TISND Chapter 127

Chapter 127

Helena immediately brought Frina to a doctor. While the doctor examined her, she sent for Bahen. Before Bahen even arrived, the doctor had already given his opinion. Although Frina did not have an infectious disease, her body had become extremely weak over a long period. Moreover, due to the mental trauma she had suffered while imprisoned, her consciousness was not entirely clear.

“Frina!”

A little while later, Bahen arrived. He clutched Frina and sobbed.

“It’s all my fault.”

He held his wife tightly, muttering over and over.

Families who had vanished in an instant because of debt collectors. Even when the victims managed to gather enough money to repay their debts, there was no trace of their loved ones. Since human trafficking was illegal in the Empire, the perpetrators had no intention of returning the missing even if they were paid.

As a fellow human being, Helena felt a deep sense of guilt and anger.

What must I do to atone for this sin?

She had found Frina far too easily. And only because she bore the name Eskel.

If only I had come sooner. Perhaps Frina might have been in a bit better condition.

After Frina took her medicine and fell asleep, Bahen approached Helena with a more composed expression. Before he could say anything, Helena apologized first.

“I’m sorry, Bahen. I should have found Frina sooner.”

“No, my lady. No…”

He wiped his tear-streaked face and spoke.

“Just finding Frina is more than enough. Thank you.”

“Bahen.”

“Yes?”

“There are still people we haven’t saved.”

When Helena spoke, Bahen’s face hardened. She had already tipped off Caligo and had done more than enough by rescuing Frina. While he understood her desire to help the remaining captives, he worried she might act recklessly.

“But I know it’s arrogant to think I can rescue them all on my own. Do you know how Caligo plans to proceed?”

“Ha, my lady, truly…”

Was my worry unfounded?

This is why I can never resent her.

Even knowing she shared the Eskel bloodline.

Bahen let out a hollow laugh and muttered.

“He’s moving carefully. He’s probably waiting for the right moment to strike all at once. He’s gathering victims, targeting newspaper reporters.”

“He plans to use public opinion.”

“Exactly. This case is too big to handle with just law enforcement.”

It was an effective strategy. Helena immediately agreed, nodding her head.

“In that case, we need to host a party.”

“…What?”

“If he’s looking for an opportunity to strike all at once, there’s no better chance than a party. It’s the best way to gather people in one place.”

People needed to see the nobles enjoying a party in that very building built upon the misery of the missing. Simply using a list or conducting a raid wouldn’t be enough to catch all the nobles tied to Bacchus. In this situation, catching them in the act was the most effective approach.

“My lady, this time it will truly be dangerous.”

Bahen warned her.

“When this case breaks, it won’t just be a simple investigation. They’ll dig deep. There’s no guarantee you’ll come out of it unscathed.”

“…”

“You’ve already done your part. As Forget-Me-Not, you acted as a whistleblower and saved Frina. Your health isn’t great—there’s no need to get yourself further entangled.”

And more.

Bahen continued.

“It’s not just public opinion that’s dangerous. You’ll be in danger too. If Caligo is moving so openly, the Count will find it suspicious. He’ll dig until he finds out who’s investigating the Eskel family.”

“You know the Count’s nature, right? He might try to kill you.”

Bahen earnestly hoped Helena would change her mind as soon as possible.

She was a small and fragile woman.

The thought of sending such a woman into a battlefield soon to be drenched in blood weighed heavily on him.

“It’s alright, Bahen.”

But Helena remained indifferent.

She wasn’t as fragile as Bahen believed.

In truth, her courage overflowed to the point of recklessness.

Not to mention, she had a knack for clever schemes.

“I happen to know the perfect person to shift the danger onto instead of me.”

She murmured, recalling a head of red hair.

“H-Huh? Who?”

“There is someone. Though calling him a person is a bit generous—he’s more like a beast.”

Bahen blinked, his mouth opening and closing like a fish, utterly stunned by her unexpected response.

Recently, the crown prince’s greatest interest lay with Forget-Me-Not.
Who was that person who risked their life? Using its information as a foundation, the crown prince and Caligo were moving quietly. At the same time, they had sent people to uncover the true identity of Forget-Me-Not.

