Miranda took a lacquered box from Molly’s hands, opened it, and smiled. “I know Father loves plum blossoms, so I have this embroidered piece, ‘Longevity with Plum Blossoms,’ as a birthday gift for you.” Together with Molly, she unfurled a meticulously mounted scroll.The snow-white silk revealed ink-black branches, strong and vigorous, with crimson blossoms proudly adorning the tips. The embroidery vividly captured the resilience and beauty of plum blossoms, showcasing Miranda’s exceptional skill. The black threads resembled night, the red silk like precious gems, making it an ideal birthday gift.“What a wonderful piece!” The Croyso Count, obsessed with plum blossoms, couldn’t help but praise as soon as he saw it.The Countess, feeling uneasy, deliberately nitpicked, “Miss Miranda calls this ‘Longevity with Plum Blossoms.’ We see the plum blossoms, but where is the ‘longevity’?”No one expected Rose to step in. After gazing at the embroidery for a long while, she exclaimed, “At first
A middle-aged noblewoman dressed in a plum-colored gown said, "Miss Miranda should have been the one to entertain the ladies, but Lady Croyso is not her birth mother, so how could she dare to command her?" The implication was clear: Miranda should have taken the initiative to entertain the guests from the start. Her lack of action was a breach of etiquette, and Lady Croyso, unable to direct Miranda, had to settle for Selena, which only led to further blame.Lady Croyso seized the moment and said, “Not at all! The fault is mine; I should apologize to Miss Miranda!” She curtseyed deeply, though the apology suggested Miranda was ungrateful.Someone nearby sneered, “All the elders are here, yet Miss Miranda wants to take the ladies away? Lady Sheffield knows the rules, but it seems Lady Croyso and Lady Sheffield have their own set. Perhaps I should ask my husband’s mistress for guidance!” She laughed, shaking, and the others followed suit.Lady Sheffield, long sensitive about her past as a
Miranda stood by the pavilion railing, watching Selena thrash and call for help in the water below. Memories of her past life surged forth, causing her hands to clench tightly and her gaze to turn dark and unfathomable as she looked at Selena. However, she quickly masked her emotions with a look of panic and shouted, "Help! Someone, help! Miss Selena has fallen into the water!"By the time Selena was rescued, Lady Croyso had already rushed over upon hearing the news.Selena, humiliated and furious, threw herself into Lady Croyso's arms, sobbing, "Mother, you must seek justice for me. I don't know how I offended Miranda, but she pushed me into the lake, and I nearly drowned!" The chaos had happened so suddenly and without warning that she still didn't understand what had transpired. But thinking of her public humiliation, she wanted to place the blame on Miranda, making everyone believe Miranda was cruel and had attempted to murder her sister.Lady Croyso, heartbroken, stared at Miranda
As if realizing her slip of the tongue, Lady Croyso turned and angrily rebuked the maid, “What nonsense are you spouting? Even if there are men’s clothes in Miranda’s possession, they could be new garments embroidered for the master. Is that something to be so alarmed about?” On the surface, she was covering for Miranda, but in doing so, she confirmed the presence of men's clothes with Miranda. The word “hidden” and her barely concealed panic made anyone witnessing it believe she was trying to cover something up.Lady Fitzroy slightly furrowed her brows, her gaze sharp as a sword, coldly staring at Lady Croyso and the maid.Count Croyso glanced at Miranda, who looked equally surprised but not panicked, which reassured him a bit. He spoke up, “What’s going on here? How can a lady’s reputation be slandered so casually?”With a thud, the maid knelt down, panic-stricken. “I was wrong. I’ll go and deal with that gossiping maid right away!” She turned to leave.“Stop,” Miranda commanded, ris
Hearing the servants' exclamations, everyone was taken aback and looked at what they held. It was a piece of uncut turquoise brocade, seemingly wrapping something, but it was definitely not a man's clothing. Lady Croyso was dumbfounded. The clothing had been buried under her orders; how had it turned into a turquoise brocade? Now, all their efforts seemed like a joke. Who had meddled in this? Miranda and Molly hadn’t returned to their rooms or gone to the garden; could it be that one of the maids had betrayed her?Amidst the chaos in her mind, Lady Croyso suddenly heard Lord Croyso's angry roar, even more furious than before.Lady Croyso glanced over and was equally shocked. The turquoise brocade wrapped an ordinary white cloth doll, but the crucial point was that the doll was covered in ink-stained writing spelling out Miranda's name, with bright silver needles stuck all over its body—this was a curse!Lady Croyso felt a heavy weight in her heart. The flawless plan had now spiraled ou
Molly's heart sank, and she quickly knelt down, exclaiming, "I didn't do it! I would never dare do such a thing!"Miranda suddenly lifted her head, her voice trembling, "Father, it couldn't have been Molly."If Miranda didn't plead for Molly, Molly would be doomed, cutting off one of Miranda's key allies. But now, by pleading for Molly, Miranda fell right into Lady Croyso's trap. A faint smile curled at the corners of her mouth as she feigned confusion, "Why are you so certain, Miss Miranda?""When I distributed the ice silk to everyone, Molly wasn't by my side. Moreover, Molly has been with me all day and never left my side. But the traces of soil are fresh, likely dug up today, meaning Molly had no opportunity to do this." Miranda's soft voice still carried a slight tremor, but her reasoning was clear."Molly may have arrived late, but she could have obtained the ice silk from another maid. Although she has been serving Miss Miranda all day, she could have had someone else bury these
