Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 493: Chapter 312: I’ll Know If You’re Sincere with Just One Touch_4

Without giving the old crone time to react, he shouted towards the outside.

”Go and call Tamara and Amanda over here for me.”

Lance’s move caught the old crone off guard. She couldn’t even understand what he was trying to do.

Soon enough, Tamara and Amanda walked into the room. Only then did the old crone realize something was amiss.

Ah! You’re serious, huh?

Tamara and Amanda actually had a vague feeling about something, because the Lord always called them to his house, not to the military quarters.

Besides, they had seen the carriage parked outside upon arrival—how could they not recognize it?

They had initially thought the Seeker of Omens who had come for them had been caught. Instead, upon entering, they found—the Elder!

The Romani’s internal hierarchy gave the old crone absolute authority over them, especially given their somewhat delicate status.

Lance spoke first. ”Sit down. I was just discussing something about the two of you with her. I believe the right to decide is in your hands, which is why I called you over.”

Lance’s words and attitude broke the delicate atmosphere, instantly putting the old crone on edge. She hurriedly smiled, gesturing for Tamara and Amanda to sit.

”Yes, I arrived too late. You’ve suffered during this time—please, sit down.” The old crone was a master actress. Just moments ago, she had been bargaining with Lance for them, but now she adopted this solicitous air.

Lance, however, remained unconcerned and smiled as he exposed their recent transaction.

”This Elder,” Lance said, gesturing to the old woman, ”wanted to ransom you from me. I told her you are not items to be traded, but she wouldn’t believe me. So, I had no choice but to call you both here. Whether you stay or leave is your decision.”

Lance didn’t forget to emphasize, ”Hamlet is a tolerant place. Anyone who abides by the rules here is under my Sanctuary—no one can force you.”

He spoke with a smile, but the old crone’s expression turned grim. Facing the strange gazes from Tamara and Amanda, she froze awkwardly.

”I just wanted to quickly ensure your safety,” the old crone recovered and explained. She keenly realized that while Lance’s words sounded magnanimous and gave him the moral high ground, they also stripped her of any claim over the two.

But Lance wouldn’t let her off so easily. He immediately retorted,

”What danger could they possibly be in?” Lance asked, his gaze shifting pointedly to Tamara and Amanda. ”It’s not as if I abandoned them. The ones who want them dead aren’t me~”

This wasn’t an implication—it was an explicit statement.

The blatant meaning of his words struck them.

We’ve been abandoned, they thought. And now, if we go back with her... who knows what could happen?

”The organization has never abandoned you! Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here,” the old crone contended forcefully. She had to regain control of the conversation.

”Then why, when I previously discussed their fate with you, did you outright refuse me? What was my attitude like? Did I threaten you with them at all? All I asked was for your people, the Romani, not to cause trouble here. Is that too much to ask?

”And how did you act towards me? You attacked without a word, and damn it, you were the one who moved first. If you had even the slightest concern for their safety, would you have attacked me?

”Oh, when you saw you couldn’t beat me, you cut off the contact yourself. Is that my responsibility? Was it I who abandoned them, or did you?

”Now that I’ve finally settled them down, why don’t you ask how I’ve treated them? Have I imprisoned them? Have I restricted them? Have I forced them to do anything?

”Now you suddenly show up wanting to take people away, saying let them go back with you—how am I supposed to know if you are genuinely just picking them up, or taking them somewhere for a secret execution? They are my people now, and I am responsible for their safety.

”Why are you sitting here today? Isn’t it because you can’t beat me? Otherwise, their heads would have rolled by now, and we wouldn’t need this charade, would we?”

With all pretenses shattered, the old crone was speechless. The looks from Tamara and Amanda made it clear:

At this moment, whatever I say will be wrong.