At most, there were just a few young men and women and fewer elders in the inner hall. It would not be easy for outsiders to blend in. All of this was for the sake of Lucy’s safety.Soon, the ball came to an end.It may have been a pleasant evening for some, but for others, it was an evening of sadness, boredom, or even jealousy.The commoners satisfiedly left with their gifts, while the nobles bade their farewells.Cillian dared not greet Lucy, so he simply bid farewell to Arthur and Juliana before leaving.Lucy had actually noticed him long ago, but she said nothing as she watched him depart.As night fell, Arthur and Juliana suggested that Lucy and Matthew stay in the palace for the night. They would send them back the next day.Since Lucy’s bedroom was already neatly prepared, the couple agreed.On the way back to Lucy’s room, the maids presented Lucy with the seal and scroll of her fief, along with a box containing the crown and scepter.Since everyone was tired, no one b
Lucy could not wait to share the good news with Matthew, but when she turned around, she saw two streaks of blood underneath Matthew’s prominent nose.“Matt, why is your nose bleeding all of a sudden? Did you have too much to drink last night? Do you need me to help you blow off some steam?”Lucy looked at Matthew with concern, but Matthew raised an eyebrow when she suggested helping him 'blow off some steam'. Lucy instantly understood what he was thinking, and her face flushed red instantly. This damned guy! That was not what she meant by 'blow off steam'.“No need. I just need some tissues. The next time you stand up, try to remember that your husband is right behind you.”Matthew looked at Lucy amusingly. Only then did Lucy realize that she had caused Matthew’s nosebleed.Feeling guilty, Lucy quickly fetched a tissue and apologized profusely, “I’m sorry, Matt. I’m so sorry. Don’t get mad, please. I just got excited when I heard that Chelsea was here to see me. I’ll be more ca
"Someone, bring me a change of clothes. I want to go see my sister,” Charlotte commanded and arrogantly entered the dressing room. She completely forgot the fact that she was still being confined to her quarters.She tearfully begged to attend the ball last night, and she was even willing to extend her period of confinement just for that.However, it seemed like she had forgotten about it. No one cared to remind her, not even those outside her room.The maids helped her change, and they headed toward Lucy’s room.On the way there, Charlotte whispered to the maid beside her, “You, go and do something for me…”“Yes, Your Highness…”The room hastened off toward Lucy’s room. At this moment, Charlotte and Hugh had just arrived.“Chelsea! You came to see me! I knew I could count on you.”When Lucy saw Chelsea, she rushed over to embrace her.However, Chelsea deliberately put on a stern expression and raised her palm, blocking Lucy’s face.“Stop right there, you heartless bitch. Whi
Lucy and Chelsea thought of the same thing at the same time, and they smiled at each other.“Lulu, I saw you last night, descending from the sky in a princess dress. I was stunned,” Chelsea said to her after their sentimental moment, feeling genuinely happy for her.Lucy looked surprised and said in disbelief, “You were at the ball last night? You should have come in to see me.”“Well, if only someone hadn't stopped me from coming in. But it’s okay. I’m here today anyway. You know, when I saw you last night, I only had one thought in my mind.”Chelsea quickly brushed past the topic, not wanting Lucy to know too much.When Lucy heard that, she could not help but ask, “What is it? Were you mesmerized by my beauty?”Lucy shamelessly flattered herself for a while, but Chelsea shook her head firmly.“No, no, no. It’s that I can finally fulfill my wish of living off my filthy rich best friend. Haha!”…“Chelsea, that’s enough.”Lucy said, exaggerating her dismay. She had always tho
Just as Lucy and Chelsea got to the door, they bumped into someone coming their way.“Lucy, what a coincidence. You walked out just as I came to see you. It’s like we have a telepathic connection. Did you sleep well last night?”Charlotte greeted Lucy with a fake smile. Lucy rolled her eyes inwardly. 'Telepathic connection, my ass! Tsk!' she thought.“Too bad you came at the wrong time. I was just about to have breakfast with my friend, so I’m afraid I can’t entertain you,” Lucy replied with a forced smile, ready to pull Chelsea away.Of course, Chelsea sensed the change in Lucy’s mood, so she quickly shot her a questioning look. It seemed she wanted to ask, ‘Who’s that? What’s going on?’“It’s nothing, just an annoying pest. I’ll tell you later, so just ignore her for now. Let’s go," Lucy mouthed back silently, but the two understood each other perfectly.Charlotte’s expression darkened while these two were exchanging glances and completely disregarding her.Seeing as they were
The group quickly arrived at the dining hall, and Charlotte instinctively took the main seat.Lucy and the others did not mind at all, so they simply ignored her.Lucy sat next to Chelsea, so Matthew had no choice but to sit with Hugh.When they began to eat, Lucy and Chelsea whispered to each other.“Your sister is quite the bitch. She could even rival Luna.”Charlotte immediately reminded Chelsea of Luna, and she wondered what kind of bad luck Lucy had to encounter a sister like that in both her adopted family and biological family.Hearing that, Lucy let out a laugh. Chelsea had a good eye, indeed.However, Charlotte and Luna still had their differences. Luna may have been evil, but she was foolish. Charlotte was way more cunning than her.“Ugh, don’t even mention it. You know what…”Lucy was about to rant to her when Charlotte interrupted them with a smile, “What are you whispering to your friend, Lucy? You look so happy. Why don’t you share the news with all of us?”“It’
"Lucy, what do you mean by that? Are you implying that me being here bothers you?”Charlotte wore a look of incredulity, but inside, she was delighted.She had been struggling to make Lucy act out. Now, she had the perfect opportunity to make Lucy accuse her for no apparent reason because of an outsider. This time, she was confident she could turn the tables on Lucy. ‘Let’s see how Lucy is going to handle this now!’ she thought.“If you still don’t get it, let me put it bluntly. What I’m trying to say is…”Lucy did not care anymore and was ready to confront Charlotte directly until Matthew interrupted her calmly.“What my wife means is, Princess Charlotte, aren’t you supposed to be grounded? Has Prince Theodore ordered the lifting of your confinement? Because we weren’t informed about it.”Charlotte, who was still acting a moment ago, was now frozen in place.Lucy initially intended to confront Charlotte directly and defend Chelsea, but after listening to Matthew’s words, she
"I’m not so sure about that. What if she runs off and complains to your biological parents, saying we bullied her? What do we do then?” Chelsea spoke up.Lucy shook her head and said, “I don’t think so. She’s already in the wrong for sneaking out without permission, so she doesn’t even have the right to complain in the first place. She won’t be able to win the argument.”“Alright, alright. Let’s not think about it anymore. Now that the pest is gone, let’s enjoy our meal.”Lucy’s reasoning made sense, so Chelsea stopped dwelling on it. The group happily resumed their lunch.Charlotte may have left the hall, but she did not leave immediately. She glared hatefully at the dining hall from outside while her maid approached her.“Your Highness…”Charlotte turned to her and smiled slyly as she watched the four people inside chatting away happily.“Have you done the thing I asked you to take care of?”The maid nodded, and Charlotte smirked, gazing coldly into the hall as she thought, ‘
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