Penelope shot him a reprimanding glance, and she seemed to be getting upset, a mood that was clearly reflected in her expression.
"How's he doing? Bad people always seem to be doing just fine," she scoffed with a mocking smile.
"Still haven't had any luck breaking off the engagement?"
"What are you dreaming about at night? The bastard is already using me as a damn trophy. And the worst part is, he does it with such self-assurance, as if I have no value as a person, as if I'm just another prize he's conquered." Her voice sounded bitter as she spat out the words, and Helios couldn't help but hear the painful undertone.
Helios gave her a knowing look. She was speaking from experience, and he knew her fiancé all too well. The man was a despicable fellow, a self-absorbed braggart who spent his time either indulging with other women or wasting it boasting about the wealth of his family or his "acquired possession" – Penelope. He hadn't been that way at first, and only later had it become clear just what a dirty scoundrel he really was.
Since she was so different from the other ladies of society, her slightly rough, sometimes cheeky manner was actually quite sought after by the eligible bachelors. Many saw her as a challenge they just had to conquer. And while he admired this facet of Penelope, it also saddened him that she was trapped in such a farce, especially considering how much she loathed her fiancé.
"I can mix up a nice little home remedy for you," Helios suggested casually, though there was a certain mischievousness in his tone.
"I'm all ears," Penelope said with a slightly amused smile, her curiosity openly showing.
"How about a remedy that keeps him stuck on the toilet for an entire week?" Helios suggested, now grinning wider.
She raised an eyebrow in amusement and then shook her head. "Diarrhea? Really, Heli?" she asked, as if that could actually be the solution to all her problems.
"Oh, not just diarrhea," he replied, leaning back as he looked at her with a sly smile. "Don't forget who you're talking to. I could suddenly give him both diarrhea and vomiting, so he's sobbing on the toilet, cursing his mother for ever having given birth to him. Doesn't that sound delightful?"
Penelope hid her smile behind her fan.
"I would love to see that with my very own eyes" she said. "What else do you have to offer, oh great medicine mixer?" Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
Helios thought for a moment. "I could make sure he unintentionally wets himself. That would be fun." A cynical smile spread across his face.
Penelope laughed out loud, with a touch of indignation. "You're a monster, Heli. What else?"
"How about he just falls asleep while eating and ends up with his face in the plate?" Helios suggested, now grinning a little wider.
Penelope laughed so loudly that nearby nobles glanced disapproving at her. "That's too good!"
"And what about making him unable to say a coherent sentence for a short while?"
"Stop it, Heli!" she groaned through her laughter. "I can't take it anymore!" She wiped tears from her eyes. "Thank you, I feel a little better now. Maybe I'll take you up on that later. The ideas were just too good."
"Always happy to help," Helios said with a tired smile. It was good to know that he had brightened her mood a little. He had seen her suffer for far too long, and every moment he could bring her a little joy was worth it.
But as his gaze shifted back to his father, his mood changed. Penelope had given him a list of four names that would be of great interest to his father. These four men were now standing around him, trying to ingratiate themselves, making an effort to put themselves in the foreground. It was no surprise that his father had made numerous enemies, but the thought that one of these men might even send an assassin after Helios to weaken him did nothing to ease his nerves. Maybe it would be all four of them.
Helios didn't want to dwell on this uncomfortable thought any longer. He was well-protected, and once he handed the list of names to his father, the situation would calm down. Then he could finally return to focusing on his work.
Still, Helios was increasingly worried about his father. If something happened to him, everything he had built in his life would come crashing down. The work, the peace, the control—all of it would be gone, and along with it, the carefreeness he had painstakingly preserved.
Most of all, it seemed they were hiding their intentions well. His father hadn't said anything along those lines to Helios, at least, and normally his father told him pretty much everything. Whether he wanted to or not.
Right now, his father appeared to be quite carefree, almost lighthearted. But Helios knew better. His father was playing a dangerous game, one that no one played as well as he did. Only with Helios was he the easygoing, loving father. With everyone else—business partners, rivals, relatives—he treated them with a coldness bordering on calculation. And that coldness was dangerous. It always had a deeper, darker purpose. Helios was sure that the people around his father already knew how to behave. But what if someone went too far?
