The sun was slowly declining on the horizon, casting its final rays through the large windows of the imperial hall as Helia, her father, and Lucian left the long afternoon meeting. The sound of her heels echoed faintly on the marble as she followed her father and brother, slightly behind, listening with only half an ear to Lucian complaining about Lord Bracken's disparaging remarks. Her brother, brow furrowed, was reiterating to their father how ridiculous he found Bracken's provocative behavior, always eager for confrontation.
Suddenly, a voice rang out in the hall: "Lady Sterallis!"
All three turned around in surprise, seeing Sir Suannel approach with hurried steps. In a deep and respectful tone, he addressed Helia directly, his eyes serious: "Lady Helia, before you leave, there is something I must tell you."
Intrigued, Helia gave a slight nod, but before she could respond, Sir Suannel dropped to one knee in front of her. Her eyes widened, a wave of discomfort rising within her, and her father, equally surprised, exclaimed, "But Sir Suannel..."
Sir Suannel raised a hand to stop him, his head bowed, and in a voice heavy with gravity, he declared: "Lady Helia, I wanted to express my deepest gratitude for saving my son's life during the expedition at the border camp. I've been told that he was the first one to whom you rushed to administer the remedy."
Helia's heart skipped a beat; she realized this was likely the father of Sir Leon, as the resemblance between them left little doubt. Like his son, Sir Suannel had blonde hair and green eyes, but his severe face and imposing posture contrasted with Leon's jovial nature.
"You saved my son and, in doing so, saved many lives among my men. As a father and commander, I felt it was my duty to express my gratitude," he continued in a voice that trembled with emotion.
Helia felt her cheeks flush with both emotion and discomfort. "Sir, it's... I only did my duty," she murmured. Seeing this imposing and respected man, much older than herself, kneeling to thank her put her in an uncomfortable yet touching position. Thankfully, Sir Suannel rose almost immediately, placing a hand over his heart before continuing: "Know, Lady Helia, that if you or your family ever need anything, I pledge to assist you in any way I can."
He glanced at the Marquis, then at Lucian, who observed the scene with a smirk at his sister's obvious discomfort. The Marquis, on the other hand, showed some admiration for the commander. Despite his lack of noble title, Sir Suannel had earned the respect of all due to his military exploits, becoming a hero in the eyes of the entire empire. This show of gratitude was an unexpected honor, even for the Sterallis family.
Sir Suannel turned away after a final polite bow, murmuring "Marquis," before leaving the hall. Once the scene had ended, Lucian approached Helia with a teasing tone mixed with pride: "Well, who would have thought your little infusions could save lives... and even make a great commander bow." He teased her lightly, but Helia, seeing the look in his eyes, sensed that for once he wasn't downplaying her accomplishments. She gave a small smile, somewhat surprised by this rare compliment.
On the way back, Helia tried to sort out her thoughts. The day had been long, and it was already too late to visit the clinic. She reluctantly decided to postpone her visit until the next day and, that evening, stayed awake, pondering her situation with Adrian and Elysia. After a long period of indecision, she simply decided to write a letter to Adrian, proposing a meeting to discuss the situation.
The next morning, Helia went to the clinic. Upon entering the building, she was greeted by quiet corridors, almost silent. Although the usual bustle of the attendants had calmed, she noticed with relief the presence of a few women among them, which slightly eased her anxiety. The idea of working each day in a predominantly male environment had been worrying her, but these female figures brought an unexpected comfort.
Helia first made her way to the patient wing, eager to check on the patients she had treated a week earlier. The rooms, though tinged with sadness, were filled with signs of life. Upon entering Sir Leon's room, she found him sitting on his bed, a radiant smile lighting up his face despite the dark circles and pale complexion that still bore the marks of the trials he had endured. The fatigue etched on his face was less pronounced than it had been a week ago, and she was pleased to see he appeared much better.
"Lady Helia!" he greeted her enthusiastically, his voice filled with a newfound energy. "How have you been since we last met?"
Helia returned his smile warmly. "I should be asking you that. I'm doing very well, and you?"
"Well, I can finally stand without swaying, which is a pretty good sign," he replied, clearly delighted with his progress.
She encouraged him for a few moments, helping him sit up and promising to return regularly to monitor his recovery. The other knights, for the most part, greeted her warmly, expressing their gratitude and respect. Many of the knights were still unconscious, while others seemed to have made progress, though unfortunately the venom's side effects still wreaked havoc on their health.
