In the foyer, his father was already waiting for him, and when he saw Helios, he beamed as usual, his face lighting up. With quick, confident steps, he approached to greet him.
"Father," Helios greeted him with a slight nod.
"There you are!" his father said, pleased, and immediately began to examine him closely. His gaze was a mix of recognition and pride, and after a brief, assessing look, he nodded in satisfaction. "You look breathtaking. Thomas really did an excellent job."
"Considering what you're planning to do today, it seems necessary," Helios said coolly.
"You look healthy, with those flushed cheeks," his father remarked with a loving smile. "Did you have to rush?"
Helios' heart skipped a beat. His father knew nothing about him and Davis, and it had to stay that way. He couldn't even begin to imagine how his father would react to the fact that he had no interest in women and was more drawn to what only another man could give him. He gave his father a professional, business-like smile.
"As you know, I've been very busy with the project you assigned me," he said quickly, trying to change the subject.
His father laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "Are you making good progress?" he asked, as they walked toward the car.
"As expected, yes," Helios replied calmly. "I just handed over the current results and an initial formula to Thomas. Theo should be done with the animal trials by the end of the week."
"That sounds promising," his father said proudly, glancing at him with an approving look. "But I expected nothing less from my little genius."
They got into the car, a large, elegant vehicle, and sat in the backseat. The car was spacious enough that they sat across from each other, flanked by their guards.
"Before you tell me what's planned for today..." Helios began, holding up the small bag he had packed earlier.
"What's that?" his father asked, intrigued.
"Since I couldn't bring my suitcase, I packed the essentials in here," Helios explained calmly. "Everything's labeled for emergencies. I'll leave the bag under my seat. So, if anything is needed, you can help yourselves."
He carefully tucked the bag under his seat so everyone could see it.
"You're always so prepared for everything," his father said with an approving look.
Helios straightened up and looked at his father with a businesslike expression. "So, what do you have planned for today?"
His father smiled and leaned back. "We're going to acquire the next pharmaceutical company," he said in a casual tone, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "I can't tolerate any competition, and no one can rival your medicine anyway."
Of course, it was that time again: A rising company was to be crushed in its infancy.
"And why should I accompany this goldfish for that?" Helios asked with a slightly annoyed tone.
"The second daughter of the Eckhardt family?" his father asked, surprised. "She's pretty. I think you two would make a good match."
"As you know, I refuse to surround myself with foolish hens," Helios replied sharply, with a trace of mockery in his voice.
"You come out of your lab so rarely that you barely have time to meet other people," his father retorted, his tone now tinged with a hint of reproach.
Helios snorted in amusement. "Who keeps assigning me tasks that require my full attention?" he replied, a slight smile on his lips.
"They are time-consuming tasks, yes. However, you could also use normal working hours to finish them," his father sighed. He cast a concerned glance at him. "You work way too much, Helios. You should also enjoy your youth a little."
Helios felt a sharp retort rising on his tongue, but he bit his lip to hold it back. He didn't want to argue with his father. Instead, he replied calmly, "I do what interests me, Father."
He leaned back and looked at him intently. "If I happen to meet a lady with a certain degree of intelligence, I might consider investing a little more time in such matters." It was a direct but polite answer that expressed both his disdain and his desire to end the topic.
His father looked at him seriously. "Don't you miss it? Don't you long for the warmth of another person?"
Helios bit his tongue to avoid inadvertently mentioning Davis. The words were heavy on his tongue, but he suppressed them with a forced smile. He put on a bemused expression and deliberately looked at the guards on his right and left.
"Are you really asking me that, considering I get more body heat than I care for?"
His father sighed loudly and shook his head. "You will accompany Miss Eckhardt today," he said then, as if he were not at all surprised. "She will be a nice accessory for you. You are free to talk to and dance with other ladies. Just show the people what a highly sought-after bachelor you are. Leave the rest to me."
"It shouldn't be hard," Helios muttered, irritated. He had specifically asked Thomas to arrange for a different companion. But apparently, Thomas had failed in his request as well. So, he would have to make do with the "goldfish lady" and present her with his polite, courteous side.
"You know, Helios, sometimes all it takes is for women to make sure you feel good," his father continued, as though he hadn't heard the previous remark. "They should know what's fun in bed and at the same time be a nice decoration to show off wherever you go."
