Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Two People (3)
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But when else would a man like Dane ever give her the time of day?
Helena knew full well it was utterly impossible.
An orphan raised without parents, an assassin—her life was a patchwork of the worst conditions imaginable, stitched together like ragged scraps.
Dane, heir to the kingdom's greatest family, wielding overwhelming wealth and power, equipped with every enviable quality anyone could dream of.
They were like parallel lines, never destined to meet. Yet a chance intersection, like gears unexpectedly meshing, had led them both here.
"…."
The moment Dane's gaze pierced her like an arrow. Helena felt something inevitable, like fate itself, closing in.
Weighed down by that pressure, she stood frozen in place, unable to do anything but wait silently.
Purrrng.
Dane's horse snorted, coming to a halt right in front of the building where Helena stood. Dane leaped down from the saddle with ease.
"Madam, this way."
He extended both hands toward Rose.
"Your Excellency."
Rose hesitated for a moment, then reached out her hands toward Dane.
Thud.
Dane grasped her waist and lifted her down from the horse. He held her firmly until her feet were solidly on the ground.
'How nice of him.'
Helena snorted at the sight.
Treating me like dirt. Ready to kill me at the drop of a hat.
She conveniently ignored the minor truth that she'd struck first.
It was oddly fascinating to see that man treating someone like that. At the same time, it left a bitter taste, knowing she could never be the one.
"Are you alright, Madam?"
"Whew, yes. It was bearable. Quicker than I thought."
Rose brushed back her disheveled hair. The gesture was innocently pure.
Her slender frame and delicate face naturally stirred protective instincts.
Unlike Helena.
'…Ugh, seriously.'
She'd tried to swallow her pride and not do it, but Helena found herself comparing herself to Rose anyway.
Searching for what she lacked that Rose had—whatever it was that had caught Dane's interest.
"The ride wasn't too cold, was it?"
"Oh, no. Thanks to the robe Your Excellency gave me, I wasn't cold at all."
"Can't have you catching another cold."
"Your Excellency, I keep telling you, I'm not that fragile."
Rose grumbled with a slightly pouty expression.
"Your Excellency worries too much."
"Who was it that collapsed from exhaustion the next day?"
Rose's cheeks flushed red at Dane's remark.
"Your Excellency, that time…!"
"Hard to call those wrists strong."
Dane nodded toward Rose's arm, where she clutched the robe's hem.
'Well, well?'
Helena kept snorting derisively.
What the hell were they even doing? Was he fussing over her or picking a fight?
He knew damn well she was right there.
'You look like you're enjoying yourself, Master.'
Helena could sense something soft rippling beneath the muscles of Dane's face. Rose, standing right in front of him, seemed oblivious to it.
"That's why I'm eating more…."
Rose sheepishly lowered her arm, tucking it back into the robe.
As Dane opened his mouth to reply,
"Master."
Helena couldn't hold back any longer and stepped out from the building's shadow.
She couldn't stand watching anymore. She'd pass on being a spectator—or a third wheel.
"Huh?"
Rose spotted Helena and widened her eyes. She scanned Helena's changed attire from head to toe, then
"As I thought…."
let out an enigmatic sigh.
'As you thought, what?'
Rose's reaction was outside Helena's expectations. Unable to grasp its meaning, Helena stared at her blankly.
"Let me introduce her."
Dane, who had been standing silently, stepped forward.
"This is Helena. Former assassin, now living as my shadow."
"Shadow… huh."
Rose murmured like she was sighing. Then she fixed Helena with a sharp tone.
"Why'd you give a different name earlier?"
"I said 'maid Lune' back then, but I'm someone else now. You ever seen an assassin reveal their real identity?"
Helena answered nonchalantly.
Pressing her like that was just laughable. She didn't even use formal speech with her master—why would she for his wife?
"How long have you been posing as a maid?"
"Not long. Three days or so? Master didn't personally bust me out of prison, so I broke out on my own and snuck back in."
"Broke out… and snuck back in…."
Rose lowered her gaze, calculating something. She swallowed a shallow breath, then met Helena's eyes.
"Helena, do you think you fit that role?"
Oh? Picking a fight all of a sudden?
Helena felt a thrill and locked eyes with Rose. She'd pegged the madam as innocent, but she hadn't expected the claws.
"A shadow lurks behind His Excellency, handling dangerous work, right?"
"Yeah. Gathering info, killing targets if needed."
"You think you can do that? A woman? With that body?"
Pot calling the kettle black, coming from you.
