Chapter 30: Heilon (1)
I walked down the hallway to cool my head. Sigren once said I had a bit of a temper, and that it was particularly scary because I smiled when I was angry. Of course, no one really sees their own face when they’re angry, so I wondered what I must look like. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
‘Everyone seems to run away when they saw may face?’
Anyway, I had moved to a different room because the floor was dirty with mop water. The maids were taking care of it.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I stopped in my tracks at the sudden voice. How could things get more annoying? I turned to find the Countess, adorned in sumptuous dress and jewels. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“What’s the matter with wandering around my house?”
The Countess unfolded the fan she was holding. Why on earth did she need a fan indoors?
“Is this your house? It seems you’ve forgotten where you came from.”
Everyone hadn’t changed. I seriously considered burning the Countess’ elaborate, twisted hair.
“Get out of here. We don’t want a rat in the gutter clinging to us and asking for scraps.”
‘Be patient. Be patient. I am a rational person.’
I uttered a spell in my mind to calm my anger. But then I realized, why should I need to be patient? I had endured enough of this nonsense, and they were always the ones who started the fights. If a fight was inevitable, wasn’t it better to face it head-on rather than avoid it? Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
‘But if I attack this family, my stay will be longer.’
That was the only thing I disliked. To confront this family, I would need to deal with many things and make a lot of preparations.
Thinking about it, I sighed.
‘Well, forget it.’
The Countess’s attitude was the last straw. Should I thank her for showing it? The little hesitation and annoyance I felt suddenly vanished.
“Thank you, Madam.”
At my response, the Countess looked puzzled. I gave her a bright smile
“It motivated me to do something right.”
The reason I returned to the Green family was simple. I didn’t want to be tied down here. Actually, I didn’t like being tied to anything, to be more accurate. I intended to renounce my claim to the inheritance and remove myself from the Green family’s register. That way, if anything happened, I wouldn’t be implicated. Of course, I didn’t plan to use radical methods in the process. That was my intention. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
However, things didn’t go as expected. And maybe May was one of the Countess’s favored maids?
“Madam, I won’t leave here with a single jewel from this house.”
But I won’t let you have it.
“So, don’t worry about anything.”
If possible, it would be better if they were extremely greedy. The despair would be even greater when everything they thought they had slipped away before their eyes.
I smiled brightly.
“I’m thinking of throwing everything out of this house.”
Seriously, putting up with this house was enough. I didn’t want to get stressed. Stress was bad for mental health. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
That day, I sent a letter to Abel. The content was simple:
[Regarding the severance pay you mentioned before, could I receive it now?]
***
The preface of the letter from Fiona was:
[Regarding the severance pay you mentioned before, could I receive it now?]
‘It came sooner than I thought.’
After reading the letter, Abel set it down on the desk. The severance pay Fiona referred to was related to Count Green, and more specifically, to the family’s vulnerabilities.
‘Well, she also has a soft side.’
To be honest, this was what he had expected. Abel leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.
Fiona Green was an enigmatic figure. From childhood until now, she had been sweet and affectionate, but she could also be adamant and cold-hearted. It was challenging to discern her true personality.
When she lived here, she did her best to protect Heilon, which led him to believe she truly valued the estate. Yet, when she decided to leave, she did so without any regrets. The contrast between her two attitudes was striking. To be honest, he felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
‘Sigren deserves to be shocked.’
For five years, Fiona had cared for Sigren as if he were her own. Abel guessed that she had a deep affection for Sigren—there were even rumors about them. Yet, when Fiona decided to leave, she left even Sigren, who seemed to be cherished most by her, behind. It was as if she were saying, “My duty is over now.”
“Well, we’ll meet eventually…”
Seeing the letter, Abel suspected something significant had happened. Fiona was someone who generally preferred not to act beyond what was necessary. She would only take action if provoked. From an early age, until she became a member of society, she seemed reluctant to influence or be influenced in her relationships. He wasn’t sure why. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Abel… no, Master.”
At that moment, Abel heard a knock and a familiar voice outside the door. There was only one person in the castle who would address him in such a familiar manner.
“Come in.”
When Abel gave his permission, Sigren opened the door and entered.
“You’re late.”
“I came as soon as you called me. I don’t even know why you summoned me.”
Abel smiled, amused by his cheeky disciple’s attitude. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Yeah, keep acting like that. I just received a letter from Fiona.”
“….”
Sigren gently lowered his gaze. Abel was satisfied with his student’s obedient attitude and handed over the letter.
After quickly reading the letter, Sigren sighed deeply.
“There is only one thing in this letter.”
“Are you going to complain that there is nothing related to you?”
“I didn’t have that expectation in the first place,” Sigren replied sternly, handing the letter back to Abel. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“But it doesn’t really matter. I’m going to see her anyway.”
Seeing his pupil’s determined gaze, Abel slowly nodded.
“Good.”
Abel had not been on good terms with the current imperial family. After learning that Sigren was the illegitimate son of the imperial family, Abel took him under his wing and had suggested a few years ago that Sigren should be officially recognized as a son of the emperor.
However, Sigren did not respond to the proposal. He had been torn between seeking revenge for his mother, fulfilling her wish for him to survive, and the peace he had managed to attain. Abel did not press him to agree; he allowed Sigren to consider the proposal at his own pace. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Recently, Sigren had made a decision regarding Abel’s suggestion, and it was clear what had influenced his choice.
“But Sigren, if you want to return to the capital, you need to achieve something significant.”
Sigren, the illegitimate son of the emperor, was nothing more than a nobody at present. Returning to the capital without notable accomplishments would only result in a death threat. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
But if he carried the Heilon family on his shoulders and achieved something great, earning the recognition and cheers of the people in the capital, the situation would change.
“People love dramatic stories. You need something to make ‘Prince Sigren’ unforgettable to the nobles and the public. You need something that makes it clear that there’s no reason to ignore you.”
In other words, Sigren needed a reason for people not to openly target him. A story of a prince who saved many by capturing the leader of the monsters in the barren land of Heilon would serve that purpose. The more challenging the situation, the more people admired heroes who overcame significant adversity.
“I understand,” Sigren replied with a resolute expression.
“If you meet all the conditions, I will provide the necessary stage for you. So, if you want to claim the title of prince and return to your homeland…”
Abel smirked with arrogance as he looked at his disciple, who was growing stronger each day like a rock that hardened over time. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Try to be a hero sometime, Sigren.”
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