ERTHMB Chapter 156

Naked Heart

The prosecutor objected that they were manipulating the victim’s medical history and making ridiculous claims, but it was dismissed.

The defense attorney spoke toward the witness waiting room with a relaxed demeanor.

“Witness, please come in.”

When Helena saw the man who appeared in the courtroom, she drew in a short breath.

The witness sent by Christine’s side was the Evergale estate’s physician. One of the two people who knew best about her condition when she had been wasting away pathologically at the mansion.

Helena’s anxiety deepened. In the midst of this, the defense attorney began questioning the witness.

“Please explain first what relationship you have with Helena Evergale.”

“I work as Grand Duchess Evergale’s personal physician. I provided her with medical care while the lady was staying at the mansion.”

“Then you must be well aware of the victim’s physical condition.”

“That’s correct.”

“Did Helena Evergale suffer from depression?”

“……Yes.”

“Since when?”

“Since the day the lady first called for me, so I remember it being about two years ago.”

The defense attorney held up the medicine bottle from earlier and continued questioning him.

“Then, witness. Did you ever prescribe antidepressants to Helena Evergale?”

“Yes, I did.”

“How regularly?”

“Usually once or twice every two weeks.”

“When symptoms worsened, you prescribed them more frequently.”

“……Yes.”

The defense attorney, as if there was no need to look through the documents anymore, as if all the questions built up until now were for this final statement, pushed his glasses up and pressed sharply.

“The medicine you prescribed also contained narcotic painkillers. If overdosed, can symptoms such as delirium, hallucinations, and paranoid personality disorder appear?”

“…….”

Tick, tick. The sound of the clock’s second hand hanging at the back of the courtroom seemed audible even here. The flow of time could be felt vividly even at her fingertips, and under the piercing gaze, the physician’s dry lips trembled.

However, he soon bowed his head deeply and acknowledged with difficulty.

“Yes.”

The defense attorney pulled his chin in with satisfaction, then picked up the documents again and turned pages.

“Thank you for your answer. Next witness, please come in.”

Unfortunately, the examination was not over with this. Following his call, the next witness came out of the waiting room.

“……!”

Helena couldn’t help but be even more shocked than when she saw the physician. It was the other of the two people who knew her condition well at the mansion.

The second witness was Madam Tara.

When Helena stirred, Ian pressed down firmly on the back of her hand to calm her.

Meanwhile, Madam Tara sat down hesitantly. With an extremely anxious face, she looked around, then suddenly raised her head at the sound of the lawyer calling her.

“Witness.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Please explain your relationship with Helena Evergale.”

“I, I was the dedicated lady-in-waiting who managed the lady’s bedchamber.”

“How long did you serve Helena Evergale?”

“……I have served her continuously since the lady married the Grand Duke.”

The defense attorney, who seemed to pause for a moment, immediately proceeded with the testimony.

“Then you must have been well aware of the victim’s physical condition.”

“I, I suppose so.”

“Then, witness.”

This time the final blow came more quickly. Helena could fully sense it in the defense attorney’s restrained smile.

“Did Helena Evergale ever scream in the middle of the night, fail to distinguish between dreams and reality even after nightmares, or wake up with breathing difficulties?”

“…….”

“If so, did this occur more than once per month?”

“…….”

When Madam Tara kept her mouth tightly shut with a flushed face, the defense attorney strode up to her and cast a dark shadow.

“Witness. Answer the question.”

“……Yes. But that was—”

The second examination was not long. The defense attorney cut off her hastily added words and turned toward the judge.

His final words were like a closing statement announcing the end of the first trial.

“That is all.”

****

While Eugene returned from the courtroom, Natasha left the villa and headed for the Evergale mansion.

Her hurried steps occasionally stumbled. The signal from the medicine she took in the morning was gradually coming. In about half an hour, her swollen belly would return to its former state.

Natasha wiped away cold sweat and clutched her throbbing abdomen. Raptor, who was accompanying her, tried to support her, but was coldly pushed away.

“Don’t touch me. That’s not helping.”

Watching Natasha groan, Raptor frowned as if he himself felt the pain.

“I don’t understand. You’re really going to help that woman Helena?”

“I’m not helping Helena. I’m helping Beelze, helping myself.”

Even to the displeased question, Natasha replied as if it were obvious. As much as she panted for breath, the roof of the Grand Duke’s estate was gradually coming into view. The towering spire was as pitch black as that man’s hair.

As her thoughts turned to him, Natasha repeated aloud the reason why she had to suffer like this now.

“Helena can’t be by Eugene’s side anymore. He needs to lose her completely to become desperate.”

