The next day, Helia returned to the laboratory. Despite the lingering fatigue that weighed heavily on her, she felt ready to face the day without faltering. However, as soon as she stepped through the door, a feeling of unease washed over her.
The gazes of the other scientists converged on her, but these were far from compassionate; they were cold, distant, and at times even tinged with a sickly curiosity. She was already accustomed to a certain distance from her colleagues, but this time, she felt as though she were a circus exhibit. She knew that some whispers were circulating, but she had hoped, in vain, that in this place dedicated to science, her colleagues would rise above the scandals spread by the newspapers.
Determined to ignore this unwanted attention, she walked straight to her workbench and calmly put on her lab coat, trying to reassure herself: this commotion would eventually die down, and society would move on to a new distraction. This thought provided her with a brief comfort... until she saw Cédric Belmont, a smirk playing on his lips, approaching her.
She immediately understood that peace would be a luxury she could not afford today.
"Well, well, what do we have here! Could it be our esteemed queen of broken hearts?" he said in a mocking tone.
Helia clenched her jaw and focused on preparing her workspace, making a conscious effort to ignore his presence. However, Cédric drew closer and casually leaned on her table, clearly determined to provoke her.
"What, are you ignoring me now? Come, don't tell me this public humiliation has left you speechless?" he whispered with a sly smile.
She continued her work, refusing to react in any way. Her dignity had already been so undermined that she had no intention of giving this man the pleasure of seeing her falter.
But Cédric persisted, growing even more insolent.
"Honestly, Lady Sterallis, is this truly all it takes to shake you? I had assumed someone so brilliant would have thicker skin. Perhaps I overestimated you."
At his words, she felt her patience wear thin. She slightly lifted her chin.
"You know nothing of my life, Lord Belmont. So, I ask you to keep your thoughts to yourself." She murmured, in a low but cutting voice.
The reply, though quiet, unsettled Cédric, who stood momentarily stunned, surprised by this unusual firmness from the usually peaceful Helia. She was always polite and courteous, and this was the first time she dared to respond with such coldness.
However, he quickly regained his arrogance and retorted with a chuckle.
"Well, Lady Sterallis, has the breakup sparked a bit of courage in you? Who knows, maybe it's done you some good. It was high time you..."
"Lord Belmont." Helia's voice cut him off abruptly.
She placed her notebook forcefully on the workbench, almost making him jump. Her gaze pierced him.
"We are here in a laboratory with the mission of saving the Empire from the crisis that threatens it. I suggest you focus your efforts on your work, rather than wasting your time on the gossip of scandalous newspapers. You, who spend your time trying to measure yourself against me, perhaps this will give you the chance to surpass me."
Cédric was left speechless, unable to formulate an immediate response.
A heavy silence settled, and Helia, having spoken with a cold mastery, turned away without sparing him a final glance. She headed for the cold room to retrieve her samples. Once alone in the freezing space, she leaned against a shelf, closed her eyes, and let out a sigh, feeling the tension dissipate all at once.
She herself was surprised by the boldness of her words. She, who hated conflict and preferred calm and diplomacy, had responded with a firmness she hadn't known in public. She felt a brief pang of remorse thinking about Cédric's bewildered expression, but she shook her head.
After retrieving her samples and regaining some semblance of calm, she returned to her workbench. Cédric had disappeared, and she didn't even need to look up to verify. She finally relished the peace and silence that surrounded her. Nothing else mattered at that moment.
The day had been exhausting, but, against all odds, Helia emerged relieved. Immersed in her research, she had, for a few hours, been able to set aside her troubled thoughts.
Unfortunately, like all the other days spent in the laboratory, she had no concrete results to show for it. Months of relentless work had not been enough to unravel the mysteries of the venom; each new analysis seemed only to complicate the equation further. Every time a test detected the presence of a compound, another one disrupted the reading. So far, only a few elements had been identified with certainty, but even that remained precarious, as their findings could be called into question by new experiments. It was as if the composition of the venom had been designed specifically to evade them, a puzzle created to mislead even the most determined researchers.
Despite their attempts to formulate an antidote with the limited data they had, the research remained ineffective and tentative. The mental fatigue from this scientific deadlock weighed heavily on Helia's heart, as though both her work and her personal life were trapped in a shared impasse.
After this long day, she stopped by the clinic to visit her usual patients, a gesture that allowed her to feel, if only briefly, a sense of comfort amidst the surrounding turmoil. The twilight painted the clinic's courtyard in golden hues, bathing the landscape in a soothing light.
Upon leaving, a familiar figure was waiting for her.
Lady Sera stood by her carriage, and as soon as she spotted Helia, she gracefully descended to approach her. Draped in a navy blue gown that enhanced the radiance of her complexion, she wore a sleek, elegant coat. Her cheeks, slightly flushed from the cool wind, added a touch of softness to her distinguished appearance.
"Lady Helia," she said with a courteous bow as she reached her.
Surprised, Helia responded with a greeting in return, somewhat puzzled.
"Lady Sera? What brings you here? Is one of yours among the wounded knights?" she asked with a tone of genuine compassion.
Sera shook her head, a gentle look in her eyes, tinged with a compassion she almost seemed to want to hide.
"No, actually, I came for you," she said, a slight yet concerned smile on her lips.
Immediately guessing the reason for the visit, Helia felt a wave of bitterness creep over her despite herself. The image of recent events flashed through her mind in painful bursts, and she had to make an effort to mask her discomfort.
Noticing the subtle change in her expression, Sera lowered her gaze, visibly uncomfortable.
