TFOM Episode 148

TFOM | Episode 148

Posted by Bree, Released on April 29, 2025

Episode 148

The sudden actions of Hans Campbell filled the room with shock.

“B-Bro!”

“Hans—!”

The colorful accessories scattered across the table and the eldest son calmly admitting his faults.

Lady Campbell and Danvers looked so pale they seemed about to faint at any moment.

I quietly sneered at them and slowly examined the jewelry Hans Campbell had thrown.

Fortunately, among them was the sapphire ring that belonged to the Duchess.

‘Hmm. He brought it just like I told him to.’

There might still be other matters to handle, but for now, I was grateful just to have recovered that.

In the meantime, Hans Campbell turned to Joshua and apologized.

“…I’m sorry for everything, Joshua. I’ll return what I took.”

“Uh…”

Joshua, who had been merely holding his breath at the unfolding situation, just stared back blankly.

It was only natural.

After all, just a week ago, that guy had acted so viciously, and now he was behaving like an entirely different person.

Hans then confidently declared before everyone.

“After getting buried under those crates, I finally woke up.”

“……”

“I won’t bully anyone anymore, nor cause any more trouble. If I must be punished for what I’ve done, I’ll accept it willingly.”

“Hans…!”

“And Danvers, you too — stop bullying the other kids. Stop acting cocky just because you thought you had my backing.”

“B-but… Bro…”

Danvers Campbell looked as if he had lost his entire world.

For a moment, the Chancellor’s Office was filled with heavy silence.

The one who broke it was none other than Lady Cloud.

“Anything else you’d like to say?”

She asked as she scanned the women with a hardened expression, clear disgust glinting in her eyes.

Sensing it, the noblewomen squeezed their eyes shut all at once.

‘No doubt, they must be feeling utterly hopeless.’

They knew full well that a grand noble like Lady Cloud, who valued honor above all else, would never let today’s events slide.

“This belongs to the Duke’s house, so I’ll be taking it back!”

With a voice that didn’t suit the solemn atmosphere — bright and cheerful — I started scooping the accessories into the pouch I had brought.

Contrary to Joshua’s deep worries, the incident where we beat up Danvers’ gang ended with them getting suspended from the academy.

“Thank you so, so much for coming today, Madam!”

I bowed my head and expressed my gratitude while seeing Lady Cloud off.

Honestly, even if she hadn’t come, I would have found a way to settle things somehow.

But it was also undeniable that having her there made everything much smoother.

Joshua was one thing too.

But I especially didn’t want to cower in front of the aggressive noble parents, just because I was a commoner orphan without parents.

‘After all, I’ve had more than enough of that kind of humiliation in my past life…’

What surprised me more was that Lady Cloud had agreed so readily to my request to act as my “godmother.”

“Tsk tsk. How long has it been since you started at the academy, and already you’re getting tangled up in such filthy incidents?”

Lady Cloud clicked her tongue and scolded me in response to my thanks.

Feeling slightly wronged, I stuck out my lower lip and grumbled sulkily.

“It’s not even my fault.”

“Who said it was your fault? I’m saying you shouldn’t even bother dealing with lowlifes like that.”

“You heard that, Josh? You better take Lady Cloud’s advice to heart.”

I tossed Lady Cloud’s nagging over to Joshua, who was standing awkwardly beside me, and she let out a small chuckle.

“Honestly, you just get more and more shameless every year…”

Shaking her head, she climbed up onto the carriage at last.

“I already told Charlotte to give you a three-year free membership at the salon!”

You must always properly repay a favor.

I hurriedly shouted that out to Lady Cloud.

She paused and turned to look at me.

As always, her presence was strict and intimidating, but I offered a sheepish, awkward smile.

“Please come by often. You haven’t been visiting lately…”

“Forget it.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m not some beggar. Why would I use a perfectly fine shop for free?”

Far from pleased as I had expected, Lady Cloud frowned in displeasure.

“Then, maybe there’s something else you need—”

“Cut the nonsense.”

