The sweet venom Chapter 27: 26

Read chapter 27 of The sweet venom by aspa201 on NovelPedia.

The following morning, the carriage rolled slowly over the city's smooth cobblestones. Inside, Helia and Lucian sat facing one another, the rhythmic sound of the wheels echoing at regular intervals against the ground. Soft morning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating the young siblings' faces. Lucian, unabashed and insistent, was watching his sister. He studied her with an intensity that was almost unsettling, as though something about her deeply troubled him. "I don't think I'll ever get used to it." He finally broke the silence in a weary voice. She understood at once what he meant. He was, of course, referring to her new appearance. Lucille had taken it upon herself to "renovate" her image with almost excessive seriousness. She had persuaded her to discard all the dresses Elysia had chosen for her, replacing them with more modern garments better suited to her new style. Lucille had also insisted on styling her hair and applying makeup in a radically different manner before every outing. Helia sighed, her lips pressed together slightly, and glanced at her brother. "Would it kill you to say something even remotely positive when you speak to me?" Her brother shrugged, his expression neutral. "I never said it didn't suit you. I just said I'll never get used to it." He turned his head toward the window, his eyes fixed on the slowly passing scenery. "That's not what I was hoping to hear, but I'll take it," she replied, a satisfied smile on her lips. A brief silence settled between them. But it did not last long. Lucian, his brows slightly drawn together, spoke again, this time more seriously. "Is it because of everything you've been through lately?" he began, his voice betraying a note of concern that immediately caught Helia's attention. She turned to look at him, her eyes searching his face for a clue as to what had prompted the question. "I mean... that you've started changing so many things in your life." His words carried genuine worry, and his gaze sought hers, as though trying to decipher her thoughts. She was not particularly surprised by the question. It was the kind of subject she had often avoided lately, but she knew it was bound to resurface eventually. "Once again, I'm not saying I disapprove of these changes," he continued, his tone heavier, almost solemn. "I'm just afraid you'll keep taking reckless risks, and that you'll dress and behave like someone else because of all this." The sentence lodged itself in her mind like a thorn. She knew he meant well, but his way of seeing her as a child, someone losing herself in impulsive decisions, irritated her deeply. She addressed him calmly, but firmly. "Someone else... That's who I was before, Lucian." She looked him straight in the eyes, a determined glint in her gaze. Her brother seemed momentarily taken aback by her response. She went on, her voice softer but no less resolute. "And I'm not taking reckless risks. The path I've chosen does carry dangers, yes, but that isn't what I seek." Lucian offered a faint smile, not truly joyful, tinged instead with bitterness. "That's true. I know," he said, letting out a quiet sigh before adding, "You are an adult, after all. You're twenty-one. You know how to make thoughtful decisions." Helia's smile widened slightly, as if to lighten the mood. "That's right. So stop seeing me as a spoiled child who lives only for her whims." Her brother smiled mischievously, shaking his head. "That, I'm afraid, is not an option, dear sister." Amused, she shot back with a hint of defiance. "Very well. In that case, I won't be able to stop seeing you as a lazy boy pretending to play at responsible adulthood either." Before Lucian could reply, the carriage came to an abrupt halt, cutting the conversation short. The wheels scraped against the cobblestones, and the driver announced loudly that they had arrived at their destination. The jeweler's shop stood in a discreet, narrow, cobbled alley, frequented only by a handful of passersby.