ERTHMB Chapter 147

It Really Took So Long

She was, surprisingly, riding a horse. Not sitting demurely behind the Grand Duke or a knight with her arms around their waist, but actually holding the reins herself and truly riding the horse.

Upon passing through the rear gate, Helena immediately dismounted and handed the reins to a footman before entering the main building. A large carriage arrived just moments later.

Eugene, who got out of the carriage, strode across the entrance with steps that openly displayed his emotions.

“Did that bastard teach you how to ride too? To leave me whenever you please? Is that it?”

“…….”

Eugene shouted at Helena’s back, but Helena only walked forward in a straight line, looking ahead. Eugene followed, shouting a few more words, then suddenly whirled around and walked in the opposite direction.

‘They went together, but came back separately. “That bastard” must not be some worthless nobody. He’s really gotten the Grand Duke all worked up.’

Before long, the footman and carriage dispersed back to their places, and the surroundings regained their quietness.

Natasha let out a faint snort and propped her chin again. The sky, now beginning to take on a blue tint, looked particularly colorful compared to moments before.

That night, Natasha brewed hot tea and headed to the main building. She quietly passed through the corridor connecting to the annex and reached the central hall. Eugene’s office was on the second floor, so she had to walk a bit further, but Natasha stopped right there.

‘……Eugene?’

In the middle of the staircase connected to the hall, there was a large frame. Eugene was standing in front of the portrait of the Evergale Grand Ducal couple. Standing still, without even the slightest movement.

He stood there for quite a while, like an elaborately carved stone statue. If you listened carefully, you could occasionally hear sniffling sounds.

‘Is he crying?’

Surely not—doubting, Natasha hid in the shadows and scrutinized Eugene carefully. Looking closely, he wasn’t crying.

In his hands was a bouquet of purple hyacinths. Despite having a pollen allergy, he must have gone into the garden and picked them.

Just then, Helena was walking down the corridor when she spotted him and stopped. However, she soon tried to pass by him at a much faster pace. Eugene grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

A small commotion ensued. Perhaps they had quarreled today—Eugene’s voice apologizing to Helena could be heard. Helena treated him with a consistently cold expression throughout.

Eventually, Eugene released her wrist and turned away first. Yet the shadow in front of the portrait didn’t disappear for a long time.

This time, Helena stood still, staring intently at the portrait for quite a while. In her grip was the bouquet of hyacinths.

Behind this peculiar scene, Natasha instinctively realized something. She would end today by going to see Eugene.

Whether it was an answer to the apology just now, another rejection, or simply seeing his face from afar.

‘Those who have compassion are always like that.’

For her, it was an excellent opportunity. Helena Evergale was definitely the best audience. Natasha quietly crossed the dark hall and arrived at Eugene’s office.

After knocking, once Eugene’s permission was granted, she deliberately left the door slightly ajar as she entered. Eugene spoke without even looking up from the documents he was reading.

“Leave it there.”

His tone was indifferent and utterly dry. Natasha placed the tea tray on the table as he said, but didn’t immediately withdraw.

“Grand Duke…… I believed that even though we were physically apart, we shared a true love. That even if the day came when the flowers fell, it would be splendid. But, to treat me so coldly like this. I fear every day that our child might be abandoned without even knowing their father’s face.”

Only then did Eugene put down his pen and stop what he was doing. He exhaled a deep, piercing sigh and raised his head.

“Didn’t we finish this conversation last time—that if you just stay in your place, the child will grow up well? I thought you were clever enough to understand my words.”

Until Eugene met her eyes, Natasha checked the doorway at the edge of her vision. She saw a shadow quickly pass by the door.

Natasha distorted her beautiful face into a tearful expression and approached Eugene closely.

“So after I give birth, will I be driven out of this estate again? Will I return to that terrible life, never knowing when I might be caught?”

Eugene frowned, but Natasha paid no heed and pulled his hand to place it on her swollen belly.

“Here is the Grand Duke’s child, yours and mine. Please don’t turn away.”

Eugene instinctively recoiled, shaking off Natasha’s hand and removing his hand from her belly.

The feeling of touching what seemed like just a heavy ball with no fetal movement was strange. If life was like this, it was terribly uncomfortable and unpleasantly sticky.

With his brow deeply furrowed, Natasha, who noticed his animalistic instinct, clicked her tongue inwardly. Since she had achieved her appropriate goal anyway, there was no need to provoke him further.

Natasha said in a frail voice that she would take her leave. Eugene, who had pushed away his own child like that, didn’t even make empty words to stop her.

