Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 244 (Part 1):
For the few days after welcoming new guests, Ratona’s palace was quiet and peaceful.
However, it wasn’t a relaxed atmosphere where one could leisurely go out for a stroll.
Even if the guests were granted some freedom.
The Grand Duchess of Renosa lightly summoned the guests.
Instead of holding a grand hunting event, she organized a simple archery competition.
With so few participants, it could hardly be called a competition.
A couple of targets were set up, and her children and Leon gathered in one place.
A few Black Wing Knights who were confident in their archery skills were selected to join.
The atmosphere was somewhat tense and awkward.
Even though it was a gathering of three members of the Renosa bloodline, it was far from comfortable.
Helmut, Charlotte, Michael.
Charlotte, who couldn’t be free from Michael’s suspicions, had a stern expression.
She had been deliberately avoiding Helmut. Under the pretext of greeting the Black Wing Knight Commander and focusing on training.
But there was one thing she found strange.
‘I heard that Mother and senior have been spending a lot of time together lately. Why is Mother getting close to him? It seems excessive to be out of suspicion.’
While tilting her head at this uncharacteristic behavior from her mother, Charlotte couldn’t guess the reason.
She had stopped paying attention to Helmut altogether and hardly conversed with her mother.
It was impossible to fathom the intentions of the ever-calm Grand Duchess.
“Please, come in.”
The Grand Duchess of Renosa welcomed them with her usual benevolent smile.
The real reason she had arranged this event was to give her children a chance to bond under the pretext of a competition.
She wasn’t unaware that Michael was wary of Helmut.
Also, she hadn’t reached a conclusion on how to deal with Helmut.
Margret had been spending time visiting Helmut for the past few days.
Just following her heart.
The Grand Duke of Renosa was absent, and she had postponed her duties, decisions, and judgments as the Grand Duchess.
The child she thought she had lost forever had returned. Margret just wanted to be a mother to Helmut.
She felt new emotions every day, too insufficient to be called joy.
As if a part of her that had died was coming back to life.
Helmut’s return was the one miracle that had occurred in her life.
A completely unexpected miracle.
She had never earnestly prayed for it. The Grand Duchess of Renosa was too important a position to expect miracles, and grief had to be buried quickly.
‘I want to focus on the present, no matter what happens in the future.’
She wanted to spend time together, lavishing the affection she couldn’t give to the child she had lost.
Margret was Helmut’s mother. She hoped her firstborn would mingle with his siblings.
Of course, since Michael and Charlotte were completely unaware of this fact, they would be suspicious of Margret’s behavior.
‘I can only hope they’ll naturally be drawn to their own blood.’
Of the two younger siblings, at least Charlotte was more friendly towards Helmut. She had always been close to Helmut.
As soon as she saw Helmut, she bowed her head slightly, just as she had done at the academy.
“Senior Leon, Senior Helmut, have you been well?”
“Ah, yes.”
The atmosphere seemed to disregard the fact that she was the Duchess and Helmut was merely a commoner.
Helmut tilted his head as he looked at Charlotte.
“You look like a woman.”
Charlotte was wearing a dress. Not a simple, ordinary one, but an elaborate dress befitting the Duchess of the prosperous Renosa.
With her abundant black hair flowing down and adorned with jewels, Charlotte looked like a completely different person.
Yes, truly like a woman.
Leon, standing at a distance, spoke as if he was rather flustered.
“W-What disrespectful words to Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”
He flinched when he received Helmut’s gaze. He was still wary of Helmut. Charlotte smiled brightly.
“Please be at ease. While I’m attending the academy, I’ll just be Charlotte.”
“That means you’ll become Her Highness Charlotte after graduation.”
“Yes, that’s unavoidable. I am the Duchess of Renosa, after all.”
“I see.”
Helmut accepted it calmly. Although he wasn’t familiar with the human-specific system of status, there were countless unfamiliar things in the human world since he came out. There was nothing particularly new about it.
“Everyone seems to get along well. But I hope you won’t forget that I’m not an academy student.”
Michael, who appeared last, threw out words with a smile.