The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony ) novel Chapter 306

The entire family was in utter disbelief!

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?”