Episode 23
Edwin was someone Helen knew well. She was the one who had helped a boy who had lost his parents in the war and become an orphan to join the Imperial Knight Order with the Count family’s assistance.
She had heard the news that he safely joined the knight order, but had not heard any news after that. It was around the time she was abandoned by the Count and had to leave on a long journey to Hexiloff.
The time she heard news of him again after that—no, the day she saw him in person—was when she had possessed Violet’s body.
Edwin, who had even secured the position of Commander of the 2nd Imperial Knight Order, had to become the Princess’s escort knight by the Emperor’s command. He had not wanted to, but it was the Emperor’s command, and to rise to a higher position, he had no choice but to follow it.
He had protected her side until Violet died. She had not heard the news of what happened after she died. When she opened her eyes again, she was in Hexiloff, and even when she returned to the capital, she had been unconscious.
Helen felt it was only natural that Edwin Vance had found Violet’s grave. He was someone who had guarded her side for almost a year. But there was a more important reason than such outwardly visible ones.
Violet, who had been loved by all, was also loved by Edwin Vance.
His love was not revealed outwardly. It could not be.
Violet’s gaze always turned to Carlisle Everett, and Carlisle’s gaze turned to Violet. There was no one who did not know that the two people loved each other.
So the place Edwin’s gaze turned to was always Violet’s shadow. He knew it. Because it showed.
Helen thought there was no way he would recognize her, as she had changed greatly over the long time that had passed. Even so, it was difficult to continue lingering in front of Violet’s grave. In the end, she decided to simply go back.
But just as she turned to leave, she heard Edwin’s voice.
“Miss Helen?”
Miss, he said.
The young boy who had not even been able to properly look at the face of the one who saved him in those days was now calling her name.
Helen’s two feet, which had taken a step forward, stopped in place. Trembling and fear coexisted in her heart.
Helen could not pretend not to know him and walk on.
For a brief moment, Helen did not move, and Edwin did not call out to her again.
Instead, Edwin approached in quick strides. Still holding the bouquet for Violet in his hand, he completely blocked Helen’s path and stood before her.
When Helen lowered her head and looked at the bouquet full of violets, Edwin noticed her gaze and hid the bouquet behind him. But she had already seen it.
Edwin asked with a face full of shyness. White breath fluttered from his mouth.
“It is Miss Helen, isn’t it?”
“If you mean Helen Platini, perhaps.”
Helen did not hedge her answer. If this was a connection destined to meet someday, she intended to sever it now.
But Edwin began to sob. With a pure expression, he shed coarse tears that resembled her own, drop by drop.
“Ah, how much… how much I missed you. You wouldn’t know, Miss.”
Helen watched that sight quietly. She could not wipe away his tears.
“I suppose you wanted to convey your gratitude to me.”
“…Yes.”
“I see.”
Edwin had probably come to the Platini mansion to meet the Count’s young lady who had helped him. But by then, the person he wanted to meet had already completely left the mansion.
“You must have had a hard time alone. I should have looked after you until the end, but I couldn’t.”
“I have never blamed you, Miss. I dared not even harbor such a thought.”
Did he truly dare not even harbor such a thought? If it were her, she would have harbored it at least once.
Helen thought so, but she knew Edwin Vance’s words were true. Because he was truly a pure and clear person.
So she quietly nodded and waited for Edwin to quickly finish what he had to say and go place the flowers in front of Violet’s grave.
But Edwin did not move as she wished.
“Miss, did you come to mourn the Princess?”
“Yes. It is only natural to come mourn the Princess who was loved by all.”
At those words, Edwin cast a sorrowful expression, as if thinking of Violet.
“As you say, the Princess was loved by all. Then why did she live such a sad life?”
“A sad life….”
Helen muttered quietly.
Violet Drifon must have lived a sad life. Unlike Helen Platini, who had become Violet Drifon and lived a happy life. That was why she felt all the more sorry.
Helen turned her eyes away from Edwin and looked at the flower petals fluttering in the wind. They were all things that had fallen from the flower bouquets people had left in front of her gravestone to mourn Violet.
They were flowers that bloomed for a season and withered after living but a single season. Just like her, who had left.
She plucked a single flower that resembled Violet. It was by this hand that she had plucked a flower resembling her. Her, by me.
