TTMLPTWW ~ Chapter 147

“I don’t know why it had to be you of all people. There are so many good people out there.”

At Cynthia’s words, Helene covered her face with one hand and spoke in a tearful voice.

“Why me, of all people, who is useless and the worst of humanity…”

“Hey, by my standards, you’re only the second worst, okay? You might have thought your life was over if you failed, but the fact that you’re still alive means you have another chance to try. Whether it’s a dream, a person, if you follow the signs, you’ll discover your own calling.”

At that answer, Helene felt an unfamiliar emotion welling up from deep within her chest.

Why did I want to become queen?

Just because I wanted many people to acknowledge me? But is that something that can only be done by becoming king?

‘Trying to prove my worth… it was all to bring someone into my world.’

Helene tried to move her legs. However, all she felt in her lower body, which was buried under the rubble, was a sense of powerlessness instead of sensation.

Could I, who am wicked and broken, be loved?

Helene looked at Cynthia with a hollow smile.

“I guess I wanted to be loved, and to love.”

“Love? If it’s okay with you, even I…”

Helene grimaced when she saw Cynthia making a finger heart with an embarrassed face.

But unlike before, when she only reflected harsh words, she didn’t say anything.

“Helene. Take this opportunity to escape from prison and see another world.”

“What do you mean?”

A man with white hair and a uniform was running towards them from a distance. It was Major Rodriguez, who had witnessed the building collapse while passing by.

Cynthia gestured towards him and helped Helene sit up.

“You only live once, so you might as well break out of prison. That man will understand your situation and help you. We’ll be accomplices, but you just have to keep your mouth shut.”

Cynthia held out a dusty bag of money.

“Take it. Unfortunately, I lost the jewelry pouch.”

“…Why?”

“Everyone else was killed by the Organization. You should only be punished as much as the crime you committed, no more, no less. You’ll need a lot of money for lawyer fees if you want to appeal, so make sure you earn a lot.”

It meant that if she stayed here, she would be executed without a doubt, so she should run away and buy herself some time.

“So, why?”

“Are you a question mark killer? You’re an important witness who knows a lot. If you have a conscience, you’ll help me.”

Cynthia stood up with a grunt.

“After I’ve dealt with all the nosy bastards who interfere with our fight, let’s go at it one-on-one again.”

“But where are you going? You’re badly hurt too.”

Helene asked, looking at Cynthia’s back as she staggered away.

Cynthia only turned her head and smiled brightly at her.

“It might sound crazy, but saving someone was my job in my past life. When I think about it, it wasn’t an obligation, but a calling. I liked it.”

“Past life?”

Cynthia left behind incomprehensible words and disappeared.

After Helene was rescued by Major Rodriguez, the building was engulfed in a huge fire as the frame that had barely maintained its shape collapsed.

Red flames were reflected in Helene’s wide eyes.

“Major! Cynthia, Cynthia is still inside!”

“Princess Cynthia, you mean?”

The Major’s face turned pale for a moment. He quickly stopped Helene, who was dragging her leg and trying to approach the fire.

“No! I haven’t even apologized properly, I…”

After that, she never heard from Cynthia again.

Helene told this story to Masera to let him know that Cynthia, who had insane survivability and could survive even a building collapse, could never have died.

“So please, don’t give up on finding Cynthia.”

Because I have to apologize to my tiresome rival.

The second person she wanted to convey her sincerity to was Cynthia.

Although his face was still as cold as ice, a tear was running down her cheek.

Helene continued her confession in a calm tone.

“And my brothers’ and my mother is not Princess Margarita.”

She gave up the life of royalty that she had considered her everything.

“My father is not Count Queensguard either. Cynthia is the only legitimate heir and the last Princess of Bariesa.”

“So that’s why the Second Prince—no, Edford was talking nonsense about her being a fake.”

“No, I don’t want to make excuses, but we all didn’t know the truth. Cynthia also thought she was a fake.”

Masera tilted his head and pondered.

“…She thought she was a fake?”

Could that be the reason she was thinking of leaving me…?

He recalled the fake ID and pass that she had prepared in advance.

Helene’s resolute voice pulled Masera, who was lost in thought, back to reality.

