Killing Your Sweet Breath - Chapter 43

Chapter 22.1

When Winter returned to the estate, an unexpected reception awaited her.

Sheeran was waiting at the front gate, anxiously hopping from foot to foot and urging her to go straight to His Grace to report what had happened. In the drawing room, the ever-composed Duke Van Helgram waited patiently, with Sianna reluctantly occupying a spot on the sofa.

“Sianna, there’s no need to brew fresh tea. His Grace might collapse if he waits any longer,”

Winter teased, pressing Sianna back into her seat as she attempted to rise. Winter then took a seat on the sofa next to Sheeran.

Though she had insisted that new tea wasn’t necessary, Winter suddenly realized how parched her throat had become now that the tension had eased.

She reached for the cold tea left in Sianna’s cup and took a sip, moistening her throat before beginning.

“Van, do you remember what you said before? That nothing would happen even if we held the wedding at the temple?”

“I do,”

Van Helgram replied, his tone unusually clipped and lacking his usual composure.

Winter felt a flicker of satisfaction at his reaction, and she continued with the same cryptic, lazy smile he so often wore.

“Well, you’ll have to take responsibility for that statement. I’ve already told the emperor we would take the trial at the temple.”

“What?”

“Lady Winter!”

Sheeran and Sianna shouted at the same time. As their startled voices filled the room, Winter turned her gaze toward Van.

This is fine, right? was the unspoken question in her eyes.

Luckily, Van Helgram didn’t look worried. Instead, a grin spread across his face as he slid a hand over his mouth, suppressing a laugh.

“Winter, you really are bold and brilliant.”

“It’s your turn now. Shouldn’t you let me in on the plan?”

This time, Sheeran and Sianna turned their attention to Van.

Judging by their reactions to Winter’s words, it was clear that neither of them knew what the plan was, despite being his closest confidants.

Which only made them more intrigued.

If they had been plotting a way to deceive God, surely Sheeran—who carried out most of Van’s orders—would be aware of it.

“Perhaps it’s best if the two of you step out for now.”

But before Van could respond, he addressed them both as they still eyed him with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

“Absolutely not!”

Sheeran objected, shaking his head as if his life depended on hearing the answer. But Sianna took him by the arm and dragged him out of the drawing room.

As Sianna led him away, she cast a desperate glance back at Winter, her eyes clearly pleading, “Please, fill me in later…”

Once they were alone, Winter turned back to Van.

“Now, tell me,” she repeated, needing to know what this secret plan was.

“I’ll explain everything after the ceremony—once you come with me to Helgram territory.”

But his response left her feeling utterly deflated. She had gone to the emperor alone, declaring their willingness to undergo the trial, only to find out Van wasn’t even willing to share his plan with her?

“This is a matter of life or death for me. Is this secret so great that you’d keep it even from me?”

“It’s not that.”

He slowly rose from his seat and moved toward her. For a moment, Winter thought he was about to leave and stood up to follow him. But instead, he gently took her hand, bringing it to his lips.

“It’s just safer to discuss it once we’re married. Trust me.”

Their eyes met, and his gaze was calm, like a lake at dawn—full of secrets, yet completely still.

“Once the wedding is over, Winter, I’ll tell you everything. My secret… and the secret of the Helgram family.”

What choice did she have when he spoke to her like that?

Winter gave him a quiet nod.

Normally, she wouldn’t tolerate being kept in the dark like this, but for some reason, looking into Van’s eyes made her agree with his words.

She knew it was crazy to think she could trust this man, and yet, she did.

* * *

As Van walked back to his office, he noticed a large figure waiting for him in the distance.

Among Helgram’s knights, only one had such an imposing build: Ian Gunters, that irritating bastard.

Though Winter had remained silent about him, Van had already deduced that Ian was at the center of the recent series of events. After all, who else could have started the rumors about Winter?

Besides, the ring reacted when Ian went to meet her. It showed that Winter’s heart was beating more erratically than usual.

If only he could decipher all the meanings behind that irregular pulse, but unfortunately, Helgram’s ring wasn’t capable of providing that level of detail.

All it could tell him was that Winter had been in her room, feeling extremely confused.

“I’ve been waiting to speak with you. Could you spare a moment?”

Van smirked, taking in Ian’s disheveled appearance. Without a word, he opened the door to his office and motioned for Ian to follow him inside with a tilt of his chin.