She Is Not a Witch

“I’m sorry, Lacey.”

Rachel looked at her friend apologetically. For the past few days, she had been under house arrest by her brother until Daniel, her second brother, released her after the defeat of the three Tisphone families, hoping she could plead with Lacey.

She was reluctant, feeling it was shameless to ask for mercy after wronging someone. Later, Carithes’ forces surrounded the Agdelin association in Hopland without attacking, leaving everyone inside anxious.

The story begins with Daniel, Rachel’s second brother. While managing affairs in Hopland, he came into contact with the White Orchid Cross Sword. Like his father Jelinc, he learned basic swordsmanship and combat techniques. Over time, he was influenced by some members of the White Orchid Cross Sword and eventually joined the Frost Rose.

After Jelinc arrived in Hopland, Daniel followed the organization’s instructions to place his father under house arrest. He then collaborated with the Tisphone family to plan an attack on Carithes during the banquet, which in hindsight seemed extremely foolish.

But in his mind, he was sacrificing himself for a greater cause, which was glorious.

Regardless of whether the Frost Rose was just or not, his method of dragging his family into this was despicable.

Vegar, once part of Western Wind, always valued family and kinship. Such behavior was seen as extremely vile by those around him.

After Jelinc was released, he immediately ordered Daniel’s imprisonment and handed him over to Carithes for punishment.

This gave Loranhil a headache. Not dealing with it was certainly not an option, as failing to punish wrongdoing would sow seeds of injustice and fail those who sacrificed in the conflict.

However, the Agdelin family had provided significant help to Carithes. The friendship between Angus and Jelinc, years of cooperation between the two sides, and recent negotiations with the New Moon Council meant that harsh treatment would seem heartless.

In the end, Jelinc personally came with Rachel to apologize.

After the changing situation of the past few days, Jelinc realized that Carithes would gradually take the leading position in the New Vegar Alliance. Whether out of past emotions or future interests, they should stand together and eliminate barriers.

Thus, the Agdelin family proactively announced the revocation of Daniel’s inheritance rights, severing family ties, and exiling him after administering corporal punishment. This provided an explanation to everyone while preserving his life. Although he could no longer return to the family, they could still secretly support him to prevent destitution.

Watching his daughter chat with Loranhil, Jelinc breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had an unfilial son, he still had a daughter to make up for it. This way, the next generation of Agdelin and Carithes could maintain their former friendship, allowing him to feel somewhat at ease in his old age.

With the support of this genius ‘niece’, as long as Agdelin followed behind, they would live quite comfortably.

But large families, especially merchant associations, generally don’t put all their eggs in one basket.

After the internal split of Vegar, many of the dozen or so major merchant associations that had cooperated with Carithes on projects were on the eastern side. Although they now submitted to the Frost Rose, they also transferred some family assets and core members out, using project cooperation as a pretext to align with Carithes.

The western alliance, except for a few families in Hopland and the Agdelin family, did the same, sending some personnel to the east.

Most hedged their bets, ensuring the family’s continuation regardless of which side won.

Loranhil turned a blind eye to such behavior, finding it somewhat amusing, like neighbors worrying about the price of eggs while you’re preparing to build a rocket.

Ignoring these wavering major merchant associations, Loranhil now had to deal with the aftermath of the three major associations in Hopland.

Due to the failure of Hopland’s action, the Frost Rose ultimately didn’t take this area, and the crimes of the Anemis family couldn’t be pardoned.

Three days later, family head Noys surrendered, expressing willingness to bear all guilt and requesting exemption from punishment for uninvolved personnel.

After review by the general assembly of the New Vegar Alliance, a decision was made. Noys and the main personnel of the Anemis family involved in the rebellion were executed, and the Anemis association was dissolved.

The other two families were dealt with similarly. The main rebels from the Tisphone and Nisos families were punished. The associations’ assets and properties were first used to compensate those who sacrificed in the battle, then to rebuild Hopland. After compensating Carithes and the Helis family, the remainder would fund the new alliance headquarters for future operations.

The newly established New Vegar Alliance had twelve seats on its general assembly. Carithes held 4 seats, Helis 2 seats, and the remaining five major merchant associations—Agdelin, Aoni, Lamia, Uriah, and Tarsus—each held 1 seat, totaling 11 seats. The last seat was held by a representative from the New Moon Council.

The new merchant alliance would maintain trade with the former Snow Flower Five Countries while increasing trade with the New Moon Council. Some previously prohibited trade items due to Ruluna’s obstruction would be activated, and various products from the Southern Islands would be transported by the association to the northern Snow Flower Five Countries for sale.

Simultaneously, the New Moon Council would establish mage associations in major cities of the alliance, recruiting talented youth as apprentices and providing support for local supernatural powers to defend against magical beasts and other enemies.

Additionally, various needs could be addressed by contacting the mage associations for support and guidance, with prices freely negotiated between parties.

It was foreseeable that in the future, the mages of the New Moon Council would face off against Ruluna’s alchemists at the border, continuing the millennia-old competition and confrontation, just like their ancestors, standing behind two great witches, clashing and debating.

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

As for the Anemis family, after all their assets were compensated and confiscated, the Helis family bought their main residence in the association. Melu then gave it back to Fenrai as a place for her to live or reminisce in the future.

Under the shade of trees, with occasional falling leaves, two young women sat on a green stone.

Melu held Fenrai’s hand and asked softly:

“Are you still leaving?”

“Yes, staying here just makes me recall the past, as if my parents and family are whispering in my ear. I can’t bear it.” Tears seemed to fall from the corners of Fenrai’s eyes.

“I’m sorry, I was afraid you’d have nowhere to go, so I kept the house for you.”

Melu wiped Fenrai’s tears, speaking with full apology.

“No, thank you, Melu. Although I won’t live here for now, if it were given to someone else, I’d probably be even more heartbroken. After all, this home of over ten years becoming someone else’s property…”

Fenrai shook her head slightly, her light red hair resting on her shoulders, no longer adorned with the once-ornate jeweled hairpin.

“Will you come back in the future?” Melu asked, looking at Fenrai as she stood up.

“Yes, when I can face the past openly, I’ll return.”

Fenrai looked at the familiar, lush green canopy above, speaking softly.

“I’m sorry, Melu. Actually, I’m cowardly and selfish, and I still resent you a bit. Although I know it’s not right, I can’t continue to be friends with you now, like we were in the past.”

“You’re still so frank, and your words aren’t very pleasing.”

Looking at that silhouette, Melu smiled, recalling the girl who used to drag her out to play when they were young, still as self-centered and genuine as ever.