Adham Whitesmithe was Helena's lover in the first life.
She met him during her visit to the orphanage. It was forbidden love between two people of different social classes. They fell in love at first sight and soon grew closer. His muscular arm wrapped around her shoulder, his chestnut-brown eyes stared at her affectionately, his short black hair shining beneath the light, and his brown hand always tucked her hair behind her ear. They shared kisses and laughter beneath the warm sun and danced underneath the moonlight. He loved her kindness, and she loved how genuine he was.
Unfortunately, the lover did not receive a blessing. Her mother disapproved of their relationship purely because Adham was not wealthy.
"Helena! I told you to stay away from him!"
"Why should I listen to you? You didn't even give him a chance!"
It was only after her mother married a Count that both daughter and mother managed to leave their pitiful state. Although Helena argued about her relationship, she understood her mother's sentiment. She just wanted the best for her daughter.
"Adham... I'm so sorry about my mother."
"It's all right, Helena. Your mother is right." Adham looked uncomfortable but chuckled. "Mercenary is not a stable job."
This did not dampen his spirits. Adham was determined to improve his financial situation. He wanted to stay with Helena and provide her with a good life. He switched his job from being a mercenary to being a merchant. With Helena's father's help, his trading business was a success.
"Thank you for supporting Adham, Father."
The older man laughed. "Don't mention it. He's a nice, hard-working man. Kid reminds me of myself when I was young. I also worked tirelessly to gain my in-laws' approval."
Helena's mother had no choice but to give in after Adham's success. After a long period of struggle, they finally became a couple. It was the joyful highlight of Helena's life. Even after being deserted by high society, Helena found happiness with him.
She made the right choice. Adham was a loyal man. He fought for Helena until the bitter end of her death.
"Don't you know how dangerous it is to walk near the river in the rain because the ground is slippery? You're lucky I saw you fall."
His voice brought her back to the present. Helena looked up at him while holding back her tears. "Why? Why did you save me?"
Fate was cruel. They used to be lovers, but now they were strangers. Helena was ashamed of herself. In her second life, she buried everything about him in pursuit of vengeance. She did not deserve to be saved by him.
"I want payment!"
"Fueh?"
Helena was dumbfounded. He gave her an unexpected answer.
"What do you mean by payment?!"
"You're wearing a high-quality nightdress, so I assume you come from a wealthy family. If I save you, I'll get a reward, right?"
"Not because you are enamoured of me?"
"Lady, have you hit your head or something? You're not my type. I prefer blondes with big bosoms and flirty personalities." He peeked at her and smiled. "At least you got the breast part right."
Helena covered her chest. The perfect image of a gentle, loving partner had shattered in her mind. It had been replaced by a pervert who grinned at the sight of her breasts.
Everything changed. This encounter was different from those in the past. In the first timeline, Helena and Adham had met under better circumstances. However, in this timeline, she was a lady who had fallen into a river and almost drowned. He was her lifesaver. Nothing romantic happened between them.
"I wonder if mortification can cause death..."
This was a whole new level of awkwardness. How presumptuous of Helena to think Adham would fall for her again. She felt like crying out of embarrassment.
Adham put the bucket on the floor and knelt beside her. "But how did you learn my name? I'm sure this is our first time meeting."
Helena was startled. She called Adham's name without thinking when she saw him. Before she could make up an answer, an old nun scurried towards them. Helena blinked her eyes. She met Mary Saffronhill again. The kind woman always greeted her and helped her during church visiting hours.
Sister Mary looked at Helena, Adham, and the bucket on the floor. The nun already knew the whole story from observing the scene. She smacked Adham's head without hesitation as he screamed in pain.
"Ow! What the hell, Old Hag!"
"Did you just throw water at this young lady?"
"Well, I thought it would wake her up faster. She is already drenched anyway."
Sister Mary was speechless at his reply. He was not wrong, but he was not right either. "You know what? Forget it." She shifted her attention to Helena. "I am sorry for his behaviour, Lady Blackmoore. This young man has no manners. I'll punish him later."
"It's fine, but it would be better if—"
Helena fell silent when she felt her nose itch. A big "ACHOOO" came out of her mouth and echoed at that place. The nun realised that Helena was shivering from the cold. Running away from home without a coat might not have been the best idea. She was going to catch a cold wearing only a wet sleeping gown.
"Let me get a towel and some dry clothes. While I'm gone, apologise to her, Whitesmithe."
Sister Mary went inside, leaving them alone. The situation between Helena and Adham was awkward. He glanced at her and realised he was in the wrong. The man bowed down and apologised to her.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't throw water at unconscious people."
