Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 408 (Part 2):

‘This can’t be.’

Margret repeated the words as if frozen.

Her face, which had worn a faint smile at the start of the final, had paled. Her entire body trembled like a leaf.

The moment she saw the victor’s unmasked face, she instinctively lurched to her feet—only to stagger and collapse back into her seat.

The sin she had buried in the Forest of Roots was now alive and breathing before her.

It was as though she were witnessing the dead walk. Horrifying. Terrifying.

That the sight of her son returned from the brink of death brought not joy, but *fear*—

It felt as though the ground had crumbled beneath her. Suddenly, Margret realized what she had truly feared all along.

She had clung desperately to what she possessed. And thus, she could tolerate no threat to it.

But now, she faced her greatest nightmare.

“G-Grand Duke…!”

She shot to her feet, staring at her husband as he returned from the podium. His profile was as unyielding as a statue.

Her husband, who had known everything and prepared for this moment.

For the first time, Margret felt an iron wall of separation between them.

“Why…?”

Her voice was strained. Why had he not told her? Why had he acknowledged him?

Without turning to her, the Grand Duke replied calmly.

“Margret Irene. Did I ever ask you, four years ago, why you did what you did?”

“You did not, Your Grace.”

If she had been wrong, he could have reprimanded her. But to act without a word—

Resentment swelled in her eyes.

“I merely made the best choice for the present *your* actions created.”

“Is this… what you mean?”

“It is the path for Renosa.”

And the ruler of Renosa was *him*, not her. Those words constricted her voice like shackles.

Margret covered her face and shut her eyes tightly.

There was nothing left for her to do. It was no longer the role of the Grand Duchess.

“Your Grace.”

Charlotte rose from her seat and approached him.

Her eyes were red. Her face flushed with uncontainable emotion.

Amidst the storm of feelings too vast to voice, she spoke.

“Will you not regret this?”

The Grand Duke’s gaze shifted to Charlotte.

To his daughter who resembled him, to her who had been right until the end, his gaze was unusually soft.

Had Charlotte aspired to become the Grand Duke, she would have had to forsake her own ambitions.

But Helmut was the firstborn, a swordsman who had proven his strength before all.

Now, no one could strip him of what was his.

Without hesitation, Charlotte nodded. A smile bloomed on her lips.

“I only wished for things to be set right. My greatest desire has been fulfilled.”

Even if it meant she might never hold what she once thought she would, she felt no regret—so long as it went to someone more deserving.

From the beginning, shouldering Renosa had been her duty, not her dream.

Perhaps the Grand Duke had known this, making his decision easier.

A solemn air settled over his expression.

“Charlotte. Our path does not end here.”

Though the Empire had sided with Renosa, the Temple would never stand idle.

They might even face a direct confrontation with the Temple.

The Temple’s mission was the eradication of all evil. They had never retreated from that cause.

And now, they had justification—the Seed of Darkness.

Thus, countless trials remained before Helmut could be acknowledged as Renosa’s heir.

“Wherever Your Grace leads, I will gladly follow.”

Charlotte was his daughter, his vassal, and his knight. The decision lay with her lord.

The Grand Duke patted her shoulder and turned. It was time to meet his son.

***

“Helmut!”

Somehow, his friends had made their way into the waiting room.

Asuka, Sian, and Alea. Helmut took his time looking at each of them.

This moment, the culmination of his goal, felt surreal—yet undeniably real.

Helmut knew this was only the beginning.

The allies he had secured so far would surely have been paying close attention to this martial arts tournament. They would have learned of this fact today. They too would soon be busy calculating their next moves.

With the Temple openly declaring hostility, their allegiance might waver.

But for now, it was time to savor victory.

“You really… worked hard to make this moment possible.”

Helmut took Alea’s hand as she stepped forward.

He wanted to pull her into an embrace, but the desire to meet her violet eyes, unusually filled with emotion, was stronger.

She had been with him every step of the way since leaving the Forest of Roots.

Asuka rubbed his nose and muttered,

“Congratulations on your victory.”

Truthfully, he had watched nervously as Helmut gained recognition from the Emperor and the Grand Duke—and had nearly cried.

Not that anyone needed to know.

“Congratulations, Helmut!”

Sian pumped his fist in the air.

A white cat slinked between them, flicking its tail against Helmut’s leg with a *thud*.

[You did well. I’ll try to refrain from calling you weak from now on.]

Being acknowledged by his most demanding critic felt… strange.

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