CASSANDRA
| waspletely 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 | nced 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 fakecency.”
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 ncing 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 nce, | 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 exined 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 nned 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 ce 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 is
mistera wyjeiced to separate They were all taken by different soldiers,
ed so many times that she had
wood Ingrulcation at thends of hey Southern.
11:48 Fri, Feb 23.
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When Ronald found her three years ago, she had just killed herst 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 exined 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 n for her.
“He made me an adoptive daughter of the lord,” she exined. “Messed around and forged some official paperwork that made
me appear to be a blood rtion 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 ve 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 finallye. Luck is finally on my side. This
is where youe 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 n 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 shed 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 ce she didn’t deserve any of this wanted nothing more than for her to return to her homnd 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. |Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.
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