Chapter 260: Meeting Between Helmsleys and Lion's Spearhearts
The fifth son quickly composed himself under Princess Helga's questioning gaze before responding with a practiced calm.
"My dear Princess, your doubts are well within reason," he said with a polite smile. "The truth is that the Helmsley Dukedom has decided to adopt a more neutral stance regarding the kingdom's internal struggles. At the same time, we wish to establish a friendly relationship with the White Star Radiance Sect."
"Fufufu, how interesting," Seralily laughed softly, her eyes lingering on him. "If I am not mistaken, our intelligence suggests that members of the Helmsley Dukedom may have colluded with our enemies and even participated in attacks against our people."
The fifth son was startled internally. He had not expected such a direct accusation. Maintaining his composure, he feigned surprise and waved his hands lightly.
"No, no, nothing of the sort," he replied quickly. "While it is true that the Helmsley clan initially held reservations, especially toward the Black Reaper Corps, we have not crossed any irreversible lines."
Silence settled over the room as he continued to wear a righteous façade, sweat gathering beneath his calm exterior. There was something about Seralily that weighed heavily on him. Whether it was her beauty, her strength, or the unreadable nature of her gaze, the pressure she exerted was unmistakable. Though often overshadowed by Ramiro León's straightforward heroics, Seralily was far from unnoticed. Her reputation was built on results achieved through far subtler methods.
Seralily smiled faintly as her gaze traced over him, causing his heart to pound uncontrollably. In the end, he was still a young man facing overwhelming beauty.
Princess Helga deliberately ignored the exchange as she spoke again, her voice firm.
"Your explanation may sound reasonable, but do not assume that I am ignorant of the Helmsley Dukedom's involvement in the current chaos gripping our kingdom."
She paused, then turned her attention directly to Jerikah.
"And you, ma'am. Even if you were sent here by your family, the White Star Radiance Sect has no place for the unwilling. With that said, you are all free to leave."
The fifth son's eyes widened in alarm.
"W-wait! Please reconsider," he blurted out. "You cannot dismiss us without hearing our proposal. The Helmsley Dukedom is willing to send a young genius to your sect. Marriage to Sir Ramiro is not out of the question, and if not him, then perhaps someone compatible with my sister."
"Hmph," Helga replied coldly. "So your intention is to offer her as a bargaining chip for sect benefits. Or is this simply an attempt to infiltrate and observe our movements?"
The fifth son felt a surge of irritation but restrained himself, acutely aware of Helga's oppressive aura. Though he had recently reached Gold tier 4, her presence as a peak Gold tier 3 left him with little confidence in a direct confrontation. Taking a steady breath, he gestured toward Jerikah.
"No, Princess. It is nothing so crude. Please, let my sister speak for herself."
Helga's tone softened slightly. "Miss Jerikah, since your brother has invoked your name, I would like to hear your thoughts."
Jerikah, who had remained silent until now, reflected quietly. She glanced at her fifth brother, whose eyes pleaded for her to say the right thing. Her gaze then shifted to Seralily, the other elven woman, and the broad shouldered man accompanying them. From there, she looked to Princess Helga and her imperial guard.
Finally, her eyes dropped to the small creature nestled within her robes. She chuckled softly and gently petted its head.
"Big brother Jacob," she thought silently, "I understand what you intended, especially your desire to keep me safe. But after coming here, my thoughts align more closely with first brother's. From now on, I will act on my own terms. First brother, just what exactly are you plotting?"
Jerikah raised her head and met Helga's gaze.
"Princess Helga, with your permission," she began.
Her eyes then shifted to Seralily, determination burning within them.
"Ms. Seralily, with your blessing as well, I wish to become a full representative of the Helmsley Dukedom. I have no intention of being used as a marriage tool, but I am prepared to accept such outcomes if circumstances demand it. For now, I ask to be accepted as an outer sect disciple. I will rise through my own talent."
The room fell silent.
Seralily broke it first, smiling brightly. "Alright. Then it is settled. Welcome, Miss Jerikah. We will begin establishing a new contract with the Helmsley Dukedom."