Helios sighed quietly. Maybe he really should be more proactive. After all, it wasn't just about his father, but also his own life, his work, and the carefree attitude he didn't want to lose. The thought of having to give up everything he had built almost made him freeze. But how could he act without angering his father or jeopardizing his position?
"...Incredible, right? Again, one lady on his right and one on his left..." he suddenly heard a voice nearby.
"You're just jealous because no one wants you," called another voice, almost amused.
"You're the last person who should talk. When was the last time you had the pleasure of being seduced?" the first one retorted mockingly.
"Pah," snorted the second. "How does he do it? Is it because he has more money than we do? He certainly doesn't look better."
"Wow, and I thought I was the only one who'd be annoyed," said the first, laughing. "Besides, he looks a hell of a lot better than you."
"Bastard," grumbled the second.
"Who knows, maybe his sickly wife couldn't keep up with him. After all, she only managed to give birth to a single heir. Lucky for her, it was a boy."
Helios clenched his fists, a surge of anger rising inside him. Were these worms seriously talking about his dead mother? A hand rested on his shoulder, and Penelope's gentle voice reached his ear.
"Heli. Don't," she whispered softly, almost pleading.
"Maybe she couldn't fulfill his needs while she was alive, and that's why he's like this now," the second man mused aloud, without any inhibition.
"He should definitely take a younger wife," the other continued. "What if his beloved son is as sickly as his mother and dies early too? He should have more heirs ready."
The other laughed openly.
"With his urges, it shouldn't be difficult to get a few more heirs," the second one mocked.
"Shh, you're too loud. What if someone hears you?" the first one said, still laughing.
"Most people think like this. Don't you think some would be happy to join in our conversation?" the second asked mockingly, as if it were nothing more than an ordinary chat.
"Okay, that's enough!" Helios growled, barely keeping his anger under control. His eyes flashing, he glared at Dante. "Have you ever made someone disappear?" The words came out sharp, cold, and threatening.
Dante threw him a look that he couldn't quite interpret. Was it pity? Helios couldn't afford that right now. He was furious, his blood boiling. The damn disrespect these men were showing him, especially what they had said about his mother... he wanted them to pay for their words.
"Heli, calm down," Penelope said softly, placing her hand gently on his back.
Dante continued to watch him with an unreadable expression. "Is this the moment where I should knock you out?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, as if weighing Helios' state carefully.
Helios forced himself to remain calm, but the anger continued to simmer inside him. He briefly closed his eyes, hoping for a moment of clarity. That was clearly a mistake. When he opened them again, the world seemed to spin for a second, as if the ground beneath him had shifted. He took a deep breath, clinging to Penelope as though she were the only anchor keeping him upright.
How could he have been so careless? Hopefully, no one had seen his features slip.
"Helios, how about you eat something? You're pale, and your facade is cracking," Penelope said lovingly, her soft voice a calming contrast to the tense atmosphere.
Her low, calm voice soothed him immensely. He reached for her hand. "I'm glad you're here tonight," he said quietly, almost as a thank you he didn't always express, but that was desperately needed now.
Penelope looked at him with a slightly amused expression. "How could I stay home when you finally left your lab for once?"
He took another deep breath and gave her an honest smile. "Maybe we should go ahead with the fake marriage plan," he joked, trying to lighten the mood a little.
Penelope rolled her eyes. "First, I'll try to find someone who can make me happy, before I end up with you workaholic," she said with a wink, making Helios chuckle briefly.
"Maybe I'll take you up on your offer to rest a bit in your summer house," he said, half-serious about the idea of a break. "In the summer, of course."
"That's still a while away," Penelope grinned. "Cmon. I'll distract the little airhead for now. See you later. You better not go home without dancing with me!"
Helios rolled his eyes. "So you can step on my feet again?"
"Hey! I've practiced!" Penelope said, outraged.
"Sure," Helios grinned. "Okay, deal. Distract her a bit, and I'll let you step on my feet later. Even if Dante has to carry me home afterward."
