“You’re here.”

Helia, seated on the sofa, noticed him and spoke first. Enoch approached her and bowed. His stiff body moved like a creaking door that hadn’t been oiled.

“I greet Your Highness.”

“Yes. I needed to confirm something about the royal palace built in the Effenberg territory.”

Helia delved straight into the topic, showing no interest in him personally. Taken aback, Enoch focused on the work at hand with her. Throughout their conversation, it became clear that she had no interest in him as a person. He was merely summoned to address the matters she needed to verify. Despite his discomfort, Enoch dutifully answered her questions. Helia seemed satisfied after persistently extracting details related to the imperial architectural style.

“You may leave now.”

What? Enoch almost blurted the word aloud. Was this it? He felt as though all the tension that had built up in him had been for nothing. However, Helia’s gaze had already shifted away from him precisely, signaling that she had no further business with him. Feeling unsure of what to do, Enoch remained rooted in place.

“What are you doing? Not leaving?”

Helia prompted him, noticing that he was frozen in place. She didn’t even spare him a glance. Summoning his courage, Enoch spoke.

“May I ask you one question?“

“Permission denied.“

Helia responded so quickly that Enoch momentarily wondered if he had misheard. It was as though she had anticipated his request and prepared her answer in advance. Only then did Helia’s sharp gaze fall upon him, her lips curling into a smirk.

“…But fine, let’s hear it.”

Exhaling deeply, Enoch realized he had been holding his breath without noticing.

“…Why do you not ask me anything?“

“What should I ask when I’m not curious about anything concerning you?“

Helia’s words made Enoch pause. Was she deliberately trying to assert dominance over him by avoiding his question? A fleeting thought crossed his mind, but he quickly realized how foolish that assumption was. This wasn’t about asserting dominance. Helia had no need for such things. She already reigned above him. The sheer confidence she exuded in her position was overwhelming. Enoch felt a compulsion to bow his head in the face of her brilliant golden eyes.

“I am not someone worthy to serve under Your Highness.“

“Such arrogant nonsense. That’s not for you to decide.“

“But, Your Highness, I—“

“Why? Do you still resent me?”

Enoch froze, visibly shaken. It was as though time had stopped for him alone. Standing before Helia, who seemed to see right through him, he felt as defenseless as if he were n*ked in the middle of a battlefield under a rain of arrows.

“How amusing. Do you think my resentment is limited to someone like you?“

“What…?”

Enoch began to respond but stopped himself mid-sentence. His trembling gaze suggested he had realized something.

Yes. She was a woman who had ruled as a tyrant. Someone who had willingly embraced the infamy of a villainess and reproduced it flawlessly. Even if it had been a matter of survival, there was no denying that she had caused harm to countless innocent people. She had no intention of denying or justifying that fact. Nor did she suddenly feel guilt over it. Instead, she bore the weight of her infamy without avoiding it, taking the resentment and accusations directed at her as she ascended to power. That was her resolve. Helia Bailey had never been a “good person“ to begin with.

“Don’t worry. I won’t pay you any mind.”

Helia crossed one leg over the other and leaned back into the sofa. That simple act radiated an aura that compelled others to bow their heads. The pressure she exuded was stifling, almost suffocating Enoch. Helia wielded her natural regal dignity as effortlessly as if she were born with it.

“I misspoke.”

Enoch admitted his mistake and bowed his head in submission. He had already declared his surrender. Standing before her piercing golden gaze that seemed to see through everything, he lacked the will to argue.

He had constantly been fighting his internal contradictions. The guilt he felt toward her clashed sharply with the resentment he couldn’t entirely erase. The very fact that he harbored such contradictions made him feel guilty. Yet the generosity Helia displayed rendered his inner turmoil meaningless in an instant. 

If it was nothing, then anything was acceptable. Strangely, it was only then that he finally felt that every part of him had been validated. He could remain loyal to her even with a heart that refused to align with his will. That, he found, was a deeply satisfying thing.

Enoch bowed to her with genuine sincerity. Helia did not see him off.

✥✥✥

The public revelation that Lette was a witch signaled that the foundational work for establishing the kingdom was complete. Efforts were underway to integrate neighboring territories, prepare for the construction of a new royal castle, and organize Helia’s coronation, especially in Effenberg, the land set to become the capital. What had been conducted discreetly was now where Ruben, the lord of the land, needed to take the reins and finalize matters.