"Eh? Sera, is this not far too sudden?" Helga protested. "There is still vetting to be done."
"Fufufu, there is no need," Seralily replied confidently. "She has her own convictions, and more importantly, she is very moldable."
"That is precisely why I dislike this," Helga muttered helplessly.
The fifth son stood frozen for several seconds before bursting into delighted laughter.
"Hahaha! Thank you, magnificent Lady Seralily. Truly, if you were not already bound to the Dragon Spear Hero of León, I would have asked for your hand myself. A being so radiant in body and spirit could drive any man to madness."
Jerikah glanced at him faintly with clear disgust while Princess Helga regarded him with a strange, unreadable expression. His four guards exchanged brief smiles with one another before quickly resuming their serious demeanors. The two individuals who had arrived with Seralily wore expressions of disbelief at such shameless words, while Helga's imperial guard maintained an unchanging, stoic face.
Seralily simply smiled sweetly in response. "Such honeyed words. If there is nothing else, let us proceed directly to business."
They soon began drafting a contract. The fifth son of Jabok produced a parchment, explaining that it had been given to him by his eldest brother, Jerome. He admitted that he had not personally reviewed its contents and only followed the instructions and details he had been given.
As Seralily read through the document, she occasionally paused in thought. She subtly questioned the fifth son regarding specific clauses and broader intentions, quickly confirming that he truly did not understand what was written. She reached a similar conclusion after probing Jerikah. The spatial pouch of gifts received equal scrutiny, yielding the same result.
Her gaze eventually drifted to the small essence beast nestled within Jerikah's robes. It peeked out curiously, then froze upon making eye contact with Seralily before hurriedly burrowing back into hiding. The creature was clearly intelligent, and Seralily sensed a faint luminescence of nature energy surrounding it. She set the observation aside for the moment as discussions continued.
Later that night, everyone from the Helmsley clan departed except for Jerikah. She was escorted from the alliance zone into the deeper outer sect region of White Star Radiance. Her destination was a refined treehouse adorned with elegant elven decorations. After some time, Jerikah found herself seated comfortably in a cushioned chair within a quiet room.
Four individuals were present with her, including Princess Helga and Seralily. One of them was Silvia Higgonbon.
Silvia activated her Aka Boshi no Tengan, carefully analyzing everything on and around Jerikah for abnormalities. Her gaze eventually settled on the creature hidden within Jerikah's robes. The instant she perceived it, a vague image of a man surfaced within the Red Star Domain of Fate. The creature let out a small yelp and trembled violently as it pressed itself deeper into hiding.
Jerikah's face paled as she hurriedly bowed. "Please do not harm this creature. It originally belonged to my elder brother, who imbued it with a strong trace of his power. It also serves as a form of protection and a means of secret communication for my wellbeing."
Princess Helga showed little surprise, her gaze remaining sharp as it lingered on Jerikah. Seralily turned to Silvia, who took the opportunity to explain her observations.
"This woman speaks truthfully, at least so far," Silvia said calmly. "I perceived the vague visage of a man through the creature's aura. It is a naturally bound contract beast of considerable depth. I cannot see everything with my current strength, but I am confident it is connected to other beings as well. What an impressive individual your elder brother must be. Could he be the brother who guided you here?" she asked with a faint smirk.
Helga scoffed lightly. "Hmph. I find that difficult to believe. Are you certain it was him?"
Jerikah shook her head quickly, a trace of disgust flickering across her expression. "There is no chance my fifth brother possesses such capabilities. The one you are sensing is my fourth brother, my full blooded brother. He is the one capable of such things. In fact, among the current Helmsley core regime, he has been a supporter of the White Star Radiance Sect for nearly five years. Well, to be fair, he admires most of them."
Seralily's eyes brightened as if several pieces finally fell into place. After a brief pause, she spoke enthusiastically. "Interesting. In that case, we will gladly welcome you directly into the Lion's Spearhearts of White Star Radiance. It is fine if I call you Jerikah, yes? I look forward to working together."
Everyone in the room turned to Seralily with varying expressions. Princess Helga could only sigh, having become all too familiar with her way of doing things.