Hush Now, Saintess! - Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Translator: Yonnee

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“Come on, seriously? The Young Duke is just kind, probably just sweet talk.”

“Well, I might misunderstand it too, thinking maybe he likes me.”

“Hmm. That’s… possible?”

Everyone agreed internally, though they didn’t say it out loud.

Did she really say that?

When they weren’t even dating?

That’s a bit…

“I kind of feel sorry for her now.”

* * *

Sorry for her? Pity for her?

What nonsense.

Helena clenched her teacup tightly as she overheard the conversation behind her.

‘I’m the one who should be pitied! Me!’

She had diligently worked on a man who wasn’t even her type, all under the single-minded intention of stealing something from Roella!

She thought she had finally grabbed what Roella cherished most…

“I’ll just give up!”

The dismay she felt when she saw Roella’s relieved smile.

And because Roella nonchalantly declared her surrender and congratulated them, Helena was now seen as the person who snatched away the man her cousin dearly loved.

It was a blemish on the image she had painstakingly built.

‘Wouldn’t it have been better if she just slapped me?’

Then, the rumors would have spread that the villainess did something villainous.

And she could have blamed Roella while naturally breaking off with the Young Duke.

Pretending to be a victim and further sullying Roella was her plan…

“Ignore them, Helena.”

“Right. They’re just senseless gossipmongers.”

Voices followed one after another.

It was Veronica and Scarlet.

‘Transparent as ever.’

After subtly distancing themselves since the temple incident, their attitude changed once they heard of her relationship with the Young Duke.

They started watching her every move again.

It wasn’t just the two of them.

Invitations poured in from everywhere.

All with the intention of using her to get a connection to Young Duke Killian.

‘Well, this part I do like.’

Attention, envy, jealousy, interest.

All the things she loved.

Helena smiled coyly and said in a sullen tone.

“It’s alright. How dare I fall in love with a man Sister has been harboring unrequited love for. I’m the sinner here, really.”

“Oh, don’t say that.”

“The Young Duke chose you, Helena. Falling in love isn’t a crime, you know.”

While listening to their sugar-coated words, Helena sipped her tea with satisfaction.

‘But just you wait. Next time, I’ll make sure you get yours.’

Repeating her foolish vow once again.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Killian Ducal House.

The incident in front of the bank had reached the ears of the duke.

The duke glared at his son with fierce eyes.

“What on earth have you done…”

Demos wore an expression of injustice under his father’s scolding tone.

The warmth and kindness he displayed in front of others were nowhere to be seen, just the image of a reckless son.

“What did I do to deserve this?”

“What did you do? Are you really asking because you don’t know?!”

The enraged duke slammed the table and shouted.

However, Demos didn’t cower but furrowed his brow instead.

“It was you who told me to date Helena in the first place. You said it would provoke Roella.”

“So that’s your excuse now…”

The duke sighed in despair and shook his head.

Of course, this was all part of his strategy.

A plan devised to counteract the recent rumors that Roella was appearing too saintly.

Roella was just one of the pawns to achieve the duke’s desires.

Thus, she needed to remain ‘a saintess, yet an unacknowledged one’.

The plan was simple.

Use Helena to trigger Roella’s inferiority complex, and then have her explode in front of many, showing her in a tantrum.

With Roella already the subject of many rumors, one public outburst would surely tarnish her reputation.

“But wouldn’t that make it difficult to break up with Helena? Declaring in front of everyone that you’re in a relationship.”

Demos worried about the aftermath, but even this wasn’t a problem.

“No need to worry about that. After the girl causes a scene, break up with Miss Dioter under the pretext of fearing she might be retaliated against. Then, you’ll be seen as a tragic man who gave up his love for the Ducal Lady’s safety…”

“And Roella’s reputation will hit rock bottom.”

Yes, it was indeed the plan with a perfect cover-up.