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
Prince Zachary arrived in a jade-white robe with a round collar, adorned with intricate embroidery around the neckline. The sleeves were decorated with intertwined blue orchids pattern, and a sky-blue beaded belt cinched his waist, embroidered with golden threads and silver lines that shimmered under the sunlight. His appearance was elegant and refined, carrying an air of royal grace, and he smiled appreciatively at Miranda.It was Prince Zachary.Standing beside him was Quintina, dressed in a light beige and aquamarine silk gown. Her understated outfit made her already beautiful features appear even more refined, her eyes sparkling like stars, and the arrogance she usually exuded seemed to have diminished considerably.Prince Zachary and Quintina—how could they be here? Miranda was confused."Brother, Cousin Quintina, you both came too?" A girl who had been standing to the side turned her gaze to them and said with a charming smile, "Brother, come and see whose painting this really i
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