The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

The entire family was in utter disbelief! NôvelDrama.Org is the owner.

Could it be that Helen and Lucian were once partners in tomb raiding?

Elara couldn't wrap her head around the image of Helen sneaking around in ancient tombs—it just seemed so outlandish.

Horatio shrugged nonchalantly. “My mentor used to say that Helen was a prodigy, quick to learn but too ambitious for her own good. Barely had she learned the ropes when she wanted to hit the big time, aiming for none other than the tomb of an emperor from antiquity. My mentor said that tomb was laden with traps, not meant to be disturbed.”

Elara's jaw practically hit the floor!

“What kind of traps? Mercury pools or dart shooters?”

“Law enforcement.”

Elara shivered at Horatio's dry wit.

They were torn between marveling at the myriad skills Horatio's mentor must have possessed and being astonished by the past occupations of Helen and Lucian. Though Elara knew the Richardson family had its fair share of unconventional ventures, she never imagined Helen to be Lucian's sidekick!

Horatio added, “Eventually, their paths diverged. Helen figured becoming a celebrity and marrying some rich fool was easier. Her partner wasn’t on board, so they split up.”

The room fell silent.

Smacking his forehead, Horatio looked at Sexton. “That rich fool Helen mentioned… it couldn’t be you, could it? Considering the timelines and all, you fit the bill perfectly. It’s definitely you.”

Sexton was a mix of emotions, his feelings complex and hard to decipher. After a moment, he sighed deeply. “What else did Helen do?”

It seemed that even after a lifetime together, Sexton was just now realizing how little he knew about his wife! It was as if, for half their lives, he and Helen had been drifting apart.

“Anything else? I’m not too sure. She came looking for me on the mountain once after her daughter- in-law left, but I was in deep meditation and didn’t see her. Before that, she had inquired about her former partner.”

Horatio shrugged, seemingly indifferent. “It’s pretty common in our line of work for generations to be cursed. Helen’s partner wanted a child, asked me for a blessing, but I refused. Helen herself didn’t dabble too much in such matters, so it’s more about the shallow ties with her offspring.”

Realizing he was talking in front of Helen’s descendants, Horatio let out a chuckle.

Noella raised an eyebrow. “What about Lucian’s child?”

Horatio shook his head. “After spending a fortune, he got a daughter plagued with health issues and a life full of hardships. Parents, spouses, children—none of them had it easy. It’s all fate, no escaping it. They just have to endure.”

Yawning, Horatio asked, “So, where’s my room?”

Palmer glanced at the emotionally stirred Jacob and Elara before responding, “Follow me.”

Noella and Horatio followed Palmer as he led the way upstairs.

On the ascent, Noella inquired, “Is there a way to break the curse?”

Horatio gave her a look. “I thought you said you wouldn’t meddle? Seems like you couldn’t help yourself.”

“It’s not meddling.”

“It’s all in fate. Whether she can turn misfortune into fortune is up to her, not you. You’re not the judge of life and death. You’ve done what you could; without you, her own mind would have been her downfall. Do you think others could operate on her like you?”

Before entering his room, Horatio turned to Noella with a solemn expression. “Noella, as a longtime friend, let me offer some advice. Everyone has their own destiny. You’ve already taken on enough, always worrying about others. That’s not the path to enlightenment. You should focus on yourself, not on family or friends. That’s all I’ll say.”

“You invited me here for a ritual for your grandmother, and I’ve agreed to that.” With that, Horatio entered his room and closed the door.

Noella stared at the closed door, lost in thought.

Being friends with a monk who could see through everything had its disadvantages.

In Horatio's presence, she felt as if she had no secrets, as though all her actions were transparent. Fortunately, they were friends, always maintaining a respectful facade.

Palmer noticed Noella standing at the door, her face showing a rare moment of confusion and vulnerability, a look befitting her age, filled with uncertainty and a bit of helplessness.

“Palmer, did I do something wrong?”

In that moment, Palmer’s heart softened. He stepped forward and gently embraced Noella, his voice deep and soothing. “You did everything right. The master just wants you to take better care of yourself.”

Noella had chosen the path of the Polaris Star for her grandmother, enduring grueling training that could have broken her. But for her grandmother’s sake, she persevered. Now, her heart had room for the Schnabel family, the Polaris Star team, and… new concerns.

“Has anyone ever told you, ‘Noella, you’ve worked hard, and you’ve done well’?”

For years, she had walked her path alone. No one close to her had ever uttered those words!

For her grandmother, for Polaris Star, Noella had to be strong. She had to disregard her gender, forget her age, and walk a path filled with thorns!

Palmer gently stroked Noella's hair, his touch tender. “Tired, aren’t you? But you’re truly remarkable, Noella. Every time I learn what you’ve accomplished, I feel so proud. I believe your grandmother sees you as her pride and joy, always!”

Tears welled up in Noella’s eyes, dampening Palmer’s shirt as they embraced.

Feeling the girl’s emotions in his arms, Palmer’s own heart ached with a mix of sorrow and affection.

“From now on, try to rely on me a bit more, okay? When you're feeling down, in need of some praise, or just happen to think of me, come find me. I'll always be by your side. When it comes to friends, you deserve the best of the best, better than Horatio, better than Malvina. Let me be your best friend, okay?"

Noella's voice was somewhat muffled. "Okay, I'll be... your best friend."

...

In the hospital, Lavinia's room was bathed in sunlight. The pristine white sheets were untouched by dust.

Lying in bed, Lavinia slowly opened her eyes, her fingers twitching slightly.

Perhaps the sunlight was a bit too glaring, so she closed her eyes again, listening to the chaotic bustle of medical staff around her before she managed to open them once more.

Lucian was overcome with emotion, tears streaming down his face, "Lavinia! You're awake? How do you feel? Professor Calvin will be here any minute!"

Lavinia shook her head, then nodded, her voice a bit hoarse.

"Dad, I'm fine, don't worry."

Her gaze swept across the room, as if searching for someone.

"Dad, where's Elara?"