The Camille couple had never imagined they would be invited to an evening party where nobles gathered.
In the past, this sort of thing would have made them happy, but the person who invited them was the scholar from the Emerald Heart Party whom they knew, and the reason for their invitation was that their son was a scoundrel who made fake medicine.
“Fros Camille, regardless of his reasons for making counterfeit medicine, cannot change the vile consequences he brought about. For the harm he caused the people and the loss of the Chamber of Commerce’s assets, Emerald Heart will not evade responsibility.”
Tatashimi spoke loudly as the guards escorted the Camille couple, dragging them onto the hall’s stage.
“And these two are the parents of Fros Camille. According to the Emerald Heart’s accounts, Fros sent the majority of his wages back home.He is now missing, so for the negative impact he caused, Emerald Heart will bear responsibility, but likewise, his parents must also step forward to provide compensation.”
At once, the Camille couple’s legs gave way and they slumped to the ground.
Just as they were about to speak, Tatashimi’s cold, mechanical gaze swept over, and they immediately closed their mouths, not daring to say a word.
“Tonight’s invited guests, besides the noble gentlemen and ladies, are also the merchants affected by Fros’s misdeeds and the families of those harmed by the fake medicine.”
Tatashimi spoke very slowly, as if pronouncing a sentence, saying with utmost gravity words that sent the Camille couple into panic.
“Miss Moria wishes to use the opportunity of this banquet, in the presence of you all, to restore the reputation of Emerald Heart. Therefore, tonight, we will compensate everyone face to face, and also require the couple to provide appropriate compensation, to ensure your rights.”
The guests applauded in recognition of her statement.
The rumors of Moria and Fros having an ambiguous relationship had been circulating for quite some time.
Thus, with Emerald Heart making such a grand declaration of Fros’s capture, everyone was curious to see what Moria would do tonight.
In the end, it was such a just compensation and declaration, and a clear distancing from Fros.
This result was unexpectedly ordinary, but no one found it inappropriate.
The crowd, curious about the spectacle, watched as Tatashimi, expressionless, held the list and announced loudly: “The total compensation amounts to 6,700 gold coins. Emerald Heart is responsible for seventy percent, Fros for thirty percent, so…”
“Wait!”
Before she could assign responsibility, Ham, who was still sitting limply on the ground, regained some composure and hurriedly called out to her.
“We… We simply can’t afford that much! Miss… There must be some mistake, Fros, that child, he… he…”
But under the scrutiny of so many eyes, he stammered, unable to finish his words.
Moria, however, overheard something rather interesting and leaned in close to Flora’s ear, chuckling softly: “Fros, that child, he?”
Standing behind Flora, she placed both hands on Flora’s shoulders, her voice light and cheerful.
“Flora, what do you think, that Fros, what about him?”
“……”
Flora gave no reply.
She stared blankly at her father, watching him kneel on the ground in humiliation and terror, and felt no satisfaction, only an inexplicable pain.
“Before Fros disappeared, he once left the party, then returned. But the next day, he vanished. The one thing confirmed before his disappearance is that he had contact with his parents.
Mr. Camille, are you going to deny this fact?
Or are you going to, in the face of irrefutable evidence, claim that Fros is innocent…”
Tatashimi was completely unmoved by his behavior, still reading out with a blank face.
Ham found the attitude of his son’s teammate—who not long ago was so friendly—strange and frightening.
He swallowed hard, hands trembling, and shook his head.
“No, all that money he sent home… it was all spent by him! We don’t know where he went either, you all know what he’s like. If you want us to compensate, even if we lose everything, we can’t do it.”
Tatashimi instinctively glanced at Flora.
Seeing her frozen in shock, she looked at the list in her hand and continued.
“It is said your second son studies at the Imperial Capital Magic Academy. In that case, you should have the means to pay…”
Before she finished, she saw Ham looking anxiously around.
Very quickly, he spotted Moria, as if seeing a lifeline, and crawled rapidly toward her.
“Ya’er! Didn’t you say you would keep Fros in line? How… no, it’s Uncle’s fault, please help Uncle! I beg you!”
Realizing it was Moria who put them in this position, Ham knew he had no other option but to seek her help.
Mia also crawled to Moria and Flora, burying her head on the ground.
“This really is troublesome, Uncle, Auntie. I did say I would keep him in line, but after he did such a thing…”
Moria looked extremely troubled, but her eyes sparkled with delight.
She squeezed Flora’s stiff shoulders, then gently supported her head, making her lower it slightly, so she could take a good look at her blood relatives—who had hurt her so deeply—now kneeling in disgrace before her.
“I really have no way. This is how the law works, which is why I called you here.”
“But your father and I were old comrades-in-arms! We…”
Ham blurted out in desperation, but his words were quickly cut off by Moria’s kind smile.
The past is the past.
Moria’s friendliness to them had always been because of Fros, not because of any camaraderie—they should be very clear about that.
Ham hurriedly lowered his head and knocked it heavily on the ground.
“Please forgive us.”
None of the guests were much interested in the pitiful sight of two commoners.
Many were already bored, heading over to the buffet for some drinks and snacks, idly eating.
For them, the real highlight of the night was Flora’s investiture.
The rest was just an interlude.
