I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 160

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 160

 

Helios merely stared into empty air at the words of the Noble Lady who was the House Owner.

 

It was impossible to tell where he was looking.

 

However, his characteristically long-lashed eyes created a profound depth regardless of his intentions.

 

It was the kind of gaze that might make whoever was in that direction misunderstand and become a follower, fanatic, or stalker.

 

This wasn’t an exaggeration.

 

It had already happened several times before.

 

Helios maintained his characteristically detached expression.

 

“Is that so.”

 

No, it was closer to complete disinterest.

 

“…I apologize to the House Owner.”

 

Even at his insincere words, the woman who was the House Owner of This Place, Baroness Palia, merely smiled.

 

“Not at all. Since my Husband died and things have been lonely, seeing so many people in the Mansion…”

 

At the same time, Kia flowed out faintly, making her voice audible only to Helios.

 

The veiled Baroness spoke while covering her face with a Fan.

 

“It’s just troublesome and annoying.”

 

“…”

 

“I will definitely collect payment for this, Duke.”

 

Instead of answering, Helios nodded his head halfheartedly.

 

“The results?”

 

“Well…”

 

The Baroness cast her gaze toward one direction.

 

When he heightened his Enhanced Senses, people’s whispers came through as clearly as if they were right beside him.

 

“Did you hear that story? About the Marquis House.”

 

“Oh my, is there anyone who doesn’t know that news? About the Illegitimate Child who entered the Limnades Marquis House?”

 

“Ahem, I heard she’s quite a beauty.”

 

Even one Man’s phlegm-filled cough came through clearly.

 

Good grief, this is the problem with Sensory Synchronization Kia. Tsk. The Baroness clicked her tongue and continued listening.

 

“Honestly, not ‘quite’ according to my Daughter?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“The Marquis is such a beautiful man. The Former Marchioness Limnades doesn’t socialize anymore, but how famous was her beauty?”

 

“The Marquis takes after his mother. I heard that Illegitimate Child resembles the deceased Former Marquis Limnades?”

 

“She’s not coming here today, right? I wonder if she’ll come…”

 

“But I hear her personality is quite eccentric. Did you hear?”

 

“What?”

 

“My word, she ignores everyone’s words except for greetings?”

 

“My goodness… what kind of behavior is that.”

 

“The Marquis Limnades seems to defend her as an introverted Younger Sibling though…”

 

“Maybe they just couldn’t adapt? They were a commoner, after all.”

 

“How rude. Tsk, I suppose one’s origins can’t be helped?”

 

Looking left and right, everyone was talking about the same thing.

 

Their eyes glanced at Helios, but their mouths were busy chattering away.

 

What currently had high society buzzing with interest was the story of the ‘illegitimate child’ who had appeared in the prestigious Marquis Limnades House.

 

The fact that the previous marquis had been deeply devoted to his wife, and that the current marquis was an extremely filial son who respected his predecessor, was well known throughout the Empire.

 

At the same time, the current marquis had a sharp, clean personality, and many said this also resembled the previous marquis.

 

Neither father nor son had the disposition or character to have illegitimate children.

 

Everyone was surprised by the marquis’s decision to bring home an illegitimate child fathered by his predecessor.

 

The upright Marquis Limnades was a man who would have condemned his father if anything, and would never accept such a thing, if only out of consideration for his mother.

 

‘An illegitimate child from a family famous for devotion to wives and righteousness.’

 

How interesting was this?

 

Because of this, rumors spread wildly.

 

Moreover, since that illegitimate child had begun social activities, people were divided into those who had seen them and those who hadn’t, giving those who had seen them something to boast about.

 

The baroness who had been listening up to this point chuckled softly.

 

How pitiful.

 

“What should we do? It seems they only avoid parties that you attend?”

 

Helios remained silent.

 

Then he lowered his head slightly and chuckled.

 

“Does even the house owner think so?”

 

The baroness did not answer.

