My own immature presence was diminishing the prestige of the Thodell ducal family.
The past Laya looked like she was about to break down and cry. I've been so selfish all this time. I couldn't make him happy the way Gray had loved him.
Watching her from the outside, Laya couldn't help but feel heartbroken. I felt so sorry for Alen in the original story. Wait a minute. So what were Alen's feelings? Why did he not kill me or hide me away like in the original story, but instead keep me as his wife?
That was the moment. The story of Alen Thodell, not Helena Lariston, began to unfold right before my eyes.
A while later, the door slowly opened. Danton bowed respectfully. "You have returned, my lord."
He shot Danton a cold glance and immediately asked, "Helena, where is she?"
Danton quickly reported, "After you left the mansion, my lady went to bed early."
Alen's eyes seemed to show a flicker of disappointment. "Is that so? And what about the illegitimate child of the count's family?"
Danton continued his report. "The knights are pursuing him day and night, so we should be able to find his hiding place soon. But I have a question."
He paused and glanced back. "What is it?"
Danton asked hesitantly, "I know that you brought ruin to the Lariston family at my lady's request. I don't know what happened between the two of you, but you continue to pursue the lover and the illegitimate child of Count Lariston to the very end. Why are you treating my lady so coldly? Is my lady threatening you, perhaps?"
Just then, Alen cut Danton off. He asked in confusion, "Sir?"
Alen didn't hesitate to state, "That's not it, so don't worry. I love Helena very much."
Alen's answer couldn't help but leave Danton bewildered. "Huh?"
Alen blushed and turned away, explaining, "Well, I'm not too surprised by your reaction. No, even I can't understand my own heart anymore."
Then he turned and walked away. Meanwhile, Laya, who was watching from the side, was also stunned. What? Alen is in love with Helena?
He was in love with Helena. And though he didn't know when that feeling started, it was the biggest reason why he never got rid of her. Whenever his heart was stirred by Helena, Alen would often go out or bury himself in work.
Alen's hand scratched continuously across the paper. Just then, from outside came the sweet voice of the past Laya.
He didn't get rid of Helena because it was a feeling that even reason couldn't comprehend. Alen had tried many times to suppress his feelings.
She gently brought water into the room for him, since Danton was still working. The very existence of Helena continuously created ripples in Alen's heart.
Alen replied coldly, "I see." And he bitterly hated the fact that he did.
The past Laya approached him again, advising, "You must also take care of your health while you work, sir."
The sight of Helena approaching with a smile as bright as an angel's made Alen feel as if she knew everything in his heart and was deliberately toying with him.
The hand Alen had on the desk tightened slightly. Suddenly, he snapped his head away and barked, "That's enough."
This made the past Laya cry out in confusion, "Sir."
He continued to question her coldly. "Why are you suddenly doing things you've never done before?"
She tried to explain, flustered, "No, it's not like that. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. It's just that lately you don't seem to be sleeping well."
At that moment, her hand slipped and she dropped the glass of water. The glass shattered, causing the past Laya to cry out in fear. She hurriedly bent down to clean it up. "I'm sorry."
Alen's eyes darkened. Before her hand could touch the broken shards, he called out, causing her to freeze. "Helena."
The past Laya looked up in confusion and answered, "Yes."
Alen looked down at her coldly from above and asked, "Do you want to help? Help me."
This only made the past Laya even more confused. "Yes."
His voice had turned somber. "If you want to help, then please don't bother me anymore, especially with sudden actions like today's, that make me feel extremely uncomfortable."
She looked up flustered and said, "However, I've been very worried about Alen lately, and even if it's a contract, I still feel I need to fulfill my duties as a bare minimum between a husband and wife."
The sight of Helena, shaken by his cold words, stirred something in the deepest part of Alen's heart. And yet, whenever Alen wanted to confirm Helena's feelings, he would only say even more scathing words to her.
The next day, in the territory of Count Parido, Alen arrived at the count's mansion to pursue Marissa and Glock. Alen sat coldly across from her and demanded, "Where are the servants?"
Rosalyn hesitated nervously. "Um, well, actually, because of Marissa, my father incurred a massive debt, so we can no longer afford to hire any servants."
Alen said coldly, "I see. Are you certain that Marissa and Glock are the ones who came to the Parido territory?"
Rosalyn continued to tremble as she spoke. "Yes, it was an absolutely terrible time, really."
He asked with some curiosity, "What happened?"
So she slowly began her story.