"Lady Croyso, based on the unfounded claims of a mere maid, your head maid truly believes that Miss Miranda has been involved in an illicit affair and reports this to you as a serious matter? Don’t you think this is utterly ridiculous? I did not know that in the Croyso household, rumors could be treated as facts, and that the maids can tarnish the reputation of the young ladies without any investigation?" Lady Fitzroy spoke coldly, her words directly targeting Lady Croyso.Lady Croyso glared angrily at the maid who had reported earlier. After so many years of service, she had made such a careless mistake, reporting without checking what was buried under the soil, causing such a farce. She reprimanded sternly, "Do you know your crime?"The maid turned pale and hurriedly kowtowed, "I beg your forgiveness, I beg your forgiveness!""There’s an old saying: the servant follows the master. If Lady Croyso truly valued Miss Miranda, how could your maid be so careless and disrespectful? Even if
Night had fallen, and a shadow slipped silently into the inner chamber. The figure was clad in black, blending seamlessly with the darkness, making it nearly impossible to detect except for the brief glint of light reflecting off a silver mask that concealed their face.Miranda initially thought that Lady Croyso was playing another trick to tarnish her reputation. But she quickly dismissed the idea—if that were the case, the intruder would have made a commotion to ensure everyone knew, leaving her with no defense.The intruder suddenly froze, sensing Miranda's presence, and swiftly darted behind her, reaching out to knock her unconscious. Miranda was horrified and desperately tried to evade, her long black hair sweeping through the air in a graceful arc as her frightened face was suddenly illuminated by the moonlight.The intruder hesitated for a brief moment, then switched the intended strike into a hook. A gleaming dagger slid from his sleeve, pressing accurately against Miranda's ne
That day, the King came to pay his respects at the Queen Dowager’s palace. The Queen Dowager ordered tea to be served.A young lady stepped forward, dressed in a gown of pale blue silk—the soft, mist-like color seemed steeped in delicate light, graceful and ethereal. Her hair ornaments matched in hue, adorned with teardrop-shaped tassels that swayed gently with her movements, catching the light like liquid glass. Her skin was fair as porcelain, her features fresh and luminous, like a lotus emerging from clear waters.Her simple attire, serene beauty, and quiet elegance gave the impression of a cool spring flowing through a sweltering day—soothing and refreshing.When the King saw that the one serving tea was Miranda, he paused. His gaze lingered briefly on her attire, on her calm expression, on the faint scent of perfume that wafted near. His eyes flickered with a shadowed gleam as he said with a faint smile, “I heard Miss Miranda fell ill shortly after entering the palace, and has be
Miranda was filled with doubts.Zachary had taken a liking to her and, without even asking her opinion, went straight to the Queen to request a royal marriage decree. The Queen Dowager fancied her and instantly ordered her into the palace as a companion. They were all powerful figures—so why was it that when Reginald liked her, he remained so silent? So composed? Why hadn’t she sensed even the slightest hint of his feelings?Even after hearing about her engagement to Sheffield, he simply vanished from her world. Aside from that one moment—when he stumbled into her chambers feverish and disoriented—he never once made a move. He didn’t even try to interfere with the betrothal between the Croyso family and Sheffield.Weren’t people like them always forceful and self-indulgent in love and power alike? And Reginald, with his flamboyant and unrestrained nature—why had he acted so differently?Her head throbbed. With a shake, she tried to banish the thoughts. There was a clear disparity in s
In that faintly charged, ambiguous atmosphere, Reginald’s ears suddenly twitched. He had caught the faint sound of footsteps approaching. His expression changed instantly. He gave Miranda a small nod, pulled up his hood, and with a light, soundless leap, landed on the windowsill. With one hand gripping the ledge, he gave a pull—and in the next breath, his figure vanished from sight.Miranda understood at once and quietly closed the window.***It was deep into the night. No stars, no moon—only utter darkness.Miranda lay upon soft pillows, her eyes shut tightly. Beads of sweat gathered on her pale, smooth forehead, soaking into her hairline. Her head moved slightly from side to side, as if trying to shake something off. Her sleep was uneasy.She dreamt of many things from the past.Foolishness from a previous life. The days in the Croyso household, sharing what felt like a mother-daughter bond with her stepmother. Hans’s sweet lies after she married with him—and her naïve, wholehearte
