What kind of reaction could possibly handle a situation this dire?
Flora didn’t know.
Only now did she realize how foolish it was to cling to the hope of possible help by sheer luck.
She had been thinking too simply, naively believing that even if the Rust-Gold Trading Company didn’t side with her, her friend Meifei would detect the slightest clue from the odd circumstances, discover the problem, accept the invitation to the gala, meet with her, and uncover the scheme—thus becoming someone she could rely on.
But without considering the fickleness of human loyalty or whether Meifei could truly be trusted in this way, just from the perspective of her own luck, could she really be fortunate enough for the message she sent out to have the desired effect?
If the goddess of luck were truly on her side, she wouldn’t have ended up in this predicament.
One thing she was right about: Meifei was Fros’s friend and would help Fros.
But the problem was, she was no longer Fros but Flora, and she had no way to explain her identity to Meifei.
From Meifi’s point of view, how would she interpret everything that had happened these past days?
Her partner suddenly vanished, accused of manufacturing counterfeit medicine, and was wanted by former teammates.
A note promising a special remedy, on the condition that she attend the gala, had been delivered to her by the captain’s maid.
And due to Moria’s pressure, the Trading Company had issued a written accusation against the partner.
Arriving at the gala hoping to get to the bottom of the matter, she encountered a girl who claimed to have unmasked the counterfeit medicine dealer and was the true creator of the special remedy.
This girl was seen cozying up to Moria, basking in the praise of the crowd and the favor of the princess.
She might very well be the author of the suspicious note, written in what seemed to be a female hand.
Putting all these factors together, would Meifei still think the note’s sender was seeking help?
More likely, it was a threat to force her to come to the gala—to silence her by intimidation!
[Meifei, how on earth can I explain all this to you?]
Flora understood why Meifei held such an attitude, but she was helpless.
She couldn’t tell the supplier lady that this new healer was actually Fros transformed, and not some shameless impostor who had joined with the others of Emerald Heart to steal everything that belonged to Fros and ruin his reputation.
In her panic and confusion, Flora’s mouth opened slightly, then closed again—nervous and uneasy like someone caught in a lie.
Emia had already narrowed her eyes at her, the look on her face urging her to respond quickly.
There was no time to hesitate; even if she couldn’t speak freely, silence was not an option.
Meifei’s gaze toward her grew colder by the moment.
If only she were free from that name, she could simply claim to be Fros and reveal the secret to the world.
But her reason quickly dismissed the idea.
[No rash moves in desperate times. Even if it were possible, Moria’s surveillance is everywhere, and a bitter fight with her is a price I cannot pay.]
She might die, but what about those connected to her?
Realizing this gave Flora a reason to calm herself down.
Yet her emotions remained tangled and complicated, leaving her no choice but to turn her helpless bitterness into a dry laugh.
“Ahaha…”
To outsiders, it might seem like an awkward, guilty smile.
To Emia, it was a sign of hidden motives.
Still, Flora had no choice but to put on this unwilling facade, acting in a way no beneficiary should, hoping to sow a seed of doubt in Meifei’s mind.
But this display had an even stronger effect on Linko, who had been by her side for a week and understood the general situation.
The maid couldn’t bear to watch her like this.
[Flora… I’m sorry.]
She apologized silently.
After learning of the counterfeit medicine incident, she understood that merely being able to deliver the message to this supplier meant the entire affair was part of Moria’s plan.
Including the current circumstances.
She could have given Flora clearer warnings earlier, but when she saw Flora’s dangerously optimistic hopefulness, she couldn’t bring herself to shatter the girl’s illusion.
Now, in hindsight, her silence only caused Flora more pain.
Seeing Flora’s forced smile turn into a mask of falseness, Linko finally couldn’t hold back.
“Enough…”
Her professionalism as Duke Deran’s loyal servant failed her in moments like this.
Her coldness could affect anyone—except Flora.
Biting her lip, she squeezed the hand Flora had not let go of, trying to show support.
But by doing so, she felt even more clearly the coldness of the girl’s fingers.
That proved one thing.
[No mistake…]
Linko thought to herself.
Flora’s reactions, combined with the earlier evidence, were enough to clarify the entire chain of cause and effect.
Flora was Fros, a pitiful person stripped of her original identity, gender, status, and all her rights, now trapped in a new body.
And as her maid, Linko was powerless to offer anything that could truly change that fate.
She was Duke Deran’s dog—an identity that made her words trustworthy only to her master.
If she took action, the outcome would be far worse than death.
Moria exposing Flora’s true identity was no oversight.
[Even if I told my master, this secret couldn’t be shared. This forbidden technique would become a scandal among the nobility. If word got out, I’d be dead—and my master would kill me too.]
Linko was thinking ahead, which made her realize clearly that all she could do was, as an executioner’s blade, try to avoid striking Flora’s vital points.
But she hadn’t expected Flora to squeeze her hand back before letting go.
“I see.”
After a brief moment, Flora’s obviously rehearsed false smile vanished.
She naturally folded her hands, rested her chin on them, and tilted her head slightly, looking at the supplier lady.
“I almost forgot about this matter myself.”
Meifei frowned displeased, equally puzzled by Flora’s reaction.
[That note could only have been written by you. If so, let me understand your reasons for doing this.]
The princess’s words, along with the strangeness of the entire affair, deeply concerned Meifei.
The merchant’s keen sense of right and wrong told her that for the sake of her partner, she had to come to the gala and investigate—at least to understand the connection between the girl named Flora Emerald and Fros.
She couldn’t let her father’s influence break the principles she upheld or lose the friendship she treasured.
Even if it meant risking death, a partner like Fros was worth fighting for.
Wasn’t a merchant supposed to be willing to risk everything for profit?
But Meifei hadn’t expected the core of the incident to be a seemingly pure and dazzling girl like Flora.
From the moment she saw her, it was hard to imagine she was the kind of person who would steal someone else’s name and glory.
That only deepened Meifi’s confusion and led her to boldly choose such a reckless approach to contact Flora.
Yet now, Flora’s behavior was becoming more like the aristocratic lady she despised.
It irritated Meifei.
After all, at first, Flora’s gaze hadn’t seemed like that of a stranger.