“…”

“Now that everyone’s going to hear you’re my goddaughter, don’t you dare bring shame to my name. Always watch your conduct carefully.”

“Uh…”

“Do you hear me? Why aren’t you answering?!”

Terrified by her stern voice scolding me, I quickly replied in a panic.

“Y-Yes, ma’am!”

Only then did she show a satisfied expression and finish getting into the carriage.

Even after her carriage became a mere speck in the distance, I couldn’t snap out of my dazed state.

“She really… accepted me as her goddaughter…?”

In truth, without official sponsorship documents, a verbal godparent relationship doesn’t hold much legal weight.

However, in noble society, having the backing of a figure who holds power over the social world was an enormous advantage.

From now on, her connections and authority would practically become my own.

Not just in Erea, but even among nobles and royals from other countries.

‘Our Belze Trading Company… finally going global?!’

Although the introduction had come through the Duke, it was my own behavior and efforts that had deepened my relationship with Lady Cloud.

Beyond just casual acquaintance, the fact that we had forged a strong bond filled me with pride.

Imagining the Belze Trading Company growing and stretching out into the world made my heart pound with excitement.

“…Sister.”

At that moment.

Someone called out to me, still staring blankly in the direction Lady Cloud had disappeared.

“Ah, Josh.”

Realizing I had forgotten all about Joshua, I smiled awkwardly and hurriedly rummaged through my school jacket.

“Here.”

I handed him the pouch I had used earlier to scoop up the accessories.

But Joshua didn’t immediately take it.

“Why aren’t you taking it?”

“…How did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Hans Campbell.”

He looked at me with slight suspicion in his eyes.

Well, fair enough.

From Joshua’s perspective, everything that had happened in the Chancellor’s office must have seemed utterly baffling and surreal.

I recalled the conversation I had had with Ismail earlier that morning.

“Why didn’t you tell me Danvers Campbell had an older brother? If I hadn’t brought Teddy Bear, we would’ve been beaten to a pulp! How are you going to take responsibility?”

“Don’t exaggerate. It’s not like you’d just sit there and get beaten, right? Besides, that guy hardly even shows up at school, so I had no idea he’d be involved either…”

“Either way, it’s partly your fault for not investigating properly, so this time, you’re going to have to help too.”

“What do you want me to do…”

Due to his failure to conduct a perfect background check, Ismail had to deliver a non-existent notice to the Campbell barony around the time today’s announcement was made.

It went without saying that while there, he planted a behavioral suggestion on Hans Campbell.

Thanks to that, not only did the guy drag his injured body all the way to the Chancellor’s office right on time, he even fully confessed to all the ridiculous lies I had made up.

Later, Ismail clicked his tongue, asking me how I planned to deal with the fallout once the suggestion wore off,
but I wasn’t particularly worried.

‘By the time he comes to his senses, the situation will already be over anyway.’

Even if he threw a fit out of frustration, there would be no overturning the suspension once it was issued.

If there was anything still bothering me,
it was only Ismail’s grumbling.

“You’re always like this… Sometimes I feel like you’re sponsoring me just to use me when it’s convenient.”

Maybe the reason that stung a little more than usual was because there was some truth to it.

A lot had changed after my regression, but deep down, I still kept my guard up against Ismail.

Because if he entered the academy like he wanted, I had quietly expected he would eventually meet Diana and fall in love, as fate had originally intended.

Ironically, though, since Diana wasn’t in the theology department,
they hardly had any chances to meet at all.

‘…Maybe I should bring him a gift tomorrow to make up for it.’

Just as I resolved to console him with a little present for his wounded feelings—

“Why aren’t you saying anything, Sis? How did you do it?”

Joshua, apparently bothered by my sudden silence, pressed me impatiently.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I hurriedly made up an excuse.

“I told Teddy Bear to smack his head until he got amnesia.”

“I know you’re lying. His arm’s broken, how would that cause memory loss?”

“Then would you believe me if I said I cast a spell?”

“……”

At that, Joshua shut his mouth tightly.

He must have realized that no matter how much he pushed, I wasn’t going to reveal the truth.