"I acted impulsively, and now I realize my visit might be not appropriate... I beg your pardon." She said with a discreet hesitation, ready to withdraw.
Helia realized she hadn't been able to contain the emotion that had swept over her. She bit her lip, touched by Sera's gesture, the first to extend a hand of comfort.
"No, it's I who should apologize for that reaction. It wasn't... You're not disturbing me in the least."
She replied somewhat hurriedly, instinctively placing a hand to her forehead, embarrassed by her own awkwardness.
"Then... would you accept to have tea with me?" Sera suggested with a faint, encouraging smile, as if to lighten the atmosphere.
Helia regained her composure and gave her a sincere smile, grateful for the unexpected kindness.
"Of course! I would be delighted," she replied, glad to have friendly company to ease her thoughts.
The two ladies took their seats in one of the most renowned tea salons of the capital, a small patisserie with cream-colored walls, adorned with moldings and crystal chandeliers. A sweet scent of vanilla and sugar lingered in the air, adding a comforting warmth to the space.
Seated by the window, they ordered an assortment of small cakes and tea.
Helia, wearing her simple dark grey dress, felt almost drab in comparison to Lady Sera, who seemed to glow in her gown. Her dark circles revealed the exhaustion of a long day spent at the laboratory, and she couldn't help but feel a little "out of place" next to the gorgeous noble Lady.
Sera, observing Helia as she settled, offered her a kind smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of concern. After the first sip of tea, the conversation began with trivial matters: details about Helia's latest research, mentions of recent social events Sera had attended, and an amusing anecdote about a puppet show in the city.
Then, Sera seemed to hesitate. Her fingers nervously tapped on her cup, and Helia sensed that she was holding herself back from broaching a certain subject. She took the initiative and addressed the topic that seemed to be on Sera's lips.
"Lady Sera, I imagine you didn't come here just to talk about puppets," she said with a small, indulgent smile, attempting to lighten the mood.
Sera let out a relieved sigh and nodded, taking a few seconds before setting down her cup.
"You're right… Lady Helia, I must confess that… everything that has happened to you… it disgusts me! From that treacherous Elysia, I'm not surprised. But your fiancé… I thought him to be an upright, honorable man!"
She let out an irritated sigh, her eyes darkening with anger. For a moment, she seemed to have discarded all the restraint of a noblewoman, revealing the depth of her outrage.
Helia, taken aback by the intensity of her reaction, felt a warm flush rise within her. She wasn't used to someone defending her with such passion. She lowered her gaze to her cup of tea, a discreet smile tugging at her lips.
"I thank you, Lady Sera… It is so comforting to hear someone express indignation in this way, though I wouldn't wish this burden on anyone."
Sera took both of Helia's hands in hers, looking her directly in the eyes, a protective and fierce gleam in her gaze.
"Forgive my boldness, but… those two are scoundrels, pure and simple! True villains. How can they, after everything you've done for them? It's despicable!"
Helia couldn't suppress a soft laugh, surprised and soothed at once, which seemed to relax Sera slightly. She gently squeezed her hands, holding herself back from being swept away by this anger, though it was strangely comforting.
"This story is behind me now." she finally replied with a slightly bitter smile.
She averted her gaze, her face hardening slightly, as though still trying to shield herself from those too-recent memories.
Despite Sera's indignation, the pain remained sharp; just a few weeks ago, these were the people she loved and trusted the most.
They shared a knowing smile, and she found herself appreciating the intensity of Sera's compassion. Little by little, she realized she wasn't as alone as she had believed in facing this trial.
A waiter approached, placing an assortment of colorful pastries before them. Helia took a bite of a tartlet, savoring the sweet and slightly tart taste that melted on her tongue.
Sera watched her, her eyes sparkling.
"Lady Helia, I wanted to propose something…" she began after a moment. "My friends and I are planning a little outing in the city next week. Would you like to join us?"
Helia, caught off guard, gently set down her cup.
"I…" She hesitated, not used to receiving such invitations. She didn't generally belong to the social circles of Lady Sera, and this invitation touched her deeply. "It would be a pleasure. I must admit, a little lightheartedness would be most welcome."
Sera flashed her an encouraging smile, clearly delighted.
"Perfect! It will help you clear your mind. We can do some shopping, perhaps even have a drink at the end of the day."
She felt the weight of loneliness lift a little at the prospect, and for the first time in weeks, she looked forward to an outing that wasn't related to her laboratory.
The conversation took a lighter turn, and soon, they began discussing simpler topics. Lady Sera went on to describe each of the friends she would meet next week, sketching small portraits that were sometimes amusing, sometimes moving. Helia found herself smiling and laughing as she listened to anecdotes about these young women she hadn't met yet. It felt strange and new to her to converse so freely, and she felt revitalized by the sincerity and kindness that radiated from Sera.
She was touched by the tenderness with which the kind Lady spoke of her friends, and she found herself almost shyly hoping that one day, she could be appreciated as a friend with that same affection.
The more she listened, the more she realized how mistaken her own understanding of friendship had always been. With Elysia, she had never truly known this lightness: their conversations had always been tinged with admiration and a certain imbalance, as though she herself were a little ugly duckling who had somehow attracted the attention of a majestic swan. Perhaps she had settled for this imbalanced relationship because she had never imagined that she could be worthy of affection for who she truly was, rather than for her devotion.
As she left, Helia felt a surge of gratitude toward Sera. This woman, both gentle and bold, had just given her a precious moment, a little warmth in the midst of her personal storm.