Chapter 59. Is It You Again?

“Do I have to explain that too?”

Sezad asked with an unpleasant look, making Helen’s head spin.

It was strange that he was curious about that particular day. It was the day when her mother’s plan failed, resulting in Francis’s carriage accident.

‘Could it be related to Francis?’

Helen had never considered a connection between Sezad and Francis. But considering Francis had expanded their business to the south, it was possible they knew each other.

‘Come to think of it…’

Helen shuddered, recalling the dinner at the villa. She remembered feeling uncomfortable because Sezad kept glancing at Camilla.

When she questioned him later, his annoying answer that he looked because she was pretty made her more suspicious.

Helen knew she had a foolish side, yet she had survived in Blanche thanks to her keen intuition and sense.

When she’s finally convinced that Sezad and Camilla knew each other, Helen was stunned. She wondered if their meeting at the penthouse was not a coincidence.

Camilla could have easily provided her schedule. The thought that they might be having an affair made Helen burn with jealousy.

‘Is it you again?’

It felt like Camilla was constantly blocking her path. She hated Camilla for slyly coming between her and Sezad.

Camilla, who interfered in everything. She might have lost Ayla Letia, but she couldn’t lose Sezad Vaikan.

At that moment, Sezad spoke again.

“I just want to confirm something. Why? Is it difficult? Then we can call off the marriage.”

When Sezad tried to withdraw, Helen quickly grabbed his hand.

“Who said no?”

Her priority was to hold on to him. It didn’t matter if he approached her on purpose or not.

The important thing was that she wanted to marry Sezad. She rationalized that he was just angry because the child wasn’t his.

Helen smiled brightly, not knowing she was stepping into hell. And she thought of a perfect plan to take revenge on Camilla, who would deceive her and flirt with Sezad.

She had no intention of handing over the notebook neatly. At the very least, she wanted to confuse her. Wasn’t it fair for her to pay for deceiving her?

In fact, the reason she had told Camilla to break off the engagement was because of the accident that day. If the truth came out later, they would end up fighting.

Camilla hadn’t listened despite being warned to break off the engagement. So, the future trials were her responsibility.

What would happen if they found out she married into the enemy family?

It seemed she didn’t know that the accident that day was caused by Aster.

If she found out, if she believed that Aster survived by passing his bad luck onto others, and if she misunderstood it as a deliberate approach with a bit of embellishment, she would never have a happy marriage.

‘It would have been better if you had broken off the engagement as I said.’

Helen was the type to choose making others unhappy over being unhappy alone. She lowered her eyebrows and feigned innocence.

“I’m sorry, I was bluffing. I don’t remember records I read a long time ago.”

“Of course, I didn’t expect that much.”

“I’ll give you the notebook after the engagement ceremony. The other half after the wedding. I need some insurance too, don’t I?”

“Do as you please.”

Sezad smiled slyly, unaware of Helen’s cunning plan. He was just happy to be able to give Camilla what she wanted, not realizing that part of his plan had been exposed.

* * *

Camilla arrived in Moss at Sezad’s summons, looking bewildered. He had abruptly declared his intention to marry Helen.

“What do you mean you’re going to marry Helen?”

It was clear she was struggling to contain her anger. Given her fiery nature, this was a natural reaction. Crossing his legs, Sezad spoke.

“I said I’m going to marry her.”

“What I mean is, why did you suddenly decide to get married? Didn’t I tell you not to get deeply involved with Blanche?”

They were at the stage of gradually withdrawing from the business. With Paris placing a trust, now was the perfect time to deliver a fatal blow.

Originally, Sezad was supposed to take all the money and flee to the sea. The Vaikan Island and surname were just a temporary retreat.

His real occupation was a pirate. The uninhabited island he bought with the money he gathered while wandering the seas was Vaikan. Despite his incredible talent for turning that island into a tourist spot, he insisted on wandering the seas, claiming it was his calling.

