Chapter 71 –
For Helen, who wanted to break up Ian and Aisha and take Aisha’s place, the best way to drive a wedge between them was to show Aisha a scene of intimacy between her and Ian. Although Diane never said it outright, she must have known that this would be the most effective strategy.
“Sophia told me you’re interested in Ian? Let me help you. Go ahead, try for it. The position of the Marchioness of House Lloyd.”
Feeling her palms damp with anxiety, Helen recalled her first meeting with Diane. It was on the day of Ian and Aisha’s engagement ceremony. Diane, noticing Helen glaring at the couple, had approached with a sweet proposal.
“It’s true I’m interested in Ian. But why are you offering me help, madam? You do know I’m His Majesty’s illegitimate child, don’t you?”
“You thought I’d be put off by that? Even so, you’re of imperial blood. Even if you’re only half, you’re nobler than most aristocrats. And I despise the Parden family. You know, don’t you? The Count of Parden took away my position as guardian and tore me away from my grandsons. Now his daughter is going to marry my grandson and become lady of this house? I can’t allow that.”
On Ian’s engagement day, Diane had revealed her grudge against the Pardens and promised Helen support. But Helen had instinctively sensed that Diane’s kindness was an act.
Diane’s tone and subtle manipulation reminded Helen very much of her own mother—clever and deceptively natural in her speech. The kind of sly emotional performance that masked true intentions. Having been deceived by her mother before, Helen immediately saw through Diane’s disguise.
“Well, fine. If you’re willing to help me, I’m grateful. But how exactly will you help?”
“My specialty is patiently waiting for the right opportunity. Don’t worry. It’ll come soon enough.”
Whatever Diane’s hidden agenda was, Helen found the offer acceptable and took her hand. Since then, Diane, along with Sophia, had frequently invited Helen to the Lloyd residence. The three of them were often seen riding together in carriages, purposefully showing their closeness to other nobles. As a result, rumors about Helen and Ian grew rampant, and some even believed the two were genuinely in love.
“I suppose it’s time to stop,” Ian said, snapping Helen out of her daze about Diane.
Helen gave a dramatic flinch at Ian’s low voice.
“Oh! I’m sorry, Ian. I was lost in thought for a moment… What did you say?”
“How many times must I repeat myself…”
Unlike Helen’s bubbly tone, Ian’s expression grew colder. He was nearing the end of his patience with this conversation that kept going in circles.
“I’ll say it clearly now. Do not come to the marquisate anymore. As of today.”
“Oh my, but I’ve said this too, haven’t I? I didn’t come here as your guest. I was invited by Sophia and your grandmother.”
“…I won’t say it again. You are no longer allowed on these premises.”
Helen was no different. She should’ve been thinking about how to seize the opportunity Diane had arranged, but Ian kept telling her to leave. Irritated, a wave of frustration and resentment surged through her.
Finally, she snapped.
“I said no! I came here as a guest of Sophia and the madam. You have no right to tell me to come or go!”
Ian frowned deeply at her outburst. There was so much wrong with her statement, he didn’t even know where to begin.
Good thing I called her aside. If she’d behaved like this in front of Sophia or that old woman… what a headache it would’ve been.
Ian, under the Emperor’s watchful eye, had tried his best to avoid wounding Helen’s pride. He’d even pulled her aside to deliver his message privately, which was an act of courtesy on his part.
But that was the limit. He intended to make a clean break with Helen and drew the line sharply.
“Did you think my words were just suggestions? Don’t be mistaken. I’m stating my will as the head of House Lloyd. And as I’ve said before, I never gave you permission to use my name.”
Although the Emperor’s order and the sapphire business lingered in his mind, those matters could be handled through others. As for the imperial decree, he intended to sidestep it as best he could. As Ian maintained his firm stance, Helen leaned forward toward him with a hurt expression—but Ian stood up before she could even move closer.
“Why are you being so cruel to me… sniff.”
