Chapter 199. Haunted by Regret

JASON

“I did not want it to be like this,” I blurted out. There was sadness in me too, although I tried hard to keep a cool head. To survive, it was necessary to suppress strong feelings.

I was glad to see her, but I knew that her presence endangered my safety and hers. If people in this area saw her more often, they would think that this place was inhabited, and everything could get out of control. It was teeming with thieves, and that could be my undoing. If someone came in and recognized me, they would want to take me to the king so he could execute me and collect some kind of reward.

Jacob would kill me, I was sure, if I set foot near his castle. My actions were so reprehensible that I had no justification that would help me escape death as punishment.

“I know it was not. From what you tell me, it was an unavoidable stumble.” I shook my head and could not quite believe what had happened to me. “This town is afflicted with a terrible disease, more than a