What does it mean to say, "It would be great if my future daughter-in-law could be half as good as Rose"? Lady Sheffield had already settled on Miranda as her future daughter-in-law, yet she said this in front of Miranda. Wasn’t that a blatant slap to Miranda’s face? For Rose, this was the first time she had become the center of attention at the Croyso estate. Embarrassed, flustered, and anxious, her face turned red as she said, "Lady Sheffield, you flatter me too much. I’m clumsy and can’t do anything well, which is why I always try to learn more. Among us younger women, Miranda is truly the best—her embroidery is exceptional, and she’s incredibly intelligent. Even Earl Croyso dotes on her deeply." As she spoke, Rose cast pleading glances at Miranda, silently asking for help. It wasn’t that she wanted to outshine Miranda—she had no idea why Lady Sheffield would favor her so much. “You’re such a modest child!” Lady Sheffield dismissed her words with a wave, continuing, “But it
Upon hearing it was a decree from the Dowager Queen, everyone’s minds raced with countless thoughts. However, there was no time for words; they hurriedly changed into formal attire and went out to receive the message.The messenger was a young, cheerful steward, round and amiable, with a smile as warm as a benevolent saint. Once everyone had gathered, he raised his reedy, nasally voice and announced, “By command of Her Majesty the Dowager Queen: the day of my birthday approaches. I hereby summon Lady Croyso and the young ladies of the Croyso household to the palace to celebrate. So decreed!”The room collectively rose to express their gratitude. Miranda subtly slipped a pack of gold coin into his hand and asked, “Might I know your name, good steward?”The steward glanced at the coin’s value, his smile deepening. He silently praised the young lady’s sharpness and tact, thinking she must be Miranda, the eldest daughter of the Croyso family. Indeed, she had both intelligence and grace. “
Miranda found his demeanor amusing for a moment and stepped aside to a quieter area before asking, “Is there something you need, Fulton?”Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, Fulton hesitated and stammered, “I… my father gave me a beautiful fan yesterday. Each panel features a different flower, one for each month of the year. It’s really quite exquisite…”Miranda chuckled. “Well, congratulations.”Still, she couldn’t help but wonder—was something like this really worth all his hemming and hawing?Fulton, knowing such opportunities were rare, found himself unable to articulate his thoughts. He grew anxious, stamping his feet and sweating profusely.Lady Langley, however, had been watching them from a distance. Seeing Fulton’s demeanor, she quickly surmised his affection for Miranda. A faint smile graced her lips. While she felt gratified, she also felt a twinge of regret. Such a gentle and refined young man—why did he have to be burdened with a mother like Lady Sheffield? N
Lady Sheffield grew increasingly pleased as she plotted in her mind. She resolved to bring Fulton to the Croyso estate more frequently in the future to create opportunities for Rose. If that didn’t work, she, as his mother, would give things a little push. While she was deep in thought, she turned her head and saw her son fumbling nervously, face flushed, as he spoke to Miranda. Instantly annoyed, she stepped forward and said sharply, “You’re not even married yet, so don’t act so improper here!”Of course, her son couldn’t have done anything wrong—this accusation of “improper behavior” was directed squarely at Miranda!Lady Langley, who had been watching the scene, thought to herself, Running to your son's fiancée’s home and blaming her, how absurd!Fulton had wanted to give Miranda a fan but couldn’t muster the courage to do so. Just as he was hesitating, his mother intervened, criticizing Miranda right away. Growing anxious, he lowered his head and stammered, pulling at Lady Sheffie
The green-clad maid’s expression turned flustered. She hadn’t expected Miranda to recognize that this winding path wasn’t the one they’d taken earlier. For a moment, she froze in place but quickly recovered and said earnestly, “Miss Miranda, please come with me. I mean no harm to you—this is a good thing, not a bad one. Please believe me!”Miranda enunciated each word coldly: “I’ll ask one more time. Who sent you, and where are you taking me?”The maid hesitated. “I cannot say.”Miranda wasted no further words. She turned and walked away.The maid hadn’t expected Miranda to leave so decisively. Growing increasingly anxious, she stepped in front of Miranda, pleading to no avail. Finally, she dropped to her knees and began to cry. “Miss Miranda, the master forbade me to reveal anything. But I swear, it’s truly not harmful to you! If I fail to bring you, my lowly life will be forfeit. Please, show me mercy and come with me!”As she spoke, she knelt and kowtowed repeatedly. Her fair foreh
"Forgive my ignorance. It seems I haven't been taught manners as thoroughly as Miss June, whose upbringing and decorum are truly exemplary. I must learn much from you, Miss June. But to speak ahead of the princess and inquire about another’s family fortune—how far has one fallen to act so disgracefully? Many thanks to Miss June for teaching me these two rules of propriety. So, may I ask, Miss June, what is your family’s fortune, and how far has it fallen?" Miranda asked with a warm smile, her tone gentle and cordial.She and June were already sworn enemies, so Miranda’s words were sharp and unyielding, leaving no room for mercy.Princess Gina covered her mouth with her sleeve, letting out a soft chuckle, finding Miranda utterly delightful.June, however, was left in an impossible situation. To respond or not to respond—it was equally mortifying. Her face flushed crimson, and she stomped her foot. "Miranda, how dare you be so insolent!""My information is limited, and I truly wasn’t awa