“Not anymore. I told Cynthia the truth myself at the end. Brigadier General, I’m really sorry for everything.”

Helene, who had bowed her head in apology, lightly bit her lip as she thought of Cynthia.

“I am an arrogant and foolish person who has lived without ever failing. That’s why I couldn’t stop even as I was collapsing.”

She, who had realized why she had lost, continued with a sentimental look in her eyes.

“Cynthia taught me that only those who have been completely broken can move on to the next step.”

At the very end, there was the man who taught her that even sincerity can betray, the older brothers who showed her familial love, and Cynthia, who gave her her first defeat.

They were standing beyond the collapsed wall, on the path to the next step.

“It’s highly likely that the gun smuggling Organization took her.”

Helene’s face, which had been smiling as if she were crying, suddenly became rational and cold.

“The leader of the Organization is from a collateral line of the fallen empire’s imperial family, an Esatain with dyed black hair and golden eyes. He said his real name was Markiel. He plans to use Cynthia, the last member of the royal family.”

Helene looked at Masera, who was lost in thought, and continued.

“I’ll tell you everything I’ve learned from interacting with Markiel. Many people are intertwined with the Organization through their interests. Most of them are people who benefited from the dissolution of the royal family. The upper echelons of the military are the same.”

She conveyed all the information she knew, including the fact that Count Queensguard was the source of funds that grew the Organization.

“That’s why the military has confirmed Cynthia’s death and is being passive in the pursuit. I always repay what I receive. You’ll be able to use it effectively.”

She took a breath and handed Masera a note.

Helene still harbored poison and was cunning.

Like a viper that never lets go once it bites, she had a personality that would definitely retaliate against those who harmed her.

As Cynthia had said, the desire to avenge those who had sunk her dreams became her driving force.

In particular, she wanted her first love to be thoroughly ruined and broken.

Because she had learned that even tearing someone to pieces is a form of affection, as long as it stops them.

Masera visited the river where he had gone with Cynthia before.

Since someone was already sitting on the bench she had insisted on, he stood still and waited.

The young man who was painting on the bench glanced at Masera.

“Sir, would you like to sit down?”

The young man awkwardly lifted his butt and made room for him to sit.

“……”

Masera, unable to ignore the kindness, ended up sitting next to the unknown young man on the bench.

‘What on earth does she see here?’

Masera wanted to see the world that Cynthia saw.

But even if he relaxed the strength in his fiercely glaring eyes, it was still just a frozen river to him.

He glanced at the young man’s painting, who was mixing oil paints.

It was completely different from the scenery he saw.

It was closer to a hazy, scattered wave painting. He even wondered if he had seen the same thing.

“I’m an ignoramus when it comes to art, so this might be a rude question, but is there a reason why you don’t express the painting as it is in reality?”

At Masera’s question, the young man smiled kindly.

“Some paintings are depicted in detail like photographs, while others are boldly distorted or omitted. It’s closer to reinterpretation. Do you happen to remember what your first impression of your favorite person was?”

“Rabbit.”

“What was the feeling of the moment you fell in love?”

“It’s hard to put into words. It felt like something was sparkling.”

“That’s exactly it. It’s called ‘Impressionism’.”

So, like Cynthia, he puts what he sees and feels into the painting.

“For reference, this painting should be viewed from a distance.”

The young man, who had finished the painting, gave it to Masera as a gift, said goodbye, and left.

Does it look different from a distance?

Masera squinted and stretched out his arm holding the painting.

He blinked his eyes as he compared the painting to the actual scenery. As the young man had said, there was something he could see then.

The frozen river with white snow piled up at the end looked as if it had captured the moment when waves were carrying foam and crashing in.

Masera put down the painting and took out a crumpled piece of paper from the inside pocket of his coat.

It was not a dry, formal will, but a will like a letter full of her emotions.

“……”

He stretched out his arm and looked at it from a distance. Soon, his narrowly opened eyes gradually widened.

“Ha.”

Was this what reinterpretation was?

Masera covered his face with one hand and let out a low chuckle.

He carefully folded the will and put it in the inside pocket of his coat, then got up from his seat.

“So damn cute.”

It was because he had finally discovered the code she had hidden in the writing disguised as resentment.

“I’m caught.”