She Is Not a Witch

In Hopland, the Helis family resided in the wealthy district on the western side, once home to nobles and now a gathering place for wealthy merchant association members since the Commercial Alliance’s independence.

The Carithes Merchant Association was located in the northern part of the central city. As a newer rising star, with little space left in the west, Angus had purchased a large plot in the north-central area for the association’s headquarters.

The Nisos family was in the east. Though not a wealthy area, it held special meaning for the family. Their ancestor, a fruit vendor, had bought his first residence there when settling in Hopland, and the family never moved even after becoming prosperous.

The current city layout had three families in the west—Anemis, Helis, and Tisphone; Carithes in the center; and Nisos in the east.

The west, north, and east gates and walls were sealed by Anemis, Tisphone, and Nisos. Helis and Carithes were trapped in the city center, with Helis in a particularly precarious position due to its proximity to the other two families.

The once spacious and clean streets were now unrecognizable. Green stone pavements were littered with debris. Wooden boxes and barricades blocked the streets, with crowds on both sides holding torches, wearing armor, and brandishing weapons, facing off against each other.

In the firelight, the faces were all too familiar—employees of the major merchant associations who frequently encountered each other. Perhaps just days ago, they had shared drinks, conversations, and boasts in taverns.

If not for this sudden turn of events, no one would have imagined they’d be at each other’s throats tonight. The complexity of emotions they felt could only be known to themselves.

The major merchant associations offered better pay and benefits than smaller ones, providing stability that often led to generations working for them. Positions sometimes became hereditary, like the Anemis family’s gardeners who had served for three generations.

In this era, the accumulation and inheritance of experience was crucial. Skills passed down from father to son, and son to grandson, were far superior to those of newcomers. These long-serving employees and core staff formed the backbone of the major associations, trusted confidants of successive family heads.

The major associations were more than just profit-making organizations; they were interest groups. This explained the loyalty of these employees, willing even to take up arms, as their own interests were closely tied to the association’s.

Cutting off one’s livelihood is akin to killing one’s parents, let alone directly threatening one’s way of life.

Yet, with both sides knowing each other, the ingrained habits of the past made it difficult for them to fight to the death suddenly.

Fire pots on wooden poles burned brightly, occasionally crackling. The two sides questioned and cursed at each other.

A significant portion of the Tisphone family had gone to the northern gate and walls, so most of those confronting the Helis family in the west were from the Anemis family. The lower-level employees were quite confused about why they were suddenly fighting.

While the Helis side could claim self-defense, the Anemis side was particularly perplexed.

At this moment, several mounted messengers rode through the crowd to the confrontation point. These messengers wore badges from the three families, formed as a joint group. They held proclamations and began to read aloud:

[Citizens of Hopland, the Vegar Commercial Alliance General Assembly has issued instructions. The Helis family and Carithes Merchant Association have colluded with Western Wind rebels, intending to revolt.

The Tisphone, Anemis, and Nisos Merchant Associations are now granted special authority to assist the Hopland authorities in arresting the traitors from the Helis and Carithes families.

Considering that most employees of these two associations are unaware of this situation, we hereby declare that those who lay down their arms and do not collaborate will be pardoned, their families protected, and past actions forgiven.

However, those who remain obstinate and continue to resist will be shown no mercy!]

The loud voice carried far in the night. All was quiet until the reading finished, then whispered discussions slowly resumed.

“I told you they were trouble. No wonder Lord Noys suddenly called us up,” said an Anemis guard.

“I can’t believe what the Helis family was thinking, getting involved with the northern rebels. Have they forgotten that Vegar is still nominally a vassal state of Western Wind?”

“Who knows? I just want this to end quickly so I can go home and sleep. It’s too cold tonight.”

“Sigh, I wonder if the association will pay us extra for standing guard all night with guns. My wife just had another child.”

“You’re quite the stud, isn’t this your third?”

“Of course, I’m amazing.”

The Anemis crowd relaxed after hearing the announcement, even starting to chat casually. In their view, with orders from the Alliance General Assembly and three families united in action, the opposing side’s surrender was just a matter of time.

As expected, the Helis family’s people began to waver. The accusation of treason was too heavy for ordinary people to bear. Their gaze towards the opposite side was no longer as fearless as before.

Some from the Anemis family started to persuade them to surrender.

“George, don’t just stand there like an idiot. Come over here quick. I’ll put in a good word with the manager about your situation, guarantee your safety. You still owe me money, you know. If you’re gone, who am I going to collect from?”

“Yeah, George, come over. Think about your old mom and sister. They rely on you to support the family. What will they do if something happens to you? I still want to be your brother-in-law.”

A young spearman from the Helis family stood by the fire pot, hesitating. Those nearby wanted to say something but sighed and remained silent. With their own fates uncertain, who were they to advise others? Weren’t they all hesitating?

If the Helis family really fell, what would become of them? Everyone had ties, everyone wanted to live.

George turned his back, leaning against a large wooden box, his emotions in turmoil. His grandfather had been a long-time employee of the Helis family. His father, due to youthful misbehavior, never worked for the association, even after marriage and having children. It wasn’t until he died in a drunken street fight a few years ago that things settled down.

Last year, before his grandfather’s death and retirement, he had asked the manager to let George take his position in the association. Out of consideration for old ties, the manager agreed, allowing George to enjoy a life better than his peers, which made him very grateful and proud.

After joining the association, the manager took good care of him. He even had the fortune to meet Young Miss Melu once, who praised his spear skills, exciting him for a long time. But now, being asked to betray and leave the Helis family, he found it hard to accept.

As he closed his eyes in indecision, the urgent sound of hoofbeats came from the other end of the street. Another small team of mounted messengers arrived, wearing badges with night flowers and camellias. They held up proclamations clearly written in black ink with bright red seals below.

[Citizens of the Vegar Alliance, we have reached a critical moment of survival. The Tisphone, Anemis, and Nisos families have colluded with the Verdant Empire, intending to use Hopland as a foothold for the imperial army to invade and destroy the Snow Flower Seven Countries.

To thwart this evil and insane conspiracy, we ask the citizens of the seven countries within the city to assist us, Helis and Carithes, in eliminating these treacherous villains who have sealed the city in rebellion.

Following the ancient covenant between the seven countries, long live the Snow Flower Alliance!]