The night grew deeper.
The soft glow of the candle fell gently on Helena's small face. This time, she just sat quietly.
I was surprised.
Usually, even a tiny hint of what I was thinking would be enough to make Helena snap — and before I knew it, I'd end up with two new holes in my chest.
But this time, under the effect of [Negotiation/Soothing], her emotions were calm. She was actually listening to me.
It almost felt like a miracle.
Thinking that, I finally felt my tension ease.
I looked at Helena and smiled.
"Who doesn't like a bit of excitement? Even your brother gets lonely sometimes."
"Lonely…"
Helena muttered softly. Loneliness was something she knew far too well.
Before she met me, she had always been alone.
Hiding wherever she could, with no one who cared about a "monster" like her.
Everyone feared her.
"Do you remember the first time we met?" I asked.
Helena nodded.
"You were curled up in an alley, surrounded by crows and stray dogs, and you said…"
"I'm so hungry…"
As she recalled that moment, Helena's eyes shimmered.
"Brother… you really remember that day?"
"Of course I do." I ruffled her hair lightly. "That was the day I met you, Helena. A day I'll never forget."
Hearing how clearly I remembered, Helena smiled. She knew now that I truly cared.
She whispered, "Back then, I had just fought off the agents who tried to capture me."
"I killed them all."
"But I ran out of strength afterward…"
"Winter in St. Carlen is so cold…"
Just thinking about it made Helena shiver again — the biting cold, the hunger.
Her eyes trembled as the memories of her life before she met me resurfaced.
When Helena was little, she realized she had strange powers.
When those tentacles first appeared, she was terrified. She didn't want anyone to see that side of her.
But she couldn't control them. Whenever she felt bad, the tentacles would appear and destroy everything around her.
One day, someone saw her.
Helena couldn't remember their faces, but she remembered their expressions — fear and disgust.
"Monster!"
"It's a monster!"
That word branded itself into her heart.
Helena hated monsters because she hated herself.
That was when she started living on the streets.
Fortunately, a church orphanage took her in.
The sisters there were kind, and Helena liked them. She finally didn't have to fight stray dogs for food anymore.
She tried hard. She believed that if she prayed sincerely and studied even the things she barely understood, she could stay there — maybe even become a nun.
She didn't have to worry about food anymore, so she worked hard.
But every day, she was terrified that her power would be discovered.
And one day, it was.
She vaguely remembered a sister giving her a worn-out, slightly dirty doll.
"This is for you! Every little girl likes cute dolls, right?"
It was a big teddy bear, soft and warm to hug.
Helena was overjoyed. It was her first "toy."
Did the other girls in St. Carlen have toys like this? They must be clean and pretty… Helena envied them.
But her toy was stolen… and torn apart.
The soft bear lay shredded on the floor, its stuffing spilling out like torn entrails.
How could children be that cruel? Didn't they feel any guilt?
At that orphanage, Helena never fit in.
A tall boy, always surrounded by others, didn't like her either.
But for the sake of food, Helena endured.
Until the day her toy was destroyed — that was when she lost control.
The children screamed, the sisters' terrified eyes turned toward her, alarms blared…
Helena ran. Her tentacles were severed, her body drenched in thick, dirty blood.
The cold and hunger returned.
They kept hunting her. Helena thought she'd live like that forever — hiding and fighting just to survive.
Until that day…
A gentle brother reached out to her.
He touched her forehead and gave her warm food.
Helena remembered it clearly — freshly baked black bread, soft and tender, not hard at all.
The best thing she'd ever eaten.
"Brother…"
Helena looked at me, her eyes reflecting emotions she couldn't name.
Rowe was the light in the darkness — the one who illuminated her miserable life.
From that day on, Rowe took her home.
She finally had a warm bed, hot meals, and a family.
Her only family…
Thinking that, Helena hugged my arm tightly and quietly leaned against my chest.
If only things could stay like this forever — just the two of us, together…
"Helena?"
I looked down at her in my arms. Her body curled up, eyes closed, lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.
She looked like an ordinary girl — fragile, needing comfort.
Rowe was stunned by the sudden change. Since returning to this world, Helena had never been this obedient.
It felt… almost like old times.
[Corruption: 65↓]
Seeing that notification, I held back my excitement.
The effect of [Negotiation/Soothing] was obvious — just one peaceful conversation had lowered her corruption that much!
I knew exactly where the turning point was. Letting her remember her past had been intentional.
I never thought it would open her heart so much.
That was a good sign.
A faint smile appeared on my lips as I gently stroked her hair, my gaze soft but focused.
I was still planning ahead.
[Negotiation/Soothing] had a 24-hour cooldown. Tomorrow, I could use it again…
And Helena would finally reach containment level…
"Brother, why are you smiling like that?"
Helena opened her eyes slightly, her lake-blue eyes filled with curiosity.
"I'm smiling…" I touched her nose gently.
"You're getting sleepy, aren't you? If you're tired, just sleep. Why are you still clinging to your brother?"
I lifted her in a bridal carry.
"Go to bed. I'll clean up the dining room."
Her smile blossomed like a crescent moon.
"Brother, you're the best!"
Helena hugged me tightly as I carried her to her room.
---
Late at night.
I fought off drowsiness, yawned, and returned to my own room.
Under the dim moonlight, I glanced at the wall clock.
12:06.
Even though my mind had been running nonstop all day dealing with her, exhaustion still caught up to me.
But seeing the time now, I couldn't help but feel happy.
I made it through the day alive!
I'd get to see the sunrise tomorrow!
Even though the night outside was pitch black, I felt as if I'd already seen dawn.
That feeling soon faded, and I calmed myself.
Careful… I have to stay careful…
Just one more day…
Filled with hope for tomorrow, I lay down and quickly drifted off to sleep.
The night in St. Carlen was cold. I tossed and turned, unable to rest properly.
In my dreams, I was killed by Helena over and over, watching her sit by my bed with those cold, emotionless eyes…
"Ha!!"
I woke up drenched in sweat, as if pulled straight from the water.
"Think of something in the day, dream of it at night," I muttered, staring at the pitch-dark room with a bitter smile.
It's all your fault, Helena — I can't even sleep peacefully.
Just as I was about to close my eyes again…
I felt something strange.
It was like… something in the darkness was watching me.
My skin prickled.
I rubbed my head, opened my eyes, and tried to adjust to the dark.
Then I realized — someone was in my room.
My eyes widened in shock as I saw a pair of blue eyes staring at me, unblinking, from the darkness.
The fear surged instantly.
"You…"
"Helena?"
I quickly turned on the light.
Warm light filled the room. She sat there on the chair by my desk, completely still, staring at me.
"Brother, did you not sleep well?"
"Why are you so surprised to see me? Are you… afraid of me?"
Helena smiled strangely.
[TO BE CONTINUED]