TISND Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Helena, standing before him, looked visibly flustered.
Just as he hadn’t expected her to attend this event, it seemed she hadn’t expected him to be there either. Well, if not for the reporters, Caligo wouldn’t have attended this event in the first place.

Seeing Helena up close, even closer than during the Empress’s birthday celebration, he realized she looked even more haggard than he had imagined. He could finally see it—the makeup that concealed her uncomfortable movements and ill health.

“What brings you here…?”

It was Helena who spoke first, cautiously asking the question while her eyes darted around nervously. He didn’t take his eyes off her as he offered a brief reply.

“I had to meet with some reporters.”

“Ah.”

Helena’s lips parted slightly. Her already large eyes widened even more. She murmured to herself as if realizing something, then nodded slightly. “I see.” Her whisper-like response was followed by her averting her gaze from him.

Her plan to leave with only a short greeting was unfortunately thwarted. Just then, a celebratory performance began at the charity event. When the violin music started, she had no choice but to sit back down to avoid interrupting the performance.

Caligo also took a seat next to her.

Caligo gazed at her as she focused solely on the violin performance, not sparing him a glance. He couldn’t understand how such large features fit on that small face. And how that delicate face had contorted in response to his words.

As the violin’s piercing melody played, someone nearby blinked back tears. He couldn’t tell if the cold ache in his chest was due to the violin’s melody or the guilt he felt toward her.

Naturally, a thought began to form. Would he ever truly be able to escape this woman?

Though he had once been preoccupied with pushing her away, at some point, he found himself caring about how she must have felt. About his words, his actions. About how her face had twisted and her eyes had glistened with unshed tears.

To her, he might have been like the violin string stretched to its breaking point—perhaps his presence cut her to pieces, leaving her heart in shards.

From their first meeting to this very moment, Caligo had always tried to avoid her. He had tried to create physical distance and had even attempted to sever his feelings on his own. But she lingered in his mind like a ghost.

No, perhaps he was the one who had become a ghost.

His body had already crumbled away, his spirit denying the reality of his own death, wishing to move on yet remaining tied to her. A ghost unwilling to leave, haunting her no matter where she went.

When he realized this, the emotions he had been struggling to suppress came rushing in.

Had he ever wanted anything this much in his entire life?

Clenching his fists, Caligo took a deep breath, as if to steady his now slightly ragged breathing.

At that exact moment, the violin performance concluded, and Helena stood to join the applause. Her expression brightened.

Amidst the thunderous applause, she smiled warmly at the performer. She then moved to sit back down but hesitated.

Instinctively, Caligo reached out and grabbed her hand.

“I…”

Helena, who had been startled by his touch, immediately pulled her hand away, her face stiffening.

“It’s alright. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Her whisper resembled a sigh. Her withdrawing hand clearly conveyed rejection.

Though her tense lips trembled ever so slightly, she forced a smile.

She turned away from him, her gaze as cold as ice.

—

A single chance.

Helena knew this all too well.

Merely raising suspicions would only give her father time to destroy the evidence. That’s why Caligo’s plan—to reveal the aristocrats’ vile deeds to the public all at once through the press and witnesses—was the most effective approach.

Salizar, who indulged in both drink and debauchery, had welcomed her suggestion to host a party without a hint of suspicion.

After all, hosting a party required a guest list. Salizar had even handed her the list without hesitation.

Helena transcribed the names of all the nobles on that list into a new ledger, carefully safeguarding it.

Rather than handing the list over to Caligo immediately, she planned to present it as evidence when the scandal erupted and trials ensued.

This party must go on.

This time, the Bacchus party had to happen. For this reason, Helena wanted to avoid drawing any suspicion from the count or Viscount Forzi. If the party turned into a disaster, her father would undoubtedly attempt to destroy the evidence, and the missing people might end up in even greater danger.

And “Melissa York” was the perfect person for Helena’s smokescreen strategy.

Melissa had already established a hostile relationship with her during the Empress’s birthday celebration, right in front of everyone. She was someone who wouldn’t seem out of place digging into the Eskel family’s secrets.

Moreover, the York family was already entangled with the Eskel family. Helena recalled the red hair she had seen the last time she visited Bacchus. Melissa might not have noticed it, but Helena certainly had.

