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
"What did you say? Sheffield and the Croyso family have broken off the engagement?"Inside the manor, upon receiving the news, Reginald stared fixedly at Harland, who had just delivered the message. The letter he had been reading was clenched in his palm, crumpled into a ball. His shimmering eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a chill colder than ever before—an icy aura that was both piercing and oppressive.An illicit affair… a broken engagement…"Exactly. I heard that Sheffield had a fierce argument with the Croyso family over this. On the way back to their estate, Sheffield and Lady Sheffield were cursing the entire time, making no attempt to keep their voices down. It seemed as if they wanted to make a public spectacle of it. I overheard them saying that Miss Miranda was… was improper, that at such a young age she was already entangled with a man. They claimed the engagement could not proceed and must be called off. The moment I heard it, I rushed back to report."Harland had alread
Hearing these words, everyone except the king, Earl Croyso, the lady in the purple dress, and her maid was utterly shocked. “She…” Marquis William was dumbfounded. “If she’s not Miranda, then who is?” “This is my niece, Rose! Stop staring. The maid beside her isn’t Miranda either—she’s just a maid!” Earl Croyso scoffed. “I knew you’d try to bribe someone to make false accusations!” Clearly, this was a trap set by Earl Croyso and the king. If Hans Dickson truly had a relationship with Miranda, he should at least have met her in person and recognized that this woman wasn’t Miranda. But if he had been bribed and was merely fabricating claims, he would naturally assume that the lady in the purple dress was Miranda upon hearing her introduce herself as such, with Earl Croyso repeatedly calling her by that name and offering his reassurances. Given the circumstances, anyone would believe it. Marquis William had only seen Miranda when she was a very young child. Later, due to Sophie
Hans Dickson raised an eyebrow and smirked. “You claim that Miss Miranda and I met in secret multiple times? As the eldest daughter of an earl, Miss Miranda is always accompanied by maids and attendants. Even if she were careless, wouldn’t her nurse have noticed and intervened? How could she possibly have met with me frequently in private?”Earl Croyso nodded approvingly at these words, secretly cheering, Well said!Hans Dickson continued, “Even if we assume, for argument’s sake, that I did have feelings for Miss Miranda, since she is engaged, I would have withdrawn. Would I really be so selfish as to ruin her reputation? And would I have done something as absurd as bringing a handkerchief to her fiancé’s residence to demand a broken engagement? House William is a noble family—if such an incident had truly occurred, wouldn’t they have had me thrown out at once? How could they possibly have broken off the engagement with the Croyso family over such a ridiculous claim? Isn’t that laughab
Marquis William’s eyes widened in astonishment, completely unable to grasp the meaning behind Hans Dickson’s words.A sudden turn of events occurred—just as William was relying on Hans Dickson’s smug accusations against Earl Croyso and Miranda, Hans Dickson unexpectedly uttered these words, causing the situation to take a sharp turn. For a moment, everyone present was bewildered by his statement, staring at both Hans Dickson and Marquis William in confusion.“That statement alone is worth two thousand gold Pieces, wouldn’t you say? It’s enough to be remembered as a remarkable tale.” Hans Dickson smiled, but his expression was as cold as ice. Suddenly, he turned around and made a deep bow to Miranda. “My words earlier were offensive, and I ask for Miss Miranda’s forgiveness.”After Miranda returned the courtesy, Hans Dickson turned toward the king, knelt deeply, and said solemnly, “Your Majesty, the words I spoke earlier were at the instruction of another. In truth, I am completely una
"Hans Dickson, since you already know why I have summoned you, there is no need for unnecessary words," the king said unhurriedly, his expression calm. "Marquis William claims that you and Miss Miranda share mutual affection and that you once brought a handkerchief to the William estate to seek his blessing. Now, tell the truth of the matter. If there is even a single falsehood in your words, you shall not be spared!""Yes, I would not dare utter a single lie!" Hans Dickson replied earnestly, speaking with confidence. "My family is that of a fallen noble house, long without lands of our own. Last year, I came to the capital to participate in the knight selection. During my free time, I often went on excursions to the nearby mountains with friends. It was during one such outing, in September of last year, that I happened to encounter Miss Miranda of House Croyso. "Our conversation was most agreeable, and despite my lowly status, Miss Miranda never looked down on me. Instead, she encou
A servant entered the hall and respectfully announced, “Your Majesty, Miss Miranda has arrived.”The king did not lift his head and simply said, “Let her in.”A young woman gracefully stepped into the hall. She had delicate features and a composed expression. She wore an ivory silk gown with pale yellow trim, and a sprig of winter jasmine in soft yellow adorned her neckline. A long, flowing sash draped from her waist, swaying gently with each step, giving her an air of light elegance. Behind her followed a maid in a plain blue dress, head lowered and hands clasped demurely.The two approached and curtsied gracefully. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”The king cast a casual glance at them before briefly shifting his gaze to Earl Croyso. Only then did he say, “Rise.”Without further preamble, he asked, “Miss Miranda, do you know why I have summoned you here?”Miranda lowered her voice and replied, “Your Majesty, I do. The chamberlain who delivered the decree has already explained the matter to
The king rubbed his temples with a hint of a headache, his brows furrowed as he gazed down at the two men below.Earl Croyso turned around and bowed deeply to the king. "Your Majesty, please seek justice for my daughter, Miranda. This old scoundrel—" He pointed a trembling finger at Marquis William, his voice shaking with fury. "He wanted to climb the social ladder by securing a marriage with the Blackwell family and so broke off the engagement that had long been arranged with my Croyso family. That alone would have been tolerable, but now he has even ordered people to slander my Miranda’s reputation, accusing her of an illicit affair. Your Majesty!"Earl Croyso suddenly called out, his voice tinged with emotion.Such a rare display of vulnerability from a man known for his toughness only made his words all the more striking."The William family’s actions are nothing short of destroying my daughter’s future happiness! Miranda is only thirteen years old—still a child! To use such despi
The Croyso family's guards were momentarily stunned by his roar but quickly resumed their destruction.Upon witnessing the scene, Marquess William was utterly furious, nearly exploding with rage. He rushed forward, commanding his own guards to drive Croyso's men back.Earl Croyso sneered. “Lord William, what’s the point of flaunting your power before my guards? If you want a fight, come at me directly!”“Croyso, you’ve gone too far!” Marquess William's anger flared again at these words. He stormed up to him, pointing a finger in his face. “Bringing a band of thugs to wreck my estate—what do you mean by this? Have you lost your mind?”“And do you think I, Croyso, am so easy to trample on?” Earl Croyso puffed out his chest and bellowed, his commanding presence as a battle-hardened man utterly overwhelming. “Breaking off our long-standing engagement just to climb your way up to the Blackwell family—I let that slide because I never thought much of your son anyway. But when my daughter fou
Lady Langley had already approached Miranda, glancing sideways at Earl Croyso’s retreating figure. In a voice so low that only she could hear, she murmured, “What sense of righteousness and morality can one expect from noble families…”Then she turned to Miranda and said, “You’ve merely escaped a den of fire. No need to concern yourself with those shameless people.”Rose, standing nearby, watched the scene unfold and felt secretly relieved. Thankfully, she had not accepted the match—otherwise, with such in-laws, how could she ever hope for a good life?“There’s no need for you to worry about me, Aunt.” Miranda straightened her posture and said firmly, “Just as you said, not marrying into such a family is actually a blessing! If I didn’t understand that, I wouldn’t have raised my hand against Lady Sheffield.”She had never held high expectations for this marriage. Even when the Queen Dowager suddenly intended for her to enter the palace to accompany His Majesty the King, her only thoug