Finally, she headed to the laboratory, a spacious and bright area, where the workbenches were cluttered with flasks, test tubes, and scattered documents. The noise of instruments and murmurs of scholarly conversation enveloped her, but as soon as she entered, a silence fell. Her colleagues, about ten in total, were mostly familiar faces, people she had already met at the academy or encountered at conferences. The scientific community being relatively small, she often felt out of place, the sense of being judged likely due to the fact that she was still one of the few women, but today, that feeling seemed amplified.
The head of the laboratory, Dr. Caisus Verhen, a man with graying hair and a stern expression, gave a brief nod without even looking at her, gesturing sharply for her to join her station. Helia was well acquainted with Verhen by reputation: he was a leading authority in the field of toxicology, and his research on venoms was highly regarded, with many reports she had studied in detail during her own research. She had even attended several of his lectures at the academy, impressed by his knowledge, although she had always found him somewhat intimidating.
Upon entering, she noticed the large blackboard at the center of the room, where the ongoing experiments were listed, with each researcher assigned to a specific task. This rigorous arrangement allowed everyone to see what was being worked on and avoid repeating the same experiments unnecessarily.
Dr. Verhen made a motion toward the board, his cold voice breaking the silence:
"Lady Helia, I assume you are familiar with our protocol. Each member of the team works on their own experiments. Take note of your tasks and make sure to meet the objectives."
Helia settled into her station, taking note of the ongoing research, and began organizing her own work schedule. She felt the furtive glances and heard the quiet murmurs of the other researchers around her. Calmly, she jotted down some notes on the status of the remedy studies, trying to ignore the exaggerated sighs and discreet remarks. Dr. Verhen, impassive, remained focused on his own work, as though unaware of the tense atmosphere in his team or deliberately choosing to ignore it.
Helia was still scanning the various tasks listed on the blackboard when a familiar voice, laced with condescension, rose behind her:
"Well, Lady Helia Sterallis, what a pleasant surprise to see you here," said a silky voice behind her.
Helia turned to face Cedric Belmont. His smile was the one she knew all too well: outwardly polite, but laced with that hint of condescension that had always been so familiar to her. His tall, lean figure and impeccable posture gave him the air of a noble fully in control of himself. His carefully styled red hair framed a face with piercing golden eyes, always on the lookout for an opportunity to strike, each word weighed with an irritating and calculated calm.
Despite herself, Helia felt a slight tightening in her chest. She nevertheless managed a polite smile, careful to keep her expression neutral. She knew Cedric all too well, especially his tendency to belittle those he considered his rivals, particularly her. In a soft voice, she replied, concealing her annoyance:
"Lord Belmont, delighted to see you again. I did not expect to cross paths here."
He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his lips curling into an amused smile. "Do you really believe they were going to form an elite team without me?" he replied, his tone falsely modest, his eyes twinkling with self-satisfaction. He sized her up for a moment, as though assessing the slightest of her reactions, before adding, with feigned admiration: "But you, Lady Helia… It seems you made quite an impression at the borders, or so I've heard. Some might even say you were lucky, for a first mission."
Helia met his gaze, her face impassive, though the words brought back the bitter memories of their past quarrels at the academy. She still remembered the rumors he'd spread, the petitions he'd circulated to try to have her expelled, arguing that a woman had no place in scientific studies. That memory, as vivid as the day she had learned of it, hardened her tone despite herself.
"I see you haven't changed. You're still as teasing as ever," she replied with a smile that did little to soften the bitterness in her voice.
Cedric seemed to savor this small victory, his eyes gleaming with a mocking light. "And you, still so pacifistic… what a pity. A bit of character might make your accomplishments more memorable. But well, if I may offer a bit of advice, do not rest too much on your laurels, Lady Helia. This laboratory demands more than just occasional feats."
Helia imperceptibly tightened her grip on the notebook she was holding, but made a conscious effort not to respond in kind. She knew he was waiting for a flare of anger, proof that he had struck a nerve, and she refused to give him that satisfaction. Taking a deep breath, she simply nodded.
"Thank you for your advice, Lord Belmont. I shall consider it," she said in an even tone, maintaining a diplomatic smile that hid her irritation. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have analyses to prepare."
She gave him a polite nod before turning away, relieved to put an end to the tense exchange. As she walked toward her workstation, she felt Cedric's gaze following her and guessed at the amused smile he wore on his back.
Helia sighed. As if the atmosphere in the lab were not already heavy enough, now she was stuck with this man. At that moment, she genuinely regretted the peace of her personal laboratory.