“Nice to see you again, Helena.”

But the biggest reason was that this woman had deeply hurt Jeremy and Joshua. In fact, that was why Helena decided to use her as a diversion. She could never forgive Melissa for not realizing how precious the children entrusted to her were, and for wounding them with her harsh words.

Helena firmly believed that anyone who harmed a child didn’t deserve to be considered human.

“Hello, Lady York.”

That said, Helena had no elaborate scheme in mind when she met Melissa.

What she did was surprisingly straightforward.

She simply did nothing.

“How have you been lately, Helena? You seem to be showing up at social events more often… Or am I mistaken? It must be lonely, not knowing anyone.”

“There are kind people who treat me warmly, so I’m not lonely at all. Thank you for your concern.”

Helena responded with a faint smile.

“How about you, Lady York? How have you been?”

Melissa York was a highly self-aggrandizing person with an enormous ego. When she said she wouldn’t let things go, she wasn’t lying. She was undoubtedly planning to crush “Helena Eskel”.

The problem was that finding a way to destroy “Helena Eskel”, or rather the “Eskel” name itself, wasn’t as easy as merely making a decision. Helena also needed a long time to craft a proper plan. It wasn’t something that could be achieved merely by wishing for it. Even Caligo was handling this matter with caution.

For someone as fiery as Melissa, the walls of the Eskel family were far too high to overcome. Despite her bold claims of making Helena pay, the reality would likely prove much more challenging. Perhaps she was already sensing the barrier in front of her.

But Helena didn’t want Melissa to back down. She wanted her to persist, to keep charging forward.

To keep digging her own grave.

“I hope you’ve been well. I’m also curious if your plans are going smoothly.”

“O-Of course.”

Melissa replied, clearing her throat awkwardly.

“You’d better be on guard. I told you, didn’t I? I’m not just—”

“Not just an ordinary person?”

“Yes.”

“I know. That’s why I’m looking forward to it.”

Helena said.

“I’d really like to see you prove it.”

“…”

“That you’re not just ordinary, Lady York.”

That was the end of their conversation.

Helena left gracefully, leaving behind Melissa, whose face alternated between red and pale. She then called for Jane, who was supporting her.

“Jane.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“From now on, spread the information I’m about to share with the information guilds that Melissa is in contact with.”

Ah, right. Having just thought of a good idea, Helena added,

“Make sure to sell it. Tell them it’s a very valuable piece of information.”

“Do we really need to charge them?”

“The higher the price, the less likely Melissa York will let it slip through her fingers.”

Helena replied with a deeply serious expression.

“And we might as well make some money while we’re at it, Jane.”

“Keep the money. Buy yourself lots of delicious things,” Helena said to Jane with a playful giggle.

With a light heart, she was about to leave the banquet hall when she ran into Caligo.

She hadn’t expected to see him here.

Honestly, being alone with Caligo didn’t make her heart flutter like it used to.

Instead, it felt as if she were walking on thorns—her insides prickled, and all she felt was discomfort.

She just wanted to focus on her own affairs without any lingering feelings for him.

After all, there wasn’t much time left in her life.

However, she noticed that Caligo’s behavior had changed slightly compared to before. He seemed more cautious.

After the violin performance ended, as she still appeared unsteady on her feet, Caligo supported her once more.

His grip on her waist was firm. It was helpful for maintaining her balance, but it made her heart uneasy.

“I’m fine, Your Excellency. Jane is right over there.”

“Stop resisting and just stay still.”

“…But I don’t want to inconvenience you.”

“It’s not an inconvenience.”

Why had he suddenly changed toward her?
…Not that it mattered. It was already too late.

With that thought, Helena naturally began looking for a chance to leave the banquet hall.

“…Thank you.”

“Why did you come here with your health in such a state?”

“I had someone to meet. I know it may sound suspicious…”

Her response came with a bitter smile, and Caligo’s expression grew subtle.

Then he replied,

“Not necessarily.”

Helena sensed something odd in his answer.

His attitude had shifted—from being quick to doubt her, quick to demand explanations, and quick to accuse her of lying—to this newfound patience.

And it had happened all at once.

For the first time, Helena, who had always tried to avoid his gaze, looked up at him and spoke.

“You’ve learned something about me, haven’t you?”

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