beta
Everyone in the comments: Helene is awful boo get her out of here
Me, utterly adoring her as the best female character I’ve seen written: she’s amazing, actually,
If you reread this story from the beginning, I’m starting to think Helene only hates the fake Lyla because she took the real Lyla’s place and she might be looking for a way to bring the real Lyla back by becoming Emperor.
The fact she snaps at our Lyla calling her “sister” paired with the way she says “how could you do this…what have you done?” makes me think Helene witnessed the original Lyla dying on her and our Lyla mistook that for Helene trying to kill her when actually the real Lyla died of something else (perhaps poisoning?). Also love the detail that Helene swapped out the Dragon’s Heart and that’s why it never worked for Kian in the beginning chapters.
I also think Helene is a lot more complex than people give her credit for. She’s probably thd only OG FL in a story who maintains a consistent presence in the narrative as neither good nor bad.
And yes I’m aware she’s an antagonist but look at the way she shows signs of caring about Lyla (from checking up on her reluctantly to flinching at the revelation Lyla might die to looking sentimentally sad when she attacks Lyla and says she wants her to disappear) and how there are actually hints that Helene and original Lyla were close (see: Helene seeming betrayed by Lyla for an unknown reason, how protag!Lyla even states “why did the original Lyla stay in this awful family anyways?” suggesting she had a reason I.e Helene, and how protag!Lyla’s first words to Helene are “who are you?” alongside how the next thing Helene says to protag!Lyla is “don’t call me your sister”)
and I think we’re going to eventually get a revelation that Helene cared deeply for the original Lyla and is just a twisted person who happens to want her REAL sister back no matter if she has to “disappear” the current Lyla to do so :’)
(Also food for thought: it’s hinted the original Lyla still exists and she’s the one able to eject our protag into the real world. More food for thought: Paris says Lyla and Helene are similar to each other (though he never reveals /how/). You also have to wonder too if “the voice” is future!Lyla. And if so, why is she putting her own self through this hell and why is it necessary she got the emperor and Sienna to take the steps they did to bring her into existence? And why is Helene so prevalent throughout the story despite only starting to take noticeable action in the plot as of the chapter 40 mark? It’s all so curious and I definitely recommend a reread of the story after you catch up to try and catch some details that are definitely being foreshadowed very early on~)
Finally found the raws for this manga and the next few chapters are actually fun, particularly if you like figuring out what’s going on with Helene, Lyla/Fian, or getting some progress on plot points
Spoilers:
-Chapter 71 is start of next arc (going to Atlantis) Seems like it’s Daniel’s (blue dragon guy’s) turn in the story.
-baby Helene shows up next chapter. I am obligated to say she’s very adorable and it sucks what’s happened to her
-we are coming back to the plot point of why Helene bought magic stone bombs. The story has already given away why she would do that (twice, at that)
-Helene is a very tragic and sympathetic person. Won’t spoil what the heck is up with her but let’s just say she’s definitely neither a good person nor a bad person and I love the intrigue of her last words to Lyla :) especially because the implications of them are pretty damn curious
-we’re addressing the Helene scene shown in the first chapter. And leaving open the mystery of how Lyla betrayed her (I-I think but it’s not exactly clear)
-if you hate the Emperor now…oh he gets worse :Dc the Empress too :Dc
-Fian/Lyla is a thing. Frankly I’m ehhh on them but to shippers of them you get your wishes lmao
-empire political situations continue to happen. Lyla almost gets locked up. Helene and Lyla definitely should get to be sisters and their interactions make me awwwww over them (also Helene is such a well written character she’s absolutely the most interesting and nuanced character in this story it’s great omg)