116 UNEXPECTED TRIP

"I let you mingle your way into this family, i let you have Alexander and the Duke and have them worshipping your feet. I let them spend their days with you while I was suffering alone in that damn fucking annexe. I let you abuse and mistreat me, I'll let you take advantage of my weakness."

"I remained polite as you cussed me and used my name in vain. I remained quiet when you insulted me in front of everyone and called me names." Felicia's expression darkened as her hand went number after the slap. 

"I let you sully my name because personally, I don't care whatever nonsense you spout. However, that doesn't mean that I'll stay silent after you just insulted my mother." She told her as she looked up and met Helena's tearful eyes with her cold ones. 

"Don't over bring my mother into this mess, Helena. I tolerated the fact that you've been trying to separate me from everyone, but I cannot tolerate you bringing my mom's name into the frame." She paused. "Remember your position, Helena. Without your mother now, I can easily ask the Duke to remove you. You have no ties against us. Fuck, you're not even a half-blood of the family, much less a true noble blood."

"You're nothing but an extension into this family. Nothing but an adopted daughter whose name is not even affiliated with our surname. You have no right to insult the first Duchess. Your mother is not even the official Duchess, a MERE consort is what your mother is. Don't get ahead of the game, Helena. Just because you're a Saint doesn't mean that you get to do whatever you want." She reminded Helena of her position. 

"You should be thankful to your mother who brought you into his mess and kept your mouth shut and sealed. You think the Duke loves you? I don't think so, Helena. The Duke is cold to everyone. Do you think he loves the consort? Fuck no, he doesn't. You think your family is perfect? Ironic." Felicia chuckled, shaking her head lightly. 

"You were the one who wrecked my family, Helena. You're the reason as to why my family is a wreck. What happened to your mother, seems like karma to me."

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO MY MOTHER—"

"How dare you too? How dare you speak to my late mother like that? Who gave you the permission to speak ill of my mother right in front of me? Who told you, you can speak like that? No one! No one, Helena." She cut her off, pointing her finger to the point that it seems she applied quite the strength for her to back away, almost losing her balance.

"You're the wrecker of this family, Helena. No one else but you and your Mother. It seems that she has reached her karma, for ruining my family and for making you. You think you got the power? No, sister. I have." She said once more as she looked at her in disgust. 

"You should be lucky that I'm not even pushing you away. Because if I wish to, i would've asked Alexander to place you in that damn monastery to suffer." She turned her back against the speechless woman, attempted to walk but then suddenly turned her back and watched her once more. 

A smile crept into her lips as she turned around and faced Helena. It was a toxic yet sweet smile from Felicia, something that would indicate that her words are very painful. Afterwards. 

"Just like what happened to your mother. I hope you rot and get eaten with karma. After all, karma is a bitch." She mumbled, enough for Helena to hear and turned her back once more towards the carriage and walked herself confidently, like a model in a runaway. 

Meanwhile, Helena was frozen on her spot, red was evident in her face as her fingernails dug into the skin of her palms, begging to bleed as her body shook in anger, penting up inside her.

"What happened? I couldn't see you both since your back is facing my way." Alexander asked as Felicia entered the carriage, looking curious about what happened while Felicia just shrugged her head, not answering his question. 

"That's odd. Do you want me to do anything to her? You know, I have the right since I'm the heir plus the current master of the house-internally that is." He added, asking Felicia whether she wished for him to do something about that brat. 

"You don't have to do anything, Alexander. Let's just go home anyway, I'm very tired. I wish to rest now." She sighed, her head leaning on the window as she closed her eyes. 

Gosh, she could feel her hand shaking. She slapped her hard to the point that she's damn sure she left a print on her cheek. She deserves it anyway, after dragging her mother's name, she has to be disciplined. 

"I see... Well then, let's go home for you to rest."

—

Since then, Helena has not been going out of her room for three days already and the Dukedom was deader than dead as it was. If not for Felicia, then the Dukedom would've been filled with silence. 

Of course, as a respect for the person who died, even though Felicia has no ounce of respect, she dresses herself into plain colors but mostly black. She'll only stop once the week has ended. 

Of course it's one of the beliefs, yet it didn't stop her from doing what she has to do. Including, practicing her sword and motor development, taking heirship training and even spending her own time. 

Noctua wasn't still able to talk about what's keeping him from keeping the answer from Felicia but she didn't push it forward. She didn't force Noctua to tell her about what happened, as it seems like a quest for her. 

"Mistress." Someone called, making her attention shift towards Olivia who entered the room, with refreshments on her hands. 

"What's the problem?" She asked, her eyes fluttering as she lazily then turned towards the paper on the table. She's currently on her balcony, testing while letting the wind blow some fresh air towards her. 

It's very humid that she even forced Olivia to let her remain only in her inner garment, such as the thin long skirt and a corset type of top—all black. 

"Helena is being escorted right now." She suddenly said that Felicia raised her eyebrow, surprised that Helena has now decided to go out of her room. It seems that something has bothered her since she went outside. 

After that day, no one of them spoke at each other and kept themselves quiet. Alexander, however has questioned her as to why Helena's cheek was red and was covered in a large patch, hiding her numbing cheek. 

She almost deformed her due to that slap. So this is what makes mascular people strong , because of the training that she received. 

Of course she didn't tell Alexander about the slap. Neither was Helena but they haven't really answered each other. That's why it's shocking as to why she ended up leaving her safe haven. 

"Where—"

"To the Holy Church, Mistress. She requested to be escorted by the Duke and begged him to stay in the holy Church, under the pretense of mourning for her mother." Olivia replied while skillfully pouring tea on Felicia's teacup. 

"That's what I heard from the surroundings. She apparently wants to go to the Holy church and seek help and peace towards the Pope or the Saintess." She added, making Felicia stare below her balcony, enough for her to see people moving stuffs and such, loading into the carriage. 

"I see... Good for her then." She mumbled, keeping her eyes down there while staring into the knights and the Duke, together with Helena who had worn a black dress, plus a veil covering her face. 

She smiled, her face resting on her palm while staring below, suspecting that this might become another controversy or suspicion. The Duke is joining her in the pretense of escorting her. 

What if it's another manipulation then? Surely it'll happen. Who knows anyway?

Suddenly, Felicia's heart skipped a beat when Helena suddenly turned to her position, raising her head while meeting Felicia said deadpan look. Felicia was curious with Helena's expression, wanting to know what she was thinking of doing. 

But due to the veil, hindering her face then she couldn't figure out whatever this woman was planning. She just stood there, looking at Felicia right in the eyes. How'd she know? Because she could feel it. 

As if she was staring right into her soul. 

If not for the knight who spared a glance to her, calling her and leading her to the carriage, then Felicia would've stared right into her as well, delving themselves in a staring contest. 

"Do you think that the Duke will become someone else?" Felicia asked Olivia who frowned with her question. Of course he wouldn't become such a thing. But there's a possibility. 

"What has gotten into you, Mistress? But there's actually a possibility." Olivia answered while sighing, serving her the pastry she took from the kitchen. Though, her eyes never left the carriage where the Duke and Helena has occupied, like Felicia who was busy giving her attention to the people below.

"I know... I really know." Felicia responded, looking at them with a smirk on her lips. It's not shocking anymore, especially with how the things are currently messy. With the Pope acting hostile and the charms and Tyren's death, isn't it already being nailed in the fate's book?

Especially that the Church is being suspicious. Such a thing is already expected to happen.