Penelope grinned widely. "You little bastard. Don't forget who's older."
"Being older doesn't mean you automatically know more," he shot back cheekily. Then he nodded at Dante, who was still standing impassively nearby. "Let's get out of here before Goldfish Lady comes back."
"Goldfish Lady suits her pretty well," Penelope smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"See you later, Penny," Helios said, turning toward the buffet, but then he paused and looked over his shoulder. "And thanks."
"Always happy to help, Heli. Now go before she sees you!"
As they made their way to the buffet, Dante gave Helios a sharp look. "Your childhood friend?" he asked.
"That's one way to put it," Helios replied with a smile. "She's my closest friend. No woman can compete with her."
"She certainly doesn't seem stupid," Dante remarked, now eyeing Helios with a curious look.
"She's damn smart," Helios agreed, his voice carrying a hint of admiration. "Without her, I'd probably be fish food in the high society by now."
Dante looked at him for a moment, confused, before turning his gaze forward again, as if he were reconsidering Helios' words.
"I didn't think you'd have trouble with anything," Dante murmured finally, trying to process the thought.
Helios shrugged. "I'm just a man like anyone else. All these people here couldn't care less about me. That's where Penny comes in. She loves being the center of attention, and all the information about high society goes through her."
"Sounds like she's an informant," Dante remarked.
Helios grinned. "A damn good one."
Upon arriving at the buffet, Helios let his gaze wander over the selection. It was an elaborate spread of food, offering something for every taste. "Want to try something?" he asked, having noticed that Dante was nearby but hadn't yet stepped toward the buffet.
"I don't think I'm authorized to help myself to this buffet as your bodyguard," Dante said firmly.
"You're not dressed like one, and I brought you as my assistant," Helios replied with a mischievous smile. "Although you're a very muscular assistant. Appearances are everything. So go ahead, help yourself."
Dante gave him a skeptical look, but his gaze kept flicking toward the juicy, steaming roast at the center of the buffet. Helios couldn't suppress a grin.
"So, the roast?" he asked innocently.
Dante flinched. "No, I... yes, it does look good," he finally admitted sheepishly.
Helios continued to smile. It felt good to take a moment away from the constant attention and serious conversations with the society ladies. He put together a plate for Dante, picking some of the most tempting dishes, and had them served by the appropriate staff. He then handed the plate to Dante and assembled one for himself.
While he was selecting a few delicacies for himself, he overheard a conversation behind him.
"...do you think he will marry soon?" said one lady nearby in a sharp, curious tone.
"I would love to introduce my daughter to him," another one remarked, not exactly subtle, with a smile that seemed more like a challenge.
"Pah. Before he meets yours, he'll be in love with my little pearl," a third lady chimed in, her voice tinged with jealousy.
"Isn't he here with Lady Eckhardt?" asked the first.
Helios sighed softly as the women's gazes shifted from him to Dante, feeling the headache that had already been throbbing behind his eyes grow stronger. He didn't want to hear any more about himself or his father. That was enough chatter for the day. He was tired, and his patience was nearing its breaking point. His legs now felt as if they were made of lead.
He glanced briefly down at his plate, trying to collect himself. "I'll eat a little and then stay for another hour before I leave," he murmured, more to himself than to Dante.
"Let's eat outside," Helios finally suggested.
"Outside? But that would be back in the open, it's not safe," Dante said worriedly, a skeptical look in his eyes.
"Just to the balcony. If we sit at our table, she'll find us in no time," Helios replied calmly, though there was a hint of humor in his voice.
Dante looked at him for a moment, shocked, and tried to maintain a professional facade that seemed a bit too stiff. "Alright, but we'll stay on the balcony, and you'll stand in a way that I can protect you with my body in case of an emergency."
Helios couldn't help but smile sweetly, almost mockingly. "I knew she'd get on your nerves too," he said as he started moving.
On the way outside, Helios greeted a few familiar faces with polite smiles but skillfully avoided conversations, assuring them he would return after dinner.
