Chapter 46
“Who is it?”
Fortunately, Caverion seemed to be inside his room. She had considered going to the training grounds, where he often practiced swordsmanship late into the evening, but coming here had been the right choice.
“It’s Raylenne.”
There was no immediate reply from inside, but she heard hurried footsteps approaching before the door swung open. Caverion appeared, hastily thrown on a robe.
“Raylenne… What brings you to my room at this hour?”
“I have something urgent to tell you.”
Seeing Raylenne’s serious expression, Caverion stepped aside.
“Come in.”
Raylenne glanced around before cautiously entering. As soon as the door closed behind her with a click, she began explaining what had just happened.
“Brother, earlier tonight…”
Caverion listened intently to Raylenne’s account. As the story unfolded, his expression hardened. Though angered by Helis’s actions, he didn’t seem particularly surprised.
Raylenne continued, carefully omitting the part about Aiden escaping and rescuing her. Instead, she credited Haele, as Aiden had suggested. It would be better for Aiden that way; Caverion wouldn’t react well to the idea of Aiden breaking his chains and escaping his cell, even if it was to save her.
By the time she finished, Caverion’s fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had turned white. He rose from his chair, a dark shadow cast over his face.
“I must see Helis immediately.”
* * *
Bam—!
The door burst open violently as Caverion and Raylenne entered. Helis was still awake, sitting at his desk with a cup of tea.
‘He must need a report from the assassins to sleep comfortably.’
Seeing Helis at ease, it was clear he had no idea the assassins had failed. But as soon as he saw Raylenne standing unharmed, he realized his plan had fallen apart.
Helis abruptly set his teacup down with a clatter and stood up.
“S-Sister, how did you—”
Caverion answered for her. With his long stride, he was in front of Helis in an instant, grabbing him by the collar.
“Did you send someone to harm Raylenne?”
Helis swallowed hard. Though he didn’t respond, his silence was all the confirmation Caverion needed. He slammed Helis against the wall with a loud thud.
“Helis, do you understand what you’ve done? To your own sister, no less!”
Caverion’s aura flared with anger, and Helis struggled to breathe under the pressure, barely managing to open his eyes.
“Please, calm down, brother. I never intended to kill her or put her in grave danger. I just wanted to leave a scar on her face…”
Another loud thud echoed as Caverion pushed Helis harder against the wall.
“Do you hear yourself…!”
Helis flailed like a paper doll under Caverion’s overwhelming strength. Caverion’s fury was immense, and Helis, fearing for his life, spoke up again.
“You don’t understand…! You don’t know why I did this!”
“Are you saying you have a justified reason?” Caverion sneered coldly.
Raylenne stepped in.
“Brother.”
Caverion’s lethal gaze turned to Raylenne. The murderous intent in his blue eyes made her mouth dry, but she mustered the courage to speak.
“Please, let him go.”
She placed a hand on Caverion’s shoulder. Thankfully, his violent aura gradually subsided. At moments like this, Caverion seemed more emotional than Aiden. Though usually strict, Caverion treated people kindly in personal matters. But once angered, he could be terrifying.
‘He looks ready to kill his own brother here and now.’
This behavior was different from how Caverion was depicted in the original story, where his rage was usually limited to incidents involving the heroine. Surprised, Raylenne watched as Caverion released Helis, who collapsed against the wall, coughing.
Raylenne approached Helis.
“Helis.”
“…”
“Explain yourself. Why did you order a scar to be made on my face?”
She needed to know the reason to determine if Helis was the true culprit. Helis, rubbing his reddened neck, finally spoke.
“I did it because I couldn’t stand it. You, having a happy married life.”
Raylenne’s brows furrowed at the incomprehensible statement.
“What do you mean…?”
“You’re set to marry the Crown Prince soon. That makes you the future Crown Princess, and eventually the Empress.”
Helis lowered his head, his body trembling slightly.
‘…Is he crying?’
But the laughter that soon followed proved Raylenne wrong. When Helis lifted his head, he was laughing. His behavior was so out of place that it sent a chill down her spine.
“Why are you laughing…?”
“Because it’s ridiculous. Someone like you, as Empress…! How can I not laugh?”
Helis laughed like a madman.
Raylenne watched silently. Helis stopped laughing, his voice turning sinister.
“I couldn’t bear to see it. So I thought I had to make your face so ugly that the Crown Prince would call off the marriage.”
So that’s why he did it.
But there was one thing she needed to confirm.
“Was scarring my face really all you intended?”
“Why do you ask?”
Raylenne hesitated but knew she had to ask.
“…Did you ever intend to kill me?”
Helis let out a short breath.
“If I wanted to kill you, you would already be dead.”
“…”
“What, do you need me to swear an oath for you to believe me?”
Caverion seemed to understand the intent behind Raylenne’s question and intervened.
“Helis. Once this conversation is over, you will be locked in the dungeon. In the meantime, we’ll search your room thoroughly, so if you’re hiding anything, now is the time to speak up.”
“Do as you wish.”
Helis’s expression didn’t betray any falsehood.
Raylenne realized something.
‘Helis really isn’t the true culprit.’
If he wanted her dead, he would have already done it. Helis’s plan to scar her face was sloppy and impulsive, unlike the calculated attempt on her life with the poisoned Sana grass.
‘The real culprit tried to kill me discreetly with poison.’
Helis’s actions were too different from the true culprit’s methods.
“I was just jealous of you living happily ever after with the Crown Prince.”
Having learned the full context, Raylenne felt a sense of emptiness. Helis viewed the marriage, which she wished she could escape, completely differently.
Despite her bitterness, she had to say it.
“Helis, I know you hate me.”
Helis’s expression turned grim, the laughter gone. Raylenne continued, watching him closely.
“You hate me because of Belle, don’t you?”
At the mention of Belle, Helis stood up abruptly. His immediate reaction confirmed Raylenne’s suspicion.
“How dare you mention her name in front of me?”
Helis’s gaze was threatening, as if he might do something reckless.
Raylenne was glad she brought Caverion. If they had been alone, who knows what might have happened.
“I know I wronged Belle. But you misunderstand something.”
“Misunderstand?”
Helis approached Raylenne, but Caverion intercepted him.
“Keep talking, Raylenne.”
Raylenne nodded gratefully at Caverion and continued.
“Belle was hurt while talking with me that day. I regret that incident deeply. I have no excuse.”
Raylenne recalled the original novel’s events and sighed.
“So I recently sought Belle out to apologize.”
Helis’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Fortunately, Belle agreed to meet, and I heard her side of the story.”
Raylenne met Helis’s eyes.
“Belle disappeared because of Father. He discovered your relationship and wanted to separate you.”
“Tell me exactly! What did Father say that made Belle disappear without a trace?”
Raylenne hesitated, knowing the truth would be shocking and might provoke another conflict.
But to untangle the misunderstandings, she needed to reveal the whole truth.
“Father… threatened to kill Belle.”
Both Helis and Caverion looked stunned.
Helis’s eyes wavered with shock.
“…What?”
“Father saw it as a good opportunity and secretly threatened Belle to leave. She had no other choice.”
Raylenne revealed the truth that had tormented both her and Helis for so long.
‘I didn’t want to say it like this, but…’
Their relationship was already broken. If Helis had known earlier, he wouldn’t have taken such extreme measures.
But Helis had already crossed a line he couldn’t return from.
“Why… why are you only telling me this now…!”
Helis clutched his head in anguish.
Though she felt a moment of sympathy, the gravity of the situation couldn’t be ignored.
“Brother, what do you plan to do with Helis?”
