Helena smiled as she strolled along Angel Street with the children and her guards. The place was bustling yet peaceful as usual. People were busy running their shops, buying groceries, or simply passing by.
There was only one thing that bothered her.
"Why are you coming with me?"
Helena glared at Adham, who was walking casually beside her. He might have been her lover in her first life, but she had no feelings for him now. Although they were the same person, the current Adham was not the same as the Adham from her first life. He had no recollection of their ardent emotions or past.
"After I finished my job, the Old Hag told me to make sure the children were back before dinner. Somebody needs to look after them. There is a case of missing people you know."
Helena frowned. "The case is still ongoing?"
"Yes, the investigators have not caught the perpetrator yet." He put his hands behind his head. "Maybe they were busy spending our hardworking tax instead of working."
Memories of her past life came flooding back to Helena. The case was intriguing because it had never been solved in either of her previous lives. Other than Daisy, more than twenty people were murdered in the span of a year. They were found in different locations with brutal injuries. Perhaps more victims were not covered by the newspaper.
"Do you think there is more than one perpetrator?"
"It is a plausibility. One person cannot make so many people disappear."
As they passed the bakery, they could smell something delicious. Before Helena walked away, a woman rushed over to meet her. She had long brown hair tied in a low ponytail. Her grey eyes sparkled when she saw Helena.
Miss Elisa greeted her while still wearing her apron. "Good afternoon, Lady Blackmoore. Would you like some fresh bread from the oven?"
"I'm full from breakfast, so—"
"Okay!"
Helena was speechless. Miss Elisa returned to the kitchen before she could answer.
Miss Elisa was a resident of Angles Street. Helena met her when she lent her hand at the church. Miss Elisa volunteered to bake bread for the food pantry. The owner of the local bakery heard about it. Impressed by her skills, he hired her on the spot because the bakery was in dire need of more bakers.
The same thing happened to another person. Mr Dean enjoyed fishing as a hobby, but he became a real fisherman. The fishmonger informed him of the shortage and high cost of sea ingredients. They worked together and made many profits. After the business boomed, they required more workers. Eventually, the church organised a special board for job seeking. This helped people to find employment.
"Sorry for the wait, Lady Blackmoore! These are for you!"
Helena was dumbfounded when Miss Elisa returned with loaves. "Wait, this is too much!"
"It's fine! We get plenty inside anyway. Oh, I have to bake the next batch. Goodbye, Lady Blackmoore!"
Miss Elisa came and went in the blink of an eye. Helena did not even have time to respond. Since she could not eat everything herself, Helena shared the bread with the knights and the children. Everyone gave her thanks and stopped to eat.
Helena looked at the bread in her hands. There was no way she could eat it all. Helena broke the bread in half and handed one piece to Adham. "For you."
Adham was surprised. "Wait, are you sure? I've already eaten one. Besides, don't nobles hate sharing with commoners?"
"It's better than throwing it away. I can't eat all of it anyway."
Adham hesitated, but accepted her offer. "I suppose you're right."
They resumed their stroll after finishing eating. The owner or an employee would greet Helena when she passed their shop. Mrs Dorian, the florist, gifted her with free flowers. The fat old lady smiled when Helena held a big bouquet. "My, the sunflower suits you, Lady Blackmoore."
Helena beamed at the friendly woman. "Thank you."
They continued walking down the street. This time, Mr. Dean waved his hand. The black-haired fisherman carried something. "We caught a big fish this morning. You can have it, Lady Blackmoore!"
He gave Helena a fish as big as her hand. She was stunned, but accepted it. "Uh, thank you..."
Adham cackled from behind. "Wow, you're really popular! I've never even gotten a free fish before!"
Helena stared at the fish, then at Adham. "… Do you want to take it?"
"... No."
More locals ran towards her, each holding a gift. 'Saint of Angles Street' was more than just a title for them. Helena was their saviour. She transformed the place for the better and instilled hope for a bright future in them. Wherever she went, gratitude followed her.
It hurt her conscience.
Helena did not deserve the praise. She was a cruel woman. Helena had led many people to misery in her second life. She took out her anger on people who did not warrant mistreatment. She caused Mr Umber to die from overwork, made Mr Dean lose his job, burned down the bakery where Ms Elisa worked, and hired hooligans to disrupt Mrs Dorian's business.
Helena took a deep breath. She was truly a piece of shit. While she was berating herself, someone else greeted her.
"Lady Blackmoore, good afternoon."