As they stepped onto the balcony, the fresh, cool evening air greeted them. Helios closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath, while the silence that immediately followed, as the door clicked shut behind them, wrapped around them like a comforting cloak.
Helios walked straight to the balustrade and leaned back casually against the cold railing. Dante briefly looked around, then followed him.
Helios speared a piece of tender meat with his fork and slowly put it into his mouth. He had deliberately avoided sauce so as not to accidentally get dirty. But even without the extra flavor, the meat was of exceptional quality. The flavors caressed his palate, and he enjoyed the moment of silence.
He watched Dante, who also put a piece of the roast into his mouth. One was followed by a second, and then a third. It reminded Helios of a hamster stuffing its cheeks—only he had never seen such a muscular "hamster." Helios had to laugh quietly, which immediately caused Dante to look at him, startled.
"Does it taste good?" Helios asked with an amused tone.
"It's pretty good," Dante said as he popped another piece into his mouth. "Though the food at the estate is also quite good."
Helios grinned in amusement. "Luckily, we're eating out here. Thomas should probably give you some lessons in etiquette."
Dante slightly scrunched his face, looking somewhat offended. "I know how to eat properly," he muttered in a slightly offended tone.
"Sure," Helios replied with a wide grin, popping another piece of meat into his mouth and chewing it slowly. You never knew who might be watching. After swallowing, he looked at Dante with a mocking glance. "How do you like the trip into the world of the rich and beautiful?"
Dante snorted with amusement. "It's always interesting to see that such social circles are found everywhere."
Helios thought for a moment.
That's right, he had often worked as a bodyguard before this job.
"Were the parties as boring as this one?" Helios asked, continuing to eat.
"Much more boring," Dante replied without hesitation. "My charges were much... more serious than you are."
Helios chuckled quietly. "What did you really want to say?" he asked in a teasing tone, a hint of mischief in his voice.
"Nothing," Dante deflected, but Helios noticed the fleeting smile that played on his lips despite his effort to hide it.
"Oh, come on," Helios grinned, "I'm not going to rip your head off for your opinion!"
"You're a lot more relaxed than anyone I've ever protected," Dante said slowly.
"Somehow, I don't believe that's what you really wanted to say," Helios teased further, unable to suppress an amused grin.
"This job is definitely more fun than I expected," Dante finally admitted, looking thoughtfully up at the night sky, as though searching for an answer there.
Helios followed his gaze. But he knew there was little to see out here. The city was so filled with the steam from the machines that the sky was rarely clear, and even though the opera house was slightly outside the city and offered more of a view of the sky, the pungent smell of oil from the factories was still noticeable.
Once again, he was glad that their estate was outside the city and he only had to go in for work. His herbs likely wouldn't thrive in the city climate. It was another project he wanted to implement. The cars worked quite well with the fuel he developed, and they were much cleaner than the steam-powered behemoths on the road.
"What are you thinking about?" Dante finally asked, after taking another bite of roast.
"Work," Helios replied absentmindedly.
"Do you ever think about anything other than work?" Dante asked, almost curiously, as if he really wanted to understand what was going on in Helios' mind. "You certainly seem to me like your mind never stops."
Helios gave a wry smile. "How about you drop the formalties and then I'll answer you?" he suggested, as the constant formal address was starting to annoy him. "You're with me from morning until night, you know me better than most others."
Dante cast him an uncertain glance, as if trying to make sure that the offer was sincere. After a moment, he nodded hesitantly.
"Come on," Helios said with a smile, "I only allow a few people to address me informally. But you've been around for a longer time now, so why not?"
Dante nodded cautiously. Helios set down his plate, still quite full, and turned around. He leaned against the balustrade and let his gaze wander over the illuminated garden spread out before him. The scent of flowers and damp grass was noticeable in the cool night air.
"My mind never stands still, Dante. When I solve one problem, my mind is already moving on to the next. When I take a break, I'm thinking about the next steps. I think about how my substances might work differently, I wonder how many different medications I can make from the same substance. I often wonder what dose of something could be lethal and how I can avoid it. I think about whether more toxic substances could also be used for healing, and I have several projects in mind that I want to tackle one by one. There are rarely moments when my mind shuts off."
