Chapter 71

“Why are you saying that? Don’t you hate me?” Helena asked, as if dumbfounded by my words.

To be honest, I did hate her.

But was it only hatred? No, it wasn’t. There was an affection that bordered on love-hate.

In the original story, she was portrayed as a one-dimensional villain, but the Helena I had observed was a living person.

More than anything, Helena resembled my past self. Was that why? Though my heart occasionally turned away at her wicked deeds, I couldn’t help but worry about her. That was also why I couldn’t completely turn away from her.

‘Just as I clung to that trash of a father because he was my only remaining family, Helena must be doing the same.’

That’s why she must have pretended not to know the Duke’s true intentions, complied with his words, and self-limited her potential.

But I knew how that ending would play out.

Because I died at that end and ended up here.

“I hate you. As you know, you nearly killed me.”

Helena flinched. But she didn’t offer a pathetic excuse, saying she hadn’t intended to kill me.

‘She’s probably afraid he’ll abandon her, even though he’s her only blood relative.’

I leaned in slightly and took her hand.

‘Then grab another hand, Helena.’

Helena was startled by my touch but didn’t pull away, meeting my gaze.

Looking at her, I spoke softly.

“…However, it’s not like I only dislike you. In fact, I quite like you, Helena.”

“What?”

“So, if you promise to be my real friend this time, I’ll help you, though you’ll have to face some punishment.”

The eyes that had been looking at me in incomprehension gradually took on a different light, as if they had found sincerity in my expression.

“……What will you help me with?”

On Helena’s face, as she asked, a sharp smile had somehow appeared. A very villainess-like smile.

With just that smile, I guessed what she desired, and with a similar smile, I replied, “Anything.”

Whether it was revenge or freedom.

***

A few days had passed since then.

As the incident was what it was, all my remaining social engagements had been canceled.

Thanks to that, I was quietly spending the tail end of the planned month-long social season in a peaceful townhouse.

Sipping tea leisurely at a table in the garden, I intuitively sensed that the time had come.

The time to reveal the truth about the love potion incident and part ways with Nine.

‘Ha.’

I touched my teacup and scoffed.

While suffering through the love potion incident, I clearly wanted to quickly reveal the truth, return to my original place, and live a tranquil, extra-like life, unrelated to the original story.

‘But……’

The servants who followed me, calling me the Duchess, and Van and Tully, who consistently helped me.

Adel, who would be waiting for me in the North.

Norman, who no longer viewed me with suspicion.

The new relationships I had built while staying at Eclipse—they, whom I would surely miss even after leaving—kept weighing on my mind.

‘If I’m no longer the Duchess, will my connection with them end like this?’

Among them, the one who most unsettled my heart was Nine.

He had been kind since I first arrived for the social season, but his attitude had completely changed after the kidnapping incident.

He looked at me with eyes so full of warmth and affection that it couldn’t be mistaken. Every time I met his gaze, it felt like my breath was stopping.

‘Has Nine also grown fond of me?’

Or was it just the delusion of a woman in love? Was I just seeing him as I wished he were?

I took a sip of the cooled tea and calmed my turbulent heart.

To steady my wavering resolve, I looked back at Annie, who stood beside me. Annie smiled in response to my gaze.

‘Yes, I have to go back to the Blueberry family. That’s my home.’

Whatever Nine’s attitude meant, there was no way he felt the same as me.

More importantly, the moment the female protagonist appeared, I would only be an obstacle.

‘Let’s talk today. And then say I’m leaving and go back.’

Having made up my mind, I slowly finished the remaining tea.

***

However, unlike me, who was leisurely recuperating, Nine was extremely busy.

Because of that, contrary to my resolve, the conversation kept getting postponed.

‘But it’s because of my request……’

The reason Nine was busy was that, according to my will, he was turning this incident into a simple crime committed by back-alley thugs.

He had already delegated authority to me, but I had prepared a lot of convincing words, as I found it hard to believe he would truly follow my decision even on this matter, yet he simply agreed without a word.

‘Still, I thought it was winding down. I also heard the monster extermination issue was resolved well.’

Yet, seeing him still so busy, I was newly aware of how difficult it must be to live as a Duke.

Though this incident was successfully covered up, the Eclipse Ducal family suffered damage, and the Imperial family also helped, so they managed to extract a lot from Duke Oswald.

They received the share of a mine owned by Duke Oswald that produced rare jewels.

The mining rights went to the Imperial family, the processing and selling rights went to the Eclipse Ducal family, and the processing and distribution were to be entrusted to the Ortrancia Trading Company.

Helena, now fully awakened, was setting her sights on becoming the heir and planning her new life.

‘She also said she’d get revenge on Duke Oswald on the side.’

Alvin, who had tried to kill me, apologized to me after listening to Helena’s persuasion.

I could have decided his punishment, but I chose to leave him as he was. Helena needed someone she could trust on her side right now.

‘And……’

Tidying up the situation while taking a walk, I recalled a recent event and shivered slightly.

Even now, I’m not sure what state of mind I was in when I went. My heart was still pounding because I had been extremely nervous.

A few days ago, I had to meet the Emperor in audience.

”..His Majesty the Emperor invited us to console us about this incident,” Nine had said, looking apologetic with a displeased expression. Even though it was packaged as an invitation, since the Emperor himself was calling, it was mandatory for me to attend.

Nine had reassured me not to worry, but how could I not?

Perhaps it was because I visited the Imperial Palace in an extremely nervous state. That day’s events felt like a dream.

‘His Majesty the Emperor was truly an incredible person……’

The first impression of the Emperor, whom I faced after being guided to his office, was his size.

With a large and sturdy build that was not inferior to a Northerner, he looked like a seasoned warrior, even though he wasn’t a war monarch.

Until he opened his mouth.

‘Oh! My nephew’s wife has arrived!’

Could the Emperor really act that friendly?

The Emperor, who welcomed me with open arms, looked like some over-doting uncle.

I naturally expected to be scolded for deciding to cover up this incident arbitrarily, but he rather put me at ease, telling me to speak comfortably.

So I replied, “Helena did not intend to kill me. Furthermore, she is my friend, so I wish to forgive this mistake. However, separately from that, the Oswald Ducal family must compensate for the damages.”

That was my reply. Because I was sparing Helena, not the Oswald Ducal family.

I further stated that an agreement had already been reached with Duke Oswald, and I would offer the Imperial family, who had helped smooth over the military activity issue, the mining rights to the jewel mine received as compensation.

It was a kind of bribe.

I was secretly sweating, wondering if this tactic would work, but soon I was met with the Emperor’s hearty laugh.

“Hahaha! A proper politician has finally entered the Eclipse Ducal family. Perfect for my blockhead nephew! You chose your spouse well!”

“……Hmm.”

Seriously, could the Emperor really be that casual?

Even recalling it now, his appearance was so different from what I had expected. Just then, Laura approached and handed me a letter.

“Lady Chacha. A letter has arrived!”

Laura, who seemed to be in a good mood, was beaming as she handed me the letter.

Puzzled by her demeanor, I opened the letter to find a short message written in a neat handwriting.

[Would you join me for a teatime after dinner tomorrow?]

It was Nine’s invitation for teatime. I was surprised that he had requested it first instead of me.

Only after re-checking a few times to make sure I had read the letter correctly did I open my mouth.

“Tell the Duke I will meet him for teatime tomorrow.”

“Yes, Lady Chacha!”

“And Annie.”

I lingered on the neat handwriting of the letter for a moment. The joy was brief. A bitter feeling washed over me as I anticipated what was soon to happen.

“Tomorrow, at teatime, send the servants away and bring ‘that’ box.”

“Yes.”

Annie nodded with a solemn expression at my words.

“It’s time to end it now.”

The final moment was truly approaching.