But now he suddenly wanted to become Helen’s husband.

It was natural to be suspicious of his intentions. Camilla squinted her eyes and asked.

“Have you suddenly become greedy?”

It was such an absurd assumption that Sezad smirked.

“The only thing I’m greedy for is you.”

“Stop saying disgusting things and answer seriously. Why would you do something so absurd?”

It was clear she wouldn’t allow it without a convincing reason. Sezad recalled the half notebook Helen had brought.

It contained a record from September 13, 458 of the Imperial Calendar, just before the incident. It confirmed that Isabelle Blanche had ordered the assassination of Aster Blanche, her illegitimate son.

Given the location and timing, Sezad could easily guess the context.

In short, Francis was caught in the crossfire of another family’s feud. Isabelle’s original target was Aster, but Camilla’s carriage got caught in the incident.

The words Helen added at that time had deeply moved Sezad.

‘It wasn’t the first assassination attempt. My mother tried to kill that child several times.’
‘What a messed-up family.’
‘Well, Aster isn’t entirely innocent either. He’s a kid who survives by passing his bad luck onto others.’
‘Passing it on?’
‘You could say he knows how to find someone to die in his place. He’s quick-witted and smart, which is why he’s survived so far.’
‘…So you’re saying he deliberately got into Francis’s carriage to transfer the danger?’
‘Of course. Besides, Aster has learned Blanche’s ways since he was young. To be honest, I’ve also fallen for his tricks several times. If you’re fooled by his innocent face, you’ll get hurt badly.’

When Helen stuck out her tongue and spilled everything, including how Aster had ruined her debutante, Sezad judged that he might have approached Camilla with ulterior motives.

Given that, it was suspicious that he hadn’t mentioned anything about the accident being related to him.

‘Telling her not to trust that guy too much won’t work now.’

To make Camilla believe him, he needed the other half of the notebook. Only then would she trust his words.

But he was bothered by the fact that Camilla seemed to like Aster. So for now, he decided to hide the fact that he had the notebook. Who knows what Aster might try.

If he had to hide the half notebook for now, there was only one way to push through with the marriage. Sezad lied shamelessly, shocking Camilla.

“She’s pregnant with my child.”

“…You’re insane.”

Camilla looked at Sezad with contempt. His words were no ordinary matter. Helen being pregnant with Sezad’s child would cause a significant disruption to their plans.

He had been so thorough in such matters that this mistake was enormous. Despite sleeping with many women, he managed to avoid having any illegitimate children, so this was shocking.

The fact that he had impregnated someone without intending to take responsibility was too much. Camilla touched her throbbing forehead, staggering.

“Haa, I shouldn’t have called you.”

“Don’t worry. The business will proceed as planned.”

Sezad responded nonchalantly, smiling. Judging by his eyes, he seemed determined to push through with this.

Camilla asked with a bewildered look.

“You’re not planning to abandon Helen and the child, are you? That’s absolutely not allowed.”

Sezad grinned and leaned forward, as if to say, ‘Do you think I’m that irresponsible?’ Francis wouldn’t stand for such a thing, especially given her strong reactions even towards the enemy’s daughter. Perhaps that’s why she took care of and fed someone like him.

It was annoying that she lived with someone who might be the culprit behind that day’s incident. Sezad squinted and said.

“No matter how terrible I am, I’m not that shameless.”

“So you’re going to take responsibility?”

“Well, there’s plenty of room on the ship.”

Camilla pressed her temples. It was quite a plan. Helen Blanche was full of vanity. She wasn’t tough enough to endure an indefinite life on the run.

“Helen won’t last a single day.”

“Then I’ll just take the child.”

“Sezad!”

“This won’t cause any trouble for you, Queen. It’s actually a great opportunity to obtain a very important clue.”

“What do you mean?”

“Helen knows where Isabelle’s notebook is. If we have that, it will contain the truth of that day.”