CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 177: SHE PLAGIARIZED YOU

Queen Elizabeth’s eyes widened round with surprise, even more so than discovering a new continent.

"You are B..."

"Shh!"

Before Queen Elizabeth could finish the name, Serena Jennings promptly put a finger to her lips.

Queen Elizabeth understood the gesture and didn’t continue.

Beside them, Caleb Lockwood silently raised an eyebrow.

It seemed to be the first time Serena Jennings had met Queen Elizabeth.

Yet, despite this being their first meeting, there appeared to be some shared secret between them—

A secret Caleb was not privy to.

His chest felt like it was being rubbed repeatedly with small stones, causing Caleb to furrow his brow.

"Excuse me, Miss Fulton..."

At this, Queen Elizabeth turned to Cynthia Fulton and said, "I’d like to have dinner alone with this young lady tonight to thank her for repairing and upgrading my crown."

The "young lady" in Queen Elizabeth’s words naturally referred to Serena Jennings.

Claire Shaw’s face turned as ugly as an Emperor Crab’s shell.

What does "upgrade" mean?

As if suggesting Serena’s craftsmanship was far superior to hers.

Queen Elizabeth believed she had made herself very clear.

Nevertheless, Cynthia Fulton, Claire Shaw, and Caleb Lockwood remained rooted to their spots.

"Sorry, but could the three of you please step aside?"

Though Queen Elizabeth smiled, her voice carried the authority of a monarch.

Cynthia Fulton initially wanted to argue her case, but seeing the situation, she tactfully left the room.

Caleb Lockwood and Claire Shaw also departed.

Caleb was carrying a first-aid kit, and as he reached the door, he glanced back at Serena Jennings.

Serena was looking at Queen Elizabeth.

"Caleb?"

Claire Shaw, holding onto Caleb’s arm, noticed that his attention seemed to linger in the private room.

However, in the room were only Queen Elizabeth and Serena Jennings.

The person Caleb was looking at certainly wasn’t Queen Elizabeth.

"Let’s go!"

Claire urged.

Caleb withdrew his gaze, looked at Claire Shaw, and coldly said, "Alright."

Now without any outsiders in the room, Queen Elizabeth immediately addressed Serena Jennings as Master BYC.

"Your Majesty, just call me Serena Jennings!"

Queen Elizabeth could see that Serena hesitated to accept the identity of BYC due to her personal reasons, so she did not pry into Serena’s privacy but instead engaged in cheerful conversation over the exceptional Emperor Crab.

The two continued to discuss the crown project while they ate, coming close to finishing the Emperor Crab as well as finalizing the crown project.

Outside the room, Cynthia Fulton felt restless.

She had gone to great lengths to prepare for hosting the Queen, sparing no expense.

And what was the outcome?

Serena Jennings ended up benefiting from it!

Cynthia Fulton gritted her teeth.

Claire Shaw beside her was also not feeling any better.

She was still hungry!

She had barely touched the previous dishes, waiting instead for the Emperor Crab’s unparalleled delicacy.

Now, not only had she not tasted a bite, she could only watch as Serena Jennings devoured the Emperor Crab.

Serena Jennings was indeed very full.

The Emperor Crab was so enormous, there was no way two people could finish it all.

"You have no idea, I initially wanted to choose your piano series as the royal family’s exclusive jewelry, but Xylos’ royal family got ahead of me. Since then, I have always hoped that one day, Master BYC could design a new crown for me..."

Serena Jennings sensed Queen Elizabeth’s sincerity, prompting her to speak frankly.

"Actually, the current crown you’re wearing was also designed by me, though the blueprint was still a work in progress."

Queen Elizabeth was taken aback by this.

"But it was that Miss Shaw..."

At this, Queen Elizabeth suddenly realized the truth: "I see, she plagiarized from you!"

"Well, not exactly..."

Serena shook her head, smiling wryly.

She recounted to Queen Elizabeth the incident of her studio being seized.

"The design blueprints were considered sold assets, and the collections manager gave them to Claire Shaw, allowing her to use them without legal issues."

The crown project for Queen of Ydris was no ordinary undertaking, and Serena Jennings hoped Queen Elizabeth wouldn’t be dazzled by her reputation as Master BYC.

"This is my current situation, with the studio closed down and having to rely on myself. Your Majesty, if you still trust me with the crown project, I promise to bring my best abilities to it."

Serena spoke with dignity, realizing that Queen Elizabeth was moved to tears.

"Oh heavens, I have never encountered someone as sincere as you... Sincere and capable..."

Most people, lacking capability, would try to flatter and weave lies to deceive her just to secure the project.

But Serena was different.

As both emerged from the private room, Cynthia Fulton immediately approached.

While Queen Elizabeth had been smiling a moment earlier, her face instantly fell upon seeing Cynthia Fulton.

"I’m sorry, Miss Fulton, but I no longer wish to stay at your hotel tonight."’

"What?"

Cynthia was momentarily stunned.

"Also, I need to reconsider the undersea tunnel partnership, so there’s no rush to sign the contract."

Queen Elizabeth’s words left Cynthia Fulton bewildered.

What was initially a smoothly progressing project and excellent hospitality had been completely overturned by a dinner with Serena Jennings!

"Furthermore, Miss Shaw..."

Upon being addressed, Claire Shaw nervously tightened her grip on Caleb’s arm.

Caleb had no choice but to accompany Claire to Queen Elizabeth.

"I will pay the balance, but I am very dissatisfied with the crown you’ve made, which isn’t even created by your own talent. I’m greatly disappointed in you, so I’ve decided to let Serena take over."

Having been critiqued in front of Caleb, tears welled up in Claire’s eyes instantly.

"Your Majesty, you can’t..."

"I can."

Queen Elizabeth interrupted Claire firmly, then turned to smile at Serena.

Next, she moved to Serena’s side and asked, "Anywhere to recommend for me to stay?"

If it were just Queen Elizabeth by herself, she could stay at Serena’s place, provided the Queen didn’t mind.

However, the reality was that Queen Elizabeth traveled with an entourage of bodyguards, and Serena’s home couldn’t accommodate them all.

"I do have a place in mind."

A sudden idea struck Serena, prompting her to contact someone.

During the wait, Caleb silently approached Serena from behind.

"Did you cast a spell on the Queen?"

Serena was taken aback and turned to meet Caleb’s gaze.

The abrupt change in Queen Elizabeth’s demeanor was indeed startling, but Caleb assumed Serena had bewitched the Queen rather than believing she had moved the Queen with her genuine talent and sincerity.

Serena chuckled at herself.

"If I had that kind of ability, would I have had to watch helplessly as my studio closed down?"

A ripple crossed Caleb’s eyes.

"You’re blaming me..."