The following morning, the carriage rolled slowly over the city's smooth cobblestones. Inside, Helia and Lucian sat facing one another, the rhythmic sound of the wheels echoing at regular intervals against the ground. Soft morning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating the young siblings' faces.
Lucian, unabashed and insistent, was watching his sister. He studied her with an intensity that was almost unsettling, as though something about her deeply troubled him.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to it." He finally broke the silence in a weary voice.
She understood at once what he meant. He was, of course, referring to her new appearance. Lucille had taken it upon herself to "renovate" her image with almost excessive seriousness. She had persuaded her to discard all the dresses Elysia had chosen for her, replacing them with more modern garments better suited to her new style. Lucille had also insisted on styling her hair and applying makeup in a radically different manner before every outing.
Helia sighed, her lips pressed together slightly, and glanced at her brother.
"Would it kill you to say something even remotely positive when you speak to me?"
Her brother shrugged, his expression neutral.
"I never said it didn't suit you. I just said I'll never get used to it."
He turned his head toward the window, his eyes fixed on the slowly passing scenery.
"That's not what I was hoping to hear, but I'll take it," she replied, a satisfied smile on her lips.
A brief silence settled between them. But it did not last long. Lucian, his brows slightly drawn together, spoke again, this time more seriously.
"Is it because of everything you've been through lately?" he began, his voice betraying a note of concern that immediately caught Helia's attention.
She turned to look at him, her eyes searching his face for a clue as to what had prompted the question.
"I mean... that you've started changing so many things in your life."
His words carried genuine worry, and his gaze sought hers, as though trying to decipher her thoughts.
She was not particularly surprised by the question. It was the kind of subject she had often avoided lately, but she knew it was bound to resurface eventually.
"Once again, I'm not saying I disapprove of these changes," he continued, his tone heavier, almost solemn. "I'm just afraid you'll keep taking reckless risks, and that you'll dress and behave like someone else because of all this."
The sentence lodged itself in her mind like a thorn. She knew he meant well, but his way of seeing her as a child, someone losing herself in impulsive decisions, irritated her deeply.
She addressed him calmly, but firmly.
"Someone else... That's who I was before, Lucian."
She looked him straight in the eyes, a determined glint in her gaze. Her brother seemed momentarily taken aback by her response.
She went on, her voice softer but no less resolute.
"And I'm not taking reckless risks. The path I've chosen does carry dangers, yes, but that isn't what I seek."
Lucian offered a faint smile, not truly joyful, tinged instead with bitterness.
"That's true. I know," he said, letting out a quiet sigh before adding, "You are an adult, after all. You're twenty-one. You know how to make thoughtful decisions."
Helia's smile widened slightly, as if to lighten the mood.
"That's right. So stop seeing me as a spoiled child who lives only for her whims."
Her brother smiled mischievously, shaking his head.
"That, I'm afraid, is not an option, dear sister."
Amused, she shot back with a hint of defiance.
"Very well. In that case, I won't be able to stop seeing you as a lazy boy pretending to play at responsible adulthood either."
Before Lucian could reply, the carriage came to an abrupt halt, cutting the conversation short. The wheels scraped against the cobblestones, and the driver announced loudly that they had arrived at their destination.
The jeweler's shop stood in a discreet, narrow, cobbled alley, frequented only by a handful of passersby. Tall walls of ancient stone, adorned with wrought-iron lanterns, lent the place a hushed, almost secretive atmosphere.
This jewelry house was an exceedingly exclusive institution, welcoming only a select few clients chosen for their lineage and reputation. The Marquis Sterallis, a connoisseur of fine things, sourced his jewelry exclusively from this shop, for it alone knew how to grasp his tastes and style with precision.
As they stepped down from the carriage, Lucian turned to Sir Aldric.
"You may wait for us here. We won't be long."
They descended the stone steps leading into the alley. As soon as they stepped inside the shop, they rang the small bell on the counter. The soft chime echoed through the room, announcing their arrival. The space was sober yet refined. Tall glass display cases lined the walls, showcasing jewelry of exquisite delicacy. Beautiful decorative vases were arranged thoughtfully throughout the room and soft lighting from small crystalline lanterns bathed the space in gentle warmth.
After a moment, the jeweler, Madame Cecilia, appeared. She greeted them with her usual politeness, but Helia immediately sensed an unusual tension in her expression.
Helia and Lucian returned her greeting warmly, and Lucian began pointing out several pieces that had caught his eye on the counter. She nodded silently, absentmindedly admiring the jewelry. But when they looked up again, Madame Cecilia was still watching them with that same strained expression.
Madame Cecilia, a woman in her forties, was renowned for her impeccable professionalism and her ability to anticipate her clients' desires before they even voiced them. Yet that day, she seemed frozen, her gaze evasive, her posture rigid.
"Is everything all right, Madame Cecilia?" Lucian asked with a reassuring smile.
She lowered her eyes without answering. A heavy silence settled over the room.
From her reaction alone, both siblings immediately understood that something was wrong.
A dull noise came from the back room, a scraping sound, as though a piece of furniture had been hastily moved, followed by a muffled murmur. Helia exchanged a glance with her brother, both instantly on alert.
Then hurried footsteps echoed behind the closed door of the storeroom. A tense silence followed, lasting only a fraction of a second.
Suddenly, the door flew open, slamming against the wall with a sharp crack.