Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 383 (Part 2):

“By the way, am I allowed to join that tournament too?”

As the conversation lulled for a moment, Asuka quietly asked. Decked out in a lavish outfit that practically announced *I’m royalty,* he hadn’t done anything resembling training lately.

After Helmut disappeared, the academy had still held a few more swordsmanship tournaments. Asuka had won each one.
Against anyone other than Helmut, he was confident in his skills.

Charlotte tilted her head slightly.

“The hosting parties are the Imperial Family and the Grand Duke of Renosa. I’m not sure if having a member of royalty participate would be considered fair.”

“Who cares about fairness in a swordsmanship duel? You just have to knock everyone down.”

Yet Asuka himself wore a skeptical expression, uncertain whether Grand Duke Farnese would actually let him compete. At that point, Sian chimed in,

“Anyway, Charlotte, you came to the capital just for that?”

“Yes. My visit to the capital to propose the tournament was at the request of the Grand Duke of Renosa.”

“What about that marriage talk we heard about?”

“I only came to offer my thanks for the suggestion. It hasn’t taken any concrete form.”

Charlotte’s firm reply made Sian pat Asuka on the shoulder.

“Hey, Asuka, did you catch that? That’s a rejection if I’ve ever heard one. You’re gonna have to work a lot harder.”

“You look way too happy right now. Want me to wipe that smirk off your face?”

While the two bickered, Charlotte gently interjected,

“It isn’t a rejection. It’s just not something I can consider at this point in time.”

She spoke in a calm, concise tone, simply correcting the facts. Yet that was enough to spark hope in Asuka. Immediately after, however, she turned her gaze away.

“I should be going now.”

The purpose of today’s outing was to visit the shopping district.

Staying too long at the Farnese mansion could raise suspicions.

Just as Charlotte was about to leave, someone appeared.

Wearing a wide-brimmed hat as though she had just returned from an outing was Asuka’s mother, the Farnese Grand Duchess. When she spotted Charlotte, her eyes went wide.

“Oh my, I heard we had a visitor. They said it was the Grand Duchess’s daughter from Renosa, yes? How unexpected!”

Charlotte rose to her feet and bowed politely.

“Your Highness, the Farnese Grand Duchess. I apologize for visiting without notice.”

“Oh, it’s a long journey—no need to apologize. I’ve heard quite a bit about you. I’m Asuka’s mother, so please feel at ease.”

Her smiling eyes radiated a gentle warmth befitting someone greeting a future daughter-in-law. Perhaps she had misunderstood why Charlotte was here.

With a delighted tone, the Farnese Grand Duchess said,

“The Crown Prince must be heartbroken about this.”

Not too long ago, she had been chatting with the Empress about the whole affair. The Empress had proudly boasted that her son was more attractive, more accomplished, and the next in line for the throne, so naturally the Duchess of Renosa—if she had any eye at all—would choose the Crown Prince. She sounded so confident. The Farnese Grand Duchess had been exasperated in return, asserting that Asuka was a remarkable swordsman and had built a meaningful connection with Charlotte at the academy, so she would surely pick him. Still, she hadn’t felt completely certain. In truth, she was well aware of her son’s fatal flaws.

‘At least he’s good-looking, so that’s a relief,’ she consoled herself.

But what do you know—upon returning home, she found the Grand Duke of Renosa’s daughter right here in front of her. Of course, Charlotte’s brother was here, so it made sense, but the Grand Duchess of Farnese let her imagination run wild.

Sian leaned in and whispered into Charlotte’s ear,

“Charlotte, you should think carefully. You could’ve chosen the Crown Prince and become Empress of the Empire one day! If you’re Empress, even if Alea becomes the Duchess of Renosa, you’ll still outrank her!”

His words reeked of a lust for power. Considering the way he had also nudged Asuka toward becoming Grand Duke of Farnese, it seemed Sian harbored a strong desire for higher status.

“I don’t make marriage decisions for that kind of reason,” Charlotte replied firmly.

She bowed once more to Asuka’s mother. Her posture was as poised as ever, more like Charlotte of the swordsmanship department than a Grand Duke’s daughter.

“If word gets out that I visited here, it could cause trouble for senior Helmut, so I can’t stay long. I must take my leave.”

It was a polite way of asking them not to spread any rumors. The Farnese Grand Duchess smiled gracefully.

“Of course. I understand. But now that we’ve had a chance to meet, perhaps I’ll see you at the Imperial Palace sometime soon?”

Her eyes shone with genuine warmth—those of a mother-in-law who might someday welcome Charlotte into her family. Charlotte, for her part, couldn’t quite reject her outright, not in front of her.

“…Yes.”

She gave a small nod, prompting the Farnese Grand Duchess to beam with delight.

“Oh, wonderful! Take care on your way back.”

“Then, I’ll be off.”

Charlotte’s retreating figure seemed weighed down by some invisible burden. But none of them noticed the heaviness in her heart. Not a single person understood how she truly felt.

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