Chapter 52: Empress Helana (2)

"Mother!!"

"A... Adelia..." Helana's face turned ashen as she quickly pulled away from me, her expression a mixture of fear and guilt.

"What are you doing?!" Adelia's voice was filled with shock and disbelief as she stood frozen at the doorway.

"I... I can explain," Helana stammered, hastily adjusting the strap of her dress that had slipped off her shoulder.

"Explain what? I saw you..." Adelia's eyes darted between her mother and me, her face contorted with confusion and anger.

Helana's face was flushed, her lips still glistening with the remnants of our kiss. There was no hiding the intimacy that had just occurred.

"L... Listen, Adelia, I just needed some support..." Helana attempted to explain, her voice trembling with desperation.

"H... How can you do this? Father is—"

"Don't blame Helana. She hasn't done anything wrong," I interjected firmly, stepping forward to defend her.