The Poor Mother Mocked by the Royal Court—Until a Necklace Box Shook the Entire Circle of Power

Chapter One: An Uninvited Guest

Clara Thorne stood outside Mercer’s Grand Palace for nearly ten minutes before she finally plucked up the courage to go inside. Viewed from the street, the building looks like a phantom from a dream. Towering white stone pillars jut into the night sky. Golden light pours from the arched windows. The entrance was filled with black luxury cars, each one polished so brightly that Clara could even see her tired reflection on the car.

Her daughter, Mia, was sleeping on her chest, wrapped in the only old blanket Clara could bring.

“Just a few minutes,” Clara whispered. “Then we leave.”

But even she didn’t believe it. She has nowhere to go. Three days ago, the small apartment she and Arthur shared had been ransacked in a panic. Their drawers were pulled open. All his clothes were gone. His cell phone is off. The only thing left on the table was an envelope with her name on it.

It contained money, a train ticket, and a sentence written in Arthur’s familiar handwriting. *Go to Mercer Royal Celebration. Show them the locket. Don’t trust anyone named Vance. * Clara read the note over and over until the paper softened in her hands.

Arthur had never told her all about his past. All he said was that he was born into a family that was secretly self-destructive. Clara thought it was just an old pain, not a fatal danger.

And now, she stood in front of the most powerful family in the country, holding their secrets in her hands but knowing nothing about it. The guard at the entrance studied her faded dress and frowned.

“Invitation?”

Clara raised her chin.

“I need to see Prince Edward Mercer.”

The guard almost laughed.

“Everyone in this city wants to see him.”

Clara subconsciously reached for the necklace box hidden under Mia’s blanket, but fear stopped her. Arthur said that it should never be exposed unless absolutely necessary.

“I’m not here to ask for money,” she said. “Please. This concerns his family.”

The guard’s expression hardened. Before he could shoo her away, the double doors opened behind him. A group of guests walked in, chatting and laughing, their evening gowns and suits sparkling in the lights. Clara saw an opportunity.

She slipped in quietly after them. The first thing that hit her was the warmth of the room. Then comes the scent of roses, perfume and expensive red wine. The hall was magnificent, with marble floors, red velvet banners, and a painted ceiling bearing the Mercer family’s coat of arms: a silver crown suspended above blue flames.

Clara took a step forward, and the whole room seemed to notice her at the same instant. Everyone turned their heads. Whispers arose. Her shoes are cheap. Her dress is plain. The blanket she wrapped the baby in was old.

She doesn’t fit in here. At the front of the hall, Prince Edward stood next to Miss Isabella. He was younger than Clara expected, probably in his early thirties, with dark hair, cold features, and eyes that looked like they had long since learned not to believe in any joy.

Isabella noticed Clara first. Her smile disappeared. Then it became fierce. She walked toward Clara with slow, graceful steps. The crowd automatically made way for her. Clara hugged Mia tighter. Isabella stopped in front of her.

“What qualifications do you think you have to walk into this place?”

Clara’s mouth felt dry.

“I need to see Prince Edward.”

Several guests jeered quietly. Isabella’s eyes fell on the baby.

“You even brought a child? It’s so touching. Do you think you can knock on the door of the royal family by being a miserable person?”

Clara forced herself not to back away.

“This is very important.”

Isabella leaned closer.

“Women like you always say that.”

Clara hadn’t fully digested the insult in this sentence. Isabella suddenly reached out and grabbed Mia’s blanket. Clara gasped.

“Don’t—”

The blanket slipped. The sapphire necklace fell out. The whole world changes completely then.