Earl Croyso frowned and immediately rebuked, “Nonsense! To conduct an inspection on the daughter of an earl just because of the ramblings of two lunatics—doesn’t that imply we doubt Miranda's identity? Such an act would only hand others a weapon to use against us! Moreover, what an insult this would be! Miranda is my daughter, my flesh and blood. I would never mistake her for anyone else—she is Miranda, not some Jenny! Do you really think I can’t recognize my own daughter?”
To be reprimanded under these circumstances was entirely unexpected, and the Countess's initial anger flared up instantly.
“But, my lord…,” the Countess began, swallowing her indignation. She cast a seemingly timid glance at the gathered crowd, her expression laden with concern. “Of course, I care deeply about Miss Miranda's honor. But look at the expressions on the faces of these stewards and housekeepers. I fear they all ha
Zoe, momentarily stunned by Miranda’s noble and composed demeanor, quickly resumed her tearful outcry, “Jenny! Your mother can’t live without you! How can you deny me like this?” Her face was streaked with tears, a picture of utter despair.Yoder, half regretful, half enraged, chimed in, “Lian’er, I know we wronged you. We shouldn’t have agreed to give you away to that woman. Now I regret it. Come home with your father! Our house may be poor, but it’s where you were born and raised, and we are your real parents! You can’t forget your roots and deny your own parents just for the sake of wealth!”With a slight wave of her hand, Miranda halted the servants who were ready to step forward. Her gaze grew dark and intense as she fixed her eyes on them. "Anyone close to me could know about the mole behind my ear, but why would they share such a private detail with you? This can only mean that someone in the estate is conspiring with you to frame me. Remember, my father is the
The startling revelation caused everyone to frown in disbelief, especially the Earl of Croyso and Lady Langley."She's not Miranda?" The Earl's voice was laced with incredulous anger, nearly on the verge of laughter. "Sophie, have you lost your mind? If she's not Miranda, then who is? I think you're the one who's ill!" His words were sharp, underlined with anger, yet there was a measure of restraint in his tone."She's not!" The Countess, having gone this far, was ready to risk everything. She had the evidence to prove that Miranda was an imposter and wasn’t afraid to confront her. "And think about it—since this false Miranda appeared, the biggest beneficiary has been Lady Langley! I cannot help but suspect there’s something fishy about all this. Did you really believe that Miranda was unaware of the true cause of Anna's death?""Enough, Sophie! What nonsense are you spouting?" The Earl’s voice boomed with fury. He had always avoided discussing Anna’s death in f
"Look at this face, my lord," Sophie declared passionately. "The Miranda we once knew, the Miranda everyone in this estate has seen, never looked like this. A plain, unremarkable girl suddenly transforming into a beauty of such grace and elegance—this alone should raise suspicion. They dared to deceive us all, to switch one person for another, solely because this girl shares the same face as Lady Anna!"Her voice quivered with righteous indignation before softening into sorrow. "My lord, they are exploiting your deepest feelings! Using your love to achieve their hidden, sinister goals!"Sophie knew Croyso too well. She was certain that invoking Anna would unsettle him deeply.With every piece of evidence laid out, each accusation seemed increasingly plausible. It was enough to make anyone doubt whether the young woman before them was truly Miranda. All eyes turned to Miranda, their gazes sharp and probing.Miranda drew in a deep breath, maintaining her co
"Enough! Sophie, this charade must end here and now! Never mind how absurd your claims are; the fact remains that Miranda is my daughter by blood, and as her stepmother, you should never treat her with such disrespect. I always thought you were a woman of propriety and sound judgment. But now, it seems that ten years of being a Countess has made you arrogant. Sophie, you have deeply disappointed me!" Earl Croyso could no longer tolerate the situation. He slammed his hand on the table, rising with a voice full of fury. "Miranda is my flesh and blood; I would never mistake my own daughter! From now on, the management of this estate will be entrusted to Miranda! You need to cool down and reflect on who you used to be, and who you've become!""My lord!" The Countess could hardly believe her ears.Could it be that Earl Croyso hadn’t noticed the fear in Miranda's eyes when she had questioned her earlier? Had he not seen the panic in Miranda's gaze when she mentioned the examination? She had
If she truly is Miranda, then all of this—every bit of it—was deliberately orchestrated by that wretched girl. She set the trap with care, intentionally provoking her, purposefully choosing those dishes, and ensuring that she would see her back, carefully concealing the mark... And it wasn’t enough. Just now, she even feigned fear, pretended to be terrified of being exposed, making her believe she held all the cards, goading her into losing all sense of reason.Otherwise, with her usual cunning, if she had been calm, as soon as she noticed something off about that girl’s expression, she would have stopped. She wouldn’t have allowed things to spiral into such utter chaos!But now? Now... Is it all over?“Have you not done enough? To push her this far, to humiliate her to this extent—has it still not satisfied you? What more do you want? Do you wish for her to die here?” Earl Croyso roared in fury.Miranda sai
Since the Countess had been stripped of her managerial duties within the estate, life had to go on as usual. Selena, having learned from her failed attempts to intercede, had wisely chosen to remain silent about her mother recently—likely with some prompting from the Countess herself.One day, Selena brought some pastries to her father's study."Miranda, you are truly a thoughtful daughter, cheering me up with your presence! Well, enough of pleasantries. I have official matters to attend to, so come and help me!"Seeing the harmony between father and daughter before her, Selena felt a pang of discomfort. Especially since Miranda was allowed to stay in the study to assist her father with his work, while she herself was not afforded such privilege.Placing the pastries on the desk, she approached and said, "Father, are there troubles weighing on your mind? Even if I cannot relieve your burdens, perhaps talking about them might ease your mind!"The Earl sighed again, his expression troubl
Seeing that her father also agreed with Miranda, Selena had no choice but to cease her objections. Yet, she wanted to pose a challenge to Miranda: “Miranda makes a valid point. However, even if it’s certain that Ivan should be saved, how exactly should we go about it? He is undeniably guilty of accepting bribes, with irrefutable evidence. This cannot be disputed. If Father were to rashly declare him innocent, it would be difficult to justify.”The mention of this was like a bucket of cold water poured over Earl Croyso.Indeed, Ivan needed saving, but how could it be done? The bribery was a deadlock, and although Miranda’s earlier arguments were sound, such discussions could only serve to persuade in private. In the court, such arguments could not justify leniency or release for Ivan. What was needed now was a legitimate reason, a reason that would justly allow his release.Selena mean to set her up with a dilemma.Miranda pondered and then a
The incense burner emitted wisps of delicate smoke, drifting and diffusing, filling the air with a fragrance that was both calming and contemplative."Father." Miranda suddenly looked up, leaning close to his ear to whisper a few questions.Earl Croyso nodded, his gaze at his young daughter growing more surprised."Is this alright, Father? Look, does this work?" Miranda continued to whisper, chattering rapidly.Selena strained to hear, trying to discern what idea Miranda had come up with so she could find something to criticize. However, Miranda spoke so softly that only her faint laughter could be heard. Just as Selena was about to despair, she heard Earl Croyso let out a chuckle and, with a hearty laugh, tap her forehead, exclaiming, "You mischievous little sprite!"...That night, a fire broke out in The Court of Justice’s document storage room, destroying numerous official documents.As for Ivan's case involving the delay of military supplies, with both testimony and evidence at 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
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
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
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