Chapter 76
Helene rose from her bed, savoring peace for the first time in what felt like ages.
Her imprisonment had lasted only three days, yet life in the underground dungeon had been so horrific that she would never forget it for as long as she lived.
The deranged laughter of prisoners driven mad by long confinement, the rats and insects crawling out at night whenever she tried to sleep—it had been unbearable.
After finally catching up on the sleep she’d lacked, she noticed that the sun was already setting.
Helene stared vacantly at the orange glow filling her room.
Strangely, she had the feeling that something good was about to happen.
And that feeling came true.
“Stepmother! At last, His Highness the Crown Prince has defeated the giant monster!”
Liriana, calling out the moment she entered the residence, made Helene ask in a trembling voice,
“J-Jaina? Is Jaina safe?”
“Yes! According to the report sent to the Imperial Court, there was one casualty, but it wasn’t Jaina….”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes, the information came from Sir André, so it’s reliable. They left Ikelang yesterday, so the subjugation force should reach the capital tomorrow or the day after.”
Helene let out a long sigh of relief.
Jaina was safe. She was coming back.
For the first time in her life, Helene felt truly grateful to the gods.
André, captain of the 1st Imperial Knights, had always been dependable. Not only in this matter but also during the sapphire hairpin theft incident, he had helped greatly.
At one point, Helene had even thought of pairing Jaina with André. But instead of Jaina, who had become a knight, André often found himself entangled with Liriana, the head maid.
Helene had noticed the strange look in his eyes whenever he saw Liriana—but she had never expected him to truly harbor feelings for her.
When Helene was released from the dungeon, André had come to thank Liriana, and casually asked if she had secured a partner for the upcoming debutante ball.
Helene’s first thought for Liriana’s partner was none other than Grand Duke Zighardt.
But that was the dream of every young lady making her debut.
Zighardt was considered Angelina’s most likely partner. Yet, if the Crown Prince, Louis Hart, returned safely and became Angelina’s escort, then perhaps Zighardt might be free to partner with Liriana.
The Grand Duchess herself was fond of Liriana, and the Emeldia family now had the mighty support of Blaine, the world’s wealthiest man.
Thus, Helene had clung to the hope that Zighardt would one day become Liriana’s partner.
That was—until yesterday.
For Liriana had accepted André’s offer to escort her.
“Zighardt could have been your partner—why would you accept this?!”
Helene had wanted to scold her. But what if Zighardt really did end up escorting Angelina? Then Liriana would have been left without a partner at all.
She couldn’t risk ruining her precious debut.
So Helene could only ask her if this was truly what she wanted.
Liriana smiled brightly, saying André was more than she deserved.
Only because Zighardt was the standard of comparison did he pale somewhat. In truth, as one of the potential male leads of The Completed Draft, André was an excellent man.
Knowing what thoughts lay behind Liriana’s choice, Helene could only support it.
“Yes, if Sir André said so, then it must be true….”
“Ah, and starting tomorrow, I’ll be practicing the waltz with him. It’s been five years since I last danced—hopefully I won’t step on his toes.”
Liriana joked, laughing, but Helene could clearly see that her heart wasn’t in it.
For Liriana could not forget Marisol’s final words:
‘Excessive greed must be punished. I only did what the negligent gods failed to do.’
If she hadn’t liked Zighardt, if she hadn’t been greedy, Marisol would never have falsely accused her of theft.
Her stepmother would never have been thrown into the dungeon.
Now, at last, Liriana resolved to give up on the Grand Duke.
The subjugation force that defeated the giant monster Phemos finally arrived at Hersen Palace.
The victory celebration was held only modestly in the Audience Chamber.
But the rewards were immense.
Each man received a double promotion and a staggering bounty of 100,000 gold.
The Emperor himself pinned medals of honor on every knight and soldier.
There was no flower-strewn parade, no cheering crowds—but the generous rewards had the knights and soldiers grinning from ear to ear.
Everyone, except Jaina.
The reason the ceremony was so subdued was none other than the Crown Prince himself. After defeating Phemos, he had collapsed unconscious and had yet to awaken.
All of the Imperial physicians were doing their utmost, but there was little improvement. Starting tomorrow, the priests would attempt treatment with divine power.
When would he awaken?
With that weighing on her, Jaina could not feel joy.
She forced a smile at her fellow knights who urged her to drink in celebration, but inside, she only wished for the ceremony to end.
Stepping down from the splendid Imperial carriage, Jaina knocked at the residence door.
The moment it opened, Liriana rushed out and threw her arms around her.
“Jaina!!”
“Big Sister!!”
The sisters clung to one another for a long while, reassuring themselves of each other’s warmth.
Jaina had returned alive.
Liriana checked her over again and again—from her eyes, her nose, her mouth, down to the very strands of her hair—to be sure it was really her.
Jaina, too, could not take her eyes off her sister, as though she might vanish if she looked away.
“…You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
Looking closely, Liriana saw that Jaina’s cheeks had hollowed, her body had grown more muscular, and she seemed taller.
She had become an adult in that short time.
Her arms, legs, and face bore no major wounds, but there were plenty of cuts and bruises.
Her hands, hardened with thick calluses, swollen and rough to the point of festering, told the story: she had endured terrible hardships to defeat the giant Phemos.
Though now taller by more than a handspan, to Liriana she was still her little sister.
How could they make such a child fight that monster…?
Liriana’s eyes filled with tears.
“No! I’m really fine!”
But when her sister’s tears spilled down her cheeks, Jaina was startled and tried to comfort her.
She understood what Liriana was seeing, but to her, it only confirmed something else:
She was born to be a knight.
These wounds didn’t hurt at all.
What truly hurt was losing her comrades—and knowing that her lord had yet to awaken.
“…So, you’ve come back.”
By the time Liriana’s tears subsided, Helene was standing a few steps behind, watching them.
Though only two months had passed since they parted, perhaps because she had survived death, she found herself glad to see the face of the person she once hated most in the world.
Jaina almost wanted to slap herself for letting a smile creep onto her lips.
She forced her face back into a stern expression and looked at Helene.
“…I—I’ve returned.”
No matter what, it wasn’t going to be a tearful reunion with Helene.
Suppressing her rising emotions, Jaina held her gaze.
Helene offered only a small but warm smile.
“Yes. You must be tired. Rest well. I’ll leave you two alone.”
Jaina unconsciously reached out a hand, but Helene had already turned and walked away.
Best if the intruder steps aside here.
Helene quickened her pace.
It had been two months since the sisters last saw each other. They must have much to say.
She too had many questions for Jaina—but there would be time for that later.
She didn’t want to ruin their day together by lingering as a third wheel.
Jaina had returned.
Returned a full-grown woman, a fine knight.
The moment she entered her room, overwhelmed with relief and joy, Helene let out a silent scream and leapt onto her bed.
