Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 237 (Part 2):

An elegant blonde lady ascended the stage. Maidservants and knights followed her closely.

As Margret came up on stage, cheers erupted from the audience.

She was gentle and dignified, truly befitting the wife of a leader ruling a country.

Margret took the medal and approached Helmut.

Very close, close enough for only him to hear her whisper.

The reflection of light from her hand came from a winner’s medal bearing both the symbol of the Comprehensive Swordsmanship Tournament and Rinosa’s Black Wing.

But Helmut felt no emotion toward it.

Yet, the moment was overwhelming.

Her gaze was calm as she looked at him.

Helmut felt it. His memories were being drawn up, existing right before his eyes.

The sensation was like a dead life resurrecting and taking flight.

This is what it feels like when something you’ve risked your life pursuing comes to fruition.

For the first time, Helmut realized it.

She could hang the medal on the winner and offer words of encouragement.

Margret opened her mouth.

“Helmut.”

Her voice was soft and low. It hadn’t changed much from the voice in Helmut’s memory.

Helmut pieced together the fragments of his memory. Margret’s presence made it possible.

“Yes.”

“Your name doesn’t feel unfamiliar to me.”

Margret slowly hung the medal around his neck. It was an elegant movement without a hint of agitation.

Not a single fingertip touched him.

But her gaze wavered.

As if torn between wanting to speak and knowing she shouldn’t.

“You remind me of someone I know.”

“Who is that?”

Helmut asked. He too was torn between wanting to speak and knowing he shouldn’t.

He wanted to pull out the pendant from his chest right then and ask if she knew what it was.

To ask if she knew who he was.

He wanted to tell her that he had lived, grown up, and returned from the Forest of Pahe.

It was a desire he felt for the first time since meeting Darien in the Forest of Roots.

But all those words burned hotly in his throat like a fireball.

Margret tilted her head and answered quietly.

“Someone who’s already been forgotten. I buried that person too. But…”

Margret frowned.

“Strangely enough, seeing you reminds me of that person. As if the dead have come back to life from the grave.”

If anyone else listened, they might suspect a past lover of the Grand Duchess of Rinosa. But Helmut’s striking resemblance to the Grand Duke dispelled such suspicions.

Margret spoke again.

“You’re the top second-year student at Greta Academy, right?”

“Yes, I’m close with Charlotte.”

Helmut spoke as if he knew Charlotte was the Duchess of Renosa.

Margret smiled with wistful eyes.

“Are you staying in Ratona?”

“I’d like to for a while.”

The conversation felt almost coordinated. As if a secret pact was made.

“Then it would be good to change your lodgings. As a special privilege for the winner, I’ll arrange for you to stay at the palace. You can have meals with Charlotte since you’re her senior.”

“That would be an honor.”

Helmut spoke formally, masking his rising emotions.

Margret whispered kindly.

“I saw your excellent skills. Thank you also for not hurting Charlotte. As the Grand Duchess, I promise to treat Helmut as an honored guest, as the winner of the comprehensive swordsmanship tournament.”

“Thank you.”

Having said what she wanted, Margret turned away from him. Applause erupted.

Helmut watched intently as she placed a medal around Charlotte’s neck.

Unlike Michael, who was certain Helmut was Hyde, Margret wasn’t sure if Helmut was her child.

But that intuition would drive her.

He caught snippets of conversation.

“Charlotte, you were amazing. I’m so proud of you. To come this far as just a first-year student.”

“Now I can return to the palace, right?.”

“Yes, let’s go back and rest. Greet your companions first.”

“Ah, what did you and Helmut talk about?”

“He said he’d stay in Ratona, so I offered him a place in the palace. I will treat him as an honored guest.”

“Oh, I see.”

Charlotte glanced skeptically at Helmut.

There was still an unresolved question.

How did Helmut know the name Margret Irene?

But even Charlotte didn’t know if that was an important issue.

Today, at the end of the tournament, was a day to celebrate.

‘If senior is staying in the palace, I’ll ask him slowly.’

Charlotte turned her gaze away from him.

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