp the meaning behind Hans Dickson’s words.A sudden turn of events occurred—just as William was relying on Hans Dickson’s smug accusations against Earl Croyso and Miranda, Hans Dickson unexpectedly uttered these words, causing the situation to take a sharp turn. For a moment, everyone present was bewildered by his statement, staring at both Hans Dickson and Marquis William in confusion.“That statement alone is worth two thousand gold Pieces, wouldn’t you say? It’s enough to be remembered as a remarkable tale.” Hans Dickson smiled, but his expression was as cold as ice. Suddenly, he turned around and made a deep bow to Miranda. “My words earlier were offensive, and I ask for Miss Miranda’s forgiveness.”After Miranda returned the courtesy, Hans Dickson turned toward the king, knelt deeply, and said solemnly, “Your Majesty, the words I spoke earlier were at the instruction of another. In truth, I am completely una
"Hans Dickson, since you already know why I have summoned you, there is no need for unnecessary words," the king said unhurriedly, his expression calm. "Marquis William claims that you and Miss Miranda share mutual affection and that you once brought a handkerchief to the William estate to seek his blessing. Now, tell the truth of the matter. If there is even a single falsehood in your words, you shall not be spared!""Yes, I would not dare utter a single lie!" Hans Dickson replied earnestly, speaking with confidence. "My family is that of a fallen noble house, long without lands of our own. Last year, I came to the capital to participate in the knight selection. During my free time, I often went on excursions to the nearby mountains with friends. It was during one such outing, in September of last year, that I happened to encounter Miss Miranda of House Croyso. "Our conversation was most agreeable, and despite my lowly status, Miss Miranda never looked down on me. Instead, she encou
A servant entered the hall and respectfully announced, “Your Majesty, Miss Miranda has arrived.”The king did not lift his head and simply said, “Let her in.”A young woman gracefully stepped into the hall. She had delicate features and a composed expression. She wore an ivory silk gown with pale yellow trim, and a sprig of winter jasmine in soft yellow adorned her neckline. A long, flowing sash draped from her waist, swaying gently with each step, giving her an air of light elegance. Behind her followed a maid in a plain blue dress, head lowered and hands clasped demurely.The two approached and curtsied gracefully. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”The king cast a casual glance at them before briefly shifting his gaze to Earl Croyso. Only then did he say, “Rise.”Without further preamble, he asked, “Miss Miranda, do you know why I have summoned you here?”Miranda lowered her voice and replied, “Your Majesty, I do. The chamberlain who delivered the decree has already explained the matter to
The king rubbed his temples with a hint of a headache, his brows furrowed as he gazed down at the two men below.Earl Croyso turned around and bowed deeply to the king. "Your Majesty, please seek justice for my daughter, Miranda. This old scoundrel—" He pointed a trembling finger at Marquis William, his voice shaking with fury. "He wanted to climb the social ladder by securing a marriage with the Blackwell family and so broke off the engagement that had long been arranged with my Croyso family. That alone would have been tolerable, but now he has even ordered people to slander my Miranda’s reputation, accusing her of an illicit affair. Your Majesty!"Earl Croyso suddenly called out, his voice tinged with emotion.Such a rare display of vulnerability from a man known for his toughness only made his words all the more striking."The William family’s actions are nothing short of destroying my daughter’s future happiness! Miranda is only thirteen years old—still a child! To use such despi
The Croyso family's guards were momentarily stunned by his roar but quickly resumed their destruction.Upon witnessing the scene, Marquess William was utterly furious, nearly exploding with rage. He rushed forward, commanding his own guards to drive Croyso's men back.Earl Croyso sneered. “Lord William, what’s the point of flaunting your power before my guards? If you want a fight, come at me directly!”“Croyso, you’ve gone too far!” Marquess William's anger flared again at these words. He stormed up to him, pointing a finger in his face. “Bringing a band of thugs to wreck my estate—what do you mean by this? Have you lost your mind?”“And do you think I, Croyso, am so easy to trample on?” Earl Croyso puffed out his chest and bellowed, his commanding presence as a battle-hardened man utterly overwhelming. “Breaking off our long-standing engagement just to climb your way up to the Blackwell family—I let that slide because I never thought much of your son anyway. But when my daughter fou
Lady Langley had already approached Miranda, glancing sideways at Earl Croyso’s retreating figure. In a voice so low that only she could hear, she murmured, “What sense of righteousness and morality can one expect from noble families…”Then she turned to Miranda and said, “You’ve merely escaped a den of fire. No need to concern yourself with those shameless people.”Rose, standing nearby, watched the scene unfold and felt secretly relieved. Thankfully, she had not accepted the match—otherwise, with such in-laws, how could she ever hope for a good life?“There’s no need for you to worry about me, Aunt.” Miranda straightened her posture and said firmly, “Just as you said, not marrying into such a family is actually a blessing! If I didn’t understand that, I wouldn’t have raised my hand against Lady Sheffield.”She had never held high expectations for this marriage. Even when the Queen Dowager suddenly intended for her to enter the palace to accompany His Majesty the King, her only thoug
"It was merely a jest from the Queen Dowager, yet you all assumed the King had taken a liking to me, without considering that I’m just an immature girl—how could I have such influence? But then you realized your son was engaged to me, meaning he’d be competing with the King for a woman. You feared the King’s wrath would harm Sheffield’s future, so you sought to annul the engagement. Yet, breaking it off now might make you seem weak, as if your son were abandoning his fiancée for personal gain. To avoid that, you shifted the blame onto me."Miranda scoffed. "That’s why you want me to admit it. If I confess, then it’s my indiscretion, my fault, while Sheffield remains the innocent victim. You wouldn’t dare say it outright, so you let Lady Sheffield stir up trouble for you. Am I wrong?"Such hypocrisy—far more despicable than Lady Sheffield herself!Exposed so plainly, Earl Sheffield’s face reddened. For a moment, he was speechless before snapping, "Miss Miranda, it’s your own misconduct