At first, he thought it was a trick to attract attention. However, only after hearing the news that she had been stabbed by an unidentified man did this kind of suspicion go away a little. He couldnât see her in front of him, so he seemed to have forgotten for a while.
After the greetings with the emperor were over, she would probably come over here for tea time. It didnât matter how much attention he paid to her, she didnât forget to go to him every single time.
ââŠâŠYouâre later than usual.â
ââŠ..disrespectful. Itâs a dazzling afternoon, Your Highness and Helena.â
She looked a little thin but it was said she was sick. No wonder the atmosphere was so calm. I thought she grew up after being sick, but when she ordered Helena as if she was dealing with an attendant, he clicked his tongue, saying that people didnât change easily.
But technically, Helena was not a noble, so Alecto just stared at Eris silently. This was because whenever he
glared at her, Eris used to become a little selfconscious and pretended to be sweet to Helena,
However, Eris did not give in to his gaze and snapped.
âAs Your Highness said, weâre close friendsâŠâŠ Is it against the law to ask your friend for a cup of tea?â
Helena stopped Alecto before he got angry at her cheeky response. Helena mediated between the two, imitating the mischievous words.
Alecto was dissatisfied with her being treated like that, but his anger melted away like snow because of Helena, who lightly patted her lips and laughed.
When Jason, who returned from a long journey, approached, the atmosphere became more friendly Although it was initially a mandatory meeting between the imperial family and aristocratic children, as time passed, Alecto realized that his time with Jason was quite enjoyable.
Because Jason was a good-natured person, he was kind to Alecto, who was on the tough side, and he did not show any reluctance because Helena was a commoner.
By comparison, Eris was always like a corner that stuck out.
Every time they met, she reluctantly âput up with Jason, the son of the duke, and pretended to be friendly with Helena, who didnât have to endure it, yet she subtly treated her as the attendant of the group.
Naturally, when they gathered together, she had no choice but to be alienated. No, he intentionally alienated her.
Because he didnât like her.
She was hurting his pride as usual, so he hoped for her to leave, but she rubbed it in today of all days. He couldnât stand the amount of advice she gave to Helena, so when she got up, Helena hugged and stopped him.
âYou must have been tired. There has been a lot of work lately.â
As soon as he heard Helenaâs voice, his mind became clearer. She was as kind as an angel.
He always blamed himself for not being able to tell others when he hated something. How could one hate a child like this so much? He believed that if the witch was alive, she would be like Eris.
Alecto always had a tendency to think in a dichotomous way, and for him, Eris was always classified as âbadâ or âhateâ.
The same was true when Eris entered the Imperial Palace again shortly after. When the escort knight stopped the child, who had been close to Helena, from breathlessly running to him, the child fell flat on her face and begged the crown prince.
When he went in a hurry as the child led him, he could see Eris scolding Helena. He held his throbbing head and turned Erisâ body around. Looking down silently, she didnât back down and met his eyes. Unfortunately, there was no sign of remorse in her eyes.
âIt is a dazzling afternoon, Your Highness. For those of high standing, that is a virtue.â
Alectoâs head was heated up by her sarcastic voice. It was ridiculous for Eris to say that the higher the status, the more generous one should be to the lower, and that it was a virtue while she persecuted the lower. In front of himself, one of the highest ranked people in the country.
âHow dare you discuss your status in front of me now?â
âYour Highness, because it is me, I can discuss my status in front of Your Highness. Your Highness is engaged to me.â
âItâs only an engagement! Do you think the imperial family will tolerate you being arrogant as if you were already the Crown Princess when the marriage is not yet certain?â
It occurred to him that Helena had lost her place to Eris. Then he got even more angry. When he saw the wound on Helenaâs palm, his anger reached its peak,
Erisâ head turned with a frictional sound. At the same time, Eris and Helena looked at him in disbelief. He said he disliked it, but it was the first time he touched someone.
He thought he made a mistake, but it was already spilled water. Alecto deliberately spoke more coldly.