June had initially worried that Reginald might scold her, but to her surprise, he said something completely unexpected. She was instantly overjoyed, her gaze toward Miranda filled with provocation. “Miranda, did you hear that? Even Lord Reginald says my manners are better than yours. Shouldn’t you be thanking me properly? From now on, I will make sure to train you well so you won’t embarrass yourself again!”Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed through Reginald’s jet-black eyes before transforming into a mesmerizing brilliance, captivating and bewitching.Princess Gina silently stared at the ground, inwardly cursing June for her reckless arrogance. She had been set up so highly, yet she still dared to be this brazen—she deserved whatever was coming her way! She was merely a distant niece to the queen, only managing to speak in front of Her Majesty thanks to her connection with Quintina. And now, she was already getting carried away. A person like her should be taught a lesson soon
It was noon, and the sun was at its peak. Reginald sat under the long corridor shaded by a canopy of greenery. Princess Gina stood in a shaded spot as well, and even Miranda wisely chose a spot hidden by branches when she stepped back. However, for June to greet Reginald properly, she had to step out onto the open space in front of the corridor, where there was no shelter from the scorching sun. In no time, sweat began to bead on her forehead, trickling down and ruining her carefully applied makeup. Her entire body became uncomfortably slick with perspiration.Enduring that discomfort was not the worst part. The real challenge was maintaining a curtsey for so long. June soon felt her knees trembling and her body swaying slightly. She quickly steadied herself, but the moment dragged on endlessly. Her entire body began to stiffen, and cramps started to creep into her calves.Just as June was on the verge of collapsing, Lady Shaw finally arrived."Lady Shaw, this young lady June has impe
Seeing the man's attire, the burly warrior beside him immediately realized that this must be one of their brothers who had gone to the palace to assassinate someone—now back and enraged, looking for a fight. But upon hearing the words "His Highness is dead," his heart was struck with unspeakable shock, his mind going blank for a moment.Stepping forward, he shielded Miranda and raised his sword to block the masked man’s saber.“Calm down! The commander said this woman might still be useful. Don’t go against his word!”But before his words had even finished, the situation changed in a flash.The masked man abruptly twisted his blade, slashing toward the burly warrior’s neck with lightning speed. The angle was vicious and sudden—nearly impossible to guard against.The burly man had assumed this was merely a furious comrade; it never occurred to him that he would suddenly turn his blade on him. Let alone defend himself—he was still in stunned disbelief even as the blade sliced across his
The man in black twisted Miranda's arm with one hand and held a dagger across her with the other. He jerked his chin toward Molly, signaling her to open the door. His grip on the dagger only tightened.Molly glanced worriedly at her miss before stepping forward to open the door.Standing outside was the regal and elegant Queen Dowager, flanked by Margaret and others—Selena stood nearby.The moment the door opened and the Queen Dowager saw Miranda being held hostage, her expression changed drastically. She shouted, “Who are you? How dare you seize a noble lady? Release her at once!”“Oh, how dearly the Queen Dowager treasures this Miss Croyso,” the man in black sneered. “Good. If Your Grace doesn’t want anything to happen to her, then cooperate and help us get out of the palace. With your seal, I don’t suppose it’ll be difficult? Once we’re somewhere safe, we’ll let her go. How about that?”“Your Grace, you mustn’t!” Margaret cried urgently. “These assassins are after His Majesty’s lif
Hearing those words, Miranda finally let out a breath of relief.The fact that the King was willing to assign her tasks meant he had accepted her explanation.Of course, the King would not so easily trust her loyalty; she would still need to prove herself through her future actions. But at least, for someone like her—cornered by the Queen Mother with no way out—there was now a glimmer of hope ahead.As long as the King truly intended to oppose the Queen Mother, and as long as she could assist him in bringing her down, Miranda would be able to regain her freedom and no longer live under the Queen Mother's control."I understand. I will strictly follow Your Majesty's instructions," Miranda replied. "I used an excuse to leave earlier, and I cannot be away for too long. If there are no further orders, I shall take my leave."The King watched Miranda’s retreating figure in silence.Because of that familiar face, he couldn’t help but pay her a little more attention, though he did not show i
