Now that Charlotte had to repeat the story in front of Arthur and Juliana, she could not lie. However, if she did not, Lucy could expose her in an instant. Of course, Charlotte did not want that.However, Lucy insisted, “Why aren’t you speaking? Are you afraid? If you’re afraid, I’ll say it…”“No, of course not. Everything I said is the truth. What’s there to be afraid of?”Seeing the increasingly suspicious looks from Arthur and Juliana, Charlotte gritted her teeth.“After you were knocked out, I begged the kidnapper to spare you and take me instead. I said that I was more valuable than you, but the kidnapper even ridiculed me. Everything I said is true. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Dad and Mom.”The cunning Charlotte only talked about the things that happened after Lucy fainted, which were indeed the same things she had said to Arthur and Juliana.There was nothing wrong with her words, so Arthur and Juliana nodded. Charlotte smirked, but Lucy did not stop there. “Why
"How are you so sure that it isn’t her who’s resenting me for taking her rightful place while she was away?”Charlotte screamed and accused Lucy, pointing at her while tears fell relentlessly.“How are you so sure that it isn’t because she can’t bear the sight of me in the palace and receiving love from you guys?“Since the kidnapper chose to abduct her instead of me, she must've thought of all ways to get rid of me. I've wholeheartedly accepted her as my sister, but all I've gotten in return is suspicion from all of you that I was the one who harmed her.“Fine! If that’s how it is, so be it. Since I’m not the king and queen's true daughter, I don’t belong in this family anyway. Can I leave? "I’ll find my own biological parents. It may not be as comfortable as staying in the palace, but at least my real parents would never wrong me like this.”Charlotte’s ability to distort the truth was evident. With just a few words, she turned Arthur and Juliana’s affection for her into nothi
As more tears streamed down Lucy’s face, she eventually could not hold back her sobs anymore. Matthew held her silently.After crying her heart out, Lucy lifted her head to look around the room. It was beautiful.The bed was soft, and the interior was warm and girly. It was everything she imagined a princess’ bedroom to be.It was evident that the people who decorated this room had so much love and care for the room’s owner.Although she was the victim, how could her mother chase after Charlotte after she shed a few tears and turned the situation against her?“Matt, do you think that my parents did all of this for me out of love, or is it just guilt? I don’t think I can tell the difference anymore,” Lucy asked, staring ahead blankly.Matthew sighed deeply and comforted her, “Don’t overthink it, wifey. Your parents love you. Charlotte just has a way with words.“The king and queen still have hope for her because they haven’t seen her true colors yet. No matter what happens, I'll
"If that’s the case, I might as well go back to where I belong and not be a burden to anyone here!”Charlotte said agitatedly, but her actions did not hasten at all. It was just a show for Juliana.Unaware of what Charlotte was thinking, Juliana angrily walked over to take the suitcase away from her hands.She dismissed the helpers who had come to help and sighed, saying, “Charlotte, are you trying to break my heart with those words? Think about how I’ve treated you all these years. Have I ever mistreated you?”Instead of offering immediate comfort, Juliana began lecturing her.Flustered, Charlotte shook her head repeatedly and said, “N-No, you’ve always treated me well. I’ve never forgotten how kind you guys have been to me.”Regardless of what Charlotte truly felt, she knew she had to say things that sounded good at that moment.Seeing as she finally knocked some sense into Charlotte, Juliana felt a slight relief. She continued, “If that’s the case, why do you always break our
Charlotte forced a smile. Satisfied, Juliana patted her on the shoulder and said, “That’s right. I know my dear Charlotte is the most well-behaved child.”“Mom, can you sleep in my room tonight?” Charlotte requested as her sparkling eyes were fixed on Juliana.Feeling a little helpless, Juliana smiled and agreed.The next morning, at tea time, everyone acted as if nothing had happened.Charlotte had promised Juliana to apologize to Lucy, but seeing Lucy’s face, she could not bring herself to do it.Juliana eagerly looked at her, and after much hesitation, Charlotte finally mustered up the courage to speak.“Lucy…”Before she could utter the rest of her sentence, Lucy spoke first. She was addressing Arthur and Juliana. She successfully interrupted Charlotte, leaving her in an awkward position.“Dad, Mom, there’s something I’d like to tell you.”“What is it, Velda? You can tell us anything. If there’s something you want, just let us know and we’ll fulfill your request.”Perhaps
Juliana hoped that Arthur would persuade Lucy not to move out, but Arthur simply looked at Lucy and Matthew before saying, “Once a woman is married, her husband should come first. Since you’re already married and your husband seems genuinely devoted to you, I won’t stop you from moving out…”Before he could finish, Juliana angrily interrupted him and said, “Dear, what are you saying?“We've finally found Velda. We barely got to see her or know her yet. How can she move out so soon? It’s dangerous out there. She only managed to escape the assassin yesterday…”Juliana became somewhat hysterical. Arthur looked at Lucy and Matthew with a hint of helplessness. “Your mother is right. She doesn’t want to see you leave, Velda. Why don’t you stay in the palace for a while longer?”Seeing Juliana’s reluctance, Arthur wavered, and so did Lucy.If she insisted on moving out despite her mother’s opposition, would that make her a bad daughter?While she was hesitating, Matthew cleared his thro
