“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
Zachary, the Queen's eldest son, is a figure of such esteemed status that, coupled with his handsome appearance and refined demeanor, he is the object of desire for countless noble young women. Today, seeing his admiration for Miranda and his seemingly familiar demeanor, it's no wonder that many people are seething with envy, their expressions subtly shifting.Among them, a beautiful young lady dressed in a blue floral gown was particularly irate. She shot a disapproving glance at Selena."What on earth made you invite Miranda to evaluate the painting? Princess Gina had already spoken highly of your discerning eye. Why cause unnecessary trouble?" Whitney, who was Sophie’s brother’s daughter, leaned in close to Selena and whispered. "I went through so much trouble to find out that Princess Gina would be attending the Fitzroy family’s banquet today and brought you here to give you a chance to shine. Now you've ruined it all! All the attention has shifted to your sister. What are we goin
As everyone turned towards the sound, an astonishing scene unfolded before their eyes, like a dream brought to life.By the intricately carved moon gate, Duke Reginald stood with his arms crossed, casually leaning against the doorframe, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched the crowd. He held a glass of red wine in one hand. Dressed entirely in black, with subtle dark red embroidery along the hem and cuffs, he exuded an aura of mystery and authority. Almost as if orchestrating his entrance, a sudden gust of wind swept through, carrying with it a flurry of blossoms from the trees outside. The petals whirled around him as his clothes billowed dramatically in the wind, creating a scene that was both captivating and haunting.Amidst the swirling petals, a smile suddenly graced his breathtakingly handsome face.There was a beauty about him—deeply alluring and dangerously seductive—that, combined with his piercing eyes, drew one in irresistibly, compelling them to surrender, even
Everyone present knew that Duke Reginald possessed exceptional martial skills. With his prowess, it seemed impossible for him to have lost his balance and spilled the wine so easily. It was clear that he had deliberately damaged the painting to provoke His Highness Zachary, given Zachary's fondness for it! Zachary's anger flared up, but he kept his composure, glaring coldly at Duke Reginald as he said slowly, “This painting is a Fitzroy family treasure and a cherished work of Miss Miranda. To destroy it so casually, don’t you think it’s rather excessive, Duke Reginald?”“Is that so?” Duke Reginald shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze shifting slightly. “Miss Wensley, I’ll send a Joshua Van painting to your estate another day as an apology.”The crowd gasped. Joshua Van’s works were among the highest-valued paintings on the market. Trading a Samuel Hawthorne painting for a Joshua Van piece was an incredibly advantageous deal!Miss Wensley was stunned and could only nod in a daze.Duke Regin
Zachary clenched his fists tightly, his chest swelling with anger. Gina, standing nearby, grew concerned, fearing he might lose control. She gently tugged at his sleeve. This small gesture helped Zachary regain a bit of composure. If he lost his temper over something so trivial, the carefully crafted reputation of being refined and kind-hearted would be ruined. Forcing a smile, he said, “Lord Reginald, you must be joking. It’s just a painting. As long as Miss Miranda doesn’t mind, why should I?”Duke Reginald clapped his hands, feigning relief. “That’s good to hear. I knew it—Miranda, you won’t mind, will you?”Miranda had no choice but to nod obediently.Reginald’s lips curled into a smile as he looked at her, thinking to himself. How sweet and compliant she pretends to be! Just like last time at the palace, acting as docile as that Persian cat Lady Liudmila keeps—soft and fluffy on the outside, but claws bared in secret. Not only did she bite me, but she also had the audacity to sto
Not long after walking, they came upon the entrance to a courtyard. Inside, the garden was filled with stone benches and a stone table, and the sound of water trickling from a pond filled the peaceful and secluded atmosphere.Duke Reginald, satisfied with the quiet setting, chose a spot by the pond and sat at the stone table. Looking at the obedient and quiet Miranda standing beside him, his mood lifted. He pointed to the seat across from him and smiled, “Sit down.”“I dare not,” Miranda only wanted to finish this quickly. “If you have something to say, My Lord, please do so.”Duke Reginald narrowed his eyes slightly. “I said, sit.”Sensing a hint of danger in the air, as though he was on the verge of losing his temper, Miranda didn’t dare disobey anymore. She quietly did as she was told and sat down.Seeing her comply, the duke’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. He leaned forward lazily, resting his arms and head on the stone table. Listening to the sound of the water, inhaling th
As expected, after Miranda had been left waiting under the sun for another half hour before being dismissed, she was immediately confronted by an indignant Quintina and June, who had come to demand an explanation.June, who had been absent for a while, now appeared beside Quintina, her face concealed by a purple veil, presumably to cover the handprint on her cheek. With a cold sneer, she remarked, "Cousin, there's no need to ask further. This Miranda, dumped and still wandering around, is clearly looking to land herself a wealthy husband. The Duke of Reginald has high standards, so he may not fancy her, but if she has the chance to spend time with him, you can bet she's already trying to seduce him.""Such confidence—perhaps speaking from experience?"Was that how June had ensnared Andrew? But her focus now needed to be on handling Quintina. Since the moment Duke Reginald had voiced his intentions, Miranda had been formulating a plan, and now it was ready. Feigning an innocent, childli
Selena pushed the door open and saw Quintina sitting by the window, next to a pot of peonies. She was dressed in a gold-embroidered pleated gown and adorned with a full set of ruby-encrusted jewelry. Her youthful, beautiful face carried an air of arrogance as she turned to scrutinize Selena from head to toe, her slightly upturned eyeliner adding a domineering and haughty edge to her expression.Selena curtsied gracefully and greeted, "Good day, Miss Quintina."Quintina continued to examine her closely. Selena was draped in a soft, pale green chiffon shawl over a nearly white silk dress, which accentuated her slender waist. Though still young, her presence exuded a delicate charm and allure.Such a perfectly shaped figure, such smooth, tender skin—she really is a little vixen!The sight of this radiant beauty only fueled Quintina's hatred, though she forced herself to suppress it for the moment. She waved Selena closer and said, "Come here. Let me have a look at you."As Selena approac
In the first round of the horse race, His Highness Zachary, Duke Reginald, Blackwell, and Linton participated, seemingly to probe where everyone’s support lay. Thus, the Croyso family all placed their bets on Montfort. However, starting from the second round, those reservations disappeared, and people began betting freely, with wins and losses creating a gradually livelier atmosphere.Lady Fitzroy glanced at Fulton and suddenly let out a soft laugh, the sound drawing the attention of a few nearby.Fulton looked up, his eyes meeting Lady Fitzroy's as she observed him placing his bets with a knowing and almost mischievous expression. He quickly realized that she had seen through his actions. Embarrassment crept up his neck, and his face slowly turned red, the flush deepening as he avoided her gaze.Wensley, puzzled by his mother’s sudden amusement, tilted his head and asked, “Mother, what’s so funny?”“Oh, nothing. I just remembered a joke I heard yesterday,” Lady Fitzroy said lightly, 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