Helena did not care anymore. She was freezing to the bone. Her teeth were chattering from the cold. "It's—it's fine..."
"Crap, I forgot about my job! I need to be in there before five!"
Adham flung his coat at her and smiled before taking his leave. "Wear that until the Old Hag comes back. Don't catch a cold! It would be bad if you died before you paid me."
Adham then ran and disappeared from her sight. A weak smile curled around her lips. The current Adham was different from the previous one, but he was still the same on the inside. He was a good man, even in another life.
Helena wrapped herself in the coat while waiting for Sister Mary. Adham must bring her to church after saving her. She walked around and touched an empty bench. Helena sat in the front row, staring at the stained glass window. It had been a long time since she had prayed.
In Helena's first life, she was a religious devotee. She believed her endeavour would yield favourable results. However, her faith disappeared the moment she began her second life. Helena cursed God. She embraced the opposite of everything she had stood for in her previous life.
Helena was a perfect villainess.
She recalled her past as if it were yesterday. Everyone was shocked by her dramatic changes. The Saint had left the Angles Street. She never returned to that place. Helena attended noble parties and salons to expand her influence. She spent all her money on jewellery and dresses without restraint. Helena began to take revenge on those who had wronged her.
"Ethel, can you tell me why I found my jewellery in your maid's room?"
"That's..."
Helena sneered at the sight. Her stepsister's most loyal maid was kneeling on the floor. She pleaded to her mistress through her tears, begging for help. She had stolen jewellery from Helena in her previous life. This time, Helena had framed her. It was Helena's way of getting back at her for the way she had been treated before.
Ethel frowned and shook her head. "I have no idea."
The maid screamed. "My Lady!"
Helena chuckled, knowing that her stepsister would not defend her maid. "I see. Since this is a trivial matter, I'll deal with it myself. Let me choose the right punishment." She smirked at the maid. "How about whipping?"
That maid was just the starting point. Helena harassed her stepsister and tortured her servants. She manipulated people who framed her through gambling or scamming. She spread rumours to tarnish the reputations of other noblewomen.
That was not the end of the misdeed. Even after Helena had run out of targets, she continued her wicked act. Helena never considered that everything would backfire on her. It was only when the sword impaled her chest that she realised her mistake. Helena chuckled bitterly to herself as she thought back on it.
"I guess…. I deserved to die."
She closed her eyes and pressed her hands together. Helena did not care whether God existed or not, or who would hear her. She just wanted to pray.
"Why did this happen to me?"
BANG!
The church door opened abruptly before she finished her prayer. Helena was surprised and turned her head. Her servants were standing next to the entrance, soaking from the rain outside. The head butler, Karl Sable, rushed to her side without a second thought.
"There you are, Lady Helena! I'm so glad you're all right! Your parents are worried about you."
Standing next to him was Violet Pearl, Helena's personal maid. She glared fiercely at her master. Violet was known for being stern. Helena was scared when the maid approached her quickly. She expected a lengthy scolding from her.
"Wait, wait, wait! Violet, please listen to me! Uwaaaaa!"
The maid hugged Helena without saying anything. She was relieved that her lady was safe.
"Please don't do this again."
Helena felt guilty and hugged her back. She should not have gone out without a word.
"I'm sorry to make you worry, Violet. Let's go home."
She said goodbye to Sister Mary and left the church. Her crying mother and concerned father were waiting for her back home. Helena's mother spoke between sobs.
"Do you understand how scared I was? I thought I had lost you!"
Conscience hurt Helena's feelings. "I'm sorry, Mother..."
Her father hugged his wife to soothe her. She continued to cry on his chest. That man spoke to his daughter in a tone of relief. "I've already called a doctor. Let him check your condition first, Helena."
She was in good health. The doctor only prescribed medicine to prevent colds. After the examination, Helena collapsed onto the bed. She was exhausted that day. Perhaps it was because she learnt about her regression for the second time.
Helena lay on her bed, thinking about the past, the present, and the future. She did not know how to live her current life. The young woman had two options: to kill herself or to remain alive. If Helena killed herself, she might finally die, or she might repeat her life for the third time.
Helena was not exactly fond of that idea.
If she chose to live, she would have to prepare for the same struggles she had previously experienced.
"Stay afloat in high society, prevent mother's death, fight off death flags... urgh!"
Helena groaned. She had much work to do.
Despite it all, one thing was clear to Helena: her main objective. She stared at the ceiling of her bedroom.
"Something caused me to regress, and I am going to find out why."