“……Yes?”
Only then, returning to reality and taking my gaze away from Duke Dright, I looked at the young lady who had asked me the question.
As I asked back, the young lady curled her bright red lips and elaborated on what she had asked.
“I’m talking about the project investing in talented children from the slums. Lady, what do you think the trend of this business will be like?”
“Ah.”
Now the conversation has shifted towards the trend of the business.
Having been momentarily distracted, I quickly understood the context of the conversation I had missed and started thinking swiftly.
Simply saying I didn’t know would immediately spread rumors that I lacked the qualities of an Empress.
Not only that, giving a frivolous answer would likely result in laughter, or they might become displeased for not paying attention to their discussion.
Therefore, I needed to quickly think of a proper answer. An answer that would address their curiosity without straying too far from their intentions, something a typical would-be Empress might say.
After pondering for a moment, I spoke up.
“In my opinion……”
“Isn’t it obvious what the trend of a rapidly popularized business will be? Just as it rises rapidly in popularity, it will just as quickly become outdated.”
Before I could even say anything, a voice, lofty to the point of being slightly oppressive, cut me off mid-sentence and intervened.
Turning my head to identify the owner of the voice, which seemed somehow familiar, I soon found myself suppressing a budding smile.
Standing next to me, arms crossed and looking at the nobles as if staring them down, was none other than Helen.
When had she arrived? I hadn’t sensed her presence at all.
Looking at Helen, who somehow felt like a reliable ally, I gently tapped her arm with my finger. Then, unlike the cold gaze she had for the nobles, her eyes, now somewhat thawed, turned to me.
Seeing my reflection in her clear red eyes, I mouthed, asking when she arrived, to which she mouthed back, just now.
Just as I was about to say she came at the right time, one of the onlookers, a young noble, seemed slightly tense as he objected to Helen’s opinion.
“Ah, but no noble neglects their public image. And this investment project, after all, benefits the children of the slums too. So, as it benefits both parties, shouldn’t it prosper even more?”
Both parties, he had said.
At the noble’s words, I clenched a small fist behind me, trying to suppress the surge of emotion.
Realistically, the children of the slums needed the nobles’ money, and the nobles needed the results the children could bring, so indeed, it was to the benefit of both sides.
However, as the children grew up, the sponsorship became a poison instead. Once they had formed their own values, they had to show unconditional loyalty to the sponsors.
Moreover, if the sponsorship turned into an investment business, the nobles would regard the children as their possessions, treating them as no different from assets like gold and jewels.
And in doing so, the children would practically lose the right to live as ‘humans.’
Yet, despite knowing this fact, I couldn’t utter a single word of opposition to Youngsik, because where I stood was reality. A reality where conscience is silenced and survival is more important than rights.
Helen, quickly realizing my troubled state, gently placed her hand on mine. Thanks to her, the swirling thoughts were softened by the warm touch enveloping my fingertip.
As my fist relaxed, Helen withdrew her hand and took a step towards Youngsik, who was waiting for her reply, with a cynical smile on her lips.
“Of course, it will prosper for a while. To the extent that those who are not involved in the business will be considered left behind by the times.”
“Then why……”
“Think about it, though. They’re not just commoners but destitute. It’s unclear if they even possess a mana core inside, let alone divine power. Moreover, lacking proper education, no matter how gifted they are, there will be limitations.”
“……!”
“Let’s say you were fortunate enough to find and sponsor a child with a natural talent for something among the dogs. No, not just Youngsik, but suppose that everyone caught up in the trend did the same.”
Helen, speaking calmly, word by word, as if to shoot each one at Youngsik, soon scanned the nobles who were keenly observing their conversation, as if her words were meant for everyone present and not just Youngsik.
“Contrary to humans’ endless desire for a good public image, the exceptional human resources in the slums are limited. In that case, you would inevitably have to choose an untalented, incapable child to continue sponsoring.”
“…….”
“And yet, do you still think this business, disguised as a charitable cause, will prosper, Youngsik?”
Helen’s point was this: if the noble sponsors run out of children from the slums worth sponsoring, this business would also meet its end.
Faced with Helen’s not-so-veiled question, Youngsik eventually turned red and claimed he just remembered something urgent, hastily disappearing somewhere.
I nearly burst into laughter watching the scene, barely managing to contain it.
Indeed, that was so like Helen of the Abyss family.
With Youngsik running away with his tail between his legs, the remaining nobles grew uneasy. Some who had yet to fully grasp the situation looked perplexed, while a few others appeared subtly frightened, their faces pale.
