“Why—”
Just as Julius began to speak, he felt a sudden tug on his sleeve.
Eleanor’s fingers gripped his coat tightly, the pressure so strong that the fabric creased.
He snapped his head around and met the girl’s serious gaze.
She shook her head ever so slightly, those usually smiling azure eyes now filled with warning, her slender brows furrowed tightly.
All words suddenly caught in his throat.
Julius stared into Eleanor’s warning eyes, his jaw clenched as he swallowed the question that had formed on his lips, leaving only a reluctant sigh.
The study fell into a heavy silence.
“The origin of the antidote—you all must give a unified account—but under no circumstances are you to mention Helos.”
Eisend’s gaze swept over them like an icy blade. He sat back down, fingers tapping lightly on the desk.
“This matter ends here. Beyond that, you may proceed as you wish.”
“Yes, Father.”
Eleanor was the first to respond, her voice steady and without a hint of wavering.
Julius lowered his gaze. In the end, he only gave a deep bow, hiding all his frustration and confusion beneath a posture of respect.
When the four exited the study, the heavy wooden door closed behind them as if sealing away some unanswered question forever.
Shadows stretched out along the corridor beneath their feet, and the sound of their footsteps echoed sharply in the empty hall.
The oppressive silence pressed down on each of them like a boulder until they reached the Divided Path leading to their respective quarters.
Eleanor suddenly stopped.
She turned to face Julius, the complicated light flickering in her azure eyes.
“Julius,” her voice was soft, but it stopped him from speaking, “I know you have doubts, but we must follow Father’s orders.”
Her gaze swept over Kyle and Selena before resting again on Julius.
“Not just towards the outside world, even the servants, maids, and the most trusted butler—no one is allowed to know the truth.”
Eleanor took a deep breath. Her voice rang clearly in the silent corridor.
“You’re all intelligent. You should understand why this must be done.”
The girl turned, her skirt tracing an arc as she walked deeper into the corridor.
“As for the details,” her voice faded with her footsteps, “we’ll discuss them tomorrow. For tonight… everyone should rest.”
“Understood, Miss.”
Julius’s voice was low as he bowed slightly to the receding figure.
Kyle and Selena saluted silently. Their gazes lingered long on the empty corridor’s end.
After a moment, Kyle turned to Julius, his voice huskier than usual.
“Brother, I think the Duke made this decision because he’s concerned for the Second Young Lady’s safety. That’s why…”
“I know.”
The black-haired youth shook his head. Moonlight cast shadows on his tightly pressed lips.
“It’s just… I feel a bit resentful.”
Before he finished speaking, he turned away.
The hem of his black uniform swayed as he strode toward the west side of the Duke’s Residence.
“Where are you going?”
Kyle called after him.
“I’m going to find Miss Helos again.”
Julius’s footsteps didn’t falter as his voice came from the other end of the corridor.
“You should head back first.”
Kyle watched the retreating figure, mouth opening but no words came out.
He glanced at Selena and read a trace of helplessness in the vampire girl’s pale gray eyes.
“Forget it,” the red-haired youth sighed softly and patted his companion’s shoulder.
“Let him be.”
Their figures quietly dissolved into the shadows at the other end of the corridor, leaving the moonlight to spill silently over the empty hallway.
***
Inside the workshop, Helos was bent over the workbench, silver hair cascading onto the tabletop.
Her fingertips lightly tapped on an open notebook, pale violet eyes flickering with thought.
“Antidote Wine…”
she murmured, unconsciously twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
“Is there a connection between brewing and alchemy? There should be some, right?”
Outside the window, moonlight filtered through the grimy glass, casting patches of light before her.
The girl sighed, flipping to a new page in the notebook.
She hastily sketched several doodles, then irritatedly crossed them out.
How did those Abyss Cultists manage to mix poison and wine? They couldn’t have just blended them in equal measure, right?
And there’s no sample for me to examine—
Helos was about to think this when the workshop door suddenly creaked open with a harsh “squeak.”
“Wah!”
Helos jerked her head up, nearly dropping her pen.
“Julius?! Why are you back again?”
The black-haired boy stood at the door, moonlight stretching his shadow long.
His expression was serious, the scent of the night still clinging to his dark uniform.
“I have something to tell you.”
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
“It’s about what just happened when we went to see the Duke.”
Helos tilted her head, silver hair swaying lightly.
“Oh? What did Father say? Didn’t he agree to the plan?”
“No, the Duke agreed, but…”
Julius took a deep breath and recounted the events.
When he spoke of the Duke’s last words, his voice involuntarily lowered a few tones.
“He might be worried about your safety…
He said the antidote can be made by anyone—except you.”
The workshop fell into a brief silence.
Helos only gave a soft “hmm” and resumed fiddling with her pen and notebook, her expression utterly unreadable.
“Are you… angry?”
Julius swallowed nervously, bending down to ask carefully.
“No.”
Helos shrugged, a nonchalant curve forming on her lips.
“What’s there to be upset about? I’m used to it.”
Her voice was calm, as if she were talking about the most ordinary thing in the world.
“But it’s your achievement!”
Julius’s voice unintentionally rose several decibels, his hands clenched into fists.
“No matter what, the Duke should at least praise you verbally!”
“That’s unreasonable.”
“Julius.”
Helos called his name gently, stopping him.
“My father’s always been like this.”
She slowly twirled the pen in her hand and spoke with deliberate calm.
“My very existence is a mistake to him. How could he ever acknowledge my abilities?”
Julius’s hands clenched tighter, his expression even showing a hint of grinding teeth.
“But this time is different! Your antidote saved lives, that’s a fact! And this plan was your idea, wasn’t it?”
“So what?”
The boy’s restless figure was reflected in Helos’s pale violet pupils.
“In Father’s eyes, I will always be the ‘Cursed Daughter,’ the Doomed Star who killed Mother.”
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