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
Lady Langley shot her a sharp glance and said, “Knowing you’re so quick-witted, can’t you spare me this time? No wonder you’ve been waiting here for me. If someone didn’t know better, they’d think we have a deep bond. But those who do know would understand that you’re probably just waiting for me to take out my frustration after your setback with Miss June! Am I right?”Once inside the manor, Selena saw her circle of friends, having parted ways with Miranda earlier. So, only Miranda, Lady Langley, Lady Fitzroy, and Lady Fitzroy’s daughter, Wensley, were present. The conversation naturally drew no attention from the others.“Oh, truly remarkable,” Lady Fitzroy said with a smile. “You’ve become quite the business tycoon, haven’t you? Your connections with the Croyso family have improved, and you now speak with such confidence, don’t you?” Before June left, she had been specifically advised not to cause trouble at the banquet, as the Queen’s family was keen to win over Lord Fitzroy. June
Lady Fitzroy greeted her guest with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Why, if it isn’t Lady Aylin!” she exclaimed with feigned warmth, stepping forward to welcome her.Following closely behind Lady Aylin was Rose, who, with her serene smile and graceful, poised demeanor, offered a perfect curtsy. Rose’s presence at such events was a rare occurrence, largely due to her mother’s habitual neglect, which often left her overlooked and sidelined from society’s gatherings.“There you are! I’ve been searching high and low for you,” Lady Aylin exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and reprimand. “I didn’t expect to find you here, of all places! Now, stop quietly managing the servants' tasks here—come to the front and join everyone for a proper chat!” Lady Aylin exclaimed, grabbing Lady Fitzroy’s arm with enthusiasm, entirely ignoring Lady Langley and Miranda nearby—a breach of social etiquette. Lady Fitzroy remained composed, her smile unwavering despite the slight. “I was just here,
"Miranda, it's been so long since you last came to our house. Mother probably still remembers you as the little girl from years ago. She never imagined that little girl would grow up to be such a beautiful young lady. And I neither haven’t seen you since the last banquet. Where’s Selena? How’s her face? It was awfully red after she got hit last time!” Rose, who had been silent until now, suddenly stepped forward and affectionately took Miranda’s hand, acting every bit the close sister.But if you listen closely to her words, you’ll notice how she subtly distanced herself from her mother’s remark and casually shifted the topic, indirectly reminding Miranda of the incident when Selena was slapped. She indirectly and seemingly casually brought up Miranda's awkward past conflicts with her sister, leaving Miranda no time to continue the conversation from before. This clever change in conversation effectively steered away from the slightly awkward topic just now.Miranda's eyes narrowed slig
"Not you... Could it be Miranda?" Lady Fitzroy hesitantly guessed. Seeing the look on Lady Langley's face, she knew she'd hit the mark. Her expression was a mix of surprise and a hint of satisfaction. "Ah, that’s wonderful! Miranda is quite something, isn't she? She actually managed to bring down that cunning woman, Sophie. Impressive! Is this what they mean by the student surpassing the master?""I’d rather Miranda wasn’t so impressive. I’d prefer she were more like Wensley—innocent, lively, and blissfully unaware of the world’s harsh realities.""You can’t think that way!" Lady Fitzroy gently took Lady Langley’s hand, leading her to a chaise lounge. The sharp, capable demeanor she often displayed melted away, replaced by a face full of concern. "I’ll be honest with you—seeing Wensley so carefree, always laughing, brings me joy as a mother. But she will eventually marriy into another family. When that time comes, she'll have to deal with her husband, in-laws, Behind-the-scenes intrig
“Wensley!” Miranda's face deliberately darkened. “I'll tell Mrs. Fitzroy what you just said!”Wensley quickly grabbed her arm, his face a picture of pleading. “Oh, Miranda, don’t be like that! I was just joking. If you tell Mother, she’ll scold me again. You wouldn’t want that, would you? Please stay and chat with me. Once the room is full, we won’t have a chance to talk!”He put on a distressed expression, clutching his hands together and gazing at Miranda with pleading eyes. “Please, Miranda, you’re the best!”Miranda smiled and nodded. “Alright, alright.”They chatted as they made their way into the hall.In one corner of the hall, a group of elegantly dressed young women gathered around a large painting displayed on the wall. The conversation was lively, filled with various opinions and guesses.“This painting is truly remarkable! It must be very valuable!”“Indeed, it shows extraordinary skill! No wonder it’s a Fitzroy family collection.”“But which artist created it?”Amid the h