The music at the ball was a distinctive waltz from the last century. Coupled with the perfectly synchronized dance steps of everyone on the dance floor, the scene was even more dreamlike. The lights followed each pair of dancers, illuminating each person beautifully.As the waltz began, everyone on the dance floor immersed themselves in enjoyment, showcasing their beauty with heartfelt smiles on their faces.Midway through the dance, the most passionate and graceful couples were followed by the spotlight. Everyone’s attention was drawn to them.Among them, the most eye-catching couple were Lucy and Matthew.Despite knowing how to dance, Lucy still seemed a bit awkward. She nearly stepped on Matthew’s toes several times. However, Matthew gently guided her, pulling her closer to his chest.“Matt… can you loosen up a bit? I’m afraid I’ll step on your toes…”Lucy restrained her steps, fearing that she might accidentally jab her heels into Matthew’s feet.Although she had some clos
There was not a trace of clouds in the sky as the bright moon cast its gentle light upon the ground.Even outside the venue, sounds of laughter and glasses clinking could be heard. The sounds carried an air of festivity.Yitty knew that embracing such an atmosphere required courage.As a member of the underworld, people often viewed her through colored lenses, assuming that she was a cold-blooded animal. Hence, they kept their distance from her. Deep down, like everyone else, she had a soft side.It had been a long time since she last saw Cillian after their incident. Yitty did not know why she suddenly thought of him. Besides, they seemed like sworn enemies. Why did she still miss him? She shook her head, unsure of what to make of her feelings.She had originally planned to attend the festival today as Lucy had secretly sent her an invitation so that she could make more friends. However, after she got dressed and got to the venue, she found herself unable to move forward.It was
The ball had come to an end, and Lucy and Matthew reentered the VIP area.They thought that it would just be a simple ball, but they did not expect there to be an award ceremony.Lucy was not a professional dancer, but she had practiced ballroom dancing for some time. She never thought the skills she learned would come in handy one day.With the trophy in her hands, she smiled joyfully as if she had obtained treasure.Matthew suggested, “If you enjoy dancing so much, would you like me to take you to other balls next time?”Lucy rejected his offer. “Are you kidding me? As happy as I am, I never thought that someone like me, who hasn’t achieved much in dancing, could win such an award. It seems like you’re right. Maybe I should put down my pencil and start exploring other interests.Listening to how she underestimated herself, Matthew simply smiled without arguing with her. All he wanted to do was pamper her.Meanwhile, Cillian finally found Lucy. “Long time no see, ex-classmate.”
The guest rooms on the third floor were spacious, and the rooms were specially arranged for guests to stay.Lucy chose the largest and most comfortable room for Yitty.“Why were you alone outside, Yitty? If you felt uncomfortable, you could've called me. Cillian said you were wandering around outside for so long that you almost caught a cold. Is something wrong?”Lucy naively thought that Yitty might have encountered some sort of trouble and asked out of concern.Yitty smiled and said, “No, Lucy. You’re overthinking. I just… I just…”She fell silent all of a sudden because she did not know where to start.She had been feeling a complex web of emotions since she stepped into the party, and she did not know how to dispel them either. This was not like her at all.When Cillian appeared, her emotions only intensified.Yitty could not stop thinking about Cillian and how to interact with him to avoid being awkward. If they were to meet again in the future, she had no idea how she wou
"If you love someone, tell them.”It was an age-old saying, but still, many people hesitated to do it. Even someone as carefree and bold as Yitty felt anxious.“Will he respond to me if I tell him? Will he listen?” Yitty wondered as she flipped over and collapsed onto the couch. She gave off an intense, seductive aura.“Cillian is as stubborn as a block of wood. He never listens to anything I say. He’s so stubborn and inflexible.”Lucy silently listened to Yitty vent her frustrations about Cillian. It felt like the room was filled with a sense of despair."Cillian is…” Yitty had already taken off her high heels. After walking outside of the venue for so long, she was exhausted. “Do you know how much effort I put into finding these heels? I went to the mall just to find a pair that would match my dress so that I could make a good impression, but he…”As Yitty continued, her tone grew increasingly aggrieved. She was like a child being denied candy.There were various types of al
The hall was still filled with guests. All of them had smiles on their faces but with different meanings behind them. Some smiles were jealous and calculating, but some were from genuine enjoyment of the event.Matthew had always disliked Cillian. He was like a fly around Lucy, impossible to drive away.Lucy was always on Cillian’s side. If Matthew were to do something wrong, Lucy would blame him. Matthew could only bottle up his intense hatred toward Cillian.Matthew continued to scrutinize Cillian with his gaze, making Cillian feel uncomfortable. He smiled and said, “Mr. Leon, you’re making me feel uncomfortable.”“If you’re uncomfortable, then perhaps you shouldn’t have come.”Matthew retorted, implying that Cillian should just get the hell out.Cillian shrugged and said, “I don’t have a choice. Lucy wanted me to come, and she sent me the invitation personally. Wouldn’t it be ungrateful of me to refuse her gracious invitation?”His statement left Matthew speechless as he clen
Cillian asked, “What is love to you, then? Do you know what it is?”Love encompassed many meanings.It could be love at first sight or it could be love that grew over time.When two people decide to be together, they could evolve from lovers to family, making them inseparable as their lives start to revolve around each other.Even if love failed to bring two people together, they would at least be left with beautiful memories. The relationship might have ended, but the memories would still be worth remembering for a lifetime.Love could also cause regrets. When two people became entangled in heartache and confusion because of not being together, it would be a lonely and sorrowful path.Just thinking about such love made Cillian feel exhausted, which was why he struggled with his feelings for Yitty. It was causing him immense pain.Matthew rarely saw him look this serious. “Love is unpredictable, but I believe that if you truly love someone, you should tell them as soon as possib
"But… It’s not that I don’t have the courage to do so. I just have no idea how to tell her about how I feel…”“Can’t you just tell her directly that you like her and you love her? Love isn’t something complicated. If you beat about the bush, she might not understand what you’re trying to say.”Cillian thought about every moment he had spent with Yitty. She was exactly the kind of woman who would not be able to grasp what he was trying to say if he spent too much time talking about it. She had a straightforward personality, and it would be much more suitable to just tell her immediately that he liked and loved her. She might even respond positively to him.However, Cillian felt a little uncomfortable about saying the words so directly.“What’s wrong? Are you scared to do it?”Matthew took two glasses of red wine from the waiter. “Have some wine to drink. It will give you some courage. I believe you’ll be brave enough to say it to her after having this glass.”“I’ve said before.
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