ERTHMB Chapter 146

Damn Bastard

The next morning, the front gate of the count’s estate was bustling with departing guests. Each family’s carriage carried its master away, the sound of clattering hooves echoing as they exited the driveway.

At this hour, Ian was in the most secluded garden near the back gate of the mansion—the most peaceful spot on the estate. It was the place he had arranged to meet Helena on the night of the ball.

There was still time before their appointment, so Ian silently received Dion’s report. After tying up the horse he had brought to one spot, Dion laid out the key points about the contact he had made with Heidi that morning.

“The first skirmish ended completely three days ago, and they clashed at the border region with the Kingdom of Valenta without any major incidents. The casualty count should have been tallied by now, but seeing as Lady Heidi only called it a minor friction and slept for two days straight…”

“I know. She’s my sister, even if she grumbles every day.”

Ian’s expression became complicated with a mixture of pride and faint guilt. Noticing this, Dion quickly added that fortunately it was only fatigue from excessive mana use, with no serious injuries, dispelling his concerns.

However, Ian couldn’t easily relax his expression and rubbed his chin.

“This is just the real beginning now. Beelze must have figured out where I am too.”

Knowing where Ian’s concerns lay, Dion also maintained a rare serious demeanor as he spoke.

“Since we’ve been continuously receiving transmissions from Partren, even with Eden’s barriers, the flow of mana must have left dense traces. If Beelzebuth reads them, we can’t guarantee your residence will remain safe either.”

That was precisely the situation Ian wanted to avoid until the very end. Ian crossed his arms and fell into contemplation for a moment.

As he paced back and forth silently in the same spot, Dion suddenly perked up his ears. He seemed to have heard some presence besides his own footsteps. Looking up, he saw Helena approaching while looking around.

Ian dismissed Dion with a glance and approached Helena.

“I heard there was a disturbance at the ballroom yesterday. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you.”

It was a perfectly natural act of feigning innocence. Why don’t you scrape off the magical beast flesh stuck to the bottom of your shoe before you say that. Dion couldn’t contain his astonishment and dropped his jaw wide open.

Ian pulled Helena into an embrace to block his view, then shot another glare at Dion as he shuffled away.

Finally, Dion disappeared like a mouse with its tail tucked, and Helena slowly pulled away from Ian.

“It was a disturbance I could handle well enough myself. Don’t underestimate me too much.”

“I’m not underestimating you, I’m worried about you.”

“Then don’t make me worry about you. What happened to you overnight?”

Helena reached toward Ian’s nape. There was a long, though not deep, cut. She specified the injury occurred overnight because the area under his eyes was dark as if he hadn’t slept.

Ian then quickly covered the area Helena was reaching for with his palm. His fumbling manner made him look exactly like someone who hadn’t even known the wound was there.

“It’s nothing. I was playing with a cat in the dark.”

The answer sounded somewhat like an excuse.

Helena carefully sniffed, subtle enough that he wouldn’t notice. There was a foreign scent she had been detecting since he embraced her earlier.

The smell of cigars—something that should never emanate from Ian.

‘He’s someone who barely even knows how to smoke cigars, and I know Dion is a non-smoker too…’

Ian, catching Helena’s subtle suspicion, quickly changed the subject.

“More importantly, Helena. There’s something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“…What would you think about living somewhere other than Partren?”

“Why are you suddenly asking that?”

Fortunately, given the nature of the topic, Helena’s attention shifted quickly. Ian explained in detail the political situation in Dairon that had begun to escalate rapidly while Helena was away from Partren.

When Helena nodded as if she understood, Ian returned to his main point.

“Anyway, Gelda is so frantically busy that there’s a reason I came as a proxy. The conflict with Garta has made not just Partren but all of Dairon quite chaotic right now. So—”

“I told you it was a disturbance I could handle well enough myself.”

Helena shrugged her shoulders, meaning that no matter how much he explained, her decision wouldn’t change.

“Who else would be by Gelda’s side if I’m not there?”

“Of course I understand your feelings, but—”

Just as Ian was about to persist in persuading her, a new presence was detected. Ian turned his head first, and Helena followed. Soon Eugene appeared where both their gazes had landed.

Helena let out a small breath and made eye contact with Ian again.

“I still have things to wrap up. You should go back now. I’ll return to Partren soon.”

“…Alright.”

Ian looked as if he had more to say but eventually turned to leave. Helena didn’t miss the deadly glances the two men exchanged as Ian passed by Eugene.

Eugene finished the momentary staring contest and approached Helena.

“It’s time to go back, but I couldn’t find you, so I came looking. And you were with that bastard again.”

“I already told you I’d be in the carriage by noon.”

“I really want to respect your choice, but… damn it, what would be so different about living with that bastard?”

