V2: Chapter 89: The Last Chance
Liang Di was repeatedly summoned to the palace by the King.
His intentions were clear: he wanted Liang Di to marry his foolish son. The King was a cunning old fox; he could see the situation clearly. The Langwendi family was thriving, accumulating ever more wealth.
A Duke's family couldn't be wealthier than the royal family; if they were, they would inevitably pose a threat. Therefore, the royal family would certainly take a series of measures, and marriage was the simplest.
Who was the biggest threat from the Langwendi family? Undoubtedly, it was the intelligent Liang Di, who had been managing the family business.
The King had forgotten about the Langwendi family's only son, Edwin; he and Miranda were practically invisible. If Liang Di's management of the Langwendi family's business was considered thriving, then these two had only fallen. Of course, Liang Di's influence was undeniable.
Old Master Donald's attitude was clear: the position of family head would definitely be passed to Liang Di. But Edwin was unwilling to accept it, and Miranda was even less willing. She had climbed to this position with great difficulty, enduring years of humiliation and hardship, her hands stained with the blood of countless maids and even former wives. She had finally given birth to a son for the Langwendi family; how could she accept that her son wouldn't be the future head of the Langwendi family?
"Your Majesty! Please help us!"
Miranda prostrated herself at Doris's feet, her forehead pressed tightly to the ground, her humble appearance like a lapdog waiting to be fed.
Doris picked a rose and casually placed it in a vase, her voice filled with indifference.
"Miranda, haven't I helped you enough? It's you and your stupid son who lack brains and can't control Liang Di. If either of you or Edwin had any sense, would you be ignored by ex-head Donald?"
Every word was the truth, every word pierced the heart.
If it were anyone else, Miranda would have already started cursing, hands on her hips, if they called her son stupid as a pig. But the elegant woman before her was the current Queen, and Miranda dared not utter a word, not even if Doris were stepping on her head.
She now only had Doris as her support.
"Please, Your Majesty, teach me what to do!" Miranda continued her humble plea.
Doris remained expressionless.
"What benefit do you think I would gain from helping you?"
Miranda's heart sank.
She knew that if she answered incorrectly, or if her reasoning failed to satisfy Doris, she would lose her only, and last, support.
"Liang Di..."
Miranda's voice trembled as she uttered those two words, and her body even began to shake.
Silence.
Without a reply, Miranda's heart sank to the bottom. But she still forced herself to continue, "Liang Di lives at Langwendi's house. I can monitor her every move, and... I can also... I can kill her..."
"I can also do everything I can... I can kill her!"
Another silence followed.
Just as Miranda was about to despair...
"Hahaha~"
Doris let out a clear laugh, a laugh tinged with madness. The rose in her hand snapped, and her thumb was pricked by a thorn, drawing blood. But she seemed oblivious to the pain, calmly taking out a handkerchief and wiping the blood from her palm.
"What you're saying is laughable, but your courage is commendable." Doris sat in her chair, looking down at Miranda as if she were an ant. "Alright, get up and stand up. It's uncomfortable looking down at you."
At this moment, Miranda finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She swayed as she stood up, a sharp pain shooting through her knees, but dared not be careless, standing with bowed heads, avoiding Doris's eyes.
"You... you think you can kill Liang Di?" Doris said, suppressing a laugh. "Really arrogant, so ignorant, actually believing that you, with your human strength, can fight a monster."
"A monster?"
Doris didn't know what the other meant by "monster," but she assumed it referred to magicians. Auston had told her that magicians existed, but he had never told her that there were monsters outside the seaside wall.
Doris didn't pay much attention to the other's mutterings, nor did she bother to explain to Miranda.
“I asked you to drug Liang Di last time, and you all failed miserably,” Doris said angrily, slamming her fist on the table. “You messed up something so simple. How do you think I can expect you to kill Liang Di? With your strength, how could you possibly fight her? Haa… to dare to boast that you can kill Liang Di, no wonder you rose from a maid to your position.”
Doris struck at Miranda’s ugliest thoughts, shattering the dignity and respect Miranda had painstakingly maintained. She directly exposed her raw, bleeding wounds, telling her that she was once just a lowly maid, and that she had only climbed this path by selling her body and getting her hands stained with the blood of others.
Miranda gritted her teeth, a fire burning within her, but she dared not vent it. In her heart, she could only curse the deceased former wife, Meredith. However, facing Doris, she remained silent, even continuing to wear a forced smile.
“Your Majesty, I’m willing to do it again, at any cost. I only wish for my son, I only wish for Edwin, that he inherits the position of head of the Langwendi family. My son is my only concern in this world.”
This was undoubtedly playing the emotional card.
However, upon hearing the word “son,” Doris’s expression visibly relaxed, probably thinking of her own son, Gael.
Her only concern… wasn’t Gael also her only concern in this world? Her current cautiousness stemmed from her fear of implicating her child.
Doris sighed; Miranda’s emotional appeal finally softened her tone.
“I’ll give you a chance, fine, but ultimately, you’ll have to fight for it yourselves. If you simply lack the ability, then I think there’s nothing I can do.”
She already had her own plans when she said this.
