Chapter 86
Aiden said nothing as he entered the bedroom.
He simply guided her to sit on the edge of the bed before rummaging through the bag he had been carrying around recently.
The bag was so large that even in his tall hands, it looked oversized. She had always wondered what it contained to be so bulky, and now she could guess the reason. Before he even opened it, the sound of glass bottles clinking against one another could be heard.
Inside, the bag was packed with carefully organized glass bottles, along with books and various documents. The knowledge he had painstakingly gathered over time was crammed into that worn bag. She didn’t need to examine it to know—it must be full of research on Asehimmo disease.
After rummaging through the bag for a while, Aiden pulled out a glass bottle containing a brown liquid. He opened the cap, sniffed it briefly, then handed it to her.
“Drink this.”
Without hesitation, Helena took the bottle and drank its contents.
Meanwhile, Aiden moved closer and began checking her condition. He asked her to move her fingers and toes, inquired if she felt any pain when he pressed certain areas, and checked for various symptoms.
Because he was so close, she could catch his scent. It was faintly salty, like the smell of wind that had been out in the open air for a long time. Had he been walking outside in the rain? There was also a faint trace of sweat.
Having spent so much time avoiding him, Helena now lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze. She couldn’t bring herself to face him after realizing all the effort he had put in for her.
I don’t know what to do anymore.
It was becoming increasingly difficult to push away someone who was trying so hard for her sake.
But if Aiden stayed by her side, his life would surely be ruined as well.
Eventually, Eskel would fall.
And what good could come from being entangled with the daughter of a man destined to crumble?
“You need to eat more. You’re not recovering because you’re so weak.”
“I am eating.”
“You eat like a bird.”
Aiden sighed.
“Your hand makes it hard to eat things like meat or fish, right? But you still have to eat.”
“…”
“Stop only picking at stew and bread. You need to eat more than that.”
And stop refusing treatment. He added.
“I haven’t refused treatment.”
“You’ve been avoiding me, haven’t you? Or am I wrong?”
“Since you knew I was avoiding you, why did you come?”
“It’s my selfishness,” Aiden replied.
“You said the rumors were spreading.”
“I know.”
“And yet you still came here?” Helena countered.
“Do you know what your priority should be right now? You need to tell everyone the rumors aren’t true and leave this house yourself.”
“Why do you keep telling me to leave?”
“Because that’s all I can say.”
Aiden sighed.
“In that case, let’s run away together while the rumors are still fresh.”
“Run away?”
“Yes, I’ve already found us a good house.”
He explained that the house was in a quiet, faraway place.
“There’s a flower field you’ll love, and plenty of farmers nearby.”
“…”
“It’s not cold like Frantor. It’s warm and green all year round. Let’s stay there together.”
“Run away? Do you even realize what that would mean?”
Helena felt suffocated by his suggestion. She knew all too well how impossible it was for her to leave.
“Then the rumors will become true.”
“So what if they do? It’ll just be the two of us. That’s all that matters.”
“What about your family?”
“I’ll take care of them.”
“What about Jeremy and Joshua?”
“They’ll be gone soon enough anyway.”
Aiden said firmly.
“I’ve always dreamed of this. Just you and me, living without worrying about anyone else.”
“…”
“You don’t even need to reciprocate my feelings. Just being with you will be enough for me.”
“I could never understand you.” Aiden’s voice softened as he spoke.
Helena, confused, asked what he meant.
“You don’t care a bit about yourself, but you worry so much about others. Why is that?”
“…”
“All you need to do now is think about yourself. Forget about everyone else—none of it matters.”
“How can I do that?”
“You can. Your life doesn’t have much time left, does it? So stop worrying about rumors, revenge, or anything else. Just let it go.”
“… Let’s just run away.”
If she were to leave this place and escape with Aiden, Helena thought carefully, imagining what that would be like.
If she left this suffocating, stifling estate, she would undoubtedly find happiness.
The scent of wildflowers she loved, the serene mountain ranges, and the wind flowing between them would bring a sense of freedom. For a brief moment, she might feel like a butterfly soaring through the sky.
But Helena knew she was far from romantic.
The harsh reality of her life would always hold her back.
“Even just imagining it feels so happy,” she murmured.
There was no longer any protection left to shield her or Aiden.
Assassins, fueled by revenge against Eskel, might come looking for her, using her as a hostage.
If that happened, they might truly need to run away.
She would have to leave her cherished fields behind, never seeing them bear fruit.
Even if assassins never came, they would still live an anxious life, constantly looking over their shoulders.
Would she even feel free out there?
That wasn’t the freedom she longed for.
She already knew she could never escape her fate.
No matter how much she struggled, being Eskel’s daughter would never change.
The lives lost to Eskel’s family would never be restored, and her remaining months wouldn’t grow longer.
Wherever she went, she wouldn’t escape the scorn and ridicule of others.
And while she had always longed for affection, she knew it was far too late for her to receive it now.
That’s why she wanted to fight, not flee.
“Let’s see everything you want to see. Let’s visit the sea you’ve never seen before,” Aiden said, his voice filled with excitement.
“Feel the difference between the sea breeze and the mountain breeze.”
“…”
“We’ll collect shells on a white sandy beach, watch the waves to our hearts’ content, and sail as far as we can go.”
“No, Aiden. I won’t be part of that future.”
“Why would you say that? Is there some rule that says you’re not allowed to dream about it?”
“It’s because there’s no chance for us to have that kind of life.”
Unlike Aiden, who was excited like a child just imagining it, Helena seemed cold and detached.
Aiden froze, staring at her blankly.
“Running away won’t free us from everything. Assassins might come, people who recognize us might appear, and my father might even send someone to get rid of me.”
“That’s just baseless speculation.”
“No, it’s the reality we would face. I’m only saying this because you’re ignoring those possibilities while telling me to run away with you.”
Helena’s voice was firm.
“You sound like someone with no dreams or hope,” Aiden said with a sigh.
“Do you think I’m asking you to run away on a whim? I’ve thought about this carefully.”
But Helena’s expression remained unchanged—calm and indifferent.
While Aiden envisioned a future with her, she clearly did not, and that realization filled him with despair. He let out a bitter laugh.
“I pity you, Helena.”
“…”
“The girl I knew was full of life, someone who dreamed of the future. But the person I see now is like a child trapped in a mansion, unable to do anything.”
“…”
“You said you wanted to live a meaningful life. But do you think this is it? Is this the life you want?”
“The future you’re talking about,” Helena finally said after listening quietly, “Is that truly the future I want?”
“…”
“I don’t think so.”
White sandy beaches, beautiful shells, the sea she had only imagined—she did want to see those things.
But not now.
If that day ever came, it would only be after everything was settled.
“You’ve always been blunt, but… this stings a little.”
Aiden laughed weakly, rubbing his forehead.
“Fine. I won’t ask you to leave with me anymore. Do whatever you want. But remember this—I’m not leaving. You can’t get rid of me. I’ll stay here and do whatever I want.”
“…”
“Just like you’ve been living the way you want, I’ll do the same.”
His voice wavered as he forced the words out.
“If I leave… the next time I see you, it’ll probably be in a coffin or buried in the ground.”
I’ll never let that happen.
I won’t run away like before. Not ever again.
Aiden barely managed to finish speaking, his voice trembling with pain. Helena said nothing in response, turning away from him with a cold expression.
From a second-floor window in the distance, Caligo watched the two of them.
Watching their interaction, he silently clenched his fists.
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