22.

That evening, upon returning to her room, Helia placed her coat over the back of a chair and gently let herself sink into the seat near her vanity. She was exhausted, but it was a pleasant kind of exhaustion, the kind that follows a well-spent day. Shortly after, Lucille entered with the grace and discretion that were so characteristic of her. She approached Helia and, with precise movements, began undoing the carefully tied chignon from earlier that day. 

Thick, wavy locks cascaded down Helia's back, freed from their restraint. The mirror before them reflected an image of Helia lost in thought, her gaze slightly unfocused. 

After a moment of silence, Helia took a discreet breath before asking, 

"Lucille, what do you truly think of my style of dress?" 

Lucille paused, her fingers momentarily still on a hairpin. She reflected for a brief moment, weighing her words carefully, before resuming her task and answering calmly, 

"My lady, my opinion matters little as long as you feel comfortable in what you wear." 

Helia frowned slightly, her eyes lingering on her reflection. That answer, though honest, only confirmed what she had already suspected. 

"So, you do not actually like the way I usually dress, do you?" Helia asked, her tone tinged with nervousness. 

Lucille set a hairpin down on the vanity before responding with frankness, 

"I would not go so far as to say that, but... it is true that some outfits do not truly highlight your natural elegance," she added, her voice soft, almost hesitant. 

The remark stirred a wave of memories in Helia's mind. She recalled the countless times Lucille had subtly tried to suggest other cuts and styles—advice that her dearest friend, Elysia, had always dismissed with a mere wave of the hand. Helia had never paid attention to Lucille's opinions, always siding with Elysia's imposed tastes. 

As Lucille delicately brushed her hair, Helia focused on her reflection—an exercise she often avoided. Her eyes traced over her features: high cheekbones, pale complexion, and the fringe that fell across her forehead. That simple introspection awakened in her a familiar sense of derealization, as though she were observing a stranger. After a moment, a question escaped her lips almost of its own accord, 

"And… my hair? What do you truly think of it?" 

Lucille paused mid-movement, letting the brush rest for an instant. She observed Helia attentively through the mirror and, for the first time, began to understand the true meaning behind the young woman's questions. Helia, who had always neglected her appearance due to a glaring lack of self-confidence, now seemed to be seeking change—to break free from the image that had been imposed upon her. 

This unexpected realization touched Lucille, who responded with a sincere expression and palpable gentleness, 

"My lady, you are beautiful, no matter what you choose to do. But since you ask for my opinion…" She allowed a faint smile to cross her lips before continuing, 

"I have always thought that this fringe does not flatter you. You have such a harmonious face… You should accentuate it rather than conceal it." 

With care, Lucille pushed the fringe aside, revealing Helia's face so she could see for herself. The latter scrutinized her reflection, studying this unfamiliar image. It was not that she found herself beautiful, but rather that she was discovering herself in a new light. Her face seemed brighter, more defined, almost… more confident. That fringe had also been Elysia's suggestion. 

"Could you arrange for a hairdresser to come this week?" Helia asked after a long silence, her voice carrying a quiet determination. 

Lucille responded with a radiant smile as she resumed braiding Helia's hair, 

"Of course, my lady. It will be done. Anything else?" 

Helia met her gaze in the mirror before adding, this time with newfound confidence, 

"Yes. Find me a new tailor as well. I believe it is time to renew my wardrobe." 

Lucille inclined her head slightly, her smile growing wider. 

"An excellent idea, my lady. I shall take care of it first thing tomorrow." 

As Lucille finished braiding her hair, Helia turned her gaze to the window, where the night stretched endlessly. Something had shifted within her that evening. Perhaps not a revolution, but a faint awareness—an initial step toward a new version of herself. 

After taking a warm bath to relax and changing into more comfortable attire, Helia let herself collapse onto her bed with a sigh of relief. The air in the room was soft and soothing, inviting rest. She closed her eyes, hoping that the silence of the house would help her find some peace. 

