Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 217 (Part 2):
After a brief journey, the carriage stopped in front of an elegant mansion on the outskirts of a village.
Charlotte recognized the place.
It was a villa of the Grand Duchy of Renosa.
Even though she had prepared herself, as she was led inside, she felt an inexplicable tension. A maid guided her.
“This way. Prince Michael has prepared a meal.”
She was indeed hungry. Although she doubted she could eat with Michael in front of her.
Creak.
As the door opened, her eyes brightened. A delicious aroma quickly filled her nostrils. At the same time, a voice greeted her.
“Welcome, Charlotte. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
A friendly and soft voice echoed. Charlotte stiffened as she looked at him.
With the sunlight pouring through the window behind him, Michael sat at a marble table, his chin resting on his hand, looking angelic.
The smile on the face of the blond boy with lake-like blue eyes was as if drawn.
Charlotte responded calmly.
“It’s been a while, Michael.”
“Have a seat. I’ve prepared your favorite dishes.”
The meal, centered around light and clean seafood dishes, matched her taste surprisingly well after the first bite.
Receiving such treatment, it would be hard for anyone not to fall for him.
Michael knew Charlotte’s preferences and habits meticulously, even though he disliked her.
It was his nature. Observing people, distinguishing likes and dislikes, and trying to win and use their hearts.
Michael had never tried to win Charlotte’s heart. If he had wanted to, it wouldn’t have been impossible.
“Why did you call me?”
Charlotte asked in a flat tone. She couldn’t tell from the letter, but being here made it clear.
This was an omen of malice. Michael always acted overly friendly before revealing his malice.
She didn’t feel particularly disappointed anew.
Charlotte remained composed, and Michael’s smile deepened as he watched her.
“I wanted to show some consideration for my sister, who must have been having messy meals at inns on her way back to Renosa. Please, go ahead and eat.”
Charlotte ate. She didn’t storm out because she knew that would lead to more trouble.
If Michael was trying to tame her.
Charlotte was a member of the Grand Duchy of Renosa. She couldn’t live ignoring him forever. In a way, he was someone Charlotte had to endure.
As Michael watched Charlotte eat, without lifting a finger himself, he asked nonchalantly.
“How is life at the academy?”
Wouldn’t he feel bitter if she said she was doing well? After all, it was something Michael could only dream of.
But Charlotte didn’t lie.
“It’s going well.”
“I heard you’re the top first-year in the swordsmanship department. Seeing that you’ve come to Renosa as part of the Greta Academy group, you must be doing well. It seems your skills are recognized at the academy. But…”
Michael made an insinuating remark.
“It’s a bit strange that you became one of Gretna Academy’s selectees. Apparently the originally selected person had to give it up? Your resourcefulness is impressive.”
At the subtle insinuation, Charlotte put on a stern expression.
“It’s not about my resourcefulness. It was that person’s choice.”
“Can you confidently say you did nothing to influence that choice?”
Michael was suggesting that Asuka gave up for Charlotte’s sake, and Charlotte intended that.
He liked to attach causes to the results of everything. Especially misinterpreting Charlotte’s intentions.
“Instead of this kind of talk, just tell me what you really want to say. Why did you call me out like this? You could have quietly summoned me.”
“Now I see why you’re upset. You don’t want them to know you’re the Grand Princess of Renosa? Do you like life at the academy that much?”
Michael laughed. Charlotte stood up abruptly.
But she wasn’t good at verbal jabs or sarcasm. Instead, she had become more decisive.
Not seeing Michael for a while had been good medicine. Charlotte spoke firmly.
“I’m glad to see you’re doing well. I’m leaving now.”
As she tried to leave, Michael’s tone changed.
“Sit down.”
It was a high-handed tone. Michael didn’t speak to anyone else that way. Except for Charlotte.
“Unless you want me to tell them that you are the Grand Princess of Renosa.”
“They’ll find out eventually.”
“They might not. If you finish your meal and return, I’ll keep it a secret. Until your group leaves Renosa, they won’t know.”
“It doesn’t matter if they find out.”
“Do you think the only harm I can cause you is just that?”
Michael opened his eyes wide as if in disbelief.
The swordsmanship tournament was hosted in Renosa. Subtly disadvantaging the Greta Academy wouldn’t be difficult.
In fact, it had always been so in previous comprehensive swordsmanship tournaments.
That’s why Basor’s martial arts tournament, where everything was fair, was famous.
Charlotte clenched her fist.
She was surprised at herself for wanting to hit him.
There were guards, but it would only take a moment for Charlotte to take Michael down.
Michael wouldn’t be able to resist. Yet he sat there without any protection.
As if knowing Charlotte wouldn’t do that. His confidence was unsettling.
Michael changed his tone quickly.
“I want to hear something from you.”
Charlotte asked while still standing.
“What do you want to hear?”
Michael smiled naturally.
“About the selected students of Greta Academy’s swordsmanship department? I heard there are some interesting stories from Greta Academy.”
“They are all excellent. I am the least skilled among the selected. So I want to go back and focus on training.”
Michael seemed ready to get to the main point. Words flowed smoothly from his mouth.
“Indeed. But I heard there’s a commoner among your group. It’s surprising. It’s not easy for a commoner to outperform nobles at the academy.”
He frowned slightly and asked.
“Is his name… Helmut?”
The moment Michael mentioned Helmut’s name, an eerie chill rushed over her. It wasn’t a good sign.
Charlotte tried to regain her composure.
“Yes. Senior Helmut is known as a commoner and is the top second-year in the swordsmanship department.”
Was Michael trying to recruit Helmut?
It was possible. As a commoner, he wouldn’t have a fixed allegiance, and Helmut had the talent.
The Black Wing Knights of Renosa were a haven for skilled knights and offered good treatment.
No matter how much Charlotte was against it, she couldn’t take that opportunity away from Helmut.