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The room fell silent at once. Dana spoke again. “I will cover the entire compensation amount with my personal fortune.”
The vassals were speechless, shocked by her words. Dana spoke as if it were nothing, but those words weren’t something just anyone could say easily.
“Are you serious?” asked Viscount Manus.
“Yes, if the patriarch permits.”
Everyone knew, albeit tacitly, that Danae Windsor was an heiress with an unimaginable fortune. But none of them had truly realized it—Because she had never shown it. This was the first time Dana revealed it. Casually, she offered to compensate an astronomical amount.
Dana noticed the change in their gaze. Surprise, astonishment, and admiration.
“However, I will only compensate those who apply.”
“Apply?” someone asked.
“As you know, the crash of the moonlight flower price began with black market trading. We need to weed out those involved, don’t we?” Dana’s eyes sparkled. “I will compensate only those who come with an official trading certificate from Windsor’s official exchange.”
From the start, this market manipulation was designed to compensate real victims.And more than anything—The acquaintances who had bought moonlight flowers directly from Allice.
There was no need for Dana to expose them. They would crawl out themselves, lured by the sweet scent of compensation.This will cause a major uproar.
Dana quietly looked at Carl. For some reason, Carl seemed inwardly moved. Perhaps he thought she was cleaning up Allice’s mess. Dana smiled gently, encouraging his misunderstanding.
Come to your senses, Carl.The end of this domino effect is him.
Everything unfolded just as Dana had planned. Those who bought through Allice—All of them demanded compensation but couldn’t present a trade certificate issued by the official exchange. But the compensation amount was too large to give up. So,
“I bought it directly from Allice Windsor.”
They had no choice but to confess like this.
“It wasn’t through Windsor’s trading exchange, so I don’t have a certificate, but I paid fair and square.”
“What’s the issue? Allice was in charge of the business, and I just bought flowers from her.”
As expected, the vassals turned upside down at the next meeting.
“It’s true that Lady Allice engaged in black-market trading!”
“Huan Rolland’s testimony was true after all!”
“How could she do this!”
“The crash of the moonlight flowers started in the black market. Now that I see it, it was Lady Allice who started it all!”
“Did you know about this, Deputy Head?”
“Did you cover it up even though you knew?”
“Not knowing is a problem in itself! Wasn’t Lady Allice the one you personally appointed?!”
“How could you educate her this way?!”
“It seems Deputy Head has no eye for people!”
“Allice, you have to attend the next vassal meeting.”
Carl warned Allice the next day. Despite his firm statements, evidence emerged that Allice had engaged in black-market trading. Ridiculed to death by the vassals, he was left tattered.
“Do you understand, Allice?”
“B-But…” Allice hugged a toy rabbit and sobbed. “My head hurts… I think I have a fever…”
Sandra quickly intervened. “That’s right, Carl. Allice has been unwell recently. Let her rest a few more days.”
Finally, Carl exploded. “Enough of that!”
“You irresponsible child. Who taught you to be like this?”
“W-Why are you getting angry?”
Allice’s teary eyes only fueled Carl’s frustration.
“No more excuses. You’re attending tomorrow’s meeting, Allice.”
“But!” Allice eventually burst into tears. “They’re all going to blame me! Everyone’s going to be mad at me!”
“Yes. And that’s something you need to face.” Carl firmly grasped Allice’s shoulders, meeting her eyes. “High position comes with responsibility. Sometimes, you have to be stoned, sometimes drenched in filth. Did you take charge of the moonlight flower business without such resolve?”
“Honey! Allice is just—”
When Sandra tried to interfere, Carl sighed deeply. “Sandra, you too must take responsibility for your actions too.”
“You insisted on involving Allice in the moonlight flower business.”
“And it was you who brought Huan into this mansion.”
“Sandra, please don’t disappoint me anymore.”
Eventually, Sandra drooped her shoulders in surrender. The last barrier protecting Allice vanished.
“At tomorrow’s meeting, make no excuses and apologize Allice,” Carl spoke firmly. “Dana has agreed to take responsibility for the moonlight flower losses.”
“…Sister Dana did?”
“Yes. Dana agreed to resolve everything. If not for her, this wouldn’t have passed so easily.”
“So just beg for forgiveness. Especially to Dana—for bringing Huan Rolland into the mansion.”
That night, Allice couldn’t sleep. She sobbed while hugging her doll.
How did it all come to this? When did things start to go wrong? I just meant well.
She swore to God she had no ill intent. Her actions had all been out of goodwill. There was not a single ounce of malice—so why was the world so cruel in return?
“Don’t cry, Allice.”
“Miona,hic, sob.”
“Stop crying and come to your senses. This is Dana’s trap.”
“Yes. Dana wants to tarnish your name without dirtying her own hands.”
“What do you mean?”
“If she offers compensation, those who bought moonlight flowers from you will come forward! She set this trap deliberately!”
Allice was shocked. Her tears disappeared instantly.
Sister Dana is attacking me? To take what I have? To make me miserable? To ruin me? But why? Why?
Her sorrow faded. Anger rose in its place.
Sister, I really wanted to get along well with you… But why are you tormenting me like this?
The next day, Allice had to attend the vassal meeting. And as expected, criticism rained down on her.
“What were you thinking engaging in black-market trading?” Eric looked at her with disappointment and contempt.
Allice took a deep breath.
“It can’t be helped, Allice. You’ll never be trusted with any Windsor business again.”
She recalled what Miona had told her yesterday.
“So push the narrative that you did it out of naivety. Play as the innocent noble lady.”
Okay, I understand, Miona.
“You’ll be seen as a failed businesswoman, but at least you’ll still be seen as a pure noble lady.”
“I just did it with good intentions.”
“I did it because my friends needed it. I’m really sorry.”
“Lady Allice. I clearly told you private selling was not allowed!”
“Yes, I should have stopped then… but I had already promised,” Allice spoke with a trembling voice, tears streaming down. “I just wanted to keep my promise. I’m really sorry.”
Silence enveloped the room. Only the sound of Allice’s crying echoed through the room.
“…Why did you let Huan Rolland into the mansion?” Perhaps tired of the moonlight flower topic, Viscount Manus asked with a jaded voice. “Lord Carl had banned him from entering, hadn’t he?”
“I did it for reconciliation.” Allice appealed with the most innocent eyes ever. “When families fight and turn away from each other, are you just supposed to do nothing? Uncle was kicked out after arguing with Dad. How could I stand by and do nothing?”
“So I wanted to reconcile them. It was all with good intentions… and I truly apologize to Sister Dana.”
“But please believe me. I didn’t mean any harm. It was all with good intentions.”
At that moment, every vassal in the room realized—There was no point in blaming her any further. Allice Windsor shouldn’t be in this meeting room. She wasn’t someone suited to hold this kind of responsibility. So they sent Allice away. And then turned all their anger on Carl Windsor.
“We’re disappointed in you, Deputy Head.”
“How could you entrust such an important business to someone so naive?”
“Do you take the moonlight flower business that lightly?”
“You were the one who gave Huan Rolland a role in it too!”
“How could you be so reckless!”
Carl had nothing to say. For the first time since becoming the deputy head, he faced a torrent of criticism, bowing his head.
“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”
Then, the patriarch, who had remained silent until now, raised his hand. The vassals immediately quieted down.
“Deputy Head must take responsibility for this matter.”
It was the expected verdict—but still a bitter one to accept.
Carl swallowed his despair and lowered his head. Looking at his darkened face, Viego solemnly declared, “Carl Windsor, your authority as deputy head is hereby temporarily revoked.”