Hearing this, Miranda was overjoyed. She abruptly raised her head, forgetting her status and manners, and thanked Doris profusely, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Doris, however, waved her hand dismissively, a sinister smile playing on her lips.
"Miranda, you just said you'd pay any price for your son, didn't you? Any price, right?"
A bad premonition rose in Miranda's heart, but this was her last chance. She could only force a nod, forcing that ingratiating smile once more.
"Your Majesty, I can do anything. Just give me the order, and I'll do it."
Doris nodded in satisfaction.
“Well then, Miranda,” Doris tapped rhythmically on the table with her index finger, tilting her head to look at the woman before her, “you know, as Queen, I naturally can’t leave the palace. But… Miranda, you’re different. Although you’re a Duchess, you can come and go as you please in the royal city.”
Miranda nodded meekly.
“So, I need you to do something for me.”
Doris beckoned to Miranda.
Miranda trotted over, bowed reverently, and pressed her lips to Doris’s. Doris whispered something in Miranda’s ear.
Miranda’s expression was initially tense, but as time passed, it gradually changed from tense to confused, and finally, utterly bewildered.
“Did you understand, Miranda?”
Doris sat up straight.
“I understand, Your Majesty, but…” Miranda started to ask something, but when her eyes met Doris’s threatening gaze, she instantly pursed her lips and fell silent. “I understand, Your Majesty. I will certainly do what you instructed me to do.”
Doris nodded in satisfaction and looked away.
“Don’t worry, until you’ve done this, I will still look after Edwin for you. But, Miranda, you must remember one thing: Liang Di’s current power is far too great. I can only give you a stepping stone; it doesn’t mean I can guarantee that Donald will regain his favor.”
“I am already satisfied, Your Majesty,” Miranda said, trembling with fear.
This was truly her honest opinion.
Right now, all the other nobles were currying favor with Liang Di, hoping to establish a connection with the eldest daughter of the Langwendi family; no one cared about her and Edwin’s life or death.
They were now practically invisible within aristocratic circles—no, even within the Langwendi family—nobody paid them any attention.
"Alright, then go and do it."
Miranda didn't understand what Doris was asking her to do, or what benefit Doris would gain from it, but she knew it was definitely not simple, definitely dangerous.
But she couldn't ask.
Miranda walked out of the palace's back garden with a heavy heart.
Edwin was waiting for her in the carriage.
After she boarded the carriage, Edwin threw himself into her arms, pouting, "Mommy, what did you and the Queen talk about?"
Miranda lovingly patted her child's head. "Of course, I talked to her about you, Edwin, my darling. Don't worry, I will definitely make sure you become the head of the family."
"But..."
Edwin retorted casually, "I don't think the position of head of the family is that important. I'm not the head now, and I'm quite happy. The clothes I wear and the food I eat are excellent. I think..."
He hadn't finished speaking.
"Edwin!"
Miranda snapped, "How could you say such a thing?"
She pulled Edwin away from her arms, gripped his shoulders, and shook him a few times.
"Edwin! You're my son, your name is Edwin Langwendi, the only male in this generation of the Langwendi family! The position of family head is yours! No one can take it from you, do you understand?!"
Edwin looked at his agitated mother, his face pale, and stammered, "I, I understand, Mom, could you, could you please stop gripping my shoulders? It hurts..."
Miranda froze, only then noticing that her long nails were digging into her child's shoulders. She released him, her eyes reddening, and hugged Edwin tightly.
"Edwin, you must remember, everything I'm doing now is for your own good. This is paving the way for your future. You'll thank me later, do you understand?"
Edwin nodded, seemingly understanding.
But surely his mother had her reasons for doing this.
“I understand, thank you, Mom.”
Edwin, wasn’t he also a pitiful child?
The carriage swayed and rattled along the road back to Langwendi’s mansion.
After returning home, life seemed to return to normal.
Day after day, about a week or two later, Miranda suddenly came to Auston’s room.
Miranda hadn’t visited Auston’s room for several weeks. The maids had been gossiping about it, saying that Miranda had forgotten her husband and was an ungrateful woman. Others said that Miranda was busy helping Edwin with the shop’s affairs; Auston was practically a cripple, and even if she visited him often, he wouldn’t get better, so Miranda’s actions were understandable.
Regardless, Miranda continued to do as she pleased, visiting Auston less and less frequently.
Until this day, she had her personal maid dismiss the two maids serving Auston and pushed open the bedroom door.
“Auston, it’s been a long time.” Miranda’s voice was gentle. She tiptoed to her husband’s bedside and sat down. Her gaze towards Auston was tender, just like when they first met.
Lying on the bed, Auston’s previously dull and lifeless eyes cleared instantly the moment he saw Miranda enter, as if he had seen some hope.
“Auston, I’ve come to see you,” Miranda said, reaching out to gently stroke her husband’s cheek. “You’ve lost weight again.”
“Auston, that bitch Liang Di is getting more and more arrogant. I’m really, really worried about our son. I don’t think he’ll be able to take over as head of the family.”
Miranda paused.
“So…”
“Auston, this is our last chance. This really is our last chance.” She gave a pale smile. “Auston, you should understand me, right?”
Author's Note
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