Thus, Flora felt less pressure from prying eyes, which made her even more clearly feel the unique effect of this scene on her.
“How is it?”
Moria sent her a message with magic.
“This is the power of the nobility. How does it feel?
The taste of taking revenge on them—how is it?”
Not good.
Not good at all.
She hated her parents’ heartless behavior, but she’d never wanted this for them.
Deep in her heart, all the hurt came from Moria’s schemes.
If it hadn’t been for Moria, she would never have become like this.
But…
Is that really true?
The more Flora thought about it, the less convincing that sounded.
Even without Moria, her life probably wouldn’t have been much better.
Her parents wouldn’t necessarily have treated her any differently just because of Moria.
Saying it was all Moria’s fault—wasn’t that just an escape from her own miserable life?
So, what she really wanted was for her parents to kneel before her and apologize.
They had two children.
She was just as outstanding, so why did they only treat her brother like their true flesh and blood, and her as a money-making dog?
“I must take responsibility for Emerald Heart and the victims, but you should thank her. Fros’s fake medicine nearly killed those people, but Miss Flora healed them. Without her, your compensation would have been much more.
But, with her stepping in, your compensation might even be much less.”
Seeing Flora remain unresponsive, Moria kindly reminded the Camille couple, who sensibly kowtowed and begged Flora for help.
“Thank you for remedying the wrongs of my unfilial son. Could you please help us again? We’ll be forever grateful. Our second son is still in school…”
“Please, we beg you!”
Flora stared at them woodenly.
Looked down on them from above.
Mute, at a loss for words.
“She seems tired, and can’t answer you.But I believe kind Miss Flora wouldn’t bear to see you fall into ruin. As for compensation, that can be discussed…”
Moria was tired of the sight and found the way the two clung to Flora’s legs a bit disgusting, so she smiled and signaled for the guards to drag them away.
Then, bending down in front of them, she whispered:
“There is actually another way, Uncle, Auntie. Why do you think I brought you here?”
“What…”
The Camille couple looked at her nervously, waiting for this supposed solution.
Moria didn’t beat around the bush, telling them directly.
The fear and unease on their faces disappeared at once, replaced by hope and excitement in their eyes.
Flora couldn’t understand this reaction and felt a strange sense of unease.
“What did you say?”
When Moria returned to her side, Flora—having recovered a bit—couldn’t help but ask.
“You can’t bear it, so I have to find another way. Honestly, I give you this present, and you don’t even dare accept it. Even though they’ve hurt you so badly.”
“I just…”
Flora lowered her eyes and, in the end, didn’t say what she wanted to.
Moria didn’t pursue the topic.
She ruffled Flora’s face and said with a smile: “So sensitive.”
Seeing Flora still so listless, she sighed helplessly and picked her up, jumping off the stage.
Ignoring the murmurs of the crowd, Moria walked to the back and seated her at a tea table, personally pouring her a cup of black tea.
“Have some more sugar, rest a bit. Later I still want to dance with you.”
She smiled and held a macaron to Flora’s mouth, remarking with emotion, “I know your temperament. Even after being hurt, you don’t want to retaliate. You’re satisfied just licking your wounds quietly in a corner, right?”
Flora didn’t refuse the sweets and tea.
She ate the macaron unceremoniously, didn’t answer right away, just stared into her teacup.
Moria had just added quite a bit of sugar, and she really wasn’t in the mood for a sugar bomb.
But Moria’s tone, and her rare normal behavior, made Flora hesitate.
In the end, she sipped her tea.
It wasn’t as bad as she imagined.
On the contrary, it felt rather warm.
Leaning back in her chair, she felt ready, and looked at Moria, who was also sipping tea.
“So this is the reason for all you’ve done to me? You don’t like me like this?”
It was the first time since her change that they’d talked so openly.
If Flora had to describe it, it felt like they’d just had a fight.
She still couldn’t forgive Moria, but could accept this as an intermission.
She owed this feeling to their long acquaintance and unspoken understanding.
Moria naturally sensed it, too.
She pursed her lips.
“Not exactly.”
Then she felt that wasn’t quite right, so she grinned.
“Doesn’t it make you even cuter?”
“I don’t think so.”
Flora took another sip of tea, her face cold.
Moria remained unconcerned.
“I think you’re cute, so you’re cute. Trust my taste. But you can’t waste a promised reward, so anything you don’t want to do, I’ll do for you.”
“For me?”
Flora instinctively looked back at her parents still on the stage.
Her intuition told her that what Moria meant was what she had just whispered to them.
Just then, after finishing a conversation with Tatashimi, the Camille couple walked to the center of the hall.
“We are deeply sorry for the impact caused by our son’s misdeeds. We will bear the compensation.”
With that, they bowed to everyone.
Flora didn’t think this was what Moria meant.
She glanced at the young lady, who smiled and signaled her to keep watching the stage.
Soon, as they straightened up, the Camille couple added: “But we also want to show everyone our resolve and principles. Since we are fortunate to attend this banquet, we would like to ask all of you to bear witness.”
From this day forth, Fros Camille has nothing to do with us.
“We, as his parents, hereby sever all ties with him.”
The teacup she was holding slipped from her hand and fell to the floor at these words.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.