Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 240 (Part 2): Storm
The Lumen priests were simply what triggered that final drop.
He didn’t know what they did. It could have been a trivial stimulus.
Just like when he killed his friend in childhood.
Reason flew away, and only pitch-black murderous intent engulfed him.
The explosion was intense. Someone might have shouted the term “Seed of Darkness.”
Reason disappeared, leaving only a monster driven by instinct. He killed three priests and five holy knights, leaving the scorched place behind.
Just as he had left the village where he lived with his parents, he didn’t have the reason to find a new home.
Reason is something that exists in humans.
He only had instinct left. The instinct to destroy everything!
He would follow that evil instinct. That was the price for having transcendent power.
It was also the end of a human dominated by the fully grown Seed of Darkness.
**
Helmut’s life was peaceful. It felt like living in an expanded version of the Kudrow mansion.
Comfortable and luxurious living. If he hadn’t been born with the Seed of Darkness, these were things he should have naturally enjoyed in Ratona from childhood.
He had lived almost all his life in the forest, nearly as a commoner, yet strangely, the luxury suited Helmut well.
Helmut didn’t think it was because noble blood ran through his veins.
‘It’s probably because I adapt well.’
He knew that he was under scrutiny.
Helmut resembled the Grand Duke of Renosa. He heard the maids gossiping and he too was curious.
How much did he resemble the Grand Duke of Renosa? Would he feel a connection if he saw him?
‘Father, huh…’
At the moment of Helmut’s birth, the Grand Duke of Renosa was not present. The existence of a father was faint to him. He had never seen him even once.
Before Helmut knew that his mother was the Grand Duchess of Renosa, he even considered the possibility that she might have been a single mother or a widow.
But now he thought he understood why the Grand Duke didn’t appear at his birth.
His father was a Grand Duke, and thus too busy to even look back at the birth of his child.
Above all, the Grand Duke of Rinosa tended to be cold towards his family.
The only person he showed some affection for was the beautiful and virtuous Duchess, but even she did not take precedence over ruling Renosa.
‘Will I get to see my father before the vacation ends?’
He had a premonition that he might not return to the academy, but that premonition might be wrong.
With Ethan Kudrow and Alea at Greta Academy, Helmut always had a place to return to.
The Grand Duke of Renosa had left Ratona. That was the only news Helmut knew.
Even if he returned, there was no guarantee he would meet Helmut.
Helmut would stay in Renosa until the end of the vacation.
After that, there was no reason for him to stay.
Charlotte, the only person he knew, would leave for Baden.
Renosa would also send him away, telling him to return with her.
He couldn’t stay here indefinitely, treated as a distinguished guest.
So, something had to be settled before then.
‘But how?’
He couldn’t just abruptly show his mother the pendant.
Michael was wary of Helmut, only seeking Leon but sensing he was being watched.
From Helmut’s perspective, there was no way to personally approach the Grand Duchess of Renosa.
She had to come to him.
‘Will Mother really…’
Helmut decided to stay quiet until the attention on him waned, and until the maids got used to and stopped gossiping about the handsome boy who looked exactly like the Grand Duke.
That wasn’t difficult.
Helmut was treated as a distinguished guest. A spacious and luxurious room, a personal training ground, occasionally invited to banquets.
The past four days he spent in the Ratona Palace were very comfortable. Charlotte, who revealed that she was the Duchess of Renosa, didn’t seek him, often showing a complicated expression.
As if avoiding him.
Though Helmut was indifferent, he sensed something between her and Michael.
But it wasn’t Helmut’s concern. Alea had said she wouldn’t be in contact for a while as she had things to do.
Right now, the most important thing for Helmut was his mother.
‘Should I walk around the palace a bit?’
As the Grand Duchess of Renosa, it wouldn’t be easy for her to find an excuse to approach Helmut.
But she had told him, in a meaningful voice, that he could freely explore the palace.
Wasn’t that asking him to create an opportunity?
Helmut started moving. Guided by a maid, he soon reached a certain corridor.
A hallway lined with portraits of the Grand Duke’s family members.
Shortly after he stood there, light footsteps echoed through the corridor.
It was a presence he could recognize even with his eyes closed now.
Helmut waited until the owner of those footsteps got completely close.
An elegant and gentle voice reached his ears.
“Helmut, you were here.”
Helmut quietly turned to the side.
And he bowed his head towards the beautiful noblewoman standing there.
“Your Grace, the Grand Duchess.”