The count hid his swelling emotions as he covered his eyes. It had only been a light gift, after all. He hadn't expected that she would keep it until the child was born and the flowers crumbled.
If it wasn't for Sylas's imagination, it would have truly been a touching story.
"I heard so many times that my mother was delighted when you gave her camellias."
Whenever the topic of his mother came up, the mention of camellias was inevitable. Thanks to that rumor, Helena had even pulled them all out whenever she saw a camellia.
Seeing the count lost in emotion, Helena couldn't help but lash out.
"Truly impressive. Well, with that kind of will, it's no wonder she dared to seduce you."
"My lady."
The count frowned at her harsh words, but Helena was unperturbed.
"Isn't that so? Did you approach her first?"
"Ahem, why is the story turning out like this?"
"So it was that woman who seduced you first."
"My laday!"
"No, it's true."
"…!?"
At Sylas's words, both of them blinked in surprise. They were talking about seduction and all, yet that brat readily agreed?
"I've heard that your mother's first meeting with your father was when she brought him food."
"That's right. When I returned from my mission, your mother handed me still-warm stew."
" She did. That was her initial attempt at seduction."
Sylas lowered his eyes, as if recalling a distant memory.
"She was a tomboy who had never cooked before, and she said she fell in love with me at first sight. So, she tried to find an excuse to approach me and attempted to cook for the first time."
"Really."
"She cut her hands countless times while chopping meat, adjusting the seasoning, and failing. After all that struggle, she finally completed the stew. When I enjoyed it, she said it felt like she had gained the whole world."
"Was it really like that…?"
Listening to their conversation, Helena blinked. It had clearly started with a vulgar seduction, but somehow it had turned into a story about a young girl's first love. The Count once again became lost in his memories, murmuring.
"I still remember it vividly. When I said it was delicious, her face lit up with a smile. Even with soot all over, she was truly beautiful."
"Oh? She was beautiful?"
A vein throbbed on Helena's forehead. How could he say such things with his wife right next to him? At that moment, a good idea flickered through her mind.
Helena spoke in a calm voice, pretending to be unconcerned.
"Hm, well, she must have been pretty. Did you say your name was Sylas?"
"Yes, my lady."
"If your mother was beautiful, then many men must have been after her. Isn't that right?"
"My lady!"
"Yes, that's correct."
"…!?"
The Count's expression hardened, while a smile appeared on Helena's lips. As expected, the little boy couldn't help himself. He couldn't even distinguish between what needed to be hidden and what could be spoken honestly.
"I see. So, did you get a new father?"
"No. They all got chased away by my mother."
"Chased away?"
"Because she was the daughter of a hunter. Men would underestimate her because she was a woman, only to be beaten with a stick and run away."
Having said that, Sylas once again wore a sad expression.
"Every time, the men would say, 'Do you think that brat's virtue will make that man acknowledge you? He left you behind anyway.'"
"…And then?"
"Mother always replied the same way. She said she didn't care about that at all. Even if she was forgotten, she wouldn't forget. He was the only man in her life."
"Oh, Lyria!"
Unable to hold back his emotions, a single tear fell from the Count's eye. At that sight, Helena's face turned red. While she had been trying to paint her as a promiscuous woman, it had somehow turned into a tale of maintaining her virtue until death.
'It's dangerous to continue like this. '
Helena bit her lip in a sense of crisis. She had certainly participated with the intention of keeping a low profile before entering the family, but instead, she was giving nothing but a good impression as time went on. She needed to find a way to ruin this pleasant atmosphere.
As Helena was furiously racking her brain, her eyes suddenly sparkled. Come to think of it, there was only one flaw in the conversation so far. With a bright smile, Helena looked at Sylas.
"It seems your mother has shared quite a lot with you."
"Yes, she always talked about my father."
"Now I understand your behavior. Isn't it a result of your effort to be a child worthy of your father? Excellent."
At first glance, it sounded like a compliment. However, the underlying meaning was different. The fact that he tried to emulate his noble father implied that he thought he would be recognized as a noble himself. Given the Count's character, it wasn't entirely incorrect, but it only applied to Count Bill.
'Do you even realize how rare it is for an illegitimate child like you to be so lucky?'
In reality, the treatment of illegitimate children was not very good. Cases like Sylas, who was born outside but still recognized as a child, were extremely rare. Even among those officially born as illegitimate within the family, it was common for them to live in silence while being looked down upon by family members.
Some of them lived simply as 'a servant's child' because they were not recognized at all. In fact, some depraved nobles would secretly kill their illegitimate children to hide their scandals.
'This guy is the exception of exceptions.'
The fact that Sylas was treated so well was a miracle that only happened because his father was Count Bill. Sylas should be eternally grateful to him.
But he walked around, confident, as if it was natural that he would become a noble? That alone was enough to be offensive.
'Go on, say it. Tell me you wanted to be a child worthy of your proud father.'
Behind the fan covering her face, Helena's lips curled into a smirk. No matter how good the words were, depending on the situation, they could be twisted into arrogant statements. Even the count, who had been moved just a moment ago, seemed to have noticed her intent, as his expression subtly changed.
However, Sylas shook his head slightly, keeping a calm face.
"No, that's not it. In fact, I intended to sever ties with my father completely."
"What?"
Not only the count but Helena also widened her eyes in surprise. What is he saying?
"My mother always said one thing. She told me that my world and his world were different and that I shouldn't approach recklessly. She said it would only burden him."
"Oh?"
Helena tried to suppress a laugh inside. She thought his mother was a cunning woman, but it seemed she knew her place.