Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 318 (Part 2):

At a glance, she saw individuals carrying swords. One was a tall, blue-haired man.

‘Wasn’t Sian close with the top student of the Swordsmanship Department, Asuka? Is that him?’

If it was Aska, his skills were reputedly formidable — enough to take a prominent position in any knight order. The others, however… Teresa’s eyes narrowed at a man and a woman with dark hair.

‘Such dark hair isn’t common. If they were Greta Academy students… Charlotte from the swordsmanship department? Then the man could be…’

A face flitted through her mind, a memory long buried even for her.

‘If it’s Charlotte, she’s a year behind Sian, the top of her swordsmanship class. But she hasn’t graduated yet, so she should still be in the semester. It doesn’t make sense for her to be here.’

That left her uncertain. There was no sign of Alea in the footage.

“Aside from Sian, I can’t be sure about the others. The blue-haired swordsman could be Asuka from the swordsmanship department, but I’m not certain. Are they still in that village?”

“I don’t know. A trace of teleportation magic was detected. It didn’t seem to be for supplying provisions. The magical wavelength was different from previous movements. I don’t know how many left, but spirit mage Terra is still in the village.”

Teresa’s expression turned serious.

“They wouldn’t be heading towards the royal capital, would they?”

As the king feared, if Rodril targeted him, things would escalate dramatically.

The king, who had faced threats of assassination throughout the succession war, was still not entirely safe.

Teresa understood his vigilance well.

“We’re tracking their route. But we haven’t detected any traces of teleportation magic near the royal capital. Even if they teleported, it wasn’t anywhere near the capital.”

As the royal mage of Fidelis, it was his duty to keep Veneta’s key locations under constant watch.

“Please inform me immediately if there are any changes. I need to figure out how to approach Rodril.”

“Very well.”

“I’ll take my leave now.”

With a bow, Teresa exited her father’s study. New strategies were already forming in her mind.

She had initiated this endeavor. It was her responsibility to see it through and secure what she wanted.

‘My acquaintance with Sian…’

Even that, she intended to coldly exploit for her own purposes.

Sian wouldn’t take offense. Mages were, by nature, inclined to such practical uses of relationships.

This was all for Veneta and the king. Personal sentiments had no place here.

‘I can’t let my guard down just because things have gone smoothly so far.’

Teresa maintained her boundaries. She wasn’t aiming for war with Rodril, nor did she plan to directly confront them.

She had merely ordered all the villages in the Kingdom of Veneta not to trade with them.

What did it matter? It was the king’s order, and that was entirely within his authority.

Greencana was Veneta’s territory, yet it operated outside the king’s governance.

They paid nothing to Veneta, so there was no ground for complaint if they now faced disadvantageous terms.

Excessive demands were often made to ensure lesser ones were met.

‘Not that taxes are what we’re aiming to collect from Rodril.’

What she wanted was something only Rodril could offer.

Teresa stepped out of the Fidelis mansion and walked into the streets. Wandering the town helped organize her thoughts.

As she walked, a thought surfaced.

‘I’ve lived a relentless life. Even after graduating from Greta Academy, I haven’t had a moment’s rest.’

After graduating and returning to Fidelis, she found Veneta embroiled in the succession war.

Princes scrambled to contact her, desperate to break the duke’s neutrality and gain his support.

The power balance was delicate, and since only one of them could survive, their desperation was understandable.

Even without the duke’s endorsement, Teresa’s credentials as the top graduate of Greta Academy’s magic department made her invaluable.

‘Why not go to another country and focus on magical research until Veneta stabilizes?’

The Duke of Fidelis had urged Teresa to leave Veneta, not wanting her caught in the conflict.

She was an exceptional mage, and positions at the Mage Association, the academy, or even as a royal mage in another kingdom were within reach.

She had received offers of that nature even before graduating.

But Teresa chose differently. She decided to contribute to Veneta.

It had only been a little over a year since she graduated from Greta Academy.

In that short span, she had climbed rapidly.

She was sharp, an outstanding mage, and she fit seamlessly into Veneta’s noble society, not just as a mage but as a representative of the Fidelis name.

‘And yet… why do I feel this emptiness?’

She often thought about her six years at Greta Academy. Fond memories ingrained in her mind and body.

Memories of the happiest times.

Would seeing Sian again bring back those memories?

A faint smile touched Teresa’s lips.

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