Chapter 71
When Hélène’s eyes met Blaine’s, he was startled and straightened up immediately.
He had already heard everything from Liriana.
That they had managed to get Marisol’s confession by using Angelina as bait.
Hélène felt both grateful to Blaine and angry at herself for not being able to resolve things on her own.
“Thank you… Thanks to you, I was able to clear my name…”
Still, gratitude had to be expressed.
Hélène bowed her head in greeting to Blaine.
But Blaine only busied himself avoiding her gaze.
“W-well, I had no choice, did I? If I didn’t do what you asked, I would’ve suffered losses too.”
Blaine thought he would go insane.
He could’ve just brushed it off with something normal like, It’s fine, you must’ve had a hard time while in prison.
But when those red eyes looked only at him, words he didn’t mean kept slipping out of his mouth.
It felt like he was drunk on a strange happiness, turning him into a fool.
If he didn’t let out crooked words, he felt like the itch in his chest would drive him mad.
“R-right… You’ll still be able to attend the debutante ball, right?”
Hélène worried that this might affect her attendance.
Even if someone was declared innocent, society sometimes barred scandal-ridden figures from social events.
“That won’t be a problem. His Majesty ordered that until the true culprit of the theft was identified, news of the incident must not spread outside.”
Liriana immediately answered.
Thus, the sapphire hairpin theft was treated as an incident known only to a select few inside the Imperial Palace.
Since society had no knowledge of it, Hélène’s participation in the ball would be unaffected.
Even if it came to light later, the commotion wouldn’t last long—after all, the real culprit had already fled.
The next morning, Marisol left a letter confessing she was the true thief of the sapphire hairpin before running away.
In it, she claimed she had acted out of stress from failing to adapt to palace life and admitted she framed Hélène, unable to endure her guilt any longer.
The letter was short and simple.
She deliberately left out explanations or excuses, perhaps to avoid anyone suspecting Angelina’s involvement.
“…We shouldn’t have let her go like that.”
Blaine was furious at having lost Marisol when she had been within their grasp.
After hearing Hélène’s account, he thought such a wicked woman couldn’t possibly exist—but meeting her in person, she had shown not a trace of remorse. She was like a devil.
The thought of her still wandering freely through the Empire made his blood boil.
Blaine resolved to hire a private investigator if necessary to capture her.
“Well then, I’ll be taking my leave.”
In truth, Blaine had important business today as well. Yet he had stopped by just to see Hélène’s face.
“Truly, thank you, godfather.”
With another polite bow of gratitude from both Hélène and Liriana, Blaine gave an awkward wave and quickly departed.
Hélène and Liriana were also preparing to return home when—
“…Countess! You’re already out of the underground prison!”
They turned to see Angelina and her maids approaching.
Angelina had come in person to meet the newly freed Hélène.
But unlike her usual bright expression, her face was shadowed with sorrow.
Liriana recalled what had happened earlier that morning.
When Marisol’s letter was discovered, the palace had been in an uproar, not over Hélène’s false accusation, but over comforting Angelina, who was presumed to have been hurt by Marisol’s betrayal.
“The young lady did nothing wrong!”
“I’m sure Marisol must have felt sorry toward her too!”
“Please don’t be sad, my lady!”
Just as Marisol had wanted, no one blamed or suspected Angelina in the slightest.
On the contrary, more than Hélène or Liriana, it was Angelina who was treated as the victim of the incident.
Liriana clenched her dress tightly in her hands.
Her stepmother had been accused and attacked by Lady Angelina.
Even if she was a noble young lady, surely she ought to apologize for that.
Liriana hoped that was why Angelina had come.
“Greetings, my lady.”
“Countess, I doubt Marisol ever thought things would go this far. Still, I’m glad you weren’t kept in the dungeon for too long.”
“…Yes, I suppose so.”
Hélène didn’t know how to respond.
Glad I wasn’t locked up too long?
She seemed to be slyly scratching at Hélène’s wounds—and no one but her seemed to find it strange.
“Then go home and rest well. I’ll invite you to another tea party when I get the chance.”
Seeing Angelina turn with a polite smile, Liriana couldn’t hold back.
“My stepmother was suspected because of Marisol, and even her penance before the Sun God was denied. Is that really all you have to say?”
Angelina looked back at Hélène and Liriana in turn.
It seemed Liriana was daring to demand an apology from her.
Angelina’s maids shot Liriana looks of disbelief and offense.
After a long silence, Angelina finally spoke, carefully.
“Liriana, even though you spoke out against me, I still wish for you to remain my chief maid. At the time, your stepmother was under suspicion and her penance was denied—I can understand why you might have reacted that way.”
Liriana was at a loss for words.
Back then, Angelina had listed out Hélène’s supposed wrongdoings with a wounded look, driving her further into the role of culprit.
Her words had been logical and persuasive, not mere outbursts of emotion.
Because people believed her, they had heaped blame and insults on Hélène.
Wounded by Angelina’s reckless actions, Liriana had declared she would resign as chief maid.
Even now, she hadn’t changed her mind—she only hesitated for fear of disappointing Duke Zieghardt and her stepmother.
“All I wanted was a sincere apology…”
She forced a gentle smile through her hurt expression.
“As expected of Lady Angelina…”
“My lady, you truly are an angel!”
“To forgive the insubordination of your chief maid—you are so merciful!”
The maids showered praise on Angelina’s forgiveness.
Liriana felt torn.
Just as Angelina owed her stepmother an apology, Liriana also owed one—for rashly saying she would quit out of anger.
But the words refused to leave her mouth.
Because she knew.
Even if she apologized, Angelina would never apologize to her stepmother.
She was a lady of noble birth; Liriana was only her maid.
“Forgi—”
Liriana was just opening her mouth when—
“I have committed an unpardonable sin, my lady.”
Hélène stepped in front of her, knelt to the ground, and bowed her head to Angelina.
“S-stepmother…”
“This is all my fault for failing to raise my daughter properly. Merciful lady, please show us your compassion.”
It was a flawless apology, without a single excess word.
The corners of Angelina’s lips curled upward.
“I know Lady Liriana only spoke up out of a desire to protect you…”
“That’s true. But before she is my daughter, Lady Liriana is your chief maid. Please grant her one more chance.”
Angelina looked down at the kneeling Hélène.
Hélène lowered her face to the floor again and spoke firmly.
“Please show mercy, and forgive her this once, my lady.”
Liriana held back the tears and anger that welled inside her.
“…Since the Countess is pleading so earnestly, how could I possibly refuse?”
Angelina stepped forward and helped Hélène to her feet.
Her maids even clapped at their lady’s generous forgiveness.
“Thank you, my lady.”
“…Th-thank you, my lady.”
Liriana forced the words she didn’t want to say.
If she didn’t, her stepmother’s apologies would have only continued.
Her stepmother had apologized to the lady in her place.
She couldn’t bear to see Hélène forced to bow down again.
I should’ve apologized first…
Liriana regretted it bitterly.
“Well then, Countess, Lady Liriana, until next time.”
Angelina and her maids left just like that.
The laughter of the lady and her maids, delighted by the mother and daughter’s submission, echoed in their ears.
Hélène and Liriana could say nothing at all.
