Not knowing what to do, she decided to stop fixating on her own plans.
She would not see herself as Fros, but rather as someone powerless, forced to accept her current identity—a victim compelled to replace Fros and play into someone’s unspeakable scheme.
Yes, only by doing so could the situation be changed.
Hadn’t she already used a similar trick on Elka the day before the gala?
Only by lying—deceiving Meifei, deceiving everyone else, deceiving the one secretly watching her, and deceiving herself—could there be a real turning point.
“I believe everyone attending this gala is curious about the counterfeit medicine. Miss Moria chose not to explain it herself, instead entrusting me to do so. The reason is quite simple.”
This was her chance to seize the initiative.
She needed to organize her words carefully, filling in the blanks left by Moria’s innocent slander with her own narrative.
In such a public setting, she would fabricate facts.
“I am not the true creator of the miracle drug, but rather a collaborator with that gentleman.”
“Hm?”
Meifei was taken aback—she had never heard of this before.
Linko also looked at her with curiosity, while Emia’s face showed even greater interest.
Flora didn’t explain immediately; she simply raised her glass to Meifei, took a sip herself, and then wore a resigned, wistful expression.
“He told me about you, Meifei Frand, eldest daughter of the Rustgold Trading Company, his first partner when he began his pharmaceutical venture, the one who provided him with the necessary equipment.”
[No problem…]
Meifei detected no flaws in that statement.
That was indeed her relationship with Fros, but she didn’t think it meant much, since Fros had never mentioned a figure like Flora.
“So?”
She urged Flora to clarify quickly.
“Perhaps he never told you I was his pharmaceutical mentor?”
“You… mentor?”
At this, the other nobles paying attention to them grew visibly more eager.
The Empire had very strict requirements for certain titles.
For example, the term “mentor” was not to be taken lightly.
If you called yourself a mentor without the skills to back it up, Imperial law would swiftly imprison you for fraud.
A true mentor earned respect; even nobles dared not show off in front of such people.
This was how the Empire valued talent.
Since Moria dared to cause such a big stir, she couldn’t blame Flora for using the opportunity to embellish herself—after all, someone had said they wanted to make her the center of attention.
[Also, it’s taking advantage of Princess Lisette tolerance.]
Flora silently apologized to the princess in her heart.
By doing this, she was essentially interpreting the princess’s previous rudeness toward her as leniency toward talent.
If she failed to demonstrate abilities worthy of that reputation, Princess Lisette might find herself in an awkward position.
Fortunately, Flora had confidence in her pharmaceutical skills.
“May I ask, are you one of the long-lived?”
Meifei hesitated for a long while before blurting out this somewhat awkward question.
She saw no signs of the long-lived race in Flora —only someone young.
For such a young girl to be that man’s mentor, she found it hard to believe.
But once the direction of doubt shifted, Flora no longer worried about the assistance she’d long hoped for.
Because the girl who had accused Fros of being a mere thief stealing everything from her, and who had recklessly broken into the gala to avenge Fros, now misunderstood her.
Even if the effect wasn’t exactly what Flora had initially hoped for.
Fro organized her words carefully and continued weaving a nonexistent past.
“Long-lived? I don’t much like that term, but as for longevity, I really don’t care.”
After all, she had such a strong will to die that living longer was more of a torment.
This indifferent attitude coincidentally matched people’s stereotypical impression of the long-lived.
Flora kept a close eye on Emia’s reaction—the lively second young lady’s gaze was the clearest indicator of how well her acting was working.
From the intense look Emia gave her, Flora was certain she had achieved the effect she wanted.
“The frostbite miracle drug is just one of many we researched together. It’s merely an improvement on traditional formulas used in the Icefields, and it’s said to be widespread in the market.”
[Fros also said he only improved the formula—could it be that she really is…]
Meifei was confused.
She recalled again the note that had led her to the gala.
The handwriting was not Fros’s, but the style of speech was his.
The girl before her and Fros were teacher and student; the note’s origin was now clear.
“That’s right, but why call him…”
She was about to ask anxiously.
If they truly had such a relationship, why sully Fros with such a terrible reputation?
Before she could finish, the girl watching her blinked at her.
“What?”
Flora asked back in confusion.
“Calling him a seller of counterfeit medicine is a judgment based on Imperial law. Do you think this is slander?”
“I… I don’t…”
Meifei wasn’t bold enough to say it outright.
If she publicly accused Emerald Heart of slandering Fros, she’d never see the light of day again.
Flora had no intention of setting up her friend.
Instead, she continued, “Let me ask you, Meifei —didn’t he tell you the ingredients for the miracle drug are rare?
One called Morning Dew Herb cannot be replaced by the commonly used Windscroll Grass in folk remedies?”
This question stunned Meifei.
What was Windscroll Grass?
As a supplier, she had never heard of it.
“Even if the two are the same plant species, missing the Morning Dew Herb’s neutralizing effect on the formula’s toxicity greatly weakens the remedy. They look the same, but using the latter makes the medicine counterfeit.”
“Therefore, calling him a seller of fake medicine is not an exaggeration. The two have vastly different prices, and he doesn’t know why changing this one ingredient allows him to profit greatly.”
Flora actually wanted to say it was due to family pressure or some other reason, but those details were too revealing.
It was better to conceal information to make her story sound more convincing.
And she had achieved the intended effect.
[No need to tell me this—are you hinting at something?]
Even the slow-witted Meifei sensed something was off.
There was no need to say these things in front of so many people, yet Flora did it anyway.
[Looks the same, but is actually counterfeit—does this phrase mean more than it appears?]
Meifei remembered Flora’s subtle wink and began pondering, while Flora continued to pour out a mixture of professional jargon and cryptic allusions, trying to cultivate the image of a mysterious, long-lived healer who cared only about pharmaceuticals and was socially inexperienced.
She did this very well, fully embodying the proud, scholarly stereotype of a mentor.
The nobles looked at her with newfound respect.
“No matter what reasons he had for doing this, ultimately, he committed the crime of selling fake medicine. This caused great damage to your trading company. It is also my fault for not acting sooner.”
“If your company was able to write the indictment promptly and give up illicit profits, as a healer with professional ethics who detests crimes like counterfeit medicine, I must express my deep respect.”
Flora ended her conversation with Meifei on this note.
Someone applauded, and the gala hall was soon filled with enthusiastic praise.
“What a kind and rational young lady.”
“Her words convinced me she’s a true mentor.”
“Truly worthy of being recommended by Miss Moria to be a lady of distinction.”
That last sentence was unnecessary.
Flora heard it and felt uncomfortable all over.
She looked to Meifei, hoping her friend would respond in a way that served her purpose.
But before that could happen, someone else reacted first.
Emia, who had been watching their interaction, yawned.
“Miss Flora is still too soft-hearted. That’s the limitation of geniuses. Seriously, why waste so many words? She’s just the daughter of a mere supplier and dares to speak so openly and sarcastically to our Empire’s new lady of distinction? Guards, throw her out and find a place to bury her.”
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