To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 70

For Helen, who wanted to break up Ian and Aisha and take Aisha’s place, the best way to drive them apart was to show Ian acting warmly toward her in front of Aisha. And even if Diane didn’t say it out loud, she must have known that was the most effective way.

‘Sophia told me you’re interested in our Ian, right? I can help you. Give it a try  aim for the Marchioness of the Lloyd family.’

With her palms getting damp from nervousness, Helen recalled her first meeting with Diane. On the day of Ian and Aisha’s engagement ceremony, Diane had made a sweet offer while Helen was glaring at the couple.

‘It’s true that I’m interested in Ian. But why would you help me, Madam? Maybe you don’t know, but I’m the emperor’s illegitimate child.’

‘Did you think I’d avoid you because you’re illegitimate? Even so, you still have imperial blood. Half-blooded or not, that’s nobler than most nobles. And I hate the Parden family. You do know Count Parden took away my role as guardian and separated me from my grandsons, right? And now, a daughter from that family is supposed to marry into mine and become the lady of this house? I won’t allow it.’

On the day of Ian’s engagement, Diane approached Helen, expressing her anger toward the Pardens and offering her support. But Helen could sense that Diane was putting on an act.

To Helen, Diane sounded just like her mother clever and smooth. She knew how to fake emotions and hide her true intentions. Because Helen had been fooled by her mother many times, she could see that Diane’s words didn’t match her real thoughts.

‘Well, fine. If you’re offering to help me, I’m thankful. But how exactly are you going to help?’

‘Waiting patiently and creating the perfect moment is my specialty. Just wait. The opportunity will come soon.’

Whatever Diane’s real motive was, Helen didn’t mind. So she took Diane’s hand. Since then, Diane, along with Sophia, often invited Helen to the Lloyd mansion. They even rode in carriages together, letting other nobles see them arriving as a group. Because of that, the rumors about Helen and Ian grew stronger. Some even believed they were truly in a relationship.

“Lady Helen.”

Ian’s voice brought Helen back to reality as she had been lost in thoughts of Diane. Surprised, Helen flinched and responded in an overly dramatic way.

“Oh! Sorry, Ian. I was just thinking about something What did you say?”

“I’ve said it several times…”

While Helen giggled awkwardly, Ian’s expression hardened. He was starting to lose his patience with the same conversation repeating over and over.

“I’ve said it clearly before: don’t come to the mansion anymore. Starting today.”

“Oh my. And I’ve said this too, haven’t I? I didn’t come as your guest. I was invited by Sophia and your grandmother.”

“I won’t say it again. You won’t be allowed into the mansion anymore.”

And that applied to Helen too. She was already trying to figure out how to use the opportunity Diane had created, but Ian kept repeating that she wasn’t welcome. The frustration and resentment that had been building in her mind now came crashing down like a wave.

Finally, Helen shouted, annoyed and angry.

“I said no! I came as a guest of Sophia and your grandmother! You have no right to tell me whether I can come or not!”

Ian frowned at her outburst. There was too much wrong in her words for him to even know where to begin.

‘Good thing I called her away privately. If she acted like this in front of Sophia or the old lady it would’ve been a mess.’

Ian had tried not to hurt Helen’s pride especially with the emperor watching. That’s why he spoke to her in private. It was the most considerate approach he could think of.

But this was his limit. Ian was now determined to clearly end things with Helen.

“You must’ve thought I was making a suggestion. But don’t get it wrong. I’m the head of the Lloyd family, and I’m telling you what I’ve decided. And I’ve told you before I never gave you permission to use my name.”

Ian was concerned about the sapphire business and the emperor’s orders, but those could be handled by others. And he planned to avoid obeying the emperor’s command as much as possible. As Ian firmly drew a line, Helen leaned toward him with a hurt expression. But Ian stood up before she could get closer.

“Why are you treating me so badly?” Helen choked up.