Dante, who had now turned his gaze back to the night sky, murmured, "I can't imagine what it's like to be running at 100% all the time."
Helios grinned slightly, a hint of pride in his expression. "I wouldn't know any other way," he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"You... you just said that there are only a few moments when you're not thinking about work. May I ask, what are those moments?" Dante asked with a curious look, waiting to hear more.
"Sure. When I'm sleeping, sick, or having sex," he listed off casually, emphasizing the words with a slightly crooked grin.
Dante, who had just been about to take a sip of water, choked violently and nearly coughed his throat out. Helios burst out laughing as he watched Dante's reaction.
"Don't worry, aside from sleep, the other things don't happen too often," Helios continued with a smirk. "You won't really catch me lying down or being laid down that often. Although, I do prefer the latter when no one can hear me."
Dante continued to cough, his eyes wide open. "S...sorry. I should never have..." he stammered, trying to calm himself.
"Better take another sip," Helios said, his smile still in place.
Dante nodded quickly and drank several gulps of water until he was somewhat calmer and the color returned to his face.
"Better?" Helios asked, still concerned but with a grin.
Dante nodded, cleared his throat, and then took a deep breath. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"I didn't have to answer you," Helios said with a mischievous smile. "Though I must admit, your reaction was definitely worth it."
Dante rolled his eyes but shook his head as he relaxed again. Helios noticed that he was actually starting to like his new bodyguard. Dante wasn't like Davis, but he was reliable and, in his own way, funny. Maybe this was exactly the kind of companion he needed, especially considering that Dante was supposed to follow him everywhere.
Helios could now easily imagine having this quieter, more serious bodyguard by his side. However, when he glanced over at Dante, he noticed his slightly reddened cheeks. Oh, was he shy? Helios couldn't suppress a grin and felt the urge to push him a little further.
"Hey Dante, have you ever..." Helios began with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He turned to face Dante directly, a wide grin on his face. If Dante was already this embarrassed, he could definitely embarrass him a little more.
But before he could finish his sentence, a familiar voice cut through the night.
"Helios! So, here you are! I've been looking for you everywhere!" Evangeline called out, her tone slightly reproachful.
Helios rolled his eyes and let out a quiet sigh to express his disappointment.
"There goes the peace," he muttered so softly that only Dante could hear, slightly annoyed by the interruption.
He took a deep breath, tried to compose himself, and then turned to Evangeline with a friendly smile. "Lady Evangeline. How nice of you to find us," he said in an apologetic tone, as if he genuinely didn't understand why she was upset. "Sorry, I just needed to get some fresh air."
Evangeline seemed somewhat reassured by his apology, her initial anger almost dissipating instantly. She sighed theatrically and gave him a coquettish smile.
"I just can't stay mad at you for long," she said, her eyes now sparkling with a warm, conciliatory expression. "You have such a charming way, Helios. It's hard to truly stay angry with you."
Helios shuddered inwardly. Next time, he was definitely going to disappear. If he allowed this to continue, she would surely assume he was going to have sex with her that evening. And that—would definitely not happen.
"Would you like to eat something too? The buffet is really good," Helios said as he took his plate off the balustrade and held it higher so she could see what he meant. After all, he had to feed her goldfish brain with visual impressions so that she understood what he meant. But at that very moment, a gunshot shattered the silence of the night.
The plate in his hand shattered with a sharp crack, and a moment later, Helios felt Dante instinctively pull him into his chest. Everything happened so fast that Helios couldn't even fully process what was going on. His heart was racing—had he been hit? His hand hurt, but only from the impact of the bullet on the plate. Damn, the pain quickly subsided due to the adrenaline.
He cast a quick glance at his hand. Blood. But no gunshot wound.
Phew...
"Inside! Now!" Dante shouted, his voice sharp and authoritative. He let go of Helios and shoved him toward the entrance.
