Chapter 32. Helene Saw

The Grand Duke of Bayern arrived at the Lopez residence about 15 minutes ago.

Helene was pacing the corridor, feeling unusually uneasy about the atmosphere in the house today. Then, unexpectedly, she ran into the Grand Duke of Bayern.

“Miss Helene Lopez.”

He greeted her formally as he was being guided to the reception room on the first floor. Helene, feeling shy, observed proper etiquette, but from the moment she saw him, her heart felt like it was going to explode.

He was a somewhat intimidating person, unlike what she had imagined, but still incredibly handsome. She couldn’t take her eyes off him for even a moment.

How happy must Iris be, having marriage talks with such a man?

Thinking that, something hot surged from deep within her chest.

‘Iris…’

She thought they were friends. After her mother remarried a noble and she was wandering in the unfamiliar social circles, Iris was the kind friend who first approached her.

Until just a short while ago, they were getting along well… But after her mother made one mistake, Iris turned her back on her. She became unbelievably cold.

Helene was very upset about that. She pretended not to care, but inside, she was burning up. She sent Iris letters every day, but they were all ignored. Was our friendship only worth this much? Her upset feelings gradually turned into disappointment. And then betrayal.

Last night, she hated Iris so much that she cried. She wanted Iris to be hurt as much as she had hurt her.

“Are you here to see Ellen?”

That must be why. The question popped out of her mouth before she knew it.

Helene had also heard bits and pieces about the scandal between the Grand Duke of Bayern and Ellen. She thought it was probably an exaggeration and a misunderstanding, but seeing him come to meet Ellen today made her think there might be something to it. It was ridiculous that the Grand Duke of Bayern would be involved with someone like Ellenore, but…

Still, if this relationship could hurt Iris…

Helene decided to think simply. It wasn’t that thinking complicated things was her weakness. She just wanted to use Ellen to get back at Iris. How would that always haughty face look when filled with frustration and humiliation? How could you treat me, your friend, so coldly? You need to have a taste of your own medicine, Iris.

Helene hid her rampaging malice with an awkward smile.

“Yes, I’m here to see Miss Ellenore Lopez. Could you please tell her to come down? Waiting is quite boring.”

“O-of course. You can count on me.”

With that promise, she quickly ran up the stairs to Ellen’s attic room. Since things had come to this, she thought she might as well start being kind to Ellen.

Who knows? Ellen might become the Grand Duchess someday… It was ridiculous, but just in case. If she became friendly with Ellen now, Ellen might take care of her in the future.

There’s nothing to lose. I am practical after all. Unlike that delusional Melissa.

“Ellen? Are you awake? You have a visitor—”

She called out in a voice she tried to make as gentle as possible, but there was no answer from Ellen. Could she still be sleeping? The sun is already high in the sky. Feeling a bit annoyed, Helene opened the attic door. But Ellen wasn’t in the room.

‘Where could she be wandering off to?’

Ellen was indeed someone who knew how to get on people’s nerves. Just when Helene was trying to be kind to her, she made her annoyed again. Grumbling, Helene searched the house. But there was no sign of Ellen anywhere.

What could it be? Did she sneak out? As she walked down the corridor, lost in thought, she heard a loud noise from somewhere.

‘What’s going on? Did something happen?’

Frowning slightly, Helene brightened her eyes and hurried her steps. She disliked noisy things but enjoyed watching fights. Watching the chaos caused by people, like love quarrels, from afar was entertaining. It was almost a hobby.

Finally reaching the source of the commotion, Helene peeked out from behind a pillar. Her heart was pounding. What on earth…

“……!”

But the scene that came into her view was far beyond her expectations.

‘What, what is this? Isn’t that Ellen?’

Ellen was in her pajamas, with a beaten face and blood dripping from one hand. And Melissa was holding Ellen’s hair, laughing like a madwoman.

‘…Has she finally lost her mind?’

Helene knew Melissa was creepy. Sometimes it was chilling to think a person like her was her sister. And now, Melissa looked the most bizarre she had ever seen. She wasn’t normal. What is she doing?

