Helena's Gift, with... Princess

On a sunny afternoon, Helena held Luo Wei's hand as they made their way to a bench near the school garden.

Helena had returned to her original appearance but was still wearing the school's female uniform. Given how familiar she seemed with Callen University, she really did look like one of their students.

"So... what's this reward you mentioned?" Luo Wei finally asked curiously.

At first, he thought she was joking, but now he realized she actually had something to give him.

"Sit down, brother!" Helena said with a smile.

As Luo Wei sat on the bench, just as he was about to inquire further, Helena covered his eyes.

"Close your eyes first, brother!"

Luo Wei chuckled helplessly and closed his eyes.

"Hold out your hand!"

Luo Wei obediently extended his hand.

A moment later, he felt something light and box-shaped.

The small hand moved away, and Luo Wei saw a pair of nervous yet expectant blue eyes.

"This is..."

He looked down to see a gift box tied with a beautiful ribbon.

Curiously unwrapping it, he found a deep blue checkered cravat lying inside.

He hadn't expected Helena to give him such a gift.

In this era before business ties were invented, these cravats were quite fashionable. It wasn't one of those exaggerated, complex noble styles, but rather something between formal and casual, very suitable for his age. He was impressed by Helena's taste.

Helena lowered her head, "Brother gave me a gift before, although... it's broken now..."

"But they say when you receive a gift, you should give one in return!"

"So Helena wanted to give brother a gift too~"

She watched his expression nervously yet expectantly, "Brother... do you like it?"

"Of course I do!" Luo Wei took out the cravat and held it against his neck, "Brother loves anything that little Helena gives him!"

"That's good..." Helena finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Luo Wei trying it on, she smiled gently and helped him put it on properly.

"Helena didn't know what brother likes... Yesterday, when I first got back my human appearance... I saw an advertisement in a clothing store..."

"They said this is the latest fashion for Saint Callen gentlemen... Though I don't really understand what that means, but it must be good..."

She seemed unfamiliar with how to wear such a cravat, simply wrapping it around Luo Wei's neck and tying it simply.

"There were many ladies buying these cravats for their spouses!" She smiled and winked, "Besides, Helena thought, brother always wears a simple shirt underneath, and the weather is so cold... This will keep the wind out!"

After finishing with the cravat, Helena bounced back a few steps and examined him carefully.

Luo Wei tucked the cravat into his coat and smiled, turning around for her to see, "How is it? Does brother look good wearing it?"

"Yes!" She nodded, her eyes sparkling, "Brother looks good in anything!"

Luo Wei gazed at her.

The afternoon sunlight cascaded down, gently touching Helena's cheeks, her smile pure and clear, her light golden hair seeming to glow.

Her smile made Luo Wei smile too.

Although the scene was incredibly heartwarming, Luo Wei couldn't help but think of a mood-breaking question.

"Wait..."

"Where did you get the money to buy this?"

Luo Wei looked at her curiously, since she'd been hiding outside, she shouldn't have had any money...

"Um..." Helena paused for a moment, "Well, about that..."

"And!" Luo Wei looked her up and down in her school uniform dress, "What's the deal with Tina? How did you become a transfer student in my class? You don't even have an identity, how did you manage to transfer?"

Seeing Helena's obviously evasive gaze, Luo Wei immediately understood something.

He asked helplessly, "Helena, tell me honestly, this appearance you're mimicking, what about the original girl? Where is she?"

Helena nervously replied, "Oh... you mean Tina... She's fine, she's not dead..."

Seeing Luo Wei's increasingly serious expression, Helena nervously explained.

"Don't look at me like that, brother... She really is completely fine..."

"Just..."

"Just locked up in her house..."

Just as Luo Wei was about to say something, she quickly looked up.

"But don't worry, to make up for it, I gave her lots of money, everyone likes money, right... She'll definitely forgive me..."

Luo Wei felt even more helpless. What did she mean by locked up at home... The poor girl's identity had been stolen, and she was probably locked in a basement somewhere.

