Chapter 42: This will cause a scandal

The banquet’s splendor exceeded Charis’s imagination.

Red velvet tablecloths gleamed under silver candelabras, amber-hued beef steamed, exotic seafood shimmered, and fragrant wines, aged and precious, filled the air.

‘Being rich is awesome—everything to eat!’

Charis stared hungrily at the table, held back only by Ophelia gripping her hand, or she’d already be digging in.

“Miss Charis seems eager.”
Lord Rodley, at the head, propped his chin, smiling.

“Mind your manners—this is my house, act like a guest.”
Ophelia nagged Charis, though she knew it was likely futile.

“It’ll get cold if I eat slowly.”
Charis plopped into the nearest chair, ignoring Ophelia’s advice.

“Sigh.”
Ophelia covered her face, feeling her words wasted.

“Ophelia, sit.
Your mom’s upstairs—you can start.”
Lord Rodley nodded at Charis, signaling she could eat.

“Thanks, Lord Rodley! I won’t hold back.”
Charis’s eating wasn’t pretty, to say the least.

“Eat with some grace!
Got any manners?”
Ophelia grabbed a napkin, wiping Charis’s mouth.

Watching his daughter bicker with her “pet,” Lord Rodley just smiled, clearing his throat.

“Ahem, Miss Charis, were you satisfied with your picks this afternoon?”

“Oh, Lord Rodley, very satisfied—I learned a lot.”
Charis clasped her fists respectfully, suddenly polite.

Ophelia, watching, felt irked—why could Charis be so compliant with everyone but her?

“Heh, Miss Charis, you saved both my daughters.
I owe you a personal thank-you.”

Lord Rodley tapped the table, a magical curse glimmering as golden light drew a small potted fruit plant from the stairs to the table.

The plant was a small tree, its green branches bearing lantern-like fruits glowing faintly yellow, exuding an indescribable fragrance.

The scent hit Charis, overriding all other senses, her eyes locking onto the plant, ignoring her food.

“Lord Rodley, what is this?
It’s… really drawing me in.”

Charis admitted outright—even without Talos, she knew it was valuable to her.

“I call it a dragon flame fruit.
I found it years ago in a dangerous cave, but it never grew much.
It’s useless to me now, so it’s yours, Miss Charis.”

Lord Rodley gently pushed, and the dragon flame fruit floated to Charis, who sniffed it instinctively.

Not just sniffing—she let Talos analyze it.

“Demon King, what’s this?”

“Dragon flame fruit, close enough name.
In demon records, it’s called the same.
Long-term use boosts dragon-specific curse power, like Dragon Flame.”

Learning the tree’s value, Charis felt she’d struck gold—Lord Rodley was generous!

“Thank you, Lord Rodley! I’ll take it.”

“No need for thanks—you earned it saving my daughters.”

Lord Rodley smiled, sipping his red wine.

“Dad, you’re stocking Charis up!
You treasured that fruit tree like a gem, and now you just give it to her?”

Ophelia sensed her family favoring Charis—why were they warming to her faster than to her?

“Ophelia, a stunted fruit tree pales compared to you and Penny’s safety.
I’ve let it go.”

“But what if she uses it for something else?”

“Ophelia, don’t you trust Charis most?
Remember how you defended her that night?”

Lord Rodley raised an eyebrow, leaving Ophelia speechless, glancing at Charis.

“Dragon flame fruit, heh.”
Charis spun the plant, admiring it like a prized treasure.

“Don’t get cocky—you’ll be busy back home.”
Ophelia warned.

“I’m happy to be busy.”
Charis grinned, unbothered by the work.

“You.”

Ophelia was about to say more when a faint voice called.

“Sister.”

Penny?!

Ophelia leapt from her seat, looking upstairs.
A white-haired, pink-eyed girl, supported by her mother, slowly descended.

“Penny, how do you feel?”

Ophelia rushed over, joined by Lord Rodley, the family surrounding Penny, checking her condition.

‘Strange—she’s awake already?
Wasn’t her recovery supposed to take ages?’

Charis set down the fruit plant, stepping back to observe from a distance, not joining the family.

“Sister, I’m fine… my mind’s clearer, I feel good.
I wanted to see you.”

Penny’s voice was weak, with long pauses, and Ophelia, emotional, crouched to hug her gently.

“You’re okay—that’s enough.
Rest up; you won’t suffer like that again.”

“Mm… Sister, there’s someone else I want to see.
Oh… there she is.”

Penny suddenly pointed at Charis, her pink eyes fixed on her, unwavering.

‘Huh? Why me?’

Charis tensed.
Logically, Penny should’ve been unconscious during the Calamity’s manifestation.

If something slipped and Penny revealed Talos’s involvement, Charis was done for!

“Uh… do we know each other?
Oh, we met recently, right?”
Charis scratched her head, trying to steer the conversation, but Penny walked straight toward her, family in tow.

Charis, not much taller than the curse-weakened Penny, felt surrounded.

“You…”
Penny faced Charis, pausing, likely gathering her words.

“Is something wrong?”
Charis’s face stiffened, dreading Penny exposing Talos.

“You’re the woman who was with my sister that day, super close.”
Penny spoke solemnly, like presenting evidence to the family.

“Penny, don’t talk nonsense!”
Ophelia waved her hands frantically.

“No, Sister, it’s true.”
Penny nodded firmly, staring at Charis even more intently.

‘What? Me and your sister, super close?
She bullies me daily!
You’re focused on that?!
Sister complex much?’

“Close… I think it’s within normal bounds.”
Charis tried to clarify—Penny’s words made it sound like she and Ophelia were an item.

“Not normal.
That day on the street, in front of everyone, you grabbed my sister’s hand, acting all bold, and she willingly followed!”

Penny’s words seemed to shift her parents’ views, their looks at Charis and Ophelia turning to amused gossip.

‘Penny, stop!
Sure, it looked that way, but I didn’t mean it like that!
This’ll start rumors!’