The sweet venom Chapter 13: 12

Read chapter 13 of The sweet venom by aspa201 on NovelPedia.

The meal was taking place in a heavy silence. The marquis and Lucian dined without exchanging a word, the atmosphere even more tense since Helia's departure for the borders two days ago. Lucian chewed slowly, his gaze fixed on his plate, still bitter towards his father for allowing his sister to embark on such a mission. On the other hand, the marquis, though upright and impassive, appeared lost in thought, the silent anxiety weighing on his shoulders with each bite. At that moment, Barthold, the marquis's steward, a man in his fifties, entered the room cautiously. The marquis raised his head, immediately furrowing his brow, slightly irritated. "Barthold, you know I despise being disturbed during my meals," he said, dropping his napkin onto the table. Barthold advanced nonetheless, visibly nervous. "Forgive me, my lord, but… I've received an urgent report concerning your daughter. I thought it important to inform you immediately." The marquis froze, a flicker of concern passing through his eyes, while Lucian, who had stopped eating, shot him an alarmed look. The father's heart clenched, fearing the worst. "What's happened? What's wrong with my daughter?" he asked in a curt tone, the voice blending anxiety and impatience. Barthold, a bit unsettled by the marquis's sharp reaction, raised his hands to soothe the marquis's worry. "My lord… No, no, it's not bad news, quite the opposite. I beg your pardon for the confusion." At these words, the marquis relaxed somewhat, regaining his composure, though his gaze remained fixed on Barthold. Lucian, less patient, slid his knife across his plate with a faint metallic sound before exclaiming: "Then what is it with my sister, damn it?" Barthold, still somewhat shaken, continued with a glimmer of astonishment in his eyes. "Well, it seems that Lady Helia has managed to find a cure capable of saving the life of a knight who had just been poisoned by venom." The marquis stood speechless, and Lucian, shocked, sat up straighter in his seat. "This venom kills almost instantly... how is this possible?" Lucian asked in disbelief, slowly setting his cutlery down. Barthold nodded, sharing their astonishment. "Yes, that's what I was told, young master. Your sister is the first to achieve such a feat since this crisis began. The Emperor himself was astonished." The marquis placed a trembling hand on the table to collect himself, struggling to find his words. "And she… How is she? She wasn't harmed, was she? Sir Aldric is taking good care of her, I hope?" Barthold attempted to reassure him, though his information was still limited. "So far, I have only received official reports from the imperial palace, but nothing indicates otherwise, my lord. I am therefore confident that Lady Helia is in good health. We will receive a detailed report from our contacts on-site this evening." Lucian, still dumbfounded, shook his head, a half-smile of disbelief on his lips. "It's barely believable… That stubborn girl really managed to accomplish something." The marquis regained his composure, adjusting his collar as though to conceal a mix of pride and concern. He cleared his throat lightly, then asked. "Since you're here, Barthold, do you have any other news concerning her?" Barthold nodded. "Lord Adrian sent her a letter yesterday, and Lady Elysia came to the manor this morning to see her. We informed her of Lady Helia's absence." The marquis frowned, deep in thought. "Now that I think about it, Helia had instructed the servants to pretend she wasn't there during each of Lady Elysia's recent visits… Do you know why?" Before Barthold could answer, Lucian interjected, crossing his arms. "I heard the servants whispering something about a quarrel between them. Honestly, it's no bad thing. I've never liked that girl." The marquis sighed, carefully setting his knife down. "Don't get too cheerful, Lucian. They'll likely reconcile eventually." He waved his hand towards Barthold, thus freeing the steward from his duties. "You