"What hurtful words are you referring to?”Taken aback by Lucy’s response, Charlotte hesitated for a moment before smiling and saying, “T-The part where you accused me of accusing you…”As Charlotte spoke, she suddenly felt something was wrong. Apologizing to Lucy meant acknowledging that she misunderstood Lucy, which also meant that she would be indirectly admitting that she had intended to harm Lucy. W-What was happening? Why did she feel like something was off?Charlotte found herself in a dilemma, but Lucy just chuckled and said, “Are you playing some kind of tongue twister game? You’re confusing me.“Anyway, no matter what you did, I forgive you. You’re the king and queen's daughter, after all.”Lucy brushed off the issue from yesterday. Regardless of what Charlotte said, in Lucy’s mind, she took it as an apology for hiring an assassin to kill her.Her temporary forgiveness was also out of respect for Arthur and Juliana.After breakfast, Matthew and Lucy returned to the r
"Charlotte, how could you think that about your sister? Your sister isn’t saying that at all. How could you become like this?”“Charlotte, you’ve disappointed me greatly. Stay in the palace and reflect on your actions.”Arthur and Juliana scolded Charlotte, leaving her stunned in place.She could not believe that her parents had accused her. They did not even scold her for what happened yesterday, yet they were scolding her today!Charlotte was filled with disbelief. However, Lucy continued to persuade Arthur and Juliana, “Dad, Mom, don’t blame my sister. I believe that’s not what she meant. Seeing my sister sad makes me sad too. Why don’t you stay home with her instead of seeing us off? We won’t get lost.”Initially feeling sympathetic toward Charlotte, Arthur's attitude changed after Lucy’s words. He immediately responded to Lucy, “Don’t plead for her. She needs to reflect on her actions. It’s important that we see you off. Let’s go.”With their firm stance, Lucy glanced at Cha
As Gabriella examined the luxurious clothes, bags, shoes, and pants, she could not help but feel that Lucy was completely unappreciative of such treasures. She failed to utilize them to enhance her appearance! They spent quite a while going through the various garments and accessories, yet there were still items they had not finished checking out.Lucy gave an awkward smile, acknowledging her own laziness. After a long search, Gabriella finally found a piece that caught her eye. As she checked the tag, she was surprised to find that the dress was designed by a renowned French designer. It featured a V-neck, with simple yet elegant sleeves that revealed a hint of Lucy's arms, while the skirt was a refined and tailored fit.Gabriella held up the dress against Lucy, murmuring to herself, “Hmm, this one’s nice! You should try it on!” Even though she spoke to Lucy in a tone reminiscent of an older sister, she still maintained her authority as a mother-in-law. It made her words both
Since the previous incident, Lucy had become increasingly attentive to her children. She watched over them at nearly every moment. She feared that Charlotte might seize any chance to harm the children, so she remained vigilant and meticulous, avoiding any lapses. In her eyes, Matthew Leon and the children represented her entire world, and she could not afford even the slightest mishap.One day, Gabriella Sharpe visited their home. She arrived as lively as ever, wearing impeccably applied makeup that included an expensive shade of lipstick. Her appearance radiated the elegance of a woman of high social standing, making her stand out among the people on the street.Lucy welcomed Gabriella warmly, treating her with utmost respect. It created an atmosphere of family harmony. Gabriella settled into a chair, savoring the fruit that Lucy offered her. She held Johnny closely, reluctant to part with him. She showered him with compliments and laughter."Mom, you seem to be in a great mood l
Matthew noticed Lucy’s absent-mindedness and asked gently, "Lulu, what’s on your mind?"“Oh, nothing… I just think what happened to Charlotte is so sudden,” Lucy replied.“Don’t worry about it. It has nothing to do with us. She was always trying to harm you. Her fate is something she brought upon herself.” Matthew patted her head comfortingly.However, Lucy found it suspicious. Although the news reported Charlotte’s assassination and that the monastery had burned down to ashes, it did not mention her body. That kind of crucial detail would not have been overlooked by the media.Matthew had also considered this possibility, but he had kept it to himself to avoid alarming Lucy. Charlotte had been sent to the monastery because of him and Lucy, and she had to harbor a deep hatred for them. If she managed to orchestrate her own escape, what if she was now seeking help from Spades to target Lucy? That would be dangerous.“Lulu, don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you or the ch
