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
Seeing her agreement, Fulton smiled brightly, a flush of color creeping onto his face again.They walked side by side, unaware that everything was being observed from behind. Hidden among the trees of the garden, a pair of eyes, followed their every move. Watching them leave, the owner of those eyes narrowed them slightly in displeasure and murmured, “Harland, go and...”As they made their way toward the front courtyard, a maid suddenly appeared in front of them. Upon seeing Fulton, she let out a small sigh of relief, bowed to them, and addressed him, “Master Sheffield, Mrs. Sheffield twisted her ankle and has been looking everywhere for you. Please, come with me quickly!”Fulton, ever the dutiful son, hurriedly gave Miranda a few brief instructions and followed the maid.Watching them rush off, Miranda felt a vague sense that something was wrong, though she couldn't pinpoint why. As she pondered the thought, a hand suddenly covered her mouth from behind, dragging her into a nearby cou
This man could see right through her thoughts. Couldn’t he be a little less intelligent? Since it was impossible to hide anything from him, she decided to ignore him and turned her head away. Against someone who could see through you completely, any trick was futile; she no longer wished to play the fool.Reginald was highly displeased with her attitude. He forcibly turned her face towards him and said, “Speak up! Who is he to you? Miranda, good girl. Tell me, okay?” He deliberately softened his voice.Miranda closed her eyes and covered her ears, choosing to ignore him entirely.“Miranda, if you keep this up, I’m going to get angry!” Reginald’s tone was icy, but Miranda remained unfazed, which only fueled his anger. He suddenly said, “Fine, if you won’t talk, I won’t force you!”Miranda, surprised, opened her eyes and met Reginald's gaze.“But since you’ve chosen not to speak, I’ll tell you the truth. Yes, you’ve offended me! I’m targeting you on purpose. Not just now but in the futu
The servant opened the door, only to find the study completely empty. At this point, it was better to risk Reginald being suspected by the king of deliberately concealing his whereabouts than to let him fall into the hands of the Blackwell family! Lady Liudmila's thoughts raced as she stepped forward and bowed, pleading, "Your Majesty, the Dowager Queen, I believe there is no need to cause such a commotion. I fear young Reginald has been mischievous and slipped away unnoticed. When he returns, I will personally discipline him severely for his unruly behavior that has caused you such worry and anger."“What nonsense are you speaking?” The Dowager Queen frowned deeply, her expression full of disapproval as she retorted, “Reginald may be mischievous, but he has always been measured in his actions. How could he do something as reckless as sneaking out? That’s too dangerous, and he would never disregard the entire family. Something must have happened!” Her gaze, heavy with displea
"I know that child Reginald is rather thin-skinned. Ever since he was publicly reprimanded, he’s been shutting himself away. Who knows if it has affected his health? There’s no need to bother notifying him—I’ll go with you to check on him," the Queen Mother said kindly. With that, she paid no further attention to the shadow guards, leaning on her cane as she slowly and leisurely walked out of the reception hall.The Queen thought to herself, The Queen Mother truly knows how to handle things! She quickly stepped forward to support the Queen Mother’s hand, walking out of the hall with an air of arrogance. Lady Liudmila and Hendrik, unable to intervene, could only follow anxiously. As Hendrik led the way, he silently prayed that they could escape disaster and that the Queen wouldn’t find any incriminating evidence.The group, familiar with the layout, soon arrived at the door to Reginald’s study. They called inside, but no respons
Prince Zachary had recently suffered a scandal at The Heaven Lounge, publicly reprimanded by the king and placed under house arrest. The circumstances reeked of manipulation, as Lila should never have entered the prince’s chambers without outside influence. With Lord Reginald also present, it was all too easy to suspect his involvement in orchestrating the incident. The queen and the Blackwell family directed their anger at Lord Reginald, relentlessly accusing and framing him. In the end, Lord Reginald, due to his arrogance and reckless behavior, was publicly reprimanded by the king during a court assembly. If the queen discovered that Reginald had no legitimate excuse for his current absence, the consequences would be dire.Though reluctant to leave Miranda’s side, Lord Reginald knew how to prioritize. With a sigh, he took one last longing glance around the room before preparing to leave. Suddenly, he paused, retrieved a pouch, and took out a small object. Plac
Miranda prepared the rosewater and brought it over to Lord Reginald, handing it to him.Lord Reginald took it and drank it in one gulp, finally feeling some relief in his stomach. His deep, dark eyes fixed on Miranda as he said slowly, "Miranda, tomorrow I don’t want to see any bitter melon on my plate. Also, stop adding Coptis root to my medicine. And don’t ever drink rosewater in front of me without giving me a cup. Otherwise," he grinned, baring his sharp white teeth, "I’ll bite you!"How did he figure it out? Miranda’s heart skipped a beat, but she feigned ignorance. "Lord Reginald, I don’t know what you’re talking about.""Still playing dumb? If you didn’t know I hated bitterness, when I asked for rosewater earlier, you should have been puzzled, not amused. Clearly, you knew I disliked bitter flavors and were just standing by to enjoy the show!" Lord Reginald snorted, his tone heavy with accusation.Only then did Miranda realize she had given herself away. Feeling a bit guilty, s