Helios raised an eyebrow, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Is that why you only pick women whose brains are half the size of their breasts?" he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm and disapproval.
His father looked at him for a moment, shocked. "They're just a distraction, Helios. I don't plan on getting married again."
"Did you look at mother that way too? As decoration?" Helios shot back, and the question now hung heavily in the air.
The words had their desired effect. His father immediately grew serious, his expression turning sad. "Your mother was the love of my life, and no one can take her place," he said quietly, the pain still palpable in his voice.
For that, he has many women he seemingly only uses as distractions. Helios bit back that comment. He looked out the window. Decoration, huh.
"You don't have to spend the whole evening with her," his father finally said. "Just be polite and courteous. Let your charm work, Helios. I want those greedy bastards to see what they could have if they were on their knees licking my shoe tips," he said with a wide, almost darkly calculating grin. "Even though I'd never trade you for any deal in the world."
Helios exhaled slowly. "So, same role as everytime?" he asked.
"Exactly," his father replied, satisfied.
"As you wish," Helios murmured, a bit resigned. "But I'm not staying forever."
"Don't worry, a few hours will suffice."
If his father continued to assimilate other businesses, Aeternum Pharmaceuticals would soon have a monopoly in the market. Helios had to suppress a smile. He couldn't quite explain why other companies still bothered to found pharmaceutical businesses. Nothing and no one could compete with him.
He was the one whose medicine dominated the market.
No one could touch him.
___
When they arrived, the goldfish lady was already standing at the entrance, waiting for them. The excitement was practically written on her face, and... had she really just hopped in joy?
I can't do this..., Helios thought with a twinge of despair.
"She really made an effort," his father remarked with a satisfied smile. He shot Helios a calculating glance. "She's going to eat out of your hand, just look at how excited she is about you."
Helios almost felt sorry for her. Almost. If she weren't so unbearably annoying. With a gesture that conveyed a mixture of reluctance and resignation, he grabbed Dante's arm. Dante looked at him in surprise, but Helios met his guard's pretty, reddish-brown eyes, which reminded him of garnet, and gave him a forced smile.
"If you see me losing control of my facial expressions, knock me out," he said seriously, as he tried to push through his inner resistance.
His father clicked his tongue in a disapproving manner. "Not an option. But if she really disgusts you, I'll have them call for you in between," he sighed. "I really didn't expect her to bother you this much."
Helios shot him an irritated look. "Have you ever heard her laugh?"
A surprised expression flickered across his father's face. "No, why?"
"I thought so. Please don't wait too long to call for me," Helios said, shaking his head slightly. He nodded to Dante. "Let's get this over with."
Dante looked at him for a moment before finally opening the door and stepping out.
"Helios," his father called, before he could even exit the car. Helios stopped and looked at him questioningly. "Stick to your promise."
Helios put on a smile, the one he wore in public like an actor and had practiced countless times in front of the mirror.
"Don't worry, Father. I can play this role perfectly as you know," he said, and then finally got out of the car.
As soon as he stepped out, he took a deep breath of the cool evening air. The event was being held at the opera house—thankfully, no performance was scheduled for that night. The building was bathed in warm light, and even though the sun had not fully set, the massive structure displayed its elegance in full. Helios wasn't particularly interested in architecture, but the opera house was undeniably impressive. Rarely did a building convey as much prestige as this one. It seemed to have been constructed solely for the upper echelons of society, just to offer them a few hours of entertainment in their otherwise boring lives.
His gaze met that of the goldfish lady, who stared at him unabashedly. He gave her the same smile he had shown his father earlier. He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. He focused on playing the role he needed to adopt in the coming hours. It was like putting on a well-tailored suit that enveloped him perfectly.
She was wearing a light cream-colored dress that fluttered in the gentle evening breeze. The dress ended in an elegant transition to a lovely shade of orange. Helios had to stifle a laugh. It suited the nickname he had given her perfectly. Her décolletage was adorned with a delicate gold necklace with small emeralds that flattered not her eyes, but his— a color she had mentioned as particularly beautiful during their last meeting.
Helios could of course be mistaken, but given how simple her thinking was, it was highly likely that she wore those stones only because of him. If Helios were someone else, he might have even found it cute. But in this moment, he found it tiresome. It felt like she was taking the air out of his lungs. Every small detail of her presence seemed to weigh heavily on his chest, making him weary. He could almost feel his soul retreating from his body, ready to escape into the emptiness that the evening would no doubt bring.
