A few days had passed since their conversation in the pastry shop.
Helia had continued to immerse herself in her research, but her mind was often haunted by dark thoughts. The pressure of repeated failures weighed heavily upon her, and despite her efforts to remain focused, a persistent sense of discouragement sometimes slipped between the lines of her notes. At times, she caught herself losing concentration, her mind wandering into memories of her recent misfortunes.
That evening, the night before her outing with Lady Sera, an engagement she had awaited with both impatience and trepidation, she had decided to stay late at the laboratory to finish the day's experiments, knowing she would not return the following day to continue.
The laboratory was bathed in the hushed silence of the night, each torch casting a flickering light against the walls. Helia sat alone, perched on a stool, gazing through the microscope at a blade, absorbed in scattered notes.
She did not hear the footsteps approaching, and only when a calm but firm voice broke the silence did she startle.
"You're still here?" The Prince's voice resonated softly.
She turned abruptly, and upon seeing him, straightened and gave a polite bow. He stood leaning against the laboratory door, elegantly dressed but casually so, a black cloak draped nonchalantly over his shoulders. He appeared to have been there for some time, watching in silence.
"Your Highness," she said with respect, offering a faint smile, though her face was drawn. "I am awaiting results... they should be forthcoming. I will be leaving soon. "
He observed her for a moment, and she felt a twinge of embarrassment. She was aware that her eyes were swollen, her complexion pale, and that she must look completely disheveled. His gaze seemed to examine every sign of fatigue on her face, and he furrowed his brow slightly.
"How is the research progressing?" he asked in a neutral tone, stepping closer to her workstation while surveying the laboratory as though seeing it for the first time.
She averted her gaze, her face closing slightly, betraying a disappointment she tried to hide. She replied with a hint of bitterness.
"We have yet to determine the exact composition of the venom. In parallel, we are testing different antidote formulas, but nothing conclusive... it's like working blind."
She barely finished her sentence when a loud noise echoed through the room: the magical analysis machine had completed its work.
She straightened suddenly, and hurriedly turned toward the machine. But fatigue overtook her; she had barely taken a few steps when she wavered.
Before she could lose her balance, the Prince moved forward with a sure gesture and caught her firmly by the waist.
Helia stumbled back slightly, and instinctively placed her hand on his shoulder to steady herself. She looked up at him in surprise, meeting his gaze, where a disapproving expression marked his face.
It was the first time she found herself so close to him; for a brief moment, she clearly saw the features of his face. In the flickering torchlight, his grey eyes gleamed with an almost ethereal brilliance, enhancing his dark demeanor.
The Prince's arm still held her firmly at the waist, and the sudden proximity between them seemed to disturb him not in the least, while she, on the other hand, felt a growing nervousness.
A flush spread across her cheeks when she realized it, and she quickly withdrew her hand from his shoulder.
"Your Highness, I..." she began, attempting to free herself.
In a firm, unmistakable tone, he interrupted her, helping her to stand straight.
"Go home and rest."
She wanted to protest, a glint of determination in her eyes.
"Yes, I just need to finish this and..."
But her gaze fell upon his implacable expression, whose firmness allowed no room for negotiation.
She quickly glanced at the magical machine, where her samples still awaited, but the Prince's gaze did not waver. Finally, she relented, slightly bowing her head.
"Very well, Your Highness."
Under his impatient watch, she nonetheless turned off the machine, mentally noting the displayed results, before heading toward the door. Even as she disappeared behind it, she could still feel his unwavering gaze on her back.
The following morning, she prepared with unusual care, donning one of her finest dresses, a pale red silk fabric adorned with silver-tinged embroidery. She asked Lucille to carefully style her hair, fearing she would appear dull compared to the other ladies. A vague sense of apprehension accompanied her, she had never socialized with other women outside of Elysia, and social interactions had never been her strong suit.
Upon her arrival at the meeting point, a renowned boutique in the capital, where women of high society usually gathered for their private fittings. Helia descended from her carriage, assisted by Sir Aldric.
The shop's façade exuded classical elegance. Through the large windows, the warm interior was visible, richly decorated. Helia noticed Lady Sera through the glass, standing with a beaming smile, she was accompanied by an elegant blonde with light hair, framing a delicate face illuminated by deep black eyes. Beside her stood also a tall brunette with sage-green eyes.
Helia immediately felt somewhat uneasy upon seeing them. As expected, these women were stunning, and despite having made herself presentable, she couldn't help but think she might stand out in their company.
