The sweet venom Chapter 25: 24

Read chapter 25 of The sweet venom by aspa201 on NovelPedia.

In recent weeks, Helia had not taken a moment for herself, absorbed by the final phases of the bait's development. But now, the project was nearing its end, and she needed to prepare to present their work at the Imperial Palace alongside Cédric. The day before, the tailor and the hairdresser had finally come, after weeks of delays caused by her relentless work on the bait. Lucille, uncompromising, had firmly insisted that she finally consent to this transformation before her meeting with the Emperor. She had also invited Sera to benefit from her wise advice. Thus, she was able to choose several new dresses, as well as jewelry, perfumes, and various other beauty products under Lucille and Sera's attentive supervision. Helia now stood before the main mirror of her dressing, observing her reflection with a certain reserve. Behind her, Lucille was brushing her long hair, freed from its usual strict buns. The day before, the hairdresser had refreshed her haircut. He had slightly thinned the lengths to give them more volume and transformed her fringe into delicate strands that now framed her face. She was wearing a dark red dress with a slightly plunging boat neckline. The fabric, a delicately stretchable silk velvet, hugged her upper silhouette, emphasizing her waist. Unlike the dresses with overly wide skirts she was accustomed to, this one flared just enough, falling to elongate her figure and make her appear taller. She had followed Lucille and Lady Sera's advice in making this choice. Although she still felt uneasy in this new, more revealing style, a certain confidence was beginning to emerge beneath her hesitation. Lucille adjusted one last strand before stepping back to admire her work. "You look perfect, Miss," she stated with satisfaction. "It's... different," Helia murmured, lightly touching the fabric of her dress. "Thank you, Lucille." After one last glance at her reflection, she left her quarters and made her way to the carriage that would take her to the Imperial Palace. Upon her arrival, she saw Cédric Belmont waiting in the hall with Doctor Caisus, the official head of the project, although he had mainly overseen its progress. As she approached, a slight nervousness crept in. Doctor Caisus, impassive as usual, greeted her with a simple nod. Yet, she noticed a faint glimmer of curiosity in his eyes before he resumed his neutral expression. Cédric, on the other hand, suddenly looked away as he saw her approaching. This behavior no longer surprised her. Since the day her notebook went missing, which she still hadn't found, he had been acting in a way she no longer tried to understand. "Good morning," she said calmly as she reached them. "Lady Sterallis," Doctor Caisus replied politely. Cédric merely gave a brief nod, his lips tightly pressed. A heavy silence settled between them, quickly interrupted by the arrival of a palace steward. "His Majesty and the Imperial Council are expecting you. Please follow me." The heavy carved door opened with a muffled creak, revealing the imposing audience hall. She immediately noticed the throne where the Emperor sat. Around him, men she had never seen before were seated below, their solemn expressions reflecting their status on the Imperial Council. The air was charged with a solemn tension. She discreetly inhaled and bowed respectfully, followed by Doctor Caisus and Cédric. When the presentation began, Doctor Caisus spoke first, briefly outlining the project's progress and emphasizing the importance of the magical bait for border defense. When her turn came, Helia started detailing their work. "The main objective of the bait is to attract the boars. When they consume it, it triggers the release of specific chemical compounds that disrupt their endocrine system. That is, the system responsible for producing and regulating hormones of..." She paused as the sound of a door drew everyone's attention. The entire hall rose at once as the Prince entered, dressed in his t