Despite Helen solving the situation, I felt it was up to me to conclude it.
I glanced at Helen, who had resumed her business-like smile, and opened my mouth.
“As Helen said, this is a short-term business that will end someday. But for now, since it’s still early days, we should be able to find enough needy children from the slums to sponsor.”
The nobles’ sponsorship has never had a positive impact on the future of the slum children. If anything, it trampled over their freedom.
Yet, for the slum children to escape their miserable lives, the nobles’ sponsorship was desperately needed. Even if it meant a future where their freedom was cut off, they had no choice but to rely on the helping hands of the wealthy nobles.
After all, to avoid the worst chains in life, one must sometimes choose the lesser evil. That’s how one survives in a battlefield-like reality.
Therefore, I decided to comply with reality. I opted to prioritize survival over the rights of the children, silencing my conscience.
“So, for now, I recommend we get involved in this business and look for other ventures later on.”
I said so and smiled calmly.
Whether my earnest effort to lighten the mood worked or not, the nobles hesitated before gradually shifting the conversation to a different topic.
Seeing the ice-like tension thaw, I subtly called out to Helen, who was sipping her deep-red wine.
“Helen.”
“Yes? Did you call me?”
“Would you like to take a break with me on the terrace over there?”
“The terrace?”
I nodded to Helen, who widened her eyes in surprise.
Remembering that I had planned to gauge Helen’s intentions at today’s banquet, it seemed like a good idea to have a chat on the terrace to take a break. After all, Helen seemed to be somewhat uncomfortable in this setting as well.
“There’s no need for you to come with me, but it seems like you might find this setting quite uncomfortable…..”
“Are you trying to seduce me right now, Serbia?”
“……What?”
Seduce? That came out of nowhere.
I looked at Helen, who was grinning with a playful twinkle in her eye, with puzzlement, and then let out a sigh.
The terrace was a place for rest, but also for secret rendezvous. This was because curtains that secluded it from the outside could be drawn at the entrance.
And probably, Helen was making this jest thinking of the latter reason.
I tried to decipher her playful intent and glanced at her with a slight frown.
“Seduce? I just wanted to take a break and thought it would be nice if you joined me. Nothing more than that.”
“Serbia,” Helen emphasized ‘with no other meaning’ as she slightly moved her lips.
“Seems like a really good friend.”
“…”
A really good friend. I held onto my quickly crumbling facade as I watched Helen speak with what seemed like wholehearted sincerity.
The reason this relationship had begun to weigh the profits and losses was because of her from the start. But now, expressing it that way made one side of my chest feel heavy.
It was the first time I found myself wishing that the other person harbored ill will towards me. As I took a deep breath trying not to show my confusion, she gestured with her chin towards an empty terrace.
“Shall we go then? I’m starting to feel a bit tired too.”
“…Yes.”
In the end, no matter what I did, there was only one way to overcome these complex feelings.
Ending this ambiguous relationship. That was the only option.
***
As soon as I entered the terrace, I drew the curtains so that other people couldn’t see us. The conversation I was about to have with Helen was as confidential as it could get, necessitating caution. After ensuring there was no sign of anyone else around, I turned to look at Helen, who was sitting on the railing. Just when I was about to dive straight into the main subject without any preamble, Helen, who had been swirling her wine glass, beat me to it.
“So, what brings you here?”
“Pardon?”
It was as if she had read my mind, prompting a ‘Did I accidentally say my thoughts out loud?’ kind of shock.
Unable to hide my fluster, Helen giggled and added, “I’m asking what’s so secretive that you need to talk about it with me on this secluded terrace, Serbia.”
“How did you know?”
“It’s quite obvious. Serbia, you need to get rid of the habit of showing your thoughts through your face. Otherwise, that habit might put you in trouble later.”
“I had no idea I did that…”
“It’s always hardest to reflect on oneself. Perfectly understandable. So, what is it that you want to talk about?”
Now that the moment had arrived, I hesitated inexplicably.
If things remained vague here, I could continue to have a somewhat ambiguous but friendly relationship with Helen.
However, I didn’t want to drag this kind of relationship out any longer, and understanding Helen’s intentions was crucial for successfully fulfilling my contract with Ruth.
I can do this. I can do this, Selena Obelton.
I murmured to myself as if brainwashing, and then looked straight into Helen’s red eyes. Then, I slowly broke the ice.
“What do you want from me, Helen?”
