Chapter 7
“Father!”
“Father!”
Jeremy eagerly ran to his father when he called him.
However, Helena’s reaction was different.
She hadn’t expected to be called at all, so she simply stood still.
Maybe she was mistakenly called?
“Why aren’t you coming?”
Caligo called out again, seeing her standing motionless.
Was it really okay to approach?
Could she truly belong with them?
The doubt lingered, but still, she wanted to stay.
Even if just once, she wanted to experience what it was like to be part of a family.
“Have you picked your dress yet?”
Taking a deep breath, Helena cautiously stepped closer to him.
“You should know by now, you’re here to pick your dress.”
“Oh, right.”
Her gentle reply made Caligo suddenly burst into a soft laugh.
It wasn’t mocking or ridiculing—just a sincere, unrestrained smile.
The sight was so beautiful it nearly took her breath away, and she couldn’t help but gaze at him.
“If you forget again, what will happen! This b—”
Jeremy paused, recalling his earlier instruction to speak more nicely.
Rolling his eyes, he hesitated before sheepishly adding,
“This… this woman.”
Although it didn’t quite sound pretty, it was better than sounding like an outright fool.
“Yep, this man.”
“Huh? That felt kind of gross. I’ll stop calling her that.”
Jeremy huffed indignantly, hiding behind Caligo’s back. Clearly, he was embarrassed.
“Your Grace, a letter has arrived from the Antarego Mountains.”
At that moment, a servant brought in the letter.
Typically, personal time would delay such urgent deliveries.
However, with the servant directly bringing it, it seemed to be a matter of some urgency.
“We’ll be fine, so go ahead and see to it.”
Jeremy, trying to sound mature, responded. Caligo smiled warmly and ruffled his hair.
“Then I’ll be back soon.”
As Caligo prepared to leave, he met Helena’s gaze for a moment and paused.
“May I entrust Jeremy to you?”
The unexpected request from him made Helena quietly nod.
“Don’t worry. I’ll just roam around nearby and come back to the estate soon.”
“Thank you.”
Caligo then left, and Helena sat on the sofa, leisurely examining the salon.
The salon had advanced equipment, but compared to the previous one she visited, there wasn’t much else worth browsing.
“If you see something you want, let me know.”
The shop offered more than just women’s clothing—it had a wide range, including children’s wear and charming little cravats.
Turning to Jeremy, who was looking around curiously, she spoke.
He blushed deeply at her words.
“Not interested.”
It seemed Jeremy had more interest in clothing than he let on.
Suddenly, a gaze was felt in the air.
“You’re surprisingly modest. I heard people say they drape themselves in gold from head to toe.”
“Maybe not. They might just be hiding their true nature.”
“It’s definitely Eskel being Eskel.”
Helena had always been a figure that drew attention.
To put it bluntly, it was rarely for a good reason.
Being Eskel’s daughter meant constantly being scrutinized.
“You’re talking about that family who sees human lives as less than cockroaches, right?”
“Shh, they might hear.”
“Let them listen.”
Some people didn’t despise Eskel for his nature; they simply enjoyed criticizing him.
In this case, it was clear that was the case.
Even after being rejected by Caligo, Lady Kenderville desperately sought to bite back, attempting to wound her pride.
“How many people has she hurt over the years?”
“Enough to trip over with ease. There’s more than enough bloodline to spare.”
The glances were sharp, and the whispers behind the walls were all too familiar to Helena.
So, as usual, she tried to ignore it.
“Why is it so hot here? Annoying.”
If Jeremy hadn’t suddenly started complaining about the heat, she wouldn’t have given it much thought.
At first, Helena wondered what was wrong with Jeremy.
But then it clicked.
“Being alone must be hard.”
“A servant mentioned how fiery his temper is.”
Helena wasn’t the only one receiving attention—Jeremy was, too.
The rumor that the Duke of Frantor had adopted twins was widespread, and it was common knowledge that he had divorced his former wife and remarried Eskel’s daughter.
To the people, this was a messier household than most.
Essentially, Jeremy had become a prime target for gossip, a piece of candy passed around for amusement.
“Kids without parents always stand out.”
“So important, family education.”
The comments were blunt, bordering on outright cruelty.
Helena could handle insults directed at herself, even public humiliation—maybe even mud thrown at her face.
But Jeremy didn’t deserve that.
He was just a child, innocent and undeserving of the ridicule.
Her heart pounded heavily.
Could she stay silent? Could she let this continue?
Her usual indifference wavered for the first time.
“This isn’t right.”
Helena clenched her fists, muttering.
She could endure the insults against her, but not against an innocent child.
Her blood boiled.
Should she just sit back and let it happen?
Let those who hurt Jeremy go unpunished?
“No, I can’t.”
Though she despised conflict, she couldn’t ignore it this time.
Pretending not to hear and ignoring the whispers had always been her strategy, because she knew that nothing would change. It didn’t matter how much she tried—being Eskel’s daughter was a fact that couldn’t be erased. Getting angry wouldn’t make Duke Eskel any kinder either.
That’s why she had grown accustomed to brushing everything off.
But when it came to Jeremy, things were different.
He had a slight rebellious streak, but the boy was charming in his own way.
Helena couldn’t help but want to protect him. She didn’t want to turn into a coward and pretend not to care.
“Jeremy.”
“Y-yeah?”
The sudden call made him flinch, his expression shifting from surprise to concern.
“Would you mind stepping into the changing room for a moment?”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“That outfit really doesn’t suit you.”
“…What?”
“If you go in, I’ll pick something better for you.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Trust me. I’ll choose the most beautiful outfit in existence.”
Her primary goal was to get Jeremy away from the situation. This was something Helena was about to do for the first time.
“By the way, I have a fondness for cute dresses.”
Jeremy hesitated, looking around nervously, unsure whether to step into the changing room.
“It’s now or never. If you don’t go, I’ll dress you myself.”
“What are you talking about? Stop making weird threats!”
He recoiled in horror at the idea, his face pale with fear.
“Okay, fine. Just go into the changing room.”
“Fine, fine!”
After much grumbling, Jeremy finally stepped into the room.
With the boy out of sight, Helena finally felt a small sense of relief.
“I have nothing to lose now.”
She wasn’t scared anymore.
Helena approached Lady Kenderville with a casual air.
“Dear, do you need anything?”
Realizing her approach, Lady Kenderville turned away quickly, sensing the confrontation.
However, her mocking tone and condescending gaze remained, as if daring Helena to speak further.
“If you could kindly tell me what you need—”
Helena walked straight toward her without hesitation.
The menacing expression on her face left Lady Kenderville shocked, taking a step back.
No matter how much she retreated, Helena’s dominance did not waver.
In the end, Lady Kenderville stumbled over her own feet and fell backward.
“What is this—?”
“You can’t handle something like a cockroach, can you?”
“You’re calling me a cockroach?”
Lady Kenderville’s voice trembled with fury as she screamed back.
Helena continued, her voice steady but sharp, her words cutting deeply.
The thought of Jeremy’s pain weighed heavily on her—she felt an almost unbearable urge to rip her apart.
The boy’s suffering, the tears in his eyes—every image was etched into her mind.
“You proudly said it yourself. You believe people are less than cockroaches, just like Eskel.”
Her eyes widened in shock, realizing she had been caught in her own words.
“So now, let’s see what ‘Eskel-like’ actions look like.”
