Arthur Harrison offered Old Mr. Lancaster a slight, deferential nod. "My deepest congratulations to the Lancaster family on finding your precious diamond at last."
He then turned his gaze to Serena, his face the very picture of paternal pride. "Miss Lancaster's elegance tonight truly proves she is the rightful heiress of this family. To be so young, to represent Elyndor, and to contribute to the rescue efforts in Severia —it is a rare feat. You have brought immense glory to our nation, and you deserve every accolade."
His words were flawless, polite, and seemingly dripping with genuine admiration. Old Mr. Lancaster's tight expression finally softened a fraction.
But then, Arthur pivoted. "However..." He let out a heavy sigh, sounding like a concerned mentor. "What Sebastian Montgomery just said wasn't entirely without merit."
Old Mr. Lancaster's brow instantly furrowed, and the entire Lancaster family radiated a sudden, icy hostility.
Arthur acted as if he didn't notice the shift in the room, his smile remaining perfectly affable. "Miss Lancaster's excellence is undeniable. We can all see it. But the rumors circulating outside have grown far too fantastical. Tales of Miss Lancaster single-handedly saving international experts, performing The Lazarus Effect, snatching souls back from the grim reaper..."
He shook his head slowly, adopting the tone of a wise elder giving necessary advice. "These stories sound incredibly glorious, but for Miss Lancaster, they might not be a blessing."
The expressions of the surrounding
tel
guests wavered. Arthur's speech was undeniably brilliant. He didn't a outright insult her. He didn't directly deny her achievements. Yet, ever single word was carefully engineered to steer the narrative into dangerous waters. He made it sound as though he was solely concerned for Serena's well-being.
"Medical rescue is never a
one-person show," Arthur continued smoothly, "It relies on the seamless collaboration of the medical team, diplomats, and logistical support. Given the sheer chaos in Severia, the successful extraction of those experts had to be the result of a massive, multi-national joint effort. Miss Lancaster is young and incredibly gifted; she absolutely deserves praise. But if the public heaps all the glory onto her
shoulders alone, it will inevitably chill
the hearts of the unsung heroes who
actually bled for that rescue
mission."
He looked directly at Serena, his smile turning even more benevolent. "Wouldn't you agree, Miss Lancaster?"
It was a flawless trap. If she denied his words, she would look arrogant and greedy
for credit. If she agreed, she would be publicly admitting that the stories of her miraculous, tide-turning medical feats were exaggerated lies.
Arthur's little speech effortlessly swayed the crowd. Very few people actually knew the classified details of what went down in Severia. They only knew the Elyndor team
performed well, a massive
nove
international scandal had erupted, and the rescue team brought back high-profile experts. They knew the name Serena Lancaster was practically revered in elite medical circles.
But rumors had a habit of snowballing. A twenty-something girl performing The Lazarus Effect? Saving top-tier experts single-handedly? It sounded like pure science fiction. Was it possible the Lancasters were taking a massive group effort and packaging it into a personal myth to elevate their newly found daughter?
It certainly seemed plausible.
Seeing the crowd's reaction, a flash of smug satisfaction crossed Sebastian's eyes. The Harrison family's tactical approach was far more devastating than his own blunt aggression.