TISND Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Helena rarely regretted her decisions.

First of all, there weren’t many decisions to regret because of her forward-focused personality. Furthermore, this venture was about saving lives. It was the opportunity to save lives that were fading away without even making an attempt.

But for the first time, Helena felt regret over her decision.

“Thank you for accompanying me, but I think I can go alone.”

“You’re saying you’ll go alone to meet the northern merchant lord?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to continue working with Countess Enphirem?”

“You can’t sustain long-term deals with just one merchant lord. Opportunities need to be spread across different merchants.”

Helena was planning to meet with a northern merchant lord alongside Caligo.

“And, since you’ve settled in the North, you’re capable of handling urgent situations and adapting to the environment.”

“Your point isn’t wrong, but I can go alone.”

Still, there was a hesitation about going out with Caligo at this time.

It wasn’t because she feared being rejected by him, feeling sad, or longing for his approval. Although that did affect her slightly, there was a deeper reason.

It was because of the following.

The continuous trailing wasn’t merely out of malice. There was a chance it could be something far more dangerous—someone watching for the opportunity to end her life.

She had two guards with her from Eskel, but they were often lazy and unreliable since arriving in Frantor.

Throughout her life, there had been instances of trailing and even attempts on her life. Her father had poisoned her tea and, on another occasion, someone tried to stab her while she was asleep.

While those incidents had been thwarted before, they always left her facing danger.

Thus, Helena didn’t want to drag Caligo into her problems. He was a man who risked his life on the battlefield. She didn’t want to expose him to even more danger.

The constant following was painful. It had become something she accepted as part of daily life, but it never ceased to be unbearable. The thought that someone could be watching her at any moment made her stomach churn. At night, sleep eluded her as fear took hold.

Helena didn’t want to subject him to such torment.

“Stop being stubborn and come with me.”

“…”

“Your merchant lord may not favor you much, but it’ll make things easier if we go together.”

That was why.

Helena’s expression grew a bit somber, but she still didn’t want to put him in danger—even if her work became harder.

Aiden had mentioned to him earlier about his concerns. Yet, he seemed content with the situation.

“Even if you dislike it, I’ll go, so don’t mention it again.”

“…Alright.”

Helena decided to give up trying to persuade him with his cold dismissal.

The carriage was filled with a heavy silence. She glanced furtively at Caligo sitting across from her.

He still looked exhausted, likely having stayed up late again last night, working through the night. She felt guilty for dragging him into her affairs, knowing how busy he already was.

He must not want to be with me. A small part of her felt tears well up, but she quickly lowered her gaze to avoid him seeing.

The phrase “uphold boundaries and fulfill your duties” must have been more than a mere impulsive comment. It was clear that he had observed her for a long time before saying it.

How angry must he have been, watching her all this time? Maybe he saw her as a clueless girl, just like her father did.

So today, she decided to stay silent. There was no need to provoke him further; it could only result in angering him.

Throughout her life, she had rarely thought of herself as incompetent or useless. She always lived with a sense of resignation, letting go of expectations.

Yet, whenever she stood before Caligo, she felt insignificant.

*

The meeting was a success.

The merchant lord, who had established his base in the North, showed unexpected friendliness towards Helena. Apparently, he had heard about her clothing business.

In fact, her business had noticeably reduced the number of dead workers. It was truly fortunate.

“Yes, I met Countess Enphirem as well. She kept praising you endlessly.”

“Are you close with the countess?”

“We’ve had many business dealings.”

Things went smoothly without Caligo needing to intervene much. Most of the time, he simply followed her lead, offering little in terms of direct input.

It was strange. Though they shared a certain level of familiarity, the merchant lord didn’t seem to dislike her. Perhaps he had simply been unaware.

“So, I really wanted to meet Countess Enphirem once to express my gratitude. As a northerner, I wanted to convey my thanks.”

“It wasn’t a significant achievement.”

Helena’s embarrassment returned at the merchant lord’s praise. Seeing her discomfort, the merchant lord couldn’t help but laugh quietly.

*

After finishing the meeting and stepping outside, the sun had already set.

The work had gone smoothly, but the travel time meant it was already evening.

Normally, such meetings would involve inviting the merchant lord back to the estate.

Helena idly wondered why that wasn’t the case.

