TISND Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Seeing Jane again seemed to have brightened Helena’s expression considerably. Though she still had tears in her eyes, Caligo could tell they were from relief rather than sorrow—unlike the grief she had shown back at the Frantor estate.

Because of that, the corners of Caligo’s lips, which had been tightly set as he observed her, finally loosened slightly.

Even after confirming Jane’s safety, Helena kept checking her over again and again. That was when Caligo noticed that Jane’s forearm was slightly damp. It seemed that Helena wouldn’t be able to take her eyes off Jane until she had personally treated the wound.

As he absentmindedly toyed with the bandage Helena had skillfully tied, he heard her murmur, “Oh my, your arm is injured.”

“It’s not that painful,” Jane replied.

“I found your handkerchief along the way, stained with blood. Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“Oh! So you were the one who found it, my lady! I was quite upset about losing it—it was my favorite handkerchief.”

Jane responded cheerfully, seemingly trying to reassure her anxious mistress.

“How can you worry about a handkerchief in this situation?”

“Because I’m truly fine! I’ve already been treated. Really, I’m perfectly okay!”

“You’ve been treated?”

Helena, puzzled, examined Jane’s arm again.

Sure enough, the wound had been completely treated.

“Come to think of it, who treated you?”

Helena was about to ask Caligo if he had helped Jane. It was possible he had come across her on the way and had one of his subordinates treat her.

“Helena!”

Just then, someone rushed into the cabin and pulled Helena into a tight embrace.

The sudden force nearly made her stumble, but the person held her firmly.

For a moment, she thought the strength of the hug didn’t match the small frame pressing against her.

“…Joshua?”

Had she seen wrong?

Helena blinked in confusion, tilting her head.

His voice shouldn’t be echoing in such a remote part of the mountains.

Not to mention, this was the same mountain range where Salizar—the wanted criminal and her own estranged brother—had been lurking.

But she hadn’t been mistaken.

The person in her arms was indeed Joshua.

Overcome with emotion, Joshua held onto her for a long time, even letting out a quiet sniffle.

“Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“…Joshua?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you here?”

It was Jane who answered instead.

“It was Young Master Joshua who saved me.”

It turned out that Joshua had been working separately from Caligo.

Since the mountain range was vast, they had split into groups with the Primrose mercenaries to search different areas.

“Of course, I didn’t rescue her directly! The older mercenaries still say I’m not ready to jump into real combat yet. I had no choice… But! I was the one who treated her wounds!”

Joshua’s eyes sparkled with expectation, clearly hoping for praise.

“Do you remember when you told me about Erque? There were Erque flowers blooming all over the mountains! I hadn’t brought any medicine, so I quickly used the Erque. And guess what? The bleeding stopped almost instantly!”

“No, what I mean is…”

Helena murmured.

Why are you even here?

“Are you saying I shouldn’t be?”

Joshua’s pride seemed wounded as he retorted.

“I kept up with the other mercenaries just fine. I had no trouble taking part in the search mission.”

“In a mountain where a wanted criminal was on the loose?”

She had thought Joshua was more level-headed than Jeremy.

But maybe being blood-related made them just as reckless in their own ways.

“You could have been in danger!” Joshua argued.

“And you’re worried about some wanted criminal? You could have been hurt! I was worried about you!”

“And I was worried about you.”

Helena’s voice was calm.

The knights had already taken Salizar away, but his bloodstains still remained on the cabin floor.

At last, Joshua seemed to understand what she was trying to say as he glanced around the cabin. The dust-covered interior bore clear traces of violence. Moreover, most of those inside were injured. Caligo and Jane had wounds on their arms, and Helena herself was in no better condition.

“…It’s okay. I’m used to this,” Joshua said awkwardly.

But Helena’s expression remained unchanged.

“I don’t want you to get used to this.”

“…”

“Don’t become accustomed to violence. Don’t live a life where this becomes normal.”

“You were the one who almost died, so why are you worrying about me…?”

The boy whispered, his face tinged with both embarrassment and warmth.

Talking to Helena always made him feel this way—like a quiet warmth was spreading in his chest.

“Even so, I don’t regret it.”

“…”

“Because this time, I was able to protect you.”

“…Thank you.”

“Helena.”

“Hm?”

“…Never mind.”

Joshua trailed off mid-sentence.

Caligo had a feeling he knew why.

There were so many things to ask, so many things to say—but it could wait. There would be time for that later.

He had the same thought as Joshua.

But as Helena gently patted Joshua’s head, her face looked like she might burst into tears at any moment.

Even though everything was over, sadness still lingered on her face.

Caligo couldn’t understand it.

Standing aside to give them space, he suddenly met Helena’s gaze.

She blinked as if startled—then quickly turned her head away.

—

Salizar was soon taken directly to the capital.

With a mountain of trials already awaiting him, his attempted escape would only add to his already heavy list of crimes.

Meanwhile, Caligo and Joshua followed Helena back to her home in Horion.

As expected of her taste, it was a modest yet warm place. From the hilltop, the sea stretched out in the distance, and the yard was filled with flowers that she had clearly cultivated herself.

Helena immediately summoned a physician, but they were informed that he was attending to an emergency case and wouldn’t arrive for a few hours.

So, until then, Helena personally tended to Caligo and Jane’s wounds.

She carefully treated Jane’s injuries, slow but diligent, occasionally showing a faint smile as she worked.

Then, it was Caligo’s turn.

The emergency treatment he had received in the mountains seemed to have been effective—the bleeding had stopped, but the wound still needed stitching.

Helena examined his injury in silence.

She was as calm as ever, but for some reason, Caligo felt an unfamiliar sense of anxiety.

There were so many things he needed to say to her.

But where should he start?

It was rare for him to be at a loss for words.

“The wound isn’t infected, and the bleeding has stopped, so it should be fine once I stitch it up. But be careful when you move—you don’t want the wound to reopen.”

“Thank you.”

Helena didn’t reply.

Instead, she quietly packed away the medicines and bandages into a box.

Before she could put everything away, Caligo spoke.

“Your actions will be taken into consideration, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

“That’s right, Helena! His Highness the Crown Prince even said he would grant you a noble title!”

Joshua, who had been patiently waiting while his father was treated, suddenly spoke up with excitement.

“Everyone will hear about what you did! They’ll be so shocked and start seeing you differently. Doesn’t that make you excited? Just imagine how surprised they’ll be!”

“If a title feels like too much, you’ll at least receive a financial reward. You don’t have to worry about your family’s confiscated assets either.”

“No, Father! Helena doesn’t need to worry about money anymore! She has us! You and me—and Jeremy too!”

Helena listened quietly as Caligo and Joshua spoke.

Her expression remained unchanged.

She showed no signs of hesitation or deep thought.

Instead, she brought out tea and milk for them.

She even refused their offer to help, preparing everything herself.

Then, at last, she spoke.

“Thank you for telling me. But please inform His Highness that I must decline both the title and the reward.”

Her composed response was the complete opposite of Joshua’s excited rambling.

She took occasional sips of tea, speaking at a steady pace without faltering.

And because of that, Caligo felt like things were going in an unexpected direction.

Come to think of it, ever since the mountain, Helena had been avoiding meeting his eyes.

“I appreciate that you saved me.”

“And I’m grateful that you came all the way from the capital.”

“But…”

Helena looked at them both and said,

“I’m not going back.”

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