Soon the back gate of the mansion connected to the forest appeared. Natasha pushed Raptor away, meaning he should go back now, and muttered.

“A desperate person only sees what’s right in front of them.”

If she could no longer block his eyes with her own body, she had to make the situation work that way. Fortunately, Helena had given her a perfect opportunity.

“I’ll wish you good luck then. Oh, you’ll probably get a message from the Commander soon.”

“……From Beelze?”

“He still doesn’t seem to have cooled down, so be prepared.”

Raptor left abruptly, and Natasha walked with as much strength as she could muster in her trembling legs. The knight guarding the back gate discovered her approaching and raised the bar.

Whether they frowned inwardly or cursed under their breath, it seemed her presence here still warranted opening the door.

Natasha’s unsteady steps only stopped when she crossed the mansion widely and reached the main entrance. In fact, it was now difficult to walk any further.

Natasha scraped together her last dignity and sat down on the marble corridor rather than the dirt path. The solid stone pillars left not a single nail mark even when gripped as if to shatter them.

The occasional passing servants seemed to think she was having a conversation with the flowers on the roadside. Not one showed interest and approached. The intention to deliberately take a long way around was clearly visible.

“Haha.”

Even knowing that this situation was rather advantageous for her, Natasha couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

Just then, she finally heard the sound she had been waiting for. It was the sound of the carriage Eugene had left in returning.

Natasha raised her head with difficulty and waited for his return. However, he was not alone.

Whatever had happened at the trial, Helena was with him too. She got off the carriage that also carried Madam Tara and the physician, then showed gestures of confronting Eugene about something.

It was a completely opposite scene from what she had seen before. Eugene ignored her and strode toward the main entrance.

Soon Natasha was able to make eye contact with Eugene. He hesitated for a moment, then picked up speed again. Before long, he reached close by.

Natasha poured out the intense pain she had been holding back. She felt the dam she had held at the bottom until the very end break with a snap.

“Your Grace…….”

“What on earth—”

Eugene’s pupils dilated. The fishy smell of blood hit his nostrils first.

And Natasha’s pale yellow dress began to be stained red.

“It hurts, Your Grace, it hurts so much……!”

Natasha groaned and twisted her body. Unidentifiable clots of blood began to paint over the white marble. Eugene, though flustered, caught Natasha’s collapsing upper body in time.

From the angle where she stood, it wasn’t clearly visible, so Helena approached the two with curiosity. However, as soon as she stepped on the marble, she noticed the situation and turned pale.

“It’s hemorrhaging. I’ll move her inside, so quickly bring what’s needed! Madam Tara, contact the nearest medical office!”

The physician and Madam Tara moved quickly upon receiving orders. Helena helped Eugene carry Natasha on his back and moved to an empty room. Even during the journey, the liquid flowing down Natasha’s legs left red lines on the floor.

Finally laying Natasha on the bed, Helena placed a pillow under her shoulders.

Since she had experienced this twice already, her body moved well on its own. Eugene’s confused gaze lingered on Helena’s unhesitating movements.

Helena didn’t stop and lifted up her own dress. She needed to tear her clean underskirt, but her hands trembled and it wouldn’t work as she intended.

“Ugh……!”

“I’ll do it.”

Noticing Helena’s intention, Eugene tore it for her instead.

As soon as Helena received the cloth from Eugene, she improvised a pouch. She frantically swept the discharge Natasha had expelled into it.

The sticky, slippery clots of blood clung to her fingers. They stuck between the creases of her palms, in the gaps between her fingerprints, and to the tips of her fingernails.

“……!”

The vivid sensation and smell became the perfect bait. The collapsed mother, the sudden hemorrhage, the helplessness of having to witness heart-wrenching loss. A scene from the past was instantly dredged to the surface.

[The bitch who devoured two children.]

Helena trembled all over for a moment. It was a sensation she knew terribly well. That’s why it was even more chilling.

Simultaneously with awareness, the fishy scent that had been digging into her nose surged up. Her surroundings swayed greatly.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

It was from some point. Helena couldn’t come to her senses.

Boom. Thump. Thump.

Her heartbeat sounded like the footsteps of a giant approaching to crush her. Her fingertips were freezing cold. The pounding was this intense, yet no blood flowed through her body.

Black liquid flowing from somewhere was soaking below her knees. The thin, long, sticky viscous liquid stretched up like spider webs and clung to her entire body.

Helena finally screamed and began to run. She desperately moved her feet that were sinking deep into the black puddle and ran frantically.

Then from somewhere came the sound of a child crying. No, a real infant. It was a baby.

Helena lost consciousness completely.