ERTHMB Chapter 164

The Scent of Death

“Mmm…”

Helena finally sat up in bed well past noon.

In truth, she had opened her eyes around midday, but it took a long time to soothe her aching body. Remembering last night made her face flush even as she alternated between stretching and curling up against the waves of back pain.

As she grew accustomed to the pain, what washed over her was loneliness. Especially since Ian’s empty space felt so particularly hollow.

She reached out expecting warmth, but all her fingertips grazed was the cold bedsheet.

Helena unfolded and reread the note he had left behind.

[Something urgent came up, so I’m leaving first. Meet me at the villa.]

After that, there were marks where he had scribbled something out heavily with black ink, as if he had started to write something but changed his mind. If someone who usually clung to her stubbornly no matter what would leave behind only this cold note and disappear, it must have been quite urgent.

Being a merchant company owner might really be like that. The matter she had recently requested of the Bohemian Emperor helped Helena understand him better. She too had many things to handle in the capital before returning.

Helena brushed aside her somewhat disappointed feelings and prepared to go out.

Thanks to Aida helping her dress and hailing a carriage, it didn’t take long. The streets were quiet too, as it was a time when everyone was enjoying their leisure.

Unlike Dairon, which must be in an uproar right now.

Helena rested her chin on the window frame and recalled each beloved face one by one. Though she hadn’t seen them in a long time, they remained vivid.

‘I hope nothing’s wrong.’

Dairon was currently in turmoil over the restoration of Gelda’s rights. Though Gelda had the numerical advantage, Garta had more than enough of what Partren lacked.

‘…Money.’

In any fight, the funds to back it up often determined the outcome.

So to cut the pig’s throat, she needed to wield the weapon that pig feared most.

A weapon to stab him with while fully protecting Dairon from Garta’s clutches.

‘Fortunately, Gelda already has it.’

Flam’s skill was too valuable to remain just a blacksmith of Partren.

From pens with ink that never dried to spears and nets optimized and designed according to magical beasts’ characteristics.

If they shared his technology to create a business and grew it into a trading company that could exchange with other countries, surpassing Garta wouldn’t be such a distant prospect.

This was the condition she had presented to the Bohemian Emperor.

To include the trading company that would be created under Flam’s name in the next exports.

Helena gathered the documents she had prepared and letters to send to Dairon, then got off the carriage.

She first opened an account at the bank, sent the letters, and stopped by the trading house to establish the company.

She was about to officially register the trade name when a memory that suddenly surfaced caught her. It was what Christine had shouted on the day of the trial.

[Becoming accomplices with that con man to embezzle money by stealing my identity, and losing the child because your carelessly used body was too weak! It’s all your fault, Helena!]

From start to finish of the trial, she had branded Ian a con man. Of course, it must have been slander without valid reason.

But on the other hand, she was curious about what urgent matter had made him leave so hastily this morning. Ian rarely opened his mouth about his business.

“Could I perhaps see a list of trading companies affiliated with Marea Trading House? I’d like to know if a company I’m about to deal with is verified.”

When Helena asked casually, the employee pulled out a thick stack of documents. Helena mentioned Ian’s company name. The employee flipped through several pages for a moment, then shook his head.

“Hmm… Are you sure that’s the right company? Marea Trading Company stopped doing business quite a long time ago.”

“How long ago?”

“The last activity record is from 10 years ago.”

Her mind went blank for a moment, but she managed to ask again.

“What’s the owner’s name? I thought it was Ian.”

This time too, the employee shook his head.

“The owner is Godana Ruek, and there’s no such name among the members either.”

Helena thanked him and withdrew. Even as she walked aimlessly outside, her mind was in chaos.

‘Did I misremember the company name from the start…?’

She couldn’t be certain since it was something she’d heard in passing long ago. Or Ian might have used a false name, Godana, like he had with her at first.

As she was considering various possibilities, a familiar golden color caught her eye.

‘Natasha…?’

Natasha was coming out of the bank across the street. From the annex where the private vaults were located.

Helena felt strange. Though she hadn’t appeared at the trial, the evidence and confession she had provided had played a decisive role. At the same time, she had also committed the vile act of seducing Eugene using underhanded methods.

After a brief hesitation, Helena approached Natasha. Natasha also spotted Helena and stopped walking.

A subtle tension hung in their meeting gazes. Helena cut straight to the point without preamble.

“I took candy from your villa.”

“As I thought, you took it, my lady. But judging by the fact that you’re mentioning it now… you only just realized what it was.”

“How dare you violate Eugene with such a drug—you have some nerve. How did you plan to deal with the consequences?”

Natasha didn’t seem surprised, as if she had expected this. To Helena, whose complexion hardened, she instead leaned in and whispered.

“My lady, shall I tell you something? I only started using the drug from the night that marked one month. That is, not from the first night we met in the forest.”