With nothing left to hold onto, Charlotte walked down the empty streets, her heart heavy with despair. She wore a black veil that covered her completely, revealing only her eyes. She even had on dark sunglasses. She dared not walk in the open or be seen, nor did she dare expose Juliana’s crimes to the world.She used to be a princess. Everything she had done, every privilege and indulgence, was backed by Arthur and Juliana’s love and permission. Now that her supporters had betrayed her, what right did she have to be reckless or demand anything? Surviving itself was a luxury. How could she even think of acting willfully?As she wandered in anguish, Charlotte found herself by the river. She remembered coming here with Arthur and Juliana when she was a child, laughing and walking along the bank. Now, each memory felt painfully ironic, and every kiss from Juliana seemed sickening. How could her world be so false? How could even the people she trusted most turn against her?Charlotte cou
Charlotte continued to hide within the castle, unwilling to leave and equally unwilling to let anyone know she was alive—unless they promised never to send her back to the monastery. However, she doubted that would happen, so she kept to the shadows. After all, the castle had plenty of food. It was far better than anything at the monastery.One night, Charlotte quietly slipped into Arthur and Juliana's bedroom. To her surprise, Arthur was not there, and only Juliana was present. 'Dad must be too upset to sleep,' Charlotte thought. She knew him well—whenever he was troubled, he would retreat to the study rather than go to bed.As she watched her beloved mother, a tiny bit of her resolve wavered. Juliana looked utterly exhausted, as if she had lost a lot of weight in just a few days. Charlotte had a sudden urge to go in and comfort her, but she knew that was impossible. Charlotte realized that seeing someone through a wall of separation was the most painful thing of all.Just as
The next morning, news of the assassination attempt on Charlotte was sensationalized across all media outlets. The internet was flooded with headlines about her close brush with death, sparking worldwide shock. No one could believe that Charlotte, notorious for her arrogance and harsh treatment of offenders, could have been targeted like this. Many who resented her strict, often cruel ways were both thrilled and stunned by the news. The royal family immediately tightened security at the monastery, dispatching a large police force to investigate what had happened. The monastery became a focal point of public intrigue.“What? That's impossible! How could there be no trace?” Juliana exclaimed in disbelief. Standing before her was the chief forensic investigator.“Yes, Your Majesty, there's no sign of Princess Charlotte’s remains,” the investigator confirmed firmly.“Fine, I understand. Leave me, and keep me informed if anything changes,” Juliana replied, pressing her fingers to her
As the footsteps came closer, Charlotte held her breath, not daring to make a sound. Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared—it was clear they were targeting her. She watched as the figure approached the bed, moving so quietly it was as if they made no sound at all. What could they possibly be planning? Surely, the headmistress would not go this far?The figure drew closer to the bed, bundled up the pillows and blankets, and then doused something over them. Charlotte could smell it—it was gasoline! Was the headmistress planning to kill her to silence her? She froze, unable to move. The shadow struck a match and dropped it onto the bed. In an instant, flames surged up from the blankets.In the fire’s glow, Charlotte could make out that it was not the headmistress but a man. After setting the fire, he quickly slipped away without making a single sound. Charlotte crept out while stifling a cough, afraid he might hear and return. The flames grew quickly, engulfing the bed and spreading t
Over the past year or so, Charlotte had gradually come to understand that the world was not just about picturesque landscapes and lavish feasts. In the shadows, beyond her sight, lay a world full of schemes and deception. Despite her ongoing attempts to plot against Lucy Quinn, she had not noticed this aspect at all until she arrived at the monastery. Here, she realized how dark human nature could truly be.The women at the monastery constantly criticized and belittled her, while the headmistress was corrupt, using her position for personal vendettas. She was also driven by greed for wealth and status. All Charlotte wanted was to escape this dreadful place and return to her castle. She wanted to go back to her plush, comfortable bed. There, she led a life surrounded by maids tending to her every need.Thinking of this, she remembered Lucy and envisioned her seated in her rightful place, basking in the affection of Arthur and Juliana. She could see Lucy's haughty expression starin
In a moment of heat, Charlotte blurted everything out. Joan was dumbfounded! Was this really Charlotte? She usually did not talk this much, did she? It was not just Joan who was shocked; the headmistress across from Charlotte was equally taken aback. Charlotte was usually so obedient. How had her tongue turned so venomous today? The headmistress was left speechless as every word Charlotte said was so reasonable that no one could argue against it, and it even warranted some compliments! Although Charlotte was confronting the headmistress, each of her statements felt like a plea for justice.Charlotte was not done yet and continued, “Since you know I’m a princess, you should give me some consideration. Yet, in reality, I’m the one giving you all the consideration. Is that reasonable?” Charlotte’s arguments were layered and logical, her thoughts clear. It left the headmistress in a muddle while Joan looked on with envy! The headmistress glanced at Charlotte, feeling quite displease