The room fell silent at once. I spoke again. “I will bear the full cost of compensation from my own fortune.”
The vassals were speechless, shocked by my words. It’s because what was proposed was not something just anyone could easily offer.
“Are you serious?” asked Viscount Manus.
“Yes, if the head of the family permits.”
Everyone knew, albeit tacitly, that Danae Windsor was an heiress with an unimaginable fortune. However, they never really felt it, as I never showed it. Now, for the first time, I revealed it. Casually, I offered to compensate an astronomical amount.
I 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 flowers began with black market trading. Shouldn’t we filter out such people?” My eyes sparkled. “I will compensate only those who come with an official trading certificate from Windsor’s official trading post.”
It was all market manipulation from the start to compensate the victims. Most importantly, those who had bought moonlight flowers privately from Allice.
There was no need for her to expose them. They would crawl out themselves, lured by the sweet scent of compensation.
This will cause a major uproar.
I quietly looked at Carl. For some reason, Carl seemed inwardly moved. Perhaps he thought I was resolving Allice’s mistake. Of course, it was a great misunderstanding. I smiled gently, encouraging his misunderstanding.
Come to your senses, Carl.
The end of this domino effect is you.
* * *
Everything went according to my plan. Those who bought through Allice. They all demanded compensation but couldn’t present an official trading certificate. 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 post, so I don’t have a certificate, but I paid fairly.”
“What’s the issue? Allice was in charge of the business, and I just bought flowers from her.”
As expected, the meeting room turned upside down at the next meeting.
“It’s true that Lady Allice engaged in black-market trading!”
“Huan Rolland’s testimony was true!”
“How could she do this!”
“The crash of the moonlight flowers started in the black market. Now we see it all began with Lady Allice!”
“Did you know about this, Deputy Head?”
“Did you defend her knowing all this?”
“Weren’t you aware? Lady Allice was put in charge by you!”
“How could you educate her this way?!”
“It seems the Deputy Head has no eye for people!”
* * *
“Tomorrow’s vassal meeting, you must attend too, Allice.”
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. “I have a severe headache. I feel feverish…”
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!”
“D-Dad?”
“You irresponsible child. Who taught you to be like this?”
“W-why are you getting angry?”
As Allice tearfully looked up, Carl felt his heart might burst.
“Just attend the vassal meeting tomorrow, Allice.”
“But!” Allice eventually burst into tears. “They will blame me! They will all be angry at me!”
“Yes. That’s what you must face.” Carl firmly grasped Allice’s shoulders, meeting her eyes. “High position comes with responsibility. Sometimes, you must face stones or get drenched in muddy water. 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.”
“What?”
“You insisted on involving Allice in the moonlight flower business.”
“…”
“And it was you who asked Huan to come into this house.”
“…”
“Sandra, please don’t disappoint me anymore.”
Eventually, Sandra drooped her shoulders in surrender. The last barrier protecting Allice vanished.
“Apologize tomorrow at the vassal meeting, Allice. Just apologize.” Carl spoke firmly to Allice. “Dana 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.”
“…”
“Just beg for forgiveness. Especially apologize deeply to Dana for bringing Huan into the house.”
Allice’s POV
That night, I couldn’t sleep. I hugged my toy and wept softly.
Why did this happen? When did things start to go wrong?
I just had good intentions.
I swear to god that there wasn’t a speck of malice. It was all actions filled with good intentions. But why does the world give such cruel results?
“Don’t cry, Allice.”
“Miona, sob, sob.”
“Stop crying and come to your senses. This is Dana’s trap.”
“Trap?”
“Yes. Dana is trying to smear your face without dirtying her 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?
My sorrow faded. Anger rose in its place.
Big sis, I really wanted to get along well with you…
But why are you tormenting me like this?
Why…
* * *
The next day, I had to attend the vassal meeting. And as expected, I faced criticism.
“What were you thinking engaging in black-market trading?” Eric looked at me with disappointment and contempt.
I took a deep breath.
“It can’t be helped, Allice. You can’t take charge of any business in the Windsor family anymore.”
I remembered what Miona told me yesterday.
“Then 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 you can remain as a pure noble lady.”
“I just did it with good intentions.”
“What?”
“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,” I spoke with a trembling voice, tears streaming down. “I just wanted to keep my promise. I’m really sorry.”
Silence enveloped the room. Only my sobbing echoed.
“Why did you let Huan Rolland into the house?” Manus, sounding weary, asked. “You knew Carl forbade his entry.”
“I did it for reconciliation.” I appealed with the most innocent eyes ever. “Would you just watch your family fight and turn their backs? Huan fought with my dad and got kicked out. How could I just watch?”
“…”
“So I wanted to reconcile them. It was all with good intentions… I’m really sorry to Sister Dana.”
“…”
“But please understand. I had no malice. It was all with good intentions.”
At that moment, the vassals realized. There’s no use in blaming her further. Allice Windsor shouldn’t be in this meeting room. She shouldn’t be entrusted with such matters. Thus, after sending her away, they poured all their criticism on Carl Windsor.
“We’re disappointed in you, Deputy Head.”
“Why did you entrust the moonlight flower sales to such an ignorant person?”
“Do you see the moonlight flower business so lightly?”
“You also assigned Huan Rolland to the moonlight flower business!”
“How could you be so careless!”
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 Head of the family, who had been silently fueling the vassals’ criticism, raised his hand. The criticisms abruptly stopped.
“The Deputy Head must take responsibility for this matter.”
It was an expected verdict but hard to accept. Carl swallowed his despair and lowered his head.
Viego looked at Carl’s darkened face and quietly declared. “Carl Windsor. Your authority as deputy head will be temporarily revoked.”
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temporarily? only temporarily?
Alice, look in a dictionary under “white lotus” I’m pretty sure you are the poster child for that definition