The sweet venom Chapter 17: 16

Read chapter 17 of The sweet venom by aspa201 on NovelPedia.

The sun was slowly declining on the horizon, casting its final rays through the large windows of the imperial hall as Helia, her father, and Lucian left the long afternoon meeting. The sound of her heels echoed faintly on the marble as she followed her father and brother, slightly behind, listening with only half an ear to Lucian complaining about Lord Bracken's disparaging remarks. Her brother, brow furrowed, was reiterating to their father how ridiculous he found Bracken's provocative behavior, always eager for confrontation. Suddenly, a voice rang out in the hall. "Lady Sterallis!" All three turned around in surprise, seeing Sir Suannel approach with hurried steps. In a deep and respectful tone, he addressed Helia directly, his eyes serious. "Lady Helia, before you leave, there is something I must tell you." Intrigued, she gave a slight nod, but before she could respond, Sir Suannel dropped to one knee in front of her. Her eyes widened, a wave of discomfort rising within her, and her father, equally surprised, exclaimed. "But Sir Suannel..." Sir Suannel raised a hand to stop him, his head bowed, and in a voice heavy with gravity, he declared. "Lady Helia, I wanted to express my deepest gratitude for saving my son's life during the expedition at the border camp. I've been told that he was the first one to whom you rushed to administer the remedy." Helia's heart skipped a beat; she realized this was likely the father of Sir Leon, as the resemblance between them left little doubt. Like his son, Sir Suannel had blonde hair and green eyes, but his severe face and imposing posture contrasted with Leon's jovial nature. "You saved my son and, in doing so, saved many lives among my men. As a father and commander, I felt it was my duty to express my gratitude," he continued in a voice that trembled with emotion. She felt her cheeks flush with both emotion and discomfort. "Sir, it's... I only did my duty," she murmured. Seeing this imposing and respected man, much older than herself, kneeling to thank her put her in an uncomfortable yet touching position. Thankfully, Sir Suannel rose almost immediately, placing a hand over his heart before continuing. "Know, Lady Helia, that if you or your family ever need anything, I pledge to assist you in any way I can." He glanced at the Marquis, then at Lucian, who observed the scene with a smirk at his sister's obvious discomfort. The Marquis, on the other hand, showed some admiration for the commander. Despite his lack of noble title, Sir Suannel had earned the respect of all due to his military exploits, becoming a hero in the eyes of the entire empire. This show of gratitude was an unexpected honor, even for the Sterallis family. Sir Suannel turned away after a final polite bow, murmuring "Marquis," before leaving the hall. Once the scene had ended, Lucian approached his sister with a teasing tone mixed with pride. "Well, who would have thought your little infusions could save lives... and even make a great commander bow." He teased her lightly, but Helia, seeing the look in his eyes, sensed that for once he wasn't downplaying her accomplishments. She gave a small smile, somewhat surprised by this rare compliment. On the way back, she tried to sort out her thoughts. The day had been long, and it was already too late to visit the clinic. She reluctantly decided to postpone her visit until the next day and, that evening, stayed awake, pondering her situation with Adrian and Elysia. After a long period of indecision, she simply decided to write a letter to Adrian, proposing a meeting to discuss the situation. The next morning, she went to the clinic. Upon entering the building, she was greeted by quiet corridors, almost silent. She first made her way to the patient wing, eager to check on the patients she had treated a week earlier. The rooms, though tinged with sadness, were filled with signs of life. Upon entering Sir Leon's room, she found him sitting on his bed, a radiant smile lighting up h