TISND Chapter 143

Chapter 143

The newspaper detailed Salizar’s prison break and escape route.

Salizar had complained of severe pain while incarcerated. Since his trial had not yet concluded, he was granted medical attention. However, during the examination, he took the physician hostage and used the opportunity to escape.

Helena knew Salizar well. He was not the type to meticulously plan things out—he was a man who only focused on immediate gains. For someone like him, this level of careful preparation was uncharacteristic. It was clear that he had spent a long time planning in a state of obsessive vengeance.

Even after his escape, he had not gone into hiding. Instead, he had been actively gathering forces.

Unlike the count, who was highly likely to face execution, Salizar might have been able to preserve his life if he had remained imprisoned—though all his assets had already been confiscated. Salizar, a man who valued his life, had abandoned everything to pursue a single goal.

…He must be after me.

He could never forgive the person who had betrayed him and destroyed his family.

A man had broken out of prison and was hunting her down with the sole purpose of killing her.

And yet, Helena was not afraid.

She had accepted death the moment she left the capital.

If she was fated to die, then she would simply consider this as her time coming a little sooner.

However, she was worried about Jane.

She could not allow Jane to be caught up in this danger.

What should she do?

Would it be better to stay hidden? Or should she leave this place immediately? Should she escape the empire altogether?

The decision did not take long.

When they first heard the news of Salizar’s escape, they had decided to remain quietly in the village.

That was Jane’s suggestion.

Since Helena was too weak to travel far, it was best to stay put and observe the situation for now. There was also a chance that Salizar did not yet know she was in Horion. Furthermore, a sudden escape might attract unwanted attention.

“We really need to run now.”

However, when she read the article reporting that Salizar was closing in on Horion, she realized it was truly time to flee.

Staying any longer could endanger the villagers and children.

Salizar had discovered her whereabouts and was heading straight for her.

The estate in Horion had been purchased under a false identity.

Unless someone had suspected her and conducted a private investigation, there should have been no way for her location to be exposed.

But somehow, Salizar had found her.

Still, there was no time to dwell on how it happened.

—

“Jane, you must go to the capital.”

Jane’s expression had darkened ever since she learned that Salizar was approaching Horion.

Helena assumed it was simply due to fear.

“What? Are you saying you’ll leave alone?”

“Yes.”

Helena replied matter-of-factly as she packed her belongings.

Jane’s face turned deathly pale as she let out a frantic cry.

“Where do you think you’re going in your condition?!”

“I don’t know. But you must leave for the capital alone.”

Helena could barely walk without a cane anymore.

How could she possibly escape on her own?

But it was clear she had no intention of changing her mind.

Yet Jane was just as stubborn.

“I can’t let you leave alone! If you want to go, then step over me first!”

Determined, Jane threw herself onto the ground, blocking Helena’s path.

“You told me to step over you.”

Helena looked down at Jane with a blank expression—then, without hesitation, she stepped forward, lightly pressing down on Jane’s hip as she passed by.

Of course, she was too weak for it to feel like anything more than a light touch.

But Jane, who had never expected her to actually do it, widened her eyes in shock.

“Wha—!”

Panicked, she scrambled to her feet and grabbed onto Helena’s waist.

“Let go.”

“No!”

“You told me to step over you, so I did. Why are you stopping me now?”

“I didn’t think you’d actually do it!”

“No! You can’t go alone! I won’t let you!”

Jane sobbed as she clung to her desperately.

“You promised you’d stay by my side forever. So why are you telling me to leave alone?”

“Because this is different from when we left the capital together.”

Helena’s voice was sharp with cold reality.

“Back then, I was the only one walking toward death. But now, if you stay with me, you could die too.”

Tears welled up in Jane’s eyes at her brutal honesty.

“If you stay by my side, you’ll die too. That’s why I’m telling you to leave.”

“But… the reason you’re in danger right now… it’s partly my fault, isn’t it?”

“How is this your fault? Don’t say ridiculous things.”

“It’s not ridiculous!”

Jane cried out with tears streaming down her face.

“The truth is… before we left the capital, I told my family we were going to Horion. I told them myself.”

“…….”

“I couldn’t just leave my worried parents without an answer, so… without thinking, I told them.”

No matter how much she wiped her face, the tears kept falling. Jane hurriedly brushed them away with her sleeve and continued speaking.

“And it was me who suggested we stay in Horion instead of leaving! We should’ve left the moment we heard the news. So this is my fault. It’s not nonsense, is it?”

“You’re still talking nonsense.”

“…What?”

“I’m asking why you think this is your responsibility.”

Helena spoke calmly.

“It was your choice to tell your family where you were going. And I also agreed when you suggested staying. That was my decision, too.”

“…….”

“This isn’t your fault, Jane.”

“…Milady.”

“If you’re really determined to stay with me until the end… then stay focused. We have to survive, no matter what.”

Helena’s resolute words gave Jane both courage and a sense of calm. She hurriedly wiped away her tears.

“But how…?”

“I don’t know. We’ll figure it out as we go.”

—

Helena and Jane moved toward the mountains. In some ways, it was the best option. Even if they relocated to another settlement, there was a high chance they would still be tracked down. And the vast mountain range provided an excellent hiding place.

However, the problem was Helena’s condition—she was physically unfit to traverse the mountains.

Her hands and feet kept losing strength, and relying on a cane to climb was incredibly dangerous. If she had been the Helena of the past, scaling the mountains would have been easy, but her body was now far too weak.

Staying in the mountains for an extended period was too dangerous.

Their original plan had been to cross the mountains and reach a nearby village, but they hadn’t even made it halfway before they were forced to hide.

Since entering the mountains, they had lost all information about Salizar’s movements.

And there was no telling how much longer Helena’s body would hold out.

—

“…M-Milady.”

How many days had passed?

Hiding inside a cave, Jane turned pale as she heard movement outside.

Instinctively, she reached out to wake the sleeping Helena—but then quickly covered her own mouth.

They were deep within the mountains now.

It was possible the noise came from a woodcutter or a hunter.

But her instincts screamed otherwise.

It had to be the people searching for Helena!

To Jane, Helena was not just an employer—she was her savior.

She was also a dear friend.

And that meant one thing: Helena had to survive.

“I’m sorry.”

If Salizar’s men made it to this cave, Helena would never be able to escape.

Jane reached into their belongings and pulled out Helena’s spare cloak.

She draped it over herself, pulling the hood low over her face.

“Please… live.”

With those final words to herself, Jane steeled her resolve—then ran out of the cave.

“There she is! That’s the woman!”

Men scouring the mountains spotted her and shouted.

—

“…Jane?”

Helena woke up some time later.

At first, she assumed Jane had just gone to fetch water or scout the surroundings.

So she waited.

But no matter how long she waited, Jane never returned.

That was when she realized something was wrong.

A cold wind blew through the cave.

The sparse grass outside had been trampled—by more than just one or two people.

“Jane! Jane!”

Frantically searching their belongings, Helena found that a spare cloak was missing.

That was when she understood what Jane had done.

That fool.

Thinking she was helping, Jane had thrown herself into danger.

“…Jane.”

Come back.

Please.

Helena’s desperate plea fell into the wind as a single tear slid down her cheek.

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