Chapter 73: She gained an expectation

“That clearly wasn’t your fault, was it?”

Julius’s fingers tightened unconsciously as he looked at Helos’s calm profile. His voice was so low it was barely audible. “You were also one of the victims.”

There was an unmistakable bitterness in the boy’s tone.

Helos paused for a moment, then propped her chin up with her free hand.

Her voice was so calm it sounded as if she were talking about someone else’s matter:

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is only the truth.”

The silver-haired girl put down her pen and turned to face Julius.

Her pale purple eyes looked especially clear in the dim light, yet also incredibly distant.

“My birth caused my mother’s death. That is the truth.”

Her voice held no fluctuation, as if reciting words unrelated to herself. “All other reasons and excuses are built upon this fact.”

“So, I can’t say I don’t understand them.”

Julius wanted to object, but found he couldn’t make a sound.

He saw the faintest curve at the corner of Helos’s lips—a smile more heartbreaking than tears.

“If resenting me makes father feel better, if rejecting me brings others some peace, then… that’s fine too.”

Her voice gradually lowered, finally turning into a sigh.

“Besides, I’m already used to it.”

The words were as light as a feather, but they hit Julius’s heart like a heavy stone.

“I’m used to eating alone, used to being avoided, used to being whispered about behind my back…”

Her gaze met Julius’s with surprising calmness. “Like this now, it’s actually easier.”

Julius suddenly stepped forward, placing his hands firmly on either side of the workbench.

“But you shouldn’t get used to this! This isn’t something you should have to bear!”

Helos lifted her head, a flash of surprise in her eyes, then returned to her usual calm.

“So what if it is? The truth doesn’t change because of how I feel.”

She picked up a bottle of potion beside the workbench and examined it closely.

“Just like this potion, as long as the formula is right, its effect won’t change based on who made it. What matters is that it saves lives; who gets credit… ”

The girl put the potion down and shook her head lightly.

“That doesn’t matter at all.”

Julius looked at her, suddenly overwhelmed by a helplessness deeper than anger.

What he saw was not rebellion or grievance, but a chilling indifference accumulated over years.

Outside, the night slowly flowed beyond the window.

The two fell into silence without realizing it.

***

After a long while, Helos finally spoke softly:

“Since the plan has been approved, I’ll start preparing.”

Julius’s gaze met the girl’s in the air, his black eyes reflecting the candlelight.

“Do you need my help?”

Helos tilted her head, her fingertips lightly tapping her chin. A flicker of thought passed through her pale purple eyes.

“Hm… In that case, I need a sample of either poison wine or a Poison Potion.”

She leaned forward slightly, her silver hair spilling over the workbench. “Can you get it for me?”

“That’s easy. I’ll bring it tomorrow.”

The black-haired boy nodded without hesitation. “I happen to have a sample. I’ll bring it for you to study.”

“Alright, see you tomorrow then.”

A spark of excitement flashed in Helos’s eyes, as if she’d thought of something interesting.

Suddenly, she stood up, placed her hands on Julius’s shoulders, and pushed him toward the door without giving him a chance to resist. “Get a good night’s sleep~ Knight Commander~”

Julius looked at her shining eyes and unconsciously lifted the corner of his mouth.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

He gently opened the wooden door of the workshop and glanced back at her one last time. “Don’t stay up too late.”

“Got it, got it~”

The next day, as promised, Julius delivered the sample of poison wine and, on a whim, also brought a confiscated Poison Potion from Selina, placing both on Helos’s workbench.

“What’s your plan for studying these?”

Leaning against the table, Julius watched the girl stare blankly at the two bottles and couldn’t help but ask.

“Huh? That’s a trade secret, don’t ask.”

Helos glanced at him instinctively with a slightly indifferent tone.

Her fingers toyed with the bottle glowing faintly green, but a hint of excitement shone through her eyes unintentionally.

“By the way, don’t you have other preparations to make?”

Well… Julius raised an eyebrow, thinking for a moment before answering, “But this side is the most important, right? Miss Eleanor has already sent people to secretly contact various Merchant Guilds. The sales and promotional channels should open up soon.”

He paused, eyes fixed on the sample bottles, his expression serious.

“The most crucial thing now is that we brew the wine as soon as possible.”

“You… don’t have brewing experience, right?”

The boy’s question made Helos pause for a moment.

Her movements halted, then she smiled lightly, a strange gleam flashing in her eyes.

“No, but—I’ve already found a way.”

She reached out and straightened the bottles on the table, as if making a final decision.

“Now, what you need to do is leave my workshop and let me focus on my research.”

“Bang—!”

The old wooden door slammed shut mercilessly in front of Julius, making a deafening noise.

The black-haired boy blinked, stunned.

He was just that straightforwardly kicked out?

So ruthless, Miss Helos.

“Sigh…”

He sighed, spread his hands, and muttered to himself:

“Guess I’ll go help Mr. Kyle and the others first.”

Before turning away, he shouted loudly from the door.

“Hey, call me if you need help—!”

“Get lost! Don’t distract my research!”

The girl’s displeased scolding echoed from inside the workshop, full of disdain.

So fierce.

Julius smirked faintly despite himself.

Well, this is the Helos I know.

Shaking his head, he hummed an unknown tune and left the workshop with a light step.

Helos leaned against the window, watching Julius’s figure gradually disappear around the corner. The tight knot in her heart finally loosened slightly.

That guy is pretty good… just looks a little foolish.

The clumsy but sincere words the boy spoke last night echoed again in her mind, making her chest feel warm.

Helos brushed the strands of hair away from her ear, and the corner of her lips lifted involuntarily.

So this is what it feels like to be cared for and thought about.

She smiled softly, turned around, and threw herself back into her busy work, but inside, an indescribable warmth lingered.

“Alright then, Helos, look—at least there’s someone in this world who’s waiting for your results.”

Helos returned to her workbench and looked at the two bottles of liquid.

She muttered to herself, “Looks like I’ll have to give it my all to live up to their expectations!”