The sweet venom Chapter 5: 4

Read chapter 5 of The sweet venom by aspa201 on NovelPedia.

Helia was seated in her small sitting room, her hands resting on her knees. The rays of the sun filtering through the lace curtains gently caressed the room, while the soft scent of fresh flowers filled the air. She had carefully arranged the cushions on the sofa, hoping that everything would be perfect for Lady Sera's arrival. Every minute seemed like an eternity, and anxiety crept into her. A maid entered, interrupting her thoughts. "Miss, should I prepare the table for tea now, or are you still waiting for your guest?" She straightened up, her heart pounding. "Not yet, please. Has the carriage arrived?" "No, not yet," replied the young woman with a soothing smile. "But I'm sure it won't be long." Helia nodded, though her mind was elsewhere. She thought back to the letter she had written to Lady Sera, in which she had expressed her regret and desire to meet her. The memories of their last encounter, where she had dismissed Lady Sera's warnings with a wave of her hand, haunted her. Why had she been so blind? About a year and a half ago, Elysia had started lamenting about Lady Sera, the daughter of a viscount, describing her as a harasser acting out of jealousy. She had wept in Helia's arms, making her believe that this situation was unbearable for her. A few days later, at a social gathering, Lady Sera had approached Helia, intending to speak with her. In a serious tone, she had begun to warn her, revealing that her friend was not who she appeared to be. But before she could elaborate, Helia had interrupted her, irritated, asking her not to tire herself. She had firmly retorted that she would not believe a word of what she was saying, aware of the suffering her best friend endured because of the situation. Lady Sera had tried to protest, but Helia, unyielding, had told her never to come near her or Elysia again. In her letter, Helia had expressed that she would completely understand if Lady Sera chose to decline her invitation, given their history. She had even taken the time to apologize for her past behavior, acknowledging that she had acted wrongly by disregarding Lady Sera's warnings. She assured her that she wasn't expecting an immediate response, but that she would still be waiting for her that day, hoping for a chance to talk. As she lost herself in her thoughts, someone entered, and she turned with a smile, hoping it was a maid announcing the arrival of her guest. To her disappointment, it was her brother, Lucian. "Who are you waiting for, Helia?" he asked, a teasing smile on his lips. "Still Lady Elysia, I suppose? Naturally, you have no other friends." Helia's enthusiasm immediately extinguished. "What do you want, Lucian?" she hissed. He shrugged. "Nothing special," he said, feigning innocence. "I saw a bit of commotion here and wondered what was going on." "It must be nice to have free time. Don't you have a marquisate to manage?" She retorted, raising an eyebrow, trying to mask her annoyance. At that moment, Lucille entered, interrupting their exchange. "Miss, your guest has arrived." A wave of anticipation swept over Helia. "Lady Sera, welcome!" she exclaimed as she stood. Lady Sera entered the room, a graceful figure draped in a pale blue gown that accentuated her striking beauty. Her dark hair, falling sleek and straight around her face, contrasted beautifully with her deep blue eyes. She had an air of both elegance and determination, immediately captivating the attention of those who crossed her path. Upon seeing Lucian, she curtsied gracefully. "Young Marquis," she greeted him with a sober expression. Lucian, somewhat embarrassed, returned her greeting with a nod of his head. "Lady Sera Reins," he replied before discreetly slipping away, leaving his sister and her guest alone in the small sitting room. Helia, aware of the tense atmosphere, apologized. "I'm sorry for my older brother's presence. Please, make yourself comfortable." They took their seats, and the servants arrived to serve tea