Chapter 31
When she first heard there was only a year left, Helena had thought it was an eternity.
Surely that much time would be enough to put her affairs in order.
She’d even managed to marry the person she secretly loved—what more could she ask for?
But the nature of human greed was such that, as time went on, she grew anxious.
There was still so much to do, and the passing time felt cruel.
It had been two months since she arrived in Frantor.
While the business she had been working on could be wrapped up soon enough, what about the medicine she’d been discussing with Aiden?
Selling medicine wasn’t a simple matter. It wasn’t the same as selling it at a pharmacy or prescribing it directly on-site.
She still needed to discuss preservation methods and distribution logistics.
Would she be able to figure it all out within the time she had left?
…And would she be able to bring down Eskel and her father’s family?
Could she do it all on her own?
Gathering the necessary information to destroy her family was no easy task.
It wasn’t as if she had experience in such matters.
As expected, Count Eskel coldly ignored her when she failed to provide useful information.
Even when she mixed truth and lies in her reports, there was no reply.
Moreover, her movements within Frantor were heavily restricted.
What was she supposed to do?
“Why are you just sitting there staring off into space?”
She didn’t know how much time had passed when Jeremy approached her as she leaned against the shade of a tree.
She hadn’t even noticed him coming so close.
Startled, Helena blinked as Jeremy pouted.
“You’ve been acting strange lately.”
“How so?”
“I don’t know. You’re just weird these days.”
“…”
“Are you sick or something?”
So this was why people said children had sharp instincts. Helena gave him a faint smile.
“No, I’m fine.”
“You’re the one who said we needed to move quickly before spring. Why are you so sluggish now?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m just tired,” she replied nonchalantly, but the suspicion in his eyes didn’t fade.
Even Aiden, who was helping with the farming nearby, looked at her with concern.
It seemed clear she wasn’t in great shape.
Lately, no matter how much she slept, she couldn’t seem to shake the fatigue.
“Tending to patients isn’t easy work, young master,” Aiden interjected to help her.
“After visiting the clinic, she also has to visit the factory.”
“Oh, the business she’s been working on? That’s just like her.”
Helena responded weakly, and Aiden smiled.
“I thought it was strange when you suddenly came up with this grand plan to distribute medicine. Turns out, you’d already started something big.”
After buying the salon owned by Lady Kenderville, Helena had purchased all the nearby vacant buildings.
She casually referred to them as a factory.
Still, she didn’t see it as her own business but as a commercial venture for Frantor as a whole.
However, it required frequent visits for various reasons.
“I’ve always wanted to ask you something,” Joshua, who had been listening quietly, suddenly spoke.
“Why do you take on work that doesn’t benefit you at all?”
“What?”
“You barely make any money from this. Whatever little you do make, you send it all to the clinic.”
“How do you even know that?”
Helena asked, dumbfounded, but Joshua replied nonchalantly as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“I have reliable sources.”
“…”
She had never mentioned anything about profits, so how had he found out?
Regardless, Joshua was correct. There was no financial gain in this for her.
“In other words, it’s a tedious job with no benefit to you. So why do it?”
“…Isn’t it obvious?”
“What?”
“People are struggling, and I have the means to help. So I do it. Why? Is that… strange?”
Worried that her work might seem suspicious, Helena cautiously asked. Joshua let out a hollow laugh.
“Are you sure you’re really an Eskel?”
“…I am.”
“You’re so strange.”
“Me? Strange?”
“Yes.”
The Eskel family, including the count, his wife, and their children, was infamous for their disgraceful behavior.
But Helena seemed far removed from anything “Eskel-like.”
Her pure and kind heart wasn’t something that could be faked, and Joshua knew that.
“Hey, Helena. Can I come to the factory with you? I can stop by while visiting the clinic.”
At Aiden’s suggestion, Helena nodded.
“I don’t mind.”
“Huh? Then me too! I want to go too! Joshua’s all better now!”
…Ah. This wasn’t what Aiden had in mind.
He had hoped to spend some quality time alone with Helena.
Ideally, he’d stick by her side 365 days a year, but since that wasn’t realistic, he just wanted to be with her as much as possible during their time in Frantor.
Noticing Aiden’s awkward expression, Jeremy stomped his foot and huffed.
“Take me too! Take me with you! Why can’t you just say yes already? That guy gets to go—why can’t I?”
“Jeremy.”
Helena, looking down at the fuming child, calmly spoke up.
“What? Why are you calling me?”
“If you keep acting like this, I won’t want to take you, even if I did before.”
“What’s wrong with me?”
“Your tone of voice.”
“My tone? What’s wrong with it? No one’s ever had a problem with how I talk before, so it must be fine!”