Eugene suddenly raised his voice. Helena calmly responded with a consistently level tone.

“Just accept it, Eugene. It’s no longer your concern.”

“Why is it not my concern? I am concerned, I can’t stand watching you walk into a snake’s den! That bastard is ultimately the same as me. No matter how refined he acts, how gentlemanly he smiles, he’s ultimately nothing but a beast starving for blood.”

Eugene spread both arms and approached threateningly. Unusually for him, he had easily lost his composure, his presence disheveled. As Helena faltered, Eugene pressed even harder.

“You have to believe me this time, Helen. Because I’m the damn bastard you speak of, I can recognize another damn bastard. You think you know him well, but you really don’t know anything at all.”

“Do you think making that comparison makes you the better person?”

“At least I’m honest. That bastard disgustingly hides his true nature behind a smiling face!”

“So exactly what? What do you know about him?”

“…..”

Eugene, who had been acting as if he would immediately spill everything, shut his mouth as if someone had strangled him. His trembling lips revealed hesitation, jealousy, and frustrating defeat.

Helena found Eugene’s suddenly roughened demeanor strange. It was too different from what he had shown last night. He seemed angry, yet also anxious.

Just as she was about to ask why he was acting so desperately, a light breeze blew. Helena caught the familiar scent along with the sideburns tickling her cheek.

It was the cigar smell that had also emanated from Ian earlier. Leaning slightly toward Eugene, the scent intensified and stung her nostrils.

Helena quickly looked up. Examining Eugene’s face closely, she saw that his under-eyes were also dark like Ian’s.

“Did you two meet last night?”

“….”

Eugene’s silence was an affirmation. He let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face with his hands. A cut on the back of his hand became visible only then. It was a laceration very similar to the one on Ian’s nape.

Had they each given the other one? Helena took another step back and shook her head.

“I don’t care what you two talked about. Even if Ian and you really are the same, I don’t care. The person I want to be with right now is him, not you.”

Eugene grabbed both of Helena’s shoulders to prevent her from moving further away and growled through gritted teeth.

“Don’t speak so carelessly just because I’m not stopping you. There might be eyes watching. At least show some restraint here, Helena.”

Helena grabbed Eugene’s arms and forcibly pushed them away.

“No. You don’t need to step in anymore, nor is there any need. I’m no longer afraid of rumors. In fact, I’d prefer more of them. I’m so glad to hear that you and I are over.”

“Right, so was it satisfying to finally go through with it yesterday? How was it becoming the instigator yourself after despising rumors so much? If it was fun, you should have done it from your days begging on the streets. That would have been more convenient for me.”

Eugene interrogated her accusingly, and Helena glared at him for several seconds before silently turning away.

Eugene called out to Helena’s departing figure with a dark voice, showing not a hint of hesitation.

“Stop right there.”

Helena didn’t stop.

“I said stop, Helena.”

She still didn’t look back and continued walking with long strides.

“Fine, so you don’t even want to speak with me anymore.”

Eugene waved both arms as if giving up in despair and shouted while following her.

“If facing me is hard and you don’t want to talk, how are you going to endure being in a cramped carriage? Will you close your eyes and cover your ears? Or what, are you planning to walk all the way to Evergale?”

Sarcastic jibes kept flying, but Helena didn’t slow her pace. Since the argument had delayed them somewhat, the only carriage remaining at the front gate was Evergale’s.

Finally, Helena reached the carriage before Eugene. She skillfully untied the reins securing the horse to the carriage and nimbly mounted it.

A flustered Eugene finally widened his stride, but it was too late. Helena let out a small shout and kicked her heels, and the horse bolted forward.

Leaving behind the carriage bearing Eugene and Evergale’s insignia, completely abandoned.

****

It was a tranquil afternoon. Outside the long window, clouds dyed red by the sunset were streaming past, leaving long trails.

Natasha rested her arms on the windowsill and stared blankly at that picture-book-like scenery. Although the annex of the Grand Duke’s residence didn’t offer a view of the garden connected to the front gate, there was enjoyment in watching the vast sky spread over the green forest.

Night and day, yesterday and tomorrow—finding pleasure in mere existence felt strange.

Things that would disappear any moment, things that would burn and crumble, things whose existence—today, tomorrow, or whenever—couldn’t be measured.

The days when she had pursued and felt affection only for such things now seemed even more peculiar. It was such a leisurely afternoon with such a beautiful sky.

However, the dreamlike reverie didn’t last long. The sound of multiple hoofbeats suddenly came from the driveway connected to the back gate.

‘They must be returning.’

Natasha straightened from her position leaning against the windowsill and looked down. The first person she saw was Grand Duchess Evergale. Natasha’s pupils dilated momentarily.