Lucy still stood with her back to the door, not wanting to intrude further.Cillian tapped Lucy's shoulder gently, coaxing her to turn around. "Go see Yitty. She's pretty much sober now and keeps asking why you haven't returned."Lucy finally turned, her cheeks burning as she faced Cillian. He felt so awkward he wished he could vanish into thin air.Lucy was not completely clueless. Over the years, she had seen her fair share of TV shows, complete with all sorts of kissing scenes. However, seeing a kiss happen right in front of her was a whole different ball game compared to watching it on a screen.Cillian and Yitty used to avoid each other like the plague, but Lucy really wanted to help them patch things up. She wished nothing more than for her two friends to be happy. Before she could even put her matchmaking plans into action, they had already gotten together and were planning their future together.The way they kissed... Well, Lucy thought it was best to just look away.He
On the way downstairs, Yitty really wanted to ask Lucy what she understood, but Lucy just kept smiling in a way that Yitty could not figure out.Yitty felt a shiver run through her."Lucy, can you not?" Yitty pleaded.She would prefer Lucy to give her a piece of her mind than to keep smiling mysteriously at her.Lucy was not about to play coy. "Did you and Cillian make up?""Yeah. You figured that out?"Lucy rolled her eyes. If she could not see what was right in front of her, then what good were her eyes? It was obvious to anyone that Yitty and Cillian were practically lighting up the room with their chemistry. How could she miss it?"Yitty, I'm not blind. If I can't see what's happening, then what's the point of having eyes?""However, we... I mean, Cillian and I didn't do anything!"Yitty was fibbing right to Lucy's face. She knew exactly what had happened between her and Cillian in that room. The air had been filled with romance, and her heart was still racing. There was n
Lucy knew a bit about Charlotte's life, but honestly, she did not think it was all that important. She had heard about Charlotte mostly through the grapevine, but nobody really talked about Charlotte's old secrets.Yitty was getting super excited as she dished out the gossip. "You've got to hear this. Charlotte's past is like something out of a movie. There was this team of nosy reporters who were really good at sniffing out celebrity secrets, and they spilled the beans on Charlotte. "They said she hung out with a bunch of rich guys, and not just in Charleston. But later on, those reporters admitted they made the whole thing up. At first, everyone was bashing the reporters for spreading lies just to make a buck. "But then people started to think that maybe Charlotte wasn't the goody-two-shoes they thought she was, and now everyone's talking about it again.""Why haven't I heard anything about it?" Lucy wondered. She was pretty good at finding stuff online, but she had not seen a
Charlotte was still a princess of the Charleston royal family. Even though Lucy was her equal, Charlotte had been a princess for so long and had earned enough respect. If Lucy did what Yitty did and fought with Charlotte every time she was challenged, what would happen to the royal family's reputation?That was Lucy's biggest concern.She was always polite, hardworking, and patient. However, she had her limits, and she was not someone who could be pushed around easily.Maybe Charlotte saw Lucy's patience and reluctance to confront her as weaknesses and kept causing trouble for her.Even the smallest things became a battle.Lucy's gentle nature only made Charlotte dislike her more.Yitty ate the last slice of cake on her plate, quietly set it down, and dusted off her hands as she turned to Lucy."Do you know why Charlotte is so set on kicking you out of the Charleston palace?""She thinks that way?""Oh, my sweet Lucy, you're just too innocent!" A spark of realization flickered
Yitty paused, then a small smile played on her lips. "Look at you, Lucy, putting your new knowledge to use right away! But if I'm going to protect you, you'll have to make it worth my while. This job isn't easy, you know. Are you sure you want me on your side?"Lucy knew Yitty was teasing and played along. "Absolutely! Who else in Charleston could match your skills? I'll pay you whatever you ask for!"Lucy and Yitty were giggling and joking as they strolled out of the kitchen. They did not even notice Charlotte standing a short distance away, waiting for them.Yitty saw Charlotte first."Look who's here, just as we were talking about her!"Lucy looked where Yitty was pointing and saw Charlotte in her comfy clothes, sipping hot coffee and munching on a sandwich.She must have woken up hungry and made herself something to eat since she did not grab a bite in the kitchen earlier."Come on, let's not waste our time on her," Yitty said, looping her arm through Lucy's and steering her
Furious, Charlotte hurled her cup to the floor.It shattered with a loud crash against the marble, the fragments slicing her ankle and drawing blood.However, she did not feel any physical pain, only a fiery anger burning inside her.It was undeniable that just seeing Lucy stand there made her blood boil with rage. The mere thought of Juliana's partiality toward Lucy filled her with intense jealousy.She worked so tirelessly to build her reputation in the Charleston palace for over 20 years, only to have it crumble to dust the moment Lucy returned! In just a flash, their roles had been reversed.If she accepted Lucy's treatment, would she eventually be cast out by the Charleston royal family?Would the life of luxury she had always dreamed of become nothing more than a distant memory? She could not bear that thought... She did not want it to end like that...She had to get Lucy out of the Charleston palace or she would never find peace.Yitty shook her head in resignation. Char
The next day's festival highlight was divided into several parts, starting with a grand auction where rare wines—treasured and stored in cellars by buyers and sellers alike—would be up for bids.At the Charleston palace, there was an auction unlike any other. It was special because it helped a charity. Some of the money made from selling things went straight to helping people in need.Next up was the super fun wine-tasting game. Anyone could join, no matter how old they were, what job they had, or where they came from. They got to try really yummy red wines, and if they could guess where and when the wine was made, they could win a big prize! For years, that guessing game had been tough, with no one able to win the final round. It had been a big mystery that everyone loved to talk about. The media could not wait to see if someone would finally solve it that day.After the wine fun, it was time for Charleston Fashion Week. It was a whole week of people showing off new clothes from
After a long day, Lucy was starting to ache all over, feeling it even in her bones.She fell asleep as soon as she lay down on the bed, and Matthew could not take his eyes off her gentle features. He was unable to resist caressing her delicate skin.Lucy’s beauty was inoffensive. Only those who spent time with her would understand her infinite charm.Matthew wanted to protect her from the outside world, but Lucy bore the responsibility of the royal princess of Charleston, so she could not escape her duties. That was one of Matthew’s dilemmas.His wife was so attractive that she would draw many eyes to her, making him jealous.Over the years, Matthew had never felt this way before. The word 'jealousy' was not in his dictionary.Since he was a child, he stood out among his peers with his outstanding learning abilities.During exams, his extraordinary intelligence always shone through, regardless of the papers' difficulty. He always came out at the top, and no one ever came close.