 

In fact, as the baroness had said, this wasn’t the only party where Helios had come hoping to see the ‘illegitimate child’ who had appeared in the Marquis Limnades House.

 

Five parties.

 

Not once had he encountered that illegitimate child.

 

“You’re right, that’s true.”

 

Helios agreed readily.

 

However, only the baroness standing beside him could sense it.

 

The subtle kia flowing out pressed down on her.

 

Though no one knew it, Baroness Palia was a retainer who had made an agreement with the Alpeion Ducal House and helped with his purposes.

 

“This is the first time you’ve failed to carry out my instructions.”

 

Helios had provided what she needed, and she had sworn loyalty.

 

That loyalty remained unchanged, but… this matter couldn’t be blamed entirely on her.

 

And for good reason.

 

‘How on earth do they know exactly which parties the duke will attend and slip away?’

 

It was the same even when Helios appeared suddenly.

 

About 10 or 15 minutes before Helios would arrive, that illegitimate child would disappear with some plausible excuse, as if by magic.

 

Claiming illness, or excuses about the marquis’s wife collapsing at the mansion.

 

These were reasons that couldn’t be questioned.

 

‘As if they had precognition ability, or could sense the duke’s approach from very far away…’

 

That couldn’t be possible.

 

Who was Helios? None other than Duke Alpeion, who stood tall as one of the Empire’s strongest Kia users.

 

Helios tilted his head.

 

He slightly furrowed his brow. Though his expression had been calm throughout, he was actually in quite a foul mood.

 

“A Young Lady whose face I don’t even know has quite the skill at giving someone the runaround.”

 

Contrary to what people thought, Duke Helios had quite a sharp tongue.

 

His close associates speculated it was because of his unjust imprisonment.

 

He had spent quite some time in Niflheim, after all.

 

Moreover, with his virtuous face like an angel from a mural, yet mysterious eye corners that simultaneously evoked corruption – such blessed features.

 

And with his imprisonment record added to that, prejudices were formed that he must have countless experiences and affairs with women.

 

Despite the fact that he was actually so fastidious that he wasn’t the type to keep women by his side.

 

‘Who would have known such a person would suddenly go ahead with an engagement.’

 

The Baroness thought.

 

Helios looked displeased.

 

He had also been refused a visit to the Marquis Limnades House.

 

Engagement? He had been rejected long ago. It was a merciless rejection, as if they weren’t even worried about future consequences.

 

The feeling of someone climbing on top of his head and mocking him.

 

This feeling was truly unfamiliar after so long.

 

He clenched and unclenched his tingling hand while narrowing his eyes.

 

“Is she avoiding me? What do you think, House Owner?”

 

The Baroness fell into brief contemplation.

 

It was certainly strange that despite wanting to meet the Illegitimate Child, such coincidences always overlapped preventing him from seeing her.

 

On the other hand, what reason would Limnades’ Illegitimate Child have to avoid Duke Alpeion?

 

There was no justification.

 

“In ordinary circumstances, I would think it’s either coincidence or excessive self-consciousness.”

 

“Is that really so.”

 

Though the Baroness said this, even she found it suspicious and had no confidence in explaining the reason.

 

She could only quietly wait for the next order.

 

Her lord stared into empty air for a long while with an inscrutable face, no – with an annoyed expression.

 

‘Oh dear, only an innocent Young Lady will be misunderstood.’

 

Seeing the face of the Young Lady standing in the direction of Helios’s gaze turn red, the Baroness let out a small sigh.

 

Helios soon muttered.

 

“I didn’t want to use drastic methods.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“No, it’s nothing.”

 

If it’s not coincidence that we don’t meet.

 

“Then I’ll just have to make it so we have no choice but to meet.”

 

* * *

 

Baroness Stratton ‘Riley’ was a young lady attending a party for the fourth time as of today.

