Chapter 188 - The Choice Is Yours (2) (1/2)
Helen was locked away in a shadowy and dreary dungeon. The interrogator was ordered not give special preference even if she was a noble, and treated her the same as other criminals. Attempting to kill the Crown Prince was a severe felony.
Ttogag ttogag—
As Elena descended the basement stone stairs, various thoughts passed through her mind.
Elena and Helen had never been entangled in their previous lives, and Elena could barely recall the other woman. Mirabelle claimed that Helen had harassed Elena several times, yet Elena found it perplexing, even after having lived through the future. How did Helen come to bear such a grudge against Elena?
Elena finally stopped in front of a cell with cold steel bars. Inside was a woman, chained, her once-beautiful looks spoiled and disheveled. Her dress had become frayed and her hair matted from her time in prison.
Helen lifted her head when she heard Elena’s footsteps, and their gazes met in midair. Helen’s glare turned venomous as soon as she recognized Elena.
“Hoho, did you come here to laugh at me?”
Helen disregarded any pretense and taunted Elena openly. Elena paid no regard, however, as she hadn’t come here expecting to be treated with any formality.
“You look like you’ve gone through a lot.”
“Hmph. Can’t you see it with your own eyes? You’re the one who put me through this, Elena Blaise!”
Helen screamed at her furiously, but Elena didn’t so much as blink.
“My name now is Elena Ruford, not Elena Blaise. No matter your crooked words, you’re the one who put yourself through this.”
“What?”
“I gave you a final warning at the wedding reception to never cross my path again.”
“…!”
Helen’s eyes widened as she recalled the conversation that day. Elena continued in a calm voice.
“I am not one to tolerate ill actions towards myself. Did you expect me to be gentle when you provoked me?”
“What the hell is wrong with that? You’re the one that started this!”
Helen screamed at her in bitter desperation. This was what Elena was curious about. Why did Helen hate her so much?
“What wrong have I done to you?”
She didn’t know how Helen would reply, and in truth Elena was so busy defending her family that the other woman hadn’t entered her mind. Helen replied immediately to Elena’s question.
“You’ve always stolen away everyone’s attention even in southern society. If I hadn’t suffered so much from the start, I wouldn’t hate you as I do now. I’m the daughter of Marquis Selby! I’m not like you, a daughter of a count!”
Elena didn’t expect this to be the only reason, and answered Helen with a look of surprise.
“Is that really it? Lady Selby, what reason is there to envy me? Not only do you come from a good family, you are a beautiful woman.”
“Yes! I deserve to be admired everywhere! But you dare stand in my way! If you had left the Crown Prince alone, he would have loved me!”
The iron chains jangled as she struggled against them.
Elena didn’t reply. She couldn’t make heads or tails of Helen’s reasoning. Helen had wealth, a family who loved her, and could have married into a good position and lived a happy life. And yet, she couldn’t stand Elena being ahead of her at all.
‘ I’ve never thought of her name in the future, but now I understand why…’
Helen would have been jealous of anyone who had more than she had, regardless whether it was Elena or not. Elena only happened to be the target of her envy in this lifetime.
“…For the first time, I feel sorry for you.”
“What?”
Helen’s eyes flashed daggers at Elena’s expression of pity. Helen had been the envy of many, but no one ever told her they pitied her. She lashed out in rage.
“You think you’ll be safe treating me like this! It’s easy to think you’re the princess, but I have the Empress and the Selby family behind me! If you think this ends here, you’re wrong! Do you understand?”