Ch.118The Wizard’s Pure Love #2

Why did every woman he brought along have to be such a troublemaker?

Helena deliberately maintained an expressionless face as she looked at Eve, the girl who stood nervously before her, trying to read the situation.

She was trying to empty her mind to maintain a calm state.

While it was in the nature of nobles to take concubines when they grew tired of looking at just one woman, it was strange that Zion Krauser wasn’t even like that.

Yet somehow, both women he had brought—Ellen and Eve—had fallen for the same man.

Moreover, since these women had become indispensable figures in the domain, they couldn’t be easily dismissed.

This was what Helena found most frustrating.

Of course, if they had tried to steal that man from her arms, she would have stopped them at all costs.

She would have killed them if necessary.

But these women were cunning—instead of stealing, they asked for permission. How cunning indeed.

“Haah—”

Helena exhaled, resenting that her judgment as a lord still remained intact.

If she didn’t have a man looking after her, she would have gone mad long ago, but because she hadn’t, her rationality still remained.

“The reason I called you today is…”

For now, she would leave the complicated matters aside and focus on the task at hand.

Helena threw out a direct question to uncover Eve’s true feelings.

Did she like him as a man, or not?

It was an incredibly simple question, but a very difficult one to answer from the recipient’s perspective.

Even though the answer was clearly defined, it was hard to spit out, like a thorn caught in the throat.

“…I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.” At first glance, it didn’t seem like an answer to the question.

But for Helena, or anyone in the position of hearing the answer, it was a definitive response.

Because saying “I’m sorry” was equivalent to admitting that she had feelings for him.

“Yes. That’s what I thought.”

“If you ask for my head… I’ll offer it. I’ve fallen for someone far above my station.”

“Head. Your head…”

Eve answered calmly, as if she had expected this outcome, then bowed her head.

She had known something was amiss since Olivia came to question her, and she knew what would happen if the Duchess, who cherished Zion dearly, heard about this.

Nevertheless, Eve had decided to remain in the duchy rather than flee.

Whatever the reason, she was prepared to accept the decision of the woman who had recognized the value of the magician Eve Greenwood.

Helena stared at her thoughtfully.

Though she could have simply cut off Eve’s head if she couldn’t tolerate another woman hovering around him, she hesitated.

It was because Eve wasn’t just some woman like Holy Hound from the nobles’ banquet—she was talent that Zion himself had brought in.

Of course, Helena wasn’t so amateur as to acknowledge Eve as talented for that reason alone.

Eve was exceptional enough in Helena’s own eyes that she had allowed her to take command of a military unit and provided ample research funds and materials.

That investment had yielded various results, and there was a high probability it would continue to do so.

She was clearly obedient, as Olivia had reported.

Incomparably so compared to Ellen, who had threatened to destroy everything.

Furthermore, Eve held Helena in almost as high regard as Zion.

This was the biggest reason preventing Helena from drawing her knife.

No matter who she was, Helena couldn’t easily harm someone who was not only talented but also served her loyally.

“For now, I’ll hold off on taking your head.”

If only she had been like Ellen, blinded solely by love for Zion Altram… but that wasn’t the case, and that was the problem.

Helena looked at Eve, whose eyes were still nervously darting around, and placed a hand on her forehead.

“Does that mean…?”

“Your feelings for Zion are vexing… but your case is different, making it difficult for me to make a quick decision. I’ll call for you again later, but for today, you may go.”

She dismissed the puzzled Eve.

It was the best decision Helena could make at the moment.

.

“What would I think about having a concubine?”

Helena had been having private conversations with the other women for the past few days.

This question about concubines was probably related to that, but it seemed quite out of the blue.

“Yes. Of course, Ellen is already a concubine, but… many men keep several concubines. I was wondering what Zion thought about that.”

“Well, since nobles consider it natural, I suppose I could think the same.”

“Do you want more concubines? If… I were to permit it, that is.”

Helena asked, glancing anxiously.

Though she clearly found the topic uncomfortable to broach, her expression showed she wouldn’t be satisfied until she heard my answer.

Something serious must have happened.

Or perhaps she needed a man’s opinion.

Either way, my answer was already decided, so I spoke without much hesitation.

“I don’t need any more at all. It’s a bit awkward to say this as someone who already has Ellen as a concubine, but I’m being honest.”

“Then… are you forcing yourself to be with Ellen?”

“This might be uncomfortable for you to hear, Helena, but… do I look like I’m forcing myself?”

Initially, I had thought I just needed to keep control, and if Ellen hadn’t gone berserk, that thinking probably wouldn’t have changed.

It was just that things took a strange turn, Ellen got pregnant, and as a result, I ended up living with two women.

However, that doesn’t mean I’m continuing this life unwillingly.

Being a man, I enjoy the contrast of white and black, which excites me more.

“No… you don’t.”

Helena nodded with a sour expression, knowing this.

It must have been an unpleasant answer for someone so obsessed with me. But I couldn’t help it.

Trying to gloss over it wouldn’t have been respectful, and it would have made her more suspicious.

“Anyway, while Ellen is happy as a concubine… that doesn’t mean I want more concubines.

If there hadn’t been a need to make Ellen a concubine, I probably wouldn’t have done so.”

