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
"Your Majesty, this is precisely what I need to report," Earl Croyso, uncertain of the Emperor’s mood, felt a pang of anxiety. He gathered his composure and spoke as calmly as possible, "The day after receiving the decree, there was a fire in the document storage room of The Court of Justice. Despite our desperate efforts to salvage the documents, some were destroyed. Among them were the relevant documents and evidence for Ivan’s case. I ordered the officials to reconstruct the damaged documents, but I only saw the decree specifying the delay of military supplies. I did not realize there were additional charges of bribery and corruption until now. So—""Nonsense!" Declan shouted furiously, "How could such a coincidence occur? Clearly, you deliberately set the fire to destroy the evidence and protect Ivan!""Declan, be silent! Yes, as The Lord High Chancellor, you have oversight authority, but that does not give you the right to make baseless accusations!" Earl Croyso,
In the midst of deliberations, such disputes and blame-shifting occurred daily. The discussions grew increasingly off-topic until they finally veered into this year's appointments of officials. At last, the King spoke. He cleared his throat, and the room fell silent as he began, slowly and deliberately, "I am well aware that you all serve the kingdom faithfully. The fire that broke out in the manor storing the documents was an unfortunate accident, and there is no need to continue arguing. Charles, allocate funds to repair the manor and ensure that all necessary precautions are taken. If funds are insufficient, draw from my personal treasury."Earl Croyso’s thoughts flashed momentarily—could that means Miranda have correctly guessed the King's intentions?"Sire, while the ledger has been destroyed, it is a fact that there was one that proved Ivan's bribery. Several officials have witnessed it. Therefore, I believe he must be dealt with according to the law, and leniency must not be all
Upon leaving the royal palace, Earl Croyso first visited the prison, ordering Ivan's immediate release. Afterward, he requested leave to return home. Unable to contain his joy, he practically flew through the garden, where he found Miranda nestled against Lady Langley, playfully seeking her affection. Without a second thought, he rushed over and, disregarding the fact that Miranda was already thirteen, lifted her by the waist and spun her around. Miranda let out a startled scream, causing him to finally stop. He laughed heartily and exclaimed, "It worked! It worked!"Instinctively shielding her head, Miranda shouted, "No messing with my hair! And don’t tap my forehead!""Little Miranda, your idea worked! You’ve done your father a great favor this time!" Earl Croyso could barely contain his delight, his face alight with joy. With Ivan’s talents and character, he was sure to become a pillar of the kingdom. Miranda had ensured the retention of a valuable asset for the nation! "Tell me, h
Lord Croyso shuddered in fear, instantly dropping to one knee as he exclaimed, "I was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival and failed to greet you properly. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"This was the first time Ivan had laid eyes on the King, and for a moment, he was frozen in awe before he too knelt down."No matter! Your servant has committed no fault. It was my command that he should not disturb you," the King replied, his voice laced with evident good humor as he waved for Croyso to rise. He then took his seat at the head of the room. The King turned his gaze toward Ivan, observing him in silence for a moment before speaking. "You are Ivan, correct? I understand that you have a close relationship with the Governor of Thornborough, otherwise, he wouldn't have involved you in such underhanded dealings as embezzling military supplies." His tone was low, revealing nothing of the emotions behind it.The accusation was undeniable, leaving Ivan with no choice but to respond softly, "Ye
However, everyone’s attention was drawn to the teacup that slipped from the king’s hand; no one noticed the subtle change in his expression.Though the king was momentarily lost in thought, causing the teacup to shatter, his deep-seated composure and the iron will forged through years of discipline allowed him to swiftly regain his calm. Despite the torrent of emotions raging within, nearly overwhelming him in that brief moment of shock, he forcibly quelled the upheaval. His face remained serene, as if the lapse in composure was nothing more than a trivial incident. He raised his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips, and feigned light-heartedness as he spoke, “I accidentally touched the rim of the cup and got burned, breaking your fine teacup. Lord Croyso, I hope you won’t mind?”Earl Croyso, hearing this, showed no sign of suspicion. “Your Majesty jests!”“Well, since you’re so generous, I won’t trouble myself with replacing it!” the king repli
In the Kingdom of Valoria, there was a Privy Council, and all reports submitted to the king had to be reviewed by the council's scholars first. They would prioritize the most urgent matters, jotting down their opinions on small slips of paper and tucking them into the reports before passing them on to the king. While the final decision rested with the monarch, the scholars’ recommendations greatly influenced his judgment, making them powerful figures within the kingdom.Basil Fitzroy had served as the Chief Scholar of the Privy Council for over a decade, earning immense respect and authority.Especially now, with the imminent retirement of Prime Minister Lord Green, the position of Prime Minister was likely to be filled either by Lord Fitzroy or the venerable Lord Landon. By comparison, Fitzroy held the advantage in experience, governance, and the king’s favor. Should he be appointed as First Minister, his status would rise even further. Unfortunately, Fitzroy’s high moral standards an
Seeing June’s audacious attempt to strike her in public, Miranda's anger flared. She swiftly moved to block June’s hand and declared in a frosty tone, “Miss June, don’t do something you’ll regret later!”June arched an eyebrow defiantly, her gaze sharp. “And if I do? What will you do about it?”“This!” Miranda’s voice was as cold as ice. Without giving June a chance to respond, Miranda’s other hand flew out, landing a stinging slap across June’s face.Miranda, who typically avoided conflict and sought to maintain harmony, had reached her limit. June, having already secured everything she desired, was still provoking trouble. Miranda realized that no matter how much she accommodated, peace seemed unattainable. Therefore, she resolved to take a firm stand.The sharp "slap" resonated through the air, and a vivid red handprint began to bloom on miss June's pale cheek. The unexpected blow left June stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Miranda in shock.“You!” June, now vi
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