“…!”

“The Grand Duke coming to me before that wasn’t because of the drug. Though you may want to deny the truth.”

For a woman whose health had deteriorated from a miscarriage just days ago, Natasha looked remarkably energetic.

Helena became more curious about how she could smile like someone who had found meaning in life again despite losing a child, rather than the truth she was talking about.

“To think it was a bond that would crumble from just one drug. Isn’t it rather laughable?”

“I find your attitude more laughable right now.”

“Well, you called it shameless love. Then you’ve had quite a futile love, my lady.”

“Shameless or futile, either way it’s love I no longer need.”

Helena answered indifferently. Natasha narrowed her eyes as if trying to discern the truth and examined Helena’s expression. Then she stepped back, widening the distance she had closed.

“I am a bit curious. What did that man do, and how, that someone who was dying could breathe like this?”

“…Have you ever seen my man?”

Ian and Natasha shouldn’t have met. While Helena wondered, Natasha answered with something else.

“Hmm, don’t worry about the Grand Duke. I’m not using the candy anymore. I don’t need to anymore either.”

Something glinted in Natasha’s grasp as she played coy. It was the vault key from the bank she had just left. Helena also changed the subject.

“According to Evergale’s report, quite a bit of treasure has decreased—I suppose you transferred it to your ownership.”

“When a snake keeps poking at a rabbit’s burrow, what choice do I have but to chase it away? I like my nest. For now, at least.”

This time too, Natasha only continued with cryptic remarks. As if to end the conversation, her bowed head lowered and rose before Helena.

“Please be careful on your way back.”

Leaving behind a meaningful farewell, Natasha walked away.

****

“Maintain rear forces, front charges to the high ground! The rest harass the enemy with guerrilla tactics and destroy supplies!”

Following Ian’s orders, the soldiers moved in perfect coordination.

Ian wielded his sword at the front, breaking through. The enemies rushed in groups, but they were swept away uselessly by the blade that cut and slashed indiscriminately.

When no one could easily step forward before him, an oddly languid voice intruded.

“I heard you were in Instantia, and it was true.”

“You—”

“My, you recognize me? I’m honored beyond words. We first met when I was fifteen, I think? I still can’t forget our Majesty because the scar from the gift I received back then still aches.”

“You’re still pointlessly chattering away like your master, as always.”

Even at Ian’s cold response, Raptor rubbed the back of his neck and asked nonchalantly.

“But why is the exalted Moon of Rihalt here? I’m curious what kind of ridiculous farce you’re in the middle of. Did you perhaps get a woman?”

“…”

“My word, that’s really true too.”

Raptor exaggeratedly covered his mouth and pretended to be shocked. Ian shook his sword in a full circle to shake off what clung to it.

“Sorry, but I don’t have time. I need to hurry back to draw water and feed the goats. So let’s finish this quickly.”

Without further warning, Ian attacked. Raptor gritted his teeth and fended off the attack, but within just three exchanges he was overwhelmed and fell.

Clang!

Raptor’s anxious face reflected in the blade he barely blocked.

He panted and said somewhat urgently.

“I’m fine with that too, finishing quickly.”

Just then.

Boom!

A huge explosion sounded behind Ian. Ian heard his knights’ urgent shouts and the intensifying commotion.

From the heat striking his back, he could clearly feel that considerable flames were rising.

As Raptor barely withstood Ian’s force with trembling effort, he twisted up the corner of his mouth.

“Oh my. It seems something big has happened.”

“You bastards… killing even your own allies just to gain one small victory!”

“A sublime and sacred victory.”

Raptor used all his strength to deflect the blade and rolled away to escape Ian’s encirclement.

He sneered as if he had appeared before Ian to buy time from the start.

“Shouldn’t you go? There must be quite a few soldiers waiting for His Majesty’s orders. For us it may be an honorable death, but for them it’s no different from a dog’s death. If they resent Your Majesty and appear even in your dreams, wouldn’t that be quite troublesome?”

When Ian still didn’t lower his sword, Raptor smiled precariously.

“We’ll be seeing each other often from now on, there will be plenty of opportunities. Right?”

In the end, Ian had no choice but to turn around. Leaving Raptor’s relieved breathing behind, he ran.

Upon arriving at the source of the explosion, Ian first spotted Eden.

His lower body was completely crushed under fragmented rock.

“Eden!”

Ian rushed to his side and immediately called for Sakin. It took time for him to arrive as the ground had been turned upside down. Eden’s complexion was rapidly losing color like sand falling through an hourglass.

After much difficulty removing the rocks, Eden retched up thick clots of blood.

Ian grasped his hand and soothed him that he would be alright.

But he knew that was something he was saying to himself.

Eden smelled of death.

The smell was too strong.