Rarely did she truly care about her appearance; she avoided such concerns as much as possible to spare herself from bitter disappointment. But on occasions like these, she had no choice but to confront that feeling of inadequacy, attempting to ignore her insecurities and, in a way, forget herself.
As soon as she spotted her, Sera exited the boutique to greet Helia, a warm smile on her lips that immediately pushed aside her darker thoughts.
"Lady Helia!" she called, giving a slight curtsy. "I'm so glad to see you."
Helia responded to Sera's curtsy with a faint smile.
"The pleasure is mine, Lady Sera. I'm sorry for my lateness..." she added, casting a quick glance around, somewhat embarrassed to see that the three of them appeared already ready to wait for her.
Amused, Sera reassured her in a kind tone.
"Not in the least, you've arrived just in time; we've only just gotten here as well. Come, let me introduce you to my friends."
She slipped her arm under Helia's to lead her along, giving a nod to Sir Aldric to assure him that he could wait for her.
"Celia has privatized the entire second floor for us today—she is incorrigible when it comes to shopping, you'll see."
Helia followed her with an uncertain yet curious smile as they entered the boutique. The two ladies ceased their conversation upon seeing them approach and greeted them with a graceful curtsy. Sera introduced her friends with unrestrained enthusiasm.
"Lady Helia Sterallis, whom I have spoken of so often! Lady Helia, this is Celia and Rosalind."
The beautiful blonde, Celia, stepped forward with a radiant smile, her gait light and full of vivacity.
"Delighted to meet you, Lady Sterallis!" she exclaimed with contagious enthusiasm.
Helia, slightly embarrassed by this overly formal address, suppressed a nervous laugh before responding gently,
"Likewise, you may call me by my first name, that would suit me just as well."
"Wonderful! Then you can call us by our first name as well" replied Celia eagerly, her dark eyes sparkling with joy.
Sera nodded with a conspiratorial smile, while Rosalind, the second enigmatic young Lady, remained a little apart, her features bearing a slight reserve.
Her silence seemed to weigh down the atmosphere, which Helia perceived with a hint of unease. Seeing this, Celia quickly broke the tension.
"Rosalind, come now, don't be so silent! You'll frighten our new friend," she joked, casting a mock-indignant look at her friend.
Rosalind turned her head, a sulky expression on her face, and Sera took the opportunity to place an affectionate hand on her shoulder.
"Don't take it badly, Helia," she said with a teasing tone. "Rosalind is Sir Leon's fiancée, and although she is infinitely grateful to you for saving his life, she is also the most possessive woman this land has ever known—not to mention her character... Let's just say she doesn't quite know how to behave in your presence."
With a smirk, Sera gently shook Rosalind's shoulders, who responded by pushing her away with a slight air of exasperation.
"That's absurd!" she protested in a tone that was half-annoyed, half-embarrassed, as she tousled Sera's hair.
"Why on earth would I be jealous of the woman who saved my fiancé? And since when do you allow yourself to criticize my character like this, Sera?"
Celia burst out laughing at this reply, and Helia couldn't help but smile in turn, reassured that Rosalind's reserve was not due to a malicious judgment.
She had never seen high society ladies behave like this, so relaxed and familiar, breaking the rigid codes she was used to. Usually, every word exchanged seemed calculated, every gesture measured. This spontaneous lightness was an unexpected breath of fresh air.
Rosalind, blushing slightly, stepped toward him her and gave a slight curtsy, a glimmer of admiration mixed with defiance in her eyes.
"Lady Helia, please rest assured that I am sincerely delighted to make your acquaintance."
She shot a dark look at Sera and Celia.
"Please excuse my reserve… It's the shyness that took over, and… I am of course immensely grateful for your saving my fiancé's life."
Her voice broke slightly on these words, and she averted her gaze, somewhat embarrassed.
Helia inclined her head gently in response, touched by Rosalind's sincerity. She tried to imagine the radiant Sir Leon alongside this strong-willed young woman, an unexpected couple, yet one that sparked in her a kindly curiosity.
At that moment, an employee of the boutique descended from the upper floor and approached the group with a respectful bow.
"Ladies, your floor is ready. We have arranged the latest collections received for your pleasure. Please follow me."
At these words, Celia almost bounced with joy, thanking the employee in a cheerful tone, and dashed up the stairs first, followed by Rosalind, Sera, and finally Helia, who ascended with a sense of nervous excitement she hadn't felt in quite some time.