Killing Your Sweet Breath - Chapter 7

Chapter 4.1

However, she couldn’t declare her commitment to join him right here and now.

Revenge against the emperor… was it even possible? He was the one looking down on everyone from the pinnacle of the empire.

“It’d be impossible for me to give you an answer right now.”

In her mind, she had already killed the emperor a hundred times over, but she never dared to think she could actually do it.

Talking about revenge felt absurd enough, but to join forces with the emperor’s son?

The sweeter the bait, the crueler the trap when ensnared. She needed time to calmly think it through.

“Just think about it, Winter.”

Van released Winter’s hands but continued to hover over her.

“With your abilities, you couldn’t even get close to the imperial palace, let alone exact revenge. But with my help, you can stab him through his heart with your own hands.”

Winter chewed on her lower lip.

“Doesn’t the mere thought of it make you happy?”

How could it not?

Just imagining killing the emperor made her blood boil. The demon who destroyed innocent Ruhen, and her parents who had been loyal their entire lives.

And yet, the perfect sun of Niello had made it impossible for her to even dream of revenge.

What would it feel like if her blade were to touch him?

If the blood that spewed from his body drenched her, would she finally be able to genuinely smile?

“This must be sudden for you. Take all the time you need to think it over. Stay, at least until your body recovers.”

Chu, Van kissed Winter’s cheek. The unexpectedness of it made her snap back into reality.

She considered slapping his arrogant, insolent face, but Van had already brushed himself off and moved away from the bed.

“There’s someone I’d like to show you. I think you’ll be delighted to meet them.”

“Hmph, don’t bother with your antics.”

Her one remaining blood relative, her only younger sibling, had barely survived. Abandoning the family’s last name and relying on past connections, she now eked out a living disguised as a maid.

Aside from that child, the only person she and Van both knew was the broker who had connected them. She found no joy in meeting with that incompetent alchemist.

“Stay alive, my Winter.”

Van turned his back, a confident smile on his face. The door opened, and then he was gone.

My Winter. His last words freshly echoed in her ears.

* * *

In the end, Winter decided to stay for a while, as Van had suggested.

At first, she thought it would be better to think outside his territory.

She didn’t know who Van would be bringing, but considering it might cloud her judgment, she thought it wiser to make a calm decision alone, away from any distractions, and then return to the estate.

But as soon as she got out of bed, the pain in her feet shot up to her head, and she changed her mind.

She sat back down, cursing that shitty alchemist, that worthless poison, and Van, that damned bastard. She muttered all of it over and over again.

If she tried to escape while in pain, she would be caught before even making it over the wall.

Thus, she stayed in the room for a few days. Although it was clearly Van’s room originally, he seemed intent on giving it to her, as he hadn’t shown his face since.

“I’m coming in.”

Sianna, the head maid of the Helgram estate, was the only one she saw frequently entering the room. She brought her meals, medicine, and tended to her needs.

The estate was suspicious from top to bottom, but what she found most strange was that the head maid was unusually young.

“You’ve finished your meal.”

She handed Winter the medicine, which she accepted. The bitter and sticky liquid slid down her throat, feeling unpleasant.

“Could you mix in more painkillers with the medicine? Everything else is fine, but the pain is just too much.”

Winter requested, to which Sianna immediately explained,

“I was instructed to leave it out in case you might try to escape once the pain subsided, so I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

…Shouldn’t she have at least tried to save her employer’s dignity? Winter couldn’t help but chuckle softly in disbelief.

“If you could please tell your master that I won’t be trying to escape, I would greatly appreciate it.”

Clink, Winter placed the medicine vial on the tray. Sianna nodded slightly and simply replied, “Yes, my lady,” with the same blank expression.

During those few boring days, Winter slowly mulled over Van’s words.

The sweet temptation of revenge. She couldn’t decide if it was a grail filled with glory or a poisoned chalice that would bring destruction.

If only Van hadn’t given her the condition of marriage, this would’ve been much easier. If he had simply hired her with money, she might have already leaned toward saying yes.

But marriage?

How ridiculous was it that their bond for killing his father would be solidified through marriage? And what would happen after they achieved their goal?

Would they live happily ever after as husband and wife, side by side, their hands stained with blood as they buried his father’s body in front of the imperial palace, pretending nothing happened?

“You seem to be in deep thought.”

That unforgettable voice had Winter’s head turning. Van Helgram had entered the room without her noticing, smiling as his eyes roved over her.

“I understand that you want to seek revenge together. But why must we get married?”

Van’s head tilted slightly. The light streaming in through the window made his golden eyes sparkle brilliantly. The color was so beautiful, it was hard to believe these were the eyes of someone harboring thoughts of revenge.