Helena eyed Rose's slender wrists and shoulders, thinking that. Then she pondered how to startle the woman.
"I've learned one thing doing this job."
Helena sauntered toward Rose with a lazy grin. She glanced at Dane—he watched them with an expression that said he'd see what happened.
'Hmph. He'd kill me if I laid a finger on her.'
She had no intention of trying that in front of her employer anyway. Instead, Helena stopped with her face inches from Rose's, close enough to share breath.
"Killing someone doesn't take much strength."
Shing.
Her favorite dagger had appeared in Helena's hand. She waggled it and grinned ferociously.
"Want me to tell you? Where to slice the throat to silence someone? Or which spot stops an arm from moving?"
"…No."
Helena expected her to shrink in fear, but the little woman was braver than that.
"I don't need that kind of knowledge. I've already… no, I don't need it."
She furrowed her brow but answered straight, then pointed out something else.
"You tried to kill His Excellency. What's to say you won't again?"
"Madam, have you forgotten who the man standing here is?"
Helena felt her anger rising.
She had no idea what he became when he drew his sword. He must treat his wife so well she thought he was some noble, refined gentleman.
"Master's strong. Way beyond what trash like me could handle."
"Which means he doesn't need a shadow at all."
Rose shot back as if she'd been waiting for it. Her large green eyes gleamed with unusual desperation.
"Why not just leave? You don't belong here."
What's her deal? Master favors her, so she thinks she owns the place? Why's she so hellbent on kicking me out?
Helena clenched her fist, then quickly released it lest Dane notice.
Don't like me? Jealous 'cause I'm too pretty?
It was torture holding back her rising irritation. Helena had never tolerated anyone crawling over her meekly.
But….
"Helena."
Why was she looking at her with such pitiful eyes?
'Please.'
Why did that unheard voice echo like an illusion?
The words were harsh, but her voice quavered softly. Her eyes glared fiercely, yet they drooped at the corners if you let your guard down.
It looked like she'd summoned every ounce of courage she had—or didn't have. Helena couldn't fully hate her for it.
'Why's she like this?'
She couldn't read the woman's intentions.
It didn't seem like hatred…. They were strangers meeting for the first time today. What did she even know about her?
Moreover, the opponent was….
'Too small.'
She looked so fragile it killed her motivation. One smack and she'd probably burst into tears.
"His Excellency's the one who hired me. Forgot?"
In the end, Helena turned her ire on Dane instead of scolding Rose.
"Not the Madam's business."
She had no choice but to break the looping argument like that. Her gut told her Rose wouldn't back down without bringing Dane into it.
"…."
At those words, Rose looked at Dane with resignation. Following her gaze, Helena was momentarily stunned.
'Smiling?'
She saw the corner of Dane's mouth quirk up at an angle.
He'd been observing Rose with interest until he noticed Helena's stare, then smoothed it away, reverting to his cold expression.
'Master, you think this is fun? This situation's funny to you?!'
Profanities rose to Helena's throat. She held them back only due to a twinge of unease.
The fear that Dane might side with his wife if push came to shove.
He dotes on her like that—he'd obviously take her side. No way he'd take mine.
That thought kept Helena from acting as boldly as usual.
"Madam."
Finally, Dane spoke. Helena's heart sank as she fixed on his mouth.
"Are you doubting my judgment in people right now?"
"…Forgive my rudeness."
Rose bowed her head, her face darkening instantly. A flicker of resignation crossed her—so it won't work after all.
"That wasn't my intention. I'm sorry."
"If we're going by what you said,"
Dane stepped forward, positioning himself close behind Helena.
"then Helena's no longer needed, so I can just kill her, right?"
Helena's blood ran cold.
He'd seized her from behind in an instant. At this range, she couldn't react even if he slit her throat.
"…What did you say?"
The color drained from Rose's face. Frozen like a white plaster statue, she took in Helena and Dane standing behind her.
"What… did you just say."
"I told you. Killing to shut someone up is the easiest way."
"…."
"She might try for me again. Better to eliminate the threat, no?"
Standing right next to Dane, Helena could feel it.
There was no killing intent from him at all. Despite the brutal words, he had no intention of acting on them.
But.
"No!"
Rose didn't seem to realize. She stepped forward as if ready to shield Helena from Dane right then.
"…."
In that moment, Helena could guess Dane's expression behind her. Because she nearly wore the same one herself.
This made it clear. At the very least, Rose harbored no malice toward Helena.
"…I see you can't act to save your life, Madam."
Finally, Dane's wry voice came from behind Helena's back.