Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 384 (Part 2):

Hearing Michael’s words, she couldn’t help but feel it was unfair. Margret rose from her seat.

“I’ll go speak to His Grace. If his intent was for you to reflect, I’ll tell him you’ve already done so sufficiently. Don’t worry too much.”

She, like Michael, had a knack for getting what she wanted. Michael let her proceed.

*Click.* The door closed, and Michael was left alone once more. He was certain his confinement would soon be lifted.

A faint, hollow laugh escaped him.

“At least Mother is on my side.”

But it wasn’t enough. His mother wasn’t a figure of great influence within Renosa.

Her sway extended only to the royal palace of Latona and the Grand Duke himself.

And even then, Margret rarely tried to sway the Grand Duke.

For the most part, she had quietly fulfilled her duties as the Grand Duchess—except when it came to matters involving Michael.

Favoritism. From birth until now, Michael had undeniably basked in it.

And Charlotte had never once voiced a complaint about it.

‘Charlotte never used it as an excuse for being at a disadvantage.’

Michael’s expression twisted. A belated sense of defeat spread through his chest.

It was an emotion that had made him suffer from time to time.

But Charlotte could afford to be that way. She possessed something Michael did not.

Talent as a swordswoman. That alone tipped many things in her favor and resolved much.

Whether Michael had any talent as a swordsman was unknown. He couldn’t even properly wield a blade.

In Renosa, where the qualities of a ruler were held in high esteem, one critical aspect was entirely absent in him. Could he possibly fill that void with something else?

Michael had always felt a wall there—a towering, absolute, unyielding wall.

‘What is Charlotte thinking?’

He couldn’t tell. It was as if a stone he’d believed was firmly in place had suddenly slipped out of position.

He felt as though he were missing something.

Until now, Charlotte had moved cautiously, mindful of Michael, careful not to provoke his wariness.

She’d seemed to have forsaken any ambition for the Grand Duke’s seat—but perhaps that wasn’t the case.

What had she done after sneaking away from Greta Academy? What would she do in the empire? Michael didn’t know. Something felt off.

Had she simply waited to graduate from the academy and return to Renosa?

If he’d met her, he might have gleaned something more from her expression. But over the years, Charlotte had grown increasingly inscrutable to him.

In the time they hadn’t faced each other, how much had she changed? How much had she grown?

One thing was clear: he couldn’t stay idle like this.

As he had always done, Michael would make it clear to her.

‘If you don’t have the resolve to kill me and defy Mother to claim the Grand Duke’s seat, then step aside willingly.’

Because Michael did have that resolve.

In stark contrast to his angelic face, a chilling glint flickered in his blue eyes.

He hadn’t lost yet.

Michael would only surrender when his life was truly on the line.

*

It was a mere ten days after Charlotte’s audience with the emperor that the largest comprehensive martial arts tournament in history, co-hosted by the Deus Empire and the Grand Duchy of Renosa, was announced.

It was a decision pushed through without dissent, thanks to the Emperor’s strong will.

Relations between the empire and the Temple of Lumen were already deteriorating rapidly.

Even the temple breathed a sigh of relief.

While this grand event was being prepared and unfolded, the emperor’s attention would be diverted elsewhere. They hoped the blade aimed at the temple might dull, if only slightly.

The scale of this tournament was incomparable to the annual martial arts tournament held in Basor.

The prizes alone were staggering. The winner would be granted the title of Count.

Not just a knighthood—an opportunity to become a hereditary noble in the empire!

Renosa provided a cash prize: five million marks for the victor. Neither the title nor the money was exclusive to the winner.

The rank determined the size of the title and reward, but even those in the top five could walk away with decent compensation.

“If I win big here, I could pay off all my debts and get out of this place, right?” Asuka’s eyes gleamed as he read the announced prize amounts.

“You think you can beat Helmut?” Sian shot back pointedly, and Asuka’s mouth snapped shut.

Even before the details were fully publicized, Asuka had been begging Grand Duke Farnese to let him participate in the tournament.

As the heir to Farnese and the top student in Greta Academy’s swordsmanship department, it was a perfect chance to showcase his skills. Surely the Grand Duke would agree—but the Grand Duke had merely said, “I’ll think about it after seeing what you do,” delaying his answer.

It was maddening for Asuka.

Sian saw through the Grand Duke’s intent immediately.

“He cares more about you learning to behave than some tournament. He said he’d think about it after seeing what you do, didn’t he?”

“No, I’ve done enough already! What more does he want me to do? I’ve been dragged to classes, social events, everything—I’ve suffered enough!” Asuka puffed out his chest proudly. By now, he could even pull off wearing gaudy ceremonial attire dripping with jewels and lace without it feeling awkward.

Of course, royalty didn’t *have* to dress so extravagantly—it was simply the handiwork of the Farnese Grand Duchess, who’d wanted to play dress-up with her son.

Asuka suddenly pointed out something.

“Wait, wasn’t it supposed to be a swordsmanship tournament? What’s this ‘comprehensive martial arts tournament’ thing? It’s not even just a martial arts tournament. What’s the difference?”

The one who answered wasn’t Sian, but someone else.

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