She was a few years younger than him—nineteen, to be exact, three years younger. Her long blonde hair was artfully draped, with soft curls that cascaded down at every movement. Her blue eyes sparkled.
"She doesn't look that bad," Dante said quietly, glancing at her.
Helios almost laughed aloud. "We'll talk again in half an hour," he said, amused. "You've never met anyone like her." He shook his head. "I should've given you something beforehand so you wouldn't have to hear her voice."
"No one can have such an annoying voice that..." Dante began to say, but then the goldfish lady excitedly ran up to Helios.
"Helios!" she squeaked. "It's been so long since we last saw each other!"
Helios felt like his eardrums were going to burst. Why did she always have to be so damn loud? Her voice reached such high frequencies that normally only dogs could hear them. But, much to his misfortune, he heard her perfectly well. On top of that, she lisped a little. Her laugh sounded like the neighing of a horse. It was the combination of all the sounds she made that Helios simply couldn't tolerate. It was as if she poured all her energy into every word she spoke. Still, he maintained his façade, smiling at her and playing his role perfectly. With practiced movement, he took her hand and pressed his lips to her wrist—as was expected of him.
"Lady Evangeline, you look breathtaking," he said in a flattering, almost conciliatory tone. It was a phrase he had said a thousand times, but he always managed to maintain the appearance of sincerity. He straightened up and gave her another smile while his insides almost tore themselves apart with frustration.
Evangeline Eckhardt lowered her eyes, blushing deeply, and for a moment, it seemed like the compliment had taken away her ability to speak. Helios drank in every second of the brief silence. This short stillness gave him the chance to mentally prepare for what would come next.
"Me, breathtaking?" she asked shyly, her voice almost timid. "Do you really mean that?"
"Of course," Helios replied. "You're more beautiful than any butterfly I've ever seen." A hint of irony crept into his voice, and a dark thought flashed through his mind: Or like their poisons that I've extracted so far. He then offered her his arm. "Shall we go inside? It's getting chilly, and I don't want you to catch a cold."
Before he could take another step, she had already hooked her arm through his and pulled him towards her with surprisingly firm hands. The intensity of her grip made him glance up briefly—and he found himself casting a look at Dante. Dante seemed to be staring at him in complete disbelief.
"Told you so," Helios silently mouthed, giving his guard a meaningful look before turning his attention back ahead.
His gaze shifted to his father, who was a few steps ahead of them. On either side of him, he had elegantly hooked arms with ladies dressed in elaborate gowns and with their hair intricately styled. Their curves seemed to defy the evening air. His two guards were trailing several steps behind. His father's look immediately told him that he knew exactly what he would be doing with those two after the party. It was as if the cycle of duty and pleasure constantly closed itself over and over again.
Evangeline opened her prettily painted lips again, this time to bombard him with the latest gossip and rumors. He let her words mostly bounce off of him. All he could hear in his head was a dull buzzing. The constant overstimulation of her voice was making his life hell. He wished he had taken a painkiller before the event. If Davis hadn't come to him, he would have surely done so. Instead, he now had to deal with this present, gnawing headache called Evangeline Eckhardt.
His lower abdomen tingled lightly as he thought about the kiss. Well, with that thought, the evening had just become a little more bearable. He looked forward to spending some time later with his lover. Even though he still had a lot to do and wouldn't be able to enjoy his company for long.
And there was also the fact that he might pass out soon due to his exhaustion.
He resisted the urge to massage his throbbing temples.
"...really unbelievable, right?" she asked, her voice making him flinch.
"Absolutely," Helios murmured mechanically, having no clue what she had just said. But the sentence seemed to fit. Evangeline continued to chatter happily.
___
An hour later, Helios was more exhausted than ever. It felt as though the weight of the world had settled on his shoulders, the exhaustion seeping deep into his bones. He felt years older, his ears were ringing, and every sound around him echoed in his head, demanding silence, just a single second of peace. Alcohol wasn't his thing. He usually avoided it strictly. The thought of numbing his senses and losing his clear mind was repulsive to him. Why would he poison himself just to breathe a little easier for a few hours, only to deal with the aftermath of drunkenness?
Still, he seriously considered whether he should make a small exception tonight. Maybe a glass—just one—would be the solution to escape the heavy mood that enveloped him. But he quickly dismissed the thought.
