Killing Your Sweet Breath - Chapter 58

Chapter 29.2

Winter stood there, just starting at the box. She couldn’t bring herself to hand it off to the servant carrying her luggage. Instead, she held it tightly against her chest.

“Thank you for making my stay so comfortable. I will never forget the kindness you both have shown me. And thank you very much for the gift as well.”

She searched for the right words to express her gratitude, but in the end, all she could manage was a simple thank you.

In just a few days, she had somehow grown attached to them, leaving her with a warm, bittersweet feeling in her heart and a lump in her throat.

Perhaps, without realizing it, she had seen them as a reflection of her deceased parents.

Her stoic father, who always put her first, and her mother, who would smile as she watched her husband and daughters…

If she stared at them any longer, she feared she would break down into tears, so she quickly turned back to Van.

Crying here would be foolish.

Especially considering their relationship had only ever existed on paper.

Winter had been adopted as part of Van’s plan for revenge, and now, she and the Frosts were nothing more than strangers who would never cross paths again.

She had even chosen to change her last name to Helgram after marrying Van, severing any lingering ties she might have had with them.

“I’ll be going now.”

As soon as she uttered her farewell, the servants finished loading her luggage onto the carriage.

It was truly time to leave.

“Winter, take care of yourself.”

There was a faint tremble in Elizabeth’s voice.

Just as Winter had seen her parents in them, perhaps they, too, had seen their lost daughter in her.

She hoped, at least, that these past few days had been as precious to them as they were to her. With that thought, she turned toward the carriage.

But with every step she took, the weight in her chest grew heavier. Just as she scoffed at herself for it—

“Your Grace, if I may, I’d like to borrow her for a moment.”

Johan took Winter by the wrist and gently pulled her aside.

She was startled, but the slight tremor in his grip made it impossible for her to pull away.

They stopped a short distance away, and Johan let out a deep sigh, rubbing his forehead as if struggling to find the right words. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“I’m not putting the horse up for sale.”

“Pardon…?”

“It’s yours.”

Winter blinked, staring at him as if she didn’t understand.

Johan avoided her gaze, something entirely unlike him. His fingers idly traced the long scar on his cheek before he spoke again.

“Come back again.”

“Oh…”

“This has nothing to do with the duke. This is a personal request. Next time, I’d like you to go fishing with me.”

“…”

Her throat tightened, making it hard to speak.

She should have told him that she wasn’t worthy of their kindness, that the generosity they had already spared her was more than enough…

“I’ll say it again. If you ever want a good meal or a place to ride, come visit. It doesn’t matter to us who you are.”

Johan didn’t wait for a response. He simply said what he wanted to say, then turned back toward the mansion’s entrance. As Elizabeth patted his back with a bright smile, Winter’s eyes stung with unshed tears.

Forcing herself to keep her emotions in check, she turned and walked back to the carriage. At last, she said her final goodbyes, then took her seat, clutching Elizabeth’s gift close to her chest.

Through the carriage window, she saw the Frosts waving and the servants bowing in farewell. With the coachman’s call of “Hiya!” the carriage lurched forward, and the Frost mansion slowly faded into the distance.

Winter watched the scene for a long time before finally lowering the box onto her lap.

The velvet rose was the same shade as her red hair. It felt exceptionally soft beneath her fingertips.

When they arrived at Helgram Castle, Winter found herself staring blankly at the box for a while before finally gathering the courage to open it.

Inside was a stunning purple dress, delicately embroidered with lace, along with a small card written in neat, careful handwriting.

May I call you Winter next time?

That single line was all it took to bring tears to her eyes.

* * *

Life at Helgram Castle was surprisingly uneventful.

With the acting lord’s busy schedule, the only major event in the coming days was the Helgram family banquet.

Other than that, there was just the birthday celebration for Keter, the acting lord’s son, Heylia.

Given that this was meant to be their honeymoon, it seemed they were being given time to themselves. But under the circumstances, it was a courtesy that felt completely unnecessary.

She had spent the afternoon alone. Eating lunch by herself, taking a maid with her to explore the castle, and by the time she returned to her room, the sunset was casting its golden glow through the windows.

Taking a seat at the tea table by the window, she watched the Helgram gardens as the sky slowly darkened, the last traces of sunlight disappearing into the night.

Loneliness was nothing new to her. She had lived with it for so long that it no longer bothered her. At least, that’s what she thought. But maybe it was because of Sianna’s quiet warmth. Or because of the Frosts’ gentle kindness. Either way, tonight, it was harder to bear.

A maid entered to light the lamp in her room, but just as she was about to leave, a familiar silhouette appeared in the doorway.

Van Helgram slowly stepped into the room, his expression hidden in the shadows.

‘Oh. Right. I’m married now.’

Of course, it made sense that they would share a bedroom.

But after so much time apart, his presence here felt unfamiliar to her.

“Winter, there’s somewhere I want to take you.”

In the flickering lamplight, she could faintly make out his smile.

Winter rose from her seat and stepped toward him.

Van extended a hand, and Winter placed hers in his.

“I want to show you Helgram’s history.”

Up close, his smile was something she’d never seen before.

So bitter, so utterly full of despair, it almost broke her heart to look at.