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Chapter 69: Why Was the King So Shocked?
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2024-08-29 17:52:03However, everyoneâs attention was drawn to the teacup that slipped from the kingâs hand; no one noticed the subtle change in his expression.
Though the king was momentarily lost in thought, causing the teacup to shatter, his deep-seated composure and the iron will forged through years of discipline allowed him to swiftly regain his calm. Despite the torrent of emotions raging within, nearly overwhelming him in that brief moment of shock, he forcibly quelled the upheaval. His face remained serene, as if the lapse in composure was nothing more than a trivial incident. He raised his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips, and feigned light-heartedness as he spoke, âI accidentally touched the rim of the cup and got burned, breaking your fine teacup. Lord Croyso, I hope you wonât mind?â
Earl Croyso, hearing this, showed no sign of suspicion. âYour Majesty jests!â
âWell, since youâre so generous, I wonât trouble myself with replacing it!â the king repli
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Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 70: June Stirs Up Trouble Again
In the Kingdom of Valoria, there was a Privy Council, and all reports submitted to the king had to be reviewed by the council's scholars first. They would prioritize the most urgent matters, jotting down their opinions on small slips of paper and tucking them into the reports before passing them on to the king. While the final decision rested with the monarch, the scholarsâ recommendations greatly influenced his judgment, making them powerful figures within the kingdom.Basil Fitzroy had served as the Chief Scholar of the Privy Council for over a decade, earning immense respect and authority.Especially now, with the imminent retirement of Prime Minister Lord Green, the position of Prime Minister was likely to be filled either by Lord Fitzroy or the venerable Lord Landon. By comparison, Fitzroy held the advantage in experience, governance, and the kingâs favor. Should he be appointed as First Minister, his status would rise even further. Unfortunately, Fitzroyâs high moral standards an
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-30Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 71: Mrs. Fitzroy Took on The Role of Peacemaker
Seeing Juneâs audacious attempt to strike her in public, Miranda's anger flared. She swiftly moved to block Juneâs hand and declared in a frosty tone, âMiss June, donât do something youâll regret later!âJune arched an eyebrow defiantly, her gaze sharp. âAnd if I do? What will you do about it?ââThis!â Mirandaâs voice was as cold as ice. Without giving June a chance to respond, Mirandaâs other hand flew out, landing a stinging slap across Juneâs face.Miranda, who typically avoided conflict and sought to maintain harmony, had reached her limit. June, having already secured everything she desired, was still provoking trouble. Miranda realized that no matter how much she accommodated, peace seemed unattainable. Therefore, she resolved to take a firm stand.The sharp "slap" resonated through the air, and a vivid red handprint began to bloom on miss June's pale cheek. The unexpected blow left June stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Miranda in shock.âYou!â June, now vi
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-30Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 72: Surprisingly Friendship between Two Ladies
Lady Langley shot her a sharp glance and said, âKnowing youâre so quick-witted, canât you spare me this time? No wonder youâve been waiting here for me. If someone didnât know better, theyâd think we have a deep bond. But those who do know would understand that youâre probably just waiting for me to take out my frustration after your setback with Miss June! Am I right?âOnce inside the manor, Selena saw her circle of friends, having parted ways with Miranda earlier. So, only Miranda, Lady Langley, Lady Fitzroy, and Lady Fitzroyâs daughter, Wensley, were present. The conversation naturally drew no attention from the others.âOh, truly remarkable,â Lady Fitzroy said with a smile. âYouâve become quite the business tycoon, havenât you? Your connections with the Croyso family have improved, and you now speak with such confidence, donât you?â Before June left, she had been specifically advised not to cause trouble at the banquet, as the Queenâs family was keen to win over Lord Fitzroy. June
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-31Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 73: Mrs. Aylin's Provocation
Lady Fitzroy greeted her guest with a smile that didnât quite reach her eyes. âWhy, if it isnât Lady Aylin!â she exclaimed with feigned warmth, stepping forward to welcome her.Following closely behind Lady Aylin was Rose, who, with her serene smile and graceful, poised demeanor, offered a perfect curtsy. Roseâs presence at such events was a rare occurrence, largely due to her motherâs habitual neglect, which often left her overlooked and sidelined from societyâs gatherings.âThere you are! Iâve been searching high and low for you,â Lady Aylin exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and reprimand. âI didnât expect to find you here, of all places! Now, stop quietly managing the servants' tasks hereâcome to the front and join everyone for a proper chat!â Lady Aylin exclaimed, grabbing Lady Fitzroyâs arm with enthusiasm, entirely ignoring Lady Langley and Miranda nearbyâa breach of social etiquette. Lady Fitzroy remained composed, her smile unwavering despite the slight. âI was just here,
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-31Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 74: What Had Sophie Done to Her?
