Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 381 (Part 2):

Having organized his thoughts, the Crown Prince spoke again.

“You said you came to deliver the Grand Duke of Renosa’s wishes, did you not?”

“Yes, I intend to seek an audience with His Majesty the Emperor and convey my father’s message.”

“Will you leave immediately afterward?”

“My father instructed me to remain in the Empire for a while. Grand Duke Farnese desires the same. If that remains unchanged…”

“That’s something I can decide with my authority. If you wish, you’re free to stay in the Imperial Palace for as long as you like. Spending time in the capital, meeting new people—surely that will benefit you.”

The Crown Prince spoke leisurely. This was a privilege that had often been granted to Michael. Strictly speaking, the Crown Prince was on much closer terms with Michael. Even after the Grand Duke of Renosa had strictly forbidden Michael from entering the Empire, Michael—regardless of what might have happened recently—would still be strolling in with a casual smile.

Still, the Crown Prince felt no hesitation about showing favor to Charlotte instead.

After all, Michael was the type who wouldn’t care whether the Crown Prince lived or died.

He was merely feeling awkward due to the Temple faction’s sudden actions within the Empire.

Moreover, the Crown Prince wasn’t giving up yet. A brilliant smile spread across his lips—the very smile that caused every noble lady in the Empire to dream of him.

“In return, I’d like you to be my partner at the upcoming ball.”

It was an opportunity and an honor no one else had ever been granted. She was the object of the marriage proposal, and at the same time, anyone watching would assume she had the Crown Prince’s backing.

This time, Charlotte readily agreed.

“Certainly.”

She smiled sweetly, then her gaze shifted—landing directly on Asuka.

Asuka, who’d been assuming Charlotte would turn the Crown Prince down without a second thought, was left frozen in place.

“What? You and the Crown Prince are going to be partners at the ball?!”

He looked as if he’d just been hit by a surprise attack. He gave the Crown Prince a rather murderous glare.

Before Asuka could act on his temper, Charlotte looked at him and asked, “Does the Farnese Grand Duke’s son have nothing to say to me?”

Asuka paused, blinking.

“Huh?”

It was his first time hearing her call him anything other than senior. It felt strangely unfamiliar.

Not long ago, he’d been just a commoner upperclassman at Greta Academy—now he was the Farnese Grand Duke’s son!

Charlotte clarified further, as if to help him understand.

“The ball isn’t a one-time event, and there are many social gatherings besides. I’ve heard you’ve been attending such social activities recently, Farnese Grand Duke’s son.”

“Yes, that’s… that’s right. So…”

Asuka finally realized what she was asking.

“Will you be my partner as well?”

“Of course.”

For a moment, Asuka seemed to lose all his anger. His expression relaxed almost instantly.

Charlotte had tamed Asuka in the blink of an eye, as though soothing a child.

‘She’s not foxy, but it’s as if she’s got him wrapped around her finger… or maybe she just knows how to handle Asuka.’

The Crown Prince merely watched it all with a curious look in his eyes.

*

The day after Charlotte made her intentions clear to both the Crown Prince and Asuka, she was granted an audience with the Emperor.

At the appointed time, she entered the audience hall, where a man sat upon a splendid throne.

He was a middle-aged man with piercing eyes and an aura of commanding dignity.

He had not inherited the throne peacefully; rather, he was a man who had seized the throne after a brutal war of succession.

Though he was rumored to favor civil administration, there was an overpowering presence about him that felt akin to facing an extremely skilled swordsman.

Feeling even more tense than she had during tournaments, Charlotte carefully offered a respectful greeting.

“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Slowly, the Emperor of the Deus Empire looked down upon the Duchess of Renosa standing before him.

He hadn’t seen her since she was a child.

He noticed her sharp, intelligent gaze and upright bearing. One might expect that a grand duke’s daughter, akin to a princess, would have been raised in gentle luxury. Instead, there was no hint of delicate fragility; rather, she exuded confident poise, undoubtedly honed by her own skills.

‘I see why the Crown Prince is so taken with this girl.’

Even the Emperor himself found her appealing as a potential Crown Princess at first glance; how much more so for the Crown Prince.

‘Michael is clever, but compared to this young woman, he almost seems like a child.’

For generations, the bloodline of the Grand Duke of Renosa was known for producing outstanding swordsmen. Michael lacked that particular trait, yet he still managed to secure his place in Renosa, so that alone spoke volumes about his capabilities.

A memory flickered in the Emperor’s mind—his recent encounter in this very hall with another member of Renosa’s bloodline. A young man who left an indelible impression, someone who seemed even stronger and more formidable, and correspondingly more dangerous. That man was Helmut.

Banishing the thought, the Emperor spoke to the Duchess of Renosa.

“I’ve heard that you possess exceptional skill as a swordswoman. You have grown admirably.”

“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s praise.”

Otaku_Tensei

I'm currently Translating the following novel: Helmut: The Forsaken Child. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

•