By this point, even Xeroth would have sensed something unusual, even if he wasn’t fully aware of the exact circumstances. Ruben decided to head to his domain first. While it pained him to leave Helia behind, her absence would risk revealing that she was the mastermind behind these developments, so she could not easily make a move. Helia would feign ignorance until the very last moment before traveling to the domain to claim the crown meant for her.

“Please be careful,“ Ruben said.

“Mm,“ she replied.

“Do not stay alone if you can help it.“

“There’s a secret guard, after all.“

“Even so, don’t let anyone get too close.“

“Understood.”

The night before Ruben’s departure, he spent a long time expressing his concerns to Helia. His string of admonitions continued until she displayed a mild annoyance.

“I’ll send a carriage in two weeks.“

“Mm.”

“If anything happens before then, contact me immediately.“

“I told you I got it.“

“And… and…“

“And what?”

I love you.

Ruben swallowed the words once again. He was well accustomed to this. That didn’t mean it hurt any less.

He knew he would never be able to say those words aloud. He would circle her forever, repeating them silently to himself countless times. If that was the punishment assigned to him, he could only accept it with gratitude. For the chance to stay by her side, what wouldn’t he endure?

Helia waited calmly for him to continue. She didn’t miss the faint warmth rising in his green eyes. But Ruben quickly tucked the emotion away. Instead, he spoke of the future with a dry, composed tone.

“I’ll be waiting for you.“

“…All right.”

Helia replied softly. For her, resigning herself was as familiar as him swallowing his confessions.

“Well, I’ll be off now.“

“Mm.”

In typical Ruben fashion, he ended their parting with impeccable composure. His unwavering steadfastness was, in a way, heartbreakingly frustrating.

✥✥✥

However, their reunion came less than two weeks later. Xeroth had caught wind of Helia’s involvement. With so many people under the revolutionary army, information was bound to leak. They hadn’t expected to keep it entirely hidden from the start, which is why they had worked so quickly. Regardless, Helia no longer had a reason to remain veiled.

Helia boarded a carriage bound for the new capital five days after Ruben’s departure. The journey was carried out late at night in secrecy. Her escort consisted of the secret guards who had been by her side and Cherny, a knight of the first division who had long served the revolutionary army.

The plan was to discreetly leave her hidden position and meet with the group awaiting her at the designated location. The carriage traveled along a secluded mountain path instead of the well-maintained roads to avoid detection. The rough terrain caused the carriage to jostle unsteadily. Helia, enduring the discomfort, remained silent despite the numbness in her lower body from bracing herself.

“Half a day more, and we’ll reach Effenberg,“ Cherny said, trying to reassure her. Helia responded with a nod instead of words. Her pale complexion betrayed her weariness from the arduous journey. She could only wish for their swift arrival.

Suddenly, the carriage came to an abrupt halt. It hadn’t been long since their last break. Cherny lifted the curtain slightly to assess the situation. In the pitch-darkness, nothing was visible. As his eyes adjusted, he could make out the outlines of the sky, the ground, the trees—and the faint shapes of bodies sprawled on the ground.

‘Could it be?‘

Cherny’s gaze sharpened instantly. Sensing the tension, Helia realized something was amiss, and her body tensed with apprehension.

“Your Highness, lock the door after I leave and stay as low as possible,“ Cherny instructed urgently before Helia could reply. He flung the door open and leaped out. Helia grabbed the door as it swung shut and secured the latch. Moments later, the sharp clash of blades rang out violently.

Footsteps pounded from all directions, accompanied by the whoosh of swinging swords. Helia crouched low, flattening herself as much as possible. Arrows thudded against the carriage, their impacts echoing clearly. Though the carriage was sturdy enough to withstand the barrage, the relentless hail of arrows felt suffocating, trapping her in a prison of fear.

Outside, the intermittent cries of pain mingled with the ongoing clamor of battle. From the sound of it, Cherny was still holding his ground. However, enemies were converging from all sides. While Cherny was a skilled knight, he couldn’t fend off so many alone.

It was evident that the coachman had betrayed them. Helia recalled the faint glimmer in his eyes—a light she had seen countless times before, reflecting a blend of petty greed and cowardice. It wasn’t surprising, yet she cursed herself for letting her guard down.

If the betrayal stemmed from the coachman who drove the carriage, he likely led the carriage to a prepared trap rather than heading to the Effenberg estate from the start. It was a situation where she couldn’t even hope for her party to find her.

“Is this the end?”