The party was now in full swing. Groups of well-dressed, noble guests had gathered everywhere, seemingly more interested in business and self-congratulation than the event itself. Everyone tried to outdo each other with their latest achievements or impress others with boastful anecdotes. It was always the same and quite boring. Helios felt like a mere observer in his own life.
There was a massive buffet where guests could help themselves at any time, and each guest had been assigned a specific seat at a table. The Vale family had a table reserved for themselves and their companions. But sitting down would mean being stuck at the table with Evangeline for a while.
He would not do that, not for anything.
The opera house was exceptionally well-secured. Unobtrusive guards stood at the entrances and windows, watching everything that moved. Dante had remained by his side, while another guard discreetly gathered information about any special occurrences. After all, information was power, and the Vale family knew how to use it properly.
By now, his father had joined other influential men. Helios sincerely hoped he was finally immersed in the negotiations. The sooner he could get out of here, the better.
At that moment, Evangeline's cheerful face slid into his line of sight. She grabbed his hands and briefly squeezed them.
"I'm just going to powder my nose," she cooed quietly.
"Take all the time you need," Helios replied politely.
With a final, radiant smile, she disappeared into the crowd, and Helios breathed a sigh of relief.
Peace. Finally. It felt as if all the life force had left his body.
"Are you okay?" Dante asked softly. His voice sounded concerned. "You should eat something."
Helios nodded. "She's awful, isn't she?" he replied just as quietly.
"And how awful she is. I thought that woman would never disappear," someone whispered directly into his ear. "Good evening, Heli."
Helios grinned. "Good evening, Penny," he said calmly and turned to face her.
Standing before him was Penelope Sinclair, probably his only true friend, or rather, his only ally in this whole farce. She looked, as always, stunning, but in a way that was not at all intrusive. In a simple, dark red dress, she embodied elegance. Her black hair cascaded in soft, voluminous waves down to her back. In her hand, she held a black fan, which she occasionally swung in the air with an almost superior gesture. Her ice-blue eyes fixed on him intently.
"Not even that scared you?" she snorted, completely undignified. "I thought I had caught you off guard this time."
"As you know, I'm never off guard," Helios replied.
Penelope laughed with her pleasantly deeper voice, which stood in stark contrast to the artificially bright voices of the other women, who tried so hard to sound as girlish as possible. He couldn't quite understand where that trend came from.
She studied him for a moment, and a concerned expression settled over her elegant features.
"You look awful," she said, without bothering to spare his feelings. "Are you working too much again? Are you eating more than one meal a day?"
"Maybe not as much as I should, but I'm eating. I'm just tired because I'm involved in an important project," Helios explained honestly, though with a sigh.
Penelope snorted again. "Aren't you always involved in some 'important project'?"
"Pretty much," Helios said, offering her a tired smile. She was one of the few people with whom he didn't have to put on a facade. They had known each other so long that she would instantly recognize any lie, and yet she had never tried to force him into any pretense. If he hadn't been infatuated with Davis, she would surely have been his first choice in the marriage market. But as it was, she was more like a sister to him.
"If you want," Penelope began thoughtfully, "we could go to our summer house after your project. You know, sleep, read books, enjoy good food." She made an expansive gesture, as if she were including the whole world. "And, of course: gossip."
Helios smirked. "You mean I'll come under the pretense of resting, and then listen to you rant about how much you hate everyone here for a week."
Penelope grinned and hid her smile behind her fan.
"You'll get your peace, don't worry," she finally said, then turned her gaze to Dante, who was calmly standing next to Helios. Her eyes moved over his body, clearly evaluating him, until she eventually looked back at Helios. "Who is this handsome man?"
"Dante. My new bodyguard, or should I say my shadow?" Helios introduced. "He was a soldier before he joined my family's service."
Penelope fixed Dante with a scrutinizing gaze. "My name is Penelope Sinclair. I'm sure we'll run into each other a few more times. Of course, only if you don't kick the bucket before then."
"Dante Halcyon," the man introduced himself shortly.
Penelope's face showed renewed concern. "Are you still being attacked that often? Or why do I see yet another new bodyguard?" Her voice was now quieter and serious.
"Don't worry, as you can see, I'm fine," Helios said with a dismissive hand gesture. Then he grinned again. "Surely, you've got something interesting to share that might at least make this evening a bit more bearable."