"Miranda, it's been so long since you last came to our house. Mother probably still remembers you as the little girl from years ago. She never imagined that little girl would grow up to be such a beautiful young lady. And I neither havenât seen you since the last banquet. Whereâs Selena? Howâs her face? It was awfully red after she got hit last time!â Rose, who had been silent until now, suddenly stepped forward and affectionately took Mirandaâs hand, acting every bit the close sister.But if you listen closely to her words, youâll notice how she subtly distanced herself from her motherâs remark and casually shifted the topic, indirectly reminding Miranda of the incident when Selena was slapped. She indirectly and seemingly casually brought up Miranda's awkward past conflicts with her sister, leaving Miranda no time to continue the conversation from before. This clever change in conversation effectively steered away from the slightly awkward topic just now.Miranda's eyes narrowed slig
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-09-01Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 75: Mrs. Langley's Concerns
"Not you... Could it be Miranda?" Lady Fitzroy hesitantly guessed. Seeing the look on Lady Langley's face, she knew she'd hit the mark. Her expression was a mix of surprise and a hint of satisfaction. "Ah, thatâs wonderful! Miranda is quite something, isn't she? She actually managed to bring down that cunning woman, Sophie. Impressive! Is this what they mean by the student surpassing the master?""Iâd rather Miranda wasnât so impressive. Iâd prefer she were more like Wensleyâinnocent, lively, and blissfully unaware of the worldâs harsh realities.""You canât think that way!" Lady Fitzroy gently took Lady Langleyâs hand, leading her to a chaise lounge. The sharp, capable demeanor she often displayed melted away, replaced by a face full of concern. "Iâll be honest with youâseeing Wensley so carefree, always laughing, brings me joy as a mother. But she will eventually marriy into another family. When that time comes, she'll have to deal with her husband, in-laws, Behind-the-scenes intrig
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-09-01Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 76: Who Is The Artist Behind This Paintingïž
âWensley!â Miranda's face deliberately darkened. âI'll tell Mrs. Fitzroy what you just said!âWensley quickly grabbed her arm, his face a picture of pleading. âOh, Miranda, donât be like that! I was just joking. If you tell Mother, sheâll scold me again. You wouldnât want that, would you? Please stay and chat with me. Once the room is full, we wonât have a chance to talk!âHe put on a distressed expression, clutching his hands together and gazing at Miranda with pleading eyes. âPlease, Miranda, youâre the best!âMiranda smiled and nodded. âAlright, alright.âThey chatted as they made their way into the hall.In one corner of the hall, a group of elegantly dressed young women gathered around a large painting displayed on the wall. The conversation was lively, filled with various opinions and guesses.âThis painting is truly remarkable! It must be very valuable!ââIndeed, it shows extraordinary skill! No wonder itâs a Fitzroy family collection.ââBut which artist created it?âAmid the h
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-09-02Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 77: Meet Prince Zachary Again
Prince Zachary arrived in a jade-white robe with a round collar, adorned with intricate embroidery around the neckline. The sleeves were decorated with intertwined blue orchids pattern, and a sky-blue beaded belt cinched his waist, embroidered with golden threads and silver lines that shimmered under the sunlight. His appearance was elegant and refined, carrying an air of royal grace, and he smiled appreciatively at Miranda.It was Prince Zachary.Standing beside him was Quintina, dressed in a light beige and aquamarine silk gown. Her understated outfit made her already beautiful features appear even more refined, her eyes sparkling like stars, and the arrogance she usually exuded seemed to have diminished considerably.Prince Zachary and Quintinaâhow could they be here? Miranda was confused."Brother, Cousin Quintina, you both came too?" A girl who had been standing to the side turned her gaze to them and said with a charming smile, "Brother, come and see whose painting this really i
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Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 271: The Breakout
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 someoneânow 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 manâs saber.âCalm down! The commander said this woman might still be useful. Donât go against his word!âBut before his words had even finished, the situation changed in a flash.The masked man abruptly twisted his blade, slashing toward the burly warriorâs neck with lightning speed. The angle was vicious and suddenânearly 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 himselfâhe was still in stunned disbelief even as the blade sliced across his
Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 270: Miranda Taken Hostage
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 othersâSelena stood nearby.The moment the door opened and the Queen Dowager saw Miranda being held hostage, her expression changed drastically. She shouted, âWho are you? How dare you seize a noble lady? Release her at once!ââOh, how dearly the Queen Dowager treasures this Miss Croyso,â the man in black sneered. âGood. If Your Grace doesnât want anything to happen to her, then cooperate and help us get out of the palace. With your seal, I donât suppose itâll be difficult? Once weâre somewhere safe, weâll let her go. How about that?ââYour Grace, you mustnât!â Margaret cried urgently. âThese assassins are after His Majestyâs lif
Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 269: Assassins
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 herâcornered by the Queen Mother with no way outâthere 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 Mirandaâs retreating figure in silence.Because of that familiar face, he couldnât help but pay her a little more attention, though he did not show i
Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 268: King's Trust
"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 â 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
Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 267: Playing Chess with the King
That day, the King came to pay his respects at the Queen Dowagerâs palace. The Queen Dowager ordered tea to be served.A young lady stepped forward, dressed in a gown of pale blue silkâthe 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 dayâsoothing 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, âI heard Miss Miranda fell ill shortly after entering the palace, and has be
Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 266
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 figuresâso why was it that when Reginald liked her, he remained so silent? So composed? Why hadnât 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 momentâwhen he stumbled into her chambers feverish and disorientedâhe never once made a move. He didnât even try to interfere with the betrothal between the Croyso family and Sheffield.Werenât people like them always forceful and self-indulgent in love and power alike? And Reginald, with his flamboyant and unrestrained natureâwhy had he acted so differently?Her head throbbed. With a shake, she tried to banish the thoughts. There was a clear disparity in s
Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 265: How Could He Possibly Like Her
In that faintly charged, ambiguous atmosphere, Reginaldâs 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 pullâand 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 moonâonly 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. Hansâs sweet lies after she married with himâand her naÃŊve, wholehearte
Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 264: No Path Is Without Danger
âAlthough His Majesty shows great respect and deference to the Queen Dowager, and her position in the palace seems untouchable,â Miranda said firmly, âif their relationship were truly as unshakable as it appears, then why would she need to use me as a pawn? That alone tells meâthey donât fully trust each other. Iâm convinced thereâs a rift between them.âHer eyes gleamed with quiet intelligence.âBesides, the Queen Dowager is from House Blackwell. So is the Queen. If Prince Zachary ascends the throne, the maternal familyâs power will be overwhelming. Lord Reginald, tell meâcould the King possibly feel at ease with that? Donât you think he might also want to bring down the Queen Dowager and the Blackwell family?âIf the answer to all of those questions was yesâthen that was her opportunity.Especially when she recalled that moment at the Croyso estateâhow the King, upon first seeing her, had lost his composure and shattered his teacup. Yet in the Queen Dowagerâs hall, he had greeted he
Revenge of the Betrayed: The Domineering Duke Falls for Me   Chapter 263: You MeanâĶ The King?!
âMiranda, what do you intend to do?â he asked cautiously, probing her thoughts.Miranda didnât answer directly. Instead, she returned the question, âWhat do you think I should do, Lord Reginald?ââJust as you said, the Queen Dowager is ruthless and cunning. She doesnât care if she destroys you in the process. So, Miranda, donât confront her head-on. Evade her, pretend even, let her think sheâs wonâjust donât suffer for nothing!â That was the real reason Reginald had come todayâto warn her. Earlier, heâd 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 heâd already passed along a warning through a young eunuch, he had still worried something might go wrong. Thatâs 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
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