The situation only slowly sank into his consciousness. Not only was he and Dante on the balcony. Evangeline was screaming loudly, her voice cutting through the silence. Helios' gaze flicked toward her. She stood there completely defenseless, her hand still outstretched toward him. In the hall, the music had started, so loud that no one probably had heard anything. No one would come to her aid. Too bad for her.
Helios continued to let Dante shield him as they ran past Evangeline. His legs felt like rubber, so exhausted he was, and only the adrenaline kept him upright. It was a miracle he could still stand. Had Dante not been behind him, he would likely have collapsed by now.
"HELIOS!" Evangeline screamed in panic, her voice sounding desperate.
The next thing Helios felt was a hand grabbing for him. He heard Dante curse, something that suspiciously sounded like 'shit'. Dante tried to push Evangeline away from Helios, but Helios' legs gave out, and he stumbled. Another shot rang out, and a sharp pain exploded in his left flank.
He hit the ground hard. The pain in his head exploded, as though his brain were bursting inside his skull, and nausea rose within him. Everything around him blurred. He felt as if he were falling into an abyss as his senses slowly faded.
A moment later, Dante was over him, his body tense, a protective shield, but when the next shot rang out, blood splattered onto Helios' face. Dante had been hit.
Everything hurt, the pain in his flank and head almost unbearable. He could hardly move, his muscles screaming in protest at even the slightest movement. Helios looked at Dante, who was spitting blood. Where had he been hit?
Helios' gaze fell to Dante's upper body, where blood was steadily pouring from the wound directly above his heart. A fatal wound.
He had to get out of here. He needed to move, but damn it—he couldn't even lift his head.
Another shot rang out, and Evangeline collapsed with a dull thud next to him. Her face was turned toward him, but her gaze was fixed on a distant point, as if she was no longer here. A clear, gaping hole was visible in her forehead, from which blood slowly flowed, a dark, unstoppable sign of life fading away from her.
Helios almost sighed in relief. At least from this side, there was finally silence. But the relaxation lasted only a fleeting moment before reality slapped him back in the face.
He could barely keep his eyes open. Everything hurt. His body screamed for rest, for a break, for the flow of pain to stop. But the noise in his head was overwhelming. The rushing of his blood in his ears, the pulsing throb, drowned everything else out, making it nearly impossible to think clearly. The pain was too much, the world too blurred.
Helios forced his gaze to Dante, who was shouting something. But the words sounded like they were coming from an endless tunnel, their meaning out of reach.
Blood dripped from Dante's chest onto Helios. Had he been shot? With a trembling hand, Helios touched his chest, feeling the warm, sticky red on his fingers. It contrasted sharply with his pale skin. It was beautiful. Especially when combined with Dante's pain-contorted face.
Why was he still alive? Why hadn't he collapsed?
But no matter how much Helios tried to understand the situation, his thoughts flowed slowly, like thick honey. He tried to focus, but everything felt like he was a spectator, an observer unable to intervene in what was happening. Reality blurred into a thick fog.
He barely registered when Dante lifted him up, holding him tight against his chest, as if he wanted to protect him, as if he wanted to save him, even though he himself was more than just wounded. The darkness of the night disappeared and was replaced by harsh lights that stabbed into his eyes. The music pierced his ears like it was through cotton, loud and chaotic. He heard startled screams, incomprehensible murmurs as the people around them suddenly began to act. But in his condition, he could only perceive it all in fragmented pieces.
The only thing still clear to him was Dante's concerned face. In the middle of all this confusion, amid the chaos, Dante was still there, the man who was holding him, who wasn't breaking under the situation, even though he was half-dead himself. Helios couldn't comprehend how this man was still functioning. Was it a soldier thing? Keep fighting until you just drop dead? Or was it something else?
But Helios found no answers to those questions. The world around him began to withdraw, the edges of his vision went black. The sounds collapsed into themselves, everything grew quieter, until only silence remained. In one last, flickering moment, he closed his eyes. The pain that had tormented him vanished, and for a moment, it felt as though he was sinking into a deep, soothing calm.
He let out a quiet sigh, a soft, almost relieved breath, as the silence enveloped him, as though it were an embrace finally bringing him peace. And then, in the midst of this peace, everything disappeared.