Killing Your Sweet Breath - Chapter 31
Chapter 16.1
First, Van mentioned wanting to hold the wedding in the temple, and now this woman was telling her she’d become the lady of House Helgram and that Winter could have Van Helgram.
Winter could only stare at her blankly.
Lillian wore an expression of utmost kindness, completely oblivious to Winter’s thoughts.
It was as if she believed she was doing Winter a great favor.
From Lillian’s perspective, it was only natural to treat Winter this way. After all, she held no influence in the capital and was nothing without the title of Van Helgram’s woman.
“Even if you are Van Helgram’s woman, it wouldn’t be very difficult for an Antherden to discreetly get rid of someone like you. However, I’ve grown fond of you.”
Winter thought this was nothing short of ridiculous. Who does she think she is? She thinks she can “discreetly” get rid of me?
But since she couldn’t outright laugh in her face, Winter carefully composed her expression and repeated,
“I’m sorry, I’m not sure I quite understand what you’re saying…”
“Right, I suppose you’re not used to subtlety, so I’ll be blunt.”
Winter made sure to gulp loudly and noticeably.
If she were truly a country girl, being confronted by the daughter of House Antherden would have been nothing short of intimidating.
“I intend to marry Duke Van Helgram—or, to be more precise, I plan on becoming empress. You have no idea the torment that position brings, but an innocent girl like you wouldn’t last with your sanity intact.”
Lillian said slowly, as if explaining something to a child.
She spoke much more openly now and seemed sincere when she said she was fond of Winter, speaking in a calm tone that almost felt kind.
“So, I shall become empress. You can meet with the duke in any manner you please. As long as I become empress, his affairs are of no concern to me.”
It was clear why her family held such a prestigious position among the emperor’s opposition—they didn’t achieve it by chance.
Winter was shocked by Lillian’s extreme thirst for power.
“If you’re hesitant because you don’t want to give up Helgram’s wealth, I can offer you compensation of equal value. Doesn’t that sound like a fair deal to you?”
“But, Lady Lillian—”
“Simply put, you can take all the benefits and leave the burdensome matters to me. If you want, I’ll even put it in writing. I swear on the Antherden name.”
Lillian spewed out words without bothering to hear Winter’s point of view.
If Winter were a true naïve country girl, this would have been a tempting offer, especially since becoming empress was a daunting prospect after the death of Van’s mother, the former empress.
But Winter’s situation was different.
She had no desire to become the empress, but she did have a much more important goal.
Revenge against the emperor. She would never break the contract that would allow her to achieve that.
Of course, if Lillian and Van married, the Antherdens, being opposers of the emperor, would have more influence in overthrowing him. But that would be like waiting for the enemy’s corpse to float down the river.
What Winter wanted was to push the enemy into the river herself.
“My feelings aside, I’m sure His Grace wouldn’t agree to this either.”
Winter pointed out, wearing a cautious expression. She knew full well that her opinion would fall on deaf ears with a woman like Lillian.
“That’s precisely why I came to you. Let’s persuade him together. If you agree, he will eventually come to accept it as well.”
“But Lady Lillian, you don’t love His Grace either, do you? Marriage is—”
At the mention of the word “love,” Lillian held up her hand, silencing her. Then, with a cynical smile, she gazed at Winter intently.
What on earth could possibly come out of her mouth next?
After listening to so much bullshit, Winter almost found herself curious to hear what would come next.
“Do you believe in a man’s love, Lady Winter?”
“I believe in His Grace.”
“How naïve of you, Lady Winter. A man’s love is like a fire. It constantly requires fuel to keep it burning, and that fuel is fresh firewood. Once the wood that kindled the flame burns out, men start searching for new firewood.”
“…”
“Take my father, for example… Ah, there’s a good example that’s closer to home for you.”
“What…?”
How could she possibly know anything about Winter?
Sheeran had carefully fabricated Winter’s family background to appear very respectable.
Her supposed adoptive parents, the Frosts, were an ordinary couple who had spent their lives devoted to each other.
So what was Lillian referring to when she said there was a good example close to home?
Without the slightest hesitation, Lillian continued, a smile on her lips.
“There was once a marriage famous for being the greatest love of the century. Lockheed Niello and Aethernin Helgram.”
“My goodness…!”
Winter let out a soft gasp before she could stop herself.
How could she dare to speak of their marriage in the Helgram estate?
“If the empire’s greatest love story ended in such a manner, what can you expect from other men? To die alone in loneliness—”
“Enough!”
Winter shot to her feet.
Regardless of how Lillian might look down on her, this was still the Helgram estate.
There’s a time and place for everything, especially words. Even though they were alone in the drawing room, Lillian had crossed the line.
Even a real country girl wouldn’t have stayed silent, and even if she were expected to, Winter certainly couldn’t, wouldn’t.
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