“Was her life only sad? There must have been times when she was happy.”
“Indeed. When she was with Duke Everett, she always smiled.”
“…See? I told you she was happy.”
“Miss.”
At Edwin’s voice calling her, Helen shifted her gaze from the white and purple petals still flying in the wind to Edwin’s face.
“I wish to stay by your side, Miss.”
“…”
For a moment, Helen thought he meant he wanted to stay at the Platini mansion. Because she could not imagine anything else.
“Please allow me to swear a knight’s oath to you, Miss.”
“Sir Vance.”
An Imperial Knight swearing an oath to a single person who was not the Imperial Family! Did he know what he was saying?
Helen was very worried about Edwin, but Edwin himself added without hesitation, as if he would endure everything.
“I like you, Miss.”
“…”
“I do not even hope for your heart.”
The person who had loved Violet was saying he liked another who was not her. Helen stared into Edwin’s eyes. His pupils were unwavering.
“You are an Imperial Knight. Do you not know what that means?”
“I know. An Imperial Knight swears only for the Imperial Family. I was the same. But I have not sworn as a person.”
“Please….”
Helen sent him a refusing gaze, but she could not break Edwin’s stubborn will.
He was probably speaking arbitrarily, overwhelmed with joy at having met the person who saved him so long ago. An emotion he would regret when he lay in his bed tonight.
“I’m sorry. I am leaving soon. If I leave this time, I will never return. I won’t remember anything.”
“Miss?”
“So do not waste your vow as a person in vain. You might yet meet someone you truly love.”
“You are the only one for me.”
She thought it was his last, desperate struggle. A faint heart that would vanish once he poured it all out.
“I’m happy. Truly. But that is all. I am the Count’s abandoned child, and you are the Empire’s honorable Knight Commander. Let us live as such.”
“…”
Helen thought Edwin had closed his mouth because she had ultimately rejected his heart.
To give her last greeting to the childhood connection she had met after so long, she curved her eyes beautifully.
“Farewell, Sir Vance.”
Now the Count’s young lady and the orphan boy from those young days were gone. Helen passed by Edwin’s side with steps much lighter than before.
But Edwin grabbed Helen’s sleeve with the hand not holding the bouquet. Helen, unable to advance because of his touch, turned her head.
Edwin wore a cold expression like a knight facing an enemy.
“Miss. How did you know I was the Knight Commander?”
“…Sir Vance.”
“Except for a few, the people of the world only know that I remained as the Princess’s escort knight. It’s quite funny, isn’t it? She no longer exists in this world.”
“I saw your uniform and….”
Edwin cut off Helen’s words as she hurriedly made up an excuse.
“You mean this uniform that ordinary knights wear?”
Only then did Helen realize she had made a mistake. Only when Edwin let out a scoffing laugh and dropped the bouquet full of purple flowers to the ground.
“I-I heard it by chance!”
“Who was blabbing like that?”
Edwin swept his brown hair back with the hand that had released Helen’s sleeve.
“After the Princess I served passed away, I received long-term leave for the first time. Moreover, the members of the 2nd Knight Order only heard of my return three days ago. So I must know who you are. You might be a rat hiding in the Imperial Palace.”
“A rat….”
That rat seems to be me.
Edwin’s return as commander of the 2nd Knight Order had been planned. Guarding the Princess whose main routine consisted of riding her private swing and reading was not what he wanted.
Because whenever on the way to see Lucas, seeing the knights coming out after an audience with the Emperor, Edwin’s gaze would change. Looking into his eyes filled with longing always made her feel sorry. It felt as if she were trampling on his dream. Even in that moment, when she called out to him, he would smile and look at Violet.
Unlike now.
Helen felt fear surging up rapidly from the tips of her feet. It was an appearance she had never once seen from Edwin, who had protected her side during the time she lived as Violet.
Edwin Vance had his sword every moment by Violet’s side, but he had been smiling. She had never seen a cold face that contrasted with that pure smile.
The fact that those who sought to take Violet’s life had never appeared largely contributed to that. But Helen had merely thought he was not a cold person because he was pure from the beginning.
Helen had to think of a way to escape Edwin’s suspicion. A way he absolutely could not deny.