Helena heard Adham clicking his tongue. "Tch, those people appear."
In front of them were Mr and Mrs Gray. They were a married couple who managed a small inn and had established a refuge for the elderly and retired war veterans. Helena used to think they were good people. Unbeknownst to her, they exploited her sympathy for their own gain.
They stole the money intended for charity. Instead of using it to improve the refuge, they used her gold to line their own pockets and fund their gambling habits. To make matters worse, they framed her in her first life. Needless to say, Helena showed them no mercy in her second life. She ruined their business and drove them to poverty.
The retirement house was destroyed when the Grays lost their entire fortune. Many elderly victims lost their homes and died on the streets. Even in her second life, Helena regretted the impact of her actions. She should have handled the situation better.
The retirement house was destroyed when the Grays lost their entire fortune. Many elderly victims lost their homes and died on the streets. Even in her second life, Helena regretted the impact of her actions. She should have handled the situation better.
Helena was unsure how to deal with them at that moment. She decided to reply to their hello first.
"Greetings, Mr and Mrs Gray."
The woman smiled at her. "Long time no see. Where have you been? The people at the retirement home miss you.
Helena felt uneasy. "Hahaha... Don't worry. I'm going to come and visit next week."
The couple wore sly expressions. "We'll wait for your visit."
At last, they left Helena alone. Adham, who watched the scene unfold, just shook his head. "They don't have a good reputation around here. It would be better to stop giving those crooks money."
"I know, but…"
Adham decided not to push her further. He gave Helena some space to think and spoke to the children. "Okay, everyone. It's time to go back to the orphanage."
"Eeeeeh..."
"Come on. The Old Hag will nag me otherwise."
The children grumbled, but followed Adham. Helena parted ways with them and continued her trip to a weapon shop. The older man behind the counter greeted her when she stepped inside.
"Never thought I'd see a noble lady come here. What can I do for you?"
"Cut to the chase, as usual, Mister Iron."
Simon Iron was a renowned weaponsmith. He was a short man in his sixties with white hair wrapped in a bandana. His muscular body was covered in scars from the weapons he had forged. Mr Iron crafted his own items and sold them in his own shop. He refused to move from Angles Street, since the shop had been passed down through the generations.
"How is your search for an apprentice proceeding?"
"Don't even remind me, Lady Blackmoore. There are no applicants."
"Don't be so pessimistic. It's only been two weeks since you posted your request on the church noticeboard."
"Forget about that. Why are you here? Have you come to buy a gift?"
"No, I'm here to buy a sword."
Eric joined the conversation. "No offence, Lady Helena. A sword might be too much for you."
Violet agreed. "He's right, My Lady."
"Come on!" She grabbed a sword from the display case. "How heavy can it—"
The weapon along her body slumped to the ground. Helena totally underestimated the weight of a sword. Eric cackled, while the other knights tried to hold back their laughter.
"Don't laugh, Eric Taupe."
"… I am sorry."
Mr Iron crossed his arms, "I'm afraid the knight is right. You are just too scrawny. Even a wooden sword would be too much for you."
Living as a proper noble lady had made Helena think that wielding a sword was unnecessary. You would never need it in high society. Perhaps that was a shallow mindset. Everyone should learn self-defence, whether they are nobles or commoners.
"Lady Helena, why do you want to buy a weapon?" Violet asked. Helena just sighed at the question. "You heard my father. The street is getting dangerous. I want to find a way to protect myself."
Mister Iron was thinking, rummaging through the cupboard behind him. He placed a dagger on the table. "You're too weak for a sword, but I have a better weapon for you."
It was a simple, lightweight, short dagger. Helena took the weapon and released the sheath. The blade was sharp enough to inflict fatal damage. She could also conceal it easily.
Mr Iron smiled at her. "How is it?"
"I'll take it!"
She bought the dagger and returned home. Helena kept glancing at the wrapped weapon in the carriage. That woman was lying. Helena had purchased the dagger as a means of intimidation. She was going to confront someone who knew about her regression.
Helena never thought that person was suspicious. The suspect remained on the sidelines in her previous lives. However, their sentence turned around her assumption. It was no longer possible to call it a coincidence.
The clock showed eight o'clock. Helena had invited the person in question to her room. As the time for the confrontation approached, she became anxious.
Someone opened the door. "Lady Helena, did you call for me?"
Helena stared at the figure. Her voice was shaky.
"Karl… Who are you?"