Killing Your Sweet Breath - Chapter 52
Chapter 26.2
Her first assassination had been requested by grieving parents who had lost their daughter.
The target was their deceased daughter’s husband. A knight who had spent half of his life on the battlefield. One night, gripped by the throes of a nightmare, he had mistaken his wife’s touch for an enemy’s and killed her.
According to Cloud, the broker for the job, the clients admitted the man had been a good husband. But even so, they couldn’t forgive him. Through tears, they had pleaded for his death.
Hearing the details only made it worse. Winter had cursed herself silently when she finally faced her target.
Even now, the knight’s words echoed in her mind. His voice had been hauntingly calm, undisturbed by Winter’s presence entirely.
“A man like me should have never dared to love in the first place.”
The man was lost in his own despair, speaking to no one.
“How could you claim to love yet profit from the deaths of others? How dare you! I will humbly accept my death, for her. She trusted a monster like me, only to fall into the hands of the god of death.”
Winter ended his suffering with a clean strike of her blade.
On her way back, his anguished cries replayed over and over in her mind. It was at that moment she decided.
She too, was someone who should never love.
How could she ever think of holding someone with hands stained by so much blood?
‘Know your place, Winter.’
She turned to lie on her side, her thoughts drifting to Van Helgram, who still hadn’t returned to the carriage.
She wouldn’t deny it. Every time she saw him, her heart raced as though it might burst. Those golden eyes made her dizzy, and her ears burned whenever he came near.
Yes, she could admit this wasn’t love. Not yet. But that didn’t stop her from trembling whenever she thought of him.
Still, she would never let it show.
The only things she’d allow herself to love were avenging her parents and the death that would surely follow.
* * *
The journey to Helgram took many moons.
Just when it seemed like they had finally reached their destination, they switched from a carriage to a ship, stretching the journey even further.
As the ship neared the vast island of the Helgram territory, it had to carefully navigate around massive reefs.
It was easy to see why the island had managed to escape the emperor’s rule for so long, despite it being imperial territory. That is, until Van’s mother, Aethernin Helgram, became empress.
“In a place like this, building a private army would be pointless.”
The island was a natural fortress, but its isolation made spreading influence inland just as difficult.
Life inside Helgram, however, was like a world of its own. Lush, tranquil, and more vibrant than even the capital.
Warm, salty breezes swept through the carriage windows, and every field outside brimmed with crops ready for harvest.
The residents of the island gathered to greet Van Helgram, who led the procession. Their faces reflected a calm contentment, and their expressions were warm and welcoming.
“What a beautiful place.”
If life granted her a future, she thought, this might be the perfect place to retire.
“We’ve arrived, madam.”
She had been so absorbed in the exotic scenery that she hadn’t realized they had reached their destination.
A grand mansion with an expansive garden awaited them. Standing at the entrance was a couple, their faces marked with faint lines of age, ready to welcome Winter.
They were Johan Frost and Elizabeth Frost, her adoptive parents.
“Welcome, Lady Winter.”
Elizabeth pulled Winter into a warm embrace, as if she were reuniting with her long-lost daughter. She stiffened at first but soon returned the gesture, resting her cheek lightly against Elizabeth’s.
“I’ll come back for you in four days,” Van Helgram said behind her, his tone steady. “Stay safe until then.”
He turned and climbed onto his horse without another word.
“Let’s go inside,” Elizabeth said gently, guiding Winter forward as she watched him ride off.
The neatly kept garden led to the mansion’s interior. The polished old furniture, the smell of freshly prepared food, and the plush carpet…
All of it stirred memories of Ruhen in Winter’s mind.
“…I heard you had a daughter,” Winter said softly.
She hadn’t even realized what she’d said until Elizabeth paused while leading her to the dining room, but she recovered with a gentle smile.
“Had she grown up, she would be about your age now, Lady Winter.”
“If my mother had lived longer, I think she might have been like you, madam.”
“From what the late empress told me, Lady Aethernin, your mother was a remarkable woman.”
Though their words touched on painful memories, sharing them created an unspoken bond between them.
“First, let us have a meal. Our kitchen staff are quite skilled.”
They walked a little farther before arriving at the dining room. Instead of a table made out of cold marble, a large wooden table stood in the middle of the room, laden with an array of dishes. It looked like more food than three people could possibly eat.
The table was set with new, pristine tableware that stood out against the worn wood. It was clear how much effort they had put into making Winter feel welcome.
Trying to calm the odd flutter of emotion, Winter reached for her fork and knife, and just as she did, Viscount Frost suddenly rose from his seat.
“My dear, is there something you need…?”
Elizabeth asked, but he ignored her question and turned to Winter with a stern expression.
“Beef, pork, chicken, or duck. Which do you prefer?”
“Pardon me…?”
“No matter. Forget I asked.”
Winter faltered, and he took a serving knife from a maid and began piling her oversized plate with various meats until it became a small mountain. Winter sat in stunned silence.
“Uh…”
“You must not have eaten well on your journey here. Jerky, at best,” Johan said gruffly. “You need a proper meal if you’re going to handle important matters. Now, eat up.”
His tone was stern, but the unexpected warmth behind his gesture made her heart ache in a way she couldn’t explain.
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