If Fulton really was your ideal husband, she could’ve answered me directly, or perhaps even shyly remained silent. But instead, you’re cold and unresponsive, with that same darkness in your eyes I’ve seen before. Reginald thought, narrowing his gaze. The same look her had when confronting her stepmother at that villa by the hot springs—resentment, hatred, anger, and even a desire to drag her down into the depths with herself."Does it matter whether he is or isn’t?" Miranda abruptly raised her head, seemingly irritated by Reginald’s relentless questioning. Her dark eyes burned with a ghostly fire, shadowed by gloom. "Lord Reginald, have you ever witnessed something like this? Two people, seemingly deeply in love, where the woman pours her heart and soul into her husband, offering unreserved devotion, only to be discarded and mercilessly killed once her usefulness runs out! If you’ve seen such a thing, would you still think any of this matters? "True love, mutual devotion, a lifetime
It seemed that Reginald noticed her puzzlement. A bit flustered, he tried to cover it up, saying, “I was just curious. You know, my mother has been pressuring me as well, so perhaps I’ll also need to find a suitable match soon. I wonder what women think about this—what kind of husband would you want, for example?”When Miranda heard him mention marriage, her face showed no hint of emotion, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.Of course. They hadn’t known each other for long, and he was always teasing, mocking, or scaring her. How could she possibly have feelings for him? Why would she care if he got married?To his surprise, despite his high status and his usual wild and unrestrained behavior, Reginald seemed genuinely interested in understanding what women thought about their ideal husband. This made him seem unexpectedly innocent and endearing. Seeing his sincerity, Miranda decided not to brush him off and thought seriously about what she would want in a husband.
Molly thought, after drinking that entire bowl, even Lord Reginald’s gut would probably turn bitter. What on earth had he done to upset Miss Miranda so much that she would treat him like this? But perhaps it wasn’t so bad—it at least showed that Miss Miranda didn’t have much affection for Lord Reginald. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone to such lengths. Considering Miss Miranda had already experienced one broken engagement with the William family, hopefully, this engagement with the Sheffield family wouldn’t fall apart too.After all, compared to the infamous and wildly arrogant Lord Reginald, the gentle and refined Fulton was undoubtedly a better match.Knowing Reginald must now be suffering from a mouth full of bitterness, Miranda deliberately poured herself a glass of rosewater in front of him. She took a sip and praised, “Fragrant and sweet, delicate but not cloying. No wonder a tiny bottle of this costs hundreds of gold coins. It’s truly worth every penny—so delicious.”Then, as
"Say it again. What do you want to eat?" Miranda fixed her eyes on him, as if trying to bore a hole through his face."Cake... cake. What's wrong with that?" Lord Reginald shrank slightly, baffled. It was just cake. Did she really need to flip out over it?He dared to say it again! Miranda's chest heaved with anger. She no longer cared that the person before her was the unpredictable Lord Reginald. She roared, "Shut up!""What for? I just want some cake! Is that such a big deal?" Lord Reginald was taken aback, having never seen her like this before. More importantly, he inexplicably felt guilty again. His usual arrogance faded, and he mumbled, "Even if the cake from the Croyso household is complicated to make and requires rare ingredients, I’ll pay you double—"Before he could finish, Miranda’s enraged shout interrupted him."Lord Reginald, go to hell!" How dare he bring it up again! Even if he had been feverish and unaware last night, it was still unforgivable! Seething, Miranda grab
“That’s such an innocent question!” Miranda thought to herself, though she kept her expression neutral. Out loud, she replied, “I have no idea. Just as I was about to sleep last night, you suddenly appeared out of nowhere and collapsed with a high fever.” As she spoke, she instinctively stepped forward to check his forehead. Feeling its coolness, she smiled with relief. “The fever has finally gone down.”Last night?Reginald paused, faintly recalling some trouble from the night before. He vaguely remembered walking a long distance, seeing a face that brought him peace, and then everything blurred. So... last night, in his feverish state, he had stumbled into the Croyso estate and ended up in Miranda’s room?It was a miracle he’d managed to evade the estate guards while so out of it. Otherwise, it would’ve caused a huge commotion.And… feeling her soft hand against his skin, Reginald’s gaze deepened.“Lord Reginald, since you were ill, why didn’t you stay home to rest? Why come here in