 

The debutante ball was somehow managed well. However, because her family had quite a bit of money but was of humble origins, she often heard whispered mockery.

 

Due to her naturally not-so-strong personality, she became increasingly withdrawn day by day.

 

How could she calmly ignore the ridicule that appeared on people’s faces?

 

Now, just seeing someone’s smiling face would make her feel frightened in advance.

 

Her close friend, Countess Delyle, said that high society was originally like that, speaking as if she should understand.

 

She had nowhere to speak and was suffering in silence.

 

“My goodness, that Young Lady right there…?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

During this time, the person she saw at the fourth party was none other than.

 

The illegitimate child of Limnades, who was currently at the center of the most talked-about issues. The Young Lady of the Marquis House.

 

‘Did they say she lived as a commoner?’

 

Riley’s family was a case where things went well after her oppa awakened tremendous Kia abilities and achieved great success as a researcher.

 

Previously, although they had territory, it was truly remote countryside, so while she was called ‘the Lord’s daughter,’ she had spent time mingling with commoners without any concern.

 

Therefore, she didn’t particularly feel any contempt, disregard, or disdain toward commoners.

 

However, that woman didn’t look like that at all based on her appearance.

 

Her silver hair was elegantly pinned up, and she was a beauty with a warm impression whose drooping eye corners suited her well.

 

If she smiled, she would look even more endearing, but she didn’t smile at all.

 

Moreover…

 

“I hear you have a good relationship with Marquis Limnades? How is it? Does he treat you well?”

 

“…”

 

“Where is the place the Young Lady used to live? Since it’s the countryside, we probably don’t even know the name? Ah, I’m a business partner who has known your father for a long time.”

 

“…”

 

Surprisingly, she was ignoring all their words.

 

However, because of her neat and modest posture and perfectly upright bearing.

 

Even those being ignored found themselves tilting their heads in confusion.

 

Riley blinked her eyes.

 

‘Such a creative method…!’

 

As soon as Marquis Limnades disappeared to meet the house owner briefly, people rushed to the illegitimate child and questioned her out of curiosity.

 

Even though their elegant speech was filled with mockery and sharp words.

 

There was no answer to ignoring them.

 

So it was possible to handle it that way.

 

But was it okay to act like that?

 

No matter how much it was the Marquis Limnades House, that Young Lady was an illegitimate child.

 

The nobles also knew her origins well.

 

“How rude! Are you ignoring me right now?”

 

Look. Because some of those being ignored were getting angry and confrontational, the level of their words was becoming dangerously close to crossing the line.

 

But the Young Lady remained unmoved.

 

Riley was simply amazed watching the Young Lady who consistently ignored everything.

 

‘Was the Young Lady’s name Lite? I’d like to have a conversation with her once…’

 

The opportunity came at a moment Riley had never even thought of.

 

“L-let go of this…!”

 

“Haha, why are you being like this? I’m a friend who studied together with Young Lady’s Elder Brother, you know?”

 

“I never heard your name from Oppa. Rather, if it’s the name of someone who bullied him, maybe…!”

 

“Oh my, I’ve been found out?”

 

It was the Terrace she had entered for a brief rest. But some Young Master followed her all the way to the Terrace and started clinging to her persistently.

 

Now he was forcibly cornering her toward the end of the Terrace.

 

Riley’s expression turned deathly pale as she was driven into the Blind Spot.

 

‘Kia…!’

 

Riley finally summoned her Kia, but her opponent only sneered mockingly.

 

Then the opponent’s Kia constricted Riley.

 

“Oh dear, what should I do? The Terrace isn’t a space where Kia is prohibited.”

 

His grinning appearance was disgusting.

 

‘He, he must have taken me lightly. If he comes closer, I’ll stomp on him with my Shoe.’

 

It was when Riley was glaring at the Man with a tearful face, making a desperate resolution.

 

“That’s right. It’s probably because of scum like you.”

 

An unfamiliar voice interjected between them.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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