ERTHMB Chapter 150

Hello, Goodbye

Shortly after Helena left, butler Gordon reluctantly knocked on Eugene’s drawing room door.

Considering his current state, his footsteps didn’t come easily, but it was because something had come up that absolutely had to be reported.

Gordon first tested the waters by presenting the usual agenda items and documents. Fortunately, or strangely enough, Eugene seemed calmer than expected.

Swallowing his dry saliva once, Gordon pulled out the main topic from his pocket and placed it on the desk.

“Shall I handle this quietly?”

“…….”

Even at Gordon’s cautious question, Eugene remained silent. He simply leaned back in his chair, holding and staring at the photograph Gordon had brought.

Tap, tap, tap. The sound of his index finger drumming on the desk rhythmically filled the space, then suddenly stopped. Eugene’s gaze finally left the photograph.

He tossed the photo on the desk and instructed Gordon.

“I’ll pay double what they demanded, so tell them to run it daily.”

“……Pardon?”

“A sensational headline is fine. The more the rumor becomes fact, the more advantageous it is.”

Eugene nodded once as if he wouldn’t repeat himself. Instead of asking more questions, Gordon retrieved the photograph again. During the brief moment of tucking it away, Gordon’s dubious gaze swept over the subjects in the photo.

In the dark night, the man and woman having a tryst in a secluded garden devoid of people were Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Evergale.

Presumably, it was a photo taken at the ball during the hunting competition a few days ago. It was nighttime, and captured from some distance away, so it wasn’t very clear.

However, from the angle, they looked like lovers deeply engrossed in a passionate kiss.

Of course, both people currently in the room knew it was an intentionally fabricated situation. Knowing this, Eugene decided to use it to his advantage instead.

From light gossip to dirty scandals. If it could keep Helena bound, it was an opportunity for him.

Once the morning report concluded, Eugene brought up the next matter.

“And send someone to the Central Court right now. Whether you bring them luxury goods from my vault or scatter money, figure it out yourself. Just tell them to keep their mouths properly shut and move according to what they’ve received.”

“What do you…… mean?”

Perhaps his mind was getting ahead of him, as Eugene’s order had many gaps. The state of Eugene, who had seemed composed, might actually be a mask desperately concealing something.

Realizing this, Gordon could detect a faint anxiety in Eugene’s stern face. He wondered what could be so urgent to come out so incoherently.

Noticing that his expression had been read, Eugene rose from his seat and stood before the long window. Because dark clouds had gathered heavily in the sky, his complexion looked even darker.

Eugene’s gaze stuck intently on one spot. It was where Helena had last disappeared from his view riding her horse. Looking out at the ground that was nothing more than yellow earth, he finally spoke.

“Withdraw all complaints filed under the name Helena Evergale from now on.”

****

Swoooosh-.

The air had felt ominous since leaving the mansion, and sure enough, it began to rain. If anything was fortunate, judging by how rapidly the surroundings darkened, it would be a shower that would stop soon.

Helena dismounted and hurriedly looked for shelter from the rain. Just then, not far away, a building peeked its head out between the trees. It was Natasha’s villa.

Even while looking around, the rain was getting heavier. Helena hastily pulled the reins and headed for the villa.

The villa she encountered after a long time gave her a fresh sense of emotion. Though it had now become Natasha’s nest, Eugene’s words that he had built it for her weren’t a lie.

Helena quite liked the villa’s clean exterior. It could be called her taste.

‘Natasha is at the mansion anyway…… Should I rest until the rain stops?’

Helena tied her horse at the entrance and went inside. The interior wasn’t much different from the exterior. Overall, it was a neat structure without any excess.

Following the traces of human presence among them led to Natasha’s room. Just having the white door before her eyes made her feel like an explorer setting foot in an unknown world.

Helena glanced once at the rain still going strong beyond the hallway window and turned the doorknob. Natasha’s room, which she entered, was the only flamboyant place in the villa.

Whether they were Eugene’s gifts or Natasha’s taste, it was packed densely with splendid decorations, frames, and furniture. Despite the gloomy weather, this room alone was dazzling enough to hurt the eyes.

Helena walked slowly, looking around, and stopped in front of the vanity. There were letters spread out as if on display.

Each one began with the phrase ‘To Natasha.’ As if read over and over again many times, the corners of the letters were quite worn.

‘Natasha really…… liked Eugene very much.’

Helena put down the letter and thought about her sincerity. Perhaps raw feelings were mixed into the appearance she had considered artificial and manufactured drama.

Just then, the handle of the vanity drawer caught at her fingertips. The drawer opened halfway, and for a moment Helena smelled a scent already in her memory.

It was the amber scent that had made her aware of Natasha’s existence through Eugene.

