As I was writing, I realized this chapter turned out to be really long, but I couldn't find a good spot to split it in half, so I'll just keep it as one chapter. After all, I hope the male lead can show up as planned in this one, Lol. Enjoy!
“What a clever ploy, setting up a false trail and luring people into a trap! It’s truly a pity, Miss Miranda, to be in this situation at such a young age!” The silver-masked man sighed wistfully, though his obsidian eyes were thoughtfully fixed on Miranda in the pool. Due to the hot spring, her wet black hair floated on the surface, revealing her slender neck. Although she wore a sheer garment, it clung to her skin, almost transparent from the water’s moisture, highlighting her smooth, jade-like complexion. The steamy ambiance of the hot spring made her form even more suggestive and intriguing.Her dark eyes, as clear as jade, and her subtly tinted lips made her natural beauty all the more alluring in this intimate setting.Despite her unusually calm demeanor, Miranda appeared as a beautiful young girl at the tender age of thirteen. How could someone so young display such contrasting personas? Innocent and naive in public, yet calm and wise behind the scenes. Her strategy against the C
As he was lost in thought, a breeze brought a faint fragrance, and a soft silk handkerchief covered his face, blocking his vision. He heard the sound of water and then the rustle of clothes as someone approached and stopped beside him. With his sight obscured, his other senses sharpened, allowing him to catch the faint scent of a woman, matching the fragrance on the handkerchief.Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his leg as someone kicked him hard."Idiot, I don't know if you came for me that day, but after facing danger, how could I not be prepared?" Miranda fumed, her anger flaring as she thought of how close her innocence had come to being ruined. She punched and kicked him until she was out of breath, then spat, "You should be thankful you didn’t see anything and turned away just now, or I would have killed you myself!"After one final kick, Miranda left in a huff.He was surprised she didn’t unmask him, feeling a mix of relief and amusement. Miranda'
If things proceed this way, the Earl would be forced to have Miranda's identity verified, and she wouldn’t even have to be the villain. Instead, she could play the role of the one "protecting" Miranda's reputation. This way, she could expose the little wretch without being seen as malicious, and the Earl wouldn’t suspect her of ill intentions. It’s a perfect plan! As the Countess thought this, she gently wrapped a silk handkerchief around her finger, a smile slowly spreading across her face.Miranda, let's see how arrogant you can be now!This time, I'll strip away your facade and reveal your true self!The plan was set, and all the necessary people were in place. To distance herself from suspicion and avoid any blame, the Countess feigned illness and handed over the management of household affairs to the steward and Miranda. When Lady Langley heard about this, she even joked that Sophie was once again pretending to be weak.Only Miranda noticed something was amiss.The Countess was i
"My name is Yoder, and this is my wife, Zoe. We have no sons, only a daughter named Jenny, whom we’ve cherished dearly. A few months ago, a group of well-dressed people passed by our home. A noblewoman in the group saw our daughter and was struck by her resemblance to someone. I didn’t know what was going on, but then the woman approached us and asked if we were willing to send our daughter to live with a wealthy family. She even gave us a lot of gold coins, saying our daughter looked very much like the daughter of a noble family and that she could help our daughter take that place, allowing her to bring wealth and honor to our family."At this point, Zoe pushed Yoder and cried, "It’s all your fault for sending our daughter away!"The Earl of Croyso, frowning even more, interrupted them, "I think you’ve come to the wrong place!""No, we haven’t! Even if I were blind, I would recognize my own daughter!" Yoder suddenly shouted passionately.The Earl's frown
Earl Croyso frowned and immediately rebuked, “Nonsense! To conduct an inspection on the daughter of an earl just because of the ramblings of two lunatics—doesn’t that imply we doubt Miranda's identity? Such an act would only hand others a weapon to use against us! Moreover, what an insult this would be! Miranda is my daughter, my flesh and blood. I would never mistake her for anyone else—she is Miranda, not some Jenny! Do you really think I can’t recognize my own daughter?”To be reprimanded under these circumstances was entirely unexpected, and the Countess's initial anger flared up instantly.“But, my lord…,” the Countess began, swallowing her indignation. She cast a seemingly timid glance at the gathered crowd, her expression laden with concern. “Of course, I care deeply about Miss Miranda's honor. But look at the expressions on the faces of these stewards and housekeepers. I fear they all ha
Zoe, momentarily stunned by Miranda’s noble and composed demeanor, quickly resumed her tearful outcry, “Jenny! Your mother can’t live without you! How can you deny me like this?” Her face was streaked with tears, a picture of utter despair.Yoder, half regretful, half enraged, chimed in, “Lian’er, I know we wronged you. We shouldn’t have agreed to give you away to that woman. Now I regret it. Come home with your father! Our house may be poor, but it’s where you were born and raised, and we are your real parents! You can’t forget your roots and deny your own parents just for the sake of wealth!”With a slight wave of her hand, Miranda halted the servants who were ready to step forward. Her gaze grew dark and intense as she fixed her eyes on them. "Anyone close to me could know about the mole behind my ear, but why would they share such a private detail with you? This can only mean that someone in the estate is conspiring with you to frame me. Remember, my father is the
The startling revelation caused everyone to frown in disbelief, especially the Earl of Croyso and Lady Langley."She's not Miranda?" The Earl's voice was laced with incredulous anger, nearly on the verge of laughter. "Sophie, have you lost your mind? If she's not Miranda, then who is? I think you're the one who's ill!" His words were sharp, underlined with anger, yet there was a measure of restraint in his tone."She's not!" The Countess, having gone this far, was ready to risk everything. She had the evidence to prove that Miranda was an imposter and wasn’t afraid to confront her. "And think about it—since this false Miranda appeared, the biggest beneficiary has been Lady Langley! I cannot help but suspect there’s something fishy about all this. Did you really believe that Miranda was unaware of the true cause of Anna's death?""Enough, Sophie! What nonsense are you spouting?" The Earl’s voice boomed with fury. He had always avoided discussing Anna’s death in f
"Look at this face, my lord," Sophie declared passionately. "The Miranda we once knew, the Miranda everyone in this estate has seen, never looked like this. A plain, unremarkable girl suddenly transforming into a beauty of such grace and elegance—this alone should raise suspicion. They dared to deceive us all, to switch one person for another, solely because this girl shares the same face as Lady Anna!"Her voice quivered with righteous indignation before softening into sorrow. "My lord, they are exploiting your deepest feelings! Using your love to achieve their hidden, sinister goals!"Sophie knew Croyso too well. She was certain that invoking Anna would unsettle him deeply.With every piece of evidence laid out, each accusation seemed increasingly plausible. It was enough to make anyone doubt whether the young woman before them was truly Miranda. All eyes turned to Miranda, their gazes sharp and probing.Miranda drew in a deep breath, maintaining her co
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