Helena's biggest fear just came true. Once again, the past had shifted. Avoiding Sinner Punishment was not enough. Another incident took place instead, making the clock gear spin faster.
Violet opened the door to her room. "Please pardon my rudeness, Lady Helena! Some people are trying to break into our house!"
"I know!" Helena turned her head toward her maid. "Help me out, Violet. Check the situation outside and see if there is any safe exit."
Helena went downstairs and saw everyone gathered inside the house. Her family and the servants were trembling and terrified. Even Ethel was not immune to the fear. The guards who were supposed to watch her joined the fight outside.
"Father, what's happening out there?"
"I don't know, but don't worry, Ethel. I am sure the knights can handle it."
Helena doubted her father's words. The guards could not fend off the rebels in her second life. Her prediction came true in a minute. A knight barged through the door while holding his bleeding arm. He spoke with a strangled voice.
"My Lord.... Please leave the mansion... There are too many enemies. The guards and knights won't last long."
He slumped down to the floor. Fortunately, his wound is not deep. Everyone treated him as best as they could.
Violet returned and reported the situation to Helena. "Lady Helena, those people are surrounding the house. However, the backdoor is safe."
It was only a matter of time before the rebels reached the house. Helena looked at her parent. "We should leave the house. It is too dangerous to stay in here."
Her mother was puzzled. "But... where?"
"I heard the church is a safe place."
The clock was ticking. In the past, Helena's family wasted too much time thinking instead of moving. The rebels broke in and killed everyone. This time, they had to flee immediately.
"It's not like we have other choice." His father sighed and gave a quick announcement. "Everyone, please listen to me. The defence will not last long. Forget your belongings. We must evacuate to the church. Leave through the back entrance."
Everyone listened to the master of the house. The evacuation proceeded smoothly because of the small number of workers. Helena was relieved that some had returned to their hometown or resigned before the disaster.
Helena's mother and Ethel were in the carriage. Before Helena and her father rode it, they heard a loud noise from the house. The rebels had broken into their home. They noticed the place was empty and searched the whole house.
"THERE!"
It was a misfortune that one of the rebels found her family. The family could not leave if no one held the men. Melvin Blackmoore gritted his teeth and yelled to the coachman.
"Pierre, go to the church now."
"But, Master-"
"I SAID NOW!"
"Father, no!"
The coachman named Pierre nodded with a sad expression. He left the place and drove to the church. Ethel tried to jump from the carriage, but Astrid stopped her. The least she could do for her husband was to make sure his daughter survived. Melvin Blackmoore watched the carriage disappear from his eyes.
"Helena, I'm sorry. You end up stuck with this old man."
"Father..."
"Don't worry. I'll protect you. Go hide with the rest of the maids."
That man unsheathed his sword. Some servants could not escape on time while. Meanwhile, the knight was pushed by the enemies. Melvin Blackmoore must fight to protect them. During the battle, Eric greeted his master with a gravelly voice.
"Urgh, hello, Lord Blackmoore. Pardon my rudeness, but aren't you supposed to flee?"
"And abandon my people? What kind of master would that make me?"
Eric smiled at him. If he died in this place, it would be an honourable death. Eric slashed three more enemies in front of him. However, his body was battered from a long battle. Before he could catch his breath, a man jumped behind him. It was too late for Eric to dodge this one.
A whip hit his enemy.
Eric was dumbfounded. Helena, Violet and the twins just saved his life. Violet dashed to check his condition. "Eric, are you all right?"
That knight coughed. "This is the best day of my life."
"You're fucking dying," said Helena. She could not believe that man still had romance sparkle in his eyes.
Her father was confused. "Helena? Why are you not hiding?"
Helena winked at his father. "And abandon my people? What kind of master would that make me?"
The Count could not believe his daughter would use his words against him. He was embarrassed by his own quote.
Helena held her weapon tightly and entered the battlefield. The number of enemies was not as many as she expected. Helena recalled the rebels swarming her whole house before. She did not know the amount of revolters had decreased. People became part of the rebellion because of the sinner's punishment and grudge against her wicked act. Without those two, the commoners were not interested in being part of the riot.