Penelope snorted in amusement.
"What do you think, who you're talking to? No one is as well-connected as I am," she said with a hint of pride. "Rumor has it that you're getting married soon."
Helios snorted. "Tell me something new. I want facts, not foolish daydreams from old fools and their bored wives."
Penelope glanced around, then leaned slightly toward him and lowered her voice.
"The Wallace family wants to overthrow your father, they're pretty pissed about the way he runs his business."
"That will certainly interest Father," Helios said, looking at his father, who was still deep in conversation with the other men. Wallace stood right next to him. "He's voiced his concerns about Wallace before."
The headache that had been creeping up all evening now came back in heavy waves. Absently, Helios rubbed his hurting temples, trying to gather his thoughts. He tried to recall the details. If he remembered correctly, Wallace owned a smaller pharmaceutical company specializing in a particular type of medication. But the headache was growing stronger, and its sharp, thundering intensity prevented him from thinking further.
He tried again, but it didn't work. His father had taken over Wallace's company a few years ago when Wallace had faced massive financial issues. Did Wallace still have ambitions of getting his company back? At least it still existed. Though his father had more or less used Wallace's company as leverage.
"Is everything really okay?" Penelope's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. She was watching him closely.
"Just a headache," Helios answered, trying to pull himself together. "Do you have anything else interesting for me?"
He felt the exhaustion gradually take control of his body. The longer he stayed in the company of his friend, the more his body seemed to relax—but in a troubling way. His legs grew tired, and his muscles ached in a way that only a good night's sleep could soothe.
Penelope exhaled slowly, as if she could feel the tension in the air. "It's not just Wallace who seems to be planning something. Do you see the tall, thin guy with brown hair?"
Helios turned his attention back to the group around his father. "The one standing opposite Father?"
"Exactly," she confirmed. "Do you also see the chubby one with the red cheeks?"
"The blonde on Father's right?" Helios asked.
"Yes. And then there's the one with the brown ponytail." Penelope motioned with a slight tilt of her head to another man in a chatty group.
"What about them?" Helios' instincts began to warn him. Something about this whole scene didn't feel right. A uneasy feeling began to rise in him.
Penelope looked at him seriously. "These four seem to be spending a lot of time together right now. Considering what Wallace is more or less openly showing off..."
Helios' stomach tightened, and the pieces of the puzzle clicked together in his mind, forming a threatening picture. "...they're probably teaming up to overthrow Father's empire," he concluded quietly.
"The attacks have increased lately, right?" Penelope asked with a grim expression.
"They have," Helios confirmed briefly.
"I think they could be the source," Penelope said, leaning a bit closer to him, as if to make sure no one else overheard her words.
Helios tried to smile, but it was a weak, strained smile. "Then they should try harder. After all, I'm still alive," he said, but the uncertainty gnawing at him was hard to hide.
But if they wanted to overthrow his father, why did they want to see Helios dead? So that his father would suffer? Or did they want him to withdraw in grief? Did they want to prevent Helios from asserting his claim as the heir?
"Don't say that too loudly," Penelope murmured, a spark of concern in her voice. "Who knows what else might happen."
Helios nodded, but the expression in his eyes was now sharper, more determined. "Don't worry," he said with an encouraging smile as he placed his hand on Dante's shoulder. "He seems more than capable of protecting me."
Penelope turned her gaze back to Dante, who was quietly standing next to Helios. "Where's Davis, by the way? He usually accompanies you."
Helios' smile faded as he addressed the situation. "He's on bed rest. He got caught by a knife a few days ago."
"What?! Is he okay?" Penelope's concern was immediate.
"He's doing well enough that he wanted to come along," Helios said with a slight smile. "But he's still far from being fit, so I left him at home."
Helios' gaze drifted back to his father, who was still deep in conversation with the other men.
"Good," Penelope said, though she still looked worried. "Let me know if you need anything. You know you can count on me."
"If not you, who else?" Helios grinned.
Penelope smiled. "Sometimes I really feel like you're my little brother," she said. Then she exhaled slowly. "I hope Davis gets better soon. He's really a funny guy. It would be a shame if something bad happened to him."
"He won't die," Helios said firmly, without a doubt in his voice. He didn't want to think about Davis being in serious danger, and even less did he want to talk about it. So he quickly sought an exit from the conversation. "How's your fiancé?"