An hour later, she awoke with a start, her throat dry and her mind still clouded by the thoughts swirling in her head. She was parched, but she had no intention of disturbing Lucille in the middle of the night. She slipped out of her room discreetly and made her way to the kitchen. 

As she crossed the hallway, she noticed that the door to the small salon was ajar, a dim light escaping through the opening. The voices of her father and brother reached her ears, causing her to freeze for a moment. 

How is it that they have returned so late? she wondered. 

Curious and somewhat uneasy, she stepped inside soundlessly. The moment she entered the room, they turned to look at her, their faces marked by deep concern. She sensed it immediately. 

Something was wrong. 

"Is something the matter?" she asked, a chill of apprehension tightening in her throat. 

Her father and brother exchanged a weighted glance, filled with unspoken words. After a moment of hesitation, her father finally spoke, his voice grave, almost heavy. 

"I had planned to tell you tomorrow, but since you are here…" He paused briefly before continuing, the tension in his voice unmistakable. "We have just returned from an emergency imperial council. News from our spies has arrived." 

Helia's heart began to race. She sat down on the couch opposite them, her mind spinning. 

"And? What have they discovered?" she asked urgently, a sinking feeling telling her that she would not like the answer. 

Lucian, her brother, replied in a somber tone, 

"Our worst fear has been confirmed. A secret laboratory has been uncovered, and Ravenor's military strength has increased significantly." 

The shock struck her like a blow. She sank into the couch, hands clenched on her knees, her thoughts in turmoil. Her meager progress on the antidote now felt utterly insignificant. Everything fell into place with cruel clarity—the venom had indeed been designed so that its formula would be nearly impossible to decipher. 

"And? What is the plan?" she asked, her mind already grasping for a solution. 

Lucian exhaled heavily before rising. 

"Nothing that concerns you. Just focus on continuing your research on the antidote. That is the best thing you can do for the Empire… for now." He left the room with slow, exhausted steps. "I am going to bed, Father. Good night." 

Helia remained seated, staring blankly ahead, as her father stood as well. His voice was firm, yet tinged with fatigue. 

"You should do the same." 

She lacked the strength to argue. Slowly, she rose and climbed the stairs. Once in her room, she attempted to rest, but her thoughts continued to churn. The Empire's situation was dire. War could break out at any moment. She thought of the knights fighting daily in the military camps, the wounded afflicted by venom or the monstrous creatures of the Eastern Forest. 

The exhaustion from the night before mingled with guilt and anxiety. 

After hours of mental agony, she rose, resolved. If she could not sleep, she might as well be productive. 

She slipped out of her room silently, careful not to make a sound that might awaken any servants lingering in the corridors, and headed toward her study. 

The darkness of the night enveloped the house. Every sound seemed to echo louder than it should, but fortunately, she remained unnoticed. 

She sat at her desk, lit a candle, and began leafing through the documents concerning the various projects undertaken against the boars. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she delved back into the reports. The researchers and mages had all failed. 

Some had attempted to trap the boars, but other animals often ended up caught instead. Others had tried poisoning them, yet the creatures seemed entirely immune to numerous substances. One project had sought to disperse a cloud of magical spores, but the effect had been too weak and ultimately ineffective, as the boars possessed exceptional resistance to magical toxins. Another attempt had involved setting fire to part of the forest to drive them away, but the creatures had not only withstood the flames, they had also grown more aggressive due to the heat—an utter failure. 

Helia shook her head, feeling increasingly lost. She had the impression of going in circles. But then, something clicked in her mind. If magic had failed, why not use it differently? What if, instead of confronting these creatures head-on, she employed a more subtle approach, a method that could harness the influence of amplification magic to manipulate the boars' proliferation? 

Ideas began to take shape within her, a glimmer of hope flashing through her thoughts. She was not trapped. She simply needed to reconsider the entire problem from a new angle. Perhaps the key lay in using a magical lure, something capable of influencing their behavior on a large scale. But how would that work? She needed more details, more focus. Yet fatigue was creeping in, and the idea remained hazy. She jotted down a few notes in a notebook, hoping to refine them the next day. 

