Chapter 47
Caverion looked down at Helis.
Helis, in despair, clutched his head and kept repeating, “Why… why…!”
Caverion seemed to be pondering how to handle Helis. But judging by his cold gaze, it was clear he wouldn’t let this go easily. The Hamnebu Empire was known for its strict punishment of crimes, even for nobles.
‘Will he hand him over to the authorities for a lifetime sentence? Or maybe exile?’ Both were essentially death sentences for Helis. A high-ranking noble like Helis couldn’t endure the humiliation of being locked up with criminals or laboring in a foreign land without a penny.
However, Raylenne thought that a different kind of punishment was necessary because she also bore some responsibility for how Helis ended up this way. She hesitated, then suggested to Caverion, “I think… we should send Helis on a pilgrimage.”
“A pilgrimage…?”
In fact, pilgrimage was the punishment Caverion received at the end of the original story. He was punished for coveting the female protagonist and committing various excesses, but due to his generally high reputation, he was given a relatively lenient sentence: pilgrimage. This punishment involved wandering the empire’s monasteries to atone for one’s sins, without the aid of carriages or horses. It was essentially a grueling journey on foot. However, the family could provide a small amount of money to prevent starvation.
“Yes. Helis did wrong, but I also bear some responsibility.”
Raylenne looked at Caverion. He seemed inclined to punish Helis harshly, but he surely remembered the incident with Belle and Raylenne’s own past actions.
‘Of course, he didn’t know that the Duke of Ergen secretly threatened Belle to leave.’
Caverion spoke in a cold voice, still looking at Helis.
“I think a harsher punishment is appropriate considering the terrible thing Helis attempted. He ordered my sister’s face to be scarred.”
“I understand. It was a horrific act. But… this would ease my conscience.”
This was Raylenne’s honest opinion. Despite the actions of the original Raylenne, she felt a sense of responsibility for the events that transpired. Not imposing a severe punishment on Helis was a way for her to atone.
Seeing Raylenne’s earnest gaze, Caverion sighed.
“If that is what you wish…”
Raylenne felt a wave of relief at Caverion’s agreement.
“I will inform Father.”
Raylenne looked up abruptly.
“How will Father react when you report this?”
“He will likely want to handle it quietly. He might even try to sweep it under the rug.”
Indeed, the Duke of Ergen would never want the family’s dirty laundry aired publicly.
“But I won’t let this go unpunished, so don’t worry.”
With Caverion’s reassurance, Helis, who had been in a daze, finally spoke.
“You don’t need to worry, brother. I have no intention of staying in this castle any longer.”
Helis’s face was ashen.
“I have lost all affection for this place. I can’t stay knowing what Father did.”
His eyes were empty, indicating he wasn’t just saying it out of anger.
“Helis, for your own sake, don’t confront Father about this.”
Caverion remained stern until the end. He lacked any warmth for his family.
‘It’s surprising how kind he is to me.’
Seeing no response from Helis, Caverion softened his tone slightly.
“This is my final warning for your sake.”
“…”
“Father is far more dangerous than you think.”
Raylenne understood what Caverion meant. The Duke of Ergen cared most about his own future. His children were merely tools, and any tool that didn’t perform would be either forcibly corrected or discarded
When Helis fell silent again, Caverion turned to Raylenne.
“Raylenne, you’ve been through a lot today.”
“No, brother. You must have been shocked as well…”
Caverion gave a weak smile.
“I’ll ensure Helis is locked in the dungeon. You should go and rest.”
With that, Caverion firmly grasped Helis’s arm. Helis didn’t resist and obediently followed him out.
Helis disappeared from sight.
Feeling weak, Raylenne sank onto Helis’s bed. On the bedside table were several sheets of paper. Her eyes naturally drifted to the writing on them.
<To Belle. The weather was so good today that sword practice wasn’t too hard. I saw you walking from afar and had a hard time not calling out to you. But I didn’t want to trouble you…>
Judging from the first line, it seemed to be a note from the time when Belle worked here as a maid. The paper was well-worn, indicating that Helis had looked at it many times.
Raylenne’s eyelashes cast a deep shadow over her eyes.
‘When did this family’s tragedy begin?’