“Although His Majesty shows great respect and deference to the Queen Dowager, and her position in the palace seems untouchable,” Miranda said firmly, “if their relationship were truly as unshakable as it appears, then why would she need to use me as a pawn? That alone tells me—they don’t fully trust each other. I’m convinced there’s a rift between them.”Her eyes gleamed with quiet intelligence.“Besides, the Queen Dowager is from House Blackwell. So is the Queen. If Prince Zachary ascends the throne, the maternal family’s power will be overwhelming. Lord Reginald, tell me—could the King possibly feel at ease with that? Don’t you think he might also want to bring down the Queen Dowager and the Blackwell family?”If the answer to all of those questions was yes—then that was her opportunity.Especially when she recalled that moment at the Croyso estate—how the King, upon first seeing her, had lost his composure and shattered his teacup. Yet in the Queen Dowager’s hall, he had greeted he
“Miranda, what do you intend to do?” he asked cautiously, probing her thoughts.Miranda didn’t answer directly. Instead, she returned the question, “What do you think I should do, Lord Reginald?”“Just as you said, the Queen Dowager is ruthless and cunning. She doesn’t care if she destroys you in the process. So, Miranda, don’t confront her head-on. Evade her, pretend even, let her think she’s won—just don’t suffer for nothing!” That was the real reason Reginald had come today—to warn her. Earlier, he’d gone to the palace to attend council with the King and was granted leave to walk in the royal gardens afterwards. That gave him the opportunity to send Miranda a message, even now, to meet her here in person.Though he’d already passed along a warning through a young eunuch, he had still worried something might go wrong. That’s why he had been hiding near the gazebo all along, ready to intervene if needed.He had seen everything with his own eyes.In the end, it was Selena who suffered
A pair of soft, deep-set eyes turned to Miranda, glittering with charm as a smile curled across his lips.Miranda turned and saw him, immediately realizing that this man had probably climbed in through a window again.He was putting on an act as usual. With a trace of exasperation, she stepped forward and curtsied: “Lord Reginald.”Reginald glanced at Molly and waved his hand, motioning for her to leave.Molly hesitated—how could she dare leave?Reginald gave her a half-smile, half-sneer: “What are you frozen for? Do you think I’m going to devour your miss?”Miranda gave a subtle nod, and Molly reluctantly backed out.“Lord Reginald, sneaking into the Queen Dowager’s territory? Aren’t you worried that by tomorrow, rumors about the two of us will be all over the capital?” Miranda smiled once the room was clear.R
The three of them chatted for a while longer.More precisely, it was Selena and the Queen Dowager laughing cheerfully together like close kin, while Miranda seemed to be silently lost in thought, her mind elsewhere.The Queen Dowager humored Selena while occasionally casting a glance at Miranda, a knowing smile flickering in her eyes.Although today's "accident" had originally been prepared for Miranda and ended up landing on Selena by chance, the message it conveyed—and all that needed to be said—had already been delivered through Selena.If Miranda was truly clever, she should understand what path she needed to take from now on.Having just entered the palace and experienced such an event, the Queen Dowager, showing concern for the girls’ fatigue, did not keep them much longer and arranged for them to rest.As the two left together, Miranda could tell from Selena’s expression that she had likely already taken the Queen Dowager to heart—as someone she could rely on completely.Mirand
Since the king had made his decision, the matter was settled. The queen cast one final glance at Selena, then looked over at Miranda before curtseying to the Queen Dowager and taking her leave.The Queen Dowager had Selena helped to her feet and brought back to her own palace. There, she offered soothing salves for the bruises, showering Selena with gentle concern and comfort.Already full of grievance, Selena was moved by such kindness, and her sorrow burst forth. She broke into tears, crying uncontrollably in the Queen Dowager’s arms.The Queen Dowager lightly patted her shoulder, letting her cry it out.It took some time before Selena calmed down. She slowly recounted the events.After she and Miranda parted ways, the guiding maid noticed Miranda had gone missing and panicked. After all, she had been entrusted with Miranda's care, and if something happened, she would surely be punished. So she asked Selena to wait at the gazebo while she went to look for Miranda.Selena sat for a w
Before entering the palace, Miranda had once asked Molly about the events surrounding her mother’s death. Molly had said that it all began with some kind of incident involving Miranda herself. Could it have been her sudden illness? Her father, perhaps out of concern for her young age, had merely told her that her mother had passed from illness, never elaborating. After all she had been through in her past life, Miranda was certain—her stepmother had been behind her mother’s death. That much was undeniable. But how had she done it? If Miranda could uncover the truth, Sophie would be utterly ruined.Despite her inner thoughts, Miranda wore a gentle smile. “The royal physician’s skills are indeed remarkable.”Just as the physician was taking his leave, the maid who had led Miranda and Selena earlier came running in, breathless and pale.“Your Majesty the Queen Dowager, something terrible has happened! Lady Selena ran into Her Majesty the Queen over by the gazebo and, for some reason, of