At that moment, someone came running from the stairs leading to the second floor. Recognizing the person, Helene gasped. Marquis Anderson.

For some reason, he was bleeding from his right shoulder. Melissa, smiling brightly, handed Ellen over to him, and Marquis Anderson raised his hand against Ellen.

Then, a sound tearing through the air.

“Gasp…!”

Helene covered her mouth and swallowed her breath. Marquis Anderson hit Ellen. And it seemed Melissa helped him. Are they crazy?

‘The Grand Duke of Bayern is here at the mansion right now!’

As soon as she thought of that, her eyes met Ellen’s. Ellen’s pale blue eyes were glaring fiercely.

Startled, Helene took a few steps back. Then she turned and started running. To the reception room, where the Grand Duke of Bayern was… She had to tell him this first. That way, she could prove she had nothing to do with this…

‘Marquis Anderson is one thing, but Melissa is truly insane! Who knows what the Grand Duke of Bayern will do when he gets angry! I have to tell him quickly! Before this affects me!’

Helene didn’t think at all about why Marquis Anderson was at the Lopez mansion or his conspiracy with her mother. She was too shocked by the unexpected violent scene and only thought about not wanting to get caught up in it.

I need to quickly let him know I did nothing wrong. That way, the terrifying Grand Duke’s anger won’t reach me. Helene, trembling, burst open the door to the reception room.

The Grand Duke of Bayern, who was lounging on the sofa, raised an eyebrow as he saw her. Helene, trembling, stammered out her words.

“Y-Your Highness the Grand Duke, um, right now in the hall, Ellen is there—Marquis Anderson, that is, I don’t know what’s going on and I have nothing to do with it, but Melissa, she’s always been a bit strange, so…”

The Grand Duke of Bayern, frowning, slowly rose from his seat. Helene, with her shoulders hunched, flinched and watched his reactions. She was scared. Is this what it feels like to suffocate just from someone’s gaze?

“Again.”

“…Yes, yes.”

“Explain slowly and properly. What did Anderson do to Ellen?”

And then Helene saw it. The slowly budding anger deep within his eyes.

Facing that vivid emotion and realizing he referred to Ellenore with a familiar nickname, Helene felt a deep sense of validation in her judgment.

You did well, Helene. This will save you. No matter what the enraged Grand Duke does next, his anger won’t reach you…

Helene took a deep breath and began to explain what she had just seen. Her heart was pounding wildly.

* * *

The small body in his arms trembled.

Enoch glanced down and held Ellen closer. The white fabric she clutched tightly was gradually stained with red blood. Seeing this, Enoch’s brows furrowed deeply. The smell of blood pricked at his senses, making him even more on edge.

“Y-Your Highness the Grand Duke, please, not here… Let’s go somewhere else and talk slowly…”

“Talk about what.”

Margot Lopez shrank back in fear at his scornful words. But Enoch didn’t take his icy stare off her, glaring as if he could kill her with his eyes. Her desperate attempts to smooth over the situation were disgusting. And that idiot next to her. Enoch’s golden eyes turned cold as he looked at Marquis Anderson.

I’ll have to kill that bastard, whether legally or through some twisted route. It’s not right to let someone worthless like him breathe freely in this world.

“I think I can guess what kind of despicable act you were planning. Am I wrong?”

“W-What do you mean… I think you’re misunderstanding something…”

“Tell them, Ellen.”

Enoch gently stroked her back, urging her, and Ellen slowly lifted her head from his embrace. Her water-blue eyes, moist and tender, looked like those of a fragile deer. Enoch lightly touched her swollen cheek. Ellen leaned into his hand. At that moment, a strange satisfaction and… intense anger surged within him.

“Who hit you?”

Before Ellen could respond to his earlier request, the question slipped out. Her blue eyes looked up at him blankly. Her transparent gaze seemed devoid of any deceit, making him believe whatever words came out of her small lips.

“…What will you do if you know?”

Her question, spoken quietly, was filled more with pure curiosity than worry. It was as if she was trying to gauge how far he would go.

Enoch chuckled lightly, then answered with a chilling murderous intent.

“Well, I suppose I’ll have to half-kill them right away…”