âYou scratched what was mine first, so Iâll have to make at least a scratch on you to be fair. Donât you think so?
It was a lame excuse. Alecto himself knew it and tried to leave out of embarrassment. To Alecto, Eris quietly said that it was a marriage between families, so heâll get married even if he didnât want to. Eris, who brought it up, somehow looked tired.
âDidnât you say you love me and got engaged not too long ago? Is this what you really think?â
I love you. You know. That was what Eris said sometime ago during the day. She didnât cry, but her eyes were wet. Her cheeks were red as she spoke, but maybe it was makeup.
Since Eris was good at lying, Alecto doubted everything about her.
âI loved you. Not now.â
Thatâs why Alecto panicked now that the âtruth came out of Erisâ mouth. That wasnât the answer Alecto expected. She still loved him, he thought she would scream out that she did that because she still loved him.
He dared to thinkâŠ.. that, it was the wrong answer.
He wanted to break up his engagement to Eris. However, when the opportunity came, his mouth did not open. When he saw Erisâ eyes, who were pressuring him at the knightâs appointment ceremony, his mind became complicated.
Alecto concluded that the reason was âbecause he was not sure. He was not sure that he could break up the engagement, but if he brought it up, it would be a loss.
Kratos, his father, was a scary man with no mercy, even if he was his own blood.
Alecto thought of his unknown brother, who he heard died by his hands. Even the face of his father, who held no warmth since he saw him when he was young,
In order to marry Helena, and no one else, he had to make Helena stand out. That way, his father would not protest later.
Thinking of Helena, he remembered Jason confessing to her after the appointment ceremony. He never imagined he would like Helena either.
However, Alecto did easily understand. Because anyone would have fallen in love. Everyone liked a child without a single crease.
However, when he heard that Jason had decided to take Helena as a partner during Erisâ coming of age ceremony, Alecto also became impatient. Perhaps she read Alectoâs mind, as his mother, Melpomene, called him in.
âHow can I not know anything about your favorite child while sitting here? It will be a good match.â
Rather, when Alecto couldnât answer Melpomeneâs words, his eyes became cold. Melpomene whispered to Alecto in a low voice.
âDidnât this mother teach you to tell me without hiding what you want and to have what you deserve? How can you look so sad?â
âHowever.â
âBut thereâs no such thing.â
When Melpomene stated it out directly, Alectoâs body became stiff. Since he grew up unloved, Alecto always struggled with his parents. As Alecto bowed his head, Melpomene spoke to Alecto in a rare friendly voice.
âYour mother will take care of it, so escort Helena on the Coming-of-Age Day. It takes time for women to dress up, so I wonât care if you send Duke Kazar to the venue first.â
Alecto was bothered by Eris. Thatâs because it was obvious how Eris would be treated if he didnât show up. Melpomene laughed when Alecto hesitated.
âOh, son. Are you worried about her? She had already done such a thing once. She should now know that she may suffer the same thing. Isnât that a lesson?â (TL/N: she is referring to the incident with Lady Morgan.)
Hearing that, he was determined again.
Alecto quietly bowed his head to Melpomene and left the room. He tried to think of it as a causal retribution. She hurt someone elseâs heart, so she had to go through the same thing.
Finally, on the day of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, the Helena in front of him bloomed more beautifully than any other woman he had met in his life.
She smiled shyly when she saw him because she was unfamiliar with the thick makeup and the dress that would be worn by an aristocrat. Beautiful. When Alecto said his honest appreciation, she stabbed him in his side, saying, âDonât lie.â
Was she still waiting for him in the room? Walking side by side with Helena, Alecto suddenly recalled Eris and soon erased it.
It was rude to think of a woman other than Helena when he stole Jasonâs partner.
And when the door opened with the introduction of the servant, he made eye contact with Eris, who was expressionless, as if she had come in advance.
There was no sadness or anger anywhere on that white face. It was just a sign that all of this was boring and exhausting.