At a family gathering, Valerie is accused of a scandal tied to Northo while their ailing grandmother and mother reel from the shock. Siblings and relatives berate her—calling her promiscuous and even claiming she was enslaved in Northo—while she insists she did nothing wrong. One sister reveals she travelled to Northo and spent 100,000 taels to secure a promise from Fenrir intended to protect Valerie, then disowns her. The argument crescendos as the household demands belief and summons Ian, her brother; everyone falls silent, awaiting Ian’s response to settle Valerie’s fate.