Chapter 71: The Moment Helen Grew Up
“That’s it?” Leona asked, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at the three sheets of paper in Abyss’s hand. “The assassin not only didn’t fight you to the death but also gave you written evidence?”
“She’s a dark elf,” Abyss said, sitting back down with a smile. “The mastermind behind this hired a dark elf assassin to kill Helen. They’re quite skilled, I’ll give them that. They used a ‘Keep Out’ spell to prevent witnesses and even stabbed me in the heart with a magical dagger. If the real Helen had stepped out, she would be dead now—although I could resurrect her, it’s better to avoid that.”
“Oh, dark elves. They deserve it,” Leona said, understanding immediately. “They only thought about the dark elves’ efficiency, forgetting their ‘fine tradition’ of negotiating with the target if the first assassination attempt fails.”
“She even offered to spend the night with me,” Abyss said, placing the evidence before Helen. “Here you go. It’s solid evidence. Dark elf assassins have a habit of investigating anonymous clients, which made things easier for us.”
“And you didn’t agree, right?!” Leona asked, grabbing Abyss’s wrist, her voice alarmed.
“Of course not. Do you think I’m the kind of person who would be interested in the living?”
“Ugh! You pervert! Why are you so proud of that?!”
Helen, watching Abyss’s nonchalant demeanor, couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down her spine. She had been too careless, thinking that having leverage over the nobles would guarantee her safety. If not for Abyss, she might be a corpse now—or one of his undead followers.
She took the three sheets of paper and carefully read the contents. The contract was written in Common Tongue, while the reply and the investigation report were in Elven, which posed no problem for her.
Her expression grew increasingly serious as she read.
The contract not only outlined the assassination request but also detailed the nobles’ plan for after her death: they would immediately disband her personal guard, citing incompetence, and execute the captain and vice-captain, ensuring that the secrets she possessed wouldn’t be revealed. These words were originally intended to reassure the Shadow Sisterhood, but now, reading them, Helen felt a surge of anger.
Despite her noble status and her position as the jewel of the Western Empire, Helen had no real friends in the court. The Emperor and the late Empress Dowager treated her as a valuable asset, keeping her under strict protection and limiting her interactions with others. Only during times of chaos in the palace could she find opportunities to sneak out. The only people she considered her own were her personal guard, a group of well-trained female soldiers who had undergone rigorous training since childhood, with Helen as their sole leader, loyal and devoted, upholding the knightly code. Besides her personal maids, Helen interacted most frequently with the captain and vice-captain of her guard—they visited her regularly, brought her things not available in the palace, and awaited her instructions.
Her brow furrowed as she finished reading the contract.
“How dare they… If, after Grandmother’s death, Father had also planned to use those funds to improve the Empire’s healthcare, like me, they might have even dared to assassinate him,” Helen muttered, her anger barely contained.
Leona nodded. “If I were you, I would take immediate action and punish those bastards. Has it been so long since blood was spilled in the court that they’ve forgotten the temper of the Crepeus family?”
Helen looked up, deep in thought.
The royal family of the Western Empire, the Crepeus family, were direct descendants of the Mynian Empire’s royal lineage. When the Empire split, the first Empress of the Western Empire, a decisive and ruthless woman, opposed the Emperor, who had ascended the throne through treachery and collusion with the nobles. She rebelled, declaring herself Empress. For the sake of freedom and the people’s welfare, she was willing to fight against any force that stood in her way. It was her spirit that allowed the Western Empire to stand firm, gain the support of the people, and earn recognition from other nations, not as rebels but as equals with the Eastern Empire, both claiming legitimacy.
But had the Western Empire’s royal family become weak and complacent, lost in luxury and indulgence? Their power hadn’t vanished, as evidenced by the late Empress Dowager’s control over the Empire. Perhaps all they lacked was determination, the will to break free from their comfort.
Many things suddenly became clear to Helen.
“If you’re planning to punish these nobles, I can offer my help, with no strings attached,” Abyss said casually after Helen finished reading the investigation report. “The short lady beside me is also eager to help you.”
Leona nodded. She was more than willing to help her ambitious niece. Compared to her two nephews, who were content to be puppets of the ministers, she would rather see Helen become a capable and determined Empress.
Helen pondered for a moment, then tucked the three sheets of paper into her pocket and said to Abyss, “Mr. Abyss, you’ve helped me so much, without asking for anything in return. I’m ashamed, and it makes me realize my own naiveté and inexperience. But I want you to leave me here. I will walk the path ahead on my own.”
Abyss and Leona raised their eyebrows simultaneously. Flora nodded slightly.
“Your decision surprises me,” Abyss said. “You’ve never done anything like this before. Are you sure you can handle it alone? Those nobles dared to attempt to assassinate you once, they’ll dare to do it again and again. Do you have the confidence to defeat those experienced schemers?”
“There’s a first time for everything. It’s time I faced this,” Helen said, meeting Abyss’s gaze, her eyes filled with determination. “From now on, I will use every resource at my disposal to investigate these nobles thoroughly. I will bring the most corrupt ones to justice and make an example of them. My only trusted allies are my personal guard, but I will cultivate my own power base and establish myself firmly in Golden Griffin City. To the lady with silver hair like mine, although I still don’t know your name, I’m grateful for your reminder. I will restore the glory of the Crepeus family and bring the Empire back to the righteous path!”
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