The sweet venom Chapter 40: 39

Read chapter 40 of The sweet venom by aspa201 on NovelPedia.

Back in her laboratory, Helia had recovered a semblance of serenity. That week, she had finally been able to resume her work: analyzing the latest samples of the bait, continuing the tests meant to improve the formula, and, in parallel, returning to her research on the antidote. She had missed the hushed calm and reassuring safety of her laboratory, but one detail unsettled her days. Cédric Belmont had not reappeared. At first, she had assumed that his condition must indeed have been severe enough to keep him from working, yet her colleagues assured her that he had returned the very day after her departure, and that he had stopped coming only since her return. She genuinely understood nothing of it. Why was he putting so much energy into avoiding her? Especially since he was meant to assist her in the continuation of the bait project. She was beginning to suspect that he had truly taken to heart all that had transpired during the project presentation. She had resolved to send him a letter to give him an account of the mission at the camp, but no reply had ever come. This silence disturbed her more than she cared to admit. After several days of intense work, Helia had decided, that very morning, to take leave in order to focus on her second resolution: the social season. The first imperial ball was to take place in only a few days, and Lucille was treating its preparation with the utmost seriousness. After spending the morning with the tailor, Lucille had suggested a brief outing in the city to choose a few accessories. She had accepted with gratitude, glad to breathe for a moment away from the laboratory. The two of them headed toward one of the most renowned boutiques in the capital. The shopfront reflected the discreet luxury of the establishment: large windows displaying a few carefully selected pieces, lamps with delicate shades, and pale marble beneath their steps. A saleswoman welcomed them at once and invited them to the upper floor, where the main boutique was located. Upstairs, the wide room was already full: dozens of ladies fluttered between jewelry displays, shoe aisles, and rows of handbags. She began examining several pairs of shoes, then a few handbags. Lucille occasionally showed her a jewel, and they exchanged brief remarks. For a few minutes, the outing felt pleasant, until a strange sensation seized her: the feeling of being watched. At first, she paid it no mind. But the longer they stayed, the sharper the sensation became. Each time she lifted her eyes, someone seemed to look away a touch too quickly. Two young women seated near a display were staring at her quite openly, whispering behind their fans. Helia felt her stomach tighten. She was not accustomed to public places; perhaps it was simply the crowd, the noise, the light. But the more she looked around, the more insistent the gazes became. She rarely made public appearances, always moving between the laboratory and the family estate, and this was her first outing since her change in appearance. She first supposed that it came from that. She simply must have been was too noticeable. But the murmurs persisted. Even Lucille was beginning to cast nervous glances around them. She thought fleetingly of Adrian, of the scandal that had erupted months earlier. But high society was, in principle, notoriously forgetful. She saw no reason why her mere presence would suddenly provoke such tension. As she was still pondering, her hands resting on a silk scarf, a silhouette stepped toward her. A Lady, impeccable in her emerald-green gown, looked her over from head to toe with unrestrained disdain. "You truly have no shame," she said sharply. Silence fell instantly across the boutique. All eyes turned toward them. Helia recognised her. She was one of the ladies often seen around Elysia. But she could not understand the attack. "Pardon?" she replied, taken aback. The Lady arched a brow, then said with a mocking tone. "Do you sincerely believe that your new appearance