Lucy tried her best to remain inconspicuous because she knew that the focus of today was on her brother.Upon seeing Athur and Juliana's arrival, Annabella curtsied.“Your Majesties, I’m Annabella. I’m honored to be invited to the Royal Palace of Charleston. Thank you.”“You’re welcome,” replied Juliana gently before pushing Lucy forward.“Annabella, this is Prince Theodore’s sister, Lucy. You two should get to know each other.”Lucy did not know whether it was intentional, but Annabella had not thrown a look her way. Now that Juliana had pushed her forward, she had no choice but to go up to Annabella, lest she disappoint Juliana or embarrass her brother.“Hello, I’m Lucy. Nice to meet you.”Annabella was immediately struck by Lucy’s appearance. She had heard rumors that the legitimate princess of Charleston was exceptionally beautiful and talented.Although Lucy had been living among the people, the royal family’s genes ran deep within her bones.Even if she were to live in p
Noticing how gentlemanly Theodore was, Juliana thought that he might have a slight interest in Annabella. Little did she know, Theodore was just going through the motions. He was dying to leave, but he hid it so well that it was completely undetectable.Meanwhile, Lucy tried to minimize her presence as much as possible by sitting at the corner of the couch. She picked up a pastry from the table to nibble on, effectively blending into the background.During the Wine Festival, she had to put on a facade in front of the many cameras, and she could hardly recognize herself.Now that she had finally taken off that mask, Lucy was determined not to repeat the same mistake. She wanted to be herself when interacting with others instead of living her life with a mask.Fortunately, Annabella and her parents were focused on Theodore, so Lucy could successfully remain invisible. Not only did she concentrate on enjoying the pastries, but she also listened attentively to their conversation.Juli
As long as two people loved each other, they could overcome any obstacles to be together regardless of whether they were noble, royalty, or nobody. Why worry about these titles?However, from Annabella’s perspective, marrying into royalty was her priority since a union between royalty and nobility would be much more prestigious.In fact, it was rare for the royal family to marry the daughters of noble families as it was widely known that they often looked down on others because of their wealth.Of course, it was just a hasty generalization. Not all were like that, though very few were not.As the royal family of Charleston continued to grow, becoming the world’s second-richest family, many nobles became envious of their power. They might seem like they want to work with them on the surface, but they secretly think that the royal family means nothing to them.This was also one of the reasons why there were so few marriages between the royal family and nobility.“Theodore, I thin
Lucy and Theodore could tell from the way Annabella was behaving that she was not being her true self.However, it was only their first encounter with her, so they might have biased perceptions of her.While Annabella was talking, Lucy wanted to step outside for some fresh air. After sitting there like she was invisible for so long, she thought that the garden would be a nice place to be.Lucy was eager to leave, but Annabella would not let her go. “Lucy, I think we should talk.”Why did it feel like Annabella was hiding something?Lucy wanted to refuse, but Annabella grabbed her arm in front of everyone, putting her in a difficult position.She did not want to seem disrespectful, but she also did not want Annabella to shift the focus onto her.Theodore wanted to intervene until Juliana spoke. Smiling at Lucy, she said, “In that case, why don’t you take Annabella around the palace for a stroll, Lucy? It’s her first time visiting, so she might not be familiar with the place. "Y
It seemed like the sole purpose of Annabella and her family’s visit today was to form a marriage alliance with the royal family. They wished to use Theodore as a stepping stone to add prestige to their noble lineage.If Annabella were to find a more influential ally than the royal family of Charleston after getting together with Theodore, would she push Theodore aside? This suspicion might seem far-fetched, but given how she acted, it was not entirely impossible.Lucy remained disinterested in the small talk with Annabella.It was off-season, so many flowers in Charleston’s royal garden had not yet bloomed.Lucy had intended to admire the flowers at first, but now, she found herself unsure of what to do. Meanwhile, Annabella continued to ramble on incessantly.“I heard that Prince Theodore is interested in racing. Is that true? If I recall correctly, it’s because of the overwhelming affairs in Charleston that he had to abandon his dream of racing.”Lucy had heard Theodore brief
Why did Annabella have to put on a facade and portray herself as such?She was giving Lucy a headache, but Lucy could not just tell Annabella to shut up because she had not done anything to cross the line yet. However, Lucy could not stand listening to Annabella rattle on any longer. She wondered why Annabella wanted to drag her into the garden all of a sudden.If Annabella were genuinely interested in Theodore’s past, Lucy would be more than happy to share. For some reason, however, she did not think Annabella was worth her sincerity.Finally, after Annabella was done embellishing her life story, she pulled Lucy back to the palace.On the way back, Annabella asked an extremely serious yet absurd question, “I heard that Prince Theodore is especially nice to you. Is that true?”Lucy had made it clear to Annabella that Theodore was her brother, so it was only natural that he was nice to her. However, Lucy could not help but feel uneasy at Annabella’s question, especially with her
Although Annabella could hear the displeasure in Lucy’s tone, she brushed it off and continued to do as she pleased.“Love is unpredictable, you know. I can feel the chemistry between Theodore and me, so what you said probably isn’t true. I think what I said is much more likely to happen.”Lucy was puzzled. Where did Annabella get such confidence and audacity from? While Lucy would not dare to claim to fully understand Theodore, she could still tell what he was thinking through their interactions.At the very least, Theodore would never have feelings for someone as self-centered as Annabella, who only cared about wealth and status.If anything, Theodore would keep his distance from such people.Lucy could not bring herself to burst Annabella’s bubble, but she felt it was best to gently discourage her early on—especially since Annabella's target was her brother.“I agree with what you said, but I know my brother quite well, so maybe you could reconsider…”Lucy did not finish the
This scene alone was enough to prove how attractive Matthew was. In the eyes of many, he even outshone the glamorous stars of the entertainment industry, who usually presented themselves after meticulous grooming. Matthew did not need any of that. Under the spotlight, he was naturally the most eye-catching of them all.Having spent so much time with Matthew, Lucy had gotten used to his physical appeal, which contrasted with Annabella’s astonishment.Annabella had seen photos of Matthew in gossip and finance magazines but had never met him in real life.Magazine photos never did justice to how someone truly looked, but Matthew’s photos always managed to showcase his allure from all angles. It left one to wonder how charismatic he would be in person.Matthew was naturally cold and aloof. When he was not talking, his lips were often slightly pursed, but the most captivating part of him was his pupils. They were like pools of dark ink, and one glance was enough to draw one in.He ke
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