The next morning, after a sleepless night, she hurried to the laboratory, nervous but determined. Doctor Caisus was already in his office, reviewing the progress reports of the other scientists. His office was a small haven of order amidst the usual chaos of the lab—neatly stacked reports, carefully arranged measuring instruments, and a dim light illuminating the space. Helia stood there, uncertain, waiting for him to notice her. She didn't dare interrupt him, especially since the man could sometimes be quite intimidating. 

After a minute of silence, during which the atmosphere seemed frozen, he finally lifted his gaze to her, his expression as impassive as ever. 

"Lady Sterallis, if you have something to say, please, go ahead." His voice, authoritative and dry, sent a shiver down her spine. 

A little flustered, she stammered, "Well… Last night, I gave a lot of thought to another way of managing the boar crisis… and I came up with an idea." 

The doctor regarded her coldly. "Well then, speak. I'm listening." 

Helia took a deep breath before beginning. "A magical lure that would stop their proliferation." 

Doctor Caisus raised an eyebrow, visibly skeptical. "A magical lure? Are you a mage or a scientist?" he said, his tone laced with sarcasm and condescension. 

Helia straightened slightly, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. "The magic would only serve to amplify the lure's effect. The rest would be within our domain." 

The doctor scrutinized her for a long moment before responding in an icy tone, "And how exactly do you intend to develop this?" 

At his question, Helia averted her eyes. Though she had obviously considered the project, she was stuck on many details, likely due to her accumulated fatigue. She swallowed before replying, the weight of uncertainty pressing on her shoulders. "Well, I have a few ideas…" 

The doctor gave her a disapproving look. "I see. So, you don't know." He sighed loudly, exasperated. 

Helia felt her heart clench. She had expected him to reject her idea, and she regretted coming to him without better preparation. The truth was that she had no concrete solution to present. No one was supposed to be aware of the imminent threat posed by Ravenor, and she knew the doctor would find it highly unprofessional of her to propose an unfinished idea. Her eyes lowered, her face flushing with embarrassment. 

At that moment, a familiar voice interrupted, breaking the silence. 

"If I may, she may not know yet, but I do." 

Doctor Caisus turned his sharp gaze toward Cedric. "Go on?" He crossed his arms, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips as he awaited further explanation. 

Cedric straightened, his tone far more confident than Helia's. "The young lady here specializes in laboratory biology. My own training, on the other hand, focuses more on organismal and environmental biology. I've already worked on biological lures. Furthermore, my family is a major benefactor of the Mages' Tower. I intend to find an experienced mage to assist us." 

Helia was left speechless. Us? she thought, stunned. Had he just inserted himself into her project without any hesitation? 

She suddenly recalled that Cedric's mother, Lady Floria, was a particularly powerful mage, which explained his connection to the Mages' Tower. As for his father, an influential baron, he was no less involved when it came to supporting his son's ambitions. But none of that changed the situation. Cedric had no say in this. 

Doctor Caisus remained silent for a moment, his eyes intensely fixed on Cedric as though weighing each word. Then, after a long pause, he gave a brief nod. "Very well. Develop this idea together and return to me when you have something concrete." He lowered his gaze back to the file in his hands, signaling that the conversation was over. 

Helia, utterly irritated, could only hold back a sigh. But she had no choice but to accept it. She turned toward Cedric, who was watching her with a smug smile, fully aware of the annoyance he was causing her. 

"Ready, partner ?" he said in an exaggeratedly cheerful tone, leaning in slightly to bring his face closer to hers, clearly relishing her discomfort. His red hair and golden eyes truly gave him the look of a fox, and his personality was no different. 

Helia despised the way he toyed with her, how he reveled in feeling superior and in provoking her frustration. But she couldn't afford to let emotions get the better of her. 

She clenched her teeth, frustration rising within her. "Let's go," she replied curtly, more out of necessity than genuine enthusiasm. 

With one last glare, she strode toward her workbench, resigned to enduring this forced collaboration with Cedric. But a part of her knew she had no other choice if she wanted to advance her research. Cedric, on the other hand, seemed in no hurry to make things easy for her.