Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Carissa deliberated for a moment before ordering that Eric be brought in for questioning.

In the side room, a charcoal stove was set up with a fire poker roasting over it. After a while, the fire poker was glowing red-hot halfway through. Seeing this, Eric was so frightened that he nearly wet his pants. He fell to his knees and pleaded, "Your Highness, spare me! Please spare me!" Carissa sat upright, frowning slightly. "Why would I want your life? I just need you to answer a few questions truthfully."

Eric nodded vigorously. "I will tell you everything I know."

Carissa held up the purchase ledger. "Is Jessica aware that you've been purchasing cheap, rough goods?" "Yes, of course! She was the one who instructed us to get them."

"Did you inform her that the gold used in the jewelry is impure and might cause problems?"

Eric's eyes shifted nervously as he replied, "I did mention it, but Lady Jessica said it didn't matter. She said if there were problems in a few years, we'd be closed by then anyway."

Carissa sneered. "Would the shop be closed, or would you all have shifted the blame to Lady Helen?"

Eric fell silent, unable to respond.

Carissa did not press further, instead asking, "The shop has been running for several years now. Have you received complaints from customers about impure gold? How have you handled them?" Luke was standing by. He lifted the fire poker, and waved it.

Terrified, Eric trembled and answered, "We've been giving out some inexpensive gifts to silence the complaints. This year's business has been good, and Lady Jessica's plan is to close the shop after August next year, once the wedding season is over."

"That's it?" Carissa scoffed. "I said to tell me the truth. You're only giving me half the story. Do you want to see if you can swallow this fire poker?"

fire poker was thrust directly in front of Eric, who screamed in terror and fell

Please! I'll tell

honestly. If you

to withhold any information. He prostrated himself heavily on the ground

Jessica plans to shift

the mother of the Hell Monarch, she

compensation, it wil

wn

be

stock from The

continued, it would become even

need him

Princess Eleanor

become the targets of public scorn. Moreover the compensation consists of the store's cheap goods, which are hardly

both money

fame."

and he dared not utter a word.

sending Eric away,