Natasha turned around and rubbed her chest. A dull pressure welled up, but she tried to ignore it. Even knowing from the start that it was a false love, she sometimes had the illusion…… that it felt as if her precious sincerity had been trampled.

‘Don’t forget your duty. He is not Beelze.’

When she pushed open the large door, there were purple hyacinths at her feet. Helena must have come to return these.

Natasha picked up the bouquet and leisurely left the space.

****

The landscaping of the Evergale estate was consistent even in winter. Consistently neat and dignified to match the season.

Helena sat on a swing in the well-maintained garden, slowly pushing and pulling the ground with her toes repeatedly. In the stillness, there was an occasional creaking sound.

When she exhaled deeply, white breath rose. It looked just like Eugene’s cigar smoke, which seemed a bit amusing. When she raised her head, she saw a flock of geese flying in pairs.

Helena thought absently.

Perhaps each person has a destined match. Just as puzzles with matching grooves must be put together to complete a picture, just as keys with matching harmonies must be pressed to finally become music.

That’s why she and Eugene had always been an incomplete picture and a dissonant chord hard to listen to. They were simply finding their proper places now.

Eugene’s match was Natasha. And she hoped her match was Ian. Complete matches that couldn’t be made by tearing and refitting puzzles.

Helena continued to push and pull the swing while mulling over her thoughts. Perhaps because she had delved too deeply, she didn’t even notice the approaching presence.

Only when she heard the rustling sound of leaves being stepped on right in front of her did Helena’s head snap up.

“Ah…… Sir Agyle.”

Walter stood there with a cup in each hand. At Helena’s surprised reaction, he bowed his head with an awkward expression and held out one of them, asking.

“Could you spare a seat beside you for a moment?”

Helena accepted the cup and moved slightly to the corner. It was a large swing bench that could easily seat three or four people, but when Walter actually sat down, this amount was just right.

Even after settling in, Walter seemed to be taking his time and silently blew on his cup without speaking. Helena followed him and blew until ripples formed in her cup. As she took a sip of the somewhat cooled cocoa, Walter spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

“……?”

“For daring to…… call you my daughter at the ballroom. I don’t know what I was thinking. I will accept any punishment, so please forgive me.”

Helena looked at Walter with wide eyes.

He seemed to have come in a hurry upon discovering her in the garden. His attire, more disheveled than usual, stood out.

The beard he usually kept neatly groomed was particularly bushy today, and the same was true of the strands of hair that had fallen over his forehead, covering his eyebrows.

The sight of the dignified old knight mumbling his confession looked uncharacteristically cute, and Helena burst out laughing. She laughed loudly as if greatly amused.

Her clear laughter dripped onto the morning dew-laden garden. Walter stiffened at the unexpected reaction. But soon he relaxed his raised shoulders and softly loosened his eyes.

“You no longer look like a ghost.”

At the words out of context, Helena slowly stopped laughing. Seeing her with a question mark floating above her head, Walter continued.

“You finally look like a living person now. Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness.”

Just because she laughed briefly, he truly seemed relieved. Helena stared at him intently, then took the cocoa cup from Walter’s hands. She put it in the basket along with hers and faced him again.

“Hug me once. That’s my condition for forgiveness.”

Walter’s copper-colored eyes widened.

“What? How could I……!”

“If not, I won’t forgive you.”

At this series of unexpected actions, even Walter’s beard seemed to twitch. He hesitated for quite a long time but eventually reluctantly extended his arms. An embrace at a very awkward angle pulled Helena in.

Helena placed her hands on the back that, though aged, was still solid. It was dependable. It felt good in a different way from Ian’s embrace, which she loved most.

Helena closed her eyes and savored the moment briefly. The sweet smell of cocoa and warm embrace in the winter garden were the best gifts she could have at this moment.

Perhaps because his tension had eased, Walter gently patted Helena’s back and asked.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Just, what I was thinking back then.”

Walter, who knew it was about the ballroom, immediately got to the heart of the matter.

“Were you thinking…… that you wished I could be your family?”

Helena nodded silently.

Feeling Helena’s nod through his shoulder, Walter carefully pulled her away. Helena could glimpse faint regret in Walter’s tender eyes as they faced each other.

But the subtle tremor disappeared when Walter blinked. Only a certain resolve remained in him.

“Actually, I don’t think I’ll dream of my daughter anymore. Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t miss it. But…… I think I’m finally ready to say goodbye.”

Walter raised his head to the lofty sky. Looking at his profile, Helena suddenly recalled the day she first met him. The conversation they had behind the wedding hall full of blooming camellias at the white temple covered in snow.

From that time until now.

“It really took so long.”