Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 220 (Part 1):
The Grand Duke’s heir of Renosa returned, leading the Black Wing Knights.
It felt as if a storm was sweeping through Renosa’s palace. That was the presence of Michael in this place.
“Inform my mother that I have returned.”
His soft voice resonated. It was the gentle voice of a prince, kind even to his own servants.
There was no one in the palace who did not obey that gentle voice.
“Yes, Your Highness Michael.”
The maid blushed and quickly hurried inside.
Michael moved with a smile still etched on his face. Shortly after he stepped inside, a woman appeared from the other side.
She was a beautiful woman in a dress with a crown on her head. Her steps were quick yet elegant as she approached.
She was a noblewoman who seemed to have been born with the word ‘dignity’ ingrained in her entire being.
The mistress of Renosa, Grand Duchess Margret. She approached Michael with a relieved expression.
“Oh, Michael!”
She urgently embraced him with both arms as if she had found a lost child.
“You have been ill recently, and yet you’ve traveled such a long way. Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Perhaps the sunlight in Basor helped, I feel healthier.”
Michael replied with an innocent face.
“But let’s talk inside.”
Michael’s eyes swept over the servants who bowed their heads.
While there was nothing wrong with showing that the Grand Duchess and her son had a good relationship, she treated Michael excessively like a child. It was almost excessive.
Michael was young but he was to become the master of Renosa. It wasn’t good for the servants to see him as a child.
However, the fact that she treated him like a child also meant that the Grand Duchess cared deeply for Michael.
Everything had its pros and cons. And Michael knew how to handle those cons.
The Grand Duchess promptly nodded.
“Let’s do that. Would you like to have some tea? Are you not hungry?”
“I’m fine with food for now. Having tea and chatting with you after so long sounds nice.”
His voice was like a balm, and his smile was refreshing.
Michael knew that if they dined together, his mother would be anxious to feed him more, which could lead to indigestion.
The enchanted Grand Duchess entered the parlor with Michael.
The two of them enjoyed a private conversation over tea.
“So, did you meet Charlotte well?”
“Yes, she’s the same as always.”
“Did you clear up the misunderstanding? Charlotte thinks you’re avoiding her.”
She spoke with a concerned tone, as if it couldn’t possibly be true. Margret always thought positively of Michael’s every action.
This time, it was true. Even though it twisted his insides that Charlotte had entered Baden’s prestigious academy, a place he couldn’t go and where she was now out of his reach.
Michael smiled lightly.
“Of course. I welcomed Charlotte with the Black Wing Knights. It was a special courtesy to the Grand Duchess. Charlotte deserves such treatment. Although I might get scolded by the Grand Duke for it, I believe Charlotte will appreciate my sincerity.”
Michael spoke with a smile, carefully packaging his words. Though, of course, he had other intentions.
Charlotte had precisely seen through Michael’s motive for bringing the Black Wing Knights, but his mother had not.
Margret laughed happily.
“Oh, that’s wonderful. Charlotte will be pleased. It would have been even better if the commander of the Black Wing Knights went personally. He’s her mentor, after all.”
Margret was certainly not foolish. She was the Grand Duchess of Renosa. The position beside the Grand Duke, who ruled the duchy, was not one a foolish or lacking woman could hold.
But somehow, when it came to Michael, it was as if something blinded her, and her thinking rapidly narrowed.
She wouldn’t think beyond the explanation Michael had given about why he met Charlotte with the Black Wing Knights.
“Yes, but if he had moved, Greta Academy might have been suspicious.”
That was not the only reason. How could one who needed to be separated be kept close?
The commander of the Black Wing Knights subtly supported Charlotte despite her lack of interest in the heir position.
The reason was simple. Michael wasn’t a swordsman.
The commander of the Black Wing Knights was a man who could only lean toward Charlotte, who had excellent swordsmanship talent, rather than Michael, who couldn’t wield a sword.
Michael had no complaint about that. He should not. For it was the duty of Renosa’s master to handle even such people.
However, a cold light flashed in Michael’s eyes.
After a brief silence, during which Margret sipped her tea, she continued.
“Charlotte will probably come back too. She won’t be able to return to the palace until the tournament is over, so make sure she doesn’t lack anything.”
“I will do my best. Though I’m worried that her identity as the Grand Duchess might be revealed. Charlotte doesn’t want that. It’s the academy’s policy, she says.”
Charlotte wouldn’t receive any special treatment. Michael intended to leave her alone for now. It would be problematic if she achieved excellent results in the swordsmanship tournament.
Michael didn’t really mind if Charlotte’s identity as the Grand Duchess was revealed.
The faculty would know, and while the few representatives from Greta Academy might not know, even if they found out, what could they do? They would just have to keep their mouths shut.
‘If it becomes known that Charlotte is the Grand Duchess of Renosa, there will be those who flock to her. It would be troublesome if she builds forces.’
Michael briefly worried.
“Just a first-year at the academy, yet chosen as a representative to come to Renosa. It’s something I couldn’t even dream of… Charlotte is truly remarkable. I feel like she’s drifting farther away from me.”
As Michael showed a bitter expression, the Grand Duchess quickly grabbed his hand.
“Oh, Michael, you’re doing well here in Renosa. You don’t have to think like that. When Charlotte returns, she’ll be by your side.”
‘Not by my side, but beneath me.’
Michael thought leisurely as he looked at his mother.