Helena pulled the drawer open completely. Out came medicine bottles filled with various powders and a box containing small candies wrapped in pink packaging. She grabbed a handful of candies and sniffed them, and the source of the scent became clear.

‘All this time it wasn’t perfume but scent carried from the candies?’

That’s when it happened. A loud thud came from the window.

Helena turned around in shock. She thought a sparrow had hit the window. But the unexpected visitor who flew in was a person.

Her eyes met directly with a man wearing a black mask.

“-!”

The only visible body part from him was his brown pupils. He was a man completely wrapped in black from head to toe. With an appearance reminiscent of an assassin, Helena froze.

‘Out of many rooms, he landed straight at this window. To kill Natasha? Did Christine send him?’

Helena fumbled at her waist to draw even a dagger. However, the man in black disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared. His movements were so nimble it was as if she had seen a phantom in the rain.

The surroundings became quiet again. Only the sound of rain tapping the window was vivid.

As soon as Helena released her held breath, her legs gave out and she slumped down. Only after panting a couple of times could her body finally move.

Helena rushed outside and untied the horse’s reins with trembling hands. Only then did she notice the two candies she had unconsciously clutched. She roughly shoved them into the saddlebag attached to the saddle and mounted the horse.

The rain had thinned considerably, posing no problem for riding. Helena turned her back on the villa and increased her speed toward the outskirts of Evergale.

It was where Ian had promised to wait. Until now he had said to meet in Partren, but Helena had no choice but to change her mind in the end.

It was because of a secret letter delivered through Madam Tara after returning to the mansion following the hunting competition.

The sender was Gelda. The letter contained the same concerns she had heard from Ian. Gelda also wanted her to stay away from Partren for the time being.

[By now you’ve probably heard from that guy who rushed out to see you, but Dairon is in a very chaotic situation due to a sudden power shift.

Of course I know you’re strong. But as long as you’re inevitably my precious person, I’d like you to reduce even a little the room for me to worry.

I’m actually a greedy coward, you see. I don’t want to lose anyone, and I don’t want anyone to get hurt. You understand, right? Thanks in advance.

-With Lily’s love, Gelda.]

It seemed Garta had already made his move. A very nasty move—not touching Gelda but her surroundings, shaking them up to make her give up on her own.

How Flam came to lose his hands and eyes, how Garta uses that guilt. Because Helena knew, she had no choice but to bend her will.

Considering she would have to stay in the capital for a while anyway, this was also the right choice.

‘I have things I need to finish too.’

Helena kicked the horse’s flanks as if pushing away stray thoughts, adding more vigor. Thinking of Ian and the people of Partren, her tension had already loosened.

After riding forward like that, a small spring appeared. Helena stopped to take a brief rest.

While the horse drank water, Helena also knelt down and dipped her hands in the spring water.

The spring, swollen with rainwater, was a bit murky, but once the ripples settled, it was clear enough to reflect her face. Helena examined her appearance through the natural mirror.

What caught her eye first was her considerably shortened hair. The end, cut without skill, was rough, and she thought she’d need to have Ian trim it when she met him.

And what about the dress stained with dirt? Compared to her time at the Grand Duke’s residence, it was as if she had become a different person in an instant.

The woman looking at herself beyond the spring was by no means Eugene’s wife, Grand Duchess Evergale. Nor could she be the shabby country mouse Helena Owen.

There was only Helena. And Helena liked this Helena best.

Once she realized this, a faint smile burst out.

The smile emerging between her disheveled hair felt awkward. It might be because this was the first time she had directly faced her face smiling sincerely.

Helena muttered softly.

“Hello.”

How many years had passed before she could utter this one word?

Walter’s smile, saying it took twice as long to let someone go, overlapped on the water’s surface. Helena moved her lips as he had taught her.

It was a greeting finally reached. A farewell finally arrived.

From this very moment,

“Goodbye, Helena Evergale.”

She bid farewell to you.

****

Once Helena left the Grand Duke’s residence, Natasha’s usefulness disappeared again.

During that time, Natasha’s belly had swollen even more, but Eugene’s gaze never came to caress that mound.

Natasha had no choice but to return to the villa, clutching her heavier belly. However, as soon as she entered her room, there were traces that caught her attention.

Here and there on the red carpet were dark reddish stains. They were someone’s footprints. They were quite small to be Raptor’s footprints.

Natasha asked Raptor, who happened to be entering through the window.

“There are traces of someone having been here. Did you see anyone?”

Raptor scratched his chin and rolled his eyes around.

“Hmm…… There are two pieces of bad news, which do you want to hear first?”

“Usually don’t you give one more option called good news?”

“They say living as a person is originally about choosing between the worst and the less bad.”

“Tell me the less bad first, then.”

Raptor brought his eyes back down from the ceiling.

“I ran into that woman Helena, right here.”