The fragile relationships in this family were like a bird’s nest on a cliff. At any moment, a gust of wind could send it tumbling down. Raylenne was also part of that nest.
Helis was not the one who used Sana grass to try to kill her, so the true culprit remained a mystery.
Raylenne pressed her throbbing temples.
‘Who on earth is the real culprit?’
Could it be someone from the Bedeusian family, as Caverion had speculated?
Just when she thought the problem was resolved, nothing was actually solved.
‘Sigh.’
Raylenne let out a deep sigh.
It was a bitter night in many ways.
* * *
Early in the morning, Caverion stood in the Duke of Ergen’s study.
“What is it, Caverion?”
The Duke’s eyebrows twitched at Caverion’s abrupt entrance without a greeting. However, Caverion ignored this and stated his reason for being there.
“Helis is currently locked up in the dungeon.”
The Duke’s face twisted like a crumpled piece of paper.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Last night, he tried to have someone scar Raylenne’s face with a knife.”
“…What?”
The Duke stopped wiping his hands with a handkerchief.
“He said he did it because he resented her marriage to the Crown Prince.”
“Why would Helis resent Raylenne’s marriage?”
Caverion slowly lifted his eyelids, his blue eyes glinting coldly.
“He harbors a grudge, believing Raylenne drove away Belle, the maid he was infatuated with. Learning of her marriage must have infuriated him.”
The Duke remained motionless for a moment. It took some time before he spoke again.
“Belle… the maid who left after being hurt by Raylenne?”
Caverion watched the Duke’s calm, lying face with a cold gaze.
‘How shameless.’
Caverion knew about the incident where Belle, the maid, had to leave the castle due to a severe injury caused by Raylenne. He also knew about the secret relationship between Belle and Helis. Caverion had deliberately stayed out of it at the time, dismissing it as a youthful indiscretion since Helis was only nineteen. But it seemed his father couldn’t let it go.
‘To go so far as to threaten a powerless maid…’
The Duke had skillfully hidden the truth, making it seem like Raylenne was responsible for Belle’s departure. Caverion had never liked his father. The more he grew up and saw his father’s true nature, the more he disliked him. He knew all too well what his father did outside and the schemes he plotted behind the scenes. However, he couldn’t openly oppose his father. Like prey waiting for the hunter to step into a trap, he had to bide his time. The same applied now. He detested the man before him, but he had to endure.
Caverion maintained his usual impassive expression.
“Yes, Helis has harbored that grudge all this time.”
“Foolish boy,” the Duke clicked his tongue, then asked, “Is Raylenne all right?”
“She was shocked, but…”
“No, I asked if her face was injured. Didn’t Helis order it?”
There was a hint of worry in the Duke’s eyes.
“Raylenne’s face must remain unscarred. If the Crown Prince calls off the marriage, all our plans will collapse.”
Raylenne had finally become useful. The Duke muttered seriously. Caverion was momentarily speechless. In this situation, all the Duke cared about was the marriage arrangement.
He knew what kind of person his father was, but hearing him talk about Raylenne like that made his teeth grind. This time, he couldn’t suppress his feelings.
“Raylenne is not an object, Father.”
The Duke’s eyes flashed with anger. But Caverion continued.
“If the marriage can be called off over a mere scar, then it’s better it doesn’t happen at all. Such a flimsy connection isn’t worth pursuing.”
The Duke slammed his hand on the table with a loud bang.
“You’ve been opposing Raylenne’s marriage all along. You’re out of your mind, Caverion.”
“My mind has never been clearer.”
When Caverion responded calmly, the Duke jumped up from his seat.
“How dare you talk back to me…!”
The Duke raised his hand to strike Caverion’s cheek, but Caverion caught it effortlessly.
“Don’t touch Raylenne. Even if it’s you, I won’t tolerate it.”
“What did you just say…!”
“I’m serious.”
The Duke saw no defiance or falsehood in Caverion’s murky eyes. Unintentionally, the Duke swallowed hard.
Caverion released his grip on the Duke’s hand.
“I will handle Helis. I will ensure there are no rumors, so you needn’t worry.”
Caverion left the Duke’s study without hesitation. The Duke, angered by Caverion’s unprecedented insolence, could only simmer in his fury, unable to voice any further objections.
All he could do was try to cool the heat of his face, red with rage.