“The person who received the letter in the Menhelon district said Forget-Me-Not was a sturdy man,” Raul said.

Both Raul and Caligo assumed that Forget-Me-Not was a man. However, they had not yet identified his true identity. They only speculated that he was a close associate of the Count.

“Aren’t you curious? What kind of person might have sent this letter?”

Once everything is over, it would be wise to grant them a title. There’s no better way to acknowledge such a contribution. Raul, who had been chatting away cheerfully, glanced at his unresponsive friend.

Caligo, who had previously shown curiosity about Forget-Me-Not’s identity, now remained silent, which puzzled Raul. Caligo seemed to sense his gaze and finally raised his head, giving a delayed response.

“That would be a good idea. Also, I plan to attend the charity event this afternoon. It would be wise to select the journalists who will accompany us and speak with them in advance.”

On the surface, Caligo seemed unchanged. He appeared as composed as ever. Following the Forget-me-not’s tip, he had devised a proper plan and prepared accordingly.

But still… something felt off.

“Until we set a concrete date to execute the plan, it’s best to remain quiet.”

“You recently went to meet a former servant of the Count’s household, didn’t you?” Raul asked.

“The Duchess is quite unwell. But why did you meet with an old servant from the Count’s estate? Did you learn anything there?”

“…No.”

After a brief pause, Caligo replied.

“She was just an old woman.”

“Hmm, understood. You may go.”

Caligo showed his respect to the crown prince and left the palace.

Since discovering that Helena was an illegitimate child, his mind had been a tangled web of emotions. It wasn’t merely guilt over her status as a bastard.

Instead, he wondered: Were his actions toward her ever truly justified?

Because she was an Eskel, he had proposed a contractual marriage, intentionally kept his distance, and believed that if the Eskel family fell, it would be her burden to bear. He had thought that even feeling anything for the daughter of the man who killed his brother was an indulgence he could not afford.

But Caligo hadn’t known everything about her. He hadn’t known she was an illegitimate child or how different her life had been from the loving upbringing he had imagined.

He had never truly tried to learn about Helena Eskel.

He had only been under the illusion that he already knew everything.

“There’s no need to explain yourself to me.”

“Were we ever in a relationship where apologies were needed?”

Words he had once spoken so casually now returned as arrows, piercing him.

When she had tried to explain that her relationship with the doctor wasn’t what he thought, Caligo had coldly told her there was no need. Since then, Helena had truly offered no explanations, no words to him at all. Over time, even the occasional glances she had once cast his way had vanished.

“Sometimes, when I face you, it feels like I’m speaking to a corpse, Helena.”

“…”

“Why do you always keep silent in front of me?”

Caligo’s brother, Adrian, had also been an illegitimate child. Caligo had despised those who gossiped about his brother. They had judged Adrian without knowing his gentle nature or making any effort to understand him. They had claimed his reserved demeanor was just because he was a bastard, busying themselves with their arrogant chatter.

But what about now?

Wasn’t he acting just like those he had loathed as a child? Judging someone through the lens of his own prejudice, making assumptions without truly seeing them. Caligo sneered at himself.

“If you lie to me again, I’ll cut off your head with my own hands.”

What had her expression been like when he said those words?

Her face had twisted as if she might break into tears at any moment.

What must she have felt hearing those words in her frail state?

He couldn’t even begin to imagine. And even if he could, there was no taking those words back.

He had never tried to truly understand who she was.

Blinded by his prejudice, he had focused only on sorting out his own emotions. His desperate struggle to sever his feelings had ended up wounding her.

He had never considered how she might feel hearing his words.

“Your Grace, you’re attending the charity event, correct? I’ll bring you a change of clothes.”

“No need. I’ll be leaving shortly anyway.”

Though his mind was filled with regret, Caligo’s body continued its tasks.

After leaving the palace, he attended the charity event in the capital. He conversed with the journalists as planned but then encountered an unexpected person.

“…Your Grace, the Duke.”

It was Helena—the very woman who still haunted his thoughts.

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