Killing Your Sweet Breath - Chapter 35

Chapter 18.1

When Winter woke from her deep sleep, she found herself alone in the morning. Again.

Her memories of the previous night ended abruptly, somewhere in the middle.

She remembered reaching her physical limit, gritting her teeth to endure it, unable to bring herself to tell him to stop.

She must have passed out.

Slowly sitting up, she looked around and realized she was in Van’s bedroom. For a moment, the memory of her failed assassination attempt flashed through her mind, and she shook her head to clear it.

When she pulled the bell cord, Sianna appeared instead of Van’s usual maid. It seemed he had given her instructions ahead of time.

“Good morning, Lady Winter. Would you like me to prepare a bath for you?”

“First, prepare me some breakfast. Something light.”

Winter usually didn’t have much of an appetite, but was surprised at how hungry she felt after last night. She thought it wouldn’t hurt to eat something to fill her empty stomach.

She was relieved to notice that she didn’t feel any lingering discomfort, which meant Van must have cleaned her thoroughly again. She figured the bath could wait.

After eating the breakfast Sianna prepared, Winter’s thoughts drifted to Van Helgram.

She imagined him carrying her unconscious body back to his bedroom and gently wiping her down.

Of course, she appreciated his care, but a part of her found his kindness unnecessary.

They weren’t in love—was there any real reason for him to go to such lengths? Unless this was just another way to deceive the emperor’s spies, in which case, she had no complaints.

“What is Van doing now?”

Sianna’s eyes widened slightly. It was the first time Winter had asked directly about him, and she seemed momentarily caught off guard.

However, Sianna quickly regained her calm composure and answered.

“Sheeran mentioned he went to have an audience with the emperor today.”

“Is it about the wedding? Why didn’t he take me with him?”

“Ah, well…”

“Actually, I’ll ask him myself.”

Sianna hesitated for a moment, glancing around before she clenched her fists, as if gathering the courage to speak.

“This isn’t something His Grace told me directly, but he did mention to Sheeran to ‘keep Winter’s visits to the palace to a minimum.’”

Winter processed this, her brow furrowing slightly as if the words had struck the back of her head, but then a small smile curled at the corners of her lips.

“Yes, he truly is unnecessarily considerate.”

After helping Winter finish her meal, Sianna prepared the bath.

As Sianna helped her out of her robe, Winter stared down at her body, still covered in marks from the previous night.

Was he doing this on purpose? It was as if he had staked his claim all over her skin. She smirked to herself.

“But Lady Winter, I know it’s not really my place to say this…”

Sianna began cautiously, and Winter turned to look at her.

“Sianna, we haven’t known each other for long, but if there’s anyone who can give me advice right now, it’s you. So, if there’s something you think I should know, please, tell me.”

“You should be cautious around Lady Lillian. She takes after her father. She’s the type of woman who needs to have whatever she wants, and she won’t let her conscience stand in the way of getting it.”

“She certainly seems that way. You’d laugh if you heard what she said to me.”

Winter smiled, recalling Lillian’s absurd behavior. Sianna’s curious gaze showed she was eager to hear more.

“She told me she would become the Lady of Helgram, and I could have Van Helgram for myself.”

As soon as Winter said the words, Sianna slapped a hand over her mouth and turned away, desperately trying to stifle her laughter.

Her shoulders shook, and the occasional snort escaped as she hunched over, failing to hold it in.

“She’s an amusing woman. If she’d at least declared her love for him, I might have felt a little sorry for her.”

The two women continued to laugh, filling the steamy bathroom with their giggles—Winter’s soft chuckles mingling with Sianna’s snorts as she tried, unsuccessfully, to control herself.

“Haah, Lady Winter. So that’s why you were acting so mischievous at the end.”

Sianna had only seen what happened after Van Helgram entered the drawing room.

She knew that Lillian had insulted the late empress, Van had drawn his sword on her, and Winter had responded with, “It’s only proper that she apologizes directly to the person involved.”

But to think something even more entertaining had occurred before that.

“Honestly, it looks like there isn’t a single sane person around Van Helgram. With so many crazy people, I’ll have to be extra careful. Thank you, Sianna.”

“Haah, it’s nothing at all.”

Sianna’s voice still carried traces of amusement.

Though Winter remained wary of what trouble Lillian might cause, she was confident that, if it came down to it, she could handle her.