"Miranda?"The King, who had just risen to his feet, slowly sat back down, frowning slightly. After a moment, he said, "Let her come forward."Guided by Giles, Miranda approached gracefully and knelt in salute. "Greetings, Your Majesty."The King studied her closely, trying to guess her intentions. "You asked to see me. What is it you wish to say?""I..." Miranda hesitated, carefully choosing her words."Your Majesty's teachings remain engraved in my heart. Yet, in this world, eight or nine out of ten things do not go as one wishes," Miranda answered calmly, her head bowed. Slowly, she lifted her gaze and caught sight of a sheet of paper on the table. Daringly, she picked it up with a gentle motion. The King silently watched her actions."For a piece of paper," she said softly, "its greatest wish would be to remain pure and untouched — neither stained by ink nor creased by water. Yet once a hand reaches out and soaks it in ink or water, the paper has no strength to resist."She did no
That day, the King came to pay his respects at the Queen Dowager’s palace. The Queen Dowager ordered tea to be served.A young lady stepped forward, dressed in a gown of pale blue silk—the soft, mist-like color seemed steeped in delicate light, graceful and ethereal. Her hair ornaments matched in hue, adorned with teardrop-shaped tassels that swayed gently with her movements, catching the light like liquid glass. Her skin was fair as porcelain, her features fresh and luminous, like a lotus emerging from clear waters.Her simple attire, serene beauty, and quiet elegance gave the impression of a cool spring flowing through a sweltering day—soothing and refreshing.When the King saw that the one serving tea was Miranda, he paused. His gaze lingered briefly on her attire, on her calm expression, on the faint scent of perfume that wafted near. His eyes flickered with a shadowed gleam as he said with a faint smile, “I heard Miss Miranda fell ill shortly after entering the palace, and has be
Miranda was filled with doubts.Zachary had taken a liking to her and, without even asking her opinion, went straight to the Queen to request a royal marriage decree. The Queen Dowager fancied her and instantly ordered her into the palace as a companion. They were all powerful figures—so why was it that when Reginald liked her, he remained so silent? So composed? Why hadn’t she sensed even the slightest hint of his feelings?Even after hearing about her engagement to Sheffield, he simply vanished from her world. Aside from that one moment—when he stumbled into her chambers feverish and disoriented—he never once made a move. He didn’t even try to interfere with the betrothal between the Croyso family and Sheffield.Weren’t people like them always forceful and self-indulgent in love and power alike? And Reginald, with his flamboyant and unrestrained nature—why had he acted so differently?Her head throbbed. With a shake, she tried to banish the thoughts. There was a clear disparity in s
In that faintly charged, ambiguous atmosphere, Reginald’s ears suddenly twitched. He had caught the faint sound of footsteps approaching. His expression changed instantly. He gave Miranda a small nod, pulled up his hood, and with a light, soundless leap, landed on the windowsill. With one hand gripping the ledge, he gave a pull—and in the next breath, his figure vanished from sight.Miranda understood at once and quietly closed the window.***It was deep into the night. No stars, no moon—only utter darkness.Miranda lay upon soft pillows, her eyes shut tightly. Beads of sweat gathered on her pale, smooth forehead, soaking into her hairline. Her head moved slightly from side to side, as if trying to shake something off. Her sleep was uneasy.She dreamt of many things from the past.Foolishness from a previous life. The days in the Croyso household, sharing what felt like a mother-daughter bond with her stepmother. Hans’s sweet lies after she married with him—and her naïve, wholehearte
“Although His Majesty shows great respect and deference to the Queen Dowager, and her position in the palace seems untouchable,” Miranda said firmly, “if their relationship were truly as unshakable as it appears, then why would she need to use me as a pawn? That alone tells me—they don’t fully trust each other. I’m convinced there’s a rift between them.”Her eyes gleamed with quiet intelligence.“Besides, the Queen Dowager is from House Blackwell. So is the Queen. If Prince Zachary ascends the throne, the maternal family’s power will be overwhelming. Lord Reginald, tell me—could the King possibly feel at ease with that? Don’t you think he might also want to bring down the Queen Dowager and the Blackwell family?”If the answer to all of those questions was yes—then that was her opportunity.Especially when she recalled that moment at the Croyso estate—how the King, upon first seeing her, had lost his composure and shattered his teacup. Yet in the Queen Dowager’s hall, he had greeted he
“Miranda, what do you intend to do?” he asked cautiously, probing her thoughts.Miranda didn’t answer directly. Instead, she returned the question, “What do you think I should do, Lord Reginald?”“Just as you said, the Queen Dowager is ruthless and cunning. She doesn’t care if she destroys you in the process. So, Miranda, don’t confront her head-on. Evade her, pretend even, let her think she’s won—just don’t suffer for nothing!” That was the real reason Reginald had come today—to warn her. Earlier, he’d gone to the palace to attend council with the King and was granted leave to walk in the royal gardens afterwards. That gave him the opportunity to send Miranda a message, even now, to meet her here in person.Though he’d already passed along a warning through a young eunuch, he had still worried something might go wrong. That’s why he had been hiding near the gazebo all along, ready to intervene if needed.He had seen everything with his own eyes.In the end, it was Selena who suffered