The one who arranged the meeting with the merchant lord was Caligo. If he were truly busy, he would likely have brought the merchant lord back to the estate. Guests often visited the estate multiple times a day.

Perhaps the merchant lord had other appointments to attend to, requiring adjustments to the schedule.

But it wasn’t a matter worth worrying over too much.

“Helena.”

She shook her head to dismiss unnecessary thoughts and began moving toward the carriage.

Then Caligo called out to her.

“Yes?”

“This way.”

“Why?”

“The carriage isn’t there.”

Normally, carriages were parked near the entrance, but this time it wasn’t.

“Is something wrong?”

“…The carriage wheel seems to have some damage. We’ll ride horses instead.”

Caligo hesitated for a moment before answering.

It was strange. Typically, carriages were thoroughly inspected before boarding by the driver. The risk of a wheel coming loose and causing a serious accident was well known. So, such inspections were always meticulously performed.

Had a stone gotten stuck on the way here? Or perhaps something happened while they were parking.

Regardless of the reasons, Helena followed his lead.

It seemed Caligo had gone ahead to find another carriage, as they had to walk a considerable distance.

The street was dark and deserted.

Again.

And then Helena felt it—a pair of eyes watching her.

Of course, at this moment. She bit her lip as she glanced at Caligo walking beside her.

Being watched like this terrified her.

Yet, she couldn’t even bring herself to hate them.

They were people who had suffered because of her father, and in some cases, lost loved ones.

If she captured them, what could she do? Her father had already taken everything from them; how could she justify being cruel again?

Her guards had always dealt with those following her harshly—executing them brutally as an example, following her father’s command.

She had witnessed too many of those who cried and died because of her father’s wrath.

So, this time, she decided to handle it quietly.

Run away.

Yes, run away before they even catch up.

With her guards, they likely wouldn’t make a rash move. Still, they needed to escape as far as possible.

That way, no one would get hurt.

And most of all, she didn’t want Caligo to get dragged into her ugly mess. She especially didn’t want him to be endangered.

It was terrifying.

The fact that someone was watching her made her heart stop with fear.

But what was even more frightening was the thought of another victim—someone else suffering because of her father’s influence. She couldn’t bear the thought of more people dying because of him.

So, Helena slowly began to distance herself from Caligo.

She stepped back, creating space between them.

Yet strangely, Caligo continued to close the gap.

Every time she lagged behind, he deliberately slowed his pace, ensuring they stayed together.

Even more surprising, he reached out and grabbed her wrist.

“No, stop.”

With him there, she wouldn’t be able to escape.

“Wait… just a moment.”

Lie.
Lying was difficult in this situation. Helena stumbled over her words as she tried to explain.

“There’s something I need to do.”

“What?”

“It’s urgent. So, I need to go somewhere for a moment.”

Helena couldn’t meet his gaze as she tried to pull her wrist away, but he only tightened his grip instead.

The way his hand firmly enclosed hers made the thought of escaping seem futile. Her mind went blank.

By the time she looked up, startled, Caligo’s cold voice cut through the air.

“Don’t run away.”

“W-what?”

“Don’t even think about leaving my side. No matter what happens.”

His voice was firm, with a hint of frustration. It was clear he wouldn’t let go. His grip on her hand tightened, as if to make a point.

Helena felt the overwhelming pressure of his presence, suffocating her resolve. She tried again to pull back, but he wouldn’t release her.

It was hopeless.

Her mind raced with thoughts of escape, but the more she struggled, the closer he drew to her. His calm, commanding demeanor left no room for argument.

“I… I just need to go for a moment.”

“No.”

“But—”

“No excuses. We’re staying together.”

The words felt like a heavy weight in her chest. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think clearly. His touch kept her rooted in place, and the thought of resistance became impossible.

Her vision blurred, the warmth of his hand steady against hers. She tried to speak again, but her voice faltered.

Caligo’s gaze remained unyielding, his expression cold but resolute. The man who had always been composed and distant now radiated an intense sense of protection.

And yet, despite the warmth of his grasp, Helena couldn’t ignore the suffocating feeling that lingered in her chest—the fear, the need to break free.

But even as she considered it, she knew it was futile.

He wasn’t going to let her go. Not this time.

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