Chapter 61: The Duchess’s Gambit: Camilla’s Downfall

Alice’s actions, without a doubt, fueled the general discontent towards Camilla. Since Alice was clearly not at fault, the blame could only fall upon Camilla.

“Camilla, are you trying to push your responsibilities onto Miss Liddell?” Someone immediately challenged her.

“I—” Camilla’s eyes widened, but she found herself unable to utter a single word of rebuttal.

Then, another person delivered a heavy blow: “Wait a minute, you were the one who introduced that swindler! You were also the point of contact for that investment scheme. Could it be that you’re in league with that swindler!?”

“Hah? Watch your mouth! What nonsense are you spouting?” Never having been attacked in such a manner, Camilla immediately glared back, her voice rising in intensity.

However, those confronting her today were not the common students she usually bullied, but fellow noble children. Her defiant attitude only further ignited their fury.

“Who knows? You were quite close to that baron!”

“If everyone hadn’t trusted you, how could that swindler have succeeded so easily?”

“You were vouching for that swindler all along!”

“If you claim you weren’t colluding with that swindler, then show us proof!”

The accusations rained down on Camilla like a storm, leaving her utterly speechless.

Alice stood behind Camilla, calmly observing the unfolding scene.

In their usual interactions, she had witnessed these noble youths painstakingly maintain an air of elegance and composure through various aristocratic courtesies. Yet now, these very same elegant nobles were red-faced, shouting and squabbling like rabid dogs.

The Duchess was indeed a brilliant schemer. A short script was all it took to strip away their carefully constructed decorum and push Camilla directly to the opposite side of this aristocratic circle.

Now, Camilla not only struggled to reclaim the Dumpty family’s influence but even found it difficult to maintain her standing in this city.

‘Perhaps I should just let her be besieged,’ Alice mused, a thought briefly crossing her mind.

However, after a moment of calm reflection, she decided to follow the Duchess’s instructions.

When it came to schemes, the Duchess was the true expert. As a slum child whose revenge plots only extended to direct confrontation, Alice knew she had much to learn. Her inability to fully grasp the Duchess’s intentions merely confirmed her need to study from an expert.

She adjusted her expression, becoming serious. “Everyone, please stop arguing!”

The clamoring crowd gradually quieted, realizing they were still within the Liddell family’s mansion. In Alice’s eyes, they had inexplicably burst into her home, loudly arguing about matters completely unrelated to her. The future Duchess had been remarkably polite not to immediately order them out.

Though they ceased their clamor, most still cast resentful glances at Camilla.

Their loss of composure before Alice was, ultimately, due to Camilla’s mistakes.

Yet, Alice began to speak up for Camilla. “What is the difference between an unsubstantiated accusation and slander? Camilla truly met that man for the first time that day. She saw him approach me and even asked me about him. Unfortunately, I was called away by my mother, which allowed Camilla to be deceived. I can attest to this; I believe Camilla is innocent!”

“But…” someone muttered softly, expressing reservations about Alice defending Camilla. After all, who could guarantee that the initial encounter wasn’t a pre-arranged act between Camilla and the swindler?

“However, I understand everyone’s feelings. To be defrauded of money without cause would naturally make anyone anxious.” Alice’s voice softened. “Could someone tell me, how much money was collectively swindled away?”

The crowd exchanged glances, and one person took the lead. “The swindler’s asking price for the fund was thirty thousand gold, but only Camilla knows the true total amount raised. However, we each have written agreements with Camilla.”

“So, the upper limit is thirty thousand gold, is that right?” Alice appeared to ponder for a moment before speaking. “How about this: if we must assign blame for this deception, it was ultimately because the swindler infiltrated the Liddell family’s ball, which allowed him to seize the opportunity. I don’t wish for any of you to lose goodwill over such a matter. Therefore, this amount is still within the Liddell family’s capacity to bear, so I have decided…”

Alice then announced a decision that left everyone dumbfounded. “The Liddell family will temporarily cover your losses. Once the swindler is apprehended, we will then pursue accountability from them.”

Silence enveloped the entire mansion hall. The noble scions of Maplewood City exchanged bewildered glances, hardly believing their ears. To unhesitatingly bear a loss of thirty thousand gold that was not their own, an amount sufficient to purchase three such mansions or an entire city block, what immense wealth was required for such generosity?

Some couldn’t help but feel utterly ashamed. Alice’s grand gesture created a stark contrast with their petty haggling just moments before.

None of them knew, however, that the money they had been swindled out of was currently resting, perfectly intact, in the mansion’s vault.

“But Miss Liddell, can you make such a significant decision regarding such a large sum?” someone cautiously inquired. “It wouldn’t be acceptable if the Duchess disagreed, would it?”

“I will speak earnestly with my mother. Even if she disagrees, it won’t truly matter, because… I am the heir to the territory and the title, am I not?” Alice declared loudly. “How about this: I will immediately allocate the cash I have on hand, which should cover at least one-third of everyone’s losses. I’ll prepare the rest tomorrow. How does that sound? You all brought your written agreements, right?”

She certainly wouldn’t say, ‘I have all this money on hand to pay everyone back,’ as that would sound far too suspicious.

“Oh, we couldn’t possibly accept. Please, don’t worry about my share.”

Some individuals with strong self-esteem and minor losses began to decline, finding some support from others.

“Please, everyone, don’t decline. Consider it a gesture of my goodwill.” Alice smiled. “When faced with difficulties, shouldn’t we all stand together?”

“Miss Liddell, how truly benevolent…” A young lady, deeply moved, covered her nose, tears welling in her eyes.

She was genuinely touched, knowing that she had even mortgaged her favorite jewelry to invest in that wretched scheme.

“Then, please, everyone, take a seat and rest for a while. I will immediately arrange for someone to come and settle the accounts.” Alice clapped her hands, summoning a servant and giving instructions.

The crowd felt a wave of relief. With Alice providing a safety net, they no longer needed to ruin their relationships over this loss. They instantly adopted new expressions, chatting and laughing as they settled into the seats around the hall. Simultaneously, they all deliberately ignored Camilla.

In their eyes, Camilla was not only suspected of colluding with the swindler but also a scoundrel who tried to shift her own mistakes onto Alice. And now, Alice was their great benefactor.

Only Camilla’s face turned ashen, not just from being isolated, but because she realized that even if Alice was willing to cover the losses, she herself would never be able to recover what she’d lost. A significant portion of the assets she had given to the swindler came from bribes her father had accepted and ill-gotten gains he had embezzled during his lifetime. That wealth was entirely illicit! If anyone questioned where the Dumpty family acquired so much money, she would have no way to explain it!

“Camilla…” Alice feigned a sympathetic expression as she approached Camilla, who remained isolated. “It’s alright. I’ll find a way to resolve this. Don’t worry too much.”

‘It’s all because of you!’

For a moment, such a venomous thought arose in Camilla’s heart.

If the Liddell family hadn’t hosted the ball, she would never have encountered this swindler. Camilla, who never understood the concept of ‘self-reflection,’ always sought fault elsewhere.

But she quickly calmed down, realizing that accusing Alice would only plunge her deeper into an inescapable abyss.

Moreover, this seemingly naive, sweet duchess was now her sole hope in her isolated and helpless state.

“Thank you, Alice. I truly don’t know how to thank you.” Camilla forced a strained smile onto her lips for Alice.

“It’s nothing, we’re friends after all,” Alice replied, smiling.

As she watched Camilla offer that forced smile, Alice subtly discerned the brilliance of the Duchess’s plan.