This might hurt Ellen if she heard it, but it’s my honest feeling.

Having a woman like Helena in my arms already felt like a dream, so I didn’t need anything more.

My main goal was to prevent three women from destroying the continent.

“…That’s a relief. Really.”

Sometimes a person’s sincere words don’t get through, but fortunately, they seemed to have this time.

Helena’s expression relaxed, and she stroked her chest in relief, which was evidence of that.

After savoring the lingering sense of relief, Helena slowly opened her eyes.

Seeing her calm demeanor, it seemed she was finally getting to the main point.

“You know I’ve been calling Olivia, Ellen, and others to talk these past few days, right?”

“Yes, I know.”

“There… I heard that Eve has feelings for you. That’s why I called her in yesterday.”

So that’s it.

No wonder she had been abstaining from our usual intimacy and only asking to be held—it was all because of this.

Now I understood why Helena had been acting that way.

It must have been distressing for her.

“Eve? Why?”

“That’s… something I don’t want to say myself.”

She pouted as if to say “why are you the only one who doesn’t know,” so I couldn’t ask further.

I’m not particularly perceptive, but hearing such an oblivious question might hurt her feelings.

“Anyway, I’ve been debating whether to deal with her or not. Yesterday and today.”

“Deal with her… you mean kill her?”

I asked with wide eyes.

If it had been like Ellen’s case of plotting to take over, she would have acted long ago, but she had restrained herself.

“Yes. But… she’s someone you brought in because you needed her, and more importantly…”

I brought her in because I needed her.

That meant she didn’t want to waste my efforts by killing Eve, but I doubt that was the only reason she spared her.

The reason she was about to state was probably the main one.

As I held my breath and waited, Helena’s tightly closed lips finally opened.

“She said she likes the Krauser family, including you… so it was difficult for me to touch her.”

Eve’s obsession is different from others in nature.

I had known this for a long time, but Helena had just discovered it, so she seemed quite confused.

It was understandable, given that she had just encountered the difference between obsession with one man and obsession with the household that man belongs to.

Moreover, Eve hadn’t yet shown the dark obsession that Helena or Ellen had. It was confusing indeed.

“So… you want to know what to do?”

“Yes. I thought I could make this decision on my own… but I just can’t find an answer.”

So she needs my answer. I nodded, crossing my arms, thinking about what response would be best.

And to organize my thoughts, I decided to reconsider what kind of woman Helena was.

Helena Krauser feels pressure easily but is diligent and knows how to take responsibilities seriously.

That’s why, living alone and crushed under that sense of duty, her personality became warped, and she started a war that swept across the continent.

Of course, even if the current reality is different, her personality doesn’t change.

Her obsession with freedom has merely transformed into an obsession with me, but she remains diligent.

This is why she differs from the typical obsessive woman people imagine.

If that weren’t the case, everything would have been destroyed when Ellen asked for the position of concubine.

A woman who can still see her surroundings despite being mad.

I think this sentence perfectly describes Helena.

So, trusting Helena, I said this:

“If you think she should die, then do it.”

.

Kill her if you want.

With Zion’s permission, I should remove the obstacle immediately.

Surprisingly, such thoughts didn’t even cross my mind. Instead, that one statement of trust felt so heavy it made my heart ache.

While it was joyful to be trusted, it also meant I couldn’t betray that trust.

What if I failed to make the right judgment?

Thinking about how Zion would react made my chest feel crushed.

Even knowing he didn’t love that woman, if his current love for me cooled even slightly because of this… I clearly wouldn’t be able to bear it.

Even a change that might seem like a speck of dust to others would be as catastrophic as the sky falling for me.

“Hoo, hoo…”

I needed to judge coldly and calmly.

Being greedy might feel good right now, but that’s all.

It’s too short a happiness to taste over a long lifetime.

Ellen must know this too, which is why she keeps her boundaries.

Having lived longer, she must feel it even more desperately than I do.

This is different from chasing away Holy Hound or other females who occasionally tried to cling to Zion.

Though I know I’m mad myself, I could distinguish between females who could be killed and those who couldn’t.

Thanks to the power of education I never wanted and only found burdensome.

I could yield once, so I could do it twice.

But I fervently hoped this concession would be the last.

If there was ever a need to bring in suitable talent in the future, I resolved to extend my hand directly, not Zion.

Since Zion attracts females even when he does nothing, we must avoid a repeat of what happened with Eve.

“What do you intend to do if I don’t give my permission?”

“Just allowing me to remain on the same land like this for the rest of my life… is enough to be grateful for. I cannot and do not want to betray the Duchess who has shown me such great kindness. If you find it hard to believe, I’ll prove it with a mana oath.”

In the late afternoon, sitting across from Eve Greenwood in her wooden house, I heard her answer and completely solidified my decision.

I felt it was worth coming here in person.

Even without giving affection… just being nearby would be enough for her.

She even brought up a mana oath, which magicians mention when making important promises, so I had to believe her.

I could see the sincerity of the young woman with my own eyes.

Eve Greenwood values the boundaries.

Recalling those words that had flowed from Zion’s lips, I forcibly parted my tightly closed lips.

Perhaps it was difficult to express despite knowing it needed to be done.

But.

In the end, I lifted my tightly closed lips.