Wait, what?
I feel like the author is just making this up one chapter at a time. Every single plot development is an ass-pull.
There is no plan. They're just along for the ride like the rest of us.
I refuse to believe this part was planned yes. This could've been foreshadowed far better.
But then again, this entire thing about Merius existing from the start was, and there maybe also was no way to foreshadow it without completely blowing it. Something more going on with Gill who's probably some kind of noble in disguise is definitely foreshadowed though.
I didn't realize that she was adopted by that family from the beginning until this chapter.
That was actually said I think.
Come to think of it, given that they were extremely clear about that Liz was adopted for which there was no plot reason whatsoever does indicate that this was planned in some capacity