Chapter 70

‘What if Nine refuses?’

I didn’t think he would agree easily. While awaiting his answer, my mind was racing to figure out how to persuade him.

However, to my surprise, Nine simply asked, “Are you going to forgive the Duchess?”

I looked at him, briefly considering the subtly implied question. How should I put it? His words sounded as if he was worried I was too kind.

‘Am I imagining things?’

Taken aback by the brief question, I hesitated about what answer to give Nine.

But before I could speak, Nine continued, “The fact that the Duchess is the true culprit has not yet been publicly announced, and her punishment has not been decided. Only the Emperor, Norman, Duke Oswald, and you know this fact.”

For a moment, I didn’t understand his words and just blinked.

Nine repeated himself with a firm voice, as if he wanted to assure me. “Chacha, you can do whatever you want.”

It was then that I realized the implication of his words: it was permission, and he was entrusting the authority to decide the fate of the culprit to me. I had expected to have to give a tedious explanation, just as when I was allowed to participate in social activities for the first time, and I felt a little embarrassed, but also a flutter in my heart.

My throat felt strangely tight. Because of this, I didn’t realize that he had called me “Chacha” for the first time.

“…Thank you.”

Honestly, this whole incident was practically my fault for unnecessarily putting the Eclipse Duchy in the hot seat. Yet, Nine actively sought out the culprit for my sake and calmly placed the result of his struggles in my hands. Although I told myself it couldn’t be, I felt tremendously trusted.

“To meet the Duchess, we must go to the Oswald Ducal residence. Since I don’t know how the Duke will react, I will accompany you. And.”

“And?”

“The Duchess who kidnapped you might try to harm you again, so I will wait outside the door. If anything happens, call for me.”

I sensed a strong resolve in Nine’s words. Realizing that what he had just stated were the conditions I must follow to meet Helena, I meekly nodded.

Currently, the social world was focused entirely on the Eclipse Duchy. Nine and I minimized our entourage and headed to the Oswald Ducal residence, aiming for the quietest possible visit.

***

The Oswald Ducal townhouse was quite familiar to me.

Upon arriving at the townhouse and announcing our visit, Duke Oswald initially denied the accusation and refused the meeting between Helena and me. However, when Nine, who had prepared thoroughly, presented him with all sorts of evidence, Duke Oswald ultimately had no choice but to allow the meeting.

‘The threat was quite chilling.’

Recalling Nine, who had just been threatening Duke Oswald with an expressionless face, I walked down the familiar hallway. I remembered the way to Helena’s room even now. It was the largest and best-located room upstairs, overlooking the garden.

When I stopped in front of Helena’s door, Nine, who had been matching my steps, looked back at me.

“If anything happens, scream.”

“Yes, I will.”

He seemed genuinely worried and urged me to be careful two more times. It was a message I had heard repeatedly on the way to the Oswald Ducal residence, but I answered earnestly every time, grateful for his concern.

Watching him retreat with a worried expression, I opened Helena’s room door.

Helena was sitting in front of the wide-open window. She was completely enveloped in the orange light of the sunset, gazing endlessly out the window through the fluttering thin curtains.

As I slowly walked towards her, Helena raised her head and looked back at me.

“…”

I was speechless for a moment.

Her usually beautiful face was a wreck. Even though it hadn’t been long since we parted in the hut, her face was drawn and pale without makeup. Her beautiful eyes were swollen from crying so much, and a scab of blood had formed on her lower lip from how much she must have bitten it. Upon closer inspection, her cheek was also red and swollen.

Faced with Helena’s disheveled appearance for the first time in my life, I approached her, pretending to be unbothered. And just like I used to during our academy days, I familiarly sought out a brush from a nearby dressing table.

Shhh, shhh.

I slowly brushed down her luscious red hair, just as I had done until before graduation.

From the moment I familiarly took out the brush, Helena had buried her face in her hands, as if enduring something.

“…I’m sorry.”

Her tearful and endlessly trembling voice told me that Helena was crying. I had never heard her cry or apologize before.

But without accepting or refusing the apology, which held various meanings, I asked, “What happened to your cheek?”

As if I hadn’t heard anything. As if nothing had happened between us. Like before Helena became obsessed with Nine, I asked her, not as the Duchess, but as Chacha.

Helena looked up at me from her seat, as I leisurely brushed her hair, and covered her cheek with one hand. Frowning as if in pain, she spoke with a face that looked both like she was crying and laughing.

“Father hit me. This is the first time.”

She seemed to struggle to expose her shame, parting her lips several times before finally speaking. “Alvin tried to cover up the entire incident.”

Helena gave a hollow laugh. “The dead tell no tales, so he must have intended to kill you to cover up the matter, or use someone else as a scapegoat to cut ties.”

But he failed.

“It seems Duke Eclipse was faster at finding you than Alvin expected.”

And it took only a few hours for the whole situation to reach Duke Oswald’s ears, she said. The Duke immediately questioned Helena about the facts, and she told the truth. The plan was hers, but she hadn’t truly intended to kill me, and the fire at the end was Alvin’s solo act.

Helena frowned, as if regretting that time. 

‘She must have told him the truth because she trusted the Duke.’ 

That he would understand her this time too. That he would help her.

But the Duke’s reaction was different from her expectations.

“…He slapped my cheek. Said all my marriage prospects were ruined because of the scandal.”

The Duke was not angry because his daughter had done something wrong. It was because his carefully crafted object was damaged. Helena sneered.

“Father only treated me well when I was a useful object. The Empire’s most beautiful woman. A graduate of the Dragornia Academy. Pretty, kind, and obedient… a tool for marriage trade. I wasn’t unaware of it. I just wanted to pretend I didn’t know.”

I didn’t interrupt Helena or respond, just continued braiding her hair neatly and listening. Helena finished her story calmly and leaned her body against the back of the chair. She looked somewhat relieved.

“Now. The verdict is yours.”

She closed her eyes and remained silent, like a prisoner awaiting judgment.

But her resignation was not what I wanted. It wasn’t like the Helena I knew.

‘I guess I really am an extra who plays the role of the villainess’s conscience.’

Given that I couldn’t leave the original story’s villainess alone.

“I knew it would come to this someday.”

“…What?”

At my sudden words, Helena looked at me with a bewildered expression.

I wore a look that said, ‘What? Am I wrong?’ and began to pour out the words I had always wanted to say to her.

“Isn’t that right? Treating a friend like a maid, only feeling satisfied when you get everything good, and acting arrogant—all that accumulates is bad deeds. It might have been different if you had someone who would advise you, but when you look down on those around you and replace them if you don’t like them, who would want to say such things to you? It’s all your own doing. You’re truly awful.”

Helena’s eyes widened as I continued speaking. She looked utterly surprised by my sudden reprimand.

And then, I laid out the other observations I had made while watching her. Perhaps the words I truly wanted to say to her were these.

“If you built such walls around yourself, you should at least manage well on your own. But you get lonely easily! Plus, you’re always watching the Duke and the Young Duke! What on earth do you have to lack?”

I had always felt pity for the parts of her that seemed buried by the role of the villainess.