Chapter 228
CASSANDRA
| was completely stunned. Had Helene really said that sentence aloud, or had | simply imagined it
Leave Yurene? With her?
As the shock of her proposal died down. | realized that Ronald’s fiancee didn’t seem to be joking. Her expression was quite serious. The rosiness of her cheeks had faded and her lips were a solemn, thin line.
“| don’t understand,” | uttered for what felt like the millionth time, and after | glanced around us, | lowered my voice even further. “Helene, you're betrothed to Ronald, Your wedding is scheduled in less than a month. Why would you leave?”
“Because | don’t want the wedding to happen,” she replied bluntly. “I don’t want to marry Ronald.”
My eyes nearly fell out of my skull and my lips turned into a frown. “I don’t get it. You seem like such a nice couple-”
“It's nothing but a performance, Helene cut me off and then she shook her head. “I suppose I’m a better actress than 1 thought. It's the only way I’ve been able to stay alive for so long, My life has depended on my ability to lie and fake complacency.”NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.
After she took a long, deep breath, she took a long sip of her drink and then began to tell her story. She spoke at an incredibly fast speed and kept glancing at the window as she went on. It was apparent that she was making sure that her maid wasn’t going to walk in on our conversation, and with every glance, | felt anxiety swell within me.
What if we got caught?
What would happen to us?
Would we be punished for attempted treason?
Despite my fears, | managed to quell my thoughts and gave Helene my full attention.
She explained to me that she was from the South, She’d been captured by a Northerner while she was on a trip with her parents and two sisters ten years ago when she was only sixteen years old.
TF
Her father had planned to do business with a Pack in the Northern area, and they were set to stay there for a few months. while he conducted his affairs. Her father was very determined to strike up a deal, so her family agreed to this temporary
It was winter, she remembered, and it was snowing heavily when they arrived. They were staying at a mee, cozy cabin, and the was quite thrilled to be there. While things were strange and foreign, she felt safe and content.
Calm
“Nave, she sand bitterly.
wood took place soon after they arrived Yurene started a sudden attack against the Pack that Helene’s father was trying to conduct basis with The Park was unprepared and tell quickly. The violence was unstguable
Her parcidudied in the raid, and
Sturlund fou plais
mistera wyje laiced to separate They were all taken by different soldiers,
ed so many times that she had
wood Ingrulcation at the lands of hey Southern.
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When Ronald found her three years ago, she had just killed her last master. He had been a twisted psycho and she couldn t bear his actions any longer. She was forced to take matters into her own hands and poisoned the man’s morning tea
After a moment of pause, she explained that the master was a Lord in Yurene, and one day, Ronald happened to visit him. When he’d arrived and noticed the dead master lying lifeless on the ground, Helene thought she would be executed. But Ronald seemed to have another plan for her.
“He made me an adoptive daughter of the lord,” she explained. “Messed around and forged some official paperwork that made me appear to be a blood relation of that wicked man. Since he’s the king’s brother, the matter was easy enough. He even covered up my former master’s death and had the coroner state that it was a heart attack that killed him.”
“Wow.” | uttered in shock and | shook my head slowly. Poor Helene. To have gone through so much | couldn't imagine what it had been like to be a slave at such a young age. She’d endured so much.
After a moment, | leaned in closer. So, Ronald saved you?”
Helene’s smile grew sardonic. “I had thought so. Ronald seemed to be so nice back then. He was younger and much more handsome than the masters I’d once served. And he was prestigious, of course. What more could a captive wish for?”
She sighed. “I thought I was lucky. But soon, | knew luck had nothing to do with it. The reason Ronald spared my life and saved me was because he wanted to use me
“How | implored.
Helene offered me a rueful smile. “There’s only one way a man can make use of a woman who doesn’t have anything but her body. Needless to say, after all I’ve been through... I’m fed up with this life. | want to leave it all behind.”
| didn’t know what to say.
This was all so much to process.
“Despite my excellent performance, Ronald has never stopped watching me,” Helene continued on. “But ever since you two began to meet, he hasn’t paid as much attention to me. | think the chance to go has finally come. Luck is finally on my side. This is where you come in.”
“What can | do?” | wondered cautiously.
| think the wedding would be the best opportunity to escape,” she said quietly. “The gate will be opened for guests. Some of them will be from Southern areas. If we plan it just right, we could blend ourselves among the servants and slip out.”
Her eyes seemed enthusiastic at the mere suggestion, and | didn’t want to let her down, but | wasn’t sure how this would work “I'm worried this will be extremely difficult,” | admitted. “And | don’t know that I can leave with you. It’s too dangerous, and | can’t just leave my son and maid behind”
The light left Helene’s eyes and her smile waned for just a moment. Disappointment flashed across her features and she sighed. Maybe she was let down by my response, or maybe she knew that this was too impossible. She continued to smile. but | knew it was just part of her performance
My heart clenched in my chest and it took all of my power to keep from crying Helene was clearly in pain and | wanted to get hex far away from this place she didn’t deserve any of this wanted nothing more than for her to return to her homeland wherever it was, and try to live the life that had been jobbed from her in the raud
| datar katos if | should have said it, but | couldnt stop ends from falling out of my mouth any way
though | don’t thank thas
idea | help you” | said. “If you re determined to get away from your nightmare. |
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