But the conversation had come full circle.

"Lots of money? Where did you get so much money?" Luo Wei stared at her eyes suspiciously.

Helena giggled, "Yesterday while wandering the streets, I saw a well-dressed gentleman withdrawing money from the bank, he took out lots and lots of money, so I secretly followed him all the way, asked him to hand over the money, and he did~"

Luo Wei's eyes widened.

Wasn't that robbery?

He didn't think the man would have handed over the money so obediently, and as for what actually happened... Luo Wei could imagine.

Helena smiled, sitting on the bench and linking her arm with Luo Wei's, "Don't worry, brother! Helena didn't show her true form~ They can't catch me~"

Luo Wei sighed and leaned back on the bench, feeling a headache coming on...

Although she had been living among humans for so long, he felt she was even less law-abiding than Evelyn...

As they were talking, Luo Wei noticed Helena suddenly take out a small notebook and start writing and drawing in it with a serious expression.

Luo Wei curiously leaned over, wanting to see what she was being so secretive about.

But Helena quickly covered the notebook, not wanting him to see.

"So Helena has secrets now..." Luo Wei said softly.

"Brother!" Helena didn't continue that topic, instead jumping up from the bench excitedly.

"You don't have classes this afternoon, right? Let's go shopping!"

"Sure~" Luo Wei agreed without even thinking.

Even though he did have afternoon classes.

But who cares.

Helena had returned to human form much faster than he'd expected, which meant she had been continuously using those potions, but using too much of that stuff was very painful...

She must have been looking forward to returning to her original form and spending happy times with him, and Luo Wei certainly didn't want to disappoint her.

So, what's skipping class compared to that!

So, during class time, Luo Wei held Helena's hand and took her to the busiest market street in the East District.

The street was crowded with people, colorful flags were flying, the air was filled with the calls of various vendors and shop owners, and the smell of baked goods and sweets permeated the air.

Helena walked excitedly in front, pulling Luo Wei's hand, looking here and there, almost dazzled by everything.

"Brother! Brother, I want to eat this!"

"This looks good too..."

"Brother, look! There's a circus performance over there!"

The smile on Helena's face seemed endless, her eyes bright, as if everything here brought her genuine joy.

Luo Wei shook his head and smiled. She knew Saint Callen much better than he did, so the things on the street weren't really new to her.

The reason she was so happy was probably because this was her first time shopping with her brother.

However, what made Luo Wei curious was whether this commercial street was unusually busy today?

He looked up to see colorful flags hanging outside every shop, crowds of people filling the street, and occasionally a patrol officer in a black coat could be seen.

Even the uncle selling grilled wings in front of them had hung a balloon on his simple stall.

Was today some kind of holiday?

Luo Wei finally couldn't contain his curiosity and asked the uncle in front of him.

"Excuse me, is today a special occasion? Why is the street so lively? Oh, and how much are the grilled wings?"

The old vendor looked up at him, "I heard that the princess who has been away for years has returned. His Majesty was so delighted that he exempted us from taxes for a month. That's why you see everyone setting up their stalls - six pence for grilled wings, ten pence for two."

Luo Wei froze on the spot.

He immediately glanced at Helena, but her attention was still fixed on the circus performance, unaware of the conversation.

So he quickly lowered his voice and whispered:

"Which princess?"

The old vendor gave him a puzzled look, "Which princess could it be? The one who's been away for years recovering from illness and living in seclusion - it must be our Fifth Princess!"

Upon hearing this answer, Luo Wei's heart tightened.

"Ophelia?"

"Shh—shh!" The old vendor hastily lowered his voice, "Young man, how dare you speak Her Highness's name so casually?"

But at this moment, Luo Wei was too preoccupied to care about such formalities.

Looking at the bustling street with its fluttering banners, his previously cheerful mood suddenly turned to inexplicable anxiety.

This was going to be trouble.