Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 237 (Part 1):

“Helmut, I knew you could do it!”

“Well done, Helmut!”

“Charlotte, great job too.”

“I’m proud of you both. You are the pride of Greta Academy!”

As soon as they stepped off the stage, words of congratulations poured in.

The faculty members of Greta Academy, who had stayed until the end, rushed over.

They’ll be free to go once Leon’s results come out tomorrow.

Before that, the Swordsmanship Department had achieved an almost perfect outcome. Only Nils, who was eliminated early, might not be so pleased.

Instructor Alan asked.

“So, Helmut. How do you feel?”

“How I feel… Well…”

Helmut was incredibly calm.

Even if he had won the final match of Basor’s martial arts tournament on the spot, his reaction would have been the same.

“What a boring guy. The award ceremony is about to start.”

Instructor Patricia patted his shoulder as she walked past. Amidst the surrounding commotion, Helmut thought calmly.

‘So it has come to this.’

He had won. Now everything was about to begin. Charlotte’s face was bright with happiness.

She seemed to have relaxed after the tournament ended.

They were in Ratona, Renosa, her hometown.

Although the semester had ended, Charlotte was already in Renosa, so she could start her vacation without any time loss.

From today, Charlotte would return to her place as the Duchess of Renosa.

When the vacation ends, she’ll return to Greta Academy as the top first-year student in the Swordsmanship Department.

Soon, an attendant came running and shouted.

“The award ceremony will now proceed. The two of you, please come up to the stage!”

Amidst the applause from the faculty, Helmut stepped forward with Charlotte.

Winner Helmut, and runner-up Charlotte.

The awards will be presented on stage. And the one presenting might be…

A tension like before a battle rose up.

It was a strange, gut-wrenching feeling, not just the usual pre-fight nerves.

If it were merely the tension from an upcoming battle, he would be used to it. The heaviness of his steps felt unfamiliar to Helmut.

Charlotte’s face, following behind him, also seemed to stiffen.

One figure was already on stage. Behind him were knights dressed in black.

They were members of the Black Wing Knights. Helmut’s gaze turned to the figure on the stage.

Someone spoke to Helmut.

“It’s the Duke of Renosa.”

The sunlight was blinding.

There stood a small boy with blonde hair, dressed in white ceremonial clothes.

With an angelic face and features as pretty as a girl’s, the boy wore a gentle smile. Yet, Helmut knew how cold his personality was.

Although the boy had only shown kindness to Helmut.

He had hardly changed. Having shared a room with him, Michael’s appearance was familiar even after all this time.

‘No, maybe he was never unfamiliar from the start.’

Helmut wasn’t pleased with the situation where his brother might become an enemy.

Michael’s eyes narrowed. He strode up and stood before Helmut. His eyes curved softly.

“Haven’t we met somewhere before?”

“I’m not sure.”

The indifferent response stuck in Michael’s ear. His eyes showed a spark of interest.

He stared at Helmut intensely, as if he could see through to the flesh beneath his skin.

“But why do you seem so familiar to me?”

Helmut didn’t answer. Michael took another step closer. The look in his eyes was familiar.

Cold and indifferent. Though the color was different, the essence of the gaze was clear.

Magic had changed Helmut’s appearance, but not his skeletal structure.

If you made slight changes to Helmut’s face, you’d get a person Michael could perfectly recall.

However, this confused Michael.

Because the Hyde Michael knew was neither a commoner nor someone he thought would have Renosa blood.

And he didn’t expect him to appear this way.

Changing the impression of an ally he had held oddly favorable feelings for wasn’t easy for anyone. Not even for Michael.

But Michael soon steadied himself and smiled coolly. His low whisper reached Helmut.

“This is unexpected. I was looking for you, and here you are right in front of me.”

Without another word, he turned away from Helmut.

As if there was no need to confirm anything further. As if he was certain Helmut was Hyde. It was a confidence in his own judgment.

Michael glided over to stand before Charlotte.

Charlotte gazed at Michael with a tense face.

If he were to announce here that she was the Duchess of Renosa…

But Michael didn’t act according to her fears.

“Congratulations on your second place, Charlotte.”

Michael’s voice was polite. It was different from the soft way he used to call her Charlotte.

He seemed determined to keep his promise.

Charlotte nodded.

“Thank you.”

Without saying anything more, Michael stepped back with a strangely cold demeanor.

His gaze took in both Charlotte and Helmut. The two had met at Greta Academy.

Could this really be a coincidence? Might Charlotte know something?

The feeling that something unknown was happening troubled Michael, furrowing his brow.

It was a feeling unpleasant to someone who wanted to grasp everything within his control.

“The Grand Duchess of Renosa will now present the awards to the winner and the runner-up!”

An attendant loudly announced once more.

Originally, it would have been Michael presenting the awards, but the Grand Duchess of Renosa was present.

So it wasn’t strange for her to conduct the ceremony.

Before the match ended, she had already asked for Michael’s consent.

Because she had to confirm up close.

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