Chapter 60. Don’t Trust That Guy Too Much

“!!”

At the mention of Isabelle’s notebook, Camilla visibly wavered. Sezad began to coax her.

“Helen is so deeply in love with me that she’s willing to give me anything, even her liver and gallbladder. She even revealed her mother’s weaknesses while drunk.”

“Explain in detail.”

“Isabelle Blanche has an obsession with recording everything. There’s a secret space in Blanche Castle where she keeps her notebooks. She said she’d tell me the location after we get married.”

“……”

“If it’s still there, there’s no better evidence, don’t you think?”

Sezad’s soothing words made Camilla’s face serious. She hadn’t known Isabelle kept such records.

Indeed, those with guilty consciences tended to obsess over records, preparing for the possibility of being caught.

Camilla found it absurd that Sezad had found another excuse to prevent her from being completely angry in this messed-up situation.

“So that’s why you were so confident?”

Sezad boasted.

“Have I ever caused trouble for the Queen? I’d rather die than do that.”

“Even so, I can’t let this slide. If you’re going to take responsibility, do it properly. You know better than anyone how painful it is to be abandoned.”

When she said that, Sezad’s smile faded.

“I know. Very well. The problem is that Helen is the same type as that damn mother of hers.”

“Sezad.”

“Anyway, I plan to wrap up the business with the wedding as the turning point. When we leave for the honeymoon, I’ll have our men take over the cruise, and we’ll be declared missing.”

Sezad’s plan was quite systematic. After the wedding, they would board a cruise for their honeymoon, then stage an attack by pirates at sea, making it look like the ship was plundered.

The navy would find the wrecked cruise and declare them missing or dead, while the Duke would try to seize Sezad’s business.

But when he realized that Sezad left behind an empty shell, he would know it was all a scam. By then, it would be too late to find Sezad, who would have disappeared into the sea.

Sezad grinned.

“Once he realizes he lost his wealth and daughter, the Duke won’t be able to openly pursue us.”

He would be too busy hiding the fact that he lost his daughter to a scam. And other families scammed by Sezad would sue Blanche, as Sezad had become his son-in-law.

‘He might even try to use the Black Shadow.’

If so, that would be the opportunity. The perfect chance to track Black Shadow.

Camilla was dumbfounded by his calculated actions. She hadn’t planned to complicate things this much.

“I shouldn’t have involved you.”

“This will go down in the empire’s history as a grand scam.”

Camilla sighed repeatedly. She hadn’t intended to involve Helen, but now her mind was a mess. There was nothing she could do to reverse it.

The child was already conceived, and the father was no good from the start. At least it was fortunate that Sezad was willing to take responsibility. If he ran away, there would have been no solution.

“Do as you please. But wrap it up quickly.”

“As you command.”

Sezad grinned and stood up. He then kissed her hand and gave a small warning.

“Don’t trust Aster Blanche too much, Your Majesty.”

“What do you mean? Aster is different from you.”

Camilla squinted as if she had heard something unpleasant. Sezad shrugged as if he had nothing more to say and left.

* * *

Soon after, the news of Helen’s pregnancy turned Blanche Castle upside down. Duke Blanche, upon hearing this, was furious and insisted on hastening the wedding before her belly showed. It was a typical reaction from someone who cared deeply about appearances.

“How could you manage things so poorly to cause such a scandal? A grown woman with no sense of shame… Tsk!”

“Isn’t it fortunate? You quite liked Sezad Vaikan, didn’t you?”

Even as Isabelle advised him not to get worked up over something that couldn’t be changed, the Duke couldn’t easily hide his anger. Consequently, he often provoked Isabelle with words he shouldn’t have said.

“Like mother, like daughter. Both use the same tricks to trap men.”

“What did you just say?”

“If it weren’t for your exceptional ability to get pregnant, you wouldn’t have reached that position. You secured your place with that ability, something my ex-wife couldn’t do.”

Because of this, arguments between Isabelle and the Duke of Blanche became frequent.

The Duke, who disliked Helen from head to toe, didn’t hesitate to disparage his daughter. Isabelle, feeling as if he was indirectly criticizing her, reacted violently.

“Well, considering that’s the only thing she knows how to do, it’s understandable.”

“Dear!”

“Anyway, make sure the news of your pregnancy doesn’t get out.”

After the Duke stormed out, Isabelle’s anger shifted to Helen.

Today, after another round with the Duke, Isabelle snapped at Helen, who was smiling brightly.

“What are you grinning about? What’s so good about getting married in such a rush?”

“I told you this time it’s real. Dad will be happy once I settle down and start a family.”

“Yeah, right!”

When Isabelle smacked Helen on the back, Helen screamed. She rubbed the spot where she was hit, glaring.

It was good that she had found half of the notebook and given it to Sezad, but it was strange that Camilla remained quiet. Especially since she dropped hints to make her suspicious of Aster.

‘Instead of fighting, they seem to be getting along better.’

Servants said they avoided the floor where Camilla and Aster’s bedroom was every night because of the passionate sounds coming from their room. They said it was surprising that they didn’t have a child yet, given how close they were.

This news even reached the Duke, who subtly hinted at expecting grandchildren. He even prepared medicine believed to aid in conception, which made Helen feel a bit resentful. After all, he had never provided such tonics for his pregnant daughter.

Determined to get her share, Helen asked.

“What about my share of the trust fund?”

“I was planning to check at the bank today even if you didn’t mention it. Considering it’s invested in your husband’s business, why are you so anxious?”

“Do you think I’ll be loved if I go empty-handed? You know how it is.”

Helen touched a nerve by mentioning Isabelle’s time as a concubine. But she wasn’t about to offer her back for another hit.

Before Isabelle could glare, Helen quickly fled and ran into Camilla in the hallway, frowning.

Camilla approached and asked.

“How are you feeling?”

“Why are you suddenly concerned about me?”

Helen glared at Camilla with suspicion. Just thinking about her secretly flirting with Sezad made her furious.

Maybe her emotional swings were worse because of the pregnancy. Camilla, sensing Helen’s sensitivity, responded gently.

“I was on my way to find you. Here, take this.”

“What’s this?”

“Tea that’s good for pregnancy. I figured you weren’t taking care of yourself properly, so make sure you drink it.”

Helen pursed her lips at her unusually kind words. It was hard to react when Camilla was showing concern that neither her mother nor father did.

“Thanks. By the way, isn’t there something wrong with Aster? There’s a rumor among the servants about how passionate you two are, yet there’s no news.”

As Helen picked a fight after receiving the gift, Camilla blinked. Talking about their marital life made her blush.

“Whether we have a child or not is none of your business.”

“You’re doing it so much, yet nothing happened. You’re not using contraception, are you?”

When Helen pressed persistently, Camilla muttered evasively.

“Of course not.”

“Right. Dad would be furious if he knew, so there’s no way.”

Helen quickly lost interest, showing a disinterested reaction. She had a knack for being perceptive but often missed the mark.

Camilla sighed in relief, thinking Helen had caught onto their contraception.

Lately, the Duke had been relentlessly talking about grandchildren, making things awkward. Helen’s pregnancy seemed to have spurred him on.

Seeing Helen, who was unaware of Sezad’s plan to flee, made Camilla uneasy.

“Helen, do you get seasick?”

“No?”

“That’s a relief.”

“What’s so relieving about that? Ah, are you jealous because I’m going on a cruise for my honeymoon?”

Jealous, my foot.

Camilla found the absurd misunderstanding laughable but managed to smile.

Soon, Helen’s life would be turned upside down, and Camilla could afford this small kindness.

“Yeah, I’m so jealous it hurts.”