The sweet venom Chapter 21: 20

Read chapter 21 of The sweet venom by aspa201 on NovelPedia.

A few days had passed since their conversation in the pastry shop. Helia had continued to immerse herself in her research, but her mind was often haunted by dark thoughts. The pressure of repeated failures weighed heavily upon her, and despite her efforts to remain focused, a persistent sense of discouragement sometimes slipped between the lines of her notes. At times, she caught herself losing concentration, her mind wandering into memories of her recent misfortunes. That evening, the night before her outing with Lady Sera, an engagement she had awaited with both impatience and trepidation, she had decided to stay late at the laboratory to finish the day's experiments, knowing she would not return the following day to continue. The laboratory was bathed in the hushed silence of the night, each torch casting a flickering light against the walls. Helia sat alone, perched on a stool, gazing through the microscope at a blade, absorbed in scattered notes. She did not hear the footsteps approaching, and only when a calm but firm voice broke the silence did she startle. "You're still here?" The Prince’s voice resonated softly. She turned abruptly, and upon seeing him, straightened and gave a polite bow. He stood leaning against the laboratory door, elegantly dressed but casually so, a black cloak draped nonchalantly over his shoulders. He appeared to have been there for some time, watching in silence. "Your Highness," she said with respect, offering a faint smile, though her face was drawn. "I am awaiting results... they should be forthcoming. I will be leaving soon. " He observed her for a moment, and she felt a twinge of embarrassment. She was aware that her eyes were swollen, her complexion pale, and that she must look completely disheveled. His gaze seemed to examine every sign of fatigue on her face, and he furrowed his brow slightly. "How is the research progressing?" he asked in a neutral tone, stepping closer to her workstation while surveying the laboratory as though seeing it for the first time. She averted her gaze, her face closing slightly, betraying a disappointment she tried to hide. She replied with a hint of bitterness. "We have yet to determine the exact composition of the venom. In parallel, we are testing different antidote formulas, but nothing conclusive... it's like working blind." She barely finished her sentence when a loud noise echoed through the room: the magical analysis machine had completed its work. She straightened suddenly, and hurriedly turned toward the machine. But fatigue overtook her; she had barely taken a few steps when she wavered. Before she could lose her balance, the Prince moved forward with a sure gesture and caught her firmly by the waist. Helia stumbled back slightly, and instinctively placed her hand on his shoulder to steady herself. She looked up at him in surprise, meeting his gaze, where a disapproving expression marked his face. It was the first time she found herself so close to him; for a brief moment, she clearly saw the features of his face. In the flickering torchlight, his grey eyes gleamed with an almost ethereal brilliance, enhancing his dark demeanor. The Prince's arm still held her firmly at the waist, and the sudden proximity between them seemed to disturb him not in the least, while she, on the other hand, felt a growing nervousness. A flush spread across her cheeks when she realized it, and she quickly withdrew her hand from his shoulder. "Your Highness, I..." she began, attempting to free herself. In a firm, unmistakable tone, he interrupted her, helping her to stand straight. "Go home and rest." She wanted to protest, a glint of determination in her eyes. "Yes, I just need to finish this and..." But her gaze fell upon his implacable expression, whose firmness allowed no room for negotiation. She quickly glanced at the magical machine, where her samples still awaited, but the Prince's gaze did not waver. Finally, she relented, slightly bowing her head. "Very well,