She needed to stall until Aisha arrived. She had to show how close she and Ian were in front of that woman. To buy time and try to win the moment, Helen’s first weapon was tears. Her face looked so pitiful that anyone watching might think Ian was the bad guy.

“We weren’t that bad together. Sure, there were some issues, like you getting a fiancée.”

“But it’s just an engagement, not a marriage. Engagements can be broken easily Count Levantus said so. That you and Count Parden didn’t get along. So who knows how long that engagement will last?”

“And yet, you won’t even give me one chance? We’ve shared so much together. Maybe we weren’t partners after your engagement, but we danced and you didn’t scold me for calling your name before. When our eyes met, I felt something even just a little. I don’t think I imagined that. I really think we connected.”

Helen’s words were so shocking that Ian couldn’t even speak. His arms crossed, he stared in disbelief. As if the emperor’s command to “look after that girl” wasn’t frustrating enough, now the girl herself was deep in some delusional fantasy.

‘My relationship with Miss Helen is purely business. But with you and the crown prince it’s not like that. And you’re a woman. Shouldn’t you, as a woman, act more properly?’

He had once tried to excuse things to Aisha by saying it was all business, but now even he couldn’t believe it anymore. He recalled Aisha’s sad face and the words she had said to him, her voice soaked in pain.

‘I don’t like Miss Helen coming here.’

‘I don’t like hearing you call her name so casually either.’

Aisha’s voice rang in his ears. At the same time, Ian felt a chill at the back of his neck. One wrong move and it felt like a blade might slice his throat. His instincts screamed at him.

Whether Helen was sincere or not didn’t matter anymore. If he got any more involved with her, he would lose Aisha for good.

“Are you insane?”

The fear and tension in Ian finally snapped, and he spoke coldly. Seeing his sharp eyes filled with disgust and anger, Helen froze. She had been pretending to cry loudly, but now she felt fear instead.

Most men dropped their manners the moment they showed interest in her because of her unclear status. But Ian was different. Even as a marquis, he had always called her “Lady” and treated her with respect, even though he didn’t like her.

And Helen didn’t dislike that about him.

“If you’ve got mental problems, I can find you a temple to stay at. But I won’t listen to that nonsense anymore.”

But now, Ian was no longer hiding his hostility. He was looking down on her openly. Helen felt a rush of fear, resentment, and pride all at once. She clenched her trembling hands and forced herself to speak.

“Ian, I’m just being honest. Sure, this kind of talk may be uncomfortable. But we should be honest about our feelings”

“Didn’t I tell you not to call my name without permission? And feelings? Are you seriously out of your mind?”

Ian cut her off harshly, silencing Helen’s barely open lips. His words were sharp and without any filter.

“I didn’t say anything until now, so you tried to play games by staying close to Sophia and my grandmother. But enough is enough. Why would I meet someone like you a mere illegitimate child when I already have a proper fiancée?”

Helen’s eyes widened at the word “illegitimate.” How dare he lump her together with all the other illegitimate children? She was different. She was the emperor’s daughter. She couldn’t accept the fact that Ian not only called her that with disgust but also put Aisha above her.

“You, you—!”

“I’m going to marry Aisha Parden. She’ll come into the Lloyd family, take the Lloyd name, and stand beside me as my wife and the mother of my children. So stop saying things that are way out of your place.”

While Helen stood there speechless in anger, Ian looked a mix of relieved and hollow but there was no regret in his face. His next words hit her like a final blow.

“Did you understand?”

“You you bastard. You dog!”

Helen cursed, panting, her eyes filled with fury. But Ian didn’t flinch. Arms still crossed, he just looked at her with a blank, cold face.

‘That’

Then, Helen’s wild eyes caught something. Behind Ian, hidden between the bushes, a dress, a hand making a small signal…

The burning rage in her eyes faded. In its place, a cold, poisonous malice began to rise.

Support To the One Who’s Only Cold to Me