The rich lady realized she goofed and hurried to fix it, "Uh, Duchess, I mean, we should figure out how to get those two out of here so everyone can focus on you."

"Okay, okay, enough with the flattery. Do you even know who they are?"

Zoey felt that they looked somewhat familiar.

It felt like she had seen them somewhere before, but she couldn't quite place it.

The rich lady shook her head, "Not a clue."

"If you don't know them, then go find out!"

Zoey's patience was wearing thin.

This rich lady was the Countess, and her husband, the Count, supported Ian, acting as a leader in the Duke's Palace.

Lately, Ian had been too wrapped up in power struggles, neglecting not only their kids but herself too.

So she dragged the Countess out to shop and bond.

Little did she know, the Countess was brainless.

"Madam, hold on, I'll go ask,"

said the rich lady before strutting over to Freya and Ella.

She raised her eyebrows and rudely asked, "Who are you two?"

Freya glanced up and noticed the rich lady before her.

She furrowed her brows slightly, "And who are you?"

"You!" The rich lady's expression soured as she pointed and scolded, "I'm the Countess, and that's the Duchess behind me. You two should know your place and scram. The Duchess wants to shop."

Freya squinted.

The Duchess?

That's not Ian's wife, right?

She glanced at Zoey, who looked gentle and dignified, around forty but well-kept.

Brian and his brother seemed more like Zoey.

She'd been planning how to give the Duke's Palace a lesson, but she didn't expect them to come to her.

"Oh, is the Duchess older than the Queen? Freya brushed off the rich lady's words with sarcasm.

The rich lady's face changed instantly, moving to slap her. "You rude girl! How dare you talk to the Duchess like that? Watch me slap that mouth!"

However, before she could do that, Freya grabbed her hand effortlessly.

She smirked, "Even if the Queen herself were here, I'd still talk like this. What's a mere Duchess anyway?"

Zoey was just watching from afar at first.

However, Freya's voice was too loud to ignore.

Unable to stand her, Zoey approached them, but her eyes were fixed on Freya, sizing her up.

"Do you know the Queen?" she asked.

Freya raised an eyebrow, "Not only her, I also know the King."

"Who are you?"

Zoey hadn't expected this girl to have connections in the palace.

Freya looked down on them, too uninterested to bother, and turned to leave.

"Wait, hold on!" The rich lady rushed after her.

Zoey also followed, "You haven't told me your name."

"My name? Do you even deserve to know?"

They were all the Logan family members, enemies of Bradley, and also her enemies too.

Not killing them right then and there was already showing the utmost mercy.

However, trying to know her name? That was just asking for trouble.

"Who do you think you are to speak to the Duchess like that?" The rich lady ignored Freya's presence, her face fierce.

Freya sighed, shaking her head.

I'm not one to start trouble, but I won't hold back if someone starts it with me!

Turning around, she flicked her finger, and a silver needle shot out, piercing the rich lady's neck.

The rich lady screamed in agony, her face went pale. Clutching her neck, she was unable to speak, just whimpering.

She was so desperate, her tears streaming down, but only whimpering sounds came out.

Freya toyed with her fingers, glancing at Zoey. "Who I am isn't the point. What matters is, I've got a short temper. That needle was just a little reminder for this lady. She should've kept her annoying mouth shut. I've been pretty nice by not sewing it up."

"Duchess, it's best not to provoke me. Otherwise ... who knows what I'll do when I get angry. You know better than anyone about your two sons' fate. If you want to play, I can play along."

Zoey's face went pale.

Brian and Brody incident had been suppressed by Ian.

Nobody outside the Duke's Palace should know about it.

Yet, this girl in front of them knew about their sons.

And she seemed to know their fate too well!

After a moment, Zoey looked at Freya in disbelief.

"You ... Are you're ... related with Leonard?"

"Bingo! The Duchess isn't clueless after all!"

Freya gave a cold smirk and went on, "Yes, I'm Leonard's wife! You two ladies dare to appear openly in front of me, aren't you afraid that I could end your lives with just one needle?"

Zoey looked terrified and backed off a step.

Last time, Ian managed to save his son, but both children were covered in needle marks, indicating they had been severely tortured.

They couldn't stop dreaming since then, and they were still sick, always calling out for 'beautiful sister.'

At first, she didn't know who this sister was, but now that she knew Freya's identity, it all made sense.

This woman looked young but stunningly beautiful, with an elegance that most women lack, a true rarity.

Zoey felt a twinge of fear, especially since she didn't bring any guards with her today.

Seeing her uneasy, Freya chuckled softly. "Scared?"

Zoey gulped. "This is the Logan family's territory. Do you know what'll happen if you lay a finger on me?"

"Don't play tough with me, Madam. I saw you both stroll in here without any guards. If I decided to end you right now, who'd even know?"

Freya stepped closer, making Zoey step back.

"If you're scared, just leave quickly. This is a clothing shop, and I don't want your filthy blood messing up the place."

With that, Freya signaled Ella, "Ella, show these two out!"

"Got it."

Ella approached with her arms crossed, looked coldly at Zoey and the rich lady. "Will you leave on your own, or … should I help you out?"

Zoey's fists tightened.

Though she didn't want to, she decided to leave on her own.

Suddenly, the store was much quieter with just the two of them left.

Freya picked out a few outfits and headed to the fitting room to try them on.

Even though it was her brand, the designs were done by her team.

It had been years since she'd personally designed anything!

After trying on the clothes, Freya handed them to the salesperson. "Can you pack these up for me?"

"Sure thing, Miss."

The salesperson took the clothes to ring them up.

Ella came in from outside, whispering in her ear, "We should get going. I'm worried Zoey might send someone after you."

"Okay, let's go."

Freya swiped her card, grabbed the clothes, and left the store.