Helen stood as well, teary-eyed. She had to buy time until Aisha arrived. She needed Aisha to see just how close she and Ian were. To stall and turn the situation around, Helen’s first move was to cry. With tears streaming down her face, she looked pitiful—like Ian had wronged her.
“We weren’t that bad together, were we? Sure, things got complicated when you got engaged…”
“…”
“But it’s just an engagement. It’s not marriage. Engagements can be broken. Count Leveze told me you and the Count of Parden don’t get along. He said he’s not sure how long your engagement will last!”
“…”
“And you won’t even give me a single chance? Think about how much time we spent together. Maybe we weren’t partners after your engagement, but we danced together… and when I called your name, you didn’t snap at me like you do now. We made eye contact… and there was something between us, wasn’t there? It wasn’t just me. We connected.”
Ian was so dumbfounded he couldn’t even respond. Arms crossed, he stared silently at her. It was already maddening enough that the Emperor had ordered him to favor this woman—now she had delusions? No, outright fantasies?
‘Helen and I were only ever connected through business. But you and the Prince weren’t. And you’re a woman. Isn’t it natural for a woman to be more cautious in her behavior?’
He’d said that to Aisha before, trying to justify Helen’s presence. But it now seemed laughable. He recalled Aisha’s sad face and the voice that had trembled with emotion as she’d spoken:
“I don’t like Lady Helen visiting here.”
“…”
“I don’t like her calling your name so familiarly, either.”
Aisha’s voice seemed to echo right beside him. At the same time, Ian felt a chilling sensation at the back of his neck. It was like a sword would drop if he moved even slightly. His instincts screamed:
If he kept dealing with Helen, he would truly reach the point of no return with Aisha.
“Are you out of your mind?”
Ian couldn’t hold back anymore. The crisis and fear rising inside him snapped his restraint. His eyes—filled with contempt and rage—stared directly at Helen, who froze in horror.
Usually, men took her ambiguous status as an excuse to discard formality the moment she showed a hint of interest. But Ian, even as a marquis, was different. Though he disliked her, he always addressed her as “Lady” and kept things proper. And Helen hadn’t hated that about him.
“If there’s something wrong with your head, I’ll find you a temple to stay at. But I won’t tolerate another word of this nonsense.”
But now he was different. He was no longer hiding his hostility. Seeing this drastic change, Helen felt both fear and a surge of defiance and pride. With trembling hands, she barely managed to speak.
“Ian, I only said what’s true. Of course, this kind of talk might be uncomfortable. But if we both acknowledge our feelings—then we can finally—”
“Didn’t I tell you not to use a name I never gave you permission for? And ‘feelings’? You really have lost your mind.”
Ian cut her off sharply, slamming the door shut on her sentence. He didn’t hold back, letting his barbed words fly.
“I said nothing, so now you cozy up to Sophia and my grandmother to pull your little tricks? Cut the crap. Why would I bother with some illegitimate nobody like you when I already have a perfectly good fiancée?”
At the word illegitimate, Helen’s eyes widened in shock, sucking in a sharp breath. How dare he lump her in with other bastards? She was different. She was the Emperor’s daughter. She couldn’t bear that he not only called her a bastard but ranked her beneath Aisha.
“You… You bastard…!”
“I’m marrying Aisha Parden soon. The only woman who’ll bear the name Lloyd, who’ll stand at my side as my wife and mother of my children, is Aisha. So stop spouting this delusional nonsense.”
As Helen fumed and gasped, Ian looked surprisingly relieved—maybe even hollow—but there was no sign of regret. Instead, he hammered the final nail in.
“Do you understand?”
“You… You bastard… You son of a bitch!”
Helen gasped and cursed through clenched teeth, fury swirling in her eyes. Ian, meanwhile, stood unmoved, arms crossed and face impassive.
…What’s that?
Helen, breathing heavily, caught something in her peripheral vision. Behind Ian, through the bushes—there was a flick of a dress and a hand signaling something naturally.
The raging fury in Helen’s eyes was instantly extinguished, replaced by malice—cold, calculated, and deeply sinister.
