The Tragic Male Lead Chose the Wrong Partner

‘Now that I think about it, that girl even killed her own father when she was still a maid. I used to think it was just a mistake.’
As Helene’s expression grew more serious, Capitano lowered his head in a gesture of apology.

“The princess may have ambition, but she’s good by nature. She never intended for that maid to die. I did my best to protect her… I’m sorry for upsetting you.”
But in truth, it was probably just that Cynthia didn’t want to dirty her own hands.
Capitano was skilled at manipulating others through words.

Helene, realizing that the man she fancied saw her as someone righteous, began to believe it herself.
“No need to apologize. That girl is the one at fault.”
“Do you happen to know a maid named Anita? She used to work in the Queensguard estate.”

Who was that again? The laundry maid?
“She escaped during the family purge. According to Anna, Princess Cynthia found her on the street by chance and took her in, but no one’s heard from her since.”
“Don’t tell me she’s dead too?”

“It’s likely. A few days after the princess took her in, the man she was living with was found dead near a gambling den.”
Capitano handed her a gold bracelet.
Helene’s eyes widened as she examined it closely.

“What is this?”
The bracelet bore the seal of the Queensguard family.
“The thugs at the gambling den had it. They said they took it off the man’s body.”

So this was Cynthia’s doing, too?
Her dead father, the dead overseers, the maids who knew the past, the entire Visente family…
'Even the tutor who opposed her has been dealt with. It seems contacting him like before won’t be possible now.'

Recalling one of Charles’ reports, Helene felt a chill run down her spine.
She had known something was off—but she hadn’t realized the extent of the savagery.
'What if I’m next?'
As the shaken Helene trembled, the golden eyes of the charming liar narrowed slightly.

* * *
Early in the morning, Helene arrived at the residence.
Cynthia greeted her with a bright, casual smile.

“Sister, what brings you here without notice? Perfect timing. Have you had breakfast yet? Want some tea?”
Helene looked at her with a stiff smile. Seeing her act so friendly only made Helene shiver again.
“Cynthia, I came to see Father.”

'I need to figure out what she did to the Visente family first.'
There was still time before the brigadier returned.
She couldn’t expose that Cynthia had killed her own father, since it could reveal the entire fraud of the Queensguard family.

'But if it becomes known she killed her in-laws, the fallout would be devastating. Even a war hero wouldn’t be able to contain it after such a revelation.'
After that, I’ll tighten the leash properly. Make sure she never even thinks about targeting me again.
Resolving herself inwardly, Helene asked with a smile,

“By the way, where’s Madam Eleonora?”
“She’s probably asleep right now.”
So brazen. Helene scoffed without realizing it.

“Is that so? I brought someone with me. Mind if I let him in?”
“Go ahead. Who is it?”
At Helene’s signal, her attendant opened the door and called someone in.

A man in neat clothing stepped inside, removing his fedora.
Helene leaned in to whisper to Cynthia.
“This is Mr. Stephan, Oliver Visente’s son. His situation is rather unfortunate.”

“How so?”
“Well, just look at how Oliver is still using the Visente name. He never left the family, never even got married.”
Meaning Stephan was an illegitimate child—a bastard.

“Even so, he seemed worried about his father. When I said he was staying here at the residence, he wanted to see him.”
“Ah.”
Looking at Stephan’s troubled expression, Cynthia could tell immediately that he hadn’t come out of worry.

“Let him see Father.”
As Helene gave Stephan a subtle glance and stepped away toward the room where Count Queensguard stayed, Stephan lowered his voice.
“Shall we talk somewhere more private? The subject might be… difficult.”

“I don’t know what could be so difficult, but sure.”
Cynthia led Stephan to the study.
Stephan glanced nervously at the soldiers quietly following behind him.

Once seated across from Cynthia on the study sofa, he began,
“Princess, I’ve been worried since I lost contact with my father.”
“But didn’t you come here knowing he was at the residence? External communication is limited here, that’s all.”

“Even so…”
Cynthia asked kindly,
“Why don’t you get to the point?”

“Where are the Visente couple and my father? Debt collectors have started coming after me.”
“Oh dear, that must be stressful. They asked for protection, and we’re keeping them safe here, so please [N O V E L I G H T] don’t worry too much.”
It wasn’t technically a lie—they were safely locked away in a basement no one could enter without permission.

But that wasn’t the reaction Stephan had hoped for. Like Madam Eleonora, he tried using fear.
“The debt collectors are part of an underworld syndicate. Are you sure that’s not a problem?”
Cynthia shook her head, clearly bored.

“They can’t touch us, which is why they found you and sent you here instead.”
She added,
“Seems like you’re the one who should be worried. I hear that even a single drop of shared blood makes you liable.”

Even a bastard child couldn’t avoid collective responsibility.
Looking like someone who had truly suffered from the organization’s pressure, Stephan frowned.
“I know the brigadier is the Visente couple’s adopted son. So shouldn’t he be the one paying, not me?”

“Oh, there’s no need for that.”
Cynthia looked at him cheerfully.
“Did you know the law changed recently?”

She opened a slim booklet and pointed to a section.
Stephan’s eyes widened as he read it carefully.
The Quickest Guide to the Latest Legal Revisions
Adoptees are not liable for the debts of their adoptive parents.
This amendment was made to counter the inhumane practice of adopting orphans to transfer debt.

“This is…”
The brigadier doesn’t have to pay? Stephan, now flustered, read it several more times, then stood, trembling.
'Then I’m the one who has to take the fall?'

He had barely gotten rid of his useless father, and now this?
“If he can’t pay, make the brigadier pay! I think the princess killed them!”
Consumed by panic, he desperately tried to shift the blame.

“So tell me, Princess. Where are the Count and Countess—and my father? Are they dead?”
He smiled, but thought to himself that this wicked woman must’ve killed them. He actually hoped it was true—maybe she’d pay him off to keep quiet.
“They’re sleeping. They hadn’t slept for days, probably from all the stress.”

“Stop lying…”
Cynthia spoke to him calmly as he trembled in denial.
“There’s no reason I’d kill them. But if you need help—”

“No. This isn’t how it was supposed to go. You should’ve killed them…”
“Stephan, you’re next. You’re still young—maybe we’ll just sell you as a slave.”
Overcome by fear and rage, Stephan suddenly leapt to his feet.

“You people are rich enough to live without that money!”
CRASH—!
Soldiers guarding the door heard the shattering of glass and rushed in.

“Princess!”
Stephan had grabbed Cynthia and was holding a broken piece of glass to her throat.
“Bring the Count and my father here! I want to confirm with my own eyes if they’re alive!”

With the glass threatening her neck, no one dared to move hastily.
The commotion drew out the others, including Helene.
'Good thing I brought a man with nothing to lose.'

Now what will you do? You can’t bring the dead back to life.
Helene laughed at Cynthia inwardly.