Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: There Is Nothing Wrong with What His Highness Does
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Esther stared at Helios with a face drained of all color.
Seeing her on the verge of collapse, Helios felt a pang of pity.
He had never imagined that his reunion with the woman he had secretly loved would happen in a place like this.
The sudden death of the merchant guild master must have been a tremendous shock to her, and he was well aware of that.
She had always spoken of her father with such bright pride; the impact on her must be beyond words.
"The imperial family extends its deepest condolences on the tragic passing of your father. The high-quality goods he supplied to the palace were always met with positive..."
Helios's words trailed off abruptly as he continued.
He had caught the flicker of hostility in Esther's eyes as she looked at him.
"We are immensely grateful for Your Highness's gracious attention even to the death of a mere commoner."
Esther glanced at Helios with emotionless eyes before lowering her head.
In truth, she still couldn't face him with a clear mind.
Her mind was still vivid with memories of what Helios had said and done to her when their engagement had been arranged.
They were facts known only to her, having returned to the past, events that hadn't happened yet—but she could hardly look on him favorably.
"Though the quantities were small, His Majesty had high expectations for future contracts with your group. In any case, I hope your future is filled with happiness."
Even Helios found it disconcerting that their long-awaited meeting had occurred under these circumstances.
Still, he was glad to see Esther again, the woman he cherished deeply in his heart.
That was why he had come in person, rather than sending a proxy on behalf of the emperor. But...
"Thank you."
There was no trace of the affection she had once shown him.
It was strange. This was their first real conversation since that time, so he couldn't understand why she was showing such hostility.
Helios frowned slightly at the ache in his chest.
Ete's burial was a solemn and quiet affair.
Whether everyone had now composed their emotions or simply wanted to linger on their final glimpse of Ete, whom they would never see again, was unclear.
"Father, I'll do my best."
Esther murmured as she watched the coffin being lowered into the ground.
In her heart, she reaffirmed her resolve not to abandon the merchant group that held everything of her father's.
As the funeral ended, people began to leave one by one.
Esther sat before Ete's tombstone, running her hand over it.
Ete Elpis. Just tracing that name seemed to infuse her heart with her father's warmth and courage.
If she could ask one thing of the gods, it would be to see her father once more—her hero, Ete Elpis, who had always been her strength.
"Elpis... Should I call you 'lady' now?"
Helios approached hesitantly after she'd been caressing the stone for a long time and spoke.
Esther flinched reflexively at his voice and turned her head.
There stood Helios, frowning down at her for some reason.
"Please just call me the guild master. There's no need for formalities with a commoner like me."
Just as you abandoned all your duties as my fiancé. And just as you mocked me for playing along with those ridiculous formalities.
Esther swallowed the bitter thought and let out a small, hollow laugh.
In reality, the man before her hadn't done anything to her yet.
To show hostility toward him now felt complicated to her.
"Is there something more you wish to say to me?"
And yet, she couldn't make sense of the situation. In her previous life, she had no memory of Helios attending the funeral.
She had fainted from shock back then and only regained consciousness at night, but surely someone would have woken her if he had come.
Something had definitely changed from the past.
Her nerves on edge from Helios's inexplicable behavior, Esther spoke sharply.
"Your Highness, we are truly grateful for your visit. The weather is cold—please return soon."
Helios, on the other hand, grew increasingly anxious at her words.
He wanted to know the reason. What had he done wrong for the woman who used to blush at the sight of him to turn so cold?
He had rushed here without sleep, his heart pounding with excitement and worry at the thought of seeing her today. Clutching his fist in frustration, Helios said,
"There's one thing I want to ask."
"Please ask, Your Highness."
Esther bowed her head politely toward him.
Helios didn't like the sight.
Others should show him such respect, of course—but he never wanted to see Esther bowing to him.
"Have I done something wrong to you?"
"Pardon?"
At the absurd question, Esther lifted her head and met Helios's eyes.
Unknowingly, a smile tugged at Helios's lips.
How he had longed for her to look straight at him like that. He wondered if the little woman knew.
As he tried to dismiss the feeling as mere sentimentality, reminiscent of old times, Esther lowered her head again and replied.
"No. Nothing. There is nothing wrong with anything Your Highness does."
Esther barely suppressed the rising fury.
That man was never wrong. All the blame always fell on her.
The threats from noble ladies telling her to know her place after rising from poor commoner to sudden wealth, the young lords who feigned kindness only to exploit easy deals with the merchant group.
"Not a single thing..."
Even if he had overlooked her while everyone reacted that way.
"..."
"Nothing at all..."
Even if he had coldly trampled her heart with his words.
"How could Your Highness ever be at fault?"
Helios von Evgenia. That man was always the noble crown prince.
And Esther had to endure it all. Without reason or excuse.
"The weather is cold, Your Highness. You should return soon."
"......"
Esther knew Helios was watching her but refused to meet his gaze until the end.
"Your Highness, please take care on your way back. I wish you always good health. Thank you for today."
It was a clear dismissal.
Helios could sense her firm resolve in her attitude. It was no mere fancy.
"Haa."
The spacious carriage, meant for one, was filled only with his prolonged sighs.
Helios draped his long arm over the window ledge and stroked his chin—a habit when he was troubled.
"What in the world is the problem?"
From his long-awaited first love, he had received only indifference and intense hostility, capped off by a resolute attitude that clearly drew a line.
No matter how he racked his brain, he couldn't find any mistake he might have made in the meantime.
"Back then, surely..."
Helios recalled Esther from two years ago, when they had crossed paths by chance.
Her bold attitude, making the guards fidget with that tiny frame, had been so amusing.
That's why he had skipped class for the first time and personally escorted the lost girl.
How bewildered she had looked seeing him do it.
He discovered the reason for his own inexplicable actions when Esther suddenly tripped with a loud thud.
Oh dear, no helping it.
She had brushed off her clothes nonchalantly with a laugh, then popped right back up with a bright smile.
He still couldn't forget that laughter or the blush on her cheeks.
Even a handsome man like you... First time meeting, and you're as wonderful as your kind heart.
Her straightforward gaze without a hint of pretense, the way she casually dusted off her clothes without a care, running off heedlessly with her red hair flying freely in the air, that happy smile.
And finally, her attitude of treating him like any other person, without formality or fuss.
"She was so beautiful."
The responsibilities of becoming emperor weighed heavily on him. In contrast, the free and unpretentious Esther was like a bird soaring unbound through the skies.
Unlike him, trapped in rigid patterns out of fear of losing something.
From the moment he realized his feelings as he watched her run off into the distance, he had kept tabs on her. It was only natural to hope she might feel something for him too.
And now, finally meeting her today... her attitude was utterly different.
"Back then, she definitely smiled at me."
Helios roughly raked his hair and let out a deep breath.
Unable to comprehend Esther's behavior, he knew he'd have to ponder it for a while longer.
At that moment, a searing headache struck Helios, and a familiar scene and voice flashed through his mind.
She fainted and lost consciousness? Don't wake her. And don't tell the lady I came. That's an order. I didn't come to burden her heart. I only stopped by briefly to offer condolences for the guild master's death. You all...
"Kuh!"
As the pain vanished in an instant, Helios released his gripped head. Then, he began to recall the voice again.
"That was definitely..."
It was unmistakably his own voice. And the setting was clearly the funeral he had just left. But the content...
"Those weren't words I said."