Jeremy had a tendency to throw tantrums when things didn’t go his way.
On top of that, he had been exceptionally rude to Aiden from the beginning.
Even though Jeremy’s social rank was technically higher, this behavior was something that needed correction.
“Your tone? Hmm…”
Helena thought for a moment, trying to come up with the right words. Then, she responded casually.
“You’re really cute and lovable, but also kind of rude.”
“W-What?!”
“Aiden is someone I respect. If you speak to him like that, I won’t take you to the factory with us.”
And, have you already forgotten? Helena asked Jeremy.
“If you speak kindly to me, I’ll speak kindly to you.”
“You never told me to speak kindly to him, though!”
“Jeremy.”
Even though she had softly called his name, he still seemed unconvinced.
“The way you treat others is how they’ll treat you in return.”
“…”
“If someone called you ‘this brat’ or ‘that kid,’ wouldn’t it upset you? I think I’d feel really sad just hearing it…”
“You’d feel sad too?”
“Yes. You’re not the kind of child who deserves to be called things like that. It wouldn’t be fair.”
Helena gently patted Jeremy’s head, understanding his conflicted feelings.
“Unless you’d be happy if I started calling you a brat?”
“No. That would really annoy me.”
“Exactly. Let’s not do that anymore, okay?”
“…Okay.”
Oh, how precious.
Helena smiled warmly as she continued to stroke his head.
Even though most children would dislike having their hair tousled, Jeremy accepted her touch without complaint.
“I won’t call people that anymore.”
“Good, young master.”
She figured she’d need to teach him how to apologize next, but perhaps that could wait for another time.
For now, he simply pouted in embarrassment.
“I thought you said you weren’t going to act like a mom.”
“This isn’t being a mom.”
“Isn’t it?”
This sure looks like mothering.
Aiden chuckled and shook his head, though he couldn’t deny how happy Helena looked.
It was the first time he’d seen her this content.
He felt like he finally understood why she was so intent on staying in Frantor.
“Can I go to the factory with you now?”
“Yes. Let’s go later.”
“Yay!”
It couldn’t be helped. For now, Aiden decided to step back and let it go.
“Joshua, are you coming along too?”
“If Helena personally asks me to, then sure.”
“Unbelievable.”
The three of them burst out laughing together. Seeing them so happy, Aiden couldn’t find it in himself to interrupt.
“Oh, right.”
Since Joshua and Jeremy were coming along to the factory, it’d be best to let Caligo know in advance.
“I’ll go inform His Grace the Duke, so you two get ready.”
“Alright, see you later!”
“Bye!”
Helena waved them off as she left. Aiden shrugged lightly as she walked away.
He’d wanted to chat with her while touring the clothing factory, but now it seemed unlikely.
“Such a shame.”
He muttered quietly to himself. Just then, Joshua brushed past him, tapping his arm on the way.
“…Don’t.”
“What?”
“I said, don’t even think about it.”
Joshua glared at Aiden, issuing a sharp warning.
“Don’t get any funny ideas about Helena. No matter what sneaky plans you come up with, it’ll all be useless. I’ll stop you every time.”
“…What?”
Aiden was taken aback. He could understand Jeremy acting this way, but Joshua too?
“Seems like I’m really not popular with them,” he thought, letting out a soft laugh.
Still, at least those kids love her, he mused with a faint smile.
—
Aiden made his way through the main building’s backyard toward the eastern training grounds, where Caligo was likely to be.
The training grounds had a small annex where Caligo often worked on military strategies. He spent most of his time there, so even important estate matters were handled in that space.
In essence, his office was located at the eastern training grounds.
“Looks like it might rain.”
The sky had already been overcast earlier, and now it seemed like the clouds would soon burst.
As the weather grew warmer, rain began to replace snow.
Despite hurrying toward the eastern building, Helena couldn’t make it there before the rain started falling. Raindrops began to sprinkle down just as she approached the grounds.
Taking shelter under a tree, Helena paused to avoid getting wet.
She needed to hurry. She didn’t have much time to linger at the estate, and Caligo was someone who could disappear on a whim if she delayed too long.
She wanted to see him.
That was why she hadn’t sent a servant and had come herself. Hearing that he was home, the desire to catch a glimpse of him had stirred within her.
Should she just run through the rain?
Though she hated the thought of presenting herself drenched, it might be worth it just to see his face.
“…Huh?”
As she stood there debating, a shadow fell over her. A black umbrella appeared, shielding her from the rain.
“What brings you here?”
Caligo’s calm voice reached her as he held the umbrella over her head, his gaze fixed on her.
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