Azure and Scarlet were a big help to the fight. In Helena's second life, the twins were never involved in the Bloody Riot. Violet was reluctant to let her sisters work under villainess Helena. She sent Azure and Scarlet back to the village. Both later received grim news about Violet's death. Their sister passed away because of Helena.
Helena would make sure her loyal maids survived in this timeline. She should give them a raise and a nice vacation after this ordeal.
"I- I must help them!" A maid shouted out loud from her hiding spot. It was a person Helena almost hit when she practised her whip before. Since that day, the maid had watched the young lady training.
"Are you insane?" A footman pulled her hand. "Those people will rip you apart!"
"But I cannot let master and young lady handle them alone! Aren't you ashamed hiding behind their back?"
"I know, but- Wait, watch out!"
A rebel found them and attacked the maid. She screamed when a man caught her. Before the rebel touched her, a whip hit him in the face. Helena ran in that direction and checked her condition.
"Are you all right? Be careful right here!"
Everyone was stunned. Helena was a noble, yet she protected them, who were commoners. Her sacrifice and heroism touched them. The chef stood up and walked to the front line. "We can't stand still and do nothing."
That man rolled his sleeves and flexed his muscles. He joined the war and moved his knives with blinding speed. A rebel was defeated in an instant. The workers were speechless. They never thought the gentle cook had a hidden strength.
The chef's eyes glinted. "Never underestimate experienced hands that handle meat and vegetables for over thirty-six years."
That maid saw a broom and held it in her arms. More workers joined the chef. They raised their weapon and yelled at the top of their lungs. "PROTECT THE ESTATE!"
Helena and Melvin Blackmoore were astounded. The rest of the servants fought instead of cowering in fear. They used anything they found in their sight, like mops, brooms and gardener's tools like shears and rakes. A butler even used knives as throwing weapons. It was truly one hell of a sight.
Their enemy might be twice their force, but Helena noticed something crucial. All of them were not combatant. They did not have experience in real-life battles. None of them was as strong as Siegfried.
Helena sneered and mocked them with her expression.
Her whip danced in the air. Every time she hit a person, they would scream as her whip cut through their skin. Helena was in bliss and ecstasy. How she missed the sight of blood and horror of her victim. She remembered how she used to torture her servant. They would beg on the floor for mercy with scars across their back. Helena would laugh at them while relishing their agonising face. This situation was the same for her. She enjoyed watching her whip ripping their flesh.
Helena's giggles turned into cackles. She had so much fun playing with weaker enemies.
Her mad laugh made the rebels hesitant to attack. They did not expect the weak noble lady to be a sadistic whip wielder. Her frenzy conduct, Violet's inhumane strength, the twin combination and everyone's aid turned the situation upside down. The Goddess of Victory favoured their side.
"They-they are too strong! Retreat!"
Helena gave her maid an order. "Violet, grab one of them!"
Violet managed to grasp one person. The situation was now reversed. Helena's servants surrounded the captured man. Everyone glared at him.
Helena used this opportunity to interrogate that man. "Why did you attack our house?"
"Hah! Like hell we will tell you! Your family are colluding with the Second Prince to kill us all!"
Helena's father was appaled. "What.... Where the hell did you hear such a horrible rumour? We are not even close to the royalty!"
That man spat on the ground instead of answering her father. Such behaviour made Helena's patient snap. "Violet, twist his arm."
"On it."
That man screamed when his arm was broken. Helena chuckled and kicked the unconscious man. She stopped laughing when she realised everyone was watching her. The servants were surprised by her vicious act and whispered between themselves.
Helena could not believe herself. She almost reverted to her villainess "Dark Rose" mode. She faked a cough and spoke to her father. "I think we should go. I am afraid this guy might have reinforcement coming."
Her father agreed. "All right. It's time to fall back. I hope we don't have any problems on our way to the church."
Before Helena walked beside her father, Azure and Scarlet tugged her sleeves. "My Lady, we think you should change your clothes..."
"Ah..."
Her clothes were tattered and covered by dirt and blood. Helena forgot she still wore her sleepwear and slipper. She changed into a much more comfortable outfit. Helena wore Oxford Brown's gift and